Blackmailed

Nine.

There was a room my aunt kept closed that was filled with old books. Although it wasn't locked I still knew to stay out, but today I ignored her words she told me as a child. Opened the door a faint smell of dust and mildew filled the small cluttered room. Looking through the whole room would take hours. Alexandria began searching without an order from me, eager to get the investigating on.

Sitting down beside her I grabbed a book and flipped through the pages. It was nothing that seemed important, so I moved on to the next, and the next, and the next. After what seemed like hours Alexandria threw a book towards me. Opening it at the bookmarked page I read a few lines only to find out that it was a sex scene.

"Looks like your aunt is into those kind of books. I bet she—" covering my ears I threw the book back at her. She continued to talk louder, blocking her out she suddenly stopped talking.

Uncovering my ears I heard a car engine shut off. We both looked at each other, Alexandria started placing the books into piles, hurrying we both stood up, rushing out of the room. Shutting the door quietly. Alexandria followed after, seeing a book in her hand I grabbed it, she took it back. As the door opened we both ran into my room. She threw the book into the closet. Shutting the door I locked it.

"Why'd you have to take it?" I whispered to her, she turned towards me.

"It seemed really interesting. Anyways, what does it matter?" A knock on the door made us both jump. She was never the type to check in, something seemed off.

She pulled me close and messed up my hair, before rushing to the bed and getting under the covers. Walking to the door I unlocked it before opening it up some, using my talent of faking a yawn, her face softened.

"What's up? We were just taking a nap, jet lagged I suppose." I asked her, leaning against the doorway, she peaked over my shoulder, I looked at Alexandria who was facing the other direction.

"I was just going to ask you what you two wanted for dinner, I know we got off to a rough start. I can order a pizza or Chinese, or I can make some grilled cheese. You loved that as a kid. Your mother always made the best, though." Seeing her I could tell that she was remembering my mother. Anyone who knew her loved her, that would never change.

She always made the perfect grilled cheese, one time I had asked her what her secret was. My mother just turned to me, smiling and placing one on my plate. Her answer was love, but I could tell it was a lie.

"Alexandria loves pizza, she was craving it before we left. That would do for us, anyways just wake me up when it arrives. I'm still really tired." Closing the door before she could finish I walked over to the bed, collapsing onto it. Alexandria got up.

"You're a liar, Joseph. You were the one who was dying for pizza. But from the way it sounds, your aunt really loved your mother." Nodding I wrenched the covers from her, Alexandria got up. "Don't look, I'm changing into more comfy clothes."

"Like I'd want to look at you, you look like one of those thumbs from Spy Kids." She scoffed, the sound of a zipper carried itself through the room. Closing my eyes I felt myself drift off.

After awhile I got woken up, Alexandria was sitting there reading a book next to me. She had tears in her eyes, a piece of pizza was next to me. Grabbing the pizza she wiped her eyes, tears falling now.

"It's so sad. She loves him, they were going to travel the world together and he just dumped her right there. She loved him." Turning to face her I grabbed the book.

"It's just a book." I told her, it was almost as if she was somewhere else. She faced me, anger was clear as day on her face. But she also looked hurt, but you had to look really hard to see it. She masked her pain with anger. And as much as I'd like to hate her for it, I understood it. I understood it more than anyone.

"She loved him. He was good for her. They were meant to be. I mean how could he just dump her out of nowhere?" Alexandria grabbed my pizza, taking a bite out of it. "He just left her behind, knowing that she would stay by his side if he asked. He cheated on her, and she forgave him like an idiot."

"We're not talking about the character of the book anymore, are we?"

"And to think that I let him take a piece of me. Maybe if I were better, prettier or smarter maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have left. Or cheated. All of the lies, how could I not notice? I'm so stupid. This is all my fault." She quickly cleared her throat and fake smiled, her eyes red and lips trembling. Even her mascara was running.

"You look like a raccoon." I stated, she slapped me playfully, a smile working it's way to her face. "And you have pizza grease all over your mouth." She covered her mouth, wiping it with her sleeve quickly. "But that guy clearly did not deserve you. Good news though, we're in Texas now. You won't have to see him for awhile."

She nodded, resting her head against her knees. Getting up I opened up the bedroom door, she asked me where I was going.

"To go get more pizza, since some raccoon ate it." I quipped before shutting the door.

[A/N] Feels like forever since I updated.