spoken word. (gxg)

fourteen.

fourteen.

Jean's mom gasped when she saw me, in the way that you do when you really weren't expecting to see someone but you're happy they're here. It was nice, I thought as I was engulfed in a hug. She squeezed me before letting go.

"Mia! I'm so happy to see you," she said, and I believed her. I smiled.

"It's nice to see you too, ma'am," I said, to which she shook her head affectionately.

"No, no, call me Jean. Or mom," she winked.

"Mom!" A voice, presumably Tyler, shouted. "Did you buy swiss cheese?"

"No!" She yelled back.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because you're the only one who eats it!"

"So? June is the only one who eats olives and you buy them for her!"

"Well," she replied snarkily, "that's too bad."

"That's favoritism!" He declared.

"Boo-hoo!" She shouted back. I stared at her as she argued with her son. June ignored their bickering, stepping around her mother to head up the stairs into her room. I trailed after her.

"Your house is lively," I observed.

"Our house is on crack," a deep voice, Tyler, asserted. He stood at the top of the stairs, pouting at his sister.

"Move," she ordered.

"Help me try to convince mom to buy swiss cheese," he pleaded.

"No," she said.

"I like swiss," I offered. Tyler turned to me, beaming.

"Hear that, mom?" He yelled, "June's friend likes swiss, too!"

"The answer is still no!" Was her reply. I snickered-- he looked so crushed. June pushed past him, but he grabbed her arm.

"Actually, jay," he lowered his voice, his eyes flickering to me for a brief moment, "I need to speak with you." He seemed serious, which was odd because the few times I had met him he had never been serious. What was more surprising was how June nodded.

"Can you wait for me in my room?" She asked, sounding apologetic.

"Yeah, uh, no problem," I said, hurrying out of their way. I kind of remembered how to get to June's room.

"Other way," Tyler pointed out as I started down a hallway. I flushed, pivoting around.

"Thanks."

I was dying to know what they were speaking about. Their hushed voices barely carried, but I heard a few words, like 'old rival' and 'be careful' and 'revenge.' Those, coupled with the serious tone of the conversation, made my imagination run wild like no other. I couldn't help it-- I snuck as close as I could to them to try to evesdrop.

Luckily for me, their voices got louder; it seemed as if they were arguing.

"...don't want your friend to get mixed up in all of this," Tyler told June.

"She won't," June said, "she doesn't know anything. They wouldn't touch her."

"Ha!" Tyler laughed cruelly, lowering his voice.

"...they've....always...." Was all I could hear. My heart sped up. They were talking about me? Who might touch me?

Images of the night the man assaulted me clouded my memory-- I felt a panic attack coming on. I escaped to the edge of June's bed, not wanting to hear more.