Abuse Me

Someone Elses Problem

"She didn't mean what she said."

"She's right though." Anastasia muttered through her smile.

Andre sighed, "It wasn't right for her to call you that. That was insensitive-"

"I don't need you to apologize for her. She's my cousin. I know what she's like... She's honest." A smile remaining on her lips, Anastasia felt her eyes swell with tears but, swallowed them down. "She's saying what no one in this house will. I'm just some charity case. But, I don't want to be." She stood and went to the door. Andre stepped aside as she looked up at him. "You don't have to be nice to me because you pity me." Kenny nodded with approval at Anastasia motioning for his competition to leave.

Although, Andre looked generally offended. "I'm not nice to you because I pity you."

"Why else would you talk to me right now?"

Andre met Anastasia's eyes and shook his head. "I was nice to you- When I met you- I didn't even know what happened to your parents. I just thought you were pretty. Then your Aunt told me after you left that day. I did feel bad for you but, I don't know. You just didn't look like you needed to be reminded of what happened."

"Don't believe him. He just wants to get in your pants." Over Andres shoulder she could see Kenny. His eyes almost black with anger.

Anastasia searched his Andre's face for a moment. Looking to see if he was lying. Instead she saw the exact opposite. She saw him look genuine. Not used to this new feeling of not being looked at by a freak from someone she bit her lip. Andre sensed her being conflicted and took a couple steps back toward the door. "I'll leave you alone then."
"No-" The word was an impulse. It was something she feared now. Being alone. For once it wasn't because of Kenny. But, her self. Looking into her own thoughts Anastasia didn't realize Andre kissing her forehead until she blinked a couple times and felt his stubble on her face. She stared at him and furrowed her eye brows as his lips remained there a few seconds. Parting away, he looked at her and smiled. "Lucas and I are going to get something to eat you should go with us."
'No' sounded so natural now, but Anastasia nodded. Going to get her hoodie she slipped it in and looked back. Kennedy stood near the vanity of her mirror smiling. She turned the light in her room off and left him in the dark.

"I need more fries."
"Dude you just ate a large."
"Your point being?" Andre stood and went back to the front counter.
Lucas was next to Anastasia in the booth. He shook his head laughing at his friend waiting in line behind an indecisive mom of two.
"You're therapy went good today?"
"Yeah. I'm starting to go twice a week now."
Lucas frowned but nodded. "It's helping?"
"Somewhat..." Anastasia toyed with the idea of telling him about her wanting antidepressants but, figured it was no use.
A guy walked into the small fast food joint and caught Anastasia's attention. She knew she wasn't going crazy. He was on his phone then felt her eyes on him. Looking up.
"What are you doing here?" Lucas sipped his soda.
"I'm hungry. And Andre told me you were here." The guy sat down and Anastasia recognized him as Jordan from the party last week. "Did he bail and go with your sister?"
Lucas cracked a smile and nodded to Andre, who stood impatient in line once more.
"Nice." Jordan snickered and met Ana's eyes. "Oh- Is this?"
"No. Gross. This is my cousin, Anastasia."
Jordan nodded. "I remember bumping into you I think?"
"That was me." She smiled and played with her hands under the table. Her hands felt warm- Like Kenneys hand was holding hers. As she felt Jordan's eyes skim over her as he spoke to Lucas, Kennys grip grew tighter on her hand. It felt like he was crushing it.
"Move." Andre pushed Jordan in the seat and sat on him eating his new fries.
"You didn't get me anything?"
"Get it your self?" Andre rolled his eyes.
Jordan groaned. "I'll be back." He cracked smile as he got up and it almost sent Andre and his fries on the ground.
"Ass."
Ana smiled and looked outside. It was almost nine but, the sun was still setting. She saw the woman Andre was behind previously outside with her kids and smiled. What if I had a sibling?
Her mind went off into scenarios where her mother would probably make them act and dress the same. Her father ignoring them probably as much as he ignored her. Her smiled quickly faded and she started remembering things she didn't want to. Becoming aware of this she excused herself out the booth and went to the ladies restroom. Eyes glassed, the skin on her lips cracked, and far from her reality, she ran cold water over her hands. Blinking a few times to suppress whatever she was feeling. Or about to feel.
"Calm down." Kenny leaned over and rested his head on her shoulder.
She opened her mouth to speak and all that came out was a gasp. "I can't."
Staring a few more moments at herself she grew her composure back. As she headed out Kenney slammed his hand on the door blocking her from opening it. "Don't do anything stupid Ana." He smiled his same abusive smile but, watched her with sad eyes as she left.

"When are your parents ever home?" Andre sat on the couch and picked up the remote.
"Never. It's Monday meaning their usual get together with someone." Lucas took a drink from the fridge and brought it to Andre. Ana sat on the floor opposite them and crossed her arms on the coffee table.
"When's your therapy again?" Lucas looked at her.
"Monday at one and the new one is Friday at five."
Lucas nodded. "I can take you if you want. My classes end around 4."
She watched him a moment and nodded. "Thank you."
He smiled and Andre almost knocked his beer out his hand when he saw that they were closing a bar by his home on the news. Anastasia ended up on the couch asleep when the front door opened and she saw her Aunt and Uncle come in. "I think I left my wallet." Her uncle sighed.
"We'll get it in the morning. It's too late now-"
Ana looked over and saw Lucas still watching TV with Andre asleep. Her Aunt kissed Lucas' hair as she headed into the kitchen. "Goodnight?"
"It was okay. Just went to get food."
"How did her day go?"
"Why don't you ask her?" Lucas snapped.
"I don't know how to talk to her." Anastasia realized both didn't notice she was awake. She remained in her sleep position and closed her eyes looking through her dark lashes.
Lucas got up and took the beer bottles in the kitchen. Anastasia watched him and could her mumbled whispers from her Aunt. "She's not like Hayley."
"That's a good thing."
"How long will this therapy thing go on?"
"Mom."
"I mean. We're already getting pity from everyone over this death. Now we're being looked at like this crazy family."
"Her parents died-"
"So did my sister but, I'm okay."
Lucas scoffed and walked towards the living room. "I'm taking her to her therapy sessions."
"But don't you have class?"
"I'll schedule something out." He stood over Ana and shook her shoulder. Anastasia gave her best, waking up impression but, couldn't help the tears in her eyes. Lucas was taken back as she took off toward the stairs and into her room. He glared at his mother who sipped calmly from a wine glass. "She's just always so upset."

*i missed writing this so meh