Tough Girl

Chapter 5

I left the gym in a hurry before I could do something else to humiliate myself. I walked over to my car when I heard someone saying my name, my shoulders tensed at the voice and it made me realize that it wasn't just someone.

It was him, the person I have tried to forget. Not even a psychologist could fix me because of what he did to me. I wish I didn't but I looked at him and found him with her. The girl he chose above me. What does a person do in a situation like this? Knowing that he cheated on you with the girl he is dating now, looking all in love and happy. Then you think to yourself, what did you do wrong?

He looked good, picked up a few pounds that made him look healthy and he looked happy. I cursed the gods for that. It wasn't fair after what he has done to me. 

I looked away from them and continued making my way over to my car but he stopped me and I hated that he still had power over me. "Please, we are not here to do any harm." He said. "I don't want to talk to either of you. I have nothing left to say." I walked away, unlocked my car, and got in behind the steering wheel. For years I wanted to know why. Why did he choose her? Why did he not love me? Wasn't I good enough for him? And why did she decide to break us apart? I inserted the key into the ignition and turned the key bringing the car to life. I reserved out of the parking lot and drove off forcing myself not to look in the rearview mirror.

My mind was clouded with all these questions that I almost forgot about my brother's football game. Josh was the youngest among us all. Like any other family, he was my mom's favorite. He could do nothing wrong in her eyes. All his slip-ups in school and varsity were brushed underneath the carpet and forgotten about. Mine still gets thrown in my face every day. But Josh was still my brother, and because we were only four years apart it made us get along very well.

My father was the first to notice my arrival while the rest of the family were standing all crowded next to the field talking. "Hey, kiddo." My dad greeted me and overwhelmed with a hug. "Hey, dad," I murmured into his shoulder. "You okay?" He asked once he released me. "I'm good," I answered and noticed that he didn't believe me.

"Did something happen?" He questioned. "No, dad. I'm good, really. How is Josh doing?" I asked. "His team scored the first touchdown. And it looks like he has a girlfriend." I frowned at the word girlfriend. "Josh doesn't have girlfriends. He has girls and a lot of them." My dad chuckled. "Please don't mention that to your mom."

"How can I? When he is her golden boy." My dad's eyes showed some sympathy. "You are my golden girl and you have never disappointed me." I smiled at my father. "Thanks, dad." He nodded and planted a kiss on my forehead. "You sure you are okay? You want to talk about it?" I shook my head. "Everything is alright, dad." I then made my over to the rest of the family. My two older brothers Mike and Luke were here with their wives and children. And the Maggie with her daughter Iris and then Lee-Anne with Justin. We were one big family. "We thought you were going to bail out on this one," Lee-Anne said. "That would only put a bounty on my ass." Maggie laughed.

"Dad told me that our little brother has a girlfriend." Both of them nodded. "A cheerleader nevertheless." I quirked an eyebrow. "A cheerleader? Are you sure? Because everyone knows the rule about becoming a cheerleader or dating one." I asked.

"Look for yourself." Lee-Anne pointed to a girl who was dressed in a cheerleading uniform and pom-poms. "Oh, s**t. Mom is probably having a hard time accepting it." Maggie pulled up her shoulders. "She hasn't said a word yet."

"She will probably let it slide because he is her baby boy." My sisters giggled. "Like you were an angel," Lee-Anne said looking at me. "Yeah, I had to cover for you when you used to date that guy who was in a rock band. He was covered from top to bottom in tattoo's and had long hair. Mom would have freaked if she had to find out." Lee-Anne snickered. "Oh, yeah I still remember him. It's a shame he loved his guitar more than me." Maggie just shook her head not believing this.

"Was I the only decent sister between the two of you?" Maggie asked. "Not our fault you decided to marry your highschool sweetheart," Lee-Anne replied. "And I don't regret my decision," Maggie replied confidently.

"Except you have to buy yourself a vibrator to satisfy your every need," Lee-Anne said. Maggie rolled her eyes. "A girl got needs." She muttered. "And he makes me feel unattractive after having Iris. Like I don't excite him anymore." Lee-Anne quirked an eyebrow. "Did he say that?" She shook her head. "I can see that I picked up on some weight as my clothes don't fit anymore and they make me feel ugly." She admitted.

"What did he say when he found out that you bought yourself a vibrator?" Lee-Anne asked. Maggie looked heavenward and exhaled. "He was mad. Lectured me about that we have a six-year-old in the house and I'm acting like the child." She didn't look happy when she told us."Did you at least tell him why you got it in the first place?" Maggie nodded. "He wasn't thrilled." She replied. "Then he should realize that he has duties and better get to him or the vibrator stays." I tried to stifle a chuckle but like me, I could never master being serious during serious times. "It just feels so insane that we fight about s*x. I mean the vibrator should've excited him, no?"Maggie looked hopeless."Maybe men act differently. Not all approve." Maggie pulled up her shoulders.

After the game, Josh made his way over to us. He greeted mom first as usual and then made his way over to the rest of us. "I think you left something back on the field." Luke teased him motioning towards the cheerleader.

Josh just smirked at them. "Jealous much boys that I get to have all these ladies to myself while you two jackasses are married?" Mike threw him the bird while Luke kissed his wife. "The best decision I've made. " Luke said with a wink. "Sleeping with just one woman the rest of your life? That sounds pretty boring." Josh replied."I'm sure mom is dying to know about your s*x-life." I commented making my brothers and sisters smirk. "Hmm, not so tough when mommy's around, eh?" I continued. "Yeah, we wouldn't want to disappoint mommy now, would we?" Maggie joined in. "Okay, fine. You guys win." We chuckled.

"So, who is the girl checking you out?" Luke asked him. "Just a girl," Josh replied. "Hmm, of course, it is. You can never stick to just one girl." Josh pulled up his shoulders. I turned away from them when I felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket. "Amy?" I answered my phone when I saw the caller-id.

"Hey, sorry to bother you. My car broke down on my way home, they are loading it now on the back of a pick-up truck."

"You want me to come and pick you up?" I asked looking up and noticing my mother was looking at me with narrowed eyes. "If you can or I'll just grab a cab." She suggested."I can't let you take a cab. I'll come and pick you up." I told her before hanging up. I made my way back to my family to tell them that I'm leaving. "I need to go, Amy's car broke down and I told her that I'll pick her up," I told them.

"I'm sure she can take a cab." My mom said."Not now, mom. I'm going." Everyone in the family knew my mother and I didn't get along very well. They always turned their heads whenever we started to argue or when there was evidence of us starting an argument. "That girl has been trouble since you became friends with her." My mom said. "Well, mom. She was there for me when everything crashed around me and didn't judge me. I can't say the same about you. Now if you'll excuse me. I got to go."I said my goodbyes to the rest of my family and made my way.