Flames

CHAPTER TWO

*CHAPTER TWO*

As we're walking up to the house, I hear music blasting from it.  I try to hear what the song is.  It sounds like... Metallica?

I love Metallica.

"Who's house is this, Andy?" I ask him.  "Tyler's."  I don't ask who Tyler is, too shocked by the look of the outside.  If the outside is this nice, I wonder what the inside looks like...  We walk up the steps to the gigantic house and without knocking, Andrew walks right in, holding the door open for me.

"Oh, you brought a toy for us?" a guy with a lot of tattoos and piercings asks, smirking.  He winks at me and I scrunch up my nose.

"Fuck off," I say.  "Oh, feisty... I like it," he says back.  "Play nice you two," Andrew says.  "Oh, I'll play alright... maybe just not so nice," he winks again.  I gag and roll my eyes.

"Ty, this is my cousin, Jacqueline.  Jacqueline, this is Tyler," Andy introduces us.  "Well, hello, Jacqueline, to what do I owe the pleasure," he says, bowing sarcastically.  "It's Jackie," I say with an attitude.

"My bad, your highness," Tyler says.  "Shut up, Tyler," I warn.  "Oh, did I hurt little miss Jacqueline's feelings?  And that's 'Ty' to you... nothing else," he says.  I walk up to him and put my hands on his shoulders and look up into his eyes, batting mine.

"It seems she's taken a liking to me, bro.  No one can resist me," Tyler says to Andy, not looking away from me.  I smile up at him through my eyelashes and as soon as he opens his mouth to say something else, I bring my knee up... hard.  He grunts and falls to the floor with a loud thud, covering himself for fear that I'll do it again.

"You'll pay for that, Jacqueline!" he screams.  "It's Jackie."  As I walk back to Andrew, he says to Tyler, "Dude, she doesn't play.  Don't mess with her like that."  "What the fuck ever.  Why did you even bring her here?  Who the hell is she?" he fires.

"She's the girl I told you was staying with me... my cousin."  Tyler looks at me, gets up quickly and walks over to me.  I back away slowly, thinking he's going to grab me or something.

He walks up to me, too close for my liking and speaks, but to Andrew.  "Tell your cousin to calm her tits, loosen up."  He walks away.  I roll my eyes and sit down on a nearby sofa.

***

It is now twelve and I'm sure Teresa is wondering why we aren't back yet.  I walk up to Andrew.  "Hey, does Teresa know anything?  She's probably worried we aren't back yet, right?"  "No, cuz, it's okay.  I told her we came to see some friends after the appointment," he informs me.  I calm down a little bit and go outside to get some fresh air.

I sit on the steps and take out my phone.  I almost text my mom before remembering she'll never respond.  Tears prick my eyes but I don't let them fall.  Not until I can't hold them in any longer.  The chilly wind blows and I shiver, bringing my jean jacket tighter around my body.

The porch door opens and I hear footsteps getting closer.  I don't bother to turn around.  "Hey, who are you?" I hear a girl ask.

I  turn to her and answer, "Jackie."  "I'm Tyler's sister, Hanna.  You must be Andy's cousin.  It's nice to meet you," she says, holding out her hand.  I take it.

She has tattoos and piercings, just like her brother.  Her hair is black and she has bangs.  She has big brown eyes with really long eyelashes.  She could be a model.

"It's nice to meet you too," I tell her.  "How come you and your brother seem so different?  He's a dick and you're..."  "Not?" she supplies.  "Yeah, I get that a lot.  Look, he's been through a lot so he has built up walls.  No one can get through to him... but I don't know.  I feel like you're the person who could change that."  She gets up and walks back into the house.  That was weird.