Living With The Anderson Boys

As I walk downstairs from my bedroom I walk into the living room and see 3 boys, 1 men, and 1 women standing across from my mom. “Mom, what’s going on?”

“Well I’m selling you to this family. I need the money to keep the house and you’ll be happier with them.”

“What? Why mom?” I scream at her. “You think that getting rid of me all of your problems will go away?”

“As a matter of fact yes I do, Jessica. You’ve only been a burden to me these past few years.”

My face falls as I hear the words come out of my mothers mouth. The tears in my eyes threaten to fall, “You never should have said that.” I say anger laced through my voice. I charge at my mom but before I can reach her I’m pulled into a hard chest by one of the boys.

“Let’s go get your things,” he whispers into my ear his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. I nod into his chest and turn around and begin to walk back up the stairs. I hear a quiet argument begin between the other family and my mom. I wait at the top of the stairs for the boy. As soon as I hear him on the stairs I begin to walk down the hallway. I walk to my door and enter my room. I wait for the boy to follow but he seems to have stopped and is waiting outside my door not wanting to intrude.

“You can come in,” I tell him. He walks forward into the room and over to my bed. “I’m Jessica but most people call me Jess,” I tell him.

“I’m Cole and most people call me Cole,” he says with a small grin on his face. I burst out laughing, I haven’t laughed in a long time. Probably about 5 years. My dad passed away when I was 12 and left me with my cold hearted mother that never really loved me. I walk over to my closet and pull out my two suitcases all I will need to pack everything that has any meaning to me. I walk over to my dresser and take the photos of my dad and me. I carefully put them in the box I pull out from the back of my closet then grab the rest of my clothes.

After cleaning my room out and watching Cole study me for the past 30 minutes. I am ready to leave my old life behind me, including my mom. Cole picks up my suitcases and I grab my box of memories and we head down the stairs. Cole takes my bags to the front door and I follow him out of the house to the three cars on the driveway. He walks to the black pickup truck and throws the bags in the backseat before carefully taking the box and placing it on the floor in front of the seat. “You can get in. I’ll be back in a moment,” he tells me before running back inside.

I climb into the truck and see it’s a bench seat. I close the door and lean against the inside of it and watch the door to my house. About five minutes later I see Cole come back out of the house with the rest of his family. The other two boys go and hop into the car, and the parents go hop into the SUV. He then climbs into the truck.

He starts the car up and begins driving. “We’ll meet them back at the house. It’s about a three hour drive so it’s ok if you want to sleep,” he tells me. I nod my head in response not caring if he saw it or not. “Why doesn’t your mom like you?” He asks me.

I slowly turn my head to look at him,”I was my dads little girl, and my mom never wanted me but my dad wanted a baby. I was just unlucky and happened to be the baby.”

“Why are you mentioning your dad in past tense?”

“My dad died five years ago in a car crash.” I say and quickly look out the window. I feel the car pull over and then Cole slide over and wrap his arms around me. I turn and lean into his embrace. “My mom doesn’t care about me, she never wanted me. My dad wanted a child, I was his little girl.”

Cole moves back to his seat and starts the car up again,”Do you mind if I lean against you?” I ask trying to not invade his personal space.

“It’s ok,” he says looking over at me. I move over on the seat and rest against him. He lifts his arm and rests it around my neck.

“Where am I staying?” I ask out of curiosity.

“You’ll be staying on the second floor the room across from me. If your ever not feeling ok feel free to just come over.”

“Ok,” I answer. I snuggle closer into his chest and close my eyes. He tightens his arm around my neck and I cuddle into his neck. I keep my eyes closed yet stay awake. We hit a bump in the road and I quickly grip onto his torso. He brings his arm down around my back and rubs my arm. “I’m going to go to sleep.”

“Ok,” he says. I turn on the radio so it’s quiet, then close my eyes. I am happy I’m out of my moms house, and then I fall asleep on Cole.