Exposed (#wattys2016)

chapter twenty-eight

Later that afternoon, I tried to keep busy by applying to jobs on the internet, but that didn't do much. In the back of my mind, I pictured my family being torn apart by social workers who have become numb to the fact that they're separating families who rely on one another.

While most of my cousins were away with friends or probably dealing drugs, Lilly was sleeping upstairs after school. I read a story to her before she napped, as required by the school's monthly reading program, which made me feel even more tired than I previously was.

I started making dinner, pouring dried macaroni into a pot of boiling water. Levi came in through the front door and I knew he had Gina with him.
"We're home," he happily exclaimed to me in the kitchen.

"I'm so happy to be back," Gina's voice overpowered the sounds in the kitchen, but I could tell her tone was fake and sarcastic.

"Hale?" Levi said again, his footsteps trailing into the kitchen where he appeared next to me in front of the stove. I looked over at him and smiled, a deep sigh brewing inside my lungs. As soon as he turned his back on me, I let out the sigh. "Hale, what's the matter with you, seriously?"
Levi shot back around to face me and I just shrugged, "Tired."

Gina waddled into the kitchen next, one hand on her protruding belly and the other against her lower back. She scanned me up and down a few times before walking to the kitchen table where she sat down.
"Aren't you supposed to be on bed rest or something?" I said while stirring the macaroni in the pot, not one eye put on her.

"I do what's right for me and baby, and baby wants to move," Gina said while rubbing her stomach. I finally got the nerve to look her in the eye, the fact that it was so hard to initially make eye contact bothered me. She flashed a small smile, like everything was under control on her end.

Suddenly, Gina twisted around in her chair and stared at the back kitchen door. I noticed her swift movement, my focus on the doorknob as I noticed it rattling.
"Who is trying to break in?" Gina said as she watched the doorknob shake and twist in every direction.

I set the spoon I was stirring the noodles with down onto the counter, heading over to the door, but before I could get there Caspian came through the door.

"What the fuck, you cant just knock?" I extended my arms to the side in confusion, like a shrug without the shrug part. Caspian stood in front of the door and laughed at my comment, not taking any steps inside. "Come in, asshole," I told him as I went back to the stove.

"I thought I was like family now, huh?" Caspian laughed a bit quieter this time, coming over to stand at the counter in front of the stove, in front of me.
"Well, you are," I shrugged my shoulders and drained the pasta from the water. I smiled halfway, glancing up at him, where we made eye contact.

"Why are you allowing this baboon in our home?" I heard Gina speak from the table, Levi immediately walking into the kitchen from the living room. My eyes grew wide at her comment, and I watched Caspian's expression shift from content to pissed off. Slowly, he turned around so his back was facing me and the front of his body was facing Gina. Levi quickly intercepted the two, stuttering for words before he grasped them, "She didn't meant it, she's just pregnant and that makes her a little crazy."

Gina shot narrowed eyes back at Levi, switching her view to Caspian as her cheeks started to tint read, "I know and I meant exactly what I said," she angrily spewed her words at Caspian, arms crossing over her belly bump.

"I'm not gonna start shit with a pregnant woman but you better keep your pretty little mouth shut, aight?" Caspian extended his index finger at her while he spoke, my eyes stuck on Gina's angry expression.
Soon, I realized I probably shouldn't be staring and I went back to mind my own business mixing powdered cheese into macaroni and milk.

"Who wants dinner?" I happily exclaimed, raising the pot of macaroni and cheese off the stove to show them.
"Give me a beer," Caspian mumbled as he bumped into me to reach the fridge behind my back.

"Did I tell you the social worker stopped by and they're going to take the kids away in three days?" I shot Caspian a calm smile, leaning my lower back against the counter while I crossed my arms.

"Not that shit again," Caspian popped the cap on his beer, taking a long swig.
I nodded to his comment.

"We're leaving right after your cousins get taken away, It'll help you get your mind off everything," He raised his beer and swiftly walked around the counter to sit down at the table where Gina was. She raised her eyebrows in a disgusted manner as Caspian sat down.

"Hey, Caspian, maybe you can act as the guardian," Levi thought for a moment, "Yeah, you can! You resemble my dad. Come on, we can just try it. Hale, am I right?" Levi pointed to Caspian. He just looked at us both, belching from the beer. Gina rolled her eyes in disgust and left the kitchen.

"Your dad lives in Arizona now with that crazy woman who swears cactus acupuncture can make you live to be 102," I gently reminded him.

"That's not the point, shut up, my plan will work. Right when it's over and done with you two can go on your stupid vacation," Levi smiled in excitement at his new plan, studying Caspian's facial features even more.
"Stop lookin at me, creep," Caspian let the bottle touch his lips again.

"Well, it's technically your siblings and your home, so please, do whatever you feel is necessary," I said while putting some macaroni in a bowl for myself, "And if any of you want more protein there might be a package of hotdogs in the fridge that only expired yesterday."

Levi rose his eyebrows at my tone and behavior, nodding his head a few times, "Thanks for believing in me, Hale."

I sat down next to Caspian and before I could even take a bite of my dinner, Caspian downed a few forkfuls of macaroni.
"That's good," he said with a full mouth, pointing my fork at the macaroni.

I snatched the fork back from his grip, looking over at him, "So you have everything for us planned out?"

He smiled almost mischievously, nodding while his fingers spun the upright bottle around a few times on the table, "I've got it all figured out."

Levi sat down next to me, apparently picking up on Caspian's demeanor.
He sighed heavily and glanced over at Caspian with what looked like disapproval.