ʚĭɞ

I WAS THE LAST ONE OUT THE CAR after that awkward silence car ride due to what had happened prior in the restaurant. I could feel many eyes burning into me as I walks into the house out of the chilled air, I didn't even acknowledge any of them, yet, Primrose was an exception, she was an honest godsend.

I looked down at my phone as it vibrated a couple of times, I couldn't help but smile when I'd seen the friend request from Parker on Instagram, I accepted and followed back noticing how his pictures were filled with many images of his sport and the team, I smile to myself, shouldn't exactly have expected anything else. I then opened up Marlene's messages and noticed they'd sent me three.

Want a ride to school tmrw?
Getting a McDonald's breakfast w Arlo
Y'know what? I'm picking you up at 8:30!

Sorry Marls I was out with the fam
but okay and thank you!

Lol.
That was probs hell.

No, cause it was.
Basically shut everyone up lol!

I put my phone down and glanced up when Primrose walked up to me, I had only just then noticed dad and the brothers weren't in the room. "Jayden, I would like to personally apologise for my husbands actions at the restaurant." She says looking solemn, I could tell she was very guilty and before I opened my mouth she continued, "I don't know what's gotten into him. He's always been very fine with people who are queer and apart of the lgbtq community. He's even been to a few parades with me and the boys...what he's being doing is inappropriate and I will speak to him about it, again, I'm very sorry."

So, he's just being an ass then? Cool, I wouldn't be surprised if he's one of those parents who are fine with it, but hate their own children who are apart of it. "You have nothing to apologise for Prim, and it's fine, I don't expect everyone to understand. He's probably just really upset because I remind him of my mum." I smile at her.

She looked so understanding, she let out a sigh and gave me a tight-lipped smile, "you really do look like her. Y'know I knew her back in highschool when we were younger." That made me pause for a second, I gave her my own tight-lipped smile, something kind of just made my world be on pause, and I didn't like it.

"Cool," I just glanced away, "anyways, my friend Marlene is picking me and Arlo up in the morning. We're just gonna get a McDonald's breakfast is that okay with you?" I say changing the subject entirely.

"Of course, sweetie! Oh, forgot to say, your father and I have an intervention tomorrow at work and won't be home until nine, so it will just be you and the boys tomorrow evening!" Great. I smile at her and nod.

"Okay, Goodnight." I head up the stairs listening to her echo my words back to me, I couldn't stop thing about the fact Prim knew my mum back in highschool. Where they perhaps friends? Though, what didn't sit well with me was the fact that my mum's own best friend would get with her husband at the time. Perhaps, if I talk more about it with Prim, she could give me a better understanding.

Reaching my room, I turned the handle and was about to step inside when I heard a creak of the floorboards behind me and couldn't help but sigh, I was going to ignore whoever it was until their voice caught me off guard, "what was that about at dinner?"

Dylan. Spinning around to look at him, I gave him a tired stare as he stood there still in his leather jacket he seems to like wearing. I like to think he wears it to look cool when he's actually not, "I don't know what you're even talking about." Turning my back on him was a big mistake.

"I told you before not to turn your back on me." He grunts out, I slightly shivered and turned around again, but this time didn't meet his eye. "I'm talking about the fact that you said we would be bringing men into our beds."

"Wasn't exactly toward you, it was to get my dad off my back." I just shrug, "seems to me he's being a homophob but to others he's accepting, that's very amazing." I couldn't help but smile sarcastically.

Dylan just glares at me, "don't speak about him like that, you little shit! Next time you say something like that again, I'll knock your teeth out, I ain't to gay, I ain't no homosexual."

"Why don't you just do it and not threat me every time and never seem to do it. You threatened me last time too, and a few days ago and yet you never seem to do it. So, go ahead, I'm giving you a free shot, Dylan because I honestly couldn't give two flying fucks of what you do! I've already been punched, it probably won't even hurt!" Everything was annoying me, and so was everyone attitude towards me. I get it, I'm not wanted, but stop making promises to me that you can't ever keep.

The older boy clenched his fists and stares down at me a little shocked but it soon disappeared, "nah. Im not wasting my time in you, besides, promised I wouldn't hurt you, but you better watch your pack, pipsqueak." He storms away to his room leaving me a little pleased, but a little overstimulated, I wanted no one to see me like this.

I went to my room, and shut the door behind me, I threw my clothes into a small heap in the corner of my room and threw on a plain t-shirt and black shorts before rushing to the small secret space under my built in bed. I switched on my lights and shut the small curtains and sat in the sensory area while staring at the lights and the small lava lamp that caught my attention with the shapes it began to make. I put one of my pacifiers into my mouth and sighed contently.

I began to feel better in my own space, and the quietness that surrounded my room helped me come out of the overload, I put my headphones over my ears and turned on my music and just sat there until I was tired enough to go to bed.

my step-brothers don't do love

I didn't really do much the next morning, but I ended up packing my headphones into my bag and put on a hoodie as it was a chilly morning, and before anyone could see me taking off, I hopped quickly into Marlene's yellow mini, "hey, guys." I smile as I buckled my seatbelt.

Arlo who sat shotgun looks back at me, "hold onto your stuffed animals, Jay, they're being a maniac again."

"Marls, you're gonna get arrested!" I began to joke as well making them stick their tongue out at me as they drove.

The drive didn't take too long, turns out McDonald's is pretty close to the school too, Marlene ordered themselves an egg McMuffin and a coffee, Arlo asked for the pancakes with syrup and another coffee, and I ended up getting a bacon roll with brown sauce and two hash browns and a hot chocolate. I ended up getting myself six chicken nuggets and a small hamburger for my lunch, got a bottle of coke too since the schools drinks are pretty shit.

Once, we got our stuff we walked back to the car and sat in the car eating our breakfast before Marlene began to tell us a few funny things that they'd seen on Instagram, they even showed us a really pretty girl they'd been talking to. I was very happy for Marlene, they deserve every good thing that comes their way, Arlo and I share a look, we have never seen Marlene so bright when they talk about someone, they even had a red tint on their cheeks.

"Oh, shit, we're late for History!" Arlo exclaims causing Marlene to go into gear and rush us all to school, it was only then when I realised.

"Oh shit."

"Language!"

"Marlene, shut up."

I chuckle and send Marlene a playful glare their way, while Arlo was shaking his head, he couldn't believe Marlene had said that. "Didn't I rush out of Mrs Potts class yesterday because of Wesley?"

"Yeah, you did. I doubt you'll get into trouble, Wesley did explain quietly to her that you have autism, and that your mood changes very quickly." Arlo says, "and I still can't believe the look on his face when you yelled at him, Jay, he was so shocked."

"Hey, you didn't tell us you had autism!" Marlene pipes up causing them to get hit across the head by Arlo.

I roll my eyes, "it's not something I like going around telling people. I was diagnosed at five years old and I'm not going to say Wesley lied, but my moods change all the time and it happens mostly when I'm overwhelmed."

"Don't worry, we ain't gonna judge, Jay." Arlo grins, "you should know that by now." He winks at me, I smile and nod my head.

Wait a minute, Wesley knows I have autism, if he knows they all know. Though, how could they know- dad. Perhaps, dad told them and Primrose. Could that be why they hate me so much? I know some people hate others when they have disabilities, but it's not like I bother them, but maybe I do with my presence.

We soon got out of the car and literally ran into the school, we were about five minutes late, but there were still people getting to class anyways. I could feel an unwanted knot in my stomach as I stood outside of the class as Arlo and Marlene enters, I stood for a minute, and gathered the courage as I could see that the teacher wasn't in yet, Arlo and Marlene were waving at me to come in, and this caused Wesley to turn at the door, I bit my nail and I was about to walk in when I made eye contact with Mrs Potts.

"Ah, Jayden, come here for a moment." Fuck. I walked across the hall to her and I didn't meet eyes with her, they were everywhere but her face. "Yesterday, you had a little blip-"

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that, it won't happen again, I was just having a little bit of a bad day near the ending of school." I tried to explain. I don't always have good days, there will be some, but they either start off as bad or end badly.

She smiles at me, "not to worry, Mr Mills explained it to me. I hope you don't mind but I also told the office and Principal to add it onto your school record so that others know about it. Say, you were to have a test, it would mean you could have extra fifteen minutes on your exams and if you ever need help we could get a classroom assistant."

I nod my head with a small smile, "sure. That's great, thank you."

She then continues, "this not is for you. I have put you in with Pupil Family Support, it's not for family counselling or anything, you could talk to this woman here and she would be say a friend of you need it? She will take you out of class for trust exercise, and it would be a good confidence boost." She hands me the note.

It actually sounded quite good, I smile and nod, we both enter the class and I sat in my seat, Emily reassuringly at Marlene and Arlo who give me thumbs up. I glanced left at Wesley who was too busy writing something down, I'd have to thank him twice now. Once for the blip in are and again for something he started yet cleaned up. I ended up writing what Mrs Potts was writing on the board like everyone else was doing, the class was quiet except for a few people who were talking, and Marlene and Arlo who were quietly bickering, I smile and kept my head down.

Class ended quickly just like how it started and we ended up heading to Math. Math was alright, boring, but alright. At break the three of us went to our oak tree and spied on people hanging around their cars, "oh look, Jayden. There's Parker and his buds."

I glance to where Marlene pointed him out and just nod, I kept looking, I could see Carson hanging around them too and then I glanced at Wesley who were with another popular group but they were also with the football team. I didn't notice until I glanced back at Parker that he was looking up at the tree where I sat, he had a smirk on his face causing me to look away and move from my spot. I was running down the grassy area to catch up with Marlene and Arlo who I noticed weren't besides me anymore. Both of them laugh and point at me, "snapped out of your day dream did you?"

"Yeah, sorry." I could feel the heat on my cheeks, "caught off guard."

"-Looking at Parker," Arlo smirks at Marlene who winks in my direction. "So, what's going on with you two anyways?"

"Arlo, they only met yesterday." Marlene grumbles while Arlo shrugs it off, "besides, he's too much of a jerk to date our little Jay."

I couldn't help but groan at the nickname, "Marlene, my god!"

They laugh causing Arlo to snort as we left to do double period of Chemistry, it was okay, but I was too interested in a text I had gotten from Parker on Instagram.

You stalking me?

I wasn't stalking!
I was looking at the people you
surround yourself with lol!

Cool, right?
I would say I'm the best out of everyone!

Ok lmao!

I shake my head and was soon pulled up by Arlo as we headed to our usual lunch table, and sat down. I pulled out my now fold McDonald's which still tastes pretty good if I do day so myself. I grin to myself as Marlene was grinning down at their phone, and now it was my turn to wink at Arlo.

"Ask her out, Marls." I say to the redhead who quickly shakes their head.

"We've only just met." They grumble, "it's too soon."

I grin, "meet up with her at least. It would be bad not too, she might turn out to be a pedofile." The shocked look that crossed their face caused Arlo to laugh and soon start to encourage Marlene to meet up with the girl.

While they were both talking I looked over my shoulder and spotted Parker already looking at me. I sent a smile and got one back, I grin to myself and kept myself at the lunch table just sitting with a small smile of my own as Marlene turned redder and redder each moment.

• • •

Authors Note
Hi! Sorry for being gone! I actually have
another chapter just coming very soon!
Also, tell me your thoughts and conspiracy theories on this chapter!

Slow updates! But the chapters will keep coming! Please don't ask for me to update I'm very busy with being an 18 year old living her life! Thanks for being very patient and understanding!

vote, comment & follow!
thanks for reading!
<3