Life with the Stevens' Boys

Chapter 8

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"Vanessa, can we talk?" Chris came up to me, as I shoved my math textbook in my locker. I threw him a dirty look and slammed my locker shut, turning my back on him.

"Can't. Gonna be late for Theater." I called to him.

As soon as I entered the auditorium, Ms. DeAnna rushed up to me. "We're going to do the first act of The Crucible. Your lines are back stage. Hurry and get them!"

"Okay," I tossed my bag down in an empty chair, before hopping up the steps. I searched, slightly frantic, for my lines. As I lifted up a costume to check underneath it, I heard an angry whisper say, "What did you think you were doing?"

A small voice responded. "Nothing, I swear! Nothing happened!"

The mad voice growled. "I don't believe you!"

I followed the voice to a set of curtains. Peeking through, I saw Rob hovering over Brenda, spewing harsh words at her.

"Vanessa!" Brenda's eyes darted over to me. Rob whipped around, his face full of rage.

"What are you doing?" Rob threw at me.

"What are you doing?" I pushed the curtain aside. "Don't talk to me like that. Or Brenda."

Rob straightened up and opened his mouth to speak, but Brenda cut him off, grabbing his arm. "Stop. Vanessa, you should go."

"But-"

"Go!" Brenda yelled, throwing her hands in the air.

Without another thought, I retreated from the curtain, stunned. Brenda was a totally different person around Rob and I didn't like it. Before I could convince myself to go back to the curtains, a flash of white caught my eye. My lines were resting neatly on the corner table.

* * *

"Brenda?" I knocked. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," Brenda's muffled voice said on the other side of the door. I pushed the door open to see Brenda sitting at her vanity, applying concealer to her cheek.

I sat down on her bed, fiddling with my thumbs. Neither of us spoke.

I broke the silence by saying, "So what was wrong with Rob today?"

I saw Brenda's reflection roll her eyes. "Nothing. It was just an argument."

"Didn't look like just an argument." I countered.

"He was just jealous, that's all. You know how guys get." Brenda smeared the fair color on her cheek. "It's not a big deal."

"You looked scared." I stated sharply.

Brenda swiveled her chair around, cheeks red. "You make such a big deal out of everything. Stop getting in my relationship. Rob and I are fine." Brenda turned back around.

I said, "Okay." And when she didn't reply, I felt myself being dismissed.

* * *

Nate's Point of View

"I'm kinda worried about her. Mom won't tell us anything and neither will she." I told Chris.

"Yeah," he sighed. "Why would she have had to come from California all the way to Texas to live with people she barely knows? Something's not right."

"I know. We have to figure it out." I said. Chris huffed, staying silent for a moment.

"What do you think happened?" Chris asked me.

I pondered why a 16 year old girl would have to move into someone else's home, but came up short. "No idea..."