Tiny Mountain
1594 Words
"It's an incredible marking," Hudson said, running his fingers down my arm and taking a hold of my hand, "Please don't try to fight our battles for us, Sabrina."
"I don't get it..." I said, not pulling my hand away like I would have prior to that moment, "I mean, what could you possibly be fighting over that's so serious?"
Xander swallowed hard, "You have no idea how serious it is."
I rolled my eyes, "It's why I'm asking."
"The Mueller's think that things belong to them—that this town belongs to them. I know you've heard the rumors."
"Is this about money? Land? A woman or multiple women?"
Hudson squeezed my hand.
"Oh my goodness!" My eyes were as wide as saucers and I threw my hand over my mouth, "Did they steal your girlfriends or something?"
Quinn chuckled, "No..."
"Not yet," Xander mumbled, flinching when he touched the bruise on his face.
"I guess it's none of my business, but they don't seem to like me too much," I shrugged, "The Mueller's never bothered me in school. Now that I think about it, they didn't talk to me at all unless I had a class with Cody and we grouped up."
The car was silent, save for me babbling on.
"What did your parents do for a living?" Seb asked.
"My dad was a sanitation worker and my mother worked at the library."
"No siblings, obviously?" Seb asked.
"No...they tried so many times after me because they wanted a big family, but I was the only child."
"Were you lonely?"
I gripped Hudson's hand this time, but it still didn't occur to me that we were even holding hands. No one two and a half years prior would have guessed I'd be holding hands with a Quad.
"Sometimes."
"Do you want a family?" Seb asked.
"Why all the questions?"
"Think of it as the job interview we never gave you," Seb smiled.
I grinned, thinking about my answers. I'd never given much of myself away to anyone—save for Tina who was so good to me. The Quads? They had just recently been good to me.
"Yes. I would like to get married one day and have children."
"How many children?" Xander asked.
"As many as my husband and I want, I guess.." I shrugged, "I like kids so I'd love to have a big family."
"We're here," Q said.
What is here?"
"The Mountain," Xander breathed in deeply, as if his wounds were more intense than he'd anticipated
I stared at him, "I can see it's a tiny hill and open field, but why are we here?"
Quinn parked and we sat there for a moment in silence.
"It's what's beyond it that's majestic."
Xander winced when he got out of the car and I couldn't help but go to him.
"Tell me what's going on," I whispered, "Do you need a doctor?"
Xander glared at me, but then his gaze softened.
"No, I, -"
I put my hand on his arm and a warmth rushed through me and I couldn't explain it. It wasn't s****l in any way, it was blissful.
"Sabrina.." He said my name with such yearning, like he was on the verge of crumbling
I smiled and joined Hudson who was waiting for me at the edge of the lot.
"What was that?" I heard Quinn ask.
Xander shook his head.
"I have no f*****g idea, but I feel a lot better."
We ventured across the field of flowers and shrubbery. The sunshine radiated warmth against our skin, but it wasn't too hot.
"Have you been here?" Hudson asked me.
"No, I really haven't been able to go anywhere except school and the occasional trips to the store or doctor."
"Gilda and Jerome are assholes, " Xander said. He wasn't walking hunched over any longer and I smiled at him.
"I don't know what their problem was or is with me and I don't know why my Mom thought it was a good idea to leave me with them."
"She did?" Quinn looked perplexed.
"That's what the will states," I shrugged, "I barely knew the Gideon's. I'd met them once a long time ago and they weren't friendly. "
"Have you questioned the authenticity of that will?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, but Greer said it was legitimate and I was barely 16 when I got here so what do I know? I trusted it, but I didn't like it. I figured that Mom and Dad thought it was best for me to be here."
"You hate it here," Xander said, gruffly.
"It hasn't been kind to me."
I don't know what he wanted from me, what answer he thought I'd give him. I was hurting.
Quinn wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
"Maybe we can show you that it isn't all that bad... "
My thoughts went straight a giant orgy with all four of them ravishing me until I couldn't walk anymore.
Oh, my I was turning into Xander the Perv.
As if reading my thoughts, Xander chimed in.
"We could definitely show her some good things about this place, Quinn, especially my extremely huge... "
"Xander.. " Sebastian warned
"Well, show it to me," I challenged, stopping to eyeball Xander.
He smiled, narrowing his eyes.
"You're not ready for that, Cupcake."
I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"Must not be too extraordinary then."
The others laughed, and I thought Xander would be mad, but a smile came over him as if I was passing all of the tests they were handing me.
"Wow..." I must have said that word fifty times once we reached the top of the little mountain.
There was a lush valley, the Malsum River running right through it and a deep forest that seemed to go on forever.
"This is majestic."
I was now holding Quinn's hand as I looked over the edge.
The grumbles I heard from the other brothers about "protecting" me and "get her away from the ledge," made me wonder if this was all a fantasy I'd concocted in my head from years of being alone.
"Quinn... " I noticed Sebastian motioning for his brother to bring me away from the ledge. When he did, my foot slip and we collided into each other and my word if I didn't feel every inch of him I sure as hell wanted to...
I could feel his heart beating through his chest and I know mine was, too.
"Thanks," I said as his face inched closer to mine.
Was he going to kiss me? I'd never been kissed before and I didn't want to ruin my first time...
Luckily, I didn't have to worry about that because Xander cut in.
"Hey! Did you tell her the story about when you fell, Q?"
Quinn sighed and rolled his eyes, he pulled away from me and stood nose to nose with his younger brother.
"I was just f*****g getting to that... " he said through gritted teeth.
Turning back to me, Q smiled and began his story.
"Xander pushed me off the, -"
"I f*****g did not!" Xander chuckled, "Your dumb ass slipped and fell when you were,-" He caught himself. He caught himself before he gave too much away.
"We were running."
"Running?" I asked.
"Yeah, we were... little... and I wasn't used to it. "
"To running? Were you toddlers?"
"You could say that," Q nodded, "I was lucky only to get some scratches and a broken leg."
"I'm sorry about that, but I'm glad that's all that happened," I told him, "I might not be up here with you if..." He pushed a strand of hair out of my face.
"Don't think about that, Cupcake.."
"Hey..." Xander tugged at my arm and lead me over to a spot where Hudson was settled under a tree, "Do you like the moon?"
"Random question..Uh, is this a part of the interview or something?"
"I'm just wanting to know you better."
"Why? Am I going to turn into a, -"
Hudson coughed, interrupting my thoughts.
"Yeah, sure, I like the moon." Xander and I settled down around the fire. We must have talked for hours about music and politics, food and sports, our favorite pets, our favorite colors.... I just knew someone was going to wake me up at any moment, especially when they apologized for treating me like I was nothing. They looked remorseful and wanted my forgiveness.
"I never hated you guys," I said, then telling them that all was forgiven, "But I don't forget, either."
"Fair enough," Hudson smiled at me.
Dusk was closing in and the guys decided it was time to go.
"We'll come here any time you want," Hudson told me, "Just let us know."
"I do like it here. I'd like to go down into the valley—or those woods."
A scream, that whistle? That weird yelp—was heard from the woods. I crashed into Xander as if this guy was going to protect me. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close.
"That's the sound I heard last night!" I told him, "Remember?"
He still didn't take his eyes off of me as Q, Seb and Hudson scoured the valley.
"We have to go," Sebastian said, "Now."
"Why? What's happening?" I asked as Xander rushed me back to the car, "More stray dogs?"
Quinn started the car as I sat close to Xander, who still hadn't let me go.
"Yeah, you could say that," Xander scowled.
"f*****g mutts..."
- Writer
