Rules

by Doe, Anna B.

  You’re not doing this, Brook. You’re not going back down that road. You promised. This is her life; let her deal with it.

  Yet, I stay glued to the ground. Not inching closer, but not moving away either.

  “What the hell happened?”

  “D-dan,” she coughs out.

  Abruptly, I get up. I almost stumble over my own feet and fall back down, but somehow manage to regain my balance. I look around as if just the mention of his name will bring him back. My heart, which only seconds ago was beating loudly, slows down until it starts falling to the pit of my stomach, nausea hitting me square in the chest.

  “What did you do, Josephine?” I ask warily.

  I haven’t personally met Dan, but everybody who lives around here has heard of him. Everybody. Including me. The guy is as shady as they come. He’s an ex-con who got out of jail a few years back and continued with his business like nothing had happened, and if the rumors are true, he’s the big boss around our neighborhood. You don’t mess with him, and if you know what’s best for you, you stay out of his way and avoid him with a wide berth.

  “M-money.” One of her eyes flutters open just as mine fall shut.

  I swallow hard. “How much?” I ask quietly, trying to hold on to the thread of sanity I have left, but when she doesn’t answer me, I yell, “How much, Josephine?!”

  How bad can it be? Maybe it’s just a few hundred, a thousand max… I try to reason, but really. The guy’s been in our house.

  “Ten.” I rub my hands over my face, my fingers digging into my scalp, and I pull hard, needing to feel something other than this endless pit of disappointment and fear. “Ten grand.”

  “Dammit, dammit, dammit!” I kick the first thing that gets under my foot and watch it fly across the room and crash into the wall. Josephine groans loudly, and from my periphery, I can see her shift and sit up, but I don’t dare turn around and look at her because if I do, I’ll knock her out myself. Of all the stupid things she could have done… “Is that why you’re blackmailing Hill?”

  Just saying his name tastes bitter on my tongue, but I have to ask. I have to know where I stand.

  Josephine looks away, and even before she opens her mouth, I have my answer.

  “Of-fucking-course not!”

  “I’d pay off Dan.” she whines.

  “And spend the rest getting more drugs and digging an even deeper hole underneath you!” I yell, turning around to look at her. Really look at her. She’s skinnier than I remember, her skin washed out. There are bags underneath her eyes, and she looks at least ten years older than she actually is. Her hair is lifeless, greasy and falling flat down her back. And looking at her pitiful form on the ground is like a punch to my gut. “You’re never going to learn, are you?”

  The question is rhetorical, so I don’t expect her to answer.

  Tears well in her eyes, big, ugly, desperate tears. “I’m sorry, Brookie.”

  I turn away, blocking her out of my sight. “How long?”

  She doesn’t need an explanation. “One month.”

  One month.

  I tilt my head back, exhaling slowly.

  He gave her longer than I expected, but if she doesn’t have the money by then… I didn’t even want to think of the consequences. Not like I’ll be sticking around long enough to find out anyway.

  Without saying another word, I turn around and walk away. I lock the door as soon as I’m in my room, and only then do I let everything that’s happened settle in. My legs give out on me, and I fall to the ground.

  One day. That’s all I had. One day of hope, and now it’s all gone. Burned to ashes. Because if Dan is after Josephine to get his money back, ten grand no less, that means he’ll do everything it takes to actually get it. And that puts me and everybody I love at risk.

  My phone buzzes. Sighing, I pull it out and look at the messages I didn’t even hear come before now, the pit in my stomach growing bigger by the second.

  Max: Hey, just wanted to check in since you ran out on me.

  Max: Let me know when you get inside, otherwise I’ll worry.

  And the last one that just came seconds ago.

  Max: Brook? If I don’t hear from you, I’ll come knocking on your door. You know I’m not joking about it.

  Stumbling to my feet, I go to my window and try to see if maybe he’s still out there in the parking lot, praying at the same time that he’s long gone. But of course, I don’t see anything from this angle. Hitting reply, I type back.

  Got in. All is fine. Don’t come back.

  I hit send and turn off my phone. I don’t want to be tempted to see if he sends anything else. Now I only have to make sure he stays away.

  That they all stay away.

  One month.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  BROOK

  “You better tell me you’re on your way here,” Lia says in way of greeting. Her voice sounds all serious and stern, and maybe I’d believe it if I didn’t know the face she pulls when she uses it.

  “Lia,” I drawl. “I already told you…”

  “And I already told you I don’t care,” she interrupts me mid-sentence. “It’s New Year’s Eve, and I don’t want to hear any excuses. Either you get your ass over here or I’m coming to your house and dragging you out. You have thirty minutes. If you’re not here, I’m coming to get you. Your choice.”

  “But…” I try again, but the only thing that greets me on the other end of the line is loud beeping.

  I pull the phone away and look at my screen, almost in shock. My best friend, residential pushover, just hung up on me.

  For days I tried to ignore them all. I went back to my routine, hoping it would help me put a barrier between me and my friends, but when I turned my phone on today to let Lia know I wouldn’t be going with them to Andrew’s party, I got a verbal kick in my ass.

  What the fuck now? How am I supposed to go back and act like nothing’s happening? Max is already asking questions. Lia’s being noisier than ever. And what about Andrew? There is no way I’ll be able to ignore him in his own house, and there is no way I’ll be able to look him in the eyes knowing what I know.

  I look down at the phone clenched in my hand, realizing I don’t actually have a choice. Lia wants me there and she’ll do everything to get what she wants, including coming to look for me. And more than anything else, I can’t have that happen.

  * * *

  MAX

  Where the hell is she?

  I look down at my cards, pretending to be interested in the game when the only thing I want is to get up, find Brook and demand some answers.

  I knew something was up almost as soon as I left her at her house the other day. She ran out like the devil was at her feet, and when I texted her, she didn’t answer until I threatened to come back, and even then only to tell me not to.

  Then, she comes to my house today but flat out ignores me while she helps Lia haul my sister’s ass out of bed so we can all ring in the new year together, pretending all is perfect when it’s anything but.

  I’m about to fold my cards when Andrew walks into the room and straight over to me, completely pissed.

  “You better come and take your sister off my bar,” he hisses, barely holding it together. “I think people have seen enough of her lacy panties to last them years.”

  I look at him, my eyes narrowing. Yes, he’s pissed, but there is something else hidden beneath it all that makes me suspicious.

  “What did you do?” I spit, but don’t wait for his answer before I get up and stride toward the living room and Jeanette.

  She’s been acting weird for days, closing herself in her room most of the time and only coming out when she has to. I thought maybe she was having one of those days, but now that I look at Andrew, I realize maybe I was wrong.

  Needing to find out exactly what’s happening, I stride through the mass of people that have gathered in the living room. Hoots and hollers are so loud they can be heard clearly over th
e blasting music.

  Swearing under my breath, I break through the crowd until I get to the bar. Slowly I lift my eyes, and when I see them, I curse again, my hands clenching by my sides.

  Both Jeanette and Brook are on the bar, dancing and giggling, completely wasted.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I grit through my teeth. But they both ignore me. Instead, they keep dancing, their asses wiggling in the air. Asses that are just at the right height for me to see way too much. “Jeanette, get the fuck down.”

  Somebody pushes me from behind, making me momentarily stumble, but as soon as I regain my balance, I push them back.

  “Dude, chill the fuck out,” he slurs. “Let the ladies have fun.”

  Pissed off, I turn around and get in his face. “Dude.” I push him back. “That’s my little sister you’re gawking at. If I were you, I’d get lost.”

  Even in the dark room, I can see the guy pale, and before I can say anything else, he scurries away.

  Taking one deep breath to prepare for the disaster waiting for me on the bar, I turn around just in time to see Jeanette slip. My heart goes to my throat as I watch her stumble only to catch herself in the last second. She giggles, not even realizing she took ten years off my life.

  “That’s enough.” I take the few steps that separate us and wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her off the bar and onto her two feet. I’m not sure if that’s the brightest idea, but at least this way she’s close to the floor if she decides to fall down. “We’re going home.”

  I turn around to pull Brook down too, but she all but falls on me. Her body collides with mine, kicking the air out of my lungs and making me take a step back from the impact.

  “Fuck, Brook!” I grit through my teeth.

  When she’s safely on the ground, she looks at me, but I don’t get to say anything else because Jeanette’s drunken giggle interrupts me.

  “Buuuuut, Max! I’m having fun!” What the hell did I get myself into? Rubbing my hand over my face, I feel the headache building behind my temples. “Home. Now.”

  Jeanette tries to protest again, but I’m not having it. Wrapping my hands around her, I throw her over my shoulder and start toward the door. I don’t get to make it more than a couple of steps before Jeanette starts pounding at my back.

  What the fuck is wrong with these girls? Are they trying to drive me crazy?

  “Brooooook! Save me, will ya?” Every word is accompanied by a bang against my back. There is no real strength behind her punches, but it doesn’t help with my ever-growing headache. “We can have another drink, and then we can go back to dancing.”

  “I’m sorry, girl,” Brook yells from somewhere behind us.

  I look over my shoulder, giving her a stern look. Is she shitting me? “You should be sorry! It’s all your fault!”

  “My fault?” Brook’s eyes narrow at me, her cheeks turning pink in anger. “She’s old enough to know how much she can drink. Besides, she had a shitty evening.” She turns to look at Andrew. And if I thought she was giving me a death glare, I was wrong. If looks could kill, Andrew would be long gone. “Can’t blame a girl for having one too many.”

  “She had more than just one too many drinks!” I accuse. Brook turns back to me, that death glare now concentrated in my direction. I cringe, guilt slowly eating at me. Rationally I know it’s not her fault, but it’s all too much. Brook avoiding me for days when I finally thought we had our shit figured out. And this whole scene reminds me a lot of Jeanette from two years ago.

  I warned her to stay away from Andrew, but did she listen? Of course not. She has to do it her own way, and now she’s out of control once again.

  Brook starts to say something, but Jeanette’s slow murmur stops her. “My head is hurting.”

  “I know, J.” I pat her back softly in hopes that it will help calm her down. “I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”

  Jeanette looks at her friend, her nose furrowed. “Why are you upside-down?”

  “You’re the one who’s upside-down, silly.”

  “M-me?” Jeanette hiccups.

  “Yes, you…”

  But she doesn’t get to finish because Andrew interrupts her. “Turn her over!”

  Hearing the worry in his voice, I hurry to do as he said, but he’s already in front of me, pulling my sister from my arms and out onto the front porch. I hurry behind them. Jeanette reaches the first pot and throws up the contents of her stomach. Andrew is right behind her, his hand caressing her back while he pulls her hair out of her face.

  I stop in my tracks, taken aback by the whole situation. I knew there was something happening between them. I knew they kept seeing each other behind everybody’s back even after I punched Andrew in the face, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen them together.

  Jeanette heaves over the pot for a while after she empties her stomach, but Andrew doesn’t back away. I see his lips moving as he murmurs something only she can hear.

  I’m not sure if I should intervene or not. She’s my sister, but looking at the two of them I feel like an outsider. A part of me wants to punch Andrew for going behind my back, again, but the other part wants my sister to have what she needs right now and if that’s Andrew…

  Slowly, Jeanette lifts her head, their gazes clashing. I can see her whole body tense, and then she pulls away, almost missing a step and falling down.

  “Don’t touch me,” she snarls, her finger lifted in the air in a warning.

  “What the hell?” He tries to reach for her, but she pulls away once again.

  “I said, don’t touch me.”

  Andrew looks around helplessly, but I have no idea what the hell is going on. And I don’t get a chance to find out because Jeanette’s pleading eyes turn to me.

  “Take me home?” Her voice is a soft whisper, and she looks small. Nodding in agreement, I go to my sister and wrap my arm around her. I want to ask her what the hell is going on, but I know she’s not in the right state of mind to talk about it, so I let it go. For now.

  “Let’s go home.”

  “Brook?” Jeanette looks over her shoulder.

  Her name makes me stop in my tracks. For a moment, I completely forgot she was here with us. She’s been so quiet, standing on the sidelines, not once interfering.

  “Let me just…” Brook goes through her bag I didn’t even see her carrying and lifts her phone in the air.

  Jeanette nods. “We’ll be in the car.”

  I don’t want to go, not without her. Jeanette’s not the only one who needs to give me some answers, but I can’t be with both of them at the same time.

  And no matter how much I want to talk to Brook, Jeanette needs me more. And she’ll always come first.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  BROOK

  What the hell am I doing? I’m asking myself this question over and over again as I type in the message. Not because I’m actually looking for an answer, but because it’ll give me a few moments to calm my nerves and figure what the fuck was on my mind when I decided to stay behind alone with Andrew of all people.

  I can feel Max’s lingering stare, but I refuse to acknowledge it, only lifting my gaze once I can’t feel his eyes on me. Both Andrew and I look at their retreating backs in silence until they’re out of our view.

  “Well, you screwed this up royally.” I finally break the silence, pocketing my phone before I turn to look at him.

  “Who asked for your opinion?” Andrew’s eyes narrow at me, but even then I can see their piercing green color. Goosebumps rise on my skin from his intense stare, but I don’t look away. I can’t. How many times have I looked into those eyes, not knowing, not realizing who he really is? Shouldn’t we have some kind of sixth sense that will tell us we’re related somehow?

  “Nobody.” I shrug nonchalantly, praying he doesn’t see how nervous I really am. “Doesn’t mean I’m not going to give one.”

  “Well can you give it to somebody who might actually wan
t it?” He frowns at me, and I’m not sure if I want to be upset or cry in relief. He doesn’t see the connection, just like I haven’t for so many years. But what if he did? I’ll be the first one to admit I don’t know Andrew Hill; I never tried to get to know him, much like everybody else. I only know what he shows to the world. But I guess there has to be something more, something deeper to him if Jeanette fell for him, and I can’t help but wonder… What if he knew we were related? Would he want to get to know me or would he push me away like everybody else?

  “Nope. Look, I’m not even going to try to act like I know what’s going on between you and Jeanette…”

  “What’s the point of this conversation again?”

  I look at him stubbornly, irritated at the interruption. “But you better get your shit in order and stop playing games.”

  “I’m not playing any games.”

  “No?” I lift one brow in question. “What was that scheme with Diamond then?”

  “You’re delusional.”

  Andrew waves me off and starts to turn away, and before I can even think about it and try to talk myself out of it, my hand darts forward. My fingers wrap around his wrist and pull him back. “Am I really?” I challenge, observing his face.

  Are you doing this for Jeanette or for yourself? a little voice asks, but I push it back.

  I can see his brain working, can almost feel him think over my words and look back at what happened, and while he does that, I observe him. Is there anything else that connects us? There is this stubbornness in his jaw that I can swear I’ve seen in my own reflection more than once. What else? We both have brown hair, but it’s a slightly different shade. Nose maybe? No, I don’t think so. Maybe lips though. There is this arch to his upper lip that might match mine.

  “Fuuuuuck,” he drawls, stopping my staring contest. Andrew covers his face with his hands, rubbing hard.