down his daughter’s face.
“Just because you’re a lazy bitch who thinks reading at college is better than actual real work. I had to fucking work hard for this house, so don’t think you can come in here and slam my goddamn fucking doors.”
I nod. Knowing any indication that I heard him will have him leaving my presence.
Growing up with my dad, I can understand why my mother left. What I can’t fathom is why she didn’t take her children with her. My dad shreds my confidence day in and day out, but I hate my mother more.
He turns his back on me, grumbles something and walks down the hall. The next sound I hear is the front door slamming closed and his Ford pickup start and screech down the road.
Please hit a tree. I wipe the thought from my mind, desperate to forget that I’ve wished for my father’s death.
I hear the familiar sound of the front door opening and know it’s the person I was just running from. I close my bedroom door quickly and lean on it with all my strength. He’ll come barreling through here at any moment. As I place my feet against the leg of my bed, my door handle rattles and the door opens slightly and then slams closed quickly with the weight of my body
“Lana, open the damn door,” my brother demands.
If my father were home now, he’d ignore all this. He knows exactly when to catch me on my own to throw his hateful words.
“Get lost, Rex,” I say through the door.
Suddenly the door opens again and slams closed. Repeatedly, my brother pushes while I desperately try to seal it shut. Nevertheless, I’m not strong enough when my bed begins to slide along the carpet. I growl in frustration and let the door go and Rex rushes in with another giant push.
I turn with my feet apart and hands clenched. “Why can’t you and everyone else just leave me alone and stay out of my personal life?” I ask in a frustrated tone.
“He deserved that beating, Lana. Mack saw him Saturday night at a party with another chick. He was making out with her in front of everyone, disrespecting you.”
I groan. “I know, Rex. Mack came and told me yesterday. I already talked to Brad. He said it was a mistake, he apologized and said it wouldn’t ever happen again.”
Rex steps back as if I hit him. I know why, respect. It’s everything to him, to all the guys. It’s like their bible, their code, it’s going to send them all to jail one day.
“You fucking believe the slimy cunt wouldn’t do that to you again? Lana, once a cheater always a cheater, fucking trust me. I know how guys’ minds work. I’m not asking, I’m telling you to stay the fuck away from him or he’s gonna get worse next time.”
And with that, Rex leaves the room, like the hand of God just laid down the rules. I’ve been given my orders and they aren’t to be taken lightly.
Rex, Corey, and Kodi are now the Parkland Poison Boys and they’re called that for a reason. They aren’t kids anymore. Currently, they’re Parkland’s most feared gang. I don’t know what they’re into, but I know it’s bad and I know they all take it very seriously. I hear about break-ins, fights, and my friends talk about seeing them run through their backyards right before the police come knocking, asking if they’ve seen any young men around the streets.
There’s a tap on my window and I jump from fright, too lost in my own thoughts. It’s Mackson. I want to open my window just to slam it back down in his face. He flicks his head to the left asking me to come outside. My legs move before I give them permission to. My heart overriding my mind, going to the one man who’s owned it all along.
I stop at the back screen door and wipe my face clean of tears, hoping no trace of my sadness is left behind. Stepping through the screen door, I walk down the cement path toward the fence where Mackson is leaning, waiting for me. The screen creaks shut behind me and the sun's summer heat warms my skin.
Mackson begins rubbing at the back of his neck apprehensively. I stop about a meter away from him, folding my arms over my chest, not wanting to get too close. I’m not sure if it’s because I might slap