The Deranged: Pt 1 Ch. 2

Potter jumped into a defensive stance and readied her arms. 1

"Who's there?" She waited calmly as the intruder approached her. Five foot nine, dark blond hair and blue eyes, Moss Wilson was a sight to see. At fourteen he was already the heartthrob and heartbreaker in his high school. He was also Potter's young brother, second oldest, and a real pain to deal with. 2

"You mustn't step onto holy ground Miss Potter. For surely as ye stand saints will peck out your eyeballs and drag your soul to hell! Whooooo!" Moss threw his hands around impersonating restless souls. Potter sat back down a closed her laptop. Boys can be so annoying. How does he always know where to find me? She put the notebook into its case and pushed the case into the bottom of her fleece sleeping bag. She sat down and criss-crossed her legs to make room for her brother up in the rafters. 3

"What do you want pipsqueak? Besides to make my life miserable." 4

Moss plopped down on Potter first before rolling over onto his own side. He lay on his back and exhaled deeply before explaining himself. "I figured since the rest of us are miserable at home. I should come and give you a taste of what the bitch is putting us through. She hates the rest of us, you were her pride and joy. With out you around to protect us younguns she's a tyrant, a terror, a bitch."5

Potter pulled her feet close and closed her eyes. "She don't hate you. Mom's just mad that she lost her job again. As soon as she sleeps with her boss again, he'll rehire her. It's shitty but that's life. And she doesn't favor me. At all." Then she thought more. "You shouldn't say bitch. That's our mom, Mossy."6

The boy grimaced at his pet name. More than his given name, Moss hated "mossy". He closed his eyes as well letting the anger ebb away. "Whatever. She still beats us though. When yo were there she'd...well you could fight her. She hits Chrys now."7

They sat in silence. Potter rubbed her arms and wondered if her brother was telling the truth. He had been know to lie a bit. They both did. It was their duty to keep the younger three happy and content. They had told the boldest, most erroneous lies to their mom and siblings. But never to each other. At least not about important things.8

Potter banged her fist against the wood and started to gather her things. she knew it was too early. She hadn't forgiven her mother for kicking her out and embarrassing her in front of her school. But Chrysanthemum was off limits! The girl was only seven five years old! She can't defend herself when the others are at school. I'll have to teach her how to play Hide and Don't Peek.9

Potter paused as she thought of her childhood survival game. Moss had been right, she was the favorite. but not in a pedistool way. No, Monica Wilson favored Potter as the butt of her anger and frustration. Everything was Potter's fault. And when Potter caused even more trouble Potter got beaten. At least until Potter turned ten. The young girl had enrolled into a kick boxing class for a few years. Potter only used her skills to keep bullies and predators at bay. But when her instructor gave her permission to use it against anyone who posed a threat, Potter stopped arriving at school with bruises and busted lips. Monica had been furious. The winter of her tenth year, had been the first time that Potter got locked out of the house. 10

She had been scared at first. But then the people at the shelter let her stay in a locked room for the night. Potter learned to rough it on her own whenever she got kicked out. Sometimes it would be both her and Moss. Other times Potter would stay away from the house for days. 11

Potter stopped thinking about the past and focused on the future. She and Moss were away from home. Which left just Daisy and Leaf to watch over Chrys. Daisy was to self absorbed to care and Leaf, bless his heart, was only eleven himself and was too skinny to stand much of a chance. Potter shuddered to think of the scene she would witness soon. She didn't want to go home. she could tell Moss to fuck off and leave her be. I'm only fifteen, i can't care for my family yet. I want to be a kid and have fun. I shouldn't be sleeping in a church. I shouldn't have to worry about how my sister is being treated while I'm away. I shouldn't have to worry about how my mom will react when I walk through the door. But Potter gave up. She knew why and when she would return home every time. Because unlike her father. She cared and wouldn't abandon everybody when the going got tough.12

Moss studied his sister closely. He could could tell that she was tired. He didn't know what to say so he told a joke he had heard from Leaf.13

"Hey, listen to this. What do you call a water polo team, that's all named Jennifer?"
Silence.
"Hydro-Jen." Moss spread his arms as if to say "Ta-da!" and grinned maniacally. "Yea, when pointdexter told it to me, I didn't get it either. But apparently it's a component on the time table."14

"Element on the Periodic able, dipshit." But Potter was smiling. Leave it to Leaf to get her happy, even when he wasn't around. She knew that Moss understood the joke, he was just trying, and succeeded in getting her to keep talking. Because if Potter had no time to think, she'd have no time to say no.15

Moss tapped the floor several times. "You know we all could stay here. Leave her all by herself and live in a church of all places. remember how she used to say that you would burst into flames if your unholy arse ever stepped foot in a sacred place. so either mom was wrong or this is a fake church."16

Potter nodded agreeing, then narrowed her brows in second thought. "Moss, how come I can't just be holy?17

"Idaknow. Maybe you need to change."18

"You know what I meant."19

"You're too mean to be holy. Maybe if you came home..."20

Potter stood up and through her hands in the air. "Don't give me that 'nice people get nice things' bullshit, Moss. I've heard it 1000 times. You've heard it 1000 times. I swear if you pull that hypocritical fuck act on me again. I slice your throat. I just don't need that right now." Potter slammed her fist into the wooden frame before her. Echoes bounced of the walls for a myriad of minutes. Potter glanced at her knuckles. Not bruised but bleed lightly. She bit back the pain and acted like it didn't bother her. Moss sat up and walked over to his sister. He reached for her hand and waited patiently. Potter tried to brush passed him, but he shoved her into the wall.21

He looked dead into her eyes and waited. Potter looked away as she offered him her right wrist. Moss checked the tendons and skin around her knuckles for any major damages. Once she passed a flexing test, Moss began to massage her hand. He wiped the blood off her cuts then applied want ointment he had on it, followed by a bandaid. Then he kissed it for good measure and pulled his older sister in close. Potter giggled a little.22

"What's so funny?"23

"Since when do you carry a first aid kit in your pockets?"24

"Since my sister took up pounding her fist through wooden beams."25

They stood for three seconds before breaking apart. Affection was not an often commodity in the Wilson household. It came in moments then life went on as usual. Moss coughed and scratched the back of his head. 26

"You done with dramatic girl stuff? Cause I'm getting hungry. And i miss your cooking."27

Potter leaned in close to him and pushed him down. Stepping over his legs, she gripped her sleeping bag and spare clothes. She took one last look around the church rafters. If things went well she wouldn't be seeing this place again for another month or two.
Potter pulled the rest of her stuff together and slung it over her back. "Ok, let's go home."