The Perks of Being a Freak (Editing)

76. Get My Name Right

Allow me to make one point clear. No one ever really comes up to my room. Sometimes Cody and Seth demand an audience, or they show up to bug me because their shared room is directly beneath mine. Once in a blue moon Lucy will show up and force me to play house or teacher or doctor with her and her dolls. No one else ever comes up here.

So when I woke up and saw my oldest brother Aaron standing over me, I was a) shocked, b) creeped out (why was he just standing there??) and c) annoyed at the invasion of my privacy. I opened my mouth to tell him off when he interrupted me.

“Get up. We’re leaving in ten.” Then he turned and stalked towards the ladder.

“Where are we going?” I crossed my arms, trying to look dignified with half my hair hanging out of my braid and drool on my cheek. “And why do I have to go?”

“You know the science lab in downtown?” Aaron demanded. I had to keep myself from laughing.

I know that lab better than you ever will, Aaron.

“Yeah. I’ve gone past it a few times,” I shrugged.

“Well they’re showing me around. I got a job there.” I barely kept myself from flinching. My brother was going to be working with the psychos that cut me open? Did that mean that he was the one who helped them get us? Nah, Aaron was a jerk, but he was still my brother. He wouldn’t have done something like that.

“Why do I have to go?” I stood and stretched out my shoulders.

“Because mom said so. Now get dressed.” Aaron stomped down the ladder annoyedly.

“What crawled into your panties?” I muttered, making sure that he could hear me. The closet door slammed shut, and I grinned.

Ten minutes later, I was in dark jeans, a black tank-top, and a camo jacket. My combat boots were laced, my hair was tightly french braided, and fingerless gloves covered most of my hands,

And I was shaking.

My palms were damp with sweat, and I was forcing myself not to chew on my braid.

I was going back. I was really going back to that hellhole. I could finally get some answers.

Aaron pounded on the closet door.

“Come on, Juliana.” He yelled. “Let’s go!”

I brushed past him out the door and spoke over my shoulder.

“My name is Lia.”