Briar's Patch

Chapter 3

Over the next month, I avoid or ignore Emmett and his friends, and let me tell you this is not an easy task to do at school. I am glad today is Friday, and dad has today and tomorrow night off, so uncle Kenny, aunt Kacee are coming over tonight with their two kids - Adam and Weston. Adam is 17-years-old, and he and I are friends, and Weston is 5-years-old. Uncle Kenny and aunt Kacee adopted Weston two years ago after fostering him for a year.

Dad is picking me up from school today, which ends in a few minutes. I'm in the band room working on my violin piece, and I have been for the last twenty minutes. Finishing the piece, I smile to myself in happiness that I can perform the piece without looking at the sheet music. Clapping from the door snaps my attention there, where I find Emmett smiling like a fool at me. Quietly groaning at him while placing the violin in its case, and snapping the locks shut before grabbing the handle to leave with it. 

"Damnit Briar, just talk to me," he snaps irritated with me now. 

Starring blankly at him as I stop in front of him since he isn't moving, and I silently wait for him to move out of my way. When he doesn't move after a few seconds, I turn sideways to slip around him, and quickly walking toward the classroom door to leave. I don't make it to the door though as Emmett's hand latches onto my right elbow, and pulls me to a stop. Swiftly turning around, I grab his left arm while sweeping my left leg into his legs, and send him onto his back. 

Lowly growling down at him with fire blazing in my eyes, I don't care how badly this looks, or how badly my throat will hurt by lowly rasping out; "Do. Not. Fucking. Touch. Me. Again."

Releasing my hold on his arm, I stand upright to find Mr. Shay, and the few students who haven't left when the bell rang, all starring at me in shock. Turning back around, I exit the room to quickly make it to my locker, and grab my bag. Making my way out of the school, I find dad's blue Jeep in the parking lot, and quickly make my way to him. 

Settling into the front passenger seat, I give dad a weary smile as he silently studies me; "What's wrong, son?" 

Shaking my head, I sign; 'I'm just irritated with someone, don't worry about it.'

"Okay son, if you say so," he finally agrees as he drives us off toward home. 

Entering the house a few minutes later, I grab some pain relievers out of the cabinet in the kitchen, and a glass of water for my throat. Turning my attention to dad, who is looking at me questionably, so I sign to ask if uncle Kenny and his family are still coming over at 6 p.m.

"Yeah, if not earlier than that," he replies. "Do you have a headache or something?" 

Shaking my head, I rub the palm of my left hand over my throat, and he asks; "Did you use your voice today?" 

I nod and understanding flashes in his eyes, but he let's it go, and for that I am thankful. Dad and I prep the food for dinner before placing the covered prepared food in the fridge before heading to our rooms to shower. Turning the water on to let it get nice and hot while I undress and brush my teeth. Stepping under the scalding water, I let it run over me before scrubbing myself with my vanilla-lavender scented shampoo and conditioner and body wash. Rinsing off, I turn the taps off before stepping out and drying off with a fluffy purple towel, then dressing in my black underwear, fluffy socks, leggings, and long sleeve shirt. 

Brushing my hair, I then grab the towel and dirty clothes and toss these into the hamper in the corner of the bathroom before entering my room to spray my body spray. Leaving my room, I enter the kitchen to grab another glass of water, and make myself a sandwich since I'm hungry.

"Briar, you do realize we are having dinner in a couple of hours, right?" dad asks enter the room, and sees me eating at the counter. 

Grinning at him, I nod as I chew my bite, and dad laughs loudly as he pours himself a glass of water, too. 

"So, pops and paw-paw would like to see you soon," he says leaning back against the counter. 

Grinning again, I sign; 'Can I stay with them while you're on your shift Sunday?'

"I don't see why not, I'll call them tomorrow afternoon," he agrees thoughtfully. "You know you can stay home alone, right?"

'I don't like being alone,' I shrug avoiding his gaze; being alone means the nightmares become worse since no one is here.

"Understandable. Do you want to see an ASL friendly therapist?" he gently asks, and I shake my head violently in reply. 

"Okay, but if you ever change your mind, I will set it up," he offers, and drops the subject when there is a knock on the front door, confusing both of us.

He goes to answer it, and then hollers out for me to join him in the living room. Leaving my snack on the counter with a pout, but I know Duke won't get into it since I let him out into the backyard to play, but I let him inside and he follows me. Entering the living room, I find Emmett standing just inside the house as dad shuts the door. 

Instantly I'm irritated but confused as to how the hell he knows where I live, and I sign at dad; 'He isn't my friend.'

Dad frowns at me, and then at Emmett; "You said you were, so mind telling me why you lied?"

Emmett looks guiltily at dad; "I want to be his friend, but he keeps ignoring me, so I'm here to try again."

'How do you know where I live?' I demand and dad relays my question. 

"Um, I realized we have a mutual friend, Adam Moore, he's my friend, too. I asked him for your address by telling him we're new friends, and I wanted to come visit you," he guiltily admits as he avoids dad's angry eyes. 

"Guess I will be speaking with Adam tonight when they arrive," dad grumbles, and Emmett's eyes widen in horror. 

'Get out!' I sign with a stomp of my left foot with a scowl, and Duke instantly gets off the couch to sit on top of my feet, and looks up at me. 

Patting his head in praise even though I didn't actually call him here, but he doesn't know that. When he notices Emmett, he instantly barks at him, and he picks up on my distress. 

"Duke, down boy," dad commands, and Duke instantly stops barking, and lies across my feet. 

There is a knock on the door before it opens with uncle Kenny entering the house which is typical for us to do at each others house. 

"Hey Emmett, what are you doing here?" uncle Kenny asks curiously as his family enters behind him. 

"Briar!" Weston hollers as he crashes into my side with a huge grin, completely unaware of the tension in the room. 

'Hi Weston, how are you?' I sign once he looks up at me. 

"Good. Why is Emmett here?" he replies looking at Emmett curiously.