The cool air drifted in through the window, hitting against her smooth skin. The sound of the road beneath the tires of the Mustang was the only thing that was keeping her attention now. The conversation between herself and her uncle had died away rather quickly after they had left behind the Texas scenery and now Cindy Valence found herself let to her own thoughts.

It had been only a few days since her parents had died while walking home one evening and it had only been yesterday that they had been buried and placed in the ground for their eternal rest. Now, only a day later, she was traveling miles and miles from her home just to stay with a group of people that she hadn't spoken to in thirteen years or more. For, as it was, the Valence side of her family was estranged from her mother after the marriage of her parents. Her father, who had been a hard-working man, didn't reach the standards of the Valences and therefore her mother had been ignored by her family ever sense.

As this thought and realization passed through her mind, Cindy glanced toward her uncle, taking in the set features of his face. There were no lines that came from smiling and there was no glint of amusement in his eyes. They were just hard and indifferent. Sighing softly to herself, she readjusted herself in her seat and looked toward the window, watching as the trees disappeared and only open plains could be seen. Slowly, her eyes began to drift closed and the sleep she had been fighting off since the day before finally won.

*******************

The air around her was silent and still as Cindy's hazel eyes flashed open and she sat up in alarm. The engine of the car had stopped and the sound of her uncle's breathing beside her had disappeared. Looking to the driver's seat, she realized he was no longer there and in alarm she got out of the car and turned around. Behind her, a large house caught her attention and assuming it was that of her relatives, she headed toward it quickly.

Letting the door slam shut behind her, Cindy looked around, taking in the decorative style in which the house was made up in. It was obvious her uncle and aunt weren't poor; in fact, by the looks of it, it appeared that they seemed to be one of the wealthiest people in their area. As this realization crossed through her mind, she heard hurried footsteps coming up behind her and a small squeal coming from the direction of the door.

Whirling around, a polite smile appeared on Cindy's face as she stood looking at her cousin, Sherri. It had been almost thirteen years since her cousin had been to visit her in Texas and it was obvious that neither of them had seen the other since. Uncertain of what to say, Cindy continued to just smile before her cousin hurried toward her and wrapped her arms around her, bringing her into a tight embrace. Unwillingly, Cindy returned the hug before backing away and letting the smile disappear from her lips.

"How're you?" she questioned, her eyes scanning over her cousin's face before she looked back towards the door from which she had come in. Apparently this would be a rather long evening of getting reacquainted, which Cindy had honestly hoped would be later on in her stay. However, Sherri didn't seem to notice the awkwardness in the situation and soon had grabbed onto her cousin's arm and had brought her up the stairs and into the guest bedroom which now belonged to Cindy.

"We've got a lot to talk about," Sherri mused, watching as her cousin looked around at the furniture that was already placed in the room. Yet, as she watched Cindy merely nod in reply, the smile that had been on her face from the start slowly disappeared. "Um, I suppose you want to get settled in, don't you?" she continued, the excitement disappearing from her tone. Cindy, once again, only nodded in reply as her cousin let a soft sigh escape from her lips.

"I'll see you later then. Good night, Cindy," she called before closing the door quietly. Cindy listened to her cousin's footsteps disappearing along the hallway and once they were out of earshot, she sighed and fell onto the bed. This entire place was so strange to her. Just by listening to her cousin talk, she could tell she wouldn't fit in perfectly; then again, she never wanted to fit in perfectly. All she wanted to do was make herself happy and she had a feeling this might just be what she needed.

As she convinced herself of this, Cindy scooted up the bed toward the pillows and after separating the comforter from the bed sheet, she slipped between them and fell asleep.