Chapter 45: "Girl, how could you not know?"

When I walked into school, it was a bit jittery. Everyone was talking and seemed excited. I don't know why, but they were.

"Audrey do you know what they're talking about?" I asked her while I was getting my textbooks for my next two classes.

"Yeah. Everyone knows."

"Well I don't." I said sassily. I just asked her and now she won't even tell me what's going on.

"Girl how could you not know?" She said. It was rather dumb how this conversation was going. I asked her something and she still won't give me the answer.

"Know what?" I demanded.

"The Christmas Break field trip. Remember?"

"We have a field trip?" I asked, really confused.

She huffed. "Yes Lidia. Have you got yours signed yet? They need to be turned in tomorrow."

"This is the first I'm hearing of it." I said. I was getting more frightened by the second. Of course, I, Lidia White, would have such bad luck as to not be informed on the field trip that-by the way the students are talking- is a really big one.

Audrey gasped. "No way. You seriously don't know about it?"

"No, I don't so please tell me the info."

"Well you need a parent to sign the permission slip. It's due tomorrow."

"When did they give these out?" I asked.

The bell rang so we went into the bathroom and talked there.

"Ummm. The day after you and Keith's fight." She recalled.

"And you didn't tell me?!" I yelled.

"Shhhhh. Yes. I thought you knew!" She whispered.

"Well I don't. Where can I get a permission slip?And how big is this field trip anyway?" I shrugged.

"The school rents a summer camp thing-it's really fancy by the way- and the freshman only go. It's like initiation."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?!" I threw my arms in the air and blew out hot air.

"Okay calm down, you can just go up to the office during lunch and ask for a permission slip." She explained.

"I know that, but these things take time. I can't just go up and ask Luke for something. I have to build up courage to do that!"

"You'll be fine. Just remember that you're the youngest therefore making you get a lot more stuff than your older siblings." She explained like it was common sense.

"Okay. I guess you're right. Let's just get to class." I agreed.

She smirked. "I always am." I playfully pushed her head to the side and we walked to class. I don't know how we're going to explain why we're late. Maybe Audrey will use her period excuse.

Who knows.

Thankfully she didn't use her period excuse because we didn't go to class. We were walking down the halls when I realized something. "Wait- how are we supposed to turn in our math homework?"

She stopped. "I-I don't know."

I stopped also and groaned. "Most likely she'll have us turn it in tomorrow."

"Or today." She added on.

"Or today." I agreed. Hopefully not today. I can just tell her I had a family emergency and Audrey was riding to school with me and we got a flat tire even though we'll be missing like three hours of school. Nah, I'll go to art, just skip French and Math.  I'll have to call Manny to confirm that though. Don't want Luke knowing I skipped class again.

We were mindlessly wandering down the hallways when I heard some noise. "-little punk. You made me look like a laughing stock."

We saw James and one of the kids at his table arguing. In fact, they were a group of five boys that normally sat at the table with them. I saw one of them pull out a vape and take a hit. We didn't want to get caught so we just hid behind one of the hallway walls and watched.

"Yeah? Well maybe you shouldn't be such a hoe." The kid said and jabbed James in the chest with his index finger. Some of the kids oooed. A feeling was igniting in me. Granted, it was small but it was still a feeling.

"Did you really just touch me?" James said in a menacing tone.

The kid didn't even seemed phased. It's like he goes through this everyday. I can tell  James doesn't like him. Most likely he's only keeping him around because he's Jesse's friend. Needless to say, James was pissed.

"Yeah, I guess I did." The guy said. He was really digging a deeper grave.

The feeling inside of me grew. It still wasn't that big but it grew. I don't know what it's like to be high, but I think this is it. No wonder Evan does it so much, it feels amazing.

"I'll give you three seconds to apologize." James said condescendingly.

"Okay okay," the guy 'gave in', "I'll apologize. Just lemme-really quick," the guy lifted up his fist and flipped James off. He then decided to punch James, "oops, sorry about that. My fault."James' head snapped to the side as the guy's fist collided with his head.

That's it. I was fuming. It gave me a feeling, the feeling like no one can defeat me. Like I could beat anyone. It's not adrenaline, I know that. It's a different feeling. A feeling like what a Disney villain would get. It was a trance I couldn't get out of.

And I loved it.

No hesitation, no looking back, I walked out of our hiding place. I could hear Audrey behind me whisper-shouting for me to get back there, but I didn't care. I could actually care less.

Before James could have a chance to retaliate, my 5'3 body tapped this six-something man. He turned around and I decked him straight in the nose. His head snapped faster than you could say 'black cross necklace'. Well that's a pretty long sentence, but  you get the idea.

When his head snapped back towards James, James punched his head and it came flying back to me. "What the hell?!" He fumed.

"That's for thinking you could touch my brother." I stated with no emotion.

"Listen up here you bi-" He started but he couldn't finish since I reached up and grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled him down to eye level.

"If you touch him again-and I mean even a single little hair on his head- I will find you, kill every one of your pets and make you watch." I calmly stated. I punched him again, just for good measure, but it didn't stop there. I tried, really I did, but I couldn't stop. I just kept punching, not being able to stop. His face was all bloody and he certainly had a dislocated jaw and a broken nose.

I felt two rough hands pull me off of him and put me in a bear hug. I didn't fight back, I just waited in his hold, with my arms to my side. To be quite honest, it was a good thing they didn't let go. If they did, I wouldn't be able to control myself and go after him.

After the feeling died down a bit I saw it was James who held me and Audrey was looking at me worriedly. She looked like a worried mother. "If you tell anyone- which if you do, I will kidnap your whole family and kill them in front of you- it was me. I beat you up. Now, scram." The guy nodded and immediately winced. One of the other guys helped him up and helped him walk away.

James gave the group a look and they hurriedly followed the kid. After watching them walk into the abyss of the hallway I turned to look to at my brother and best friend. When I saw-and I mean really saw- their faces I broke out of my trance. I couldn't even look at them long. I never wanted this to happen. I just wanted to protect my family. Now I'm just like Carl. Beating people up till they're black and blue.

"Lidia, look at me," James commanded. I looked up and he was staring straight into my gray eyes, "it's okay. I handled it. You're not in trouble."

Tears began to form as I looked over to Audrey. Surprisingly she wasn't looking at me like I'm a freak. "I'm sorry. All I wanted to do was to get the guy away from you James."

She gave a small smile. "It's okay. We all have one of those days."

I grinned and giggled. "Yeah, I guess we do," I looked over to James, "do you know why I did that?"

He looked over at Audrey and said "Not here." I began to protest but Audrey said it was fine and she was going to go to the library to play on her phone.

We walked the abandoned hallway where me and Donavon had our conversation. "Okay, we're alone, now tell me why I did that. Is there something wrong with me?"

James rubbed his hands down his face. "I-ugh. So- has Luke told you about father? How he got mad easily?"

"Well he told me how father always wanted to punch someone when he felt threatened." I answered.

"Well yeah but- he, ugh!" He groaned loudly. "How do I explain this?" He mumbled to himself.

"Don't."

"What?" He asked, confused as to why I wouldn't want to know.

"You'll tell me eventually. So don't. Don't lie to me." I explained.

He nodded his head. "Okay. So just so we're clear, if Luke ever finds out-which we won't tell him- I beat him up. Not you. Got it?"

I nodded my head. "Got it."

He chuckled. "Okay good. Now, don't miss too many of your classes or else I'll have to tell Luke."

"Okay, just one question though," he didn't say anything as I continued, "why did the guy punch you?"

He snorted. "Because I slept with his girlfriend."

I gasped. "James! Tell me you're kidding!," I demanded and he shook his head no, "I- you know what? I should've let him beat you."

"Hey! Who's side are you on?"

"Mine." I said and smirked. He chuckled and told me to get to class.

"Okay. Bye, love you." I said and walked away.

James didn't say anything back, but it didn't hurt my feelings. I knew he was shocked of my choice of words, especially to him. Although I didn't look back to see what he was doing, I like to imagine he was so shocked he couldn't move.

It was a pretty funny picture.

I got my permission slip from the front office and now have to build up the courage to go ask Luke. I'll do it tonight. Yeah, tonight. Tonight.

Screw my life.

The rest of the classes I wasn't even paying attention. While we were running in P.E. I tripped and almost face planted because I was so focused on hyping myself up that I missed where we were supposed to turn on the track, and instead I ran off and tripped.

Lucky me.

When we got into Jesse's car me and James looked at each other simultaneously. He nodded and it was so serious that no one, and I mean no one, could ever keep a straight face. It was proven correct when James himself cracked a small grin. All Jesse did was look at us weirdly. In the car they had told me something but I was too focused on hyping myself up to process what they said.

The house was quiet when we entered. Too quiet. Normally something's going on. Now, I don't know what to think. I walked into and the living room and called out for my brothers. "Hellooo? Hello? Is anyone home? Twins?"

"Not necessarily." A familiar voice said.

I jumped and flipped around to the other side. With my hand on my heart I said, "Jesus Kai, you scared me."

He chuckled. "Sorry. All of the boys needed to do some things so they asked me to stay with you until Sasha arrives."

"Oh, okay." I said quietly.

An awkward silence fell between us. Out of all of the people in the household, I trust him and Sasha the most. Not by choice may I remind you.

Well Sasha by choice because who wouldn't trust Sasha?

But he knows that I know about the family mafia. It just doesn't make sense. My kind, sweet brothers are cold blooded killers. I've known for a while now, but it still makes me uneasy. I know I can trust them, but from what I've heard and seen, they torture people. And when they torture people they are like Carl. I hate Carl.

"They're doing something with the mafia, aren't they?" I whispered with my head down.

His stone face crumbled for a bit. "Yes, yes they are."

I nodded. "Okay then. Do you know if they'll be home for dinner?"

"Luke said they should be home about 5:30."

"So yes?" I added on.

"Yes they are." He corrected.

We stood there, nodding our heads occasionally and I was humming. Finally Sasha came through the door. "Hey Little Lady. Hey Kai. You ready to binge some movies?"

I grinned. "What do you think?"

She grinned also. "I think yes."

I looked over to Kai and said, "Thank you," I didn't want Sasha to have any thoughts so I added, "for staying with me. That was thoughtful."

"No problem. I'll see you two around. Later." He said and threw his hand up.

We both looked at each other and ran to the movie theater room. "Hey! You just stepped on my foot!" Sasha yelled as we were racing to get to the good seats.

"All is fair in love and war!" I yelled back.

Because of my little stunt I got the good seat. When Sasha came in I was sitting down and smiling at her. "Well what took you so long?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Shut up." She said. I giggled and turned on the movie.

Like Kai said, the boys were home in time for dinner. Now all I need to do is ask Luke. I need to ask Luke. I don't want to ask Luke. But if I don't then I'll be the laughingstock of the whole school. But it's Luke. Well Audrey would be alone since Evan's suspended.

During dinner I made up my mind. I was going to ask Luke after dinner much to my dismay. When everyone had finished their plates and was walking to their room I followed Luke into his office. "Hey Luke? I have a question"

He look up from his spinny chair. "Yes?"

I cleared my throat. "Well I, uh, I need you to sign a permission slip." I said and held the paper out.

He took the paper and raised an eyebrow. "What for?" He asked in his usual monotone voice.

"The field trip. To the lake. The staying the night one. I'm sure the Twins had to do it." I clarified.

"Yes they did. So did Caden and Zack and me," he took a pen from his work suit and looked down at the paper to read it, "it says it's due tomorrow. Why are you giving me this now?"

"Because I didn't know about it till now. I was gone the day they announced it."

"Hm," he hummed, "well then I suggest you pack your bags. You are leaving Wednesday morning so might as well get it done now." He said and signed the paper.

"Thank you. I'll do that. See you tomorrow, good night."

"Good night Curly."

Wooooo. So Lidia still has her dark side. Who would've thought? The past couple chapter I've been experiencing some writers block so it might take a while for me to post. No more then five days after one chapter was posted though. I hope you liked it and dont forget to vote, comment, and obviously like:)