Page 10 of Sexy Beginnings
Chapter Six
Lucy
Today is my birthday.
I have been at the clubhouse for a month now, and it has really started to feel like home. The guys embraced me more than I ever could have imagined. They all joke about my age and call me their little sister. It feels good to have a positive sense of family. Shooter told them they didn’t need to change around me, but I feel like they are less wild when I’m around. I know from what the clubhouse looks like in the morning that it’s a totally different story from when I go to bed. Even though my room is at the end of the hall, I can still hear all of the parties. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about them.
Tracie isn’t bad. Her Mary nickname has now caught on through the whole club though, which is awesome. It’s not like they all don’t look at me as if I’m some sort of freak already. She is kind of like my mother figure in the house though. She always checks in on me and I feel like she is the only real friend I have here. We talk about my old life, things I would never tell any of the other girls. I can tell she is intrigued by it, whereas all I want to do is forget it.
I asked Tracie about the parties yesterday and she said she didn’t want to corrupt my virginal mind. She is always picking on me about being sweet and innocent, but it’s not in a mean way. Even with everything I lived through with my natural family, it has been really easy for me to accept Tracie and the guys as my new family.
Jordan is always around too. He gave me a phone a few days after I arrived and even when the club has him out doing things, he is checking in with me. Part of me hopes it’s due to more than just obligation. When he is around, I feel like my heart beats twice as fast. I can’t help but smile, and I know how cheesy that sounds. Seeing the types of relationships I did growing up, I didn’t imagine that a boy could make me feel like this.
I wish I were turning eighteen instead of fifteen today. Every time he looks at me, I feel like he sees a child. I want him to really see me. I want him to notice the girl that thinks he’s cute and wishes he would kiss her. My infatuation with him has been growing and every time he is near me, I want to confess it to him. The fear of rejection is way too strong for me to ever consider doing that.
The boys have let me know that there is a search party for me. My family has been all over the news feigning sorrow and praying for my safe return. Little does everyone know if I did return safely I wouldn’t stay that way for long. I understand why I can’t leave the clubhouse but sometimes I just feel so trapped. I’m a prisoner in my own life. I can’t have any relationships outside of the club. It’s almost as if I’ve traded one prison for another, at least in this one I feel safe. I can’t trust anyone outside of the club. I feel paranoid at all times that someone will see me that shouldn’t, or that my family will find me.
The girls that hang around barely pay me any mind. They might say hello as they pass me on the way to a brother’s room, but that’s about it. Then there is Venus who is determined to make my life hell. I always see her talking about me to the other girls, the way she’ll look my way and start laughing. I’ve never even spoken to her so I really don’t get what I could have possibly done. It sucks.
I spend my days here cooking the guy’s meals and keeping things clean around the clubhouse. I am so thankful that they all welcomed me into their family.
Today is a day where I wish I had a normal family. The kind you watch on TV shows where everyone is always smiling. One where you could wake up on your birthday and come downstairs to find decorations, and presents. To have people who love you surround you.
I stand up throwing on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve pink t-shirt. I laugh looking in the mirror thinking of the day Tracie brought me home this shirt.I picked the girliest damn color that made me want to puke, and figured you would love it.Tracie’s wardrobe consisted of red, black, and gray. When she handed me the shirt, she was holding it out as if the girly color might rub off on her. I run my fingers through my long waves as I look at my reflection. I’m so plain compared to all of these girls.
I head out into the main room, ready to get this day over with. I stop dead in my tracks, completely shocked at what I see. Balloons and decorations are strewn throughout the main room. Jordan, Tracie, Shooter, and the boys are all standing in the middle of the room. Jordan sees me first, smiling at my obvious shock. Everyone yells “happy birthday” and a huge smile breaks out across my face.
Jordan walks over to me. “Thought we would forget? Happy birthday, Sweets.” He gives me a hug before stepping to the side as everyone else descends upon me. I look around at the room full of people that have taken me in and my eyes begin to well with tears.
I never really got to celebrate a birthday before. In my family there were so many of us kids that it wasn’t practical to celebrate everyone’s birthday. My dad had so many wives I don’t even think he could keep up with all of the kid’s birthdays. My sisters and I would sometimes have little parties for each other in our rooms after we were supposed to be in bed. There were never any presents given, or parties thrown for us by our parents.
Twisted walks through the door carrying boxes of doughnuts. He walks over to me with a very rare smile. “None of us can cook ‘cept you kid.” I shake my head and laugh, how they didn’t starve before I got here is a miracle. He places the doughnuts down and I grab one, thanking him.
I sit down at the table and look around me as I eat my birthday doughnut. Jordan sits down next to me. “I can’t believe you guys did this. I didn’t think anyone would remember.”
He shakes his head and laughs. “I will never forget your birthday for a couple of reasons.”
My smiles fades a bit. Right. My birthday is his countdown.
He slides me a box across the table. “This is a gift from all of us.”
I look around and everyone has made their way over. When I lift the lid of the box, I can’t help but smile. It’s a sweatshirt with the MC’s name on it.
“Turn it around!” Tracie shouts.
I flip the sweatshirt over and can’t help but laugh. On the back it says “Mary.” “I’m guessing this was your idea?”
“Well, you know . . . “ she shrugs.
Shooter walks over to me and pats me on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family, kid.”
Everyone starts to walk away but I can’t move.Welcome to the family.I’ve always had a family, but never really wanted one until now. This show of acceptance and love really makes me feel like I’m part of something.
“You okay?” Jordan is still sitting next to me.
“Yeah, I just don’t think any of you guys know how much this means to me.” I look over at him trying to hold back my girly tears.
He puts his arm around me and I freeze. “I don’t think you know how much you mean to us now.” There is electricity between us. I can feel it, and I want to say something to him. His statement confuses me because I really don’t know how I mean so much to them. I want to believe that they care about me, but then there is the little voice in the back of my head saying everyone has to watch out for me. I look at Jordan and his eyes are boring holes into me. “I gotta go. Happy birthday, Sweets.” He gets up and practically runs away from the table.
And me.
