Heather

The last two weeks have been filled with things I can live with. I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I’ve switched my routine to go to the office after school.

If my dad isn’t busy, he joins me in the basement to shoot off a few rounds. It has become our thing, our time to bond. When he’s busy, I still hang out at the office, even joining in with the guys for basic training and some sparring.

I mostly spar with Braxton and Ryan. They were taking it easy on me at first, that is until I busted Brax’s lip. Since, he’s started to come at me with everything he has, pushing me to my limits.

I appreciate that. When we were young, all of the guys treated me like one of the guys. I hate that that’s changed because we’re older and now they see me as a girl. I’ve gotten stronger with each day.

The changes have brought so many things I’m grateful for. For four weeks, the boys at school have been avoiding me like the plague. I now get to hang with John, Felix, and Toby without being harassed. I love it.

Well, that was all until today. Today, I’m not too sure how I feel about anything. I’ve have been in the backyard, since I got home from school. I’m fuming.

I feel like my peace and happiness is always so short lived. The other shoe is always ready to drop right onto my head. All I want is to be a normal teenager. Why is that so hard?

“Yo,” a voice startles me from behind. I turn in the swing, I’m sitting on to see Wyatt entering the backyard.

He has on sunglasses, a white t-shirt, and grey sweat shorts. He looks like he’s on his way to the gym. Wyatt has filled out over the years. I see why he breaks so many hearts.

The smile that’s stretched across his handsome face drops, he rushes to get closer. He takes off his glasses, his concerned eyes search mine. Squatting in front of me, he taps my leg with his fingertips.

“What’s up? I heard you’ve been kicking ass. I came home to see it for myself. Your dad said you called, saying you weren’t in the mood to be at the office,” Wyatt says still watching me.

I shrug my shoulders. “Hard day,” I mumble.

Wyatt moves to sit on his backside. He nods, taking me in for a few beats. I start to fidget with the hem of my black skull covered grey t-shirt.

I look down at my khaki shorts and bike chains. The cruel words that haunted my day hit me square in the chest. I think they hurt more because they came from the one boy in school I actually had a crush on. I kick my Van covered foot at the dirt under my feet.

“Want to talk about it,” Wyatt says, breaking into my pity party.

I open my mouth to say, no, but I choke on the word. If I don’t talk to someone soon, I think I’ll explode. I don’t want to drag Wyatt into the drama that haunts my nightmares, but I need some of this pressure off of my chest.

I nod, but sit silently, thinking about what I want to share. I knit my brows, as a tear rolls free. I shrug it off, trying to play tough.

“I heard Terrance Miller telling some guys that I’m gay,” I mutter.

When I look up at Wyatt, his face is blank. My shoulders slump, I resign myself to the fact that to fix one problem, I’ve created another. The turmoil I feel inside almost drains me.

“I’m going to ask, because, well. I don’t want to assume shit. We’ve always treated you like one of the guys. You’re like a sister to me so I’ve never thought about it, but…” he shrugs his shoulders.

“No, Wyatt. I’m not gay,” I hiss.

He holds his hands up. “I wanted to ask first. Don’t bite my head off. I’ve never seen you with a guy and you seem to shut them down all the time,” he replies.

I sigh. “I don’t know how to explain things without explaining things.”

“Then you should just explain things,” Wyatt shrugs.

I think for a minute and make the decision before I can change my mind. “I don’t really like male attention on me. I have my reasons for it. I just feel safer looking and dressing the way I do,” I say to Wyatt.

I watch his golden eyes darken. He sits up straighter and drapes his arms over his knees. I watch as his jaw ticks. I know he has read more into my words than I want him too.

“Fuck, Heather. I just need to know. Are you safe? Is this an old threat or something I need to fix for you now?” he says tightly.

I shake my head. “I’m fine. I just…it’s not easy for me to be…myself. I’m not ready to be seen like that. This,” I brush at my t-shirt and shorts. “This is comfortable for me. It’s safe.”

I see Wyatt’s eyes mist. He stands and pulls me from the swing wrapping me in his arms. He holds me for a long time, and to be honest, it’s exactly what I need.

“Who gives a fuck what Terrance Miller thinks. Maybe he did you a favor. If this is how you feel safe. Then run with it. You’ll change when you’re ready,” Wyatt says gently.

“Yeah, but I don’t know if that’s what I want people to think of me,” I muse out loud.

“Since when do you give a fuck what anyone else thinks?” Wyatt chuckles. “Besides, you don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. If they want to believe rumors and lies, let them. If they want the truth they can get it from the source, if you feel like sharing. Otherwise, fuck ‘em.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I sniffle.

“You’re Heather Lockhart. It is that simple. You’re what you say you are. Fuck everyone else’s opinion,” I feel him shrug, as his arms remain wrapped around me.

“I guess,” I mutter.

“Now, for the part of this conversation I’m going to need you to cough up,” Wyatt says, with a hard edge in his voice.

I lift my head, backing out of his arms, and wrapping my own around my waist. I can see the anger simmering in his golden depths.

“You’re one of my best friends, Wyatt. When I’m ready to handle that part of my life, I’ll let you in on it,” I reply.

“Bullshit,” Wyatt holds up his hand, as I go to speak. “It’s bullshit, but I’ll respect it, for now.” He narrows his eyes at me. “As long as you’re telling me the truth and it’s someone in your past, not your present.”

I nod my head. “It’s in my past,” I tell the half-truth.

“You do know I’m going to make it my business to find out the details?” Wyatt says calmly.

I blowout a breath. “Then it’s lucky for me that you’re going back to school soon,” I give him a small grin.

“I’m not joking here, Heather,” Wyatt says sternly.

“Can I tell you something?” I say just above a whisper.

Wyatt nods curtly. “Yeah.”

“This battle is mine. I’m not as afraid as I once was. One day, I’ll handle it, but I need to handle it,” I keep to myself that there’s one person I’ll allow to be a part of what I need to do for me.

Wyatt watches my eyes, but I don’t release the conviction I have in them. Like I said, I’ve been getting stronger. I’m starting to forget about that scared little girl I once was.

Wyatt mushes me in the head, while moving to toe off his shoes. He cracks his neck and rolls his shoulders. His face turns serious.

“If you’re not going to tell me who I need to murder, then you’re at least going to show me that you got this,” he grins down at me. “If the motherfucker ever shows up again, I want to know I can count on you beating the fucking life out of him. Let’s go, Lockhart. Show me what you got,” Wyatt waves me forward.

I smile on the inside, but frown at Wyatt. I think it over for a minute, as he hops around to get warmed up. I sigh, knowing he’s not going to leave until I fight him at least once.

I reach to pull my t-shirt over my head revealing my wife beater tee underneath. Wyatt freezes. I look at him, then look down at my chest. I’m taped down, but it doesn’t make much of a difference these days.

I look back up at Wyatt, biting my lip. I’m so embarrassed. Wyatt’s eyes cloud over, but not with lust. That rage is back, he looks like he might murder someone. His eyes move to mine and his face softens.

“Okay,” he says as if just understanding. “Yeah, I get it now. You do what makes you feel safe, but someday, Kid. You’re not going to have to hide. From this day forward, it’s my and my brothers’ job to make sure I never see that shamed look in your eyes ever again.

“No, means no. If any motherfucker doesn’t get that, you fuck him up and then you call your brothers. We’ll finish that shit for you,” Wyatt says firmly. “Got it?”

“Yeah,” I choke out. “Got it.”

* * *

Braxton

I clamp my mouth shut. I have plans for Ernest P. Kline. I still have more to dig up on him. It hasn’t been as easy as I thought to get free time in Dad’s office to dig the way I need to. Being thirteen isn’t helping much.

There’s no way I’m telling Wyatt what I know. Him and Noah will find Kline and end him before Heather and I ever can. That’s not going to happen.

I look at Ryan and narrow my eyes at him. He doesn’t know as much as I do, but he knows enough. I silently tell him to keep his fucking mouth shut.

“I was shocked when she cut her hair off,” Felix admits. “Other than that, she sticks to herself, when she’s not with us or Bean.”

“I don’t just mean now, though. Have any of you ever noticed something off,” Wyatt pushes.

“When she used to wear those hats and it was hot as fuck,” Toby strains, as he pushes up the weights he’s lifting.

“Come to think of it, I remember that,” Felix muses.

Fuck. I don’t need their nosey asses butting into this. I grit my teeth, and continue with my arm curls. I try to think of a way to throw them off.

I drop the weights I’m lifting to the floor. “Wasn’t that around the time her dad was about to remarry or something. Or was that closer to the divorce. She took all of that really hard,” I say nonchalantly.

“Damn, you remember that far back. You guys were little back then,” John says.

“Yeah, but we were around more,” Ry adds. “Wyatt, you and Noah were doing your own thing. Call him and ask him. Heather hung out with us more. She did take the divorce hard.”

I pick the weights back up, needing something to do. I do another set of curls, despite wanting to hurl the weights across the room. I grind my teeth to keep from saying another word.

Wyatt seems to take a moment to think it over. “I wish I was paying more attention,” Wyatt mutters. “Listen, I need you guys to turn things up when it comes to Heather. Start treating her like she’ll be working around here as well. Get her more involved in drills.”

“Why, what’s going on?” John asks, looking more alert.

“Nothing,” Wyatt shakes his head. “She’s good, she can just be better. I want her to be able to take Noah without blinking an eye if she has to.”

“Dude, if someone is fucking with her, we should know. We can end that shit right now,” Toby says.

“Nah, she just needs a little confidence boost. I think this will help. That’s all,” Wyatt says, but I call bullshit.

He’s been talking to Heather. She told him something. I can see it in his eyes. I feel a ping in my chest, she trusted my brother with her truth and not me.

I shove the feeling down. I don’t want to give anything away in my face. Once again, I feel like a helpless kid when it comes to Heather.

Of course, she would go to my oldest brother. Wyatt’s in college. He’s bigger than me.

Not able to hold my anger in, I toss the weights down on the floor. Everyone turns to look at me, but I don’t stop to explain. I storm from the gym, feeling Toby and Ryan on my heels.

I roll my eyes, I should’ve known those two would follow me. You would think the three of us were joined at the hip. So much for needing to be alone for a bit.