That’s how I got here and how I got my name. James never called me Megan, and he never let anyone call me Megan, either. He always corrected them, saying she was his angel. Eventually, everyone had started to call me Angel too, but I didn’t mind. In fact, I liked it better than Megan. I still didn’t understand at that age why my mother had changed my name when we had moved here.

‎“‏Earth to Angel” a voice interrupted my memories bringing me back to the present.

‎“‏Wow, oh I hope you like your potatoes well done and the bacon crisp.” I laughed seeing that everything had finished cooking while I had blanked out.

‎“‏Yeah, it’s fine. Mind telling me where your mind was at?” James asked, grinning at his own joke.

‎“‏Just remembering the first day we met. You were so sweet.”

“I‎’‏d like to hear about that?” said Hope coming into the kitchen. Whatever James had said or done last night had put her in a reasonable mood. She wasn’t glaring at me anymore, but her tone was still far from friendly.

‎“‏Let’s see it was-”

“Really?‎ ‏It isn't that interesting Hope.” James cut in looking embarrassed.

‎“‏Really, then why are you blushing? Now that just makes it more interesting.” She turned back to me smiling. “So you were saying?”

“You‎ ‏two are cute you know. I don’t think I've ever met a girl who could actually get him to blush. And we met when James was what eleven? I was seven and stopped by because I knew his mom wasn’t feeling well. Only his dad thought I was here to see him. So I ended up spending time with him instead.” I answered shrugging.

‎“‏Oh so you really were just childhood friends.” She looked so surprised that I had to laugh.

‎“‏We’re more than that. The Hurilings became my foster family. I lived with them until four years ago. James is just like a brother to me. An annoying, overbearing, overprotective older brother.” I added rolling my eyes.

‎ “‏Oh,” clearly surprised at this turn of events. “Why didn't you guys say that last night? It sure would have saved us some drama.”

“You're joking right. Last night it had looked like you were ready to tear my head off if I so much looked at you let alone spoke to you. I had already looked around the living room, and there was no evidence of my time here. James, on the other hand, has no excuse except for the fact that it looked like you were going to kill him. Another reason to cook this morning I don't want you poisoning my big bro right?” I joked handing James his plate.

‎“‏Maybe you're right. I guess I could have given you more of a chance when James didn't seem upset. I mean if you were an ex he would have reacted differently.”

“I‎ ‏think I'm going to like you, Hope. So friends or at least housemates?” I asked handing her a plate.

‎“‏Okay, nothing’s wrong with trying, but no promises.” She answered reaching for the plate.

‎“‏Thanks girls,” said Mark, “So what did I miss. Either Angel is trying to poison Hope or they had a major breakthrough.”

“Man,‎ ‏I’m lost but I think they're at the friend stage now,” James explained, looking just as lost as he said.

‎“‏Hey, that wasn’t for you!” exclaimed Hope.

‎“‏Now, now there’s no need to get all huffy just have her make you another plate. Besides I don’t trust her not to spit in my food.” Said Mark digging into Hope’s plate.

‎“‏What was that? Why would she spit in your food?” asked James confused again. This really was not his morning. Poor boy is probably going to have a migraine before breakfast is over.

‎“‏Please I’m not that immature, and your friend here is referring to the fact he walked while I was taking a shower.”

“HE‎ ‏WHAT?” yelled James starting to shift into brother mode.

‎“‏Yep,” I continued with a vindictive smile. James put the over in overprotective. “Then he didn’t even have the decency to leave, but tried to have a conversation while I was still washing my hair.”

“What the hell dude! Didn’t anyone ever teach you to knock?” James demanded. It looked like the vein in his neck was about to burst.

‎“‏Chill bro it’s not like I saw anything. Besides I thought it was you in there I just needed some deodorant. I'll knock next time, it seems like the two of you are going to be sharing a bathroom. Jeez, can't I go one morning without everyone biting my head off?” I silently wondered what he did every other morning.

‎“‏Whatever, just don’t let it happen again? Come on Angel hurry up it’s almost 7:30.”

“Your‎ ‏point is?”

“My‎ ‏point is I don’t want to be late for class and you need to get enrolled at the high school.” Explained James patiently.

‎“‏Wait, how old are you?” asked Mark confused.

‎“‏18‎” ‏answered both of us answered, but James was glaring at Mark.

‎“‏What!” yelled both Hope and Mark.

‎“‏I’m not going.” Said Angel ignoring the other two.

‎“‏Umm yeah you are. Mom would kill me if I let you drop out. Not to mention how smart you are. I’m not sure what happened after you left, but you're smart. There isn't any reason for you not to go back to high school!” James retorted.

‎“‏Actually there is. I finished high school two springs James.” I answered him smiling at the shocked look on his face. “Why so shocked? You just said how smart I am.”

“How‎ ‏in the world?”

“The joys of technology. You can attend school without actually going to school. Mom got the announcement, but that was more of a courtesy than anything ‘cause I didn’t send it till after graduation.”

“Oh‎ ‏ I’m mean what are you going to do then?” James was clearly thrown by this turn of events.

‎“‏Well, it’s not like you charge rent, so I don’t really need a job. But I do have one.” I started shifting my weight. This topic wasn’t really one of my favorites. I mean sure I wasn’t technically doing anything wrong, but like I said James is ~

“That means you’ve been in town for a while. Where,‎ ‏how long, and who’s taking you to this job? Is it a guy? I should probably meet them.” Wow, less than three seconds, this must be a world record.

“See this is why I never tell you anything. You automatically shift into a parole officer. At least give me time to answer when you ask questions.” I sighed. I had hope this one thing might have changed, but lions don’t change their manes. “I’m waitress down by the waterfront at Luke’s and I’ve been working there for about five, no make that six weeks.”

“And‎ ‏you just moved here? Why?” asked Mark. I couldn't tell by his tone if he considered that a good thing or a bad thing. Whatever he meant James was glaring at him for it.

‎“‏Change of scenery?” I replied though it sounded more like a question than a statement. It wasn’t quite a lie though it certainly wasn’t the whole truth either. But none of them were going to push it. James particularly knew that if I did want to tell them I wouldn’t. I could always keep a secret, especially ones about me. In all the time we had known each other, he still didn’t know where I would go when I disappeared for days, sometimes a week, and he still knew little about my life before moving here.

‎“Are you going to answer the question? That mean's you've been out of school for two years. You''ve been talking to

Mom, but I called her earlier. She has no clue where you've been staying since you disappeared. ‏Whatever, I'll see you later.” He finally said, giving up on hearing any answers to his questions. He kissed Hope on the lips and kissed me on the forehead before he left.

‎“‏So I missed something, because James has to be upset if he didn’t even bother saying bye. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not like one of those clingy chicks who needs a hug and a kiss goodbye, but jeez, a nod would be nice. And why did he bite my head off for walking in on you? I mean, he never reacted like that when I walked in on Hope. I mean, he knows I’d never make a move on Hope. No offense, but you’re just a bit too bitchy for me. No, I mean possessive, or controlling. I should probably shut up now, right?” finished Mark, wincing. Someone loses their filter when they get upset.

‎“‏No, by all means go on. This way, I won’t feel guilty when I tell James you’re dead. What do you think about me, Mark?” asked Hope in a dangerous voice.

‎“‏I wasn’t trying to get you mad. It’s just sometimes you can be a bit of a witch.” There was a loud thud, and the next thing I knew, he was on the ground and Hope was storming out of the room.

‎“‏I forgot to mention the anger management issues.” I heard Mark mumble, rubbing his head where it looked like Hope had hit him over the head with her new plate of food.

‎“‏I heard that!” she yelled from the next room.

‎“‏How the- never mind, are you okay?” I asked, kneeling down beside Mark, trying to check his head. “Will you hold still? I need to make sure she didn’t crack your skull or anything.”

“Don't worry I've got a thick skull.” He answered shrugging me off so he could stand. “But if you really want to help you can explain what just happened with James. He’s never acted like that before not even about Hope. And those two are practically inseparable. I didn’t think they had any secrets left, but then you showed up?” continued Mark sitting back down to finish

‎“‏Well, how long have you known James?” I asked sitting down next to him.

‎“‏Maybe three years I think. He’s never mentioned your name in all this time, so who are you? Please spare me that old friend crap. It might be true, but there’s no way that’s all to the story.” He said giving me a look.

‎“‏You’re right there is more. I’m his sister.” I answered simply with a shrug; knowing that in reality there was nothing simple about it.

Mark

Wait what did she just say?

“YOU'RE WHAT?” I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had been James’s best friend since the day they met, but in three years, he had never mentioned the fact that he had a younger sister. Could it have been that knowing how I was with women, he didn’t want his sister to have to deal with that, well, me? Not that I would ever go after Angel. I mean, yeah, she was cute, well, more like hot. She wasn’t my usual type. I was into girls with long hair and long legs, and Angel was tiny. She looked like a pixie. That dark black hair made her eyes pop; they were dark blue with different specks of color. They always seemed to change in the light one moment they were purple the next they were gold. If I didn’t know better, I would say they changed with her mood.

‎“‏Not technically. Not by blood, and before you ask, no, his parents didn’t adopt me. But I’ve been living off and on with them since I was eight, so James just started treating me like I was a little sister. He probably didn’t mention me ‘cause it’s just a sore spot. I disappeared on him a little over four years ago.”

“You‎ ‏what?” I couldn’t be hearing this right; my ears must be playing tricks on me. Maybe I should get them checked.

‎“‏Left, I do that,” she said, trying to keep the emotions out of her voice but failing. She sat down next to me at the table, looking momentarily lost. I did hear her correctly, but if she disappeared four years ago, she wouldn’t have been more than fourteen at the time. I looked at her lost expression, wondering what could make a girl run away only to return to the same place again. It hadn’t been because she hated it here. Even I could see that. Last night, every time I saw either James or Angel looking at each other, there had been love.

‎“‏Want to talk about it?” I asked, leaning over and pushing back her hair from her face. She looked up at me with so many emotions playing in her eyes that I momentarily felt lost. I started to lean forward ~

“Look‎‏, I shouldn't have lost my temper earlier~ WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?”  Hope yelled, coming back into the kitchen. Us jumped apart.

‎“‏I've got to go, I'll talk to you guys later,” Angel said, rushing out of the kitchen. She had just made it to the other side of the door when Hope started yelling at me for the second time this morning.

‎“‏What part of off-limits was too complicated for you to understand?” Hope started.

‎“‏It was an accident, okay?” I told her, shrugging, “I know she’s young and confused. I shouldn't try moving in on her, especially since he's human.” I sighed, realizing just how big a mistake I might have made if we hadn’t been interrupted.

‎“‏You missed one of my key reasons. I mean, the fact that she’s three years younger than you is big, but she’s your best friend's little sister. You saw how he reacted this morning! What do you think he'd do if he found out you kissed her?”

“She‎ ‏looked so upset, and she looked so cute. I just wanted to cheer her up.” I mumbled bashfully. Okay, yeah, thinking back, that probably wasn’t the best way to solve the problem, but it always cheered me up.

‎“‏Then next time tell a joke, and if I were you I’d try to remember whose house I live in,” Hope said before storming out and leaving me to my thoughts, which were filled with Angel’s sweet face. Oh man, I’m so screwed.