Remain the Same Part 4

Dani's dad pulled into the driveway of her Aunt Kate's and Uncle Lucas's house. Her dad looked at her and she crossed her arms making no attempt to get up. "Come on sport, it'll be fun," she still didn't move. He clicked her seatbelt and ruffled her hair. She hated when he and Adam did that. Her hair was a thick mass of redish flyaway hair that always was in a braid. The braid fell below her shoulder blades since she refused to cut it more than an inch or two at a time. Her refusal to cut her hair came from a bad haircut when she was seven.

"Dani come on," he said getting out. She sighed and went to the back end to grab her duffle bag. It was large and bright yellow, Adam had the same one only orange.

"Ni'Elle!" shouted her cousin, Amanda. Amanda was the same age as her only a lot shorter. She barely hit 5'2 and was lucky to weigh over one hundred pounds. Her hair was chin length bright blonde hair, completely natural. "I can't beleive you came!" she shouted running up to give her a hug.

"Cool it Ame's," she said pushing her away. "And I told you to knock off the Ni'Elle," Amanda pouted. Dani was short for Danielle and had gone by 'Dani' since Adam gave her that name when they were three.

"Fine, Dani," she said sticking her tongue out.

"Great, Manni," she said. Amanda hated that. Dani was about to open her mouth again, when her older brother Keith came out.

"Dandelion! Is the Salamanda bothering you? Where's your boyfriend?" Keith was only a year older than them and made it his life long mission to torment his little sister and 'favorite' cousin.

"Shut it, Keith," Amanda said glaring at him. (the result however was humorous because she looked like Tinkerbell).

"Naw, Manni isn't bothering me at all Kei-Kei and I think you really need to get your medication adjusted," then she whispered to Amanda. "Does he think he has a girlfriend too?' she laughed while her dad and Uncle Lucas tried to keep from laughing. Aunt Kate however was not amused.

"I have to deal with this for two weeks?" she asked. Amanda nodded and Dani looked at her cousins then at her father with pleading eyes.

"Let's go! We can't waste time! I have so much to show you! So much to do!" Amanda said grabbing Dani's arm.

"If you don't hear from me or Aunt Kate in three days saying I'm alright call Adam," Dani said in a serious tone. By now Amanda had started jumping up and down babbling about something. "Make that two hours," she said as she finally followed Amanda inside wondering what she was thinking when she agreed to come; this was hardly the lesser of two evils.


The next morning it was much to bright in Amanda's bedroom. Amanda was humming and dancing around her room. "Ni'Elle! Your awake! Finally, have you seen my other shoe?" Dani sat up and looked around. The room had lavender walls with two twin beds, probably from when Amanda was over so she could have friends over. Dani was happy for the second bed so she didn't have to stay in the smelly guest room.

"No, I haven't seen your shoe. Why are you up so early?" Dani said sinking back into her pillow looking at the ceiling.

"It's not early, besides I was waiting for you to get up. I think one of Keith's friends is here and he's well... Keith and him are a lot alike," Amanda said then looked at Dani. "Can I help you get ready?" she asked. "I could do your hair and maybe your makeup..."

"No!" she shouted. The last thing Dani wanted was a bunch of gunk on her face. Besides she put her hair in a French braid after her shower last night and she wouldn't take it out until her next shower, then rebraid it.

"Come on, please," Amanda said. "Your hair would look amazing."

"Who cares? It's not like we're going anywhere today," Dani said in huff getting out of bed, grabbing some random clothes and retreating to the bathroom.

She brushed her teeth and put on the clothes. Luckily they matched, a pair of shorts with an older t-shirt of hers. Her braid limply rested on her shoulder. She sighed and headed back to the room. "Please?" Amanda said as soon as Dani put the clothes on top of her duffle. "I'll make you look amazing,"

"If you shut up and do it while I'm eating then yes," Dani said finally before storming downstairs. She made herself a bowl of cereal and sat at the table while Amanda stood up and carefully unbraided it. They heard laughing, that's when Keith walked in with a guy about his age. He was pretty tall with dark hair and light eyes.

"Wyatt, you already know Salamanda, but this is my oh so precious cousin Danielle." he said with a smirk, then whispered. "Call her Dandelion,"

"I heard that Kei-Kei, shut your mouth before I shut it for you," Dani said putting her spoon down.

"I'm so scared..." Keith said.

"You should be," she said before trying to get up.

"Dani! Don't move, I'm doing your hair," Amanda cried.

"Like I care," she said getting up, that's when her aunt and uncle walked in.

"Dani, Keith I told you no roughhousing. Something or someone is going to broken," Aunt Kate said. Dani rolled her eyes and continued walking. "I don't care what your father let's you do in his house." It was true, she could get away with practically anything at home.

"Yeah, take it outside if your going to fight," Uncle Lucas added and Aunt Kate glared.

"Well we're going to play basketball," Wyatt said. Dani perked up, she might not be the greatest at it, but after living next door to Adam her whole life she learned how to play numerous sports.

"And Dani's going to stay here while I finish styling her hair." This was going to be a long two weeks.