Secrets are Revealed

Chapter Two

    The house was dark as I walked in and put my phone into the basket on the kitchen counter. This happened every Friday, family night. Typically it was just Mom, Dad, Brad, Lizzie and I but occasionally our cousins will come over. During family nights the electronics are in the basket in the kitchen. Everyone was huddled in the living room waiting for me. I quickly ran to my bedroom to change out of my wet clothes into sweat pants and a tank top. 

    Walking into the living I see my Uncle Damian, a forty year old pudgy man with a balding head and a lot of facial hair sitting on the couch with my parents. He came tonight with his three kids, Johnny, the oldest at sixteen is a very quite to himself kind of kid, was sitting to the left in the armchair. Linsey was ten years old was very adamant about books and reading, she almost always had one with her. Lastly Tommy, a very socially awkward four year old. Both them and Lizzie were sitting with their backs to me. 

    "Trixie!" Tommy, Linsey and Lizzie yelled running to me. Linsey has bouncy curly blonde hair that reaches his shoulders and sparkling blue eyes. Tommy had ear length straight hair and eyes that shimmer like the ocean. 

    "Hey you thee!" I said hugging them. "Mom, Jojo needed Brad so he's going to be late." I said sitting down on the floor between Linsey and Tommy with Lizzie beside him.

    "Okay, should we start without him or wait?" Mom asked everyone. We all nodded and chorused "Start without him!"

    "Tommy why don't you pick the game." Dad said smiling. Tommy jumped up and went to the game shelf. As he was deciding I was looking around. My Mom at forty has black hair in a curly mop and was a bigger lady but always smiling with her blue eyes. Dad was older at forty five and looked like he needed a nap with the bags under his forest green eyes. Uncle Damian, Dads brother, had the same green eyes as Dad but was younger and more energetic. My little sister Lizzie has sparkling blue eyes and blonde hair in perfect ringlets, she resembles a porcelain doll. 

    Just then Tommy yelled. "This one!" He excitedly held up twister so we all could see. I took the box from him and started laying out the mat. 

    "Kids you start first." Mom said grabbing the spinner. "Okay Tommy left foot red." She said. I showed Tommy what foot was his left. We all bumped and twisted together until just as Brad came in Johnny lost his balance and fell on all of us, pushing us all down on the mat. Next was the adults and that lasted for about thirty minutes before Dad lost his balance and slipped, causing Brad to fall then Uncle Damian so in the end Mom won. 

    Tommy held his stomach and said "My tummy is hungry." Johnny, Linsey and Lizzie all mumbled that they were hungry too.

    "What's for supper Mom?" Brad asked when Mom headed towards the kitchen. Our Mom usually makes home cooked meals, we have rarely ever gotten take out. 

    "Well I was thinking that pizza place across town would be good for tonight." She said holding the phone arms length away. Brad, Johnny and I raced to the phone, I spun around Johnny and ducked under Brads arm. Of course I beat them both, being small has its advantages. Mom passed me the phone and I waved it in front of the boys sticking my tongue out at them. Brad started laughing while Johnny scowled, he didn't like getting beat by me. I was laughing as I headed for my room. 

    I opened the door and ran towards the hope chest beside the desk. Every time I go to a restaurant I keep the menus and save them in a shoe box. Digging though the box I found Papa Tonys pizza menu, I looked it over and decided to order one large pepperoni, a large works, and an extra large garlic finger. After ordering I headed down the stairs to hung up the phone. As I walked by noticed the other kids were in Brads room playing video games. Downstairs I heard Dad talking and then heard my name. Instantly I wanted to know what they were talking about so I creeped down the steps just enough so I could hear them but they can't see me. 

    Dads voice was the loudest. "She's seventeen and hasn't even considered an actual education." What? I've considered a lot of art schools and collages. 

    I strained to hear my mother. "She has looked at some art collages dear."  She said softly. 

    "Sweetie, that's not a real career and you know that. How will she raise a family with a job like that?" Dad said sounding like he was mad. I decided that before they could get any angrier about me I would walk in on them.

    "Hey Mom, Dad." I said. "Pizza is ordered," I passed Mom the phone "and Brad's taking me right?" I finished. My Dad did not look happy but Mom smiled at me. 

    "Brad come on  before the pizza gets cold!" I yelled up the stairs. Brad came running down the stairs and practically pushed me out the door. As soon as we were in the truck he ripped out of the driveway, I barely had enough time to close the door.

    "Holding the dash I tried not to faceplant into the window. "Brad I would like to live long enough to taste the pizza!" I said buckling my seat belt quickly. 

    Brad slowed down some the further up the road we got. "Chill out Trixie. I just had to get out of there." Brad said. I kept quite until we got the pizza. 

    "Brad what's wrong?" I asked as we got back into the truck.

    He pulled onto the street before saying "Jojo! That's what's wrong. She cheated on me with Donny. You remember him right?" He asked. I nodded and he continued to complain about Jojo. Donny was Brads old teammate from his high school football team. They had just had a little party get together, he took Jojo with him that night. That must have been when it happened. We finally pulled into the driveway and got out. I grabbed the pizza and went into the house. Mom had set out plates for everyone and started serving the pizza as soon as I set it on the island. 

    "Supper is ready." She yelled to everyone and like a stampede they all came running down the stairs. Everyone took their seats and started eating, the meal was quite except some small talk from the parents about different cars and the upcoming camping trip. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. 

    "I'll get it."  Brad said jumping out of his chair. A couple minutes later Brad came in with Taylor on his heals. "We are going to play a few games. Is it okay?" He asked. Mom nodded and Brad started heading upstairs. 

    "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Snow." Taylor said. "Hey Trixie." His eyes stopped on me. I felt the heat of his stare so I looked down at my pizza. I waited to hear his footsteps go up the stairs before I finished eating my pizza. I said my thank yous and placed my plate in the dishwasher before heading up the stairs with my phone. I opened my door and smiled, my safe space. The first thing you see when you walk in is my queen size four poster bed against the back wall, it's covered in purple and black zebra print pillows and blankets with a purple canopy overhead. On the left was my art station with my easel, stacks of canvases, piles of paint bottles and a small cabinet. To the right was my desk full of papers and books plus my laptop, with a window just above. To the right of my bed was my dresser and the door to my closet. The lilac rug, soft under foot, complemented my light grey walls which were covered in posters and pictures. I flopped on my bed and looked at the purple canopy above me and called Macy. We talked and gossiped about the time home. 

    "Hold on, I'm putting you on speaker." I said looking for pajamas. 

    "Dang girl. What bra was it?" Macy asked.

    "Macy!" I shrieked in shock. "Okay fine it was the red and pink one I just got." I grabbed my pajamas and started putting them on.

    "At least you were wearing a cute one." She said and we talked for a bit longer until she got a phone call from Max so we hung up. I was heading downstairs but when I opened my door Taylor was standing right there. He looked like he was about to knock on my door. 

    "Hey Brad says you have the rockband game," Taylor said. "Can you get it for me?" I always notice how his dark blue eyes sparkled and met mine.

    "Yea it's in my closet." I said heading for the closet. I opened the door and stood on my tippy toes to reach the top shelf. Suddenly I felt him behind me, I turned around and felt his body heat. His hands on either side of me, one pressed against the door frame while the other reached up to grab the game.

    "You smell like apples." He tossed the game on the floor and grabbed my waist firmly. I gasp as he pulled me close to him, my head was pressed against his chest. Dang he smelt good. His hands ran up my back and to my cheeks. 

    I shivered. "Taylor I....." I started to say before he cut me off by pressing his lips against mine gently but passionate and firm. He pulled away and smiled. It didn't last as long as I wanted it to, I wish it never stopped but it's better then nothing. Now I know for sure he feels something for me too.

    "Thanks for the game Trixie!" He said loudly then moved to my ear. "By the way you have soft lips." Taylor whispered, his voice sent shivers down my spine. 

    Brad walked in the door. "Hey Trixie are you giving him a hard time about the game?"

    "No, he was trying to tickle me so I ran to thee closet and he pinned me." I lied sitting on my bed blushing.

    "Well okay. Want to play with us?" Brad asked completely clueless. 

    "No, I'd rather sit in here, but I'll come if I change my mind." I said grabbing my phone. Both boys left my room and I called Macy back. "Oh my god Macy I am soo blushing right now!" I squealed. 

    "What why?" Macy Asked sounding shocked. I told her every detail, she teased me and we talked for a little while longer. "Mom's yelling to me, got to go, bye!" Macy hung up on me. Oh well might as well go play rockband with the boys. The music was loud and when I knocked on Brads door nobody answered so I opened it. Inside Brad and Taylor both had guitars and were rocking out to the music. I couldn't help but laugh at them. Standing in the doorway I waited until the song was over and they both fell on the bed. 

    "You know what that song needs?" I asked. They stare at me dumbfounded. "Duh my awesome drumming skills." I laughed grabbing the drumsticks from on top the dresser. The boys just stared at me until I said "So what song are we playing?" I sat down on the bed. 

    Both boys stood up and chose a song. Brad had a smile on his face and Taylor looked happier then ever. We played six or so songs when Mom yelled to us. They were going out with the kids for a late movie, a rare treat for the kids, and then a drive and they will be home at midnight. They head out the door leaving the three of us alone. 

    "Alright, love you guys and see you later." I say heading to my room. Might as well get some sleep, it's like ten o'clock now and I've had a long day.