Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
I went to bed each night determined to make sure that these girls never use Lake again and I have a plan to put into play.
Even though he’s older than me by a few months, I always felt protective of him. Especially when I finally got him to tell me why he was so damn angry all the time.
After I listened to him, held his hand while he cried, and hugged him as we fell asleep in my bed when he would sneak into my room to hide from them, he seemed to smile a little more.
Fuck.
I groan as I put a hand to my stomach and hobble my way toward the bathroom. The cramps are kicking my ass today but that’s what usually happens as a monthly parting gift.
After I’ve scrubbed my teeth and brushed my hair, I do a quick spot check, then let out a sigh of relief when everything seems to be in the clear.
I hobble back toward my bedroom to get dressed and retrieve my backpack, then make my way swiftly down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Dad is sitting at the island reading his morning paper and sipping a cup of coffee. Mom is standing directly across from him with a frazzled look on her face.
“Morning,” I say, announcing my arrival.
“Good morning, dear,” Dad says without looking up.
I glance at Mom again and raise an eyebrow curiously. Her lips form a tight line as she shakes her head and I roll my eyes at the ceiling.
It’s obvious to me that she’s tried to get him to agree to Lake coming over and he’s declined.
I walk over to the fridge and pull an apple out. Rubbing it against my graphic t-shirt, I lean against the counter and take a loud crunch.
One thing I can do to get back at him is to chew as loudly as I can. That gets on his nerves as much as his stubbornness gets on mine.
“Is that necessary, Genesis?” he asks testily.
“Today it is,” I reply.
Mom steals a glance at Dad before looking at me and giving me a quick nod of approval.
I usually don’t stay for breakfast, but today I’ve decided that I need to finish my nice, fresh apple where Dad can hear it.
Once I’m done, I walk over to the trashcan and throw the core in as hard as I can.
“See you after school!” I call out as I make my way toward the door.
___
I ignore Elsie when I hear her call out my name as I enter the school twenty-five minutes later. We can pretend to be besties later, but first I need to find my real friend.
I stand up on my tiptoes as I try to scan the crowd for him. A sense of frustration takes over me when the first bell rings and I haven’t spotted Lake yet, but I’m not going to give up so easily.
With determination driving me, I begin to make my way down the hallway as the half of the students run frantically toward their lockers.
A group of girls bump into me and knock me onto the ground, hissing at me for not watching where I was going. I sigh as I watch them run into the door closest to us, then start to push myself up to my feet when a hand appears in front of me.
I look up curiously, then smile at Lake who’s looking at me with a carefully bland expression on his face.
“You really need better friends,” he chides me with a soft chuckle as he pulls me onto my feet.
“I don’t even know who they were,” I reply as I let go of his hand. “Besides, I have the only friend I need standing in front of me.”
A small smile takes up half his face as he shakes his head, “Nice try, Gen.”
“Listen,” I begin stubbornly as I poke a finger against his chest. “You’re the one that needs better friends. What are you doing with those girls?”
I know I probably sound more like a mother than a friend right now, but that’s what he seems to need.
He uses his forefinger and thumb to gingerly pluck my finger away from his chest before he shrugs and clears his throat.
“Okay, let me try this again. Why are you doing things with those girls?”
He chuckles.
“You’re lucky, Gen. You had a family that loved you and probably still do. I just go with what I know. Besides, it’s not like they have any idea.”
“But if they did, they wouldn’t make you do things.”
“Who says they’re making me?”
The way he shoots back his question, with such anger, and dripping in venom …
“I know they are, Lake. Don’t for one second think I believe you’re doing this shit because you want to.”
“Mind your business and leave it alone,” he snarls as he takes a step closer to me. “I’m not your fucking charity case anymore.”
“Lake—”
“Drop it, Genesis,” he barks.
I shake my head as I tuck my hair behind my ears.
“And to think I actually still gave a shit about you,” I confess softly.
“Like I said; get better friends,” he replies as bumps me with his arm on the way by.