Smells Like Lavender

Chapter 42

Lavender

'Put a jacket on. It's starting to get chilly.' She said.

'I brought one.' I reached into my bag.

But it wasn't the cold she was actually talking about, my late cousin had some friends over his mother's house and mine had tried to do everything to keep me in the car and away from them.

They were all high school age except for one, who was a college freshman.

My cousin, Lance, didn't even look up from his phone as he opened the door.

His lips moved to speak to my Mother as he let us in.

As we stood and waited for my Aunt she tapped her foot impatiently.

Are you ok?

I've got to use the bathroom but I don't want to leave you alone.

I'll be alright for a few minutes Mom. I can take care of myself for a few minutes.

She led me to their dining table.

Sit here and don't move.

I nodded and she hurried out of the room.

Not even a minute later Lance and his pack ventured into the kitchen.

I ignored them as they raided the kitchen and fenced with the utensils.

My phone vibrated with a message.

You alright?

I'm fine. Why?

Your energy's not feeling right. Where are you?

I started to tell him not to worry when the phone was snatched out of my hand.

The others had disappeared and the one that remained was the one my mother liked the least.

Lance had once tried to set us up, but I hadn't been ready for a boyfriend then, that and the fact that didn't know him and he didn't know I was deaf.

He scrolled through my phone, pulling it away when I reached for it.

He said something and  ran into the other room.

I rolled my eyes and when I arrived, ready to demand my phone back he and the others were tossing it back and forth.

If they threw it any higher they'd break it. But they were all taller than I was.

Instead of doing something I thought about what Justin would do if he was here.

I stared at all of them, giving them his silent glare. I probably didn't look as menacing as he does.

The pace of things slowed enough and when the person closest to me had my phone again I swung at him.

The same way Justin did when he'd heard enough.

I narrowly missed his nose and caught his eye instead, making him stumble and drop my phone.

I picked it up and felt the air leave my body. I dry heaved and felt hands on my shoulder, my Mother.

She was looking at me concerned, seeing if I was hurt. Then she turned to the group.

Apparently a girl, who I'd never noticed was here, had punched me in the stomach.

Her mistake, now she had my Mother to deal with and by further extension my sister. And even further down the line, Justin.

My Mother spun on her heel and I felt the momentum of her hand against the girl's face.

She was livid, her body language said it all.

She terrified this girl and my Aunt stood to the side, whispering to Lance.

Then she grabbed my arm and dragged me outside.

We got in the car and she leaned into the horn. I could see we were on the point of just leaving when Aunt Bethany finally arrived.

We were out of the driveway and down the street before she could even close her door all the way.

My Mother was still furious, hitting the steering wheel and speaking abrasively to my Aunt.

I opened my phone again and a response had already been sent to Justin's message.

Omg! I love you so much I need you so bad right now.

And then some emojis but I could tell he knew it wasn't me from his response.

Liar. Who is this? Where's Lavender?

I sent him a text back.

It's alright. I got my phone back.

You wanna tell me what happened?

I punched one of my cousin's friends in the face and I guess his girlfriend or something punched me in the stomach.

On a scale of one to ten how badly do I need to hurt this person? Do you know them?

Calm down and I don't want you to go looking for them either.

Why not?

I point out once again. There's no me in detention or worse, prison.

Then I plan to exchange a few angry words.

No. You don't even know them.

But if I see them, if you see them. Point them out and depending on where we are I might say something.

Promise you won't do anything and get yourself in trouble.

I'd rather be in detention than have anybody think they can bully you and get away with it. I gotta go, my worker's here to say goodbye.

Goodbye?

Since I have shown so much improvement and my behavior is so much better she's been reassigned to some other nut case.

Well tell her I said bye. Talk to you later.

I shouldn't have told him over a text message. He's probably angry and he might do something stupid without me there to tell him to stop.

I don't know why he listens to me but it's good he'll listen to somebody.

When I first met I couldn't have imagined him being so aggressive and forward but gentle and patient at the same time.

He was ok when he wasn't angry but I couldn't explain it when he was angry.

You could tell what level of upset he is by his expression. Like a cake.

The first level he just stops talking, writing or signing to me for a couple of hours but when he knows he's wrong he's always quick to apologize.

Then at the highest level he makes this face. It's a glare but the intensity of it is scary, his eyes become emotionless.

It's like he blanks out.

I really believe that when he's that upset there's nothing he wouldn't do.

But I've only seen it once but that was when he told me Briana was being bullied.

Other than that he's been calm enough.

Hopefully things stay that way.

Calm and safe.

**********

Chapter 42...I think.
Leah💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋