Page 9 of Reckless Rebel

I laugh slightly, swiping my hands down my face. Christ, a seven year old is taking this better than I am. What the fuck am I doing here? She has the perfect family already, I can’t give her anything she doesn’t already have. I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t be tainting her with my darkness.

“We didn’t tell her your name or that you might come by, just that she has a brother and had another sister.” The way he says another sister, reminds me that she’s already got a perfect sibling, one who probably isn’t a fuck up like I am. One who can be a role model for her. I shouldn’t be here.

I stand abruptly. “I shouldn’t have come, she doesn’t need me, she already has a family.” I don’t wait for him to answer, I just turn and walk towards the door.

“You’re right,” he calls out. “She doesn’t need you.” I stop, looking back at him, pausing at the threshold of the door. “She has a good life here, a great life. We love her, exactly like she needs to be loved, we are her family, but we aren’t her blood.”

He moves across the room, flipping through some kiddie art supplies on the table, before making his way over to me. “She didn’t seem fazed when we told her, she didn’t ask questions, just nodded her head and left the room.” I turn as he reaches me, holding out a picture on an A4 piece of paper. “She came back to the kitchen thirty minutes later and gave me this, telling me to keep it safe for when you come to meet her.”

I shouldn’t look down, I shouldn’t take it, I should just leave here and let her life be happy without any disruptions. But I don’t have the power. I look down at the two figures drawn on the page in black and white, it’s pretty clear the girl is her and if I couldn’t guess the other one was me, then the words would tell me. Scrawled above the picture are five words, ‘me and my big brother’.

“How did she know I’d come?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper as I stare down at the drawing of us, a drawing she made me, and he laughs.

“I asked her the same thing and she gave me the funniest look, before she replied saying ‘who wouldn’t want to meet me,' then tossed her hair exactly like her sister does, and walked back out.” He’s smiling as he recalls it, such pride in his eyes for her, for both his daughters. Exactly how a parent should be.

I never had this kind of life, this kind of family. He doesn’t know me, but here he stands, with a smile on his face and not an ounce of sympathy in his eyes. Offering me a chance to be part of her life, how could I possibly say no?

6

Riley

My feet pound against the ground as I finish my fifth mile, looping back around to my house. I don’t usually go into the dance studio on Sundays, but after everything that happened yesterday, I needed to feel the freedom throughout my body. Running there and back home probably wasn’t my best idea given the party last night, and how hard I just pushed myself during my routines, but it helps me to think and relax. I’m feeling the burn, so I slow to a walk as I reach my street, taking deep breaths to slow my heart rate back down. Once I reach the back porch, I stretch out my limbs until I am feeling more relaxed. I’d hoped I would feel less on edge, but I don’t.

I am still reeling from what my parents told me yesterday. My little sister has a brother, god it sounds even more ridiculous everytime I think about it. I’m her sister, she might not be my blood, but she is still every bit my family, no matter what her DNA says. And now I find out she has an actual sibling, one whose blood runs through her veins. To make matters even worse, my parents have known about him all along, and knew months ago that he would be eventually coming to meet Sofia.

My parents are the kind you see on TV shows, beautiful, kind, smart, moderately successful, and disgustingly in love. Gerry and Ava Decker are ones for the books. High school sweethearts, did the whole long distance college thing, then came back home, got married and had me. I thought I would be an only child forever, but they surprised me with Sofia seven years ago, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Which is why this hurts so much. What if she loves her brother more than me? The first thing she did after Mom and Dad told us yesterday was draw him a picture. That’s usually our thing, something we do together, but as soon as she heard the word brother I was forgotten. Mom could tell I was feeling a little shaken as she asked if I wanted to join her and Sofia on their Sunday shopping ritual, and for once I found myself considering it, just to spend more time with her. But I declined, opting for an endorphins high instead.

I’m still panting as I enter the house, Eminem still blaring into my headphones as I continue to roll my neck, trying to loosen up. I grab some water from the fridge and head towards the living room so I can reach the stairs and head upstairs for a shower. I enter and then freeze when I find my dad talking with a client whose back is to me. I whip my headphones down and start backing up as my dad notices me.

“Sorry Dad, I didn’t realize you had meetings today,” I say, and when my voice slips out, his client turns and I freeze. No way. What the hell is orgy ditch douche doing here?

“You!” I accuse, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Riley!” My dad scolds, but I can’t tear my stare from the hazel eyed ‘Rebel’ in front of me.

He stares at me in confusion until I see recognition flow through him, “Little Red?” He asks with a smirk, his eyes still crinkled in confusion until he makes some sort of connection. “Oh fuck.”

“Don’t call me that!” I snap, and I spy my dad’s bemused expression.

“Sorry, do you two know each other?” He asks, and I scoff.

“Hardly,” I spit out, glancing at my dad. “Although I’ve seen more of him than most people.” I look back to the infamous Jace Conrad. “Been to any good orgies lately?”

“Jesus, Riley!” My dad yells, as the Rebel rises to his feet.

“Erm, I should probably go,” he starts, but my dad cuts him off.

“No, stay, Sofia will be home any minute.” I frown at my father’s words, as Jace looks between us, his discomfort as clear day.

“Why the hell would he be waiting for Fia?”

My dad looks at me with a serious face, “Riley this is Jace Conrad, I told you about him yesterday.”

“What? No, you didn’t, I met him last night at the party I went to with Sienna, and trust me if anyone needs your help, it’s him.” I make sure my distaste in him is clear on my face and my dad frowns further.

“Riley, this is Sofia’s brother,” he says slowly, and I think my jaw hits the floor.

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