Unloved Unclaimed Unbound

Chapter Two - Serenya

I sat in the passenger seat of Kaelith’s Mustang GT. The plush black leather was not burning my ass & thighs. I stared out the window watching my hand catch the breeze & following the air stream making a waving motion. Finally, I sighed, pulling my hand & arm back into the car, & rolled the window back up.

“You didn’t have to stop,” Kaelith said, “We don’t have to go to the house right away.”

I gave him a side long glance. He didn’t say home, he said house. “How long have you been calling it a house and not a home?”

The muscle in his jaw ticked, and I noticed him grind his back teeth, “The moment they sent you away.” He slowed at the red light and looked at me, “I’ve tried to get them to allow me to go to the same school. They both have their stupid excuses. It’s our senior year. I even tried to enroll secretly in your school. They were informed the same day I sent my application.”

“They paid off the staff. Green light,” I said, then rolled my eyes, “I’m in a whole other state, away from their supposed influence & they still have people on their payroll.”

“It’s ridiculous.” He turned onto the street for the house. “I wonder why they were so ecstatic to have you home for Fall break. It’s all they’ve been talking about.”

I watched as the neighbors were doing their usual routines, children biking & skating on the sidewalks, men washing their overpriced vehicles to show off. I envied them. I don’t know what their home life was like on the inside, but on the outside, it looked perfect. Just like my family, but on the inside, it was awful & I loathe my parents. Because of them, I have so many issues. I can’t talk to anyone other than Kaelith. I am in real need of therapy, that’s for sure.

I was drawn out of my thoughts as the car was put into park. I leaned my head back on the headrest and sighed. “Please don’t leave me alone with them. Living in the dorms at school has been nice, since I don’t have to deal with them, but I can’t be alone with them, Kaelith.”

“I know sister,” he said on the other side of the passenger window, scaring me. He laughed, opening the door for me. “I will do my best Ren.” He held out his hand. I gave him the biggest, most genuine smile I’ve had in such a long time as I took his hand. “Be prepared though,” he whispered in my ear as I stood, “Here they come.” Smile gone.

“There is our baby boy!” Our parents coo…Oh, God... “How was your last day of school before the Fall break?” Mother asked.

Our Father extended his hand out to Kaelith. Kaelith took it and shook, “You guys act like I’ve been gone out of the country. You only just seen me this morning.” I heard in the tone of his voice, he had rolled his eyes. My attention shifted to the evergreen in between our yard and the neighbor’s yard.

“Daughter, it’s wonderful to see you,” Father said flatly. I looked back at them. And there it was, this was for show. Show the neighbors that the Ashmare’s were really concerned and happy that their delinquent daughter was back. “I trust you had a… safe trip home.”

A show let's give a show, “Why yes Father, it was quite a smooth ride. Though the horse-drawn carriage was a bit sore on my rump, overall, it was pleasant given this wondrous fall weather we have.” I paused passing behind them and relishing their gaping faces, “Mother, Father, I do wish to continue this conversation, but I’d like to soak this sore ass in a hot bath, so would you please excuse me.” Kaelith was having trouble holding his laugh in.

Mother, I could have sworn she had the tiniest glint of amusement, but it was gone just as quickly. “Don’t take too long, Serenya, we have company over for dinner. The Fontenot’s are joining us.”

I stopped and looked at them as I took the final step onto the porch as Kealith said, “Why are Brandi’s parents coming over?”

“Son, you know her father is our attorney. It is a business meeting of sorts,” Father said.

“Oh Kaelith, you and Brandi have been getting close since the beginning of the semester.” Mother started.

“No,” Kaelith stopped Mother, “Brandi has been inserting herself into my life. I. Do. Not. Like. Her.”

“Give her a chance,” Mother chided.

“He said he doesn’t like the bimbo.” I told her, holding the banister.

“Language!” Mother hissed.

I scoffed. “Yea, okay. I’ll see you at dinner.” With that, I walked to the white screen door, and since the front door was already opened, I went inside. I paused, slightly hyperventilating. The modern couches, the sterile white walls, the one family photo of my parents, Kaelith and I, as infants, were overshadowed by individual photos of Kaelin doing various milestones, sports achievements, material arts, etc. I take a deep breath and move to go upstairs, touching the spot on the wall where there used to be a wallet photo of me holding a first-place ribbon for my Flemish Giant rabbit. On the second story landing, I heard the front door slam.

“Honestly, Glen that girl! The absurdity of her!” mother fumed.

“Linda. She is only here for the night, and she will be gone for good,” Father consoled.

“Good riddance! She is such a bad influence on Kaelith! I don’t know why we couldn’t have done this sooner!”

“Because we have morals, Linda.” Father was saying as their voices faded.

“Because we have morals Linda, seriously, we have an image to uphold.” I murmured under my breath, and a tear fell. I wiped it away, blinked, and shook my head before continuing to my room.

I grabbed the handle & pushed. Thud. My soul continued through the locked door as my body slammed into the door. I stared at the door. “What the...”

I heard the thump, thump of Kaelith taking the stairs two at a time. “Ah, sorry, I forgot to tell you.” He produced a key, “They were going to try to turn your room into their home office, I wouldn’t let them.” He unlocked the door.

“It wouldn’t have stopped them; they could have just taken the door off its hinges or took a sledgehammer.” I opened the door into the time capsule.

“Eh, maybe, but when I told them I put a lock on the door, they assumed I was using it for storing my stuff.” He shrugged. "Go take that hot bath & soak your sore ass, you may also find…”

I pushed him, “Don’t finish that sentence,” I laughed. “See you at dinner.”