Sierra
Chapter twenty-six
Iexpect Zander to go back outside after showing me the restroom, but it surprises me to see him standing at the counter in the kitchen talking to his dad when I walk out. Immediately, I feel uncomfortable. I knew he was going to be here, but I still feel uneasy.
“It’s okay. No allergies, and we love Chinese. Is there anything I can do to help?” I don’t want to seem like some girl who came to his house and is going to be a freeloader for lunch.
“You could set the table if you like. If you just open the door to your left, that’s the pantry and there will be some paper plates and utensils inside on the shelf,” he says, pointing toward the door.
“I’ll help,” Zander says as he pushes off the counter he was leaning against.
“It’s okay. I got it, go swim,” I tell him.
He smiles and gives me a wink as he walks past me, his arm grazing mine. “Come back out when you’re done.”
My gaze stays on him, more specifically, his ass, as he strolls out the door. Once it closes behind him, he takes off running to the pool, jumping into it, splashing water out everywhere.
Turning my head back around, I see a curious look on Mr. Stevenson’s face, like he’s trying to figure something out. Shaking it off, I take a few steps over to the pantry door, open it, and step inside, perusing the shelves for the items I need.
My mouth goes slack at the amount of food on their shelves, and nothing on it is generic.
It makes me feel worse, even though I know I’m doing the best I can with Mrs. Butler’s help to ensure Sam has enough to eat and clothes to wear.
I’m jealous of everything others have that I don’t and won’t ever be able to provide for Sam.
Would Sam be better if I were to say something?
But then I remember not all foster homes are good ones and I can’t risk anything happening to her or being separated from her.
Looking up, I see the plates on the top shelf, and I reach up on my tiptoes, but still can’t reach them. I’ve almost given up when a larger, muscular arm reaches around, grabbing the plates and box of utensils, causing me to jump in fear.
Jerking back from the body, breathing rapidly, I see Mr. Stevenson. His face is full of concern as he carefully watches me. “I’m so sorry, Sierra. I didn’t mean to startle you, but I forgot they were on the top shelf.”
I honestly don’t know why he scared me so badly. He never touched me, and I saw him take the plates. It felt almost like a memory, a man behind me, reaching past me, but I couldn’t make it out clearly. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Sierra,” I hear my name called out.
“Yeah,” I manage to squeak out, trying to regain my composure.
“Sierra, are you okay?” Mr. Stevenson asks, genuinely concerned, but not wanting to get close to me to cause another reaction.
Shaking it off, “Yes, I’m sorry. You just startled me. Guess that’s what I deserve for staying up and watching horror movies last night.” I tempt to joke about the situation, not needing him to pry more into why I acted that way. I don’t even know why.
“Are you sure? Please come out and take a seat and I’ll get you something to drink. You look pale as a ghost,” he tells me, turning and heading out of the pantry.
I do as he says and take a seat at the table, while he heads to the refrigerator and pulls out two bottles of water. My hopes that he will just bring it to me and leave disappear when he pulls out the chair across the table and sits down.
We both just stare at each other, neither one blinking, and I know I need to get the hell up out of here. “I guess I’ll head back outside and check on Sam.” Finally breaking the stare-off, I go to stand up.
He reaches out, placing his hand on mine, stopping me. “Is everything okay?” His counselor’s voice is in full effect.
“Yeah,” I stutter out. “You just startled me. Horror movies always have me freaked out for a couple of days after watching them, and well, I end up looking like a nervous Nellie.” Hopefully, the lie is good enough to get him off my back.
How could I possibly tell him I keep having these weird as fuck flashbacks in bits and pieces that tell me nothing but freak me out like crazy?
“I know we aren’t at school, but how are you doing? We never scheduled any more sessions, and I was going to call you down to the office on Monday to take care of that.”
“Good, school’s good. And that’s no problem. I can go by the office first thing on Monday and schedule them. Is it okay to do them during lunch?” It would be great to have a break at least one day a week from the drama of high school lunch.
“Wouldn’t you want to take that time to hang out with your friends? I know the boys take full advantage of lunch to do that.”
“Umm, well, I don’t really have any friends at school. I stick to myself pretty much. Guess you can call me one of the unpopular kids, unlike your sons. They seem to have fit in well.” I force a laugh out, hoping he gets I’m okay and can get out of here.
God, please don’t let him go all school counselor on Sam. I don't know if she could keep the story straight.
“How is your aunt? I left a voicemail for her yesterday, wanting to schedule a meeting with her to discuss your options for college, but she never responded back,” he tells me.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! She’s going to be pissed.
“Oh, well, she had to work a double yesterday and was asleep when I left. She was probably just busy and didn’t get a chance to call you back.” Another lie. She won’t call him back. Instead, she’ll take it out on me, especially if he calls her again.
“Well Monday, hopefully. I just wanted to discuss with her your options for college. After looking at your file, I saw you hadn’t taken your SAT or requested any letters of recommendation. Your grades are amazing; a smart girl like you should be able to get into your school of choice.”
What he doesn’t realize is I can’t go to college. I need to make money to show I can take care of Sam, so I can become her guardian legally. The money I don’t even care about. Sarah can have it if it will keep her the fuck away from us.
“Mr. Stevenson, I thought it was in my file already that I wasn’t planning to go to college. With the crazy hours my aunt works, I was just going to get a job and help take care of Sam.”
He just looks at me for a long moment, almost like he can see right through me, and knows every word is a lie. He places his forearms on the table and leans forward in his chair, taking a deep breath before blowing it out. Is he mad? Did I fuck up with something I said?
“Sierra, I truly hope that’s not the case.
It would be such a waste of your brilliant mind.
College, a degree, is the difference for your future.
Surely even if you need to stay here, you could start at the community college and then transfer.
This is something I definitely need to discuss with your aunt.
You are not responsible for the care of your sister.
If she hasn’t adopted you and your sister, then surely your foster care worker can help direct her to the proper resources to assist with childcare.
” He seems angry, not at me but at my aunt, and this isn’t good for either me or Sam.
If he only knew how wrong his words truly were.
“I’m fine. College was never something I thought about doing.” Again, another lie; it’s all I dreamed about. Wesley and I rather, before he turned on me.
“Sierra, know if there is anything you need to talk to me about, you can. I’m here for you and your sister,” he tells me just as the doorbell rings. “I bet that’s the food. Why don’t you go get your sister and the boys, and I’ll get the food and Colton.”
“Yes, sir,” I tell him, then slowly stand to leave, but stop.
“Mr. Stevenson, my aunt is really busy. Could you not call her again, please? Especially since I’m not planning to go to college.
It would be a waste of her time since we’ve already talked about it, and she doesn’t need to miss any time at work.
” I hurry off, not waiting for an answer.
The concerned look on his face tells me enough; he’s not giving up until he talks to her.
Colton
As I come down the stairs, I hear my dad talking with someone, but it’s to a feminine voice, not one of my brothers.
Making sure to not let anyone hear me, I slowly move to the edge of the door so I can eavesdrop on the conversation.
Peeking around the corner, I see her and Dad in the pantry, and she’s going on about how some movie scared her or some shit.
Whatever happened, she’s laying it on thick.
Dad has her sit at the table as he hurries to the fridge to get her something to drink.
I’m starting to believe Wesley’s right, because it looks like the bitch is working hard to get Dad’s attention, going on about how she wants to have their meetings during lunch, no doubt, so there are not many people around.
I mean, come on, girl, he’s gay, and he has a man. He doesn’t want your high school pussy.
The more she sits there and lays on her sob story, the angrier I get. Wesley definitely deserves an apology for my doubting him. When the doorbell rings, I turn and run down the hallway and duck inside the bathroom, not wanting Dad to know I was eavesdropping.
Once I hear him open the door, I flush the toilet, pretend to wash my hands, and head down the hallway toward him. “I’m starving. What did you order?” I ask loudly, reaching out and taking one of the bags from his hands.
“Chinese, Sierra has plates set on the counter. Can you put that bag beside it and grab some soda and water from the refrigerator, please?” he asks, as he pulls some cash out of his pocket and hands it to the delivery driver.
As I step into the kitchen, I see my brothers coming through the door with Sierra close behind them and a little girl that’s the spitting image of her. I’d seen them from my room, but I couldn’t get a good look at her.
“Hey, Colt, this beautiful little lady is Sam, Sierra’s sister. Sam, this lug head is our brother Colt, who is apparently too good to hang out with us today in the pool but comes running when there’s food,” Brax says playfully, sending the girl into a fit of giggles.
“You two look alike,” she squeals.
“Yeah, we're twins, I’m the better looking one though,” I tell her, casting a glance over at Sierra as she picks up the plates from the counter and begins sitting them down on the table. Dad walks into the room, smiling when he sees it. She’s such a fucking suck up!
My dad is just sucking it all up. “Is John eating with us?” I ask.
“No, he’s pulling a double shift at the hospital today. He won’t be home until tonight, so you can eat all you want, boys,” and then, glancing over at the girls, he adds, “and ladies.”
“Who’s John? Another brother?” Sam asks, before asking another question. “We can really eat all we want?” Sierra shoots her a look before hushing her.
My dad laughs at it, but I can tell it’s forced. He always does that exact same laugh when he’s got something on his mind that’s bothering him.
“John is my boyfriend,” he tells her, not elaborating more on it.
“Okay,” she says, then goes over and takes a seat at the table.
“Sam, come with me so we can wash your hands,” Sierra tells her before taking her by the hand and leading her to the bathroom that’s just off the kitchen.
Dad watches her leave, waiting until she’s out of earshot before speaking. “Have you met her aunt?” He looks at my brothers.
They both shake their head, before Zan speaks up, “No sir, we haven’t even been up to her apartment. She was waiting downstairs for us and when I dropped them off that one day, I never got out of the car.”
Dad just stares, not responding, then begins to set the food out on the table, taking off the lids. “Braxton, can you pull out some spoons to dish the food out?”
“Yeah, Dad,” he replies, hurrying over to the counter, just as Sierra and her sister walk back into the room.
“Okay, let’s eat,” Dad announces, and we all take a seat at the table. “Guests first.”
Sierra looks around at us, pausing on my dad, before putting food on her sister’s plate first, then hers.
Not waiting any longer, I place a heaping amount of food on my plate, with everyone else following suit.
Lunch is full of idle chit-chat, including Dad trying to get Sierra to spill more about herself, and I can’t help but notice how nervous that makes her.
Guess she’s afraid someone’s going to find out how much of a fucking bitch she is.
I mean, she can only hold up the game she’s playing for so long.
I can’t wait to share with Wes how she tried to seduce my dad. He’s going to get a fucking laugh out of it.
Lunch continues, but I drown out all the noise and eat, glaring at her.
“What time did you need to be home?” Zan asks her.
“Umm, if it’s not too much, once we’re done here. I’ll help clean up, then we can go. There’s some stuff I need to take care of at home before I go to work,” she says, as she stands, taking her and Sam’s plates and putting them in the trash.
“Oh, where do you work?” Dad asks, and my ears perk up, wanting to hear this.
Her eyes go wide, and something akin to fear appears in them, and I can see beads of sweat on her forehead. “She’s a waitress, Dad,” Zan cuts in, speaking for her.
“What restaurant?” I ask her as I internally laugh at her discomfort.
“Umm, you probably don’t know it. It’s on the outskirts of town.” She looks down, fidgeting in her seat.
“I always love trying new places. Tell me and I’ll check it out.” I push for more, loving the way she squirms.
“Antonelli’s. Sam, go get your stuff so we can be ready to go. Mr. Stevenson, thank you for lunch,” she rushes out before following Sam, who is already heading out the door.
My head flies forward when a hand slams into it, then Brax jumps up from the table yelling, “What the fuck, Colt?”
“Language, Braxton, and don’t hit your brother. Colton that interrogation on Sierra was not necessary,” Dad scolds.
“I was just curious where she worked. What’s the big deal? She acted like it was some fucking big ass secret.” Picking up my plate, I toss it into the trash and head back upstairs to my room, ready to talk to Wes and see if this place even exists. My guess is it doesn’t.