Addiction

Chapter One

Brynnlee Hunner Barnes^

"Auntie Bryn! Cmon! I've gotta be at school, like, right now!" My 6 year old niece, Colette, screams at me as I'm putting my red natural hair in a messy bun.
"I'm coming! Just go ahead and get your brother!" I yell as I look for my black tennis shoes.
"Fine." I know the brat rolled her eyes.
I sigh when I finally find my shoes. I look at my black running shorts and my sports bra. No time for a shirt.
"Alright! Cmon Colette and Banks!" I see the two children run from the kitchen.
Colette has long, auburn hair with hazel eyes. She's mostly a brat but when she wants to be, she's really sweet. Only sometimes though.
Then there's Banks.
Boy, I can't even describe the little ball of energy that's always a mess.
He has mischievous , green eyes with a ball of black hair on his head. For a 4 year old, he's sure something else.

Colette and Banks aren't my kids, though. Actually, they're my brothers children. But, unfortunately, he passed away 3 weeks ago. I took in the kids about a week and a half ago. His wife abandoned him after she birthed Banks. Something about it being too much for her. Whatever.
Now they're my responsibility. And unfortunately, I suck at being a "parent".

I grab their hands and put them in the car. I buckle them up and get in the drivers seat.
As I'm already half way to the school I realized I forgot to get them breakfast. I sigh.

"Y'all just want to have a free day?" I ask.
They grin and nod with eagerness.
I smile and look in the mirror. My face has a smudged mascara and I have paint on my face from the activities I did with the kids.
Greattt.
My messy bun has a few curly pieces falling down.

We arrive at a small cafe in the town square of Old Salem, Arizona. I get out and put the lanyard around my neck that's attached to my keys. I grab my wallet out of the console and go get the kids out.

When I'm walking in I notice a few men in suits walking on the sidewalk towards us. Not purposely— it's just wherever they'r going.
I nudge the kids to grab my hands as we make our way to the cafe down the road and a few buildings down.
We were abt to walk past the men when Banks suddenly let go of my hand and started to Rubinho the street. My eyes widen and I shove Colette to someone's arms and quickly run to Banks.
I yank him into my arms just as a truck went by, honking.
My breathing was quick and I still had him in my arms. I put him at an arms length and get angrier as I see him crying.
"Why the hell did you run into the street?! Do you know how dangerous that is?! Don't ever scare me like that again!" I yell at him as he has more tears streaming down his face.
I sigh and grab his hand and search for Colette and see she is staring at me but then I notice a hand on her shoulder and look up to see a man.

I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out.
I look back to Colette.
"I'm sure you want your daughter back?" The mans gruff voice says with a eyebrow raised.

Colette scoffs. "She is not my mother. She's my aunt." Colette rolls her eyes.
My jaw clenches and I close my eyes and count in my head to 3 to calm myself from not spanking the child.

The man looks angry at her attitude and bends down to my level.
"You should respect her. Mother or not, she's taking care of you. She just risked her own life to save, whom I'm assuming, your brother." The man then makes eye contact with me.

"U-um thanks." I stutter out, shocked by his words to the brat,"cmon Colette." I grab her hand and we walk to the cafe. I can feel his eyes staring into my back but I don't turn around.

I take a deep breathe in. I am strong. I am strong. I am strong. I can do this. I can parent these kids.

Then I sigh. No I'm not. I can't do this. I suck at this thing. I suck at being... Mature.

A tear drops from my eye. I can't do this.

Then I look at banks and Colette. They have no one.
They need me. And honestly, I need them.