Becoming a DeMarlo

6: "We're pretty dangerous."

Chapter 6: "We're pretty dangerous."

My fourteenth birthday.

My father and new step-mom were on their honeymoon in Bora Bora. My mom hadn't reached out in months.

Our oldest sister, Paige was supposed to be looking after us, but she was currently out with her own friends.

So I sat on my bed reading alone, bored and irritated by how unexciting my birthday was going.

All of a sudden, Johnny burst into my room, closing and locking the door behind him.

"What?" I asked, instantly interested by the change of events in my otherwise dull day.

"Maya, you gotta hide! Liza found out you borrowed her dress!" Johnny exclaimed.

Oh no.

Liza was well known for her impulsiveness and scary rage. She'd beaten me up over many seemingly small issues in the past.

"Stop thinking and hide!" he hissed, diving under my bed.

"Okay, okay! But why are you hiding?" I whispered, as I scrambled to stand up.

"I took her headphones. Anna told her!"

Damn. He was in shit, too.

I bent down to hide under my bed with Johnny, but he shoved me out.

"No! Go hide in your closet!"

I groaned, but obeyed him, climbing into my wooden wardrobe and closing the door.

It was awfully dark and stuffy.

A few seconds went by before I heard a click, a turning sound, and then another click.

"Johnny? I think my wardrobe is locked," I whispered.

"Johnny?"

I raised by voice a little bit, not caring if Liza found me. I couldn't be stuck in here.

"Johnny! Help me!"

Another ten minutes went by, and I was sick of this mean prank they were playing.

"Johnny! Liza, Anna, please! I'm sorry! Just let me out," I cried, hands sore from pounding on the wardrobe door.

It was hours before they finally let me out. 

While Liza and Johnny laughed their asses off, Anna rolled her eyes at my tear-stained face and chastised us all for "acting like little kids."

"Maya."

"Maya, it's time to wake up."

"Five more minutes," I groaned, pushing the hand away.

I heard a light chuckle.

"You said that ten minutes ago. Come on, doll. We're leaving for the church in an hour."

I opened my eyes and saw Charlie standing over me.

When I sat up, I realized that I had fell asleep in the library's armchair.

"You must have been tired, yeah? I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to check up on you last night. I got caught up in work," he explained.

"It's okay," I mumbled, standing up from the chair, my back sore as ever.

"Go and get ready, kid. You have an hour."

I nodded while rubbing my eyes to try and will them to open. I started heading out of the library, before a thought crossed my mind, making me turn back to Charlie.