Page 16 of Tye

“Yeah. And this makes you the judgemental cunt. I lived on the streets for years until Mom adopted me when I was fourteen, twelve years ago. Honey, I ate out of bins, scavenged for food, watched my younger siblings cry with hunger as their bellies sank into their bones.

“Ever been raped? Sold your ass to protect your younger sister and brother? How about taking beatings as other assholes tried to rob you? My anal virginity was stolen by a fifty-year-old homeless man. What the fuck would you understand about hardship? Wow, your mom was raped by her father. She was fuckin’ lucky. At least she had a roof over her head and food in her belly. It’s more than what I had for the first fourteen years of my life,” I sneered.

My words hit Demi hard as I watched her pale.

“And these injuries? A rival on an opposite team smashed me into the ice and tried to kill me. Wanna know why? He, like everyone fuckin’ else, read the papers about my brother Carmine being raped on the street and decided Carmine was gay. What does it matter if Carmine was or wasn’t? Carmine’s still my brother and should be allowed to love who he wishes.

“Not that Carmine is gay, as he’s engaged to a lovely but strange woman called Molly. But West kept taunting me that Carmine was a faggot, and was I one, too? I loathe that word, faggot. So damn insulting. But if I was, again, so what? The asshole’s a homophobic bully. For shits and giggles, I carried on scoring on against his shit defending, and every goal I got, I yelled it was for Carmine.

“In retaliation, West took me down in a surprise attack and tried to kill me. No, darlin’, I did not wrap my Aston Martin around a tree, nor did Mommy get me off a drink drive charge.”I struggled to my feet. “Before you accuse others of being judgemental, check your own prejudices. Demi, I didn’t have an opinion of you whatsoever, because I’ve learnt not to form them early on. What you hear is often not the truth.

“There’s a lesson for you. I hope you learn from it because with the bitch you’re channelling, you’re heading for a very lonely life,” I said and kept calm as I limped to the door.

Under my breath, I prayed I’d make it next door without falling on my face. As I passed Demi, I saw how pale she was, but I didn’t regret my words. Demi had earned them.

“Oh, and by the way. Remember, my entire fuckin’ family is putting themselves on the line to protect yours. Not something rich judgemental assholes would usually do.”

Demi flinched at my final dig, and I passed through the door, stumbled, and collapsed in a chair in the next room.

“Tye?” Eddie exclaimed, appearing from nowhere.

“Hey, kidda, can you fetch one of the older sibs?” I asked.

“Sure, do you need help?” Eddie replied as she cocked her head.

“I’m good, just need somebody bigger to lean on.”

“I’ll get someone.” Eddie dashed off.

“Hey, your sister said you needed help?” a voice announced a few moments later, and I looked up to see Volcano.

Great, not exactly who I wanted.

“Yeah, if you can help me into the orangery, I want some peace and quiet. The kids ain’t allowed in there,” I asked finally.

Volcano wrapped an arm around my waist, and it took everything not to stiffen or punch him. He wasn’t aware of my hang-ups. Together, we slowly walked to the orangery, where I collapsed in a chair in the middle of the greenery.

Volcano looked curious and took a seat opposite.

“If it’s okay, I’d like a break. This place is overwhelming, and we’ve been on edge ever since I ran. It’s hard to understand my family is safe now,” Volcano said.

“Understand that. Even with these walls surrounding you, it’s difficult to relax sometimes,” I replied.

We exchanged a glance, and both of us saw the battles we’d fought in each other’s eyes. Volcano relaxed, and so did I.

For a fleeting moment, we were in accord, and there was peace. The distrust would return, but it was an on hiatus for now.

Chapter Four.

Demi

“Wow, bitch, you deserved that,” a child said, and I looked up, surprised.

Guilt swamped me, and I felt freaking awful. A small African American girl was standing in the doorway. She only looked about twelve or thirteen, but the glower on her face and her stance were anything but dainty.

“Who are you?” I asked with a smile.

The kid kept glowering, and damn, if glares could kill, I’d have been dead moments ago.