Everyone's allergic to poison ivy

Everybody gets the itch

Everybody hates that 

✝ Chapter Nine | Poison Ivy. ✝

        If there was anything I knew about my mother, it was that she could really make my life miserable if she wanted to.

        Her punishment for this Sunday evening was to send me to dinner with her sister, Joyce, and her two children, Brady and Hanna.

       I, like many others, am not the type to enjoy family reunions. I believed that extended family should be just that-extended. Knowing this, Mom sent me away with the three most annoying people I have ever met. I was embarrassed to share the same blood as them.

       My aunt Joyce had an odd fixation with beauty pageants. As a kid, she entered many pageants (none of which she won), but that sort of fueled her addiction with them.

       I remembered when she would try to get me to be in one. She claimed I was too boy-ish, just because I didn’t wear makeup. So yeah, I let her put makeup on me and my face broke out for weeks.

      Since then, she’s never asked me again.

       Besides, she had already passed the gene to her fifteen year old daughter. Hanna probably carried around a mirror everywhere she went. She was one of those people who stopped every time they saw their reflection. The girl was obsessed with perfection.

       She had to get her platinum-blonde hair dyed every week just so she could maintain the fresh color. And if you were ever wondering what to buy her for her birthday, it would be a $500 gift card to Sephora. Hanna drowned herself in foundation and mascara, and that alone made me hate her.

         “Oh my god!” she shrieked suddenly, almost making her mother stop the car.

          Aunt Joyce peeked over her shoulder, a concerned look morphing onto her face. “Honey, what is it?”

         “I think I forgot my Cherry Jubilee lip gloss!” Her bright blue eyes went wide as she spread her arms across the backseat, holding me back.

           Her mother sighed in relief, placing a hand over her heart. “Just use your spare.”

          “Mother! Are you insane? My spare isn’t as red as my main one.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, flipping most of it in my face. “God! It’s like no one understands me!”

        “Chill out, Hanna,” I whined. “We’re going to be eating anyway. It’s just going to smear right off.”

          She sent me a nasty glare, narrowing her eyes until they were barely visible. “I’m not going to eat that disgusting food. I have to maintain my weight if I want to look like how Keira Knightly looked in Vogue magazine.” She looked me over, laughing at my appearance. “It’s not like you know anything about Vogue.”

           Okay, that did it. I could try to get along with her, but at the end of the day,  the beast had to be unleashed. “Maybe I don’t know about Vogue, but I know your thighs are way too fat to fit into a size two anymore,” I retorted.

        Hanna swallowed a sharp breath as she stared at me in shock. Unable to think of a better comeback, she snorted and began to scroll through her cell phone.

        “Hey Lemon, I didn’t know you got down and dirty.” Brady nudged my side obnoxiously and wiggled his eyebrows.

            “Call me Lemon one more time and I’ll squeeze you like one.”

           Brady snorted a laugh. “It’s not going to happen, Lemon. Besides, I have a feeling that you’re not as badass as you may look.”

           I hated Brady. He was obnoxious, annoying, mean, and talkative. Seriously, this dude had no heart, whatsoever. You would think family members would look out for each other, right? Nope. Brady was responsible for most of the embarrassing moments in my life, including my sixteenth birthday.

            I knew my sweet sixteen was going to be unforgettable. My mom paid for a venue and I invited everyone from school. Almost everyone showed up because they couldn’t resist a good party. It was a pretty good party and everyone was having fun. I truly thought that it was the best moment in my life. That was until Brady slipped some chopped peanuts into my food, knowing that I was severely allergic.

            Long story short, I looked like a blowfish in front of everyone.

            It was then, Brady coined the name Lemon because I just so happened to be wearing a yellow dress that day.

            I was well aware that family members were supposed to make fun of each other. But there are some lines that you just don’t cross.

          Brady wrapped a casual arm around my shoulder, tugging me closer to him as he held his phone up to my face. “Talk about embarrassing!” he hollered. “Now everyone knows you got your cherry popped!”

            “What are you-” My eyes grew wide at the sight of my face on Brady’s phone. It was the same picture Adam showed me. I swear I almost had a heart attack right there and then. How the hell did he see it? My cousins didn’t even go to the same school as me. “Where did you get this!” I snatched the phone away from him and began scrolling through all the media.

       “It’s everywhere. I bet the whole county is talking about this. People even made manipulations of it. There are videos with funny music. They have pictures of you with different hairstyles and different props.” He grabbed the phone and scrolled down. “This one is my favorite.”

           I laid eyes on the screen and nearly screamed. My face, as shocked as it was, was placed on another person’s body. Another person’s naked body.

          One second at a time, I could feel the blackness waving over me.

✝      ✝     ✝     ✝ 

            We arrived at the restaraunt minutes later.

            I tried so hard to focus on my dinner, but I couldn’t help but to think back to the picture. It had gone viral. Just the thought of it made my throat tighten.

            What had I done to anybody to deserve this? Surely, there were plenty of pretty cheerleaders they could’ve targeted. Why me?

            “Hey Lexi, are you okay?” I heard Aunt Joyce’s soft voice call out. She reached over the table and placed a hand on mine. “You look out of it.”

            Brady nodded and leaned towards his mom. “Yeah, because her face is in the latest issue of Playboy magazine.” His dark mocha eyes landed on me as an arrogant smirk curved his mouth.

          I clenched my teeth tighter, avoiding his gaze. I couldn’t let him get to me. That’s what he wanted. I had to remain calm and breathe.

           Brady’s thick, dark brows shot up as he pointed to the menu. “Look! They have Lemon Pepper Linguini! Lemon, this is perfect for you. It might act as an aphrodisiac just in case you want to get your freak on later, huh?” He observed me through his dark lashes, his smirk staying strong.

            I had to give it up to my mom.

            She sure knew how to pick my poison.

           In a blink of an eye, I leaped over the table. Drinks fell to the floor and food splattered all over my clothes, but I didn’t care one bit. I let out an animal-like growl and clutched onto his shirt, shaking him furiously. He tried to push me away but my anger powered my adrenaline.

          I shook him as hard as I could, slamming his head against the seat. The force made us both tumble to the ground where I continued to evoke him.  

         By now, I had already gained an audience. Some were concerned, others - mostly men - cheered me on.

            I moved my hands down to his neck and tightened my grip around her flesh, intending to choke the life out of him. He kicked and screamed but it was no use. At this point, my mind was filled with rage and I wouldn’t mind if I killed him.

            I hated him. I hated him so much.

        Suddenly, I felt strong hands wrap around me and pull me away from Brady. I didn’t resist because I knew it was for his own safety, but I continued to claw at him, successfully digging my fingernails into his cheek and dragging them across.

          It left four red lines in its place and finally, I was satisfied. There’s something he’ll have to wake up to every morning.

            “I’m good,” I said to the waiters who pulled me away. “I’m good! Let me go.”

          “You crazy bitch!” Brady shouted from the floor. “Mom!” Aunt Joyce ran to his son’s side and began to comfort him.

            I took a glance at Hanna and noticed she was wearing an amused grin.

            “Lexus Lennon! What the hell is the matter with you?” Aunt Joyce scolded, giving me a serious look.

           My eyes scanned the restaurant. All eyes were on me with mouths agape and silence filling the room.

            That was when reality dawned on me.

            What have I done?

          Almost instantly, I turned around and speeded out of the restaurant faster than the speed of light, trying to escape all the horribleness that I had caused.

✝      ✝      ✝      ✝

            Hours later, I was roaming the streets with no right state of mind.

         I knew Aunt Joyce wasn’t looking for me. I was pretty sure she vowed never to invite me anywhere again. Of course, Brady would have influenced her decision by pretending to act innocent.

            I didn’t know where to go. I was too far out of town to find my way home. I had no money, no cell phone.

            The only thing I had was what was left of my dignity. And it was very little.

            I was cold, lost, and confused.

         Continuing to walk down an unknown path, I heard a slight ruffle of sounds from a distant location. I slowed down a bit and peered around the corner into a dark alley. Two figures in black hoodies stood across from each other. They were both male based on their deep voices.

            “That’s going to be a hundred and fifty,” one of them said.

            “One hundred fifty? No way, man. I only got a hundred.”

            “This shit is hard to find. It’s one-fifty. Take it or leave it.”

          There was a long pause. “Fine.” One of the hooded men dug into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash.

            The other hooded man took the cash and placed an object into the man’s hands. I couldn’t tell what it was from afar. It looked like some sort of package. “Nice doin’ business with you.”

            I took in a sharp breath, suddenly realizing this was a drug deal in process.

           The two men shot their attention to me and I tried to duck quickly to conceal myself.

            “Hey! Who’s out there?”

            Shit. Shit! SHIT!

            Run. That’s what you need to do.

            I picked up my feet and started off into the other direction. Before I could get far, a cold hand grasped onto my wrist, pulling me back.

            A high pitched squeal burst out from my mouth. “Don’t hurt me! Please don’t hurt me!”

            “Lexi?”

           I looked up at the sound of my name, instantly coming into contact with pools of blue. “J-Jack?” The words came out before I could even stop them. Was that him? Drug dealing? My eyes dropped down to his attire, a black hoodie and black jeans.

       “Lexi, what the hell are you doing at this side of town? And what happened to you?” he questioned, his eyes darting back and forth between mine.

           “It’s a l-long s-story.” My teeth chattered uncontrollably as I shivered from the cold. “I n-need a r-ride h-home.”

         Jack looked me over, studying me. He shook his head in disbelief but soon, a grin curved his pink lips. “Okay, come on.” 

 ✝

A/N: I was planning to make this chapter happen later but I thought the story needed a bit of action. So actually, the whole Stephanie-drama will be next chapter. And also, if you guys haven't noticed. I dedicate chapters to random people who comment...so comment?

Question of the chapter.....what do you think of the cousins? 

Voteeee and commennttt and sharee the love you little monsters. 

~lara <3