by S J Crabb
Chapter Two
I can see one of my brothers waiting for me on his motorbike and shudder inside. Caleb is my least favourite and it's typical that he was sent to pick me up. He looks annoyed and shouts over, "Hurry up will you I've got a hot date tonight and the last thing I want is to have to ferry you around."
Biting back a retort I plant myself behind him on the bike. I learnt at a very young age not to antagonise him. He lives with my father full time alongside our other brother Marius. They absolutely hate us descending on them every holiday and make our lives hell. They spend most of their lives creating trouble and are feared throughout the town which doesn't surprise me given the role model they live with.
Luckily it isn't far and he drops me off home before roaring away into the night. I pity the poor girl that will have to deal with him tonight.
I try to slip inside the house before anyone notices me as all I want is to go to my room and hide. I can hear the television blaring out from the den and turn towards the stairs but before I can make it I hear a voice coming and as I look I see my father's latest girlfriend coming out of the kitchen talking on her phone. Noticing me she says into the phone, "Got to go babes, talk soon."
Fixing a sugary grin on to her face she stops in front of me. "Hiya honey, have you had a good time?" Smothering a derisive snort I merely smile politely. "I started a new job today Luna, fun didn't really come into it."
She looks surprised. "Why on earth are you working honey? Surely you've come here to relax for the summer, not work away in some god awful place."
Shrugging I look at her blankly. "Ask my father he arranged it."
Uttering a shrill laugh she raises her eyes. "What's he like? I mean it's not as if you need the money is it? No you should be with Ashley and Savannah enjoying his membership at the country club. They have had quite a day there what with tennis, lunch and treatments in the spa. Let me have a word with him honey, I'll sort it out don't you worry."
I know she means well but quite honestly I would prefer to work all day and night rather than go anywhere with them and especially to a country club.
To my dismay she grabs hold of my arm and propels me along to the kitchen. "Let me make you something to eat honey. You must be starving." Thinking about it I do feel quite hungry so decide to follow her.
She chatters on about nothing and I tune out. Looney Luna I call her, a vapid bottle blonde with the figure of a Victoria Secrets model. Just my father's type. Despite the fact that everything she stands for disgusts me I do actually quite like her as she means well and has a big heart. My sisters get on well with her as she is into all of the things that they are. In fact she isn't that much older than us and once again I despise my father for his penchant for young girls.
Luna makes me a sandwich which is surprisingly good. I didn't realise how hungry I was and am grateful to her. As I finish up she hears the front door and heads outside to see who it is. I hear her squeal excitedly and with a sinking feeling realise that it must be my father. Quickly I grab some leftovers and sprint to the stairs before he can prise her face from his as the last thing I want is a conversation with him.
Luckily I make it to my room and kicking the door shut lock it quickly. Finally I can relax. Dumping my bag on to the floor I jump on to my bed with the leftovers and press the remote for the TV fully intending on staying here until I have to leave for my shift tomorrow.
As prisons go it's not so bad. My father is certainly loaded and doesn't scrimp and scrape when it comes to the material things in life. We live in the largest house in town that he had purposefully built with all the latest mod cons and gadgets. Each of us has our own room equipped with everything that we could ever want. In fact all my life I have had whatever I wanted materialistically speaking. When it comes to my emotional well being - well the jury's out on that one.
My mother is no better and is just wrapped up in her new boyfriend and their life together and I just get in the way.
I have never had a loving family to come home to which is probably why I'm the way I am.
My thoughts turn strangely to Drake. There is something about him that draws me to him and I'm not just thinking about his absolute gorgeousness. No there's more to him than that, it's as though he is vital to me in some way that I can't put my finger on.
My thoughts are interrupted as I hear voices outside my door and recognise the shrill tones of my sisters. Despite what Luna told me about their day I know my father only too well. Their day at the spa was possibly orchestrated for an ulterior purpose. That's all we are to him, pawns in his chess game of life. They will have some sort of mission to carry out as do I, although I have yet to find out what mine is exactly.
Settling down for the night I put it all out of my mind and just concentrate on the banal dialogue of some movie that is on and I soon drift off to sleep.