School was due to start in less than 3 days. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, although making some friends before school started was very reassuring. I had that much. Another plus side is that I wouldn't have my brothers in my school to bother me constantly, annoy me, or embarrass me.
Currently, we are sitting in a movie theater watching some horror. Now, in general, I like horrors.....most of the times. I sat in between Jacob and Dylan who kept talking about the movie every other minute.
"Would you guys shut up. I am trying to watch the movie," I said getting irritated. After about a minute of silence from the two, they started talking again. "Do you think she is gonna do it or no?" Jacob asked. "Surely she is not that dumb. The stalker is right there," Dylan replied.
"Nah, all the horror movies go like that. She is gonna investigate I know it."
"She should have just run and called the police."
I am seriously going to strangle these two. "Hey, I have some input," I said. "Nobody cares," Dylan interjected.
"Stop talking. You are ruining the theater experience," I said. "You are ruining my life experience," he replied. "You are ruining the earth experience." "Hey, do you mind shutting up." I jumped as some guy shouted right behind us.
"Alright, dude sorry," Jacob said to the guy. The guy mumbled something under his breath about inconsiderate children. I tuned back into the movie just as there was a jump scare. That is what I hate about horror movies, the stupid jump scares that seemed to occur every other scene.
I needed to get up to refill my popcorn. I didn't get much of it anyway because Jacob and Dylan ate most of it. "I'm gonna refill," I said starting to get up. "Okay, don't take too long," Jacob said letting me pass.
I went to where all of the popcorn machines were and started to refill my popcorn. I might as well fill it all the way because I know Jacob and Dylan are going to want some more. It was about 9 in the night. Jason insisted we came here in the evening rather than the afternoon when it was less busy because he had 'other things to do' pfft yeah right.
Because we came in the evening it was less crowded than usual. Something about a special on all the food. Jason also wanted to take advantage of the deal. He can be a bit of a cheapskate sometimes.
I was about to head back to the theater when I bumped into someone. It was a guy who seemed to be in his late thirties. All of the popcorn spilled onto the floor. No! why meeee? I stooped down to begin picking up the popcorn but the guy beat me to it touching the top of my hand in the process.
I waited for him to remove his hand but he never did. Okay? Now, this is just awkward. I decided to move my hand since it didn't look like he was going to move his. "I can help you with that," he said putting his hand back on top of mine.
"No, It's okay. I got it." I moved my hand again and got up. This guy is really creepy. It didn't even look like he was here for a movie. "Are you sure? This is quite a big mess for someone as pretty as you to clean up by yourself," he said grinning at me. Except it didn't really look like a grin. It was scary looking.
"We can leave it here for the Janitors. How about me and you ditch here and go somewhere else?" he asked coming closer to me when I didn't answer. "Yeah actually. Let me just get my things then we can go," I said heading towards the movie. I just needed to get away from him fast.
"Oh come on, there is no need for that," he said grabbing onto my wrist. "I'll get you some new things." I really wasn't liking the vibes I was getting off of this guy. I started to get more and more nervous. My breathing picked up as the guy's grip on my wrist got tighter.
"Don't you want some new things?" he asked with a creepy grin on his face. "N-No I-I'm fine," I stuttered. Curse my voice for betraying me in a situation like this. What was I to do? I really didn't want to draw any attention to myself.
Welcome to my world of thinking. I could be in serious danger but my social anxiety would prevent me from getting help because I didn't want to draw attention to myself. My brothers always tell me I need to knock some sense into myself, but it's not that easy.
I tried to rip my wrist out of my his hand but the grip on he had on my wrist was like an iron lock. Now I really started to panic. There weren't many people around because it was late and many of the workers went home.
"What's your name?" he asked. I stared at him not knowing what to do or say. "What's your name!?" he asked more harshly. I flinched at his sudden loud tone. I have no idea what possessed me to tell him my actual name. "Lisa," I said in a whisper.
He repeated my name nodding as if taking a mental note. "Whatever you do, don't trust him," he said looking down at me. My eyebrows knitted in the utmost confusion. "What?" His hand was still firmly on my wrist.
"What are you talking about?"
"You will know when the time comes, but whatever you do. Don't trust him." He left thereafter without saying another word. To say I was confused would be the understatement of the millennium.
I saw Jason walk out of the showing with Dylan in tow. "Lisa, what is taking you so long? I'm sure it doesn't take that long to get some p-" Dylan cut himself off when he saw me standing over the mess of popcorn.
My hand unconsciously went over to the already forming bruise on my wrist. I didn't realize I was spacing out until Jason snapped his fingers in front of my face. "What?" I asked startled. "What happened?" he asked.
It took me a little to realize what he was talking about. "Oh, I spilled the popcorn," I said looking around. "No duh, " Dylan replied gesturing to the mess of popcorn on the ground. "Are you that clumsy?" he asked shaking his head. "You look like you have seen a ghost. Or were you that scared of the movie," Dylan chuckled.
I glared at Dylan. Of course, he had to make some stupid dumb remark. It's simply in his nature. "No, I just bumped into someone and spilled the popcorn," I said. "Yeah right, you are such a baby," Dylan said still laughing. Why was everything always so funny to him?
"OK, well we should probably clean this up," Jason said about to pick up the popcorn. "Why? That's what the janitors are here for," Dylan said. Jason got up and smacked the back of his head. "Hey! What was that for?"
"Don't be an inconsiderate idiot."
"I wasn't!"
"Just help us pick this up." I reached down to help with picking up the popcorn when someone grabbed at my wrist. I looked up and realize that both Dylan and Jason were staring at my wrist. Fudge! I forgot about that. "What happened?" Jason asked looking me in the eyes.
Ever since the incident with the whole meeting Dad at the cafe. Jason keeps thinking I am gonna hide something like that from him again, which, and I'm not gonna lie, he isn't totally wrong. "Did that just happen?" Dylan asked with concern creeping in his voice.
"Who did it?" Jason asked when I didn't answer Dylan. "I don't know who. It was some random guy," I said. Dylan mumbled a profanity. "Well, where did he go?" he asked. "He left." I could tell they were pretty angry. No scotch that really angry. "Did he do anything else?" Jason asked.
I shook my head. "No, actually it seemed like he was trying to warn me." I thought to the last things he said before he left. Who was he talking about? And why did he know me? "Now who would be trying to warn you and about what?" Dylan asked. "You know just as much as I do."
"Then I must be illiterate."
I shot him a glare. Can he ever be serious a day in his life? Jason rolled his eyes at our childishness. "Describe to me what he looked like," Jason said. "He seemed to be in his mid-thirties, balding, tall, skinny, black hair and brown eyes," I said as much as I could remember about the strange guy.
Jason furrowed his eyebrows. "Okay," he said nodding as if he just discovered something. "Alright let's go," Jason said making sure I was in front of him as he went back into the theater.
We left after the movie was done which was only about 15 more minutes. "Can we stop to eat. I am starving," Justin said. "Impossible. You literally just ate," Jason exclaimed. "What can I say? I am a growing boy," he said flexing his nonexistent muscles. "Are you sure about that?" I asked.
He glared at me. "That's definitely more than you could say," he said smirking. He knew I hated talking about my absence of puberty. If you know what I mean? I glared right back at him. For the moment, I didn't have a comeback for that. During our ride, I remembered that we never cleaned up the popcorn. Poor janitor.
"So are we going to get something to eat or what?" Justin asked again. Does he ever stop? "Justin, you can find something to eat once we get home," Jason replied glancing at him through the rearview mirror.
"That's not fair!" he whined.
"How so?"
"I don't know. It just isn't."
"You sure do make a compelling case," Dylan laughed. Jacob sat shotgun listening to music and minding his own business. "Shut up," Justin said. I think he was trying to sound intimidating, but come on, its Justin. During the ride, I managed to fall asleep. I know, it must have been by some sort of miracle because of Dylan and Justin's bickering.
I felt someone pick me up and started to carry me up the stairs. I shifted at the sudden movement. "Shh go back to sleep," I'm guessing Dylan said. My guess was correct when I glanced up at him through my lashes.
He smiled down at me as he rests me in my bed and rests the covers over me. "Goodnight sis. Love you," he said as he kissed my forehead. I smiled as I let sleep take over me.
~Overprotective~
"Come on everything will be fine. You just need to be a good little girl," The foreign voice said. I whimpered as the man's hand moved hair out of my face.
"You aren't going to tell anyone about this, do you hear me?" The voice said. I couldn't see their face because it was really dark wherever I was. I couldn't find my voice to reply. I was still shaking from the fear.
I felt a slap on my face that sent me flying. "Listen to me, you better not tell anyone, or I will go after your precious brothers, now would you want that to happen?" he asked. I shook my head furiously as I stared up at the figure.
"No-o," I choked out still fearful of what the man might do to me. "Good. See I knew I could trust you," he said. His hand still lingered on my cheek staring into my eyes. I wanted to run away into and hide under the earth.
I would have done anything to get out of this moment. Away from him. Away from my Father.
"Lisa! Lisa! Wake up!" I heard someone say shaking me awake. I opened my eyes but everything was blurry. I couldn't see past the tears that were falling like a rushing river. "Hey, it's me, it's me calm down," I heard a second voice say but I couldn't calm down.
My breathing was coming out ragged and in short breaths. Someone stooped in front of me grabbing both of my hands. "Lisa, follow my breathing. Listen to my breathing. We are going to count to 10 together okay?" he said. I nodded. My vision cleared a little to reveal Jason in front of me.
"Listen to my breathing as we do it. 1...2...3...4...5." We continued to do that me keeping track of Jason's breathing so that I could match his. I finally calmed down and resorted to sniffles. That was a different kind of nightmare. One I hadn't had in a very long time.
It seemed to me more like a memory than a dream, but I couldn't be sure. I didn't want to think it was a memory. It couldn't be. I noticed someone in the corner and noticed that it was Dylan who just leaned against the wall in thought. He seemed to be thinking hard.
Jason hugged me as I continued to try to calm down from the nightmare. "Shh, you're are safe. You have nothing to worry about, "he said stroking my hair. I leaned into the hug feeling completely safe in my brother's arms.
"Feel better?" Jason asked when I pulled out of the hug. I nodded. Not trusting my voice. The dream felt so real. I looked over at my clock which read 2:38 A.M. My eyes widened as I most likely woke them both up.
"I know what you are thinking. Don't be sorry. I would much rather wake up in the middle of the night to help you than have you go through it alone," he said looking me in the eyes the entire time. I did believe him, but I still felt bad for waking them up so early in the morning.
"You should probably go back to sleep." Was he serious? Why would I try to go back to sleep after that nightmare? "Can one of you stay with me?" I asked. I definitely didn't want to go back to sleep by myself.
Dylan came out from the corner for the first time. "I'll stay," he said coming near me. Jason sighed. "Okay, let me know if anything else happens," he said. Dylan nodded and Jason kissed my forehead and left. We both got back under the covers. I snuggled into Dylan while he had his arm over my waist.
It felt comforting knowing he was in the room with me. "Lisa I really hate that you are having these freaking nightmares," he said after a few minutes of silence. I appreciated that he didn't swear around me. But what if it wasn't just a nightmare? What if it was a memory? Wouldn't that mean if I told my brothers they would get hurt? I couldn't risk that? I couldn't risk the only family I had.
"I feel so powerless not being able to stop them," he said. It almost sounded like he was crying. But that can't be right. Dylan doesn't cry. "I promise you, I will never let anything hurt you outside of these nightmares. You can count on that," he said. "I know," I said. But did I?
~Overprotective~
I woke up feeling absolutely exhausted. I didn't really sleep much. I was too afraid of having the same nightmare again. Although having Dylan there really made me feel much safer. I hope this stops when school starts. I don't know if I will be able to handle it.
Dylan was still sleeping with his gigantic hand on my face. I swear this has happened before. I pushed his huge hand off. He was basically taking up the whole bed! I got up and did my usual morning routine.
Today my aunt and cousins were coming over. How fun? Note the sarcasm. Our Aunt on our Mom's side. She thought it would be a good idea if we bonded with people out of our immediate family and she just really wanted to see us.
She did feel bad for what our mother did to us and would provide us with financial support every now and then. She herself was coming actually. She had 2 girls and 2 boys all older than me. The girls, Riley and Ashley are twins. They are 14. The oldest boy was Mark who was 22. He was pretty normal. Then there was Derek who was 16. He tried so hard to be a bad boy it was actually depressing.
I honestly hated him, but my brothers liked him especially Dylan because he always helped Dylan pull pranks on me. Yeah, that is what my life came to. "Why do they have to come?" I asked for the probably umpteenth time. Jason rolled his eyes.
"Lisa we have already had this conversation. They are coming whether you want them to or not. Besides what's wrong with them anyway?" he asked. Of course, he had no idea.
I wasn't sure the twins even liked me. They were kinda snotty to me most of the times. Apparently, its because I am the reason my Mom left and they adored my Mom for some odd reason I don't know.
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, but can I at least go somewhere else while they are here?"
"No. You have to stay and do some good ole bonding," he said with a grin. I shuttered at that thought. The only one I probably liked was Mark. He was decent. "Nobody even says that anymore," I muttered under my breath.
This was gonna be one heck of a day. "Oh cheer up. You will probably have more fun than you realize," he said. "Whatever," was all I responded with. The faster this happens the faster I can get over it. "How long are they going to be staying for?"
"Only for today," he said sipping some coffee. I sighed of relief. Thank God. I don't know what I would have done if it were more than just a day. "Besides after they leave we can get some ice cream," he said.
My eyes immediately lit up. "Really!?" "Yes," he laughed ruffling my hair. I loved when we got ice cream. I just like ice cream in general. I just like food in general. Okay, now I sound greedy. "Thank you. That just made my day so much better," I said hugging him.
If you ever want to calm me down just get me some ice cream and we Gucci. "So will you try to be on your best behavior when our cousins come over?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah sure. I will." I said laughing.
"Good, 'cause I wouldn't want to cancel ice cream night."
"You wouldnt."
"Try me."
I decided not to go down that conversation path. I had no doubt that Jason wouldn't cancel ice cream night if I didn't behave. I got up to get something to eat. Jason didn't make breakfast this morning so I would have to make some myself.
I settle for a granola bar since I wasn't really hungry. Jason watched me grab a granola bar from the fridge. "Is that all your gonna eat?" he asked. I nodded. "I'm not that hungry." "Besides isn't Auntie gonna bring something anyway?" I asked. She always brought a huge meal whenever she came over.
He nodded. "Okay, but you have to eat later." I nodded and continued with my granola. Jason kept looking at me like he wanted to say something but didn't want to upset me. I have seen that look lots of times. I bet my whole life it has something to do with last night.
"I'm fine, Jason. You don't have to worry," I said. "You always say you are fine, but somehow I feel like you aren't." "You don't have to keep doing that. I am here to talk to you," he said. Great, now I felt guilty for not telling him the truth. "Lisa, when are you going to tell me how you really feel?" he asked.
I looked up at him. "Fine. I am deathly afraid of going to sleep almost every night because of the possibility of having another nightmare. They all feel so real, and they always leave me exhausted in the morning and its just emotionally draining," I said. I might have rambled on a little, but I think he got the point.
"Come here," he gestured for me to sit on his lap and I did. "Lisa. You should know by now that I care about how you feel. I hate it when you go around hiding your feelings and bottling them up. I am here to talk to you, so you can tell me all of your worries and stress and I will listen because that's why I am here."
I know he would listen. All day and all night, but I didn't want to burden him with my problems. He already had a lot of things to worry about and my nightmares should be the least of his worries.
"I know and I am trying to, I am trying to," I repeated. "You really worry me sometimes you know that?" he said chuckling to himself. I didn't really understand what was so funny. "You are gonna be the death of me," he mumbled to himself twirling a piece of my hair.
"Please don't worry about me too much okay?" I asked looking him in the eyes. "I can't promise anything," "but I will try," he continued when he saw me glaring at him. I highly doubt he is going to, but it was worth a shot.
~Overprotective~
About an hour later our doorbell rang. Justin and I both groaned. None of us liked when our cousins came over. For Justin, he didn't like the twins who he thought were, simply, annoying and one of them always tried to pick on me and he didn't like Derek who always picked on him with the help of Dylan of course.
"They are only here for the day so calm down," Jacob said walking past us downstairs. I trudged down the stairs slowly with Justin in tow. His ankle was pretty much healed by now. I saw Jason cast us a warning glance before opening the door and was greeted by Aunt Milly. She was the only one I liked beside Mark.
"Oh, look how much you have grown," I heard her say as she pulled Jason into a bone-crushing hug. "Hey Aunt Milly," he said hugging her back. She then went and hugged Jacob who stood near Jason.
Justin and I kind of just stood there awkwardly. "Oh, look at you two," she said coming over to us and hugged us both at the same time. "Hey Auntie," I strained out because she was hugging too tight. "You two have grown so much since the last time I have seen you. Look how much you have grown. You are taller than I am, Justin, and Annalisa you have grown into such a beautiful young lady." She rambled on about how much we have grown if you didn't get the point.
"You sure?" I heard Justin mumble next to me and I glared at him. The rest of them came inside. The twins walked in and Auntie nudged them when they didn't say anything. They really are bratty. Riley looked at me and gave me a fake smile.
"Lisa, how are you?" she asked. "Surely better than you I bet," I replied with a smirk. Two can play at their twisted game. "Oh, please. We both know that you aren't doing great ever since your mother left," she said.
I literally feel like strangling her. "How about you go somewhere else," Justin said glaring at her. She flipped her long brown hair over her shoulder and walked away. "We are off on a good start don't you think?" I said sarcastically to Justin.
"Just don't let her get to you too much," he said. I rolled my eyes as I saw Derek coming over to us. "How are you freaks doing?" he asked putting us both in a headlock. "Don't you have anything better to do?" I asked trying to break out of the headlock. "What? can't I see my favorite cousins?" he asked putting a hand to his heart in fake hurt. "My feelings are hurt," he continued.
"I am surprised you have a heart to associate feelings with," Justin said rolling his eyes. "You were always to the smart-mouthed one weren't you?" he asked ruffling his hair again. Justin glared up at him and attempted to fix his hair whiles Derek laughed.
I ran up to Mark and gave him a hug as he came into view. "Hey, sweetie how are you doing?" he asked picking me up and spinning me around. I giggled as he put me down. "Great," I said smiling up at him. "I'm glad to hear it. Staying out of trouble right?" he asked.
I nodded. "No boyfriends?" he asked again. There was a hint of playfulness in his voice, but I felt I better answer correctly. "Nope," I said popping the P. "Besides, my brothers would never let me." He nodded as if content with my answer. "Good. That's what I like to hear," he said ruffling my hair. I didn't even bother to fix it at this point.
We all gathered in the living room. "This place seems emptier than usual. Feels like some people are missing," Riley whispered next to me. I clenched my fist. I do not believe in violence to solve problems, but right now she was bigger than a problem, she was a whole disaster.
"Why don't you go and sleep with one of your many boyfriends," I whispered back to her. She glared at me. At her school, Riley was known as the girl with many boyfriends, and that is putting it nicely. It's not like Mark and Derek didn't care if she dated, they didn't even know. In their eyes, she was their innocent little sister.
"You are just jealous that I am pretty enough to have a boyfriend," she said smirking. I decided to ignore her. I was not going to waste my time on her. Her twin sister, on the other hand, was almost completely different than her.
She still didn't like me, and I don't know why, but she at least tried to act decently. I just sat on the floor as Aunt Milly started to tell us about all the things she has been planning for us. What I would do to escape from this little 'reunion'.
~Overprotective~
Hola mis amigos. Here is another update from yours truly. I hope you enjoy it. You know the usual. Until next time.
xoxopeacefulwriting101