Daisy (Chapter 2)

The past part 2

Chapter 2

Wildflower had a dilemma and she was a little too under the influence to fix it. She’d come to this stupid party to drink a little and have sex. But instead she got… what was a good word for it? Ambushed, she was ambushed. Victor was a guy she use to mess around with. Under normal circumstances she would never have been the type of guy she would be attracted to. For one thing she didn’t do blondes and he was a bit of a pretty boy. At first he hadn’t really been so bad and he was persistent. So one night when she was bored she went to the park with him and things happened. After that they messed around for awhile but she wasn’t going to be anybody’s girlfriend. And she just couldn’t let Vic be her first time; it was out of the question. Ironically that was how she ended up with Eric, because she complained about Vic. She knew Eric and trusted him so it was ok for it to be him.

Her sisters were right that she remembered it, she remembered everything. Eric inherited a house from his grandparents when they decided to retire to Florida. He’d basically moved in there once he was 17. His parents lived down the street so they could drop by, they trusted him though. She had been hanging out with him to avoid Vic because he was desperate to have sex with her. Lying in bed with a guy was just natural to her and she’d known Eric her whole life. He was practically like one of her brothers, but that night changed things. They did a little drinking and then things happened. Then before she knew it they were both naked and he was on top on her with her legs wrapped around his waist. When he asked if it was ok to keep going she told him yes. So they had sex she was 15 and he was 17 and her brother’s best friend. At the time she didn’t care that it was really stupid to let him touch her.

The next day she woke up and pushed him off of her, he kept cuddling her. It was him that was being emotional about the whole thing and said he regretted it. So she was like whatever and told him to get over it. That night she learned that she didn’t like guys to hold her after sex. A few months after the first time and after she found a new boy to play with that wasn’t Vic, Eric wanted her. In retrospect she should have known better than to get involved with him. But she wasn’t exactly thinking with her brain, she wanted to have sex. The day Eric decided to stop trying to avoid her was a day at school. It was the first time she had sex in the backseat of a car and during school. Somehow they ended up as friends with benefits though she wasn’t sure how. There was nothing wrong with something casual with no strings attached.

What happened to her tonight? Well she had planned to tell Eric she was done with him and have sex with him one last time. Which she planned to do first she wasn’t really sure of. She’d been hanging out with Daisy and Brooke and then someone came up to her. That someone wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. Then he turned her around to kiss him. Right there in public where people could see, like her brothers, Vic kissed her. PDA was not her thing and he knew that so it pissed her off. Normally she’d have had some colorful words with him and made him pay for it. However he made a big show of kissing her and it was to piss Eric off. And then Jay asked Vic if they were together and he said yes.

From there it just went downhill, and she came to the realization that Daisy was right. Eric was giving Vic a death stare and acting jealous. Good thing her brothers didn’t notice him being jealous. Her brothers knew she sometimes hung out with Vic but they had no idea about Eric. While she was seething internally her brothers felt like hanging out with Vic. Which Vic took as an invitation to be very touchy with her. There was no way that she could get away from Vic without it looking weird. Besides he might be the one to snitch on her. Just because she was breaking it off with Eric and had no feelings for him, it didn’t mean she wanted to hurt him. Even if it was his own stupid fault for falling for her in the first place. Weren’t guys supposed to not get emotionally entangled over sex?

As soon as humanly possible she got Eric alone to talk to him. What could she even say? This was why she didn’t do relationships things just got messy. She had absolutely no experience with this type of thing. And she was beyond tipsy so thinking was a little difficult. Eric was outside leaning against his car smoking a cigarette. He looked up and glared at her while she walked over to him. Oh yes, this was going to be bad. But she had to get through this no matter how awkward it was going to be.

“I knew you were f*****g him, but he’s your boyfriend now?” Eric asked her, oh yeah he really pissed.

“Hell no, he’s being stupid and so are you. If you want to go tell Jay we’ve been having sex go ahead, I don’t care. I’m not your girlfriend and I told you about him. Yes, he’s an a*s for acting like that but you can’t get jealous. Eric we are not together and never have been. You know me and I don’t do relationships,” she told him.

“I knew I never should have touched you,” he sighed. “And maybe I shouldn’t be jealous but I am. Emotions are sometimes pretty irrational but you don’t get that. I feel like I’m the girl in our whatever. You feel nothing and I feel everything.”

“Eric, I care about you, I’m just not going to be anybody’s girlfriend. What’s the point to it? So someone can think they have a right to tell me what I should do or how to feel? You of all people should know better. Don’t fall for me I’m not available for that, I just like sex,” she said. “I’m sorry I can’t be what you want.”

“It’s easier said than done,” he said bitterly.

“Then I think I’ll be abstaining from actually having sex from now on. The complication only came in after I started having sex with you. It’s getting way too complicated for me and I hate drama. Oh and I have better things to do than be caught in this little triangle that’s going on here.”

“So to clarify that you’re dumping Vic?” He asked with a smile and she laughed.

“Hell yeah,” she said. “If you want to feel a little superior remember you were my first and until recently my only.”

“Don’t I know it,” he shook his head. She took his cigarette and took a drag. For awhile she smoked a little and gave it up completely in favor of sex becoming her new nicotine.

“So do you want to have-break up sex?” Eric asked and there was definitely lust in his eyes. Of course he was still a guy even if his feelings were hurt. Drinking made her horny so she couldn’t exactly say no.

“Sure, you can have it and Vic can’t. He needs to be punished for getting on my nerves,” she said.

“Wildflower,” Vic called so she turned.

“I’m not your girlfriend Victor, never have been and never will be,” she told him.

“Come on, I was doing you a favor,” he said.

“How? I don’t PDA or cuddling and you know that. Hell private displays of affection bother me,” she replied annoyed. How did she end up in this weird little love triangle? The weirdest part was just that she didn’t have feeling for either of them. Yet they both had feelings for her.

“Look you and I work well together, we service each other’s needs. No emotions or feelings attached, we can’t say that about Eric can we?” Vic asked and she could feel the tension building.

Having 9 brothers she knew when a fight was coming. This was definitely looking like that was where it was heading. She’d never had two guys fight over her. So it was a little intriguing. Maybe she was deranged and was just use to fights. But these were two very attractive guys and they both had their uses. The one thing they both had in common was that they were both really good at pleasuring her. That was essentially was the most important part, at least to her. It was their purpose and the whole reason she was seeing either of them. The feelings and emotions thing were a turnoff to her, except at the moment.

“She doesn’t want you anymore, so leave her alone,” Eric said.

“And she wants you?” Vic asked and then turned to her, “Do you like lying to your brothers? Doesn’t sneaking around get old?”

“No need to plead your case sweetie, I’m done with both of you. This is going the drama route and I don’t do drama. Both of you are getting too clingy this was supposed to be about fun,” she told them. She moved from in-between them and Vic grabbed her. The way he kissed her in that moment made her want to keep him.

Vic pushed her out of the way when Eric lunged at him. They went to the ground with swear words and fists. Maybe she did like them fighting over her. But she couldn’t have them doing this where her secrets could be exposed. Brooke, who was one of her very best friends came out with Daisy. They came over to where she was leaning against Eric’s car. Never again would she have two guys at once. At least not that she’d tell them, even though she liked to be honest. That was the way she was raised, and she mistakenly thought they were on the same page. Why did these particular guys feel things? Most guys didn’t, it was just her luck to have two guys with emotional attachments to sex.

“Are they seriously fighting over you?” Brooke asked her while twirling her blonde curls around her finger.

“Yup, and I was trying to get rid of both of them and that’s what happened,” she sighed.

“Only you would have this happen,” Daisy shook her head. There was a strange look in her eyes for a second, it was unreadable. But she probably just thought Wildflower was a s**t, like her snobby friends did.

“This is stupid,” she said blocking out her sister’s expression. It wasn’t the time for that and it wasn’t like she cared anyway.

“Two hot guys are fighting over you, have sex with the winner,” Brooke suggested.

“You better make them stop before Ivan and Jay come out or someone calls the police,” Daisy warned. Of course her perfect sister was right.

Having a lot of experience with boys trying to kill each other she knew what to do. She took a deep breath before going in to separate them. With her brothers she could count on them to not want to hit her. Thankfully these two idiots stopped when she was between them. If either of them would have actually hit her then she couldn’t save them from her brothers. Though they were both sweaty and a dirty bloody mess, it didn’t put her off. The exact opposite was true, only she wanted both of them. How could she accomplish that? Tonight was supposed to be it for the both of them.

“Are we done behaving like 5 year old?” She asked them but neither said anything. “Ok, this is how this is going to go, Vic don’t move. And Eric come with me.”

“Are you-” Vic started but her glare cut him off.

“Don’t move,” she repeated making the order clear. Then she pulled Eric over to his car and opened the door.

“I’m sorry, that was immature,” Eric said when he sat down in the driver’s seat.

“Stupid and immature yes, but it was kind of hot,” she said.

“Are you serious?” He asked staring up at her.

“Give me like an hour and I’m spending the night,” she told him.

“Why an hour?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

“You’re going to f**k him and then come over my house?” He asked staring at her like she was completely insane, she nodded though.

“Well I told you I’m done and there’s no more of this. You’re both on my last nerve so take your pick. I can either come over or go home, doesn’t really matter which,” she shrugged. Sometimes she even amazed herself at how she really felt nothing for these guys. But they would do whatever she wanted them to. Maybe that was the part she actually liked.

“This is fucked up,” he replied.

“A little, so what’s it gonna be? I mean I am agreeing to sleep with you and all but just don’t touch me after,” she said.

“Fine, but we’re taking a shower,” he said looking in her eyes. His thumb moved over her belly ring, he’d actually bought that one for her. She wasn’t the type of girl that let guys buy her things, but he insisted. Besides she was a sucker for things with butterflies on them.

“Good,” she replied. “One hour and you’re driving me home in the morning.”

“Deal,” he nodded. After that she walked away back to Vic.

“Don’t talk Victor, if you do you’ll ruin this, ok? I am not going to be with either of you, but right now I’m horny. So we can have sex for the last time,” she told him.

“Ok,” he agreed that easily, of course he did.

Brooke laughed and Daisy looked outraged. Even Wildflower was amazed she could get away with this. So she said goodnight to her friend and her sister and left. It would probably suck to give up having her lovers but she needed a break. It was way too much drama. Though she did love her ability to get guys to do what she wanted. Or well probably just these guys, but tonight she felt powerful. And tonight she was going to have an interesting night.

 

            After watching two guys fight over her sister Daisy wanted to scream. What made it so much worse was that she was going to have sex with both of them. They both knew it and didn’t care; they just let her do it. Daisy felt sick, how did this happen all the time? Wildflower just went off to have sex with Vic in the park like it was ok. This was too much for her so she decided to go home. Brooke graciously offered to walk with her and the guys said they would catch up. Ivan definitely knew something was wrong with her but thankfully said nothing.

            “Something wrong?” Brooke asked as if reading her mind.

            “Does it ever bother you how guys are drawn to my sister?” She asked because she couldn’t help it.

            “Its only annoying if you don’t know her. I don’t really think about it, she’s my friend and I love her. She has no idea about it and I think if she did it would change her, like make her very self conscious,” Brooke shrugged.

            “Yeah,” Daisy agreed. But it wasn’t exactly for the same reasons; if her sister knew the affect she had she might use it to her advantage. Brooke was better to her sister than she was, it was sad but true.

            “You like Eric don’t you?” Brooke asked completely surprising her.

            “Why do you say that?” She asked carefully.

            “The way you look at him, if you told her she would never have sex with him again. Don’t you know that?”

            “Not a big deal, she’s had sex with him already so why would I want him? He’s in love with her and she doesn’t get that at all. But I told her he told me he was and she said she was breaking up with him. If I had a guy that amazing and nice and he loved me I wouldn’t treat him like that,” she sighed. “Sex is emotional for me; I’ve never not felt something.”

            “Just have fun Daisy, you think of things way too seriously. Eric will get over it cause he should have known better anyway.”

            “Hey,” Ivan called ending the conversation. Him and Jay were walking towards them so they stopped.

            “Where’s Wildflower?” Jay asked them.

            “With Vic,” Daisy answered.

            “Why is she even with that loser? He’s annoying,” Jay said.

            “He’s a hot loser though,” Brooke corrected.

            “Guess your taste is as bad as hers,” Jay replied.

            “Oh yeah Jay because you have the most attractive girlfriends,” Brooke shot back.

            Their bickering continued and that somehow ended with Brooke on Jay’s back. There was definitely sexual tension between them, yet they would never act on it. Since they were further away that left Daisy to walk with Ivan. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her brother, she just didn’t like him. They rarely agreed on anything these days so she just avoided having to talk to him. However that didn’t change that they were still connected. No matter what the three of them could always sense each other.

            “I know you have something to say, so say it already,” Daisy ordered.

            “It’s just funny that you act like Wildflower is your best friend but you harbor anger towards her. Why? And don’t say I’m taking sides cause if I was I would tell her. But I don’t want to hurt her so I’m not saying anything,” he said seriously.

            “Since you would know if I was lying I’ll tell you the truth,” she sighed. “Everything is so easy for her and she dresses like a freaking boy and guys want her. What’s the point in making an effort at anything with her around? Everybody that actually knows her loves her. It’s stupid and shallow and I hate being jealous but I can’t make it go away.”
            “You should talk to her,” he said. The way he said it was like he knew something that she didn’t. What could that be?

            “Why do you favor her over me?” She asked a question she’d been holding in for a very long time. “It’s like that with everybody.” Why didn’t her family accept her? It was what she really wanted. But she’d been trying to hold everything in so that she could gain her freedom.

            “Dais, you’re kind of an uptight prissy b***h,” he said. “Sometimes you are so judgmental and you think you’re better than everybody else. What are you going to do when you decide family is completely beneath you? Then you’ll be alone and you’ll regret it. Family means nothing to you and Iris because you’re the same selfish and self-centered and one day you will learn.”

            Though admitting that he was right was absolutely not an option, he was. But what could she do? She had no control over her emotions; all she could do was hold them in. Maybe she did need to lighten up a little. The last thing on earth she wanted was to be alone. Yes she needed freedom but being alone wasn’t an option. She felt like crying but had to hold it in. He knew though and put his arms around her. Sometimes it was good to be a triplet and this was one of those times.

 

 

            When Wildflower got to Eric’s house she was tired. He left the door unlocked for her so she went in. Truth was tonight she wouldn’t have minded just cuddling and sleeping. Even if it was too intimate and could make him think untrue things. She first went to the kitchen for water and then went to his bedroom. What she needed to remember was that no guy just wanted to sleep together, they all wanted sex. Usually that was what she wanted but she was dirty and never had sex with two guys in one night. He grabbed her and kissed her and she was pressed against the door to the bathroom. Her legs were wrapped around his waist and she did feel horny again, it wasn’t hard to turn her on at all.

            “You smell like him,” Eric grumbled.

            “You knew I would need a shower,” she replied.

            “Can you really have sex with two guys in the same night? Have you done it before?” He asked while pulling her tank top off.

            “No dumbass,” she sighed. “Can we do this another time? I’m tired sweaty and dirty.”

            “Very dirty, you are a very dirty girl and I have to have you now,” he said. It was obvious that his brain was offline and he was thinking with something else.

            “Fine, then let me shower and you can make me coffee,” she said and he laughed.

            “Sometimes you amaze me, but we are getting in together.”

            “Whatever,” she more or less agreed. While he was all over her she looked in the mirror and saw her reflection.

            Exhausted, red lipped with very messy hair, she didn’t like what she saw. For once this was completely unfulfilling and she didn’t want to be like this. Just because people thought she was a s****y w***e didn’t mean she was. Having fun was fine but at some point she crossed a line and didn’t want this. After tonight she was going to take time for herself and subtract sexual contact. Both these guys had feelings for her and let her tell them what to do, it seemed wrong. Eric didn’t notice her inner turmoil; he was too busy kissing her. Automatically she kissed him back and let him take her into the shower. The sooner this was over the sooner she could sleep. Sleep was all she wanted and could think of right now.

 

 

Ricky worked hard and he currently had two jobs. His life was completely devoted to his family. Fun was not something he engaged in, dating either for that matter. Not that he dated or anything because he didn’t have time. Sex was even pretty rare for him. At 23 he felt rundown and old. When he did have any free time he wanted to sleep. That was where he got joy, sleeping. It was sad but true and this was his life. A life that had been forced on him but he did what he had to. If he didn’t who would? There was no way he could let his family be pulled apart. So he had to be strong for them and teach them and guide them. For the most part considering everything that happened in the last 8 years they were relatively undamaged. If they were to survive as a family he had to lead them.

Isaiah was a lot like him and stubborn enough for the both of them. While Ricky did not condone violence, they fought a lot. Still no matter what he always knew he could count on his brother. And Isaiah understood that they had to do whatever it took to keep their family intact. It was one of the few things they agreed on. Iris however was very confrontational and self-centered and drove him crazy. She never listened and annoyed the hell out of everybody with her constant complaining. She went out of her way to find ways to annoy him. More than once she suggested that maybe everybody would be better off if they were split up into foster homes.

Once upon a time they were all so different, even her. Everybody changed after their father died. Part of him wondered sometimes if what Iris was going through was the same as their mother. But sometimes he was certain she behaved the way she did just to be spiteful. Once she was Daddy’s little princess, she was the first girl and it had seemed like she would have been the only. Then out of nowhere come triplets with two girls. When they were born she absolutely hated them. These days the girls were the ones she got along best with, not that it said much. Talking to her was often too much for him.

So he knew something was up when Iris sought him out to talk. They didn’t really talk and that was fine with him. He didn’t want to talk to her he just wanted to sleep. The apartment was empty because all the kids were at school. Perfect time for resting, he had tonight off. During the day he had a landscaping job and at night he had a security job. What kept everybody on task was a chore chart and a pre-planned schedule. It worked so that someone was always home with the boys and someone always made dinner. Mostly Jay did the cooking because it was his thing. And everybody did chores; he didn’t tolerate disorganization or messes. Tonight he just needed sleep, in the past he went days without sleep to get where they were now. Maybe it wasn’t the ideal situation but it was the best he could do right now and nothing was cheap in a family of 12. Iris’ apparent nervousness told him he didn’t want to have this conversation.

“I’m pregnant,” she told him. All he could do was stare at her a moment.

“Jeff?” He asked and she nodded.

“It was stupid I know and I should have been more careful,” she said.

“What are you planning to do? Is he getting a job? Or maybe begging mommy and daddy to take him back?” He asked her this was the absolute last thing he wanted to deal with.

“I don’t know but um I’m keeping the baby,” she said.

“That wasn’t a question; my questions are about your future. Not to sound mean but I can’t afford a child. Cause let’s face it if you have a child then its everybody else’s problem. Don’t deny it we both know the way you are, you can’t be bothered. I have enough going on and enough to worry about. You were stupid and irresponsible and you will suffer the consequences. I’m not saying that your family won’t be here to help you because obviously we would. But it’s your baby and your responsibility so tell your boyfriend to get a job,” he told her.

“God, Ricky you can’t be a little sympathetic? This is a really big thing happening to me and you’re like this? People make mistakes you know like when your s****y girlfriend got pregnant by somebody else. Though that wasn’t an accident it was extortion, she couldn’t get you so she went after a man with money. I work hard and I stay here and help out when I don’t have to. Maybe I should just leave,” she challenged.

“Then leave,” he replied. Her eyes were so big they looked like they were going to pop out their sockets.

“Are you serious?” She asked with tears in her eyes.

“That’s what you’ve been so desperate for. Leave Iris because we all make you so miserable. We are holding you back from whatever the hell it is you want. I’m sick of hearing you whining and complaining. If you don’t want to be here then do us all a favor and leave. I’m not begging you to stay like you want me to. We’ll survive without you. Grow up and act like an adult for once in your life, you’re going to be a mother. Yet you have tantrums like a 3 year old daily,” he paused to take a breath. “Take a look at yourself and figure out what you need to do. I’m not kicking you out; it’s your choice and your threat. Don’t think you’re so much better than the rest of us. I guess you proved you aren’t.”

With Iris you couldn’t coddle her to get results. Tough love was pretty much how he was with everybody. It was important in this family because the boys learned early in life there was no mommy to make things better. They all had to learn self reliance and how life really was. Life wasn’t easy and there was no reason to pretend that it was. And it was unfair but what could he do? Maybe he was a little different with Wildflower but she listened and never refused him or talked back. They had a life that none of them chose and he had to make the best of it. He was the head of the family and had to keep them in line and on task. At this point you were either going to fall in line and be with the family or against the family.

If Iris left would he let her come back? There was no question, he would. Maybe she needed to go out and learn that there were worse things than this family. She was his sister and he loved her even if he wanted to strangle her. What she needed was a wake-up call. Here it was being delivered to her and she’d really see once she had this baby. The sad thing was that it wasn’t that much of a surprise, he should have known. There was always something and he’d had blissful smooth sailing for too long.

“I’m going to sleep, let me know what you’ve decided tomorrow,” he said. Without waiting for a reply he walked away. Down to the room he shared with his brothers. One day things would be ok, right? He hoped so because he needed a break.

 

When Daisy got home she knew something was wrong. With her 5 younger brothers quiet was a rare thing. Even the older ones were loud and crazy. The boys were quietly sitting on the floor watching TV. The older two were on the couch. Nobody was fighting over the remote or complaining and it was a little bizarre. They were all silently eating dinner. Since school was almost over she was going to start working again and had to go stop by the store. So she was home later than usual. Obviously she missed something big, but what? In the kitchen Wildflower was doing dishes while Isaiah, Jay and Ivan were eating at the table. This was so odd; nobody in her family was ever quiet.

“What’s going on?” She asked and they all exchanged looks with each other.

“Iris told Ricky she’s pregnant,” Wildflower answered without turning.

“They had a huge fight about it,” Jay added. “She said she was leaving so he told her to get out.”

“What?” Daisy asked in shock.

“It’s what she deserves, but of course we’re still stuck with her,” Isaiah said.

“She’s been in the bathroom crying on the phone to Jeff for over an hour,” Wildflower said.

“Meanwhile Jeff is out f*****g anything that walks,” Ivan said.

“Does she know that?” Daisy asked not that it was a surprise at all.

“If you mean did any of us tell her, then no. But she definitely knows there’s no denial that strong. He’s not going to take care of this kid,” Ivan replied.

“Ricky was madder than I’ve ever seen him and that’s saying something coming from me,” Isaiah said. That was true because they were always fighting about something.

“Maybe Iris will stop being a b***h now since she knows where she stands with him,” Jay said.

“Doubt it, she’ll be worse,” Ivan said.

“Maybe you should talk to her Dais,” Wildflower suggested. “She hates all of us and if I talk to her I’ll end up slapping her pregnant or not.”

“Fine,” Daisy sighed and headed to her bedroom.

If Iris was having a brat-attack Daisy had to deal with her. Nobody else wanted to and it would end up making things worse. Especially if it was Wildflower who was a little too truthful at times. When she went into the room she was greeted with silence. Iris was lying in her bed silently staring at the ceiling. Her face was wet with tears and her eyes were red. Ironically Iris was the one who told her to always be presentable no matter what.

“Are you Ok?” Daisy asked because she had no idea what to say.

“Jeff doesn’t care and Ricky is pissed at me,” Iris sniffled.

“Ricky loves you and let’s face it we all know Jeff is a loser a*****e. You are better off without him, this is why you have a family,” she said.

“I don’t want this family,” Iris replied.

“Wow, you really are selfish and stupid,” Daisy said surprising them both. “I’ve always looked up to you and I share your need to get out. To get out of this apartment this town this state but this is our family. Jeff isn’t helping you so what will you do? All you’ve done for the last 8 years is complain about everything and everyone. No, none is fair or what we chose for our lives but Ricky stepped up. If he ran away and said to hell with responsibility where would we be? There would be no family and I’m guilty of being unappreciative just like you. The difference though is you’re 21 and pregnant, time to grow up.”

“You’re going to lecture me? Why don’t you go tell Wildflower how you really feel about her? You’re supposed to be triplets but you hate her and you hate Ivan twice as much. And you are ungrateful after everything I’ve done for you? How is it you get to be little Miss Popularity? I seem to remember you coming home crying because girls were mean to you. It was you that begged me to help you. Do you want to be like your s****y tomboy sister? Want to throw on some of Ivan’s clothes so you can all look alike. Though maybe if you did then the guy you’re obsessed with wouldn’t be f*****g her and not you,” Iris said. Of course she would say those things; she did to Wildflower all the time. Now Daisy got to see what it felt like.

“First I don’t hate them I love them more than anything. And I don’t blame her for being with him, it’s not her fault. So you know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Except maybe the anti-family brainwashing you’ve done. I admit I’ve been selfish just like you,” she paused. She didn’t need to go on but she couldn’t help it they were a family of stubborn hotheads.

“But which of us is pregnant with no baby daddy? Everybody knows that Jeff will screw around with anybody and he’s probably doing it now. The only reason you were ever with him is because Ricky said he was bad for you. Guess he was right, huh? To spite everyone else you let him use you and I know you give him money. You wanna play dirty then I will too. I came in here to see how you are because I love you and you are my sister. But why don’t you just go ahead and be a b***h since it’s what you’re best at.”

For a long time there was silence and Daisy started to feel bad. It was like something in her snapped or she was channeling Wildflower. Then again she always just took it when Iris was mean. Iris made things difficult for everybody as her hobby. How was it everybody else’s fault that their father died and their mother was crazy? After their father died and then Evan was born, everything went downhill. This overcrowded apartment sadly was the best accommodations they had since moving out of the house when their father died. Even staying with their grandmother for awhile was a tight squeeze and it was made smaller by their mother’s attitude.

Marguerite was once a happy housewife with a lot of children. Very unexpectedly her husband died leaving her pregnant with 11 children and two of them were babies. Long story short she had a mental breakdown and was hospitalized for over a year, she missed the first year of Evan’s life. So what happened to her 12 children? First they lived with their father’s mother and then grandma and Marguerite didn’t get along. So she moved them out of the house and into an apartment with her sister Maria and her kids. Six months they spent stuffed into a two bedroom apartment with nearly 20 people in it. After that they went back to their grandmother and stayed with her until she died two years ago. Then Ricky moved them into this apartment where they currently lived.

Thinking about it all was a little surreal, was this really they life she lived? Sadly it was and it wasn’t that bad at the moment. Thing were good, well good for this family. Sometimes Daisy felt guilty for disliking her family because it wasn’t anybody’s fault. But when you’re angry you do tend to need someone to blame. She didn’t really blame about for this situation, it was just something that happened. There were times when she hated her mother though, because things that went wrong were usually her fault. It wasn’t always like that Daisy was once a total mommy’s girl. She was starting to wonder if she was ever going to leave here. Didn’t her family need her?

Iris’ behavior was making her look at things differently. Daisy did need to get away and do her own thing and have her own life. But for now maybe she needed to be a little more invested in the family. It wasn’t like she could really go anywhere now; she had two more years of high school. And she needed to stop obsessing over Wildflower and all that mess. They were different for a reason. Yes, she was going to try to be less selfish and more family oriented and cut out the jealousy. She couldn’t be like Iris anymore, it wasn’t right. One thing she would never give up on was trying to make Wildflower a girl, how could she give that up?

“I love you Iris and I wish you could appreciate that everybody else does too,” Daisy said. Then she left the room and hoped for the best for the future.

 

 

Wildflower was curled up on the couch doing of all things homework. She hated doing homework but she had to set a good example. Besides if she didn’t do it who would Ivan copy off of? Daisy was at the other end of the couch also doing homework. The boys were spread out over the floor doing homework. This was the only time it was silent, during homework time. Jay and Ivan had to stay after school for double detention for something they did. So Ricky was picking them up on his way home. Iris was working, her attitude had improved a little in the past couple weeks. Isaiah was in his room not to be disturbed because he was a grouch. It was a pretty normal quiet day for the Laiez family.

Well it was until someone knocked on the door. They didn’t get many visitors other than the occasional aunt checking in on them. Wildflower got up happy to have a break from geometry. When she looked out the peephole she didn’t want to open the door. It was quiet could she pretend nobody was home? That was probably a bad idea so she opened the door. There stood Robin Hill, the social worker that liked to bother them. Considering the size of their family and the fact that a 23 year old was the “parent”, they got visits. Ms. Hill periodically showed up completely unannounced and “checked” on them.

“Hello Wildflower, how are you today?” Ms. Hill asked coming in without invitation.

“I’ll be better once school is over,” Wildflower replied. “Ricky isn’t home yet before you ask.”

“Oh that’s fine I can wait,” she said going into the living room. All eyes turned to stare at her and no one said a word. “Hello children.”

“Hi,” the boys grumbled.

“Hello Ms. Hill, how have you been?” Daisy asked smiling sweetly.

“I’m doing quite well Daisy, thank you,” she said. “What are you all doing?”

“Homework,” Van answered or more like he grumbled.

“Interesting,” she said then went into the kitchen. Wildflower reluctantly followed, this woman had the power to dismantle her family and that wasn’t an option. “Who made the chore chart?” She asked while inspecting it and everything in the kitchen.

“Oh Daisy, she’s the most organized,” Wildflower said. Organized was a nice way to say that her sister was a little anal about things. That was why the chart was color coded and as perfect as it could be. The social worker always nosed around at everything, good thing Ricky didn’t tolerate a messy home.

“Will Ricardo be home soon?” She asked while making notes.

“Yes, it’s almost dinner time,” Wildflower told her. Every day they sat down to have dinner together as a family. Family dinners and chores were Ricky’s way of trying to keep things as normal as possible.

“No one is making dinner,” Ms. Hill pointed out.

“Thursday is pizza day.” Wildflower explained.

As if on cue the door opened and seconds later there was Ricky. Followed by Jay and Ivan who were carrying food and drinks. They all froze when they saw they had company. It was also the time Isaiah decided to reemerge but then again one of the boys might have gone to get him. Nobody said anything and Ms. Hill stared Ricky straight in the eyes and smiled. She liked to mess with them, it obviously amused her. But Isaiah said that she had a crush on Ricky, which was very possible.

“Hello Ricardo, I was being to wonder if I would see you,” she said pleasantly. Even though technically she’d been there 5 minutes so not long at all.

“Hi,” Ricky said. “Was there something you wanted to talk about?”

“Yes,” she paused looking around the room at them. The others were definitely hiding behind the counter eavesdropping. “Every time I visit it seems like this place gets smaller. I don’t know how you do it really. Anyway, that’s why I’m here; I might have a solution to this.”

“What is it?” Ricky asked her suspiciously.

“How would you like to live in a house? No more cramped apartments or staying with relatives. If you want that then I can help you,” she said. It seemed as though collectively they all stopped breathing.