I moved to lean against the island counter, crossing my arms over my chest, staring directly into her eyes. "No. As he explained it to me when I was seven-years-old; my mother was the one person he ever loved and ever would. He even went so far as to take her name with her passing to honor her sacrifice by bringing me into the world. Though, of course, he couldn't really be bothered to be there to raise me, but that's another story. Considering my issues and the abandonment of my only parent, I feel I've turned out quite well. I'm mostly stable, I don't harm others, I'm not mentally impaired, and I haven't allowed myself to lower down to using abusive substances."

She blinked, nodding, though she appeared uncertain about how to proceed. "Oh...I see. So, you and Mat didn't get along well?"

I stared at her for one second, debating on how best to handle this in my normal blinding speed of thought.

Lie?

I hate lying. Why bother wasting my time coming up with and having to remember a lie I make?

Make things seem less...bad?

That's the same as lying, honestly.

Truth it is then.

"The phrase 'get along' means that two people have some sort of relationship. Mathew was merely the man who provided half of my DNA."

The blood very quickly faded from her face and she looked two seconds away from fainting. I was sure my calm, emotionless demur didn't really help things, but it was how I felt about the issue. "I do not mean to upset you, I just hate lying. In fact, I make it a rule that I do not lie."

At that moment a young, hyper, and excited voice came from the front of the house. "Mom! I'm back from the movie! No joke, that was crazy! Edward was good-looking, but when Jacob showed up on the screen, I was fighting shivers! I mean, sure, there is a lot different between the book, but—"

The voice stopped short but very quickly returned after a dramatic gasp. "Wait! Isn't that guy supposed to be here today?! Oh my gosh, I completely forgot!"

Right...My suitcase by the front door.

Before I could really prepare myself, the echoing of running feet shot down the hallway. Like a bullet, a streak of red-blonde passed by where I was, heading toward Mackenzie. "He's here, right? Where is he, Mom? Is he in the bathroom? Oh my gosh, I am so excited to meet hiiiim!"

While the bundle of energy questioned her mother, I took the time to study her. She was wearing a bright blue, white, and gold summer dress with patterns of hydrangeas in pink and purple scattered throughout. The colors all splashed together in a way that seemed to echo the wearer. Bright, energetic, and overwhelming. Even so, it looked good on her. Unlike her mother, she had shoulder-length straight red-gold locks. I had only half a second to observe her eyes and face as she passed, but it was safe to say she took after her mother completely.

Mackenzie's expression quickly returned to that bright, warm countenance. She let out a short chuckle, shaking her head as she raised a hand to pat the girl's shoulder. "Nope, he's right here actually. You were so excited you completely missed him, Maria."

Maria, which would make her the youngest at sixteen years old, spun on her heel. Her hazel eyes, so much like Mackenzie's, went wide in shock. She was small, like Mackenzie, especially compared to me. Age-wise, she was only a year younger than I, but she looked a few extra years younger honestly.

I returned her gaze with my own, our eyes connecting. Her face instantly filled with an overwhelmed blush, the pink a stark contrast to her pale complexion. "Oh my gosh..." she whispered.

"Hello, Maria Arnold. My name is Seok Kim and I will be living with you for the next year. I hope we get along. You can think of me as an older brother if you would like. I do have to confess that I have no idea how to act in a sibling relationship with another person, so I apologize if I fail to meet your expectations."

Now she looked a bit confused, but still embarrassed. Of course, her confusion was because my expression hadn't shown any of the normal emotions other humans did. Nor did my voice change from the even, steady monotone it always held. "...H-hi..." she stuttered, suddenly shy, lifting a hand to her left cheek. "It's, um, nice to meet you as well, um...Se-Seok."

I nodded once, lifting my gaze above Maria's head and back to Mackenzie's. "Where is Selena? Is she out as well? I had hoped to meet everyone all at once to more efficiently move past the stage of meet-and-greet."

Mackenzie reached out and placed both of her hands on Maria's shoulders, smiling at me. "Well, Selena's actually out with some friends right now. It's summer vacation, so all the kids are out having lots of fun."

I blinked. "Ah, I see. Yes, school. I forgot...I will be required to attend the same school, will I not?"

She nodded. "I don't have the capability to home-school you...I'm sorry, Seok," she looked guilty again.

I shook my head. "No, you don't need to feel guilty. It will be interesting to experience the life of something approaching a normal adolescent my age," I assured her calmly.

"You're not a normal teenager?" Maria frowned, perplexed.

I glanced back down into her eyes, shaking my head. "No, Maria. I am what many have referred to as a 'cold, dead, machine'," I explained blandly. "I do not experience emotions like others. Everything in my mind and 'heart' is emotionally disconnected. Hence why I do not show the little signs other humans unconsciously look for to feel as if they have a better understanding of one another. I do not laugh, I do not smile, I do not yell, and I do not cry. I apologize for how unsettling it will be to get used to...But I am how I am, and I see no reason to waste the energy trying to pretend I am anything else."

Mackenzie cleared her throat, hazel eyes almost a little panicky. "W-well, it must have been a long journey to get here. How about we sit down for a snack?"

I'm throwing too much of myself in their faces...Back down a little and see what happens.

I nodded. "Yes, some food would be agreeable." Maria continued to stare wide-eyed at me as I moved to find a seat at the dining room table. "I will not bite, if you would care to join me," I offered.

Glancing to the side, I half-observed as Mackenzie began opening different cabinets. With my observations, I memorized the placement of one-third of the kitchen. But while she worked on snacks, I turned a part of my attention to Maria. "So, you are sixteen years old, yes? I am seventeen."

"...Selena's eighteen," Maria mumbled under her breath. "She's going to faint when she sees you," she added a second later in wicked amusement. An evil light entered her eyes and she glanced at Mackenzie. "Mom, can we set Selena up?"

I eyed the two, uncertain as to what was going on here.

Mackenzie slowly turned from where she'd been putting chips in a bowl. She glanced at the clock on the far kitchen wall, reading 7:42 p.m. Her own eyes lit up and then she smirked, turning back to the two of us. "Selena was complaining about having to live with a guy. She was also worried Seok was going to be a jerk who'd just laze around the house and eat all our food..."

"Yep," Maria grinned. "I definitely remember her saying such mean, awful comments."

I glanced between the two. "What is going on right now?"

Both females raised up their hands and began to rub them together. "We're going to give Selena the scare of her life," they explained in the same giggling voice.

I blinked. "I see...If I help participate, do you believe it will help with getting along with each other?"

Mackenzie nodded, but she was also smiling warmly at me. "Selena will probably be upset for a while, but eventually she'll come around."

Both females shot to their feet and began rushing around. "She said she'd be home at eight tonight!" Maria, dragging in my suitcase from the front.

I rose to my feet. "I could have gott—"

"Alright, we have fifteen minutes to get everything ready," Mackenzie was running into her own room. "Seok, go ahead and take a shower," she called out of her open door. "Hurry up now...Maria, show him."

Maria rushed over to me, jumping up and down in excitement. "C'mon, c'mon! We have to hurry!" she insisted. She started off, rushing down the hall to the bathroom that was public domain.

I started after her, glancing at the blue bowl of tortilla chips. "...What about the snacks?"