Page 5 of Shadow and Skulls

“I quit the cheer team,” I finally blurt out, knowing I need a reason to be crying.

“Okay.”

Pushing off him, I wipe my eyes and look at him. “Okay?”

“Okay.” He shrugs. “Kelsie, I want you to do things that make you happy. If cheer isn’t making you happy, then by no means do I expect you to keep doing it. You’re old enough to make your own decisions. I just wish you would have come to us. We could have talked you through it. Is there a reason you quit?”

“It’s just not the same this year.”

“I understand. It’s different without your brothers around. It kinda sucks, doesn’t it?”

I give him a small nod. “I’m sorry, Dad. I should have told you guys. I’ll tell Mom tomorrow.”

Dad picks up my dirty white pants. “Wow. You really did a number on these, didn’t you?”

Laughing lightly, I take his hand as he stands. He pulls me to my feet. “Let’s go get these washed up before your mom gets home.”

“I’ll meet you down there. I’m just going to change quick.”

As Dad and I scrub dish soap into my pants, the sick feeling stays.

“You know, white jeans probably weren’t the best choice of attire for a scavenger hunt.”

“Yeah, well, there really isn’t a good time to wear white pants,” I joke.

His laugh pulls a smile to my face. I never get tired of hearing it.

After we put the jeans in the washing machine, he guides me to sit in the living room with the boys. “Thought we could all watch a movie together.”

I duck out from under his arm. “Sorry, Dad. I have a paper I need to finish up.”

He grabs my ponytail gently pulling me back to him. “Not so quick. I asked if you had homework before you left with Jason. You said you didn’t have any. Sit.”

I groan, plopping onto the couch between my brothers.

“I’ll make the popcorn. Go ahead and pick a movie.”

Carson grabs the remote. “Your pick, little sis.”

“I’m one month older than the two of you. I’m not your little sis.” I look at my nails, ignoring their stares.

When I came to live with Lily and Dan, I was behind in my studies. My uncle wasn’t concerned with my academics. He was worried about how much money I was making him. My parents worked tirelessly to get me caught up as much as they could, but I still had to enter school a grade behind.

“What’s your problem with us?” Cole asks.

“Why don’t you ask Jason?”

“Why the fuck would we ask Jason?” He shakes his head, glancing over mine to exchange a confused look with his twin.

I kick my feet to the coffee table, dropping my head against the cushions. “He’s your friend. I’m sure you share all kinds of information with each other. Maybe he can tell you why I’m mad.”

“Boys, did you tell Jason something that would embarrass your sister?” Dad asks as he hands me a giant bowl of popcorn.

He sits in his recliner, kicking it back. Both boys instantly deny any wrongdoing.

“What do you think they told Jason? Don’t make them guess.” He gives me a stern look. My dad doesn’t like games. He shoots straight from the hip, and he expects all of us to do the same.

Slowly, I curl in on myself. “They told him about me.”

---