They looked around the room at each other until Logan nodded his head. I guess that was the go ahead because Mancini took point again."What we're about to share with you doesn't leave this room. We've come together along with some other friends that you didn't get to meet this time, to form a kind of group if you will.""Each of us serves a purpose in this group. It's also top secret, which you should understand." He looked at Track and I moved to stand in front of him. "It's okay Jace, he knows.""I'm not working for the government, no disrespect." I looked at the SEALs. The men in the room started to smile. I wasn't sure what the fuck they were, but it wasn't hard to tell that they were something. What with the compound that was more secure that the Pentagon."That's not who we are. What we propose, if we all agree is that you boys become part of our elite group. We'll fill you in on all the pertinent details a little later once you get on board. If not we can stop this lit
New town: new school, new attitude? Nah, well, maybe for necessity's sake; I wouldn't have my girls there after all, so I might have to tone my shit down in the beginning until I get the lay of the land.Dad had disrupted my life without a by your leave. He'd gotten a promotion and a fat ass raise. Not like he wasn't raking in the dough before, but apparently, this new position came with a whole slew of other benefits that went right over my head.Parents shouldn't be allowed to muck up their kids' existence out of the blue like this, but what the hell?My brother, the jock, was chomping at the bit. This new school supposedly had a better football program and better standing in the Nationals, yadda, yadda, yadda, like I gave a frack.All I know is that my final year and a half in high school was not supposed to be like this.I was just getting into the groove of things. Mom and dad had just lifted the virgin seal, aka I was allowed to date and wham.Right when I was going over my
Wow, the new house looked like one of those Mc-Mansion things they were always talking about on the news.It was ginormous, and the grounds looked like my grandma's place in England.Us three kids ran hell-bent for leather towards the front door, already fighting over which rooms we wanted. I wasn't too worried though I know their taste.Jared will want something in the attic so he can pretend that he's living alone in a bachelor pad, so he can have whatever brainless friends he makes come over and talk about stupid football.Maggie will want the room closest to mom and dad because, at eight, she was still very much the baby of the family. And that left every other room inside this beauty up for grabs.I ended up with a room overlooking the gardens with a magnificent view of the mountains off in the distance. I felt my first real burst of excitement and spun around, hugging myself.Of course, the first thing I did was break out the phone to take snapshots and send them off to my
I was spared any talk about football because my brother, for all that he's brain dead ninety percent of the time, is a very cool big brother.He knew I was nervous about what I was about to face. For boys, it's easy; they just show up, grunt at each other, and fall into friendships.Add some sort of sport to the mix, and it's a slam-dunk. I, on the other hand, was going to have to find my footing. But I've already worked out my strategy.I've watched enough teen shows and read enough teen lit, not to mention being on the other side of this situation to know, you don't go to them; you let them come to you.My brother had already been to the school because he had to meet with the new coach and some of his teammates or something. His report had been as was to be expected.'It's fine; it's a school like any other.' His only interest had been in the playbook and the season lineup, no help at all. We pulled into the parking lot fifteen minutes later, and it was like culture shock. Th
High school is the worse place for a sixteen-year-old girl with growing pains; I mean think about it, you're cooped up with twenty or thirty of your so-called peers. Everyone is judging and critiquing everyone else, everything you do comes under a microscope, and heaven forbid you're anything bigger than a size four, well then you're just not worth the air you breathe.I'm a size ten and I have no interest in starving myself into a lesser size. Apparently that's considered teenage suicide to think like that, bleh.My mom says I'm as beautiful as ever, and my dad says I'm his golden princess and father knows best. I have a full head of the wildest hair you've ever seen in your life. It's red, not fire engine red; what does mom call it again? Oh yeah, auburn, with hints of chestnut and wine. To top it off, this mess is all curls, like Shirley Temples circa nineteen sixties curly. My eyes are the brightest blue I've ever encountered, that didn't need the help of glasses to protect
I guess she was referring to the girls I had passed in the hallway who had all been whispering and twittering behind their hands."I think so why, what does that have to do with my brother?""Humph, they'll be on him like a lion on a gazelle's ass before the end of first period."I couldn't help it, the picture her words painted had be breaking out in laughter. "No I'm serious, those freaks have been panting in heat ever since news came that he was coming here. I have to tell you I do not appreciate the break in my routine.""I still don't get what any of this have to do with disrupting your life." It wasn't lost on me that I'd been accusing dad of doing the very same thing to me."Do you notice anything different about me? Anything say that stands out?"I looked her over but could see nothing wrong. She had amazing curly hair and bright eyes that had to be contacts but I didn't ask. And her dimples spoke of mischief and made me want to laugh all the more. Shaking my head I s
Just then Jared came over with one of his new teammates and sat down across from us. Belle made a sound somewhere between a screech and a groan and I looked at her questioningly. She just shook her head and chugged her water like she was dying of thirst."Hey sis this is Shane he's the star running back for the team. Shane my sister Sian." I shook his friend's hand but noticed Jared was staring at Belle."Hi Shane pleased to meet you, Jared this is my friend Belle, Belle my brother Jared or as you so quaintly referred to him this morning the new…hmm mpppm huuuuh." The rest of my statement got lost behind the hand she used to cover my mouth while stomping my foot under the table.Jared gave us a strange look and stole my apple off my tray. "So how was it so far sis? you seem to be doing okay." I smiled and told him that I was and the conversation turned to his day so far and of course football practice.Belle I noticed, was suddenly uncharacteristically quiet and kept her head down
"Mom how're you feeling?" I removed the washcloth from her forehead and checked her temperature again. She looked and sounded like hell."Son, I told you to stop worrying about me, Marisa could've taken care of me just fine.""Yeah and dad would've had my ass. It's time for your next dose open up." My mom had come down with the flu two hours after dad left to go out of town.It was supposed to be a busy weekend for me, but I had to put some things on hold to take care of her or like I said, my dad would've ripped me one.It's just the three of us and we're pretty close not to mention whenever dad leaves on business he always reminds me that I'm the man of the house and mom is my first priority.I was a little bummed about missing the first day of school but not much, there wasn't going to be much going on there today anyway, and dad was due back tonight."Didn't you say you were supposed to practice with your new wide receiver today? I know you needed to do that, it's all you've