by Charity B.
Uncle Bennett has Mexican takeout spread across the kitchen table when we get home. Immediately, she pulls out her dress to show him. “Isn’t it pretty?”
“It looks a little short…” She frowns, making him clear his throat. “It’s a nice dress, Adriel.”
I can hear her feet pounding up the stairs to put her bag away. Seconds later, she’s back in the kitchen with a doll. Uncle Bennett piles his plate full of food, shoving a large bite of rice into his mouth,
“Uncle Bennett!” Adriel shrieks. “You didn’t even pray!”
Swallowing his entire bite in one gulp he stutters, “Uh, yeah, sorry.”
He goes to church most of the time, though I’ve always thought he saw it as more of a business opportunity. I’m pretty sure he’s not one to pray on a regular basis, judging from the way he stumbles through it.
The moment he says, “Amen”, Adriel takes three quick consecutive bites. I smile at her eagerness while Uncle Bennett raises a questioning eyebrow. “I have to get ready,” she mumbles around her quesadilla.
“Where is this party at?” Uncle Bennett asks.
“Bridgett Matthew’s house,” Adriel answers.
Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he leans back in his chair. “Just so we’re clear, I’m not dumb, okay? I know how these things go. Just be home by midnight, and call me if you drink. Do not drive drunk. Understand?”
I nod. “We understand.”
It isn’t long before she announces that’s she’s finished, nearly sprinting from the kitchen. After helping Uncle Bennett clean up the food, I kill the next couple of hours with my headphones and camera. When the clock on my phone reads nine-thirty, I drop my head on my desk. I just want to get this over with.
My door hits the wall when it swings open behind me. Turning around, my eyes widen at the vision of her, and my heart pounds with a hard thud. She’s wearing her new dress with her white socks and black Mary Janes. Her hair is curled, half of it tied up with a pink ribbon. I’ve never seen her with makeup on before. She’s…fuck, she’s gorgeous. Small, glittery stickers are scattered by her eyes above her cheekbones.
“Are you ready?”
“Y-you look…” I really am trying to not give her more mixed signals. I just want her to know that I notice her efforts. “Incredible.”
Her blushed cheeks brighten further with her grin. “Thank you.”
I’m secretly relieved she isn’t holding one of her creations. I would never ask her to leave them, they’re part of who she is. I just know bringing a toy to a party would give the assholes at school even more ammo to tease her with.
In the car, she bounces in her seat, humming to herself until we pull up to Bridgett’s house. Over fifteen cars are parked on the lawn. A huge, hand-painted sign hangs on the front porch with an arrow pointing to the back yard.
Shoving my hands in my pockets to keep myself from touching her, I follow the sound of voices to the back of the house. Everyone must have carpooled considering the human to vehicle ratio. Candles sit on any available flat surface. Awkward greetings are tossed our way as we walk to the beer keg.
“Are you going to drink?” I whisper to her.
She’s always had her own sense of morality, and as far as I know, drinking falls into the ‘sin’ category.
Her blue painted nails are bright against the red solo cup when she picks it up with a shrug. A kid in her grade helps her tap the keg before she brings it to her lips, swallowing a big gulp. The disgusted expression twisting her features siphons a laugh from my mouth while I fill my own cup.
More people continue to arrive. I can’t believe there hasn’t been a single person that’s said something rude. Maybe being orphaned took the target off our backs.
My mom’s wine is the only alcohol I’ve ever tasted, and after my fourth cup of beer, I start feeling a buzzing warmth swarming through my body. Adriel drifts off, wandering through the party to survey our classmates.
Bridgett Matthews, the skank that makes Adriel’s high school life hell, stands on top of her patio table with a cup in one hand and a candle in the other.
“Hey, bitches!” Whoops and hollers sound all around me. “Let’s remember why we’re here before we’re too drunk to.” Their laughing at her insensitive joke grates on my nerves as she holds up her candle. “For Pastor and Mrs. Courtenay!” Everyone follows her lead, holding their candles in the air. Flickering flames rise toward the sky, spotting my vision with orange dots. “Now let’s get our memorial on!”
Yelling extinguishes the silence before someone turns the music up loud. Looking around for Adriel, I spot her in her blue dress walking into the house through the open back door. Why did she wander off anyway? I thought she wanted to be here with me.
After topping off my cup, I follow her inside. The heavy, oval table in the dining room is littered with food, soda, and hard liquor. It feels like over half the party is in here, judging by the way I have to zigzag around the groups of people to get to the living room.
My eyes stick to Adriel the moment I turn the corner. Nausea threatens the beer I’m drinking when an ire like I’ve never experienced burns straight through me.
She’s sitting on the couch, way too fucking close to Stefan Marks, an asshole who’s in half of my classes. I can’t hear their conversation, but their smiles say they’re flirting. Her fingers fondle her ruffles before she touches his arm, whispering something in his ear. My cup crinkles as I grip the flimsy plastic, forcing myself not to make a scene. It isn’t fair for me to stop her. Even though the very thought makes my throat close up, I know she needs to like other guys.
Just not Stefan motherfucking Marks.
She stands up, allowing me to exhale because I think she’s about to walk away…until she faces him and lifts her skirt. My jaw drops. Although I can’t see them, Stefan is obviously getting an eyeful of her panties.
What the ever-loving fuck?!
My head spins with alcohol fueled fury. I don’t know what she says to him, but his eyes widen as he nods. Grabbing his hand, she pulls him off the couch, leading him into a hall.
Yeah, the hell that’s happening. I slam back the rest of my beer, dropping my cup on a table as I storm after them. She’s not letting that piece of shit touch a single part of her. They’re stepping onto the landing at the top of the stairs when I catch sight of them.
“Adriel!” I yell, my voice booming in my ears. They both stare at me as I pound up the steps, my chest heaving. “What. The. Hell are you doing?”
Her eyes blaze. She wants this to hurt me, and it does. It motherfucking does. Softly touching his chest, she bats her mascara-painted lashes.
“This is my new friend, Stefan. He wants to see inside my new panties.”
Yep. I’m going to kill him.
Stefan’s eyebrow raises at me, questioning my response. Being irate is a perfectly acceptable reaction…I think. A normal brother would be furious at this too.
Smell the flowers, blow out the candles.
Forcing my voice to appear even, I say, “Get out of here, Stefan. Then maybe you won’t spend the night in the hospital.”
He throws up his hands, scooting past her to go back downstairs. “I’m out. Fucking the psycho isn’t worth it.”
My teeth grind as I clench my jaw. If I wasn’t so ready to tear into Adriel right now, he would be paying for that comment. Glaring at her in silence, I ball my hands into fists while Stefan descends the steps. Her stare dares me to say something. I grip her arm, pulling her into the first door I see, slamming it behind us.
I thought I could do it. Will myself to not want her, but I can’t. I can’t be around her every day without touching and kissing her. And I definitely can’t watch her with someone else.
She’s been right all along; I desire her just as much, if not more, than she does me. I proverbially throw my hands up.
I’m done fighting the inevitable.
Adriel
17 years old
Stefan was ea
sy. He isn’t popular and has the reputation of hooking up with anyone. A little flirting, giving him a flash of panties, and the mention of sex was all it took. I just wish I could have seen Kai’s face when I lifted my skirt.
I can see it now though, and it’s hardened in fury. The rage in his voice is making me tingly. Stefan mumbles something about me being psycho, but I don’t really hear it. I’m focused on my big brother, waiting for his reaction. I don’t know if it worked or if I just made him mad at me again. Suddenly, he jumps into motion, yanking me into a bedroom.
It takes five seconds to realize we’re in Bridgett’s room. Her pictures, cheerleading trophies, and pop star posters are a dead giveaway.
“What the hell were you thinking? Stefan Marks?!”
“Why do you care?” I scream. “You don’t want to fuck me, so I found someone who would!”
Nearly popping my wrist, he pulls me to Bridgett’s bed, tossing me on the edge. In one movement, he lifts my dress to rip my new, pink panties down my legs.
“That’s bullshit.” I reach for them, and he shakes his head before stuffing them in his back pocket. “I’ve been dying to fuck you again, and you know it.” Leaning forward, he rests his fists on the bed next to my hips, bringing us eye to eye. “That’s why you’ve been tormenting me.”
His lip raises with a smirk as he stands upright. The sound of his zipper tearing open makes my mind catch up to what’s happening. My heartbeat becomes wild as I smile at him.
It’s happening! Sluma was right! I jolt at his sudden touch. His fingertips rub up and down my slit.
“You’re fucking soaked. This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
With a scoff, he slides two fingers inside me. “Well, it worked.” He pumps his hand quickly, kissing my jaw as he murmurs, “Lie on your stomach and face me.”
I do what he says immediately. Biting my lip, I watch him shove his jeans and underwear over his butt. His cock springs free, giving me a rush of excitement at how hard it is. I can’t wait to feel it inside of me again. The tip is shiny and a little pinker than the rest. Raised veins decorate his shaft, leading to the small patch of dark hair at the base. He fists his hand around it as my eyes shift up to his.
“Will you…put it in your mouth?”
I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. Licking the hole, I nod. His body shivers when something slightly salty lands on my tongue. I trace along a large vein before opening my mouth. The head is silky when I close my lips around it. Sucking hard and fast as if drinking from a bottle makes him moan, so I try to take more in. His pelvis pushes forward, forcing him deeper. He slams against my throat causing me to gag, but I won’t let it stop me.
We work together to get a steady rhythm, his hands gripping my head while he groans out his question. “Would you have really slept with Stefan? If I didn’t stop you?”
I take my mouth off him, making a pop sound. “Ewe, no way. I never ever want to feel anyone besides you.”
He bends over, smashing his lips against mine while flipping me over so I’m lying on my back. My legs spread automatically for him. He settles his hips between them, moving his kisses down my neck. Groaning, he thrusts his cock between my pussy lips.
As he lines himself up with my entrance he whispers, “Are you ready?” If I nod any harder, I’ll break my neck. With this angle, he’s able to slide all the way in on the first shove. “Fuck. You feel so incredible.”
He does too.
My hands clasp onto his back while his butt raises with every thrust into me. I hug him tight, pressing my body against his to feel him deeper. He lifts my leg higher to do the same.
“Don’t ever turn me away again,” I whisper against his neck. “Please.”
He shakes his head. “I won’t, I swear. I’m so sorry.” There’s somewhere deep inside that he keeps hitting, and I clench around him. My skin does the tingling thing that tells me my orgasm is coming.
“Harder, Kai. Keep doing that, but harder.” The heels of my Mary Janes scrape against his thighs as he grunts, ramming as violently as he can, just like I asked. My body glows as the pink lights that were in my room float around us. I usually hate when I see things, but this time, it adds to my euphoria. Stars dance across my vision, mixing with the lights as I come, making me cry out in pleasure.
“Oh my God! This is so fucked up!” Bridgett’s laugh seems to eject him out of me and off the bed. We both look at her, standing in her bedroom doorway, holding up her phone as if filming.
Kai frantically yanks up his pants. “Please, Bridgett, you can’t tell anyone.” His expression breaks my heart.
Black liquid pours from her eyes and darkens her teeth as she laughs. “Are you kidding? This is gold!”
Fury and fear threaten to tear me to bits as they fight for my attention. If she posts that or even tells anyone, Malakai will be ripped away from me.
Dead girls can’t speak, a soft voice whispers.
They’ll take him!
Cut off her fingers, cut out her tongue, do it before your secrets are sung.
I don’t know what’s happening. Regardless, just like Sluma, these voices are right. Without thinking, I jump from the bed to grab a cheerleading trophy off the shelf. Swinging the base against her head, Bridgett falls to the floor with a groan. The pink lights shine brighter around me, illuminating the room to the point it’s almost blinding. My arm pulls back behind my head, preparing to land another blow, when Kai’s hand grasps my wrist.
“What are you doing?!” he screams.
“She’s gonna tell!” There are times I almost think I’ll be able to cry, and this is one of those times. “You’ll be taken away.”
“So, you just jump right to killing her?!” Bridgett shifts on the floor, holding her head as she cries black tears. He tugs on my arm, pulling me from the room. “Come on, we’ve gotta get out of here.”
I fight to get free from his grip. “What about the phone?”
Just then, Bridgett’s boyfriend, Gavin Guerin, appears in the doorway. “Whoa! What happened?!” I’m on my knees, scanning the floor trying to find her phone, when Kai grabs my arm, using Gavin’s distraction with Bridgett to get us out of her room. He doesn’t say anything to me or anyone else as he drags me through the house and out to the hearse.
Once he peels out of the yard and we’re back on the road he barks at me, “I can’t believe you tried to bash in Bridgett’s brain! What the shit was that?”
“She’s mean and evil!” I scream. “She wants to hurt us!”
“She’s not fucking evil, Adriel, she’s just a bitch. You have to stop this. Family nights are over. I can’t constantly be worried your gonna kill every goddamn person that pisses you off!”
I don’t know why he’s so mad at me. I was just trying to protect us. If she shares that video, everyone will know, and the only person left that matters to me will be gone.
“I just don’t want to lose you.”
He sighs, taking my hand. “I know.”
“What do we do if she shares that video?”
Groaning, he scratches his eye. “I have no idea.”
He’s not driving in the right direction to go home. It isn’t until he turns on Corbillard Street that I realize he’s heading to the church. “Why are we going to First Bethel?”
“Because we’re gonna tell Mom and Dad. About us.”
What good is that gonna do? “But…they’re dead.”
The hearse pulls right in front of the cemetery. “I need this, Adriel, all right?”
Sitting in the front seat for a moment, I watch him make his way through the plots. I don’t know why he thinks this is important. Regardless, since he does, I do too. I join Kai at our parents’ resting place where he’s already kneeling.
“You fucking bitch!” he screams at our mother’s tombstone, making me jump at his unexpected outburst. “How could you do this to us?!” Lowering next to him, I put my hand on his back. His fingers clench
in the dirt beneath him as he yells at our father’s grave, “Now do you know what she was doing?! She fucked me up so much that the only girl I want is my own goddamn sister!”
His words freeze me solid. My chest hurts. He hates his feelings for me. It despises him that he loves me, that he desires me. I’m a sickness to him, a disease. It makes me wonder if Mommy hadn’t made him be with her if he would even want me at all. The idea turns my stomach as I jump to my feet.
“I didn’t know loving me caused you so much pain.” As angry as it makes me that he feels that way, I also don’t want to be the same as my mommy. I don’t want to be the cause of a single ounce of his hurt. “You don’t ever have to touch me again. I don’t want you to.”
Without Kai, I’ll be alone forever. Knowing this makes the tears that refuse to fall burn behind my sockets.
The chilled night air blows my hair back as I run through the cemetery. I pass the hearse and keep going even when I reach the street. Just as I’m about to cut through a backyard, his strong grasp closes around my arm before I’m pressed against his hard, warm body.
His chest raises against my cheek with his labored breathing. “Loving you is the only thing that takes the pain away, Adriel.” Cupping my cheeks, he lifts my face to look at him, the street lights casting shadows across his expression.
“Why is this so confusing for you? It’s driving me bonkers!”
His laugh carries no joy. “Because the world sees this as wrong.”
“The world sees a lot of things as ‘wrong.’ Do you really feel like it’s bad, or are you just going off of what you think is right?”
His smirk makes me press my thighs together. “How did you get so smart?”
Malakai
18 years old
I don’t get a moment of sleep. Tossing and turning in my sheets replaces the dreams I’d normally have. My thoughts keep traveling to the video Bridgett took tonight. Proof of mine and Adriel’s relationship will destroy us. Uncle Bennett will kick me out, not to mention, I have no idea what the legal repercussions might be.