Not Another Teen Fiction

Chapter 2: Six Years Later

Today is such a beautiful day; from the birds chirping in the cloudless blue sky, to the perfect breeze rolling through the backyard. The only thing that could possibly make me feel any greater than I do in this minute is if my older brother suddenly left to go to the beach house.

Oh wait... He leaves tonight.

I was right: today is beautiful. And tonight should be even better because it's when my parents leave for the beach house with my brother, Rhys, leaving me alone in the house for 2 solid months. Truly, life is beautiful.

“Kennedy,” my mother called, signaling me into the house. “A moment, please.” I followed her, leaving my graduation party behind for a moment. I honestly hope I’m not in trouble. Nothing is going to ruin my perfect summer.

She led me into the living room and shooed the few children running about inside: cousins, clearly. She sat down on the love seat and motioned for me to sit across from her on the couch.

“So this is a big summer for you,” she stated. I nodded along, not quite sure where she was going with this. “You’re officially 18, and you’ve turned into such a mature adult.”

Boy was she wrong there. Sure, I kept up good grades and never talked back, but I for sure was not mature. I was a trouble magnet. I’m not sure if it’s my friends that made me this way, or some of my exes, but I am not a good kid. In fact, I’m quite the rebel. Smoking, drinking, and f*****g around.

“… Are you even listening, Kennedy.”

“What?” I didn’t even realize I was zoning out. “Sorry. Could you repeat that?”

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. Hey, it’s not my fault she called me mature. Her mistake. “I was just saying that we parents aren’t going to the beach house this year.”

Wait, what? She’s just going to let the boys go haywire up there? I think Jenna’s only 14, and they’re letting the irresponsible, slightly-older, teenagers in charge? “That’s a dumb idea.”

“How so?”

“They’re all really irresponsible; especially Rhys,” I told her. “I walked into the kitchen and saw him microwaving a tampon yesterday.”

It was in that moment, I saw all hope for my brother drain from my mom. “He did?” I confirmed. “Nevertheless, I know they’re a bit on the childish side, but Rhys, Brendan, and Mitchell are all adults.”

“And Winnie and Brooks are 17; I know,” I verified. “But Jenna is only 14, and her being in that environment is toxic.”

“I completely agree,” she answered. Well now she’s just confusing me. “That’s why I think you should go.”

In that second, my heart stopped. My mouth went dry, and my breathing became shallow. It was probably only 3 seconds, but it felt like a lifetime before I sputtered out, “No!”

“Kennedy, Let’s dis-”

“No!” I repeated, not letting her finish. “No, no, no, no, no.” I can’t believe she was even asking this of me. “How dare you even ask!”

She looked at me with what I’d assume was pity in her eyes; something I hated seeing. “It’s been years, though.”

“I don’t care,” I refuted, letting venom seep through my voice. “They destroyed my childhood.”

“You didn’t turn out any differently.” That’s not true. “You’re still a beautiful, bright young lady with a future.” Not true, either.

Ever since that day, I’d looked for acceptance wherever I could find it. At first, I took genuine care of myself, healthier eating and a bit of exercise, but once puberty hit, it all went downhill. I grew into my curves and developed a chest and a butt, and the guys at school noticed.

I thought everything was finally looking up, but one mistake had me searching for answers at the bottom of a bottle. Every now and then, I’ll light up a joint, but that’s only occasional.

“I haven’t even talked to Rhys since October, and that was because you forced us.”

“Which is why we think you should go.” I can’t believe this is happening. “”You’re going off to college in a few months, and I guarantee you’ll regret not saying goodbye to your friends.”

“They are not my friends.” I mustered up all the hate in my blood to utter that one sentence.

“Kennedy, I-”

“If I can’t even look Rhys in the eyes at dinner, what makes you think I can handle 2 months with the other 5 people I despise most in this world?”

She sighed, looking me in the eyes. “Kennedy Elaine Cross, I raised you better than this.” She may have raised me, but the bullying I endured that one day destroyed all the progress I made as a child. “I want you to go up to the beach house and spend your last summer there.”

“It’s been six years,” I whispered, not looking up from the floor.

“A lot has changed.” Like me?

I looked up and saw my brother in the kitchen, just standing with the fridge door open. How long had he been eavesdropping. “I have some conditions.”

That perked my mom right up and made my brother tense up. He obviously didn’t want his f**k up of a sister coming. Yea, he’d heard the stories. Our school isn’t exactly a secret keeping kind of place. “Name them,” she said, with what could only be explained as hope lining her smile.

“I get to drive down alone.” If I had to bear a 2 and a half hour ride with Rhys, I’d be throwing myself into the Lake at Lillian Bay with an anchor tied to my ankle. “I don’t have to follow any of Rhys’ or Brendan’s bullsh- crap rules.” I had to correct myself, but still: they wouldn’t be the boss of me. I’m an adult.

I continued, “I’m leaving tomorrow so I can say goodbye to my friends.” All 4 of them. “I’m not being held responsible for any of their shenanigans.” Lord knows they aren’t as discreet as me with trouble. Rhys got caught having a sip of wine last Christmas in the bathroom; meanwhile, I had a guy in my room last night, and nobody suspected a thing.

“And finally, I can come home whenever I want to.”

My mother nodded her head and immediately stood up to hug me. “I’m just happy you’re going.”

I reluctantly hugged her back and, with giggle, asked, “Are you crying.”

“Do you want to be grounded?”

I laughed at her threat and separated myself from her. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a party to go to before I start packing.” She let me go, and I was on my way. I didn’t miss the glare Rhys threw at me. Instead of showing him how sad it made me that he hated me, I smirked.

I couldn’t let him get to me. He could hate me if he wanted, but no matter how hard I tried, I still loved him. He is my brother after all. Besides, if I don’t love him, who will? He microwaves tampons in his free time.