IRIS

The Beginning

I walk home quickly from my shitty day of school, carrying my shitty backpack down the shitty streets for the fourth year in a row. The cold rain falls steadily as I throw my favorite hoodie over my head, scrunching my wild curls to the sides of my face. The streets are noisy, but the usual car horns and occasional sounds of breaking glass are louder than they would have been if I had come home right after the final bell. I know better than that, though; coming home any later might probably mean my life, but coming home early would mean another fight, and although I'm in the perfect fighting mood to handle myself, I don't have time to be dealing with any more shitty events. I have better things to do.

By better things, I mean making sure that Jaden and Kira were okay; although my little brother and sister are old enough to be on their own, it's the idea of them being around my stepdad Rick that pisses me off. They probably haven't come home from school yet. The wind whips down the block as I shrug against it. I've already had a couple of incidents with Rick while Mom was out of town, but I haven't told her about them. Usually, the bruises and cuts can be blamed on school sports. But if he messes with Jaden and Kira once, I'll make sure that he gets what's coming for him. I take a few slow breaths. You need to calm down. I've done a good job not to lose my temper with Rick lately, and hopefully he'll lighten up to me, too.

Thunder echoes down the block as I hurry along the broken sidewalk, and the shouts of a group of guys behind me grow louder. I focus my gaze directly in front of me. I'm almost there. The wind whistles through my hood and into my ears as I re-adjust the straps of my backpack; the yells and hoots of the guys slowly fade as I round the corner, nervously hopping up the stairs and throwing the key into the locks of the rusted, barred door.

I breathe out a heavy sigh after closing and locking the door, sliding my backpack onto the dirty black carpet.

"I thought your mom told you to come home after school, Kay."

My gaze rises as I turn around, squinting at the ugly figure in front of me. "I thought I told you that my name was Cadence, Rick."

The five o'clock shadow frowns back at me. "You have a lot of nerve. For your sake, you better hope that Jaden and Kira don't have that same attitude problem."

My jaw tightens. "For your sake, you better back the hell off, before I-"

My mom's curly hair is the first thing I see, followed by a swinging magazine. I dodge out of the way, walking around Rick and the couch. "What did I tell you about coming home late?! You know how dangerous it can get after 3:45, Cadence. I needed you to go to the store to get things for your brother and sister, and Ricky and I needed something to drink for dinner tonight. Don't even think about walking away from me!"

"Mom, I told you yesterday that I had to stay after for a school project," I reason, swatting the folded paper away from me each time that she swings. My mom brushes her hair out of the way with her other hand, sighing loudly.

"And what did I respond with?" She replies loudly. "Oh, right: "Sure, baby, but as long as you come back BEFORE 3:45; you know that-"

"The neighborhood gets crazy after 3:45," I finish mockingly. "Yeah, I know. I just lost track of time because this was really important; it's the last grade of the quarter."

"I don't know why you're trying so hard," my stepdad hiccups. "It's not like you can afford to go to college." I start replying angrily before mom interrupts me.

"Ricky, please. Don't be so pessimistic; I know that Cadence will find a way." She looks at me with a tired smile on her face. "I just got my check from the restaurant for the week; can you stop at the gas station to get a few things?"

"I thought you didn't want me out after 3:45," I remark, half-sarcastic. Rick scowls and picks up his pop can.

"Don't sass your mom, just do what she asks you and do it right for once."

"Fuck off," I hiss, shortly being greeted with a smack from the newspaper mom was still holding. "Sorry."

I'm only half-listening while mom runs through her grocery list, watching Rick menacingly as I throw my hood back on. The paper check creases neatly against my leg, and I unlock the door loudly before I step back out into the cold autumn rain.