Rivaled Love / Jauren

2

A couple days passed by. I really didn't speak to Veronica. She was my best friend, but I also had to listen to my brother. And it seemed like she hung out with Jaz more and more lately. So that meant walking home from school. My foot steps on the crisp leaves making them crunch. My hands in my jacket pockets. I hear someone crunch on the leaves. I stopped and turned around curiously. I then realized I was paranoid and began to keep walking to my secret place.

I liked going there for peaceful and solo time. I mean it isn't like I am not lonely anyways. I saw that I was coming up to my spot when I heard leaves crunch again. I looked quickly in the direction my ears heard it from.

"Derek?" I questioned thinking maybe my brother was watching me to keep me safe. All I heard was the wind blowing through my ears. I put a strand of my hair behind my ear. I pulled my journal outta my book bag as I sat on the ground to write. I looked up at the depth of the woods. I love everything about the small things in life. I don't know what made me happy. If I could start over with a different family. Wilmington wouldn't be so bad. I lightly smile as I began to write in my journal. I then hear a branch crack. I turn around nervously.

"Listen. I am not playing. My bro- I will beat your ass okay." I hiss at whoever was around. I then notice a dark figure go behind a tree. I get up with anger pumping through my veins. I Then see the same caramel haired boy that Jaz got her money from the other night. My stomach dropped. He smirked. I realized how much danger I was in. I ran my hair through my hair as I turned around to my bookbag. I threw my stuff into my bag. I began walking back to my house. I noticed he was following behind me.

"You need to leave me alone." I say with a gulp.

"Or what?" He cocked a brow with a cocky smirk splattered across his face.

I groaned as I began to keep walking to the house. When I heard him once more, "Just have to check you out to see what you are all about being Derek's sister and all."

"Well if you are looking for a mini Derek. You won't find it with me." I spat.

"I see that." He chuckled stopping right before the out of the woods. I looked up at the front door to see Derek. I yelled for him as I looked back for Jaz's brother but he was gone.

"What?" Derek questioned from the porch.

I look back at where Jaz's brother just stood not knowing what to say. "Never mind." I say scratching my head. I wasn't in any mood to piss my brother off and chew my ass out.

Few hours after doing homework and attempting to have sex with Kyle. I say attempt because nobody lets me have fun or do what I want. It was dinner. Everybody was at our hug family dinner table except my mom because she is always non-existent. Olivia begins to dig in. "No blessings?" I ask looking at Derek who rolls his eyes and ignores my comment.

"Derek." I stammered with a glare making everyone snicker under their breath.

"Drop it Lauren." Derek ranted.

"Why? Dad used to and now since you became king ding a ling. You think you know what is best for this gang of yours."

"Baby-" Kyle said trying to reassure me with his palm on my thigh.

I quickly pushed his hand off me. "Fuck this family." I screamed.

"LAUREN." Derek barked.

"No." I yelled right back as I walked up to my room furiously.

Back when my dad was alive. Everything was at peace. My mom was somewhat normal and my family was a little normal. My dad didn't force the gang life on us. He wanted us to be good kids. He referred to his gang buddies at uncles and aunts. We were like a big family and Derek turned it into hell and trouble. My family was very religious. My dad told us to be good with god or we would be burning in hell. So my heart was to always love and give to people. My siblings did the same until Derek became in charge. I was very super religious but thanking god at dinner for keeping us alive another day with the fucked up life we were in wasn't too much. Obviously to Derek it was and I am just so annoyed with this family. How can I be blood related to these psychopaths? I groaned as I plopped onto my bed in frustrations. I put my earphones on. I wrote in my journal as my anger poured out onto the page as music filled my ears. Before I knew it. It was late. As I looked at my clock on my phone. I took out one earbud from my ear. It was quiet as if my brother and everybody left. Figures. I got up and decided to shower. Something about showers made me so happy. The warm water hitting and running down my bare body was satisfying. As I took off my shirt and began walking to my shower in my room. I hear something outside my window. I tiptoed over to the window to see Veronica and Jaz downstairs. I opened my window as I rolled my eyes.