Hermes

9

Brynn Rawlings POV

Luna's mom, Jorja, followed me to my house. Korin, even though she is now suspended is just having the time of her life.

"So am I really in trouble?" she asked me.

"No, I believe what Luna said is true. Now hitting someone with a tray isn't good at all. Maybe the reason why you aren't suspended longer is that you are a good student, but don't let this happen again. In some ways, you could have been in serious trouble if his mother wanted to press charges against you. Maybe that boy has a record of acting out in school, hence why he is suspended longer." I told her as I parked the car in the driveway.

"I know, but he shouldn't have done that to us. He has been doing it for a while, but I just got tired of it."

"Is that why you have been coming home hungry some days?" I raised one of my eyebrows. This concerns me, and I will have to talk to Ms. Powell about this.

"Yes. Luna didn't want me to do anything because she doesn't want to get in trouble. This time I just got tired of it." Korin said.

"Well, I am proud of you for sticking up for yourself, and her. Next time, no trays." I kissed her forehead.

We got out of the car, and so did Jorja and Luna.

"Wow, your house is big Korin." I watched Luna run over to her.

I shook my head smiling, seeing how excited they both are.

"Hey, listen to me, when we get inside they house I need you two to take your shoes off at the door. It's a shoe rack on a few feet away from where the shoes go okay." I only said that to them because well, for one Korin and I do not do that, but we need to start. I'm tired of mopping.

As I opened the front door, they almost ran inside.

"Korin."

"I know poppa, no running in my house. You say it all the time." Just a smartass. She did get that from me.

"I wouldn't have to if a certain child would listen. Now if you two have homework, you both need to sit at the kitchen table before and do it before you two play. Korin, we won't do anything extra since we have company today." I watched Korin cheer about it, but I know she doesn't mind doing more.

"Your house is really nice, and this kitchen is amazing too." Jorja said taking her shoes off.

I sat down on the floor like a kid trying to undo my boots. "Thank you. Our neighbor isn't the best, but as long as I don't have to shoot him, everything is fine." I jokingly, but seriously said.

"Poppa B." Luna tapped my leg.

"Poppa B?Hmm, I like that, what's up?" I said.

"Um, do you have anything to eat?" Luna shyly asked me looking down at the ground.

"Of course come on. Do you want anything Jorja.?" I asked her.

"No thank you." She said.

The kitchen

They followed me into the kitchen as Korin is at the table doing her homework. I normally do not have to help her, but sometimes I do to have her understand. Luna started to have some trouble, but Korin quickly helped her understand her own homework.

"She is really smart." Jorja said.

I grabbed some potatoes and started cutting them up.

"Yeah, I'm not to keen on the American school system. I feel it doesn't teach them anything to be honest."

"You're not from here?"

"No, I'm from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Korin is born here because of well a drunk birthday night. Her other mom hasn't been in her life since she was born." I said.

"Other mom?"Jorja questioned. She looked at me confused like most people do when I talk about my daughter.

"I'm different from normal women. It's a birth condition called intersex. It's a big medical term for it, but intersex is simple. I don't have the female sex and reproductive system. Instead, I was born with the males. I didn't think I could have children, but Korin is my miracle baby." I decided to make them some loaded fries, something quick and easy.

I made the cheese sauce before I deep fried the fries. Then I made some bacon to put top. After 30 minutes their loaded fries are done, then I gave them the rest of the fruit smoothie I had left.

I left the kitchen and went upstairs to get some cream for Jorja's bruise.

"Jorja can you come here for a sec." I yelled. She followed my voice to my office and I closed the door.

Byrnn's Home Office

"Just rub this on there for a few days, and it should be gone. Now, I don't mean to pry, but how did you get that bruise."

"It's hard to talk about."

"But yet it's concerning. Regardless of how hard it is to talk about. Whatever it is could affect Luna."

I watched as she tries to form her words into a sentence. Every time she tried to speak, she stops herself. Her boyfriend must be doing something.

"Your boyfriend is beating you huh? You hesitate too much even tell me. This is a safe haven here, nothing is going to happen if I'm around. You don't have to worry about anything." I walked closer to her. Maybe this is the first time she is talking about this. She choked up and started crying.

I pulled her into my arms and let her cry on me. Wow, the mother and daughter crying in my arms today. I rubbed her back, as I held on to her holding a bit tight.

Korin Rawlings POV

"Hey, how come your mommy has a bruise on her shoulder?" I asked Luna.

She began to eat her fries slowly, then looked at me.

"Because my dad hits her. I think she doesn't know I know. It's been happening for a while, but she won't tell anyone. I'm surprised she is telling Poppa B about it." she said.

"Why though?" I asked writing my tenth spelling word.

"I don't know. He normally says he doesn't want me, and that my mommy is nothing without him. Honestly, I think she can do better than him. I think he sells drugs." She shrugged her shoulders.

Brynn Rawlings POV

"My parents didn't like the fact I gotten pregnant so young. My dad wasn't there, he was overseas, so it was just my mom and I. At first he was like anybody else. Caring, loving, then I don't know what happened next." Jorja continued telling me her story. I had my hands behind my back popping myself because Hermes wants to come out.

"Jorja, I'm gonna say this, you are more than welcomed here if you need an escape from it. I. You're going to have to figure out a way to get you and Luna out of that situation. If you have nowhere to go if you do, I have some extra rooms, and I know Korin would be a-okay if Luna was here more often. You all would be in safe hands if he tried to do anything. Either call me when you want to get away or just head over here."