Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
The swim is nice and, for a moment, I think maybe it might not be so bad here.
Alarick and Sissy come home from being out with some friends just as we’re getting out of the pool and King gives us both an ice cream. I stare at my new step siblings as they walk in. Sissy is so pretty, but she’s really stuck up. She acts like the world owes her something and speaks to King in a way I’d never speak to my mom.
Alarick is quiet and mostly keeps to himself. He looks just like King, and he even wears a leather jacket that has a big logo of the club on it. Mom said he’s going to take over the club one day and follow in his father’s footsteps. I look at Alarick and wonder if that’s what he really wants to do, or if he just doesn’t get a choice?
His eyes meet mine, and they’re such a pretty green. Like a soft leaf, or maybe the gentle wings of a butterfly. He’s handsome, and my friend Autumn said she thinks she’d like to date him when she got a bit older. I laughed and told her she’s crazy, he’s way too old. He’s like seventeen or something, we’re only ten.
She said she didn’t care.
He’s so handsome she would do it anyway.
Alarick walks over and stops in front of me. I try not to squirm when my ice cream drips down my hands because I’ve been staring at him too long. He reaches around into his backpack and pulls out a tiny little keyring. On it is a pretty little silver pony head with gemstones built into it so it sparkles when the sun touches it.
“Saw your posters, I thought you’d like this.”
I take it from him, staring at it, and whisper a grateful thank you. I can’t tear my eyes away, it’s spectacular.
“Welcome.”
He disappears into the house and by the time I look up, he’s gone.
I look over to Mom and she smiles, saying, “That looks super pretty.”
“How come I didn’t get one?” Magnolia whines, stomping her foot.
“Maybe he likes me better than you,” I say to her, scrunching up my nose.
She huffs and takes herself over, climbing onto King’s lap. “Well, King likes me better than you.”
“Now now, Magnolia,” King scolds gently. “Like the both of you just the same.”
“Ugh, this is pathetic,” Sissy mutters, spinning on her heel and charging toward the house.
“You’ve got chores, Sissy,” King calls after her.
“Whatever!”
He exhales, and I watch her go with a frown on my face.
She definitely isn’t going to be easy to get along with.
At all.
“DAMN, BRO, THAT ONE’S going to be a looker when she’s older.”
I turn around just as I walk out of the shower to see Alarick’s friend standing in the hallway with a grin on his face. He’s tall and lean, with a pimply face and greasy brown hair. Ugh. Yuck. He needs to start taking better care of himself. I’m only ten and even I know how to wash my hair.
“Say that again,” Alarick says, his voice low and angry, “I’ll cut your fuckin’ balls off.”
My eyes widen. Alarick just swore and said balls in the same sentence, and yet I’ve never had someone defend me so much in my entire life. I’m kind of flattered. At least, I think that’s what I am. I’ve heard Mom say it before so it makes sense.
“Chill, dude, I’m just joking.”
Alarick’s friend puts his hands up and backs into Alarick’s room. Before he follows him, Alarick looks to me and snaps, “Put your clothes on in the bathroom. You’re not at home with your mom anymore.”
Oh.
My cheeks burn as I rush to my room and close the door, getting dressed so quickly I’ve hardly even had time to dry myself.
“Already causing trouble.”
I spin around with my towel in my hand to dry my hair and see Sissy standing at my door, her hand on her hip. She’s pretty, and I kind of hope when I’m older, I’ll look nice like her. She’s wearing a cool top that shows her belly button, and a pair of shorts my mom would never let me wear. Her hair is tied up in a ponytail and she’s wearing a lot of makeup. I wouldn’t even know how to do makeup.
“I didn’t mean to,” I say, my voice defensive. “I was just having a shower.”
“There are boys in the house now,” she scoffs. “Not that they’ve got anything to look at with you and your flat little chest. I already had boobs at your age!”
She did?
Is there something wrong with me?
I cross my arms over my chest.
“You look more like a boy, which doesn’t surprise me because Jason likes boys and that’s why he was checking you out before.”
Jason, that’s his name?