Chapter Two: Innocence and Instinct
I wasn't stupid; Detroit was dangerous at all hours of the day. I had grown up on these streets but it was still my home and I loved it. There was something about watching the sun come up over the suburbs near the very edge of the city that made it look peaceful. Most of the time I had trouble sleeping, often waking up way before the rest of my family. I loved that the window in our room was overlooking the rest of the street. It was one of the easiest rooms to sneak out of; unfortunately, Bobby's room was right next to ours so he was really the main obstacle.
I slid open the window and crawled out, closing it behind me. I moved carefully along the roof before using the window ledge to climb up to the main roof. I folded my arms laying them on my knees as I watched the sun come up and people began to wake up. It would be a while yet until my brothers woke up but I could hear Evelyn beginning to make breakfast. The smell of coffee and pancakes rose in the air. I smiled content to stay out here as long as I possibly could. When I heard the slams of my brothers awakening I knew that I'd have to get down sooner rather than later.
"Ma, have you seen Lux?" Bobby shouted down the stairs.
"She isn't still asleep?" Ma asked.
"Nope," Ben said. "I heard her wake up an hour or two ago."
I frowned down in the direction of our bedroom. Honestly, I wondered if Ben tried to get me in trouble or he just was naturally talented at it. I made up my mind that maybe I'd let it slip that he hadn't been in school for the past three weeks. I didn't exactly know what homework he was doing since he wouldn't even know what had been assigned. We were barely in any of the same classes.
One of the windows on this side flew open as Bobby stuck his head out, "Lux, I swear on all that's holy if you're up there…"
"You'll what, Bobby?" I asked as I jumped down from the roof that covered the attic to the one that covered the first floor of the house and the enclosed porch.
"Get your skinny ass back in this house before you break your fool head," Bobby grumbled.
"Gosh, Bobby, you're so cheerful in the mornings," I snickered as I made my way back into the house, "honestly, it's disgusting."
I grinned at my oldest brother who had his arms crossed over his chest as he glowered at me. I turned around and shut the window behind me, not suspecting Bobby to place a ringing slap on my ass.
"Ow, Bobby!" I complained shoving him backwards.
"You know better than to climb around our roof," Bobby retorted.
"I like watching the sun rise," I grumbled.
Bobby rolled his eyes shoving me in the direction of the hallway seconds before Ma called us down for brunch. I was on the stairs as I heard the remaining doors being thrown open as we all raced down the stairs. We all walked to our rightful sights. Bobby and Ma at the heads of the table with Jack, Angel, and Jerry on one side with Ben and I on the other. Before we sat down we all held hands as Ma said grace. We all sat down and began shoveling bacon, waffles, and eggs on our plates.
"What is everyone up to today?" Ma asked.
"We're going to play hockey," Bobby stated before anyone could comment.
"You're not running shit, Bobby, I have plans today," Angel complained.
"Man, is La Vida Loca ever going to let you wear the pants in your relationship?" Bobby teased.
"Don't start with that crap," Angel snapped.
"You're going to play hockey, Angel, I don't give a fuck who you wanna fuck," Bobby snapped.
"Boys," Ma warned.
I fought back a smirk as both Bobby and Angel shifted in their seats before apologizing. Ma really wasn't strict about a lot of things but she didn't like it whenever we fought for real or cursed at each other at the table. Roughhousing and bantering were perfectly acceptable and Ma was tolerate of a lot, which was why we tended to listen to her rules. Most of the time we were only grounded if we caused a lot of trouble or we really missed our curfew by a couple of hours.
"I think spending a day at the hockey rink would be nice," Ma said.
That solidified that we'd be going down to the rink later. It was one of the nicer things that Detroit had done for its youth. In the fall, spring, and summer it was a concrete rink that we'd be able to skate and play hockey on. In the winter it was iced over so we could play Ice Hockey. Of course all the lights turned off at ten trying to keep us off the streets.
After breakfast I helped Ma wash the dishes before running back upstairs to grab my hockey gear and skates. I ran back downstairs as Bobby led us all out of the house. One of the first things Ben and I ever got at the Mercer home was our own skates and a hockey stick. We all dropped our stuff in the trunk as Bobby drove quickly to the rink. We all dropped our duffel bags on the metal bleachers as I laced up my skates. I was gliding around waiting for what Bobby was going to do. There were other people on the rink and I knew that he'd bully them into playing with us.
It was six on six and the other team was all guys. I grinned at the person I was facing off against. He was cute enough except for the fact he was leering at me. I don't think he knew who we were. I mean Bobby's nickname was the Michigan Mauler and he was about to be a starter for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Ma had been so proud when Bobby had finally told us. Jerry and Angel were currently working at the local workers union, while Jack, Ben, and I were in high school.
The game started quickly as Bobby took the puck as Jack, Angel, Jerry, and Bobby collided with other people as I ducked around the person I was supposed to guard. The pick snapped towards me as I glided quickly towards the goal. Before I could shoot, I was knocked into the wall as the pick was stolen. I growled as I turned back around nodding my head that I was okay as Ben blocked the goal.
The person who know had the puck was the one who had checked me so I my stick between his legs knocking his feet out from under him leaving him sprawled on his back as I hit the puck to Bobby who scored our first goal. I smiled at the guy who had been leering at me as he pulled himself off the ground.
As I skated around the rink I knew that the leering person was closely shadowing me. I rolled my eyes glad that my brothers hadn't noticed yet. If and when they did it would not end well. Just as Angel passed me the puck I was slammed back into the wall. All the noise and taunts that had been flying freely stopped as I struggled to stay on my feet as pain surged through my body. That hit had been completely unnecessary and I knew that he had managed to punch me along with slamming as hard as possible against the wall.
"Hey!" Bobby snapped as my brothers began to skate towards the guy.
I beat them all too the punch, taking my hockey stick and cracking it over the guy's head. He let out a growl as the guy stumbled forward managing to punch me again as I moved to lunge. Suddenly I was dangling in the air as I fought tooth and nail to get another punch as Bobby and Angel grabbed the guy by his shirt and slamming him against the wall as they both punched him.
"Let me go, Jackie!" I complained.
"You gonna crack someone over the head with a hockey stick again?" Jack retorted. "You're lucky Ma let you out of the house when you're grounded and this is how you repay her?"
"The punk was asking for it," I snapped. "Hitting on me and then when I turned him down he checked me at any opportunity."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that now," Jack snickered placing me back to my feet as he regarded me seriously. "You okay?"
"Yeah, of course," I smiled.
"He checked you a little hard, Lux," Ben said.
"I'm okay," I repeated.
We left rather quickly after that. The others that kid was with had scattered when the fight had broke out and I didn't see if the guy was still there before I was being dragged off the rink and the car.
"What the fuck was that?" Bobby demanded. "You were locked up last night for fighting and I talk Ma into letting you out with us outta the goodness of my heart and you smack a kid with your hockey stick?"
"The asshole started it Bobby hitting on me and checking me and I defended myself," I retorted. "Just because I got first blow…"
"Shut up, Lux," Bobby ordered. "Consider your grounding extended."
"What?" I complained. "Bobby, that is so hypocritical. You've been in the tombs more times than I can count for fighting!"
"I don't give a shit, little girl, you think it's unfair take it up with Ma," Bobby stated.
I leaned back in my seat and glowered at Bobby's head knowing that Ma would agree with him and it wasn't like I didn't deserve it. I knew that I was quick to anger and even quicker to defend myself. That resulted in numerous stints in the tombs, a long record of assault and battery charges and an even longer detention and suspension record. Despite all that I still managed to get decent grades mostly Bs some As.
Ben wasn't any better it was often that we were in detention or suspended together. The others had taught Ben that if I was in trouble he shouldn't hesitate to jump into the scuffle, regardless of whether I had it handled or not. That protective instinct ran deep in all of us. We had a family, people who loved and cared for us, which wasn't something any of us would give up without a fight.
What made me angry was that some people in the neighborhood thought they could tell Ma how to raise the lot o' us. Most people said boot camp or any number of reforming boarding schools. The thing was that regardless of where you came from people raised hell in Detroit, which was why I didn't we were really all that bad. We didn't attack unprovoked; we minded our manners when we were supposed to. Teachers were of the mind that we needed to respect them but they were free to belittle us and patronize us at any given opportunity.
I hated Cass Technical High School. It was the school of us had attended, which was a good and bad thing. Most teachers couldn't stand Bobby. Angel was a little better not much, though. He didn't normally get busted for fighting. Whenever Angel was in trouble at school it was because he and his on-again off-again girlfriend Sofia Rodriquez were caught making out in various states of undress in a good number of janitor's closets. Teachers loved Jerry. He was the good one out of the lot. He was quiet and respectful but was often roped into fights as a result of us. I don't know whether or not he had calmed down ever since he had met Camille in his senior year or because he was sick and tired of being in trouble all the time. I had to admit it was exhausting then again I was a magnet for trouble.
By the time we were back at the house, Bobby's temper had cooled slightly as we all moved out of the car. Angel, Jack, and Ben moved back into the house while Jerry, Bobby, and I stayed outside.
"What's going on Luxie?" Jerry asked. "You've been getting into fights a lot more frequently, don't think we haven't noticed."
"Jerry, it's nothing," I responded.
"Really?" Bobby questioned.
"Yeah, really," I replied. "That bitch and that mother fucker at the rink both started it. I was just finishing it."
"Get into the house," Bobby ordered sharply.
Evelyn's Point of View
Raising the Mercer brood was no easy task, not that you'd know it by the way Evelyn was able to control them all. Sure, they all still got in trouble but Evelyn Mercer had done wonders for each child in her care.
"Ben," Evelyn called. "Lux, you both have school in an hour. You better move if you want a ride with Jackie and Bobby."
Groans met her statement as the twins woke up and began go get ready. Suddenly the drowsiness vanished in front of Evelyn's very eyes as both Ben and Lux eyed one another before they broke into a run. Evelyn flattened herself against the wall as every one of her children's doors opened at once as everyone made a mad dash to the bathroom with Lux in the lead. She got into the bathroom, slamming it right as both Ben and Jack hit the door at the same time. Evelyn laughed as all her children glared at the door as Lux's cheer of victory and the gurgle of the shower springing to life rang clear in the small hallway.
"You better not use up all the hot water!" Jack shouted.
"Yeah, Luxie, you know how Fairy boy loves his hot baths," Bobby snickered.
"Damn it, Bobby," Jack muttered. "It's too damn early to start with that shit."
"It's too early to start with the language either," I teased as Bobby and Jack. "Bobby, can you give them a ride to school?"
"Of course," Bobby replied as Lux came out of the bathroom running fingers through her damp brown hair.
Ben shoved by Lux who walked down the hallway and into her room. The boys could complain all they wanted to about how Lux always managed to get the first shower but she was never in there for more than ten minutes.
I walked down the stairs and made sure that everyone had breakfast while giving Jack, Ben, and Lux their lunches as Bobby ushered them out the door. Angel and Jerry came down shortly after. After a nice breakfast I gave them a lift to the Union as I went to work. For as hectic as life was and how troublesome my kids could be, I wouldn't change any of it for a minute. They all were completely different people compared to when I first saw them. These were children a mother could be proud of.
Ben's Point of View
"You all better stay outta trouble!" Bobby snapped as he pulled away from the curb.
Jack, Lux, and I exchanged glances before we all rolled our eyes. Immediately thereafter we all went our separate ways to hang out with our friends before school. I knew that Jack was going to the back of the school, close to the football field to hang out with his friends/band members and groupies. Lux and her friends hung out in the front of the school, where they could easily sneak in and out, which they often did.
Lux's group of friends was eclectic to say the least. She was in nearly all honors classes and had friends in those classes while hanging out with the people who skipped school and went to fairly wild parties.
Cass Technical High School might as well have been hell on earth for as annoying as it all was. The metal detectors that ensured our safety also made it so that if you didn't get to school at least a half hour early you'd be late to homeroom. The teachers were all patronizing in some form or another and there were fights at least two times a day. I hated this school and almost everyone in it except for four people, two of them being family. The other two was my best friend Luke Sheridan and my girlfriend, Annabel Olson.
"Hey, man!" Luke called.
Both Luke and Annabel were hanging out by my locker. I went up to them and dropped my stuff in my locker. I bumped fists with Luke before kissing Annabel.
"You know if it wasn't for you and Lux we would've been arrested," Luke laughed. "The cops showed not even ten minutes after we left."
"What can I say?" I smirked. "It's a gift."
Luke just shook his head as I got the books I'd need out of my locker while Annabel began talking about what projects and papers I had missed. It had been at least a few weeks since I had began skipping school. Most of the time I just wandered around or went home to sleep more. Ma never noticed because worked in the daytime and so did Angel, Jerry, and Bobby.
The warning bell sounded overheard as I began to walk with Luke and Anna to homeroom. I saw Lux going the other direction she looked over to me and smiled before she began to talk about AP Calculus BC with her friend Quinn. I sighed as I wandered into my first period Math class sitting in my seat in the back of the room as the teacher eyed me in disapproval. Honestly, just because Bobby set his car on fire when Bobby was a senior here didn't mean I would.
But, like it or not the Mercers had a reputation both in this school and in the neighborhood. Everyone knew everything about us. They knew about our pasts before we were in Evelyn's care. They witnessed the fights and antagonism towards any kind of authority figure. Most of us spent a lot of time in detention, which was probably why Lux threw everyone for a loop. How could someone so smart be so much trouble? I knew that she just liked to keep her options open and just because she was smart didn't mean she wouldn't cause trouble. Half the time she did get in trouble in this school was when she wasn't being challenged enough in classes, causing her to act out more often than not.
One of the main reasons I hated school so much and the reason why I skipped was because of my learning disabilities. I had dyslexia, which meant that sometimes I had trouble reading or writing. I've had it my entire life and what most people didn't seem to understand was just because I had dyslexia didn't mean I was stupid. In fact most people with learning disabilities were of average or above average intelligence. Not that anyone here would know that, once the teachers take a look at my file they think I'm retarded and leaves me alone. Detroit wasn't exactly the place that parent's would enjoy sending their children to in general especially when kids have special needs.
There were a lot of other kids with learning disability walking around here some of them are worse then mine. It causes them to be a distraction to the other students, which is why they have a classroom all to themselves. They don't change classes, and school lunch gets brought to them. They tried to put me in a room like that but Ma rescued me. Thank god.
Classes went by in a blur and before I knew it I was back at my locker grabbing my backpack and nearly all my books. I guess that's what I got for missing three weeks worth of school. As I was turning around I saw that Lux was walking down the hallway stopping a her locker. I had never really paid all that much attention to what my sister wore. But that all changed when I noticed a group of guys checking her out.
Lux didn't notice the attention pulling books into her backpack before dropping it on the ground, looking around her locker for something or another. I noticed how much she filled out her jeans and that tank top she loved to wear. She had borrowed one of my zip-up hoodies, which only seemed to extenuate her curves. She turned around shutting her locker and spinning the lock. Lux then noticed the guy's who were looking at her. I don't know how I wanted her to react but leaning back against her locker with a smirk that personified sex wasn't it. I knew that smirk because it was the same one I used on Annabel on a frequent basis.
Lux's Point of View
Sometimes being the youngest Mercer wasn't all it was cracked up to be. School had passed by with little incident. I had a bunch of exams but it wasn't anything nerve inducing. I was moving books around in my locker and putting some in my backpack as I felt eyes burning holes in my back.
As I turned I noticed that Ben was watching me while eyeing the group of my guys that were staring at me. I smirked at them as I watched Jack walk through the hallway stopping to talk to Ben. It wasn't necessarily unheard of for a senior to be in the junior hallway but it didn't happen all that often. I groaned as Jack walked the short distance between Ben's locker and mine, throwing his arm over my shoulder.
"Hi, Luxie," Jack beamed. "Now, what is going on here?"
"Jack," I mumbled.
"Aren't you going to introduce us to your little friends?" Jack questioned looking at the boys across the hallway. His smile turning from friendly to threatening.
"Jackie," I protested.
"What?" Jack laughed.
I rolled my eyes as I shook off Jack's arm, shifting my backpack onto my back.
"Let's go, Bobby's waiting for us," Jack said nudging me towards the door.
I sighed walking towards the entrance smiling at the boys assembled one more time as Jack and Ben led me out of the school. I had tried to reason with them that if Ben was allowed to date I should be able too. That explanation hadn't worked out too well the whole lot of them put a whole new spin on overprotective.
I also didn't wanna start a fight with them, especially not at school. I felt for Ben, he was smart as hell but dyslexia was quite the thing to overcome. School put him in one hell of a bad mood. Most of the time Ben was pretty cool, going with the flow type of person but when he got angry, he got very angry.
True to Jack's word, Bobby was waiting in the parking lot. People were giving a wide berth around the car and where Bobby waited, leaning against the passenger side door. His eyes sparkled in amusement as we approached.
"Now, I'm surprised," Bobby laughed. "None of you managed to get into trouble today? Is this a sign of the fucking apocalypse or what?"
"I resent that," I muttered.
"Do you now, bookworm?" Bobby laughed.
We all got into the car and Bobby rocketed out of the parking lot nearly hitting one car and cutting off two others. I don't know who exactly had given Bobby his license but that person should have their head examined. But knowing my eldest brother he had probably threatened the person into giving him the license.
Bobby dropped us off at the house saying something like being back later. Bobby had an hour break at practice where he picked us up and got lunch before going back. Jack muttered something about band practice and ambled off in the other direction, which left Ben and I alone. We set up shop in the dining room table spreading out all our books. My homework didn't take that long to do so when I finished I helped my brother with all of his work. I explained a few math problems and helped him analyze a couple of English passages.
"I can't wait until we graduate," Ben muttered tossing his books back into his backpack before grabbing a Coke and wandering into the living room. He turned on the PS2 grabbing the controller and began playing Grand Theft Auto. I sat in the Laz-E-Boy as I read Othello for English class.
Angel was the first one home and unfortunately he didn't come home alone. Sofi trailed in behind him and smiled in at Ben and I before they snuck into the Laundry Room. Ben and I exchanged glances before rolling her eyes. We were going to have to talk to Ma about getting a new dryer because that was where Angel and Sofi decided to have sex. It was revolting but at least the sound of the dryer masked her screams of pleasure either that or he was torturing her, it didn't matter just as long as we didn't have to hear it.
"Bobby's going to be pissed, " Ben sniggered. "He hates that girl."
"I bet you twenty dollars Angel throws the first punch," I smirked.
"I'll take that bet," Ben agreed.
Within the hour Jerry and his girlfriend, Camille had come home as well as Ma and Bobby. Ben and I continued to play the video game until Bobby kicked us off to watch a hockey game instead.
"Oh, man, that's nasty!" Jerry complained.
"She's addicted," Jack sang loudly as he walked through the back door, "to what Angel's dick did."
"Jackie-O, I'm gonna kill you!" Angel growled after Sofi shrieked in indignation.
"What are you doing in here, ho?" Bobby demanded.
"Robert Mercer, you know better than to talk to women that way," Ma scolded from the kitchen.
"Aw, Ma, Sofi's not a woman…"
Sofi interrupted Bobby's insult with a string of Spanish that from the tone of her voice was far from friendly.
"Does it look like I speak Spanish?" Bobby growled.
"Bobby, don't start with that shit," Angel complained.
"Loco Ono doesn't belong in this house, Angel," Bobby snapped. "I'm surprised we all haven't caught venereal diseases from that skank."
"You ain't running shit, Bobby!" Angel yelled.
Ben and I exchanged looks before we went into the kitchen both of us leaning on either sides of the threshold watching as Angel and Bobby stood chest to chest glowering at one another. Camille and Ma were making dinner. Jerry was reading the paper watching the preceding as Sofi glared angrily at Bobby.
And just like clockwork Angel threw the first punch and it connected rather hard with Bobby's jaw. Bobby shoved him away only to pull him in and put him in a headlock. I grinned as Ma shook her head looking at us affectionately as Camille and Sofi looked surprised. I held out my hand and Ben rolled his eyes before giving me twenty bucks.
"Did you two bet on us?" Angel growled as he shoved Bobby in the ribs in order to get out of the headlock.
"Yup," I smirked. "You just won me twenty bucks, Ang, thanks."
"Baby girl," Angel began.
"What was the bet?" Bobby asked smoothing back his hair.
"That Angel would throw the first punch when you starting shooting your mouth off," I shrugged.
"Guys, dinner," Ma announced pulling a casserole from the oven. "Sofi, are you staying for dinner?"
"No, Ms. Mercer," Sofi whispered still glaring daggers at Bobby. "Mama is expecting me home for dinner."
"Okay," Ma smiled. "Angel, are you going to walk your girlfriend to the door?"
"Yes, Ma," Angel said grabbing Sofi's coat as he ushered her to the door, socking Bobby in the shoulder before he could say anything.
I grabbed the salad as Camille brought the casserole to the table. We all gathered around with Ma doling out portions and Jack setting the table. When everything was set up we joined hands and said grace before sitting down and eating. I looked up and noticed that Camille looked nervous before I could ask if she was okay, Jerry cleared his throat.
"Camille and I would like to make an announcement," Jerry announced and once he had everyone's attention he continued, "I proposed this afternoon and she said yes."
"Oh, Jerry, that's terrific!" Ma cried. "Welcome to the family baby."
"You ready for all this?" I laughed.
"Of course," Camille grinned.
"Let's see the ring," Ma prodded.
Camille held out her hand and there on her ring finger was the diamond ring. It gleamed in the low lighting of the dining room and I smiled it was a very beautiful ring. It was a simple platinum band with a decent diamond in the middle. The boys seemed stunned by the announcement all of them just sort of gaping at Jerry.
"You knock her up?" Bobby asked.
I rolled my eyes and stomped on Bobby's foot. He grunted and glared at me as Camille looked shocked before bursting into laughter. That was not the reaction I was expecting and from Bobby's face he hadn't either.
"You see, this is how you keep winning me, money, you don't know when to keep your mouth shut," I scoffed.
"You're one to talk, baby girl," Bobby retorted. "So, are you?"
"Yes, actually," Camille admitted and then it was Jerry's turn to look surprised. Well, it was more of a deer-in-the-headlights look, which made me smile widely.
"Grandchildren?" Ma squeaked. "That's wonderful!"
Dinner went fast after that with Ma and Camille chatting about wedding plans and baby names. The boys didn't say much as I cleared the table before going upstairs to my room. Steps on the stairs a few minutes later signaled that I wasn't going to be alone for long.
"Hey," I called without looking behind me as my door shut.
"You know those boys were starring at your ass today in school," Ben said.
"I figured as much," I mused turning around to meet his eyes unabashedly. "That as probably why Jack decided to cock block me."
"Lux!" Ben grimaced. "That's disgusting."
"It's true," I shrugged. "You guys never let me have any fun."
"That isn't true," Ben disagreed.
"You and the others chase away all the guys who show any interest in me."
"No one's good enough for you."
"That's bullshit, Benjamin."
"Is it, Dorothea?"
"Yeah, it is," I snapped. "I don't chase away your girlfriend, or Jerry's fiancé, or Angel's skank!"
"That's different," Ben stated firmly.
"No, it isn't!" I spat. "You guys are being completely overprotective. I can take care of myself!"
"It doesn't matter," Ben shook his head. "You think we won't stop protecting you just because you think you can handle yourself?"
"I'm going to date and you guys can't stop me," I growled firmly.
"That's what you think," Ben smirked. "Try it and see what happens."
My lips curled into a sneer as I glared at my brother. The lot of them could be completely unreasonable. I shook my head going out of the room making sure to knock my shoulder against his to get him out of my way as I stormed into the bathroom. I was going to date and no one was going to stop me.
The next morning I woke up earlier than I normally did. I took a shower, changed into one of my nicer fitting pairs of jeans and a tee shirt that showed about an inch of my stomach. I slid into the hoodie that I had stolen from Ben weeks ago as I hopped down the stairs taking an apple along the way before going out into the quiet morning. Ben and I hadn't talked since our fight and the others were starting to get suspicious. I didn't want to wait for Bobby to give Jack, Ben, and I a ride to school, which was why I was currently walking. It was almost 7:45 by the time I got to school, walking had taken a little longer than I had anticipated but I still fifteen minutes early.
"Lux!" Someone called.
I turned on my heel and noticed that Theodore Alexander was leaning against the chain link fence that surrounded the entirety of Cass Technical High School. Theodore otherwise known as Theo was in all of my honors classes. He was scary smart and dangerously cunning having an explosive mix of street smarts and book smarts. Theo was about six foot two and had shaggy dark brown hair and light blue eyes.
"Hey, Theo," I grinned.
I closed the distance between us and leaned against the chain link next to him.
"Want one?" Theo asked offering me a cigarette.
"Sure, why not?" I laughed.
I took the cigarette he offered and placed it in between my lips. Theo held up the lighter and lit my cigarette for me. I inhaled deeply and sighed.
"You wanna get dinner some time?" Theo asked.
"You're not afraid of my brothers?" I retorted.
"Should I be?" Theo responded.
"No but most people are," I shrugged.
I inhaled the last of the cigarette throwing the butt down to the ground and stomping it out. Before I could move Theo had shifted positions so that his hands were on either side of my head as he leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was soft and hesitant at first before it quickly progressed into a fairly heavy make out session. One of his palms cupped my face as his fingers tangled in my hair.
It wasn't until I heard the familiar sound of the Oldsmobile that I realized that this probably wasn't the best idea. It was against school rules to have public displays of affection and Theo and I weren't exactly in a hidden part of the school. Still we continued to kiss, one of his legs in between my own. I didn't even remember the last time I had kissed a boy, probably when I was a little too tipsy.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing to my sister?" Ben shouted.
Theo was ripped away from me and slammed against the brick wall of the school.
"Benjamin, stop it!" I ordered sharply.
I glanced around and saw that Ben's display of violence had not gone unnoticed by both Bobby and Jack, the aforementioned were closing the distance between them and us.
"You're making a scene," I hissed.
"What the hell did I tell you?" Ben demanded.
"I'm sorry," I told Theo. "My brother's an idiot."
"I'm an idiot?" Ben repeated. "I'm not the one who can't follow simple instructions!"
"You're not the boss of me!" I retorted irately.
Ben let go of Theo in order to turn around and glare at me. Theo looked like he wanted to stick around but I shook my head and he shrugged before ambling off towards the entrance as Ben and I closed the distance between one another.
"I might not be the boss of you but you're not some whore," Ben snapped. "Or maybe you are, making out with someone in front of the school."
"Take it back," I growled.
"What are you going to do about it?" Ben goaded.
I took a deep breath before turning away. Just when Ben thought I had given up I spun around punching him as hard as I could. Ben stumbled back, not expecting the blow. He quickly came back, shoving me into the fence. He grabbed me by the front of the shirt pulling me into a headlock as I kicked his ankles together sending the two of us sprawling to the ground. I growled going to punch him again as I was pulled away from Ben only to be tossed back to the ground with Ben landing in a heap right next to me.
"What the hell do you two think you're doing?" Bobby demanded.
"He fucking started it," I growled.
"Yeah, well she's the one acting like a slut," Ben retorted.
"Hey!" Bobby warned. "That's your little sister."
"She was making out with that guy in front of everyone," Ben protested.
"I like him," I snapped. "And he likes me. You have a girlfriend there's no difference."
"Theo Alexander isn't the right guy for you," Ben shook his head.
"You're not the one who gets to decide that," I hissed.
"Both of you shut up," Bobby ordered firmly. "Since when do you guys fight at all let alone on school property."
"He's been a prick for days," I muttered.
"Dorothea," Bobby warned before turning to Jack. "Get to class and tell the main office that the Mercer Twins are sick."
"Bobby," I protested.
"Not a word, Lux," Bobby snapped.
I sighed and glared at both Ben and Bobby as I stood up, straightened my clothing before storming off towards the Oldsmobile. A few minutes later Ben and Bobby followed after me. Bobby seemed as angry as every while Ben seemed a bit more apologetic. It was a short drive back to the house and I walked up the walkway and into the house. Bobby came in next pointing towards the couch.
I shook my head as I sat one the couch with Ben sitting next to me. Bobby stood in front of the coffee table and looked down at us. His hands were on his hips as he stared both of us down. We both squirmed uneasily. Because if Ma was the Matriarch of the Mercer clan than Bobby had dips on the Patriarch position. As the oldest, he was there to offer advice, dole out plenty of tough love, and occasionally be a shoulder to cry on. Not that Mr. Tough Guy would admit to that.
"I'm surprised at the two of you," Bobby began. "You two are normally attached at the hip and now you're at each other's throats?"
"Well, he's being a pretentious prick," I growled. "I can date who I want to."
"I wouldn't go that far, little girl," Bobby corrected. "However, you're not a nun you can date."
"Thank you," I smiled.
"But, any boy you date has to meet the family," Bobby grinned.
"Fine," I replied.
"Good," Bobby said. "Now I gotta go to work. If you two don't work this shit out by the time I get back I'll settle it for you."
With that Bobby left the living room and went to work leaving Ben and I alone. I huffed as I got off the couch and up to our room closing the door. Seconds later the PS2 turned on and the sound of guns filled the living room. I growled as I turned on my sound system and began to read. Nearly two hours later there was a knock on the door before Ben came into the room closing the door behind us as he switched off the music.
"I'm sorry," Ben stated. "The guys in our school are dicks and I overreacted."
"I'm sorry for punching you in the face," I replied.
"You can definitely handle yourself in a fight," Ben laughed. "But, I'm not going to stop looking after you. Too much has happened when I wasn't there and it won't happen again."
I got off my bed closing the distance between us and wrapping my arms around his waist burying my face into his neck. He hugged me too, his chin resting on top of my head.
"How much you want to bet that I'm grounded now too?" Ben asked as we pulled apart.
"No contest," I responded. "Bobby was pissed and Ma won't be thrilled when she finds out."