Lies, Secrets and Apple pies

Chapter Nine

Any Atypical fans?

The walk to get to the train was easy enough. It took less than ten minutes and I always tried to walk with a group of other students to be on the safe side. There were a handful of homeless people that stayed in the parks of Peachtree University and plus college boys alone could be dangerous. Sex trafficking was also very real and although there was security on campus they couldn't be everywhere especially when you needed them the most.

 I tapped my card and slid through the gate. There were always people coming and going from the train station so I didn't need to worry too much about finding a crowd. It was just naturally crowded. A ride on the escalator and a brisk walk to the southbound train. I hopped onto the train as the doors narrowly closed in. I took a seat near the door and already had my earbuds in while listening to some Cardi B song. 

 The Google map to the Andersons had me arriving at four fifty-five. Whew! I was barely making it. I needed a car, badly. I was on the train for fifteen minutes before running to take the bus to go to the North Springfield Station and take the 110 bus for another thirty minutes. Then from the bus stop it was a ten minute walk. It was getting colder and my yellow Nike hoodie was barely keeping me warm. I'd take a Lyft back home since it would be too dark for me to take the bus. 

 A layer of light snow colored the trees near downtown Atlanta a fluffy, white. I passed by a fancy hotel as people with bags entered and exited. A few steps ahead was a museum of sorts of trains and cars with a lit-up water fountain. There was a Wells Fargo bank across the street and a make it yourself pizza joint. The Andersons neighborhood was on the same side as the bank and I crossed the street to enter into the lavish complex of houses. If I thought one house looked marvelous the next one was somehow even prettier. 

 "Mi'a, thanks so much for coming on such short notice. You already know where everything is and bedtime at eight. The pizza will be here soon. There's plenty for everyone. Lillian is in her room and should be on her best behavior with her birthday coming up. Any questions?" Mrs.Anderson asked. She was wearing a glamorous light blue dress that flowed to the floor. She smoothed out her dress with a flourish waiting for her husband. 

 "Lillian isn't a bad child, Diane. Be sure to tell her when the pizzas are here. She didn't eat when she got home." Mr.Anderson kindly said opening the door for his wife.

 "That's her fault. There was food on the table. If she doesn't eat then that's on her. I can't say how many kids would be grateful for the food she passes up." Mrs.Anderson muttered as she exited the house. 

 Talk about family drama. She did have a point though. God knows there wasn't enough food around when I was living with my mom and even with my grandma sometimes. 

 "Hey Mi'a. Come play." Hunter yelled, tackling into me. He was such a cutie no doubt all the girls and some guys would be on him in a few years. The same for Henley with her high cheekbones and sweet face. These two never gave me any trouble and got along perfectly. They were each other's best friends. Henley was five minutes older than Hunter and enjoyed bossing her brother around when it came to just about everything.

 I laid my bookbag down and sat on the floor with the twins who were playing with magnetic building blocks. I grabbed a few and joined in on the fun. "How was school today, Henley?" I asked about connecting a red and blue block. 

 "It was good. My friends and I can't wait for Valentine's Day. I'm going to make mommy and daddy cards." 

 "I can't wait for Lillian's party. I'm going to eat a ton of cake and stay up late." Hunter whooped with glee.

 Henley nodded her head in agreement holding one side of the construction she and Hunter were making, "Dad and Lillian even convinced mom to let Lillian get the house to herself for her seventeenth party. There taking the opportunity to have some much needed adult time is what dad said."

 "We'll still be here though. I think mom is going to ask you to stay so we have a responsible adult watching us." Hunter said with Henley joining in at the end.  

 The doorbell rang. The pizza was here. "Pizza's here guys. Go to the table and I'll let you have some tablet time while you eat." I bargain with them.

 They immediately do as they're told and I go to the door to grab the pizza. I open the door to a friendly looking guy and he hands me three boxes. The twins are already at the table and I place the boxes in front of them. I find four plates swiftly placing two in front of the twins. I make them two cups of apple juice because one twin can't have a juice without the other being envious. One day orange would be too sour if one twin had apple. Another day apple would be too sweet if the other twin had orange.

 I had learned early on it was best to give them the same food, drinks, attention time and tv time. "I'm bringing Lillian a plate. You two behave," I declared not that I needed too. Henley and Hunter were eating their pizza and wings while contently watching their iPAD. 

 I head up the stairs with two slices of cheese pizza and garlic bread. I knock on Lillian's door once I get close. "Come in." 

 "Hey. The food is here." I say entering Lillian's room. She's standing in front of the mirror that hangs from her bathroom door. Lillian is drying her hair with a towel in a pair of shorts and a pink t-shirt bra. I look away and place her plate on her cream-colored oak desk. 

 "I'm not hungry. Can you take that out?" Lillian muttered, throwing her hair into a low bun. I hate her hair. I secretly want her hair. 

 "Your dad said you didn't eat. You want something else?" I offered picking up her now lukewarm pizza. 

 Lillian rolled her hazel-colored eyes, "He's not my dad and I said I wasn't hungry. I thought you were a babysitter not a chef." Lillian spoke harshly. I wanted to slap the frown off her face. One minute she's flirting with me, the next I'm helping her find herself and now she's just a bitch. I couldn't keep up with this kid. I don't recall being this bipolar as a young teen. A few flashbacks of screaming and anxiety filled my mind briefly. Okay, so maybe I do remember being an out of my mind teenager with raging emotions that I couldn't control. 

 "I have to check on the twins. You know where your own kitchen is at." I replied, closing her door. The twins were finishing their pizza when I came back downstairs. "Help me clean up and we can finish the night with a movie. Anyone up for SpongeBob? "

 Hunter and Henley helped me with the dishes and cleaned off the table. I sat on the sofa with one twin on each side of me. I loved these kids. They were so drama free. Why couldn't their sister be more like them? It was the Christmas episode of SpongeBob when Squidward dressed up as Santa. Henley and Hunter were talking quietly to each other about the episode. 

 I saw Lillian from the corner of my eye enter the kitchen. The twins greeted their sister who either didn't hear them or was ignoring them. I'm positive it was the latter. I heard the sound of a knife chopping and some rustling from the kitchen. Lillian went back upstairs with a plate and the twins said goodnight as she ignored them once more. 

 After two more episodes of SpongeBob it was time for bed. The twins took their baths, got into their pajamas and I read them two stories. They still shared a room but had separate beds. One side of the room was decorated in Pokémon and Digimon while the other side of the room had Disney Princesses splattered across the walls. "Goodnight Henley, Hunter." I said sweetly rustling Hunters' hair and patting Henleys' hair.