the devil wears leather

Ya Nasties

It's been a week and I haven't utter a word to anyone. Not my parents, not Sam and Rob, not Naveah and Lilly, not Anthony, not the babies, and especially Ian. It was Christmas eve. I haven't bought anything, and I know nobody has bought anything for me. I lay in my bed, pulling on the strings of my comforter. I had bought dye and dip dyed my tips purple. Someone knocked on my door and I clenched my mouth shut and threw a tissue box at the door. My sign for come in. Ian opened the door and I sat up and stuck the middle finger at him. He rolled his eyes. "Drama queen, downstairs." I got up and pulled my shirt down in the back, the chilly air burning my hot, exposed skin. I pushed past Ian and walked down the steps. I stopped at the bottom and crossed my arms.

"Decorating the tree. Tradition. Everyone. Together?" My mom said.  I'm not five, thank you. I waved my hand and followed them into the living room. They had put up the tree, the decorations sitting in their dusty boxes. I sat on the couch and Ian sat next to me. I stood up and walked over to my mother. "Sit. Your. Ass. Down." I sighed and sat on the ground at her feet. "Dove. Hannah. Reid. On. The. Couch." She demanded. I crawled over to the couch and sat on the ground. My mother opened her mouth but my father beat her.

"DOVE SIT ON THE DAMMED COUCH BEFORE I MAKE YOU!" He shouted, his face turning red. I quickly sat in the couch, but so I wasn't near Ian.

"Now, you know the drill. Older kids doing the top, middle kids do the middle, and the babies do the bottom." Everyone nodded. "While the adults cook and bake." We always have families come over. Both of ours. Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents. It's overwhelming. And this year, as Lilly told me, Teresa's family is invited. Happy fricking joy joy. NOT. I stood up and headed for the tree. I started decorating it quickly and carelessly. I finished my book and left, stomping up the stairs. Someone grabbed me. I looked at the hand. A round ring on the ring finger, but a hairless hand. Rob. I pulled free and he grabbed me again, this time tighter. He pulled me back down the stairs and into the living room. He grabbed Ian with his other hand and pulled him to the couch. He turned to Naveah, Lilly, and Anthony.

"Out." They grabbed the babies and left, their feet climbing the stairs. "Now I'm sick of this. She hasn't spoken in a week. A whole damn week. It is Christmas eve. We have family coming over. Your grandmothers, adore both of you. So you better talk and act nicely. Or I swear, anything you get I will personally yank from your hands and sent you to your room. You're both 18 years old and you need to act like it. You hear me? Just because you're both older, doesn't mean I wouldn't beat you both. Understood?" We nodded. "Now fix this or fake it, I don't care, but you will interact tomorrow whether you like it or not." He shoved his hands in his pocket and stared at us.

"I'm faking it." I spoke quietly. My voice was a little raspy so I cleared it. "Faking it. I hate him, wouldn't ever want to fix this. The Devil wears leather and that's all he wears." I stood up and walked out of the room. I passed the others. "Go finish fucking decorating." I shut my door and sat on my bed. I had my clothes for tomorrow layed out. A black and red sweater, dark jeans, boots, and a beanie. My straightener next to it and some simple makeup. Just foundation, concealer, a white eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. I sat in my bed and grabbed my book.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I was shaken awake, my book pressed unde my face. "What?"

"Chwismas!" Keegan and Deidre shout. Lilly, Naveah, and Anthony laugh in the doorway.

"So? I didn't get anything why's it matter? Wake up the dummy next door."

"Uh.... there's a thing... on the door...." Lilly draws out, picking up Keegan.

"Yank it off and open the door."

"No way. Teresa slept over." I sit up.

"What?" I hiss. Naveah, Lilly, and Anthony nod.

"In the next room. Same bed. Mom and Dad didn't know. Don't tell them." Naveah says.

"Fuck." I get out of bed and grab my camera. "Don't. Follow. Stay in my room." I push everyone in my room and shut the door. I hit record on my camera and have it face me. "Back off, chica." I pushed open his door and flick on the switch. Someone jumps out of the bed, falling. Ian grabs the blanket and tosses it down. He's in boxer. "Morning the wonderfully disgusting people that need to wake each other disgustingly." I smirk and walk forward, towards the other side of the room. I start to fan his room. Clothing thrown everywhere. Some obviously female. "What's under the blanket?" I poke it with my foot.

"Nothing." Ian squeaks from his bed.

"Oh, so if lift the blanket, I won't find the whore?" I ask, sneering. "You know, like Dora the Explora?"

"No."

"Then I shall lift it." I picked up the blanket and found Teresa huddled in underwear and a bra. "That's nice." I leaned down. "Mess with me... and this video goes everywhere. Leave my house. Leave my family. Leave my Christmas. And leave my Ian." She nodded and grabbed her clothes and pulled them on quickly.

"We're through" And ran from the room. I put the camera towards Ian.

"Merry Christmas."