Friday
The kids gleefully filed into the house. "Are they here yet?", Lucius asked excitedly.
" Not yet. Go get ready all of you, Lucius, Nikolle, I need more from you two".
They nodded and happily raced up the stairs.
" A, lemme see you", Lisa said as she noticed her walking up the stairs.
She froze and slowly came back down the stairs. " Ma'am?"
Lisa sighed and hung her head, her hair falling into her face. She raised her head and adjusted herself on the couch. " The Ledgers wanna see you. So you get ready too".
Excitement bubbled in her chest.
" Okay ", she said happily.
" But listen, I don't want you to do or say anything. You can only speak unless specifically asked. I can't have them adopting you instead of Lucius, you got that?"
She nodded.
" I'll try to take away their attention from you. You're not worth it". Lisa muttered to herself but she heard it.
She swallowed thickly and nodded and bowed a bit. Then she spun around on her heels and bounded up the stairs.
****
"Hello", Staysie cheered and hugged Lisa. Noah did too. "Can't wait to see her", Staysie cheered and walked into the house.
"Are you sure you want her? She's got amnesia".
"Amnesia?! You never told me that".
"I didn't think you'd be interested in her", Lisa defended.
"Well we are and there's nothing you can do to change our minds".
Lisa let out a defeated sigh and called Lucius and her down.
"Excuse me but did you call her A?", Staysie inquired.
"She can't remember her name and she absolutely refused any of the names we call her".
"So what's her name at school?"
"A West".
Noah raised her brow. "A West? She took your last name?"
"She doesn't know hers? And she insisted on being called A in school".
"Feisty. We like, right Noah?"
Noah smiled and nodded.
The both of them came down and Staysie gasped. "Ohmigod, she's perfect". She stood from the couch and walked towards her.
She took a step back.
"You don't have to be afraid of me darling. I won't hurt you".
She stared wide eyed at Lucius and Lisa, her fear rising.
Staysie traced her fingers lightly on her face and ran her fingers through her hair. She took her hand and walked her to the couch she and Noah sat.
"Hi A", Noah said softly and pulled her down and sat her on his legs.
"We want her", Noah said.
"But…"
"No more buts Lisa. We'll fill in the paperwork and come back for her in 3 weeks".
Her heart jackhammered. She stared at Lisa, she had a subdued look on her face. She stared at Lucius. He stared back at her with pure hatred.
He huffed and marched up the stairs.
From them on, all the conversation around her sounded garbled.
"We'll come get you soon sweetie. You'll be our daughter, okay?"
She stared blankly at Staysie exiting the house.
Lisa slammed the door shut and she sighed exhaustedly.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am", she said, not knowing where the voice came from.
"It's not your fault. Just be careful with Lucius. He's pretty mad at you. He'll hopefully calm down".
She gulped at the thought of Lucius.
****
She dried her hands after doing the dishes. She was wondering what had happened a few hours ago. Someone wanted her. It was ridiculous but true.
She barely stepped out of the kitchen when Lucius gripped her throat and slammed her against the wall, choking her.
"You witch", he seethed, "What'd you do that they wanted you? What can you offer them?"
"Lucius", she choked out, "I don't know what you're talking about".
"Of course you don't. How can you, when you go around to be a goodie two shoes when you're really actually a dirty venomous snake?"
Tears pricked at her eyes from his words. "I didn't do anything".
"Lisa was right about you. You're a hypocrite".
She shook her head,as much as his grip allowed.
"You are a hypocrite. And maybe I think you're the one that killed your dad. You know,the man you always beg to come back?"
"No!", she wailed and hit him across the face, his nose crunching from the impact.
He screamed.
Lisa ran into the kitchen. "What's going on here?"
"She… she… punched me", Lucius wailed.
Lisa stared at his bloody face and slapped her.
She let out a sob of pain as Lisa grabbed her by her hair. The rest of the kids ran in too.
"What's going on?", Noelle asked and gasped as she stared at Lucius.
Atlas snorted. "You're gonna get adopted already, you don't have to kill him".
Alaska walked in with a belt and handed it to Lisa. Lisa flogged her once and….
"Stoppppp!!!", Ashton cried.
They all turned to face the little boy.
"Lucius was strangling her. He told her that she killed her dad. I was watching", Ashton said with a weird glint in his eyes.
Lisa froze and let go of her arm.
She collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Lisa felt sick to her stomach. "You all go up to your rooms. Atlas clean Lucius up". Lisa turned around and staggered to the living room.
They all stared at Lucius in disappointment and made their way to their respective rooms in silence.
Ashton went over to her sitting on the floor and sobbing into her hands. He hugged her and stroked her face when she held him close.
"Thanks for speaking up for me bud".
He shrugged like it was nothing. "Lucius was wrong. Come on, let's go to the garden". He stood up and dragged her out the back door.