The fucking psycho in question conveniently happens to be strolling by.
“Looks like someone knows what you are and decided to artfully display it for everyone to see.” She snickers, then continues, “It was only a matter of time before everyone saw you for who you truly are, worthless trash. You don’t belong here and I’ll remind you of your place every single day until you’re smart enough to leave.”
My upset stomach has vanished, and in its wake, my blood boils. Fists clenching, I snap, “Come off it bitch, this has you written all over it. You’re pathetic. Some blood on my locker doesn’t mean shit to me. However, my very existence seems to be a threat to you. Guess you’re not as “powerful” as you think you are if you’re doing this type of fucking shit!”
“Oh please, I wouldn’t sully myself with this shit,” she growls and continues down the hall.
If she thinks for one minute I believe that she didn’t directly or indirectly sanction this, then she’s as dumb as they come. I grit my teeth in aggravation and head toward the office. Is it Friday yet? I need a break because this shit is getting old fast.
EMMA
“Time for school, get your butts down here or we’ll all be late,” I shout up the stairs before walking into the kitchen.
It’s been weeks and still no word from our mother, freaking radio silence. I’m starting to worry. She’s never been gone longer than two weeks. I can only hope she’s at some detox center or strung out somewhere instead of on a slab in someone’s morgue with no identifying markers, because her body is so badly decayed. My stomach churns, body shuddering, at that possibility.
“Riah,” Kellan’s voice breaking me from my morose thoughts.
Bending over and squeezing him in a bear hug, I inhale the fruity scent of his favorite tropical tangerine SpongeBob body wash.
“Yeah buddy?” I ask, smiling into the top of his strawberry locks.
“When are Mom and Dad coming home?” Kick, jab, uppercut to the gut. His question causes all air to leave me in a rush.
Collecting myself so he can’t see my worry, I school my features and tip his head back so our matching gray stares meet. My lips give a small smile before I say, “I’m not sure, but hopefully soon. Until then it’s us against the world. We got each other no matter what, right?” I curl up my fist to meet his. Once they connect we spread our hands out and wiggle our fingers like they exploded, our family’s signature handshake.
“Hey, what about me?” Ky mopes out from my other side and I turn grabbing him up into his own version of the same greeting.
“I would never ever forget you, not in this lifetime or the next,” I say, tickling his sides when he wiggles out of my hold.
Slanting my head toward Jamie I ask, “You want in on this too?” My hands already moving in her direction, ready to attack.
She squeals and takes off around the kitchen island. “Nope, not even in the slightest,” she jokes just as I catch her up into her own hug.
These are the moments I live for. The ones where I can ease the worry lines from their adorable faces, hopefully easing their panic, even if mine has only ratcheted up tenfold.
“Your turn,” they all squawk at varying intervals and then I’m under a little human pile, giggling at their goofiness.
Getting up off the floor and grabbing my things for school I say, “Okay, time for school, I need to get out of here. Remember the rules and later tonight we’ll celebrate finishing our first official month of school. I love you dorks.”
* * *
Well, I survived the first month. Now, I just need to survive another nine more of them.
This month went like my first week. Sam tries to do something trivial to get under my skin and when that doesn’t work she escalates. The dumb bitch had the nerve, one day, to fly my booty shorts on the flag pole with a sign that said ‘wide load.’ I cracked up so hard I almost expired. I just kindly let the unoriginal bitch know it’s because I have a dump truck and thanked her for warning those who can’t handle it to move the hell out of my way. Let’s just say she didn’t handle that well at all.
Oh well. I forget what the score is, but I know I’m up.
The only time I almost put my hands on her was when she started spewing crap about my siblings always being at someone’s house trying to find a substitute mother. It took Shay, Wy, and Karl to hold me back that day. Other than that I’ve ignored her, which has made her turn more colors than a rainbow.
Rowan has been his continuously dickish self, turning his nose up at me any chance he gets and making slick comments to try and remind me of my station in life. Like we are in some Victoria-era novel.
Liam and I don’t speak unless it’s related to our assignments in Civics. He hasn’t tried to apologize or explain since that first try after grabbing me and that’s perfectly fine with me. He can go kick a rock and stub his toe chasing after it.
August and Karl have been nice. August seems to be the most friendly of them all. Nothing like what happened at Shay’s has happened again, though I have had a dream or two about a Wy and Karl sandwich, leading me to question why my horny bitch of a pussy won’t stop being so damn greedy.
It doesn’t matter how freaking mouth watering they are, I don’t have time to get caught up in some love triangle.
I let out a groan, pulling into my driveway, noticing my mom’s car still isn’t there. However, in its place is a black Lincoln Navigator sitting idle.
Putting my car in park and staying seated, I take my time, eyes roaming left then right, trying to study who could be in the car. I’m hoping whoever is inside will get out before I decide my course of action.
Sure enough a man steps out of the driver’s seat, legs long and thighs thick like tree trunks, and begins to walk towards my car. He looks like he’s seven feet tall and as wide as two linebackers. Seriously, the man looks like he eats lions for breakfast. His skin is bronze and appears smooth, not a noticeable blemish in place.
The lucky fucker. I would sell my left tit for blemish-free skin, but every month like clockwork my uterus reminds me it’s not with my chin pimples. So, when I find Eve I’m laying her ass out.
By the time I finish my tangent rant, he’s almost at my door. I’m greeted by a big white toothy grin, and it appears genuine. He stops about a foot away from me, so I roll down my window just enough to hear him, but not enough that he can stick his large hands in and yank me out. Let’s be honest, though, he could probably bench lift my car, so my window provides no real protection.
The giant speaks, “Miss Bishop, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Thomas and I will be your new driver and guard.”
Slap me stupid, but did he just say my driver and guard?
“You said your name is Thomas?” My shock makes it hard for me to even get the damn question out.
“Yes miss.”
Clearing my throat I regain my composure. “Well Thomas, I’m going to need to come back around to Connecticut Avenue, because you have obviously passed go and you never even rolled the dice. I don’t recall winning a lottery or hiring a driver who doubles as a bodyguard. So, please tell me how you’re both of these things without my knowledge?” My head tilts, mouth slanting to the side. I’m not buying whatever he’s selling.
“I’m sorry Miss Bishop,” he says, azure blue eyes softening with the utmost sincerity, as he pulls out an envelope from his left breast pocket and slides it to me, through the small gap of the window. “The details of everything can be found here. I will give you the weekend to read and prepare yourself. The movers will be here on Tuesday to move you all to your new home while you and your siblings are at school. I will see you Monday afternoon, Miss Bishop, to take you to the meeting with the lawyers. Have a great weekend.” Then, the jolly bronzed giant turns and walks back to his car before I have time to pick my jaw up from the floor to even muster up any question.
Stretching my arms out, I hold the manilla envelope out in front of me, it’s light, not much appears to be in it. I see it has my name written in large letters. I turn it over and see that it has what looks like a black wax seal. Leaning closer, I peer at the seal and notice that there are foreign looking words going around it, but it’s the symbol in the middle that really catches my attention. There’s a skull embossed in the seal and in the head of the skull is what looks like a sword or knife of some kind, with some kind of vine wrapped around its blade.
I can’t make out much more detail because the seal isn’t that large. I hear the squealing of school bus brakes, drawing me away from any further investigation of the envelope and its contents because the kids are home. Unzipping my backpack, I quickly shove the envelope in and open the car door. I can read this later, once I have them settled for bed.
The twins come flying up the driveway while Jamie saunters down, sporting a Cheshire Cat wide grin. The three of them appear happy, my fingers crossed that I’m able to keep it that way.
* * *
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.