Page 1 of Concede

Chapter 1

Tanner

Clouds. Gray clouds litter the sky today matching the gloom I feel in my chest. It’s been one month since my parents left this earth. Although I hadn’t really seen them in close to a year, I still loved them. You hear about freak accidents, but until it happens to you, it doesn’t really resonate. My parents died on the way to their country club breakfast they attended once a month. The way the officers explained, it was a wrong place, wrong time situation. They were idled near a construction zone, waiting for a green light, when a large semi broke through the barrier that split the traffic. The semi only took my parents' vehicle with it. They died on impact. The funeral was rough, considering I have no other family, but I made it through alone. Like always.

I have spent the last four years at a boarding school in Tennessee. An all-girls Catholic school to be more specific. I guess after dealing with my brother's shenanigans, my parents wanted to make sure I remained on the straight and narrow. I didn’t mind school. I am a spiritual person and find comfort in the Bible. Do I feel the need to spill my guts about my deepest darkest desires to a man holed up in a wooden box? No. But my beliefs are another story for another day.

I can count on one hand the number of times my parents came to visit me. I went home twice. Once at Christmas time one year, then Thanksgiving the next. The school was teaching me all I needed to know, so my parents didn’t feel the need to intercede. Life at school wasn’t hard. I studied, went to chapel, and hung around with my roommate Lola. Lola was alright. A little on the weird side. There were two types of girls at school. The holier than thou, or the wild as hell. Some girls snuck out, smuggled in alcohol, and I have even heard of them sneaking boys into their dorm rooms. I leaned toward the less rebellious. I know what being drunk looks like, and I know what sex is, but I have zero experience with either. I mean, I’m not completely cut off from the world. I have Google, YouTube, and social media, so I’m somewhat on the up and up. My lifestyle didn't give me much freedom to gain real life experience, but I didn’t have a choice. Plaid skirts and stale crackers have been the highlight of my life, and quite frankly, I’m over it.

In the eyes of the law I'm not an “adult” yet. I'm three months shy of eighteen. Which means I need a legal guardian until then. I’m also not allowed to gain access to my parent’s estate until I’m twenty-one. Not like I’d live there anyway. It’s way too big for just me. I plan to sell it and use the money for college. Nursing is my goal, and from the looks of tuition, it will cost me a pretty penny. My brother, Travis, forfeited his right to any of their assets when he left our family at just sixteen years old. I’m surprised my parents let him go so easily. I was only six, so I really don’t know the specifics. I just knew he left, and my heart was never the same. We’ve spoken over the years, but it’s been a good six since I’ve laid eyes on him.

My sweaty palms grip the steering wheel as my overactive thoughts rattle my nerves. I’m sure the last thing my brother wanted was for his teenage sister to crash his newfound life. But, him being appointed my legal guardian for the next few months was not really negotiable.

I glance around at the scenery and move my hair off my neck. Louisiana is a lot different than Tennessee. I can practically feel my hair curling from the humidity as I get closer to the swamp.

I hear they have storms here. I’ve done my research and tried to prepare myself. The hurricane risk factor here sure doesn’t help either. I don’t do storms. I get panic attacks that stem from a traumatic childhood experience. A tree smashed into my window in the middle of the night during a bad storm. It landed on my bed, trapping me beneath it. My parents didn’t even know it happened until the next morning. Parent of the year award goes to…. I know it's most likely a one in a million chance it will happen again, but I never got over it. Call it a phobia, a fear, or me just being dramatic. Either way, I despise them.

I tap my phone screen to see how much longer until I arrive at my destination. Three miles away. Everything I own is jammed into the back of my mini coupe. That should give a pretty solid idea of how much I own. Close to nothing. I sigh and rest my head against the seat as I roll up to a stop light. This is a fresh start. My last semester of my senior year I will be attending public school. I’m not sure whether to cringe, or cry tears of joy. My eyes glance to my left as a group of motorcycles roar and turn off the main road. The light turns green, so I push the gas before cranking up the radio, belting out Trisha Yearwood’s “She’s In Love With The Boy” the last three miles of my drive. Hopefully, it won’t be so bad.

I pull up to an apartment complex. It’s not brand new, but it doesn't look like it’s falling down either, so that’s a good sign. The tall, tan building looks to be about five levels high according to the window placement. There are no bars on the windows so I will take that as a win.

Paranoia takes over and I bring up my text thread again to make sure I get the right apartment number.

“Okay, Unit 24,” I mumble to myself as I open my door and step out onto the pavement.

Laying down my seat, I reach into the back to grab my bag. I only have three bags and a few pillows. I figured I would come back for the rest, so I flung a bag over my shoulder and started across the parking lot. My eyes squint up at the sun as I get closer to the door. I really should have picked up some sunglasses on the way. I’m just thankful it’s warmer down here, I hate the cold. I reach for the handle, but it swings open, and I gracefully trip over my own feet trying to dodge it.

“Tan?” A voice I recognize questions.

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as I look up to see my brother.

“Travis!” I screech, before unapologetically throwing myself at him.

He catches me in a warm embrace and chuckles as he hugs me tight.

“Look at you, not eleven years old anymore,” he says as he sits me back on my feet.

“Yeah, and look at you. What are you, six three?” I scan him from head to toe.

My brother looks similar to me. We share the same hazel eyes, but mine lean more to the green side, while his cast a blue hue. His hair is blonde where mine is more strawberry. I guess I the red gene from our mother, but the face shape and our high cheekbones are what give us away.

He laughs as he wraps an arm around my shoulder and guides me to the elevator.

“So…sorry to hear about Mom and Dad,” he says after clearing his throat.

I nod. “Thanks…. it’s been weird but…I actually hadn’t seen them in a while.”

He pushes the number two button on the elevator and the doors close. I glance over at him, noticing his outfit as we stand awkwardly in the small space. He’s wearing jeans, a white t-shirt and a leather vest. Huh. Didn’t figure my brother for a leather man, but whatever floats your boat I suppose. I notice some writing on the back of his vest, but I can’t see from the position of his back against the wall. The ding of the elevator causes me to jump, and I laugh at myself as I follow him out into the hall.

“Here we are.” He smiles as he pushes open the door with his large palm.

It’s a cute apartment, two bedrooms and two baths. The living area is open to the kitchen, which has a nice breakfast bar. He shows me around and sets my bag in what will be my new room. The large window gives off a nice natural light, but I make a mental note to move the bed to the other side of the room away from it. Anxiety can be a bitch.

“Now, I may not be here a lot. My job is kind of a 24/7 thing, so I come and go. I stay mainly at the clubhouse, so you should have plenty of privacy,” he says as he leans against the kitchen counter. “I hope that’s okay…. I know you are almost eighteen but...”

I hold up my hand. “Travis, I have lived without parental supervision for a while now. I can handle it.”

He sighs in relief. “Okay. I put the info on the counter about school. You start Monday. The address is there and the name of the lady you need to talk to.”

I nod and take a seat at the bar.

“Travis…...thank you.” I look up to meet his eyes. “I know you left for a reason and me being here-”

“Tanner.” He interrupts me. “That was never about you. I’m happy you are here. I missed you.” He pushes off the counter and walks over to hug me. “I’ll go grab the rest of your things.” He turns and walks out the door as I glance around, taking in my new home.

I just have one question. What the hell is a clubhouse?

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