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4
Gia
padded out of her bedroom, dressed in a short black flared skirt and a little
red top with her black boots in her hand. Marcus turned around when he heard her
come in and sit down to put her shoe on, she looked beautiful, her long braids
draped off her shoulders as she bent down. “Gia.” He said. Jacob, who
hadn’t noticed her until Marcus said her name, came running up from playing
with his toy. “What?” she glanced up at Marcus as she tied her shoe.
“Gia!” Jake hugged her roughly. She nearly fell over but she steadied
herself against the wall. “Hey buddy.” She laughed as she hugged her brother
back. “Do you always go to school dressed like that?” Marcus asked. “Like
what?” Gia raised an eyebrow at him. Marcus sighed. “Gia we need to have a
talk.” He said. “You were serious when you said that?” Gia said laughed
slightly. Taggert looked into her eyes and she could tell he was serious, she
sighed and she got up. “Stay in here and play with your toys Jacob, we’ll
have breakfast in a minute.” Marcus said. Jacob was not happy about it, but he
nodded his head and walked over to his toy cars and started to play.
Gia
had walked into the kitchen, got herself a bowl of cereal and sat down with it
at the table. Marcus pulled out a chair and sat next to her. “Gia I understand
that mom was really hard on you.” “Marcus.” Gia said in a warning tone. He
held his hand up. “I know I don’t know what it was like for you, I can only
imagine. But the fact is Gia that you don’t live with them anymore. You live
here now and although I want you to have your freedom, I also have to remind
myself that you’re still a kid and I need to keep you out of trouble.”
Marcus said. “I’m not a little kid Marcus.” Gia looked at him in
annoyance. “I didn’t say little kid, but like it or not you are not an adult
Gia. It’s my job to keep you safe now, I’m hardly a parent but I am your
brother and I love you, I need to raise you the way that feels right in my
heart.” Marcus said. Gia glanced away from him. “What are the rules?” she
asked looking back at him. Marcus hadn’t really put much thought into it; he
just knew that they needed some. “Well first of all… Nikolas, if he gives
you a ride home after school you need to come right home. No stopping someplace
to… I don’t know.” Marcus said. Gia almost laughed at him. “OK.” She
nodded her head. “And um, curfew is at eight on weeknights and eleven on
weekends, but I need to know where you are at all times. Oh and the clothes Gia,
we’re going shopping this weekend for… something besides skirts.” Marcus
waved his hand towards her short skirt. “Eight?” was Gia’s only objection.
“Just on school nights.” Marcus said. “Fine.” Gia nodded her head. “OK
I think that’s it, other than that it’s just one big team.” Marcus’s
mouth curled into a smile. Gia laughed slightly. “I’ll go get Jake ready.”
Gia got up; she stopped when she reached the door. “Marcus.” He looked up at
her. “You’re the best parent I’ve ever had.” She said and then walked
out.
“OK
you have his jacket?” Marcus asked as he rushed around to get ready for work.
“Yeah I got it don’t worry.” Gia said. “Oh I forgot to tell you that
Alexis is coming over this evening so try to come home on time because she wants
to see you.” Marcus said. Gia looked up from putting Jake’s shoe on his
foot. “What?” she asked. “Alexis… coming over… try to be home on
time.” He said slowly. Gia blinked away her annoyance at his attitude. “Why
is Alexis coming over?” she asked. “She needs to discus a few things with us
so I invited her to stay for dinner.” Marcus explained as he grabbed his keys.
“She couldn’t just tell us over the phone?” Gia asked. “Gia.” Marcus
said irritably to her as he shook his head. “See you later.” He said.
“Bye.” Gia sat before he walked out. “Alexis and Marcus?” she turned to
Jake. He laughed at her. “My thoughts exactly.” Gia said.
“Hey
Gia.” Zander walked up to her. It was a different feeling for Gia coming to
school today. Unlike yesterday she wasn’t nervous, and her day didn’t start
out in violence like it used to. She smiled brightly at Zander as he approached
her and hugged him when he got to her. “How are you Zander?” she asked,
pulling out of the hug and walking with him. “Eh, I’m good I guess.” He
shrugged. “What’s going on?” Gia stopped and looked at him, sensing that
he needed to tell her something. “It’s just that my dad is back in town. I
hate it when he thinks he can come in and out of my life and every time just
think that we can start where we left off. He tries to tell me what to do and I
just think he doesn’t have a right since I’m basically raising myself you
know?” Zander said. Gia nodded her head. After Zander’s mom dried of cancer
when he was eight, so it was just he and his father. His father Cameron was a
very busy man and would often leave town while Zander stayed home. Gia knew that
it was hard on him but always thought that Zander didn’t want to complain
about his life when hers was so much worse. “Your dad needs to realize that he
needs to choose between having a relationship with you and being successful in
his career, he can’t have both.” Gia said. “Yeah you’d think being a
psychiatrist he would know that.” Zander answered. Gia smirked. “Hey you
want to come over tonight and have dinner? Alexis is coming over, I’m sure
Marcus won’t mind having you over.” Gia said. “Yeah sure.” Zander nodded
his head. “OK I’ll see you later.” Gia waved at him before she went to
class.
Gia
smiled at Brandon as she walked in to class, and took the seat next to him.
“Hey Gia, how are you fitting in?” Brandon smiled over at her. Gia had to
force herself to remember that he was Nikolas’s brother as she looked at him.
They had been through this before, but his eyes were so blue and he was always
so nice to her. “OK I guess.” Gia shrugged. “If you want, you can sit with
me and some of my friends at lunch, you should get to know some people.”
Brandon said. Gia thought about it, no one had offered to introduce her to their
friends and hangout, not Zander or Nikolas. “That would be great Brandon thank
you.” Gia nodded her head. “So have you seen Nikolas today?” Brandon
asked. Gia shook her head. “He’s so excited to have you at school he’s
driving me crazy.” Brandon laughed softly. Gia laughed in return, she stopped
when the teacher walked in and everyone focused on the class.