Untitled for now

I turn eighteen in three days. For most people this is exciting because the are an adult and ready to experience and live life. The days leading up are exciting then the day comes and celebration begins. Not for me though. I am counting down the days but not because I’m so exited to turn eighteen; it’s because I want to get out of this hell. My parents have never been nice people but when the abuse started they became evil people. It started with my brother, Keagan, who is now 21 years old and living with his best friend. When he turned eighteen he tried everything he could to get my parents to let me go with him, but my parents, my father especially, resisted. They don’t want to get rid of their only punching bag. Keagan couldn’t and still can afford a lawyer, so he made arrangement for our home, for when I turn eighteen. My brother’s best friend, Ryland, gave him a place to stay and that is where I will live when I am free. Three more days I am still in high school, so Keagan and Ryland come by my parents house to take me to and from school. They try to keep me out of the house as much as they can. I’m suddenly yanked out of my thoughts by Ryland’s truck pulling up the drive way. And then there’s a knock on the door, luckily my parents already left for work or else there would probably be a fight. I open the door and am greeted by with a bear huge from my brother and a soft squeeze from Ryland. I think he thinks of me as a sister so it would be really awkward for him to know the thoughts I have of him, but let’s not get into that now. “I missed you, my sweet baby sister,” Keagan says. “You just saw me last night,” I say with a sigh. I know how he feels, I missed them too. “You can’t blame him for being over baring and missing you when you are just so sweet,” Ryland says sarcastically with a laugh. “Whatever you both know I love you and can’t wait to get out of this house,” I say. After I said that u immediately regretted saying anything because the sad looks on their faces made me want to cry. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mention it. Can we just go grab coffee before school?” I say in hope of them forgetting all our problems. “Yeah, come on baby girl,” Ryland says. “You can sit up front.” I swear he has to be doing this on purpose any time he calls me by a pet name I nearly melt and something else definitely melts. As Rylands driving, I pull out my book so I can enjoy the peace I feel around them. “What you readin?” Keagan asks. “Well it’s about a guy who stalks this girl and kills anyone who gets near her. And he does other bad things.” I say trying to keep the dirty stuff more vague. “So it’s kinky porn,” Keagan says with no filter. “What the f**k Keagan,” both Ryland and I say at the same time, turning to look at him. “Keep your eyes on the road Ryland,” Keagan responds. I just sit there and pout because my f*****g brother just outed me and my book. How the hell does he know. I ask him just that and he responds with, “ well, one day I accidentally opened one of your books and read a page in the middle. It was a straight smut scene. I was like why they hell is my baby sister not and innocent little angel like I thought she was. I looked at some of your other books and all of them smut, smut, smut. Then I did research and apparently most girls who read are the same. So I guess it’s normal?” His tone went from shock to horrified to questioning. “I’m not answering that,” I say. “This makes so much sense now. I knew you wouldn’t be an innocent little angel like your brother thought,” Ryland says. Keagan and I look at him weird and he suddenly looks back to the road and pulls in to a parking spot at our favorite cafè. “Of course you pick the booth in the corner, away from everyone else,” Keagan says. “Well I don’t like people,” I say and Rylands nods his head in agreement, while my out going brother snorts at us. “I swear y’all were made for each other,” he says light heartedly. Ryland and I share a look, but then I look away. I know my brother was just joking; he would never be fine if I dated his best friend, plus Ryland doesn’t like me like that. I order coffee with cream and sugar, Ryland orders black coffee (gross), and Keagan orders tea. We all just drink our caffeine in silence and get ready to face the day. I have to go to school, Keagan works as a mechanic at a shops down town, and Ryland owns a book store on the edge of town; it also doubles as his house. There is a huge apartment that he renovated above the store. It has three rooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, living room, and of course, personal library. When he picks me up from school, I always get to find a new book before going to the apartment. He probably figured out my taste in books before Keagan but kept his mouth shut. “Alright let’s get you to work and you to school,” Ryland says to Keagan and I. We load back into the truck. Keagan’s job is our first stop since it is first along the way. Keagan jumps out and says, “bye sweet girl love you. Love ya Ryland.” He says giving me a hug and waving bye to us. When he walks into the shop, Ryland drives off. “Can’t we just ditch school and go back to the shop to read books and lay on the couch.” I say desperately. “No darling, sadly we cannot. Once you turn eighteen you will be able to stay with us though. Just a few more days baby, just a few more days.” I think his repetition was more of reassurance for himself than me. Just a few more days.