05

      After earning this sizable sum of money from tips alone, I was very happy. Now, I would undoubtedly be able to recoup some of the money I had spent on basics and clothing. I was relieved to be off work, but returning home was a whole other story.

      

      Mum wasn’t back from her cleaner job in an office when Sadie dropped me off.

      

      Reggie was the only one at home. From the moment I walked inside, I saw his utterly shit-faced. He watched a hazy football game on TV while lounging in the recliner. I exhaled as his face twisted in rage.

  

  "Where the fuck have you been?" Struggling to get off the recliner, he spat.

      

      "Working, Reggie." I responded.

      

      "Working?" He jumped up from the recliner and mocked, stumbling. "You were out whoring around like your fucking mother."

      

      I frowned as I stopped walking. Whore around? Did he forget I was the one taking care of myself since my dad hadn’t been sending me money for a while now.

      

      I was too busy going to school and from school to hr restaurant to even have time to whore around? And calling my mum a whore… wow.. just wow.

      

      "Shut the fv*k up Reggie. I’m not a whore.” I yelled and turned to go upstairs.

      

      He grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me back. I stumbled back a few paces, but I didn't fall.

      

      "Let me go, Reggie."  My body tensed in terror as I muttered.

      

       "Fucking whore."

      

      My sensitive nose was invaded by his alcohol-tinged breath as he spat. I almost choked when I saw his shirt, which was smeared with perspiration, when he pulled me closer.

      

      The foul scent of his body odor and beer breath made me cringe. I gritted my teeth against the pain as his hold tightened around my wrist.

      

      "I said fv*k off!" I yelled and scratched his left thigh.

      

      Reggie dropped his hand from my wrist and hissed in pain. As I hurried to my bedroom and shut the door behind me, I could hear his inebriated shouting.

      

      With tears welling up in my eyes, I sat on the cold floor for a while. After I rechecked that  the door had been safely locked, I collapsed on my bed and started crying. It would all be worthwhile when I left here.

      

       I had soon given up on my mum treating me like her own daughter over the years, and I was looking forward to leaving as soon as I became 18.

      

      For hours, I sat on the bed, afraid to get up, until I heard mum enter through the front door. I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower at that point. I gave up and let the tears flow freely since the warm water covered them up as they flowed from my eyes. I had to always be on guard around Reggie now.

      

      I was so tired that I jumped out of the shower and went straight to bed.

      ~~~

      The next morning, I woke up from the restless sleep and got ready for school. I put on an off-the-shoulder long-sleeve blouse and thin pants, one of the outfits I had lately purchased.  I dragged my sleeve down over the handprint bruise on my porcelain skin, grimacing.

      

      Sadie was in my first and second classes of the day. As we worked on our homework, we chatted and sat together.

      

      Knox was wearing a basic black t-shirt, and Curt was wearing a red button-down shirt. Knox was seated across from Curt at our usual table when I went to have dinner.

      

      When I realized I would have to sit next to one of them, I grimaced. I settled into the seat next to Knox because Curt appeared more serious and occasionally more frightening than Knox.

      

      Knox gave Curt a sly smile, as though he had won a wager. I acted like I didn’t see them and began eating.

      

      "Trying to ignore us, huh?” Knox’ hot breath curled over my ear as he teased.

      

      Curt laughed as a tremor ran across my body. I ignored Knox and pressed my lips together.

      

      Knox’s fingers touched my collar bone and danced over my shoulder when I didn't respond.

      

      The tingles that bubbled against my skin under his touch caused me to take a sharp inhale. "Stop." I yelled.

      

      Curt was making a strange rumbling noise, and I couldn't help but want to look. My gaze strayed to Knox, who had an odd sparkle concealed in his dark eyes. These incredibly beautiful twins were beyond my comprehension. The two of them picked on me first. Secondly, they wanted me to react. Third, they appeared irate when they eventually received a response from me.

      

       "Don’t tell me you don’t miss us darling?”  Knox smiled mischievously as he ran his big fingers across my bare collar bone.

      

       Sadie didn’t come to eat with me today, and now I was all alone.

      

      I was about to stand up from the chair when Knox’s big hand grabbed my leg and prevented me from standing. My body tensed as Knox grinned down at me.

      

      "Trying to run away, darling?" He spoke in a hushed, rough voice that was far too near my ear.

      

      Determined not to fall for their nonsense, I gritted my teeth against the side of my cheek. Although I wasn't sure if they enjoyed acting in this manner, I didn't intend to support it.

      

      Taking rapid breaths when Knox hand went in the wrong direction. His fingers snagged a lock of my hair and gave it a playful tug. My cheeks flushed aggressively.

      

      I pushed his hand away, rushed up and ran away. I wonder what they gain from torturing me.