The lady sitting behind the counter looked up from her computer and smiled. "She's still in delivery on the 8th floor. Are you family?"
"No," Jocelyn said.
The woman smiled again. "Don't worry. You can go up and wait with her family in the waiting room. It shouldn't be a problem."
Jocelyn dragged her brother to the nearest elevator, and punched the 8 button. She was so nervous, and she didn't know why. The ride up was silent, as was the walk to the waiting room that was centralized on the 8th floor.
There, she saw a haggard-looking man with a dark growth of whiskers on his chin, a girl with greasy auburn hair and wet hazel eyes, a young man with sandy blond hair and burning green eyes who looked furious, another young man with shaggy blond hair and dark gray eyes who was wringing his hands nervously, and then an older woman in a dress suit and graying-auburn hair that was swept into a business-like french twist. The others were a lot older, and many had small children already running around.
"Excuse me," Jocelyn piped. "Are you Jerry's family?"
The group looked at her. The older man asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Jocelyn Andrews. My friend's brother is good friends with Jerry. She's picked me up from school a few times. I guess she's my friend, too," Jocelyn said, timidly.
They all studied her for a moment. Then, after a minute or two, the man said, "You and you, young man, can come wait with us."
"Who's in there with her?" Jocelyn asked as she took a seat with them.
"Doctors and nurses I guess," the man shrugged. He looked a bit sad.
"So, who are all of you?" Jocelyn asked. They eyed her, again, critically.
The man stuck his hand out. "I'm Brian Spencer. Jerry's dad."
The auburn-haired girl smiled. Her dark make-up was smeared and as she leaned over to shake Jocelyn's hand, she nearly fell out of the low-cut top she wore. "I'm Conna Spencer. You know, Jerry's room-mate and cousin." She gestured towards the green-eyed boy. "That's Lucas. My boyfriend."
The boy grimaced at her. The auburn-haired woman smiled tightly and shook her hand. "I'm Miranda Spencer, Conna's mother."
The other boy just stared at her with cold eyes. Then he spat, "I'm Michael."
Jocelyn just nodded quietly. Josh sat down awkwardly beside his little sister, and wrapped a protective arm around her. In her ear, as quiet as possible, he whispered, "I'm not so sure of these people, Joce..."
