The thing About us

Atticus

It's been two years since then, I've used my aggravation in a negative way. In fact, I've developed an eating disorder. At first I didn't even notice, it started out as me not being hungry very often. But then my coach pulled me aside from practice one morning and told me I couldn't be flyer anymore. It was because I was becoming to heavy for the bases to hold me, they were afraid they would drop me; I didn't take that too well, hints why I have developed an eating disorder. I'm anorexic, I don't have it bad, but bad enough it's unhealthy. But we've managed to win two national trophy's since I lost that weight and I've been titled highest flyer in the state. 

"I can't believe the wedding date is just around the corner! Are you excited?" My Mom asks. She watches me practice almost everyday just like my Dad would, he used to coach me, reminding me to point my toes and to straighten my legs when I kick. But since he's gone, my Mom does. 

"Can't wait.." I said in a low tone. I hold my stomach as it growls, I can't eat right now I'm too busy. I push the play button on my phone going over the routine coach sent us all in the email. It repeats number, in this routine coach wants me to flip into the hands of the base and then jump off their hands into the air for the half time show. I'm down, but I tend to get super dizzy just after a couple flips. 

"Honey, the least you could do is pretend to be happy, after all, look at this gorgeous house we live in now." I felt a button of mine pushed and without thinking I lash out at my mother. 

"Your only marrying him because of the wad of cash he feeds your ass. When Dad was alive he was the one making the money and you got worried you wouldn't be able to live as easy as before. Your just a fu*king gold digger!" I yelled, my breath becomes heavy. It felt good to get those words I've been dying to get out these past two years. My Mom looks flabbergasted, her hand on her chest and she beats her petty eyelashes because of it. Then she points up at the three story mansion towards my window, 

"Get your ass in your bedroom. I don't want to hear those words ever leave your mouth again!" She yelled. Fine, I was going up there anyway. I grab my phone but I felt it snapped out of my palm. I lift up my middle finger towards her and say,

"Fu*k you." I shout. I stomp my way up the stairs and passed Dexter. I'm pissed now, I make sure I slam my door shut, loud enough the neighbors can hear it. 

I heard footsteps walking in the direction of my bedroom so I quickly flush the toilet and brush my teeth. I can't have someone smell the acid on my breath. I hear faint knocks on my door, it was my soon to be stepfather. 

"Lorell, your mother and I would like to talk to you downstairs when you have a moment." I continued to brush my teeth and Nod my head. He closes the door and I spit into the sink, washing my mouth out with mouth wash. god, that was close. I brush my hair and put it into a low ponytail. I take off my sweat pants and put on some Jean shorts and tank top. I slip on my slippers and head down stairs. I can feel the wood creaking below my feet as I walk downstairs. I took out my contacts when my Mother sent me to my room, I was ready for bed when I began to feel sick...

I saw the two of them with their glasses of wine laughing it up. I roll my eyes, I was about to turn around when they caught me. They both stand up and adjust their clothing, my mother motions me to sit on the chair. I slowly walk down the stairs and into the chair, bringing my legs to my chest. My mother coughed and sat down. Dexter wrapping her in his arms. 

"There is something we've been meaning to tell you and you're probably not going to like it." She then looks at Dexter to inform him to tell the rest. I already had my eyebrow raised, I was curious. 

"My son is coming to live with us for a little while, my Ex- wife has been... caught up in a situation and my son's only other guardian is me..." As he finishes that sentence the door opens up. I stand up immediately on guard. I could feel the tension in the house already, his eyes locked on me and mine on his. His body was perfectly outlined- his jaw line, his muscles and his... tattoos. His lip piercing and fu*k those diamond piercings in his ears sent my body on an ultimate high.

"Lorell meet my Son Atticus. Atticus meet your soon to be stepsister, lorell." 

"Great a fu*king nuisance as a sister. Can't even dress like a god damned woman." My mouth fell open, I was caught off guard again. My heart shattered into a million pieces. He didn't seem like the type to be a complete jackass. My Mom just stares at Dexter.

"How dare you talk like that, boy." Dexter growls. Atticus grabs his suitcase and walks by all of us and up the stairs. As he walks by I get a whiff of his scent. He smells of cigarettes and expensive cologne which makes my skin tingle in excitement, sh*t what am I thinking. I shake my head to remove the thoughts my brain had thought of unaware of the situation. I place my hand on the hand rail and ran up the stairs, no ones ever been that abhorrent to me before. 

I walked into my bedroom leaning against my door trying to catch my breath- this man caught me off guard and now he has stolen my breath.

I got up in the middle of the night to the noise of Dexter and Atticus arguing. I stepped on the first step heading downstairs as it creeks. They both turn towards me, when I realize they both look very similar, more similar than before.  

"So she's a eavesdropper too??" he shakes his head and looks at me. I could feel my sensitivity raising, which I've been blocking since my Fathers death. I could feel my nose burn and the tears filling my eyes but I've blocked these tears for a long time, I can't stop now. 

I walk down the stairs quickly he has lit a fire that can't be burned out. 

"uh oh, I think I just pissed off a thin snap." He smirks and I stop in my tracks. A thin snap? What the hell is that? Dexter watches this interaction, and then it was like he let off a loose canon and exploded in Atticus' face. I shook my head,

"Atticus, I know this is fun for you but sometimes you can't just say things because you felt like it, or do things because you feel like it." He smirks,

"Watch me." He brushes past my shoulder and I was frozen in anger. Dexter was shaking his head and brushing through his hair in frustration. I walked passed him and grabbed a bottled water from the fridge. 

"He's starting school at Silverton tomorrow. Keep an eye on him for me, would you?" Keep an eye on m older soon to be stepbrother? He's a senior. No way a sophomore like me could keep an eye on him. He is his own person. 

After I told him I couldn't do that, I retreated to my bedroom. My god seeing Atticus in nothing but those sweatpants, showing his Calvin Klein boxers at the midst of the top, I feel so...weird. I pull my hair back breathing a deep sigh of confusion. I decided to pick up my phone and call my best friend Madison, she's the second most popular girl in the school- Alyssa the senior cheerleader being the first. I was lying in bed, it was late but Madison rarely gets to sleep at curfew- although she could be doing it with some guy. That's the turf with being popular, you're also considered a slut, just the name of the game . That's why I'm not popular, I don't need to have s*x to gain friends in high school, I'm not entitled nor should we be. She didn't answer her phone but she did shoot me with a text, A door and a tie which confirmed my suspicions. I placed my phone down on my night stand and covered myself with my big ass blanket. I heard someone slam through my door which scared me half to death - I look up to see Atticus with his arms crossed and a smirk wiped across his face. 

"You don't know me, and I don't know you." I was confused, you could see it all over my face, I am dumbfounded. Then it occurred to me he is talking about school...

"Why? to embarrassed for people to know you have a little sister?" I snorted. 

"No, I just don't want you to scare all the women away. I don't need you to ruin my reputation thin crisp." he walks closer to my bed, his hand slides under the sheets, finding my thigh. I could feel my body wanting more, I felt electricity, excited and that weird feeling in my stomach, almost like a s*x nausea.He grabs a strand of my hair twisting it with his fingers.

"I don't need the burden, someone as plain as you; Can't have them thinking you're my girlfriend. He lets go and practically takes my heart with him. Taking it from my body. Once I heard my door shut I melted. For the first time in two years I allowed myself to cry, I cried about everything. I cried about my Father's death, my Mothers new love, the regret I hold in my heart was strong. I cried so much I couldn't breath properly, I was hiccuping, struggling for those shallow breaths. The next thing I remember is waking up in my bed this morning. Today we need to wear our cheer outfits for the freshman during the assembly. We're putting on a welcome Freshman 'halftime' show at the assembly. Basically a game day performance. I put on my cheerleader outfit, the black and orange suits me well. I curl my hair and tie the orange glittery bow making a perfect half up bouffant wavy hair do. I look at my wall with each of my trophies over the year. If I didn't loose all this weight I would never have been a flyer, it's also become easier for me to carry my own weight when I need to lift myself on the bases shoulders. I've done enough lollygagging, I grab my bag and open the door to Atticus smoking in the hallway. I can't believe it! Someone at his age, out of pure instinct I quickly ran up to him grabbing the cigarette out of his mouth and walk to the bathroom drowning the cigarette. I walk back out to the hallway seeing the pack of cigarettes in his hands, so I grab that and repeat the process. 

"You have no right to take what doesn't belong to you," he says towering over me. I felt scared, even timid to be around him;

"But don't you know that can kill?! Death isn't something you can toy with!" He walks closer to me, making me back up into the the wall,

"maybe I'm not toying, neither are you." I could see his eyes staring down at my lips, and I feel uncomfortable once again. I'm reminded of last night as he was gripping my thigh... I shiver. 

"Atticus! How many times do I have to beat you..." Atticus turns his attention to the yelling Dexter walking up the stairs. I could feel the tears rising. Atticus? He wants to die? I... can relate. I pick up the bag I dropped and walk past Atticus, is that why I'm doing this to myself? The real reason I'm slowly dying is because my life isn't the same anymore, everything has...changed. 

I reached the bottom of the stairs and sat at the table fidgeting with my hands.

"Are those nerves I see? No, that can't be... My daughter has never gotten nervous not for a single cheer." I could hear my mother approaching behind me. She was right, about the nerves but has the reason wrong. I'm nervous because I just revealed a defining truth about myself, but I'm too far down to stop now. I turn around and notice my Mother still in pajama's. 

"Aren't you taking me to school?" She smiles, then shakes her head no.

"Atticus offered." I was almost blown out of my chair, my heart racing and my thoughts racing- not in a good way. 

"No." I whispered, her hands on her hips. She has now developed a scowl.

"NO? Well then, you can take the bus..." I quickly looked back up at her and started pleading with my eyes.

"I promised Dexter honey. Listen, this is new for you and I. Just get used to it- this is the first time I've felt happy since Dad's death. Just do me this favor." I nod my head, I certainly haven't made this easy for my Mom, if this is what she wants as a favor then I'll do it.

Atticus walks down the stairs with his leather jacket and dark blue denim jeans, I'm practically blushing. He walks past me and I follow, he opens the big front door and shuts it, right in front of my face. Did he even see me?  I open the door and see Atticus driving off, the bus left 15 minutes ago and my mom is off with Dexter helping him with his work. 

"s**t!" I have to walk there, I look at the clock on my phone- by the time I get there I would have missed first hour. What a slime ball! I've never missed a single class in my life! I place my phone in my back pack. I began to walk, how f*****g great is my day?

I hate this, my feet are killing me in these shoes!! They're not even meant for trekking. 

*Car honking* I turn around and notice a red Ferrari-it's Tommy! He is- or was- the assistant coach for the high school cheer team when I was in middle school- he decided to leave just as I was getting into high school. We're great friends, he comes to camp occasionally too. I stop walking and wait for his car to approach. 

"What is a lady like you walking to school? Especially in a cheer uniform?? You know how many Guys would pull over and snatch you." He laughs. He makes me giggle, I missed him the last two years. 

"Some Jerk I know drove off without me. I think he purposely waited until the bus drove by my house so I would be left with my only option... walking."

"Off with his head!" he shouts. He smiles, I've had a giant crush on him since I was a sixth grader- that is when I saw him at camp for the first time. 

"Get in I'll drive you," He places both his hands on the steering wheel, I was stunned and I could feel the heat rising to the surface of my skin. You know how many girls would kill to be in the same location as Tommy let alone be in his hot car!? A lot! 

"Are you sure?" He nods his head yes, 

"but you'll have to jump over the door, the hinges are stuck- I was on my way to the shop when I saw a cute pumpkin walking with her head down."