"What are we going to do about it,guys?" I asked them all. I had just finished telling them all about what had happened today in class. Most of them just stared at me blankly, but Alix and Liam nodded. Alix, because she must have read it in my head earlier that day, Liam because he was probably thinking.
"She actually said that?" asked Lili. "She threatened you?"
"It wasn't really a threat," I said. "It was more like... a warning."
Everyone was silent for a moment. And by a moment, I mean .02 seconds.
"But who's after us?"
"Why are they after us?"
"What do they want with us?"
"I'm hungry!" said Colton. Court rolled his eyes at his little brother.
"She doesn't know," said Alix. It was creepy how she always did that. "She doesn't know any of that. And no, I can't just stop reading your mind," she grinned at me.
She didn't tell you anything? Just to watch our backs?" asked Ruby.
"Yup. But don't worry about it guys. I mean, seriously? She probably caught on to something. Maybe she saw Lili running the track in 2 seconds, or Colton lifting a small train." I poked Colton's dimples, and he giggled. He looked so much like Court, brown hair and dark eyes.
Court looked at his phone, checking the time. He shook his head and sighed.
"I've got to go, Xen," he said. "Mom wanted us home early tonight so she can go out," Not a surprise. Ever since Court's dad had left his mom, she had become an alcolholic, and left her kids every night so that she could go out with whoever she was dating at the time. Court had become the father at his house, taking care of Katelyn and Colton.
"Okay. I guess I'll... see you tomorrow then," I said. He grinned at me.
"Let's go, Katie," he said to Katelyn, who was sitting by the window, nodding at a squirrel. She looked up, startled, and then smiled.
Colton took Court's hand, and they left together. I heard Katelyn telling Court about the squirrel as thye walked away, and Colton trying to catch the leaves as they fell.
"I guess we can leave too, then," said Liam. "I'll do some reasearch for you, Xenia," he said.
"Really?" said Ruby, rolling her eyes. "On what?"
"Oh, lot's of things." he replied. "Like the agencies that--"
Ruby cut him off. "Tell me later, Liam. Let's go." she waved at us. "Bye, guys!"
"I'll take you guys home," Lili said to Lucy and Ronan. If she hadn't offered, they would've had to walk about three miles.
I pulled Lili aside before they left.
"Keep an eye on Ms. Matherson, will you?" I asked her.
"What? Why me?"
"You're fast and quiet, and no offense, you're good at stalking people."
"Am not!"
"You found out where Roger Adam's summer house in North Carolina was."
She smiled. "So it's illegal to want to know where he goes every summer? I'll do it, but you owe me."
"Mmkay. See you tomorrow." I turned to Alix and opened my mouth.
"No, I'm going over to Penny's house." she said before I could say anything. "Can you tell mom and dad?"
"Yeah. Be back by eight."
"Whatever," she said as she climbed down the rope ladder.
I sighed and picked up the journal I had put down earlier. I found a pen in the corner and began to write.
Sometimes I don't know why I do all of this. Why I take care of these kids. I mean, Court and Lili are there to help, but we all know it's me in charge.
But then I just look at Ronan's sweet smile, or Katie talking to any animal she sees, and I know that it's worth it. That if what Ms. Matherson said is true, I would fight to the death before I let anyone lay a hand on those kids.
-Xenia
