Chapter 4 Track 03 - U.N.I

Sebastian had never been so relieved to be home. Half a day with Harry and a sulking Moe was too much even for him. In his opinion, it was their fault that Kirsten left early and dumped the lunch rush on them. He was thankful that someone in town was kind enough to help July.

They could take them in as their guest, he thought to himself.

Dragging his feet up the front steps of his grandmother's house, he had the night off and decided to get his clothes packed and moved to avoid any more knickers-drier incidents.

The thought got him laughing, which he was getting annoyed with.

Even then, she was out with his godmother, Kirsten, buying stuff for the house, which annoyed him for some reason that he didn't know. He's sure they have useable utensils and kitchen tools; they can use his mother's plates as decoration.

He slipped his shoes off before stepping through the door, remembering the last time he forgot; his grandmother ran after him up to the corner, shouting lord knows what.

"Grandma, Sarah, I'm home!"

"Last time I checked, you live across the street." He heard his sister snap.

Sarah Michelson is the miniature version of his grandmother; if any, she's a whole level higher than the spitfire older Michelson.

After having experience liver failure at the age of 7, she had been in and out of the hospital more times than an average 80-year-old. But despite all the moments at the ICU and the emergency room, the blonde girl had risen above the doctor's expectations, and her body accepted the treatment enough to stop her weekly dialysis.

Sebastian couldn't be more proud of her for keeping an everyday life while suffering from her sickness; she kept her grades up with the help of her teachers whenever she needed to rush to the hospital.

Of course, there was a time when bullies ganged up on her; a few girls even blamed her for why Sebastian stayed in Green Valley, but Sarah knew better. She knew what her brother lost when he chose to stay with her, and she couldn't be happier.

Call her selfish and wicked, but it was her brother's decision, and she was happy with it; there were very few things in her life that made her happy, and when something came along, she accepted and sent her thanks to God, or whoever divine being was smiling down at her.

By Junior year, she was as normal as any 17-year-old girl in Green Valley High, watching football games and cheering on their team. Sebastian was thankful enough that she hadn't discovered boys or dating. Either that or she didn't find it necessary- yet.

Then again, the same could be said about Sebastian, having a few dates when he was younger until he had to watch over his sister. To go exclusive with anyone wasn't on his priority list; if it was, he was pretty sure it wouldn't be from a girl in this town.

"Sarah, are we still on this?"

"Of course we are! We were supposed to move back there together!"

"I know," Sebastian walked around the sofa, "I can't do anything about it! Grandma made a valid point that the rent would help us a lot, and she'd leave sooner or later, then you can move in on your birthday."

She may have been younger when their parents left, but she remembers moments that mattered, mostly with their dad, since their mother spent all her time at work, or a least that's what she said.

Sarah had accepted that she was the town charity case, or at least the topic of their pity parties, and had enough of it. She is well and getting better. I'll prove to the townspeople that Sebastian's sacrifice isn't a waste.

She could be the one to take his place. If only she were just as talented and brilliant as her older brother.

"I want to go home." her eyes burned with the tears she held back while Sebastian's heart broke.

They may not be part of the typical American dream family, but they were a damn better family than most, and that was saying a lot about having a grandmother like theirs.

"We are home." Sebastian knelt before her, "We're together, aren't we?"

Sarah wiped away her tears and chuckled, "That was so corny."

"Who says I can't be corny for my baby sister?" Sarah gave him a look, "Well, if it makes you feel better, I want her to leave and not so that you could move back in."

"Why?" She shook her head.

Why, indeed, Sebastian asks himself.

He tries to explain whatever reason he had to kick out the woman, but he keeps remembering the events of the day, like how she handled the gawking at the diner, which took some guts, something only locals had.

"She comes on too strong, too sure of herself."

"Why is that so bad?" Sarah asks, "I would like to be like that, be mysterious and all."

"She's not that mysterious."

"Please!" Sarah gave a sarcastic laugh. "A girl from a foreign country arrives in a small town on a bus with just a backpack in the middle of a storm; she's like freakin' Dorothy in Oz. Gina even called me from Cheer Camp to ask who the hell is the girl her mom is talking about who tripped on her underwear and tore her shirt."

"What?" Sebastian shook his head, "July helped me out and washed my shirt, her underwear got mixed in, and she turned my shirt pink. She offered to get me a new shirt, though."

"My point is she gets attention, and she's new; she's mysterious."

"I don't think it's the good kind of attention, though."

"I don't care; I don't want to be the girl with a malfunctioning kidney anymore." She grumbled, "I want to be the girl who survived kidney failure."

Sebastian wrapped her in his arms and sat beside her on the sofa. It was rare for his sister to sound so weak; it was next to never; usually, it happens after being rushed to the hospital, but random breakdowns aren't her thing.

"I know that grandma knows that, George and Gina know that, the people you love and care for you know that, shouldn't that be what matters?"

"I guess." She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Besides," he whispers, "no one ever wants to be a character in Mrs. Howard's stories."

Sarah laughs and wipes away her tears, leaning on Sebastian's hold.

"Mrs. Howard has more potential of being a writer than Gina." Sebastian secretly agrees. "Gina wants to stay longer at the camp just to escape her."

It was Sebastian's turn to bark a laugh. A teen from Green Valley talks about nothing but getting out of town, away from the gossip and meddlesome adults.

"Grandma says she's a nice girl, July." Sarah smiled, "You know how she is when her intuition works."

"Like her intuition with Dad?"

At the mention of their dad, Sarah gave him a sad look and nodded. "I'd like to meet her."

"I don't know," Sarah frowns, giving him puppy dog eyes, "maybe we can invite her for dinner; I have the night off."

"That would be great," she sits up, "I can make bake mac; you think she'd like that?"

"She'd like whatever you prepare her." He kisses her on the forehead.

"Can I invite her now?"

"She's out at the moment; maybe later." Sebastian stands, happy to have settled it with his sister. "Anyway, I need to pack my stuff."

"Wait, Sebastian!" She looks up at her brother with big brown eyes, "Since you're moving back there, can I turn your room into a library?"

Sebastian gave her a look and slowly smiled, "You were never mad, were you? You were practically praying for me to leave so that you could keep my room for yourself."

"No, you idiot!" She hits him with a pillow, laughing. "I just ran out of space, and your room is perfect, connected to mine and all."

Sebastian laughed and ruffled her hair, "Ok, ok, we'll fix it on Sunday, yeah? Maybe put bookshelves and stuff."

"Thank you! Thank you!" She says, hugging him again.

"Anything for you." He smiled, "Anyway, I need to get packing and hopefully a nap."

"Sebastian, why don't you cut back from your jobs?" She says slowly. "You did say it's better now with July's rent and all."

Sebastian gave her a sad smile, "We'll see, sunshine, we'll see."

A couple of hours later, Sebastian woke up surrounded by his bags. He sat up and realized he was still at his grandmother's house; guessing he must have fallen asleep halfway packing, he turned off the radio, his playlist ending some time ago.

Stepping out of his room, he was greeted by singing and laughter from the kitchen.

The sight of three women cooking, two dancing along to Taylor Swift's Shake It Off.

"What is Thor's god-given name is going on here?"

They all turned to him, and both girls' faces were red from laughing.

"Finally!" Sarah turns off the radio, "You are just in time; dinner will be done in...."

Sarah turned to July, who glanced at the timer on the table, "Fifteen minutes."

"Fifteen minutes," Sarah repeats.

Sebastian seeing July in their kitchen with his sister was better than he assumed. It was weird how different she was, her wild hair beside Sarah's straight black hair, her sun-kissed skin against Sarah's almost pale ones, there was just too much difference, and yet she seemed to fit in perfectly.

"Ok." Sebastian looked between Sarah and July, "Sarah, honey, you know that when you invite someone for dinner, you don't make them cook their food, right?"

The women laughed, and July waved a hand, "It's fine. She saw the people from the phone company and let them in; I arrived before they left."

"Crap, I forgot."

"It's fine." July shook her head, "I wouldn't mind another night unplugged."

"People nowadays don't see the importance of time anymore." Grandma Em says, "Back in my day, when you say nine am, they are at the door at eight fifty-nine with one minute to explain their business, leaving a few seconds for us to decide if we should shoot 'em."

The young ones laugh.

"Anyway, I made bake mac, grandma made her garlic bread, and July is making a salad."

"Alright, I'll get the table ready; you ladies put your feet up and gossip or whatever."

"I'd take that foot-up offer." Grandma Em says and makes her way to the living room.

"We'll call you when the food's ready," July says, to which the older lady responds with a wave of her hand without even looking back.

"I liked it when we were rocking to Tay's music," Sarah says, sitting at the table.

"I like it better if you listen to other music." Sebastian starts to collect utensils and plates.

"I listen to other musicians."

"Not counting One Direction and Justin Bieber."

"I listen to your type of music, Jason Mraz and John Mayer. I just like the newer music, is all."

Sebastian sighed, "Where did I go wrong?"

"Hey, they are good too." Sarah pushed him playfully and turned to July. "A little help, July?"

"Music is a cohesive language," July says, busy with the lettuce. "Its diversity holds the unspoken truth of men, while its similarity unifies our differences."

The siblings stared at the woman who had now moved to slice cherry tomatoes in half.

"We can't trust her," Sarah says, shortening the silence. "You think we can influence her?"

"She might die after two of your song choices." Sebastian plays along.

July laughed, "So much for the land of the free."

"Well, what type of music do you listen to?" Sarah asks.

"A lot." She says, "I have an eclectic taste."

"Definitely cannot be trusted," Sebastian mumbles again.

"I listen to a little of everything, alright?" July explains, "Even 1D, we are from the same continent. I like Michael Bublé, and at the same time, I like Fall Out Boy. I listen to R. Kelly and Usher but have little patience with Kanye; I love Eminem, though; when I was younger, I listened to Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach."

"I bet you watched Glee." Sebastian guessed, giving her a look.

"For a while." She admitted, "They had a good repertoire at the beginning; I particularly enjoyed the Michael Jackson episode and the original songs."

"See? Glee is good!" Sarah tells her brother, who hates the show.

"As long as I don't hear Taylor Swift at home-"

"Except when I'm there."

"Except when Sarah's there, which I'm guessing would be every day now."

"Well, I'm glad my song list passed your taste, sir." July teased as she dropped the sliced tomatoes and diced cheese into the salad bowl.

"Do you know Sebastian plays guitar and piano?"

"Now?" July glanced at Sebastian, who was hiding his smile, blushing.

"And he can sing too. He's perfect, good enough to get into-"

"Sarah," Sebastian cuts off his sister and hands her the utensils, "more work-less talk."

Picking up what he meant, Sarah cleaned the utensils before using them.

"It's too bad you didn't give those drunk men a run for their money last night; I think you acquired selective hearing syndrome after one night of that."

Sebastian laughs, "Meh, you get used to it, I guess."

"What about you, July? What do you do for a living?" Sarah asks.

"Oh, well, I uh..." she clears her throat, "I write."

"Like novels?"

She thinks about it for a second and makes a face, "Stories of some sort, I guess."

Sarah leaned over and dropped her voice, "Is it under a pen name? That's why you don't want to tell us? Something like Fifty Shades."

July threw her head back, laughing, "I wish it's as popular as that, but no, just short stories."

"Gina would love to meet you." Sarah excitedly says, "She wants to be a writer."

Sebastian watched his sister animatedly talk about her best friend and spread out her arms to emphasize whatever she was saying. She had always been lively, even when stuck in the hospital bed. Countless times, Sebastian arrived at the hospital, finding a handful of the night nurse having breakfast in her room, catching up with the sassy teenage girl.

Then he glanced at July, who was happily listening to his sister, asking appropriate questions at the right moments, which made the younger woman more excited, and from the looks of it, July was genuinely interested in whatever Sarah was going on about, probably another fact about Taylor Swift.

He stopped playing the guitar and the piano, but he could never cut out music from his life; it was the only thing he was passionate about. Everything he learned from his dad and what he taught Sarah. She could play and read notes but was too lazy to get some hours to practice any piece, but she does love to sing along with the radio.

"Sebastian!"

"What?" he turned to the girls staring at him, "What?"

"We've been calling you the last ten seconds," Sarah laughs, "you're just standing there with a creepy smile."

"My smile is not creepy."

"Yes, it is."

"We have similar smiles."

"No, we don't." Sarah asks July, "Do we have the same smile?"

July stepped back and raised her hands, "You deal with this the way you deal with things, don't drag me into it, little girl."

"You're no fun." Sarah stuck out her tongue at the new girl.

"If it would mean I don't get to choose aside, I'm fine with that." She picked up the salad bowl and handed it to Sarah, "You two bring all that out; I'll get the pasta."

"Yes, ma'am." Sarah says with a salute as she and Sebastian walk to the dining room, "Grandma's right; she is nice; I like her."

Surprisingly, Sebastian was relieved.

Dinner went better than expected, it seemed never-ending, and they didn't even have to pour any personal detail out; conversation kept flowing along with the laughter. Grandma Em even took out a bottle of red wine to celebrate July's safe arrival and officially welcomed her into town.

Being girls, they exchanged topics like the latest fashion, asking July what London was like and what was men there were like, that part Sebastian had to draw the line seeing as his little sister was more interested than the two older women.

With that, July and Sebastian left the two female Michelsons to deal with the dishes, much to July's disagreement, and they were still laughing when they reached their home.

He barely got anything about his housemate than when the day started; he needed that to change before the night ended or at least before they went separate ways.

"I'm so full." July groaned as she dragged her feet into the kitchen for a glass of water. "Your sister is amazing. Your grandmother mentioned she was sick."

"Yeah," Sebastian slipped his hand inside his pockets, "since we were young."

"Well, it doesn't show." July says, "She's a lively little thing, and I'm glad to have met her."

"She is." Sebastian leans over the island across from her. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"Well, I was just wondering why you moved here?" He asked, "It's alright if you don't tell me; it's just, well, it makes me wonder, you know?"

July grins, "It's not like I'm keeping it a secret or anything; it's just no one asked me directly."

"People here do tend to speculate a lot."

"So I've noticed." July smiled, "Anyway, I'm looking for someone."

"Family?"

"Something like that."

Sebastian perked up, an idea coming to mind. Maybe if he finds whoever she's looking for, she'd leave, it sounded like a plot in a movie, but it's worth a shot.

Can I help? I have lived here all my life."

"I don't know," She scrunched up her nose, "someone told me a mention of his name at this town would get me kicked out."

"You're looking for a man?"

"I'm looking for his family." She corrected. "You and I were both pretty young when he left Green Valley, and honestly, I don't know anything about him besides his name, but I owe him a lot, and I want to know his family."

"Well, considering that I know pretty much everyone here and a few people a few towns over." Sebastian insisted. "I promise not to drive you out of town if you tell me."

"Ok," She covered her face and laughed, embarrassed, "I don't have the names of his kids, just his."

"That's fine."

"Bishop," Sebastian froze at the mention of the name, "Marcus Bishop."

"Bishop?" He cleared his throat, confused. "Why are you looking for them?"

July gave him a tight smile, "That part I want to keep to myself if you don't mind?"

"Oh, um." He nodded, "Ok."

He was lost for words; it had been long since he heard that name.

He wanted to know what she needed from the man that had disappeared from his life a little over a decade ago. Maybe she knows where he is and if he's living his dream as a musician like before he met his mother.

"Does it sound familiar?"

Yes.

"No." He shook his head, "Maybe I was too young, or maybe he's from the other side of town. I'll ask around, don't worry; I won't say you're looking for them."

"That would be great." She says, relieved. "Well, it's pretty late; I should get some rest. I have another day of cleaning to do. Your grandmother pointed out some areas that need fixing; I hope you don't mind if I hire people to do the work."

"I can do it-."

"No, I won't let you." She raised a hand, "You are busy as it is. Let me take care of the house, alright?"

"But-"

"No, you do what you must for Sarah; I'll do what I can to help, alright?"

Sebastian just nodded and watched her set her glass in the sink. He wanted her out of the house but needed her close after tonight.

He needed to know why she was looking for him and Sarah.

"Listen, July," July stops by the door, "I'm sorry about yesterday; I was rude. As you said, this is our home; I guess you threatened me. I know it's probably too late, but..." He scratched his head and smiled, "Welcome to the Michelson's house."

July smiled, "Thanks, I appreciate that, Sebastian."

"Good." He gave her a tight lip smile. "I guess you can ask me for help anytime, carrying your boxes or cleaning, even this quest for the Bishops."

"Right back at you, songbird."

"Is the nickname necessary?" He groaned; she had given him a nickname after Grandma Em told her stories of when he would play in the town hall for music night or any musical celebration the town prepared back then.

"Perks of living with you." She teased, making her way out of the kitchen.

"Oh, hey, last question." July looks over her shoulder. "You said someone told you that mentioning his name would get you kicked out of town."

"Yeah."

"Who told you that?"

"His wife." His grip on the edge of the wooden tabletop tightened. "I don't know why she would say that, but I feel there were some unresolved issues."

"You know his wife?"

"Yeah, she's in the same industry as I am," then she made a face, "Well, her husband is."

Sebastian was, once again, lost for words at hearing his mother was alive.

"Well, if that's all." She winked at him, "Good night, Sebastian."

"Good night, July." He stammered.

The moment she was out of his sight, Sebastian frowned in confusion.

So much for making her leave.