Chapter 23: Part 2
" Gold Medal Ribbon ice cream literally gives me an orgasm"
Rochelle Quinn's POV:
"My turn I guess." Mr Jensen's attention directed itself onto me instantly, his eyes narrowed into slits. "I am eternally thankful for my new home and family." The sarcasm in my voice was almost unbearable. "The very sweet and cheerful Mrs J. The easily irritated teddy bear Mr J. My dear, dear friend Kacey. The insanely handsome Kane. The beautiful goth with a girl's name, Kenzie. The blonde haired princess who adores skateboarding, Keegan. And my little ray of sunshine Kade."
The comments started instantly.
-&-
"Did you just call me a teddy bear?"
"Handsome? Handsome?! I'm the best looking twin, thank you very much."
"Did she just call Kenzie a beautiful goth?"
I rudely cut off their thoughts, "And I must say Mr and Mrs J, thank you ever so much for reuniting me with my favorite foster brothers."
"Excuse me?" Now it was their turn to be confused. I smiled strainfully and gestured for one of the brothers to explain.
Kane hesitated, "Mom, Dad, Rocky knows Kade's brothers from his biological dads side - The Rossi's."
I'm pretty certain I could see steam coming out of Mrs J's ears.
She took a deep breath. "I've already told all of you that contact with that family is forbidden."
"Mom-"
"No Kade, this is not up for debate! Don't you dare ruin this dinner." He seemed to hear the obvious warning in her voice as he shut his mouth. I had to bite my lip to stop myself from saying something. "Now let's open the presents."
"Kace and Kane, here you go." She passed the two identical shapes, which obviously resembled footballs.
"Kane, we know you don't really play football but we thought it'd be good to encourage you to do something more like your brother." Mr J added gently, as if he was afraid of Kane's reaction.
He didn't react, or at least he didn't visibly.
Mrs Jensen seemed pleased.
"Kenzie, your father has bought you some clothes and decorations for your room. We really need to work on getting rid of the whole black look, it's horribly antisocial." Kenzie accepted the bags off his father without speaking, his hand left mine for a second before gripping it even tighter once again.
"Keegan and Kade, you both have the same as always. A skateboard and headphones." Mrs J handed them both a bag, to which they accepted happily.
"And Rocky." She handed me a bag.
I opened it suspiciously, carefully taking out the incredibly large book.
' The Best Work Of Shakespeare '
' Including some of his best plays; Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, and more!! '
I looked at Mrs Jensen expectantly, internally asking her to explain.
"Your file said you enjoy Shakespeare's work so we decided to get you that." She gestured to the book.
"Thank you." I skimmed my finger along the spine of the book, shocked at the fact she would give me something so expensive and different.
My head shot up, "Wait? You've read all of my file?"
"Of course."
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
"Why am I still here then?" My eyes narrowed automatically, "Why haven't you kicked me out?"
"We believe everyone should be given a second chance, Rochelle." I flinched at the name, digging my nails into the palm of my hand so it wouldn't drag me back to the past.
"Mrs J, I do appreciate the fact I'm still here. But if you insist on calling me that then you might as well phone my social worker now." I said in the nicest way possible, not including the fact I would slit her throat, and run over her sons and possibly throw a football at Mr J's massive head.
"I don't see the need to use such an informal nickname. I would love for you to stay here but I refuse to call you that horrendous name." Her lip curled back slightly as she spoke to me. I suddenly felt like the woman who greeted me on my first day had been a whole facade.
"Rocky is my name." I spoke slowly, talking as if I was speaking to a young child.
"The name on your file is Rochelle Quinn, so that is how my boys and I will address you."
"The name Rochelle was given to me by a woman named Olivia Quinn, a woman that I no longer have any contact with. I am well within my right to change my name, and ask you to address me by the name I have chosen for myself." I wasn't arguing with her, or raising my voice, but I could tell she was sensing my frustration beginning to creep up.
" I have read your file, Rochelle. I know you have a strained relationship with your mother but that does not provide a good enough reason as of why I should refer to you in such a vulgar way."
I gritted my teeth, "You also know the reason why I was in Juvie, and I know it says the reason why I was given a lenient sentence. Take three guesses."
Her eyes failed to hide their shock, "The man you harmed, is that how he referred to you?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat, digging my nails into my palm. "Ding ding, and we have a winner." My tone was void of humor, or amusement.
She straightened up in her seat, not tearing her eyes away from mine. "We will work on a formal name for you, but until then I refuse to call you Rocky nor Rochelle."
I nod my head at her.
"Kyle with me, please." She stood up and left the table, leaving me with all 5 sons.
"What the hell was that about?"
"Who did you harm?"
"Is that why you looked like you wanted to kill her when she called you Rochelle?"
"What happened with your mom?"
My hands shot up to pull at my hair, "You all need to shut the fuck up."
I hit the table softly but harshly, sending a loud shock wave through the room.
"Wha-"
I cut the voice off, trying to ignore the ache in my head. "Next person to ask me a question is gonna get stabbed with a fork."
Keegan kissed his teeth, looking hesitantly at me. "Well that was intense."
" You can say that again." I ran my fingers through my hair, gently pulling it. "God, I need a smoke."
Before I knew it, a cigarette box was being handed to me.
I took it in my hands, glancing at the other hand attached to see Kace looking at me.
"Alec said I need to stock up if I was living with you." He continued after noticing my confused expression. "We spoke, he said he wanted to try to get along for you and Kade."
I bit my lip, placing a cigarette between my lips and lighting it. I inhaled the toxic fumes like a drug, instantly relaxing as the taste hit my tongue.
A phone beeped and Kane ran his eyes over the text. He signed.
"Kenzie, Mom wants you, Rocky and Kade to get the Christmas decorations out of the attic."
Kade argued immediately, "I can't! I promised Sky that we could go to Alberto's. They just announced a new flavour and they're giving out free samples."
"Alberto's?"
Kane sensed the question in my voice, "It's an ice cream parlour about 10 minutes away from here. We should take you sometime, their Gold Medal Ribbon Ice-Cream literally gives me an orgasm."
"Nah man, the Banana Royale is the best by far." Kace sent Kane a sarcastic smirk as he spoke, making me suspicious of his sudden change in behaviour.
I took another drag, "I'll help Kenzie sort it, Kade, just tell Sky not to kill anymore rabbits."
"Wha-"
"Don't ask." I stood up, throwing the half-smoked cigarette into the flower vase. "Come on, Kenzie."
He stood up silently and followed me to where I knew the attic ladders were.
"You first, Romeo." I gestured to the ladders, waiting for him to move. He still hadn't spoke.
"You gonna stay quiet for the whole thing?" He didn't speak. "Wow, okay then."
I began searching through the large boxes, throwing things behind me as none of them resembled decorations.
"Keep talking." A voice muttered from the side of me.
I stopped searching through the stuff, "What?"
"Keep talking." Kenzie muttered again, flinging a box in the corner of the small room.
"Okay?"
What should I talk about?
"Did you know I was 13 when I got my first tattoo done? Alec and the gang were terrible influences on me; We caused uprisings." I chuckled, "It's like the universe just fucking knows when souls are wired to wreck the world together, man. Alec was the guy who taught me to fight so I guess you can blame him for your jaw." I shrugged, smiling slightly.
A photo album caught my eye suddenly. I grabbed it without thinking, talking while flipping through the collection. "I met Alec, Ivi and Sky when I was 11 and I stayed in that home until I was about 13. It definitely wasn't the best home I've been to, but I'm glad I met them. I probably would've been dead if they hadn't protected me. It wa-"
I stopped talking as I came across a single photograph, crumbled together into a ball. I pulled it out to be greeted by a smaller version of Kenzie smiling in a school uniform. His hazel eyes lit up like stars as he sent a toothless grin to the camera. I almost smiled at the innocence the single picture portrayed.
The boy noticed that I had stopped searching and came up to me, taking the photograph out of my hand.
It left his hand almost as soon as he touched it, obviously recognising the picture. His hand went to his mouth and his breaths started to come out in panicked gasps and whimpers. The familiar glint of anxiety invaded his eyes quicker than I could even react. Kenzie fell to the floor, sitting on his knees, and trying to desperately fight for air.
"Kenzie?" I reached out my hand to touch his shoulder, but he flinched and instantly moved away from me.
What the hell is happening?
***
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all enjoy the double update!!
Thank you all so much for reading both chapters!
Lotta Love,
Laska xð