My Personal Hell, D. Richardson [ebook reader browser txt] 📗

about we get started?” At her nod I directed her to the chair sitting in the middle of the small room.

We spent the next hour simply going over the chords and the proper way to care for the violin. By the next day we were able to move to the first exercises. And by the end of the week I was teaching her, her first song.

She learned unbelievably fast. Almost as though she had already known how to play, of course, I knew that wasn’t the case. But none the less it was remarkable. I had never had a more focused student. Which was what I had told Drake when he called me that weekend to check up on her.

I was starting to slide back into old habits. Over the month that I had had no contact with her I had stopped thinking about her so much. I was rather proud of the fact that I only thought about her once or twice a day instead of every waking moment.

But spending an hour every day shut up in a room with her. It reminded me of the way she needed very little words to convey what she meant. The way she would become so focused on something that the world seemed to disappear around her. Even the way that her brows would furrow every time she thought that she had done less than perfect.

Everyday her scent enveloped me for an hour that felt simultaneously like eternity and a mere second. It was like I was drowning in it when she was there and yet I needed it once it was gone. The intensity that was her left me breathless and not wanting it any other way.

After that first week Drake asked me to keep an eye on her. Apparently, she was coming home late, and not telling anyone where she had been or what she was doing. Though she would call to let them know that she would be late, and therefore not breaking any rules, they worried about her. I asked why Asher didn’t do it. He said that Asher was too hot headed, more likely to drag her home rather than just report her whereabouts and activities. I didn’t complain.

Instead I watched. I watched as she drove up to the school, in the car that Drake had bought specifically for her. I watched as she met up with a small group of other students. Only one that I recognized. Jacob, Christine’s twin brother. I also watched as she sat in choir, bored from the looks of it.

And then that night I followed her to a bar, where she met Jacob and a couple of other students. I made sure not to draw attention to myself as I sat at a back table. Instead of sitting with anyone she walked behind the bar. When she put on an apron and started delivering food and drinks, it became very apparent why she didn’t come home until late.

She was working. Why she didn’t want any of her adopted family to know was beyond me, though I had no doubt that she had her reasons. Unfortunately, I was under orders, and yet again I was going to have to work against her. So I left before she realized I was there.

 

 

 

 

 

Ailith

 

 

 

 

I walked into the kitchen and tossed my keys on the counter before I realized that there was a group sitting at the table. Aden, Asher, Drake, Becca, and Adrian were all seated at the table. It looked a lot like an intervention, though the looks of anger instead of compassion gave me a pretty good hint that it wasn’t.

“Sit down, Ailith,” Drake rumbled and I leaned against the counter. I caught Sadler’s scent and turned to see him leaning in the doorway. His expression was guilt ridden, and he wouldn’t look at me.

“I think I’d rather stand.”

“Very well. We can do this either way,” his tone was reasonable, however it was Becca that snapped.

“How could you?!” her eyes flared, and I felt like I was walking on egg shells, but I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“How could I what?” I asked, unnerved.

“Go to that place with that boy!” Now I was really confused.

“I’m not entirely sure what’s going on,” I said carefully.

“Sadler followed you, Ailith. We know you’ve been spending your nights at a bar with Jacob Wilt,” Asher answered, his voice low, a hint of something I couldn’t quite catch in his tone.

It wasn’t entirely true. Sure I’ve been working there three nights a week. But the other four were spent either at my combat lessons, which no one knew about. Or dance practice, which everyone knew about. So far only one was going well, and it wasn’t combat.

“Then I’m sure he told you that I was working with Jacob,” I couldn’t help the cutting tone in my voice. They were acting like I was out drinking and robbing banks.

“We don’t agree with you working. Especially, if you feel the need to hide it,” Drake was the one that spoke, so I turned my attention to him.

“You don’t agree with me working which is exactly why I hid it from you.” I wouldn’t have if they hadn’t already scoffed at Jen.

She had asked for some money to get some things, something about trying her hand at making her own clothes. She had gotten the whole, ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees,’ lecture. So she volunteered to get a job to pay for her desired pass time. They had said no, that other people who actually need jobs should be the ones to get them. That the economy was bad enough. Their kids didn’t need to be taking away valuable jobs from people who actually needed the money.

“We don’t want you spending time with that boy either,” Becca hissed.

“His name is Jacob, and why not?” I asked, fully frustrated with the entire conversation.

“We know that Jake has been getting involved with some unsavory characters,” Drake answered, doing his best to keep from being insulting.

I was just really confused. Jake worked five nights a week to keep from having to go home. The only people he ever talked about were his friends, and I knew them. None of them were unsavory. In fact, Jane, Vicky, Patrick, and Seth were all really nice. Jane and Seth were goth so they wore some unusual clothes sometimes But Vicky and Patrick were almost like your good old fashioned American teenagers. Vicky could probably pose for Teen magazine with her red hair and skinny as a board body.

“Unsavory?” I asked, hoping they could clarify. The five of them were in a band together, but other than that they did their homework just as often as any other teenager.

“Drug pushers,” Adrian said abruptly before anyone else could sugarcoat it.

That’s what I liked about Adrian. He knew when to be upfront with me, all while having my best interests at heart. It was almost like he’d made it his life’s work to look out for me. Even if he wouldn’t have been able to handle being my confidant. But at his words I almost laughed.

“They are not drug pushers.” The incredulity obvious in my voice. Earning me a stern look from both Asher and Drake, and an exasperated one Adrian and Becca. At this point I didn’t even know why Aden and Sadler were even there. Neither one had said anything so far and Sadler had just been watching.

“Ailith, sometimes people have sides to themselves that are hard to see. That they keep hidden. And most of the time no one even knows it exists until they’re faced with it head on,” Drake gently said. It was as though he was being careful with what he said so that he didn’t upset me. And it upset me.

“Believe me, Drake. I know all about hidden agendas.” He blanched at my words, but I kept going. “I think you’re forgetting that I’ve actually spent time with these people. I may not know everything about them, but I do know the big things. Like how they spend their time, and how they make their money.” With effort I kept my tone even as I asked my own question. “How are you even getting this?”

“It’s all over town, Ailith. Everyone can’t be wrong.” I felt my eyebrows climb as Asher finished his last sentence. Then I felt an ironic laugh make it’s way out of my throat.

“So a pack of werewolves are choosing to believe a rumor?”

“You don’t know the history of that family, Ailith,” Adrian mumbled, doing his best to keep his eyes on mine.

“No I don’t, and I don’t need too. All I need to know is what I can see. And I can see that they are good people, and I count them as my friends,” I answered, he lowered his head, apparently deciding to drop it.

“It doesn’t change the fact that you went out and got a job without telling us,” Becca snapped.

“Yes, I got a job, no I didn’t tell you,” I answered with no small amount of exasperation. I was really just tired. I had gotten up at seven that morning, went to school, and then worked a full eight hours. The next day I had school, combat lessons, and another four hours of work ahead of me.

“We do not condone our household to work when they don’t have the need,” she replied, as though taking an authoritative tone would work any better than anger. Maybe I had a problem with authority.

“I’m not quitting. I appreciate what all of you are willing to do for me. But I need you to understand that I have to do for myself. I can’t rely on all of you all the time.”

“What are you afraid of? That we’ll force you to do things you’re not willing to? Because if that’s the case then tell us what we need to do to prove to you that we don’t mean you any ill will,” Drake responded with so much guilt and compassion that I softened.

“I don’t need any proof. I know you don’t want to do anything to hinder me. But I have to be able to take care of myself. And that means making my own money.”

“Then at least get a different job. I’m sure the supermarket is hiring. Or maybe the mall?” Becca asked, her eyes were watery, and I wondered why she felt so strongly about her family not having to work.

“No one else will pay as well. I make enough at the bar to pay for my own living, plus some.”

“Why do you need so much money?” Asher asked, dumbfounded.

“Is it for college? Because we already told you that we’d pay for it,” Drake immediately followed.

“I know you did. And I’m grateful, really. But do you want me to live with you forever? Even if you do pay for my school, what about my living expenses? So you want to pay for my rent and everything else that comes with it? I’m saving up just in case. There’s no telling what might happen in the future and I need to be prepared.”

“Oh! Nothing is going to happen! We’re not going to kick you out or force you into slavery. We’ve been nothing but good to you! And we expect your obedience in return. You’re going to quit that horrid job, and stop spending time with those trouble making kids!” Becca seemed to have gotten her anger back.

“No, I’m not. I’m not going to quit a job that I can keep for as long as I need. I’m not going to let you pay my way for me for the rest of my life. And I’m not going to give up my friends. You have done a lot for me and the girls. I am grateful, and I respect you, but I cannot let you dictate my life.” On that lovely note I left the kitchen, making my way up to my room, and my bed.