Spades and Angels

Almost Discovered...

Lolita

I don't see Mads for a few days after Homecoming and our night together. A night of memories that still loop around inside my head. Causing me to feel that ache again when I let my mind return to it. One that I have no knowledge of how to ease nor anyone to ask since doing so I'd have to tell them what I did. Who I did it with. And I could never do that. Not without it all imploding like a house of cards. Just like I told him it would if it got out.

But we still talk. Texting almost every day over little things. Favourite bands. Movies. Tv shows. Little things that were safer than what we did on Homecoming night but still meant we could talk. Something that besides work kept me sane and out of my own since shit at home was at an all-time low. Something that distracts me from our latest argument when Luc appears in the doorway wearing a worried frown.

"Hey, you ok Luc?" I ask, putting down my phone and turning off the screen. I heard it beep a few times but not looking since Mads would wait if I was a few minutes late. "Luc? What happened?"

He sighs but says little else for a moment. "Money again Lo. We're almost completely broke, even with you and I picking up work where we can since the repayments of all the stuff mom and dad let slide we're worse off than before. If that's even possible."

"Shit," I whisper, looking upstairs where I know Ky's still busy on his tablet or phone. "I-I can see if I can get a few extra shifts this week and work overtime. That'll hopefully at least cover groceries and basic shit. Even more so if you can do the same. Dad not working yet?"

"Not that I know of. Since the whole Aphrodite issue isn't resolved and all." He sighs and I echo the sound, despite part of me feeling sorry for the kid whose life is ruined because of what they - she - did. Even if by accident. "You ok Lo?"

"Just playing devil's advocate," I mumble, looking down to where my phone buzzes again, feeling the smile from before threatening to break out. Until I remember my previous thought and it drops. "I know this kid did wrong in crossing us but she's still a kid. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old kid who's got no life if the boss catches up to her. I guess I feel kind of sorry for her."

Now my brother sighs too, "Yeah so do I Lo but you know the rules as well as I do. You know what the motto means we live by. She must have done so too, even if not completely the way those of us born into it do. She crossed a line and now she has to live with it until he finds her. Not that they know where she's gone."

"Hopefully far away from here, From the surrounding towns too," I mumble in a sad tone, seeing his sorry expression. "But that's not our problem as harsh as it sounds. Our problems are trying to keep Ky out of foster care and keep ourselves afloat since mom's no help and dad isn't either. It's up to us and that's the truth of it."

"Yeah, even if I wish you had a better life, Lo. your sixteen for fuck's sake you should have a life. One of your own without worrying if we'll be hungry or homeless." Luc sounds mad but also a little like he's ashamed since he'd been helping to raise me since I could remember. Being both a father and brother figure for me. Both of us helped to raise Ky once he was born and mom and dad seemed to fall apart even more.

"You did to Luc," I mumble, seeing his eyes catch mine. "I'm only four years younger than you. You were raising me by the time you were nine. Keeping us upright since you were a teenager. You deserve a life too. Not just me or Ky."

"Sure, ok," He laughs but it's a strained sound. "Guess in another world we do." I Laugh then and stand where I need to get into school. My phone is going again. "Cora wanting to walk with you this morning?"

"Huh?" I shake my head to hide the grin that seeing Mad's name - well the initial - light up my screen again cause I glance back to my brother with a nod. "Yeah. Yeah, she did. Hey did you find out if Ris's mom's surgery went ok?" I ask softly, seeing his face fall. "Luc?"