by D. Breeze
“I know little brother. I know. I’m going to find a way to get us out of this.”
I made a strangled noise in my throat and looked at over him.
“And how are you going to do that? We have no one, Mase! If we go into care or something, we probably wouldn’t even be together anymore.”
He bit his lip and looked indecisive. “I have a plan, I’ve been, um...talking to someone. And I think he’s going to help us.”
I didn’t like the sound of that at all. We didn’t know anyone who had the power to help us.
“Who?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I can’t tell you yet but please trust me.”
I stared at the ceiling, sure that I could get him to talk, but my mind was exhausted and my stomach was cramping from lack of food so I just didn’t have the energy to stay awake anymore.
I closed my eyes and drifted off.
I didn’t hear a word of the whispered conversation from the boy lying next to me on the phone.
I wish I would have.
I wish I could have heard his sigh of relief and the tears that fell when the voice on the other end of the phone said he was going to get us out of there once and for all.
Chapter Four
Lydia
A few days after Lucas had shouted at me in the park, he strolled into my room.
“Lyds? Ruben is staying here tonight ok? Try not to be too annoying yeah?” He joked.
My eyes widened. “Staying? Here?...All night?”
“That’s what I meant, yeah.” He rolled his eyes, walked out and shut the door behind him.
I didn’t exactly hide how I felt about Ruben and I knew he thought it was just a stupid crush. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I couldn’t have him sleeping in the next room all night.
What if I snored?
Or talked in my sleep and he heard me?
I jumped up from my bed and threw on a pink ruffled skirt and a white t-shirt with a slogan on that read ‘real-life Disney princess’. I added a fluorescent pink bow clip to my hair and grinned in the mirror.
Grabbing my jacket from the back of my door, I stopped when Lucas was standing outside my door.
“Where are you going?” He asked.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m going to see Mrs Henley.”
“It’s late. You shouldn’t be going out now.”
“It’s six-thirty. That’s not late. It’s not even dark out yet and I’m only going next-door.”
He looked like he was going to argue with me but I put my hand on my hip and glared at him.
“Ok, baby sister. Make sure you’re back by seven-thirty though, or I’ll send Ruben to come get you.”
My mouth dropped open. “You wouldn’t!”
“Oh I would. Get going little girl.” He smirked at me.
I squealed in my throat. Big brothers, they were nothing but a pain in the backside. I called out a quick, “going next-door” as I left the house, but no one answered.
It wasn’t a surprise.
I loved my family, my family loved me. My mum and dad were just, I don’t know, a little distant. I never had a time to be in at night, and I know they preferred me to be out of the house more often than not. But I didn’t feel unloved. They bought me anything I wanted, I always looked nice and they always told me they loved me.
Hell, I was eleven! I had no idea that people should show you that they loved you. I thought the daily gifts and surprises I received meant that I was the luckiest girl in the world.
I knocked on Mrs Henley’s door but pushed the handle down and walked in without her answering. She was old, really old, probably in her nineties and it took a lot of effort for her to get up and answer the door, so she told me to just come in.
“Mrs Henley, it’s Lydia!” I called.
“Come on in, Sweetheart.”
I loved Mrs Henley. She was like the grandma I never had. She spoilt me and always bought me pretty things when she went to the market on a Saturday. That wasn’t why I loved her though. I loved her because she was nice to me, made me cups of tea and sometimes we baked cookies together when her joints weren’t causing her issues.
“What brings you over here today?” She asked from her spot with her feet up on the old recliner chair.
She had a checkered blanket across her knees and the fire blazing, even though it was summer and about one hundred degrees outside (slight exaggeration there).
“Just thought I’d come see how my favourite old aged pensioner is doing today.” I answered cheekily.
She shook her head and tutted at me. “Miss Lydia, I’d wash your mouth out with soap if you weren’t so damn cute.”
I grinned at her.
“Everything ok at home?”She asked.
She always asked. But everything was fine at home and I never could understand the sadness in her eyes when she asked.
“Of course, Mrs Henley.”
I sat with her for a while talking about ‘the good old days’ and her late husband. I wished I could have met Mr Henley, but he died before I was born and Mrs Henley had been on her own ever since.
There was a knock at the door a while later and she frowned.
“Well who could that be? This old lady doesn’t get many visitors these days unless it’s you or that brother of yours.”
I patted her knee. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it.”
“Make sure you check the peep-hole dear. Safety first!”
I looked, and froze. Glancing at the clock over the fire, I whispered a curse word under my breath and quickly cringed, hoping Mrs Henley hadn’t heard me.
I opened the door.
“It’s bedtime, Squirt! Don’t you know that you shouldn’t be out this late?” Ruben stood the other side of the door, his arms were crossed over his chest and he was grinning at me.
It really didn’t surprise me that he loved it.
I scowled at him. “I’m not a little girl. I can go to bed whenever I want.” I declared, thinking I sounded grown-up.
He burst out laughing and I could have cried. He always made me feel like a baby, even if it was unintentional.
While he was still laughing at me, I stormed back into the lounge and scooped up my jacket. I kissed Mrs Henley on the cheek and told her that I had to go home.
“Ok, sweetheart. See you soon.” I smiled at her and left.
Ruben still stood outside in all his beautiful glory, but I couldn’t look at him.
I flicked my hair over my shoulder and walked the few steps to my front door. He was still chuckling behind me and I threw daggers at him, which just made him laugh more.
“Come on now, Squirt! I’m just playing with you. I know you’re a grown-up really.” He said, but the sarcasm in his voice betrayed the honesty.
I stomped up the stairs where I knew I’d find Lucas and screamed in his face. “I hate you! You’re so mean, why did you go and send him over to make me look stupid!”
He laughed.
Why did everyone keep laughing at me?
“Chill out Lyds, it’s funny. And, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.” I wanted to smack the stupid smirk off his face.
I squealed and stamped my foot, which just made them both laugh more.
Boys! They were so not worth the hassle.
Back in my own room, I threw myself on my bed and screamed into my pillow. I had to find a way to make them, especially Ruben, see me as a woman and not a little girl.
A small smile touched my lips as I thought about the make-up set that Mrs Henley had given me the last Christmas. Although I had never used it, I had always wanted to. It had layers of bright coloured eye shadows, lip-glosses and four different coloured blushes. I searched through my desk for it and slid it out. Biting my lip, I wondered if I could actually make myself look like a grown-up.
I smeared sky blue eye shadow across my lids and patted my lips with pink lip-gloss. That wasn’t so difficult. I picked up a black brush with soft bristles at the end and dotted pink
blusher on my cheeks.
That wasn’t as easy.
I looked like a clown but I quickly rubbed my hands on my cheeks and grinned at myself.
Done.
I could hear the boys messing around, probably playing on the ‘Playstation’ in the next room. I glanced around for something that would give me a reason to go in there but came up empty.
I thought of an idea, ran out of my room and stopped at Lucas’s door to take a breath. I could so do this.
I strolled in, putting a bit of extra sway in my hips like the women did on TV. They both stopped and stared at me.
I smiled. “Anyone want a drink?”
Lucas looked at me like I’d grown a second head and said, “What the fuck have you done to your face?!”
My smile fell. That wasn’t exactly the reaction I had been looking for.
I twirled my hair around my finger nervously. “Um...”
Ruben jumped to my defence.
“Leave her alone, Luc.”
“But she looks like she’s got two black eyes. And she’s a kid, she doesn’t need to be using make-up.”
I felt my eyes fill with tears. It could not have been any more humiliating.
Ruben scowled at Lucas, but spoke directly to me.
“You look beautiful, Lyds. Just maybe go a little lighter on the eye stuff next time, yeah? Luc’s right though, you don’t need all that. You’re beautiful anyway.” He grinned at me and I couldn’t but give him a shy smile back.
Is it any wonder I loved the boy?
He blurred through my watery eyes but I noticed him tilt his head when my tears fell. He walked over to me and pulled my head into his chest.
“Don’t cry, Squirt. You know your brother is about as tactful as a gnat.” He joked.
I ignored Luc’s whiny protest from across the room and hugged Ruben as tight as I could. Realistically, I knew he was too old for me, but all girls dream.
He let go and peeled my arms from around him.
“You want to stay and chill with us for a bit?”
I felt my face light up.
“Seriously?” I breathed, sounding every bit the little girl I’d been trying not to be.
He grinned down at me.
“Yeah, Squirt. You can for a while.” He threw a glare over at Lucas, to keep him from complaining I’m sure, but it worked and he just sighed. I ran and jumped on the bed, giggling sticking my tongue out at my brother.
Lydia 1 – Lucas 0.
I heard a knock at the front door and a few moments later Mason, Ruben’s brother, came strolling into the room.
“Hey Luc, Ruben, mind if I stay too?” He looked jumpy and nervous. Ruben stared at him.
“Why would you want to stay?” He asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
“Just want to get out the house for a while.” He stared at Ruben, trying to silently convey a message that I didn’t understand.
Lucas looked between the brothers and shrugged.
“Well I don’t mind. Grab a controller, I’m about to beat both of you at racing.”
The tension seemed to disappear and I sat cross-legged on the bed watching the boys interact.
At one point, Ruben’s car on the game swerved and rolled over and I gasped, whispering ‘oh no’! He looked over at me and winked, causing my heart to flutter.
I must have fallen asleep at some point because I opened my eyes and found myself, still fully dress, but curled up in my own bed. I could hear whispers outside my room and snuck over to the door to listen closer.
“But I don’t understand. Why do we have to go now?” I heard Ruben mutter.
“Don’t ask questions, I can’t answer anything yet. Just trust me that we have to leave now.”
I gasped and both sets of eyes swung in my direction. Ruben pushed back the door a bit and I stood there looking guilty.
“Where are you going?” I asked, keeping my voice down so I didn’t wake anyone else. Something told me I was about to be in on a big secret.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’ll be back, Squirt.”
I didn’t believe him. I looked at Mason but he didn’t even look interested in trying to convince me, he knew they wouldn’t be back. I could feel it in my bones and my chin started to tremble.
“Hey, look at me.”
I looked up into his eyes.
“I promise. I’ll come back.”
He never broke a promise to me. Not ever.
Right then, with tears in my eyes, and my heart in my throat, I knew this was one promise he wouldn’t keep.
Not until he had no other choice.
Chapter Five
Ruben
When she fell asleep, curled up in a tight ball on Luc’s bed, I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
The little girl just couldn’t help herself, she wanted to be grown-up so badly, but she was still just a little girl.
Luc slapped me across the back of the head and I growled at him.
“What the fuck?”
“What the fuck, what? Dude, she’s eleven!” He scowled at me.
“Whoa! I know that!”
“Then why are you looking at her like that?”
“Like what?” I asked and frowned at him. I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Dude, seriously? You were just sitting there stroking her hair and smiling at her while she’s sleeping?”
I was?
I looked down at my hand still resting on her hair and pulled away like I’d been burnt.
“It isn’t like that! She’s like my little sister or something!” I protested.
He just shook his head at me and scooped her up, taking her back to her own room. I turned the TV off and settled down on his bed. There was just no shaking the feeling flowing through my veins, that something huge was about to happen.
Mason turning up had put me on edge.
He had been the one who convinced me to stay at Luc’s in the first place, even though I never had before. So for him to turn up too, I just knew that he was keeping something from me.
I didn’t like that, as in, I didn’t like it at all. But I closed my eyes and tried to sleep away my unease.
I was awoken sometime later by something shaking my shoulder. I tried to swat it away but open my eyes when it shook harder.
“Get up. We have to go.” Mase whispered.
I blinked to clear my sleepy eyes.
“What? Go where?”
Lucas stirred from the other end of the bed and Mase glared at me.
“Just get up!” He hissed, still whispering.
I hadn’t changed out of my clothes so I just stood and brushed myself off. He dragged me out of the room and shut the door quietly.
“But I don’t understand, why do we have to go now?” I muttered, sounding like a petulant child.
“Don’t ask questions, I can’t answer anything yet. Just trust me that we have to leave now.”
I heard a gasp and pushed open Lydia’s door.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’ll be back, Squirt.”
Her chin started to tremble and I had to stop her crying. I hated it when she cried.
“Hey, look at me.”
She looked up into my eyes.
“I promise. I’ll come back.”
I shouldn’t have made that promise.
Not when I didn’t know if I could keep it.
But I was fourteen. I thought I knew it all.
I didn’t.
*~*~*
Mason started running as soon as we cleared the front door and I followed him. There was a strange smell in the air and when we turned the corner, I realised why.
Our house, our home, was completely engulfed in flames. I stopped and stared, the whole frame was alight and the sky lit up with orange.
“Come on!” Mase called and I shook off my daze. What the fuck had happened?
We ran until my lungs were burnin
g and I had to stop to take a deep breath. Mase stopped beside me and I saw him send off a text.
“Who...are...you...texting?” I panted. My body was too weak to run that far.
“You’ll see.” He answered.
Seconds later a car screeched to a halt beside us and Mase jumped in.
“Get in!” He shouted and I startled.
“I’m not getting in there, we don’t know who he is!”
The stranger got out of the car and started towards me. I couldn’t place his face, but I knew him. I just didn’t know where from. I scrambled back but he bent at the waist and literally threw me in the car.
He sat in the driver’s seat and we sped off.
“What the hell?” I exclaimed.
The face in the front grinned at me and I knew instantly who he was.
“Nice to see you too, little brother.”
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Jackson Brent, in the flesh.
*~*~*
I was dreaming. I had to be.
I hadn’t seen my big brother since the day our parents kicked him out of the house when I was about seven. I never thought I’d see him again.
“What...” I started, but was cut off.
“I’ll explain everything later. You may as well get some rest little brother, we’ve got a pretty long drive ahead of us.”
A thousand and one questions were bouncing around in my head but a sense of peace settled over me and I decided to listen to what he said.
Sleep seemed like a damn good idea.
Mase woke me up a few hours later when we stopped and dawn was just touching the horizon.
I looked out the window and didn’t recognise my surroundings at all.
“Come on!” Mase shouted, bouncing up and down on his toes with excitement. I wasn’t excited. There were just too many questions to be answered.
We had stopped outside a building that looked like a hotel but it didn’t have any signs on the outside, so I just stared blankly at Jackson.
He smiled but looked nervous.
“Welcome home, little brother.”
I didn’t speak. Frankly, I was little worried about what would come out of my mouth if I did.