Thanks to @Some_lazy_author for this story idea
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"Why are we going to LA?"
Gabe didn't seem to hear me. His grip on my wrist was unbreakable, like that of a crackhead gripping onto the last ounce of coke.
We maneuvered through the crowd of parents and guardians who'd come to pick up their children. Shouts of dismay and grumbles of annoyance echoed from the mass of people as Gabe shoved through them, not even apologizing as he ran me suitcase over their feet.
We'd nearly reached the exit when Gabe abruptly stopped.
"What do you think you're doing? Let her go," Gabe shouted, diverting our course from the exit towards the front desk.
There was a strange sight unfolding.
Two people were arguing. One being my school headmaster and the second one being a strange woman.
I had to do a double take when I saw her. She had gorgeous, flowing blonde hair and flawless skin. She reminded me of my brother in a way. The blonde hair and explosive temper being the main catalyst, the main difference between them was her mocha-dark irises and her being a woman.
She seemed to generate a feeling similar to that of a predator staring down its prey.
Her and the headmaster continued arguing, much to Gabe and I's chagrin. I wasn't sure who this lady was but Gabe knew her and seemed to like her. So it was likely she was trouble. The only people I can think of that he even somewhat likes are his poker buddies and my mom, and I don't think he even really likes my mom.
Gabe got in between the two, his out of middle aged out of shape form acting as a wall to protect the woman from my headmasters middle aged out of shape form.
"What do you think you're doing," Gabe spit yelled at my headmaster, Mr. Augustine.
Mr. Augustine stared down at Gabe with his permanent sneer, exhaustion obvious. Mr Augustine opened his mouth to speak but paused when he saw me, wrist clamped in Gabe's unyielding grasp. I waved at him, embarrassed by how things were going. Mr. Augustine smiled at me before exhaling and fixing his royal purple Brunello Cucinelli suit.
"My apologies, sir." Mr. Augustine said. "I was just trying to understand why this," Mr. Augustine paused. "Young woman as to why she was trying to sign out a student. As she is not on any of the release forms."
Gabe sucked his teeth in irritation, "likely story." He muttered under his breath.
"So you think just because you don't know who she is, you can attack her? She's wearing Dolce you fat freak! Do you know how much that cost me? I swear if there's even a single scuff on that baby blue blouse I will sue you into bankruptcy!"
As Gabe finished up his rant, Mr. Augustine smiled a thin lipped smile.
"Sir, if you do not calm down I will be forced to have security come to deal with you and wait till a better suited parent comes."
Gabe opened his mouth to say something but the blonde woman —who I now realized looked like Joy from my name is Earl if she wore a more bedazzled outfit— stopped him.
"Let's just sign the kid out," the woman said.
Gabe began to protest but she squeezed his shoulder and whispered in his ear. Gabe looked as though he was trying to hold back a smile, his eyes glazing over like whenever he'd got to his fifteenth budweiser. Whatever she said made him move faster than I'd ever seen —a whole 2 feet a minute.
Once he'd left the tension between the two adults increased, it was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
The air seemed to boil between them as we waited in the school lobby for my step father to come back with the sign out form. I was not sure what to do. I was inclined to side with my headmaster, mostly because I knew him for a long time and I had no idea who the lady was and she was liked by Gabe. The more logical reason was because they were actually breaking the law.
But, Gabe still liked her. That means I would be stuck with her till I found a way to run away. If I find a way to run away before Gabe- no, no. Don't think like that.
I kept quiet, deciding not making no noise would stop things from heating up. I sat down on the floor hugging my backpack to my chest as I took out my mythologies textbook, so I could get a head start on my summer work.
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The ride to Los Angeles was awkward.
Due to Gabe's old car being stolen he was able to use the insurance to cover a new car, a 1964 red el camino.
Gabe didn't want anyone messing up his new car, saying "I let that brat in it once and he blew it up, I'm not making that mistake again."
Which is an understandable thing to say. What wasn't understandable was him having to tie me and Sugar —the blonde woman— in the truck bed.
It was uncomfortable sitting back there. The makeshift seat belt didn't work the greatest, every pothole launched me and Sugar about a foot into the air while the lack of protective walls let bugs fly into my ears and eyes.
The wind was so loud I thought I was gonna go deaf.
"Ow," I muttered as the truck jolted again, launching my bag into my face and making me bite my tongue.
A groan escaped my mouth as I hugged my bag tighter, trying and failing to stop it from moving.
"So, what are your thoughts on being on television?" Sugar askee, shouting loudly over the rabid winds.
Oh that's right.
It turns out that due to all the chaos that my brother has —allegedly— been causing, Gabe had become a minor celebrity. Since it was found that my mother and brother had gone missing Gabe has been milking the fame straight from the tit like a greasy parasitic baby.
With the rise of Percy's action, things just fell in place for him to get on a talk show that'll air to the whole nation... until they got word of me.
A widow with a psycho step son? That's the scoop of the year.
The estranged orphaned brother of a terrorist twelve year old now in the care of said brother? Now, that'll be the scoop of the decade. At least, that's what Gabe said when he got us strapped to the back of his car.
I glanced at Sugar, weary of how to respond.
I wasn't afraid of being on television, I'd been on television before due to my swim meets and kickboxing tournaments. What I was afraid of, is how Gabe would act.
Gabriel Ugliano is a creature of instinct. If he sees something shiny, he takes it. So if he sees anything that might make him more famous or get him something better, he'll likely stop at nothing to get it. Even if it means bad mouthing my mother and brother.
If he does that... Percy's crime's will be nothing compared to what I'd do. I know my mom wouldn't want me ruining my life to protect her name. Throwing away all the work I've done since the incident would make her rise from her grave and put belt to ass.
"It's interesting," I finally mustered up. "I've been on TV before, but not for something like this..."
Sugar nodded, taking out a fifth cigarette to light as her four failed attempts laid broken on the floor.
"That makes sense," Sugar said as she struggled to light the old lighter. "But it's gotta be exciting. Not many blind kids in your class can say they've been on television."
I paused for a second, slowly looking at Sugar.
"I'm—" I was quickly cut off by a loud bang as the car lurched forward and my bag slammed into my chin. "Ow!" I rubbed my jaw in pain as my original sentence continued.
"I'm not blind."
Sugar stared at me silently for a few seconds, confusion visible on her face.
"You aren't?" She asked incredulously. "But your eyes- they're silver, like literally dark silver. They have no pupils."
I sighed. You know, even though you live with something all your life, you sometimes forget that it's not normal for others.
"I have Aniridia, it's a genetic disorder that causes the iris to be missing. I don't know why they're, the doctor said it has something to do with a layer of melanin in my eyes."
Sugar nodded along. I think she understood, but the dead fish-like stare she was giving me didn't bode well.
The sudden cursing followed by plumes of black smoke didn't make it any better.
What even happened?
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A/N: Hello everyone, thank you for coming to read. I wasn't really happy with the last chapter and decided to rewrite it. If you have any suggestions or questions feel free to ask and I will try to answer.
With that said, I am signing off now
With love, DGW
Word Count: 1549