Tattooed Heart

Chapter 1- The Power Couple

[Picture above is Jadelyn Coleman]

I always imagined a time where going off to college would be an exciting time, where parents sent you off with tears of joy and helped you move into your dorm. You room with your best friend, party hard, and had the "best four years of your life". You would beam ear to ear as your parents took infinite pictures of you on every inch of your new campus. 

At least, that was how I imagined it would be for normal families.

"We have arrived, Miss" my uber driver spoke from the front seat. He got out to help me with my backpack and suitcase.

I looked up at the small one story house in front of me. The grass was freshly cut, the nude paint barely worn. It looked homely, like a cutesy cottage. On the front steps, my older brother, Jacob waited. His tousled auburn hair and green eyes matched mine. His smile softened when I got out of the car, and he jogged down the small driveway to engulf me in a hug.

"Baby sister!" He cheered, lifting my small 5'4 frame off the ground in a massive bear hug.

"Jakie, you're suffocating me," I gasped, wiggling out of his grasp. He finally let go of me, and I took in a deep gasp for breath. "You trying to kill me?"

He responded with a cheeky smile. "I just missed my baby sister," he grinned.

"Sometimes I question who is actually older," I mumbled, rolling my eyes. My big brother was twenty eight and six feet tall, yet he still acted like a small child. Sometimes I wonder how he passed the bar exam to become a defense attorney.

"Jade," a warm voice called.

I looked past my brother to find Layla, his gorgeous brown haired, blue eyed wife. Her long tanned legs put her at 5'7, towering over me, with shoulder length straight coco brown hair. In addition to being gorgeous, she was also the kindest human I had ever met.

"Layla," I smiled, engulfing her in a hug. She met my older brother in college, back when he was still an angsty nineteen year old. They became a super couple shortly after, turning both their lives around for the better. They truly were a fairy tale.

"Layla, you're hogging my baby sister," Jacob whined behind her.

"I need to protect her from your idiocy and brute strength," she bantered. "You'll crush her before she even moves in."

They also bantered like cats and dogs.

"I'm fine, Layla, honestly," I laughed, pulling away from her motherly grasp. "I'm just really grateful to be able to stay with you guys while I go to college."

"You're always welcome here, sweetheart," Layla insisted, guiding me into the house. "Jakie, honey, get her bags."

Jacob grumbled behind us to my amusement. "Still, I'm sorry for asking so suddenly," I murmured.

"It's okay, Jade," she told me warmly. "I know the situation, and you don't have to worry."

"Right," I said absently.

When I was a baby, my father was stationed overseas in the middle east. My mother was raising me and my older brother by herself, along with my grandmother. However, the happy family changed when he never came home. I was too young to remember what happened, but my mother completely fell apart. In fact, I didn't remember anything before my dad's death. My mother succumbed to drinking until my teen years, when Jacob finally snapped and forced her into rehab. He had moved back into the house during that time to take care of me, which was around the time him and Layla were engaged. Soon my mother returned, but she took up a new drug instead: work. I had planned on commuting from my mom's place, but just last week she announced she would be moving overseas for the year to pursue a new client. Within a few days, the house was sold and I was left homeless. Since my grandmother was now in a nursing home, the only person I could turn to was my big brother. The good news was, Jake at least lived somewhat close to my college, cutting my commute nearly in half.

"This is your room," Layla announced, opening the door second to last down the hallway. "I got excited when I heard you were coming, so I did a little decorating. You like pink, right?"

"Pink is fine," I insisted. "Thank you so much, Layla."

"I didn't get to do so much with such short notice, but I'm sure you can personalize it how you like," she said, giving my shoulders a little squeeze. "Alright, I'll let you settle in. You have classes tomorrow!"

"College is gonna be great, Jade," Jacob said from behind her. He slid my suitcase into my room. "There are condoms in the hallways drawer-"

"And we will leave you be," Layla covered Jake's mouth and pulled his ear, causing him to yelp. She dragged him away, much to his discontent. I laughed and closed the door.

I looked at the decently sized room. There were baby pink sheets with a big fluffy white comforter, frilly pink curtains for my large window, complete with a wooden dresser and desk set. The carpet had been freshly vacuumed, and Layla even put a rose incense burner on top of my dresser. The closet was empty and cleaned out, ready for me. Additionally, a small bathroom was connected to my room. It was like a mini apartment.

I unloaded my textbooks onto the desk, looking out the window into the street. Though I felt like a burden to my brother and his wife, I couldn't help but feel like I finally had a somewhat normal family. I didn't have many friends in high school, but maybe that could be different. Maybe I could be normal.

But that was for tomorrow.