Lead Me Out of the Dark

Deck the Fucker

Deck drove us both home. He’d decided that he would drive us both to school on Monday, but he would skip eighth period so he could vacuum out the drugs from my car. I had agreed, for both his sake and mine. When we left the cliff, he’d made me promise never to snort coke again. I had agreed. I swore on my iPod, and he’d smiled, because he knew exactly how much it meant to me. I didn’t ask him to promise me that he’d never cut himself again. I felt like that was asking for way too much. I asked him to promise me that he’d call me if he ever felt like he was going to cut. He’d agreed. I had every intention of going to my room and giving myself some major music therapy, but I was interrupted by the arrival of three special eight year olds. I’d forgotten that they had gotten back from their camping trip today.

“Skye!” Jaime yelled, and they charged at me like an army. The three of them did everything together. They were conjoined at the hip, triplets in every sense of the word. I knelt down and hugged them. Well, more like they attacked me in a group hug.

“How was the trip, munchkins?” I asked. I loved these kids so much. I would defend them forever. I would never hesitate to call them my brothers. They had felt like family ever since the day I’d met them. I never got the answer to my question, as Jaime caught sight of something more interesting. He pointed his finger to the left, smile lighting up his face.

“Decky!” Jaime cheered. The three of them ran over, enveloping Deck in a huge group hug.

                “Hey, little dudes,” Deck grinned, picking up Johnny and hanging him upside down. Johnny screamed like a banshee. Linda walked in, carrying a sponge. She started cleaning the dishes in the sink, and I jumped forward to help her.

                “Let me do that,” I offered. Linda waved her hand at me.

                “Nah, I’m fine. I can handle cleaning dishes,” she said, giving me a reassuring smile. I shook my head, reaching forward to try and help. She flicked dish soap at me. A little bubble landed on the sleeve of my shirt.

                “Shoo! Go do your homework!” She laughed. I gave her a loving smile before turning and dashing upstairs. Just before I could get to my bedroom, I could hear Brianna and Taylor arguing. I winced. I knew if I didn’t deal with the situation now, they would just trouble Linda with it later. I sighed, pushing open the door to their overly pink room.

                “Stop hogging the black nail polish! It was my idea to use it first!” Brianna screeched. She and Taylor were in the midst of a wrestling match to see who could get the bottle first.

                “Yeah, well you were copying the idea from Mean Girls 2, so technically it was my idea first! I actually want to use it,” Taylor yelled back. I groaned, charging into the room and yanking the black bottle out of Taylor’s hands before the two of them made a mess. They were the most melodramatic 13 year olds I’d ever met. Unlike Johnny, Jaime, and Georgie, they weren’t actually related, so they didn’t share that familial bond the triplets had.

                “Hey!” Brianna and Taylor whined in unison.

                “You can’t even paint your nails now! It’s almost bedtime, and the fumes will spread all around the house. I suggest the two of you decide on a movie and get in your pajamas now,” I prompted.

                “You’re no fun!” Brianna screamed at me. Taylor muttered in agreement, eyeing the black nail polish bottle enviously. They were so materialistic, I grunted to myself. You’d think they’d be more grateful to Linda for giving them food and shelter, but no. They had to be obsessed with boys and clothes and nail polish. I was never like them when I was their age. Suddenly the girls began straightening their hair out with their hands, giggling nervously. They were staring at something behind me. I turned, seeing where their gazes were directed. Deck was standing in the doorway, looking flawless, as usual.