Hey guys, here's Chapter 13. I hope you enjoy it! I was planning on having certain events in this chapter that didn't quite make it in due to the length. I thought about just making Chapter 13 really long, but I found a nice ending point. I also figured you'd rather not wait any longer. I wish I could post more often, but I have a full time job and other responsibilities. I'll keep posting as often as I can. I actually already started Chapter 14. As always, everyone involved in sexual activity is at least eighteen years old. Thank you for all the positive reviews and comments, they are why I keep writing. Enjoy!
-Witty
Steven
Lexi stands in the foyer as she nervously shifts her bare feet while looking at her brother and sister in shock. Her nipples are denting the fabric of her thin robe as her chest rises and falls with her labored breathing. The unexpected appearance of her siblings seems to have rendered the auburn-haired beauty speechless.
"Nothing to say, Alexis?" asks her brother Kyle, glaring at Lexi, his eyes actually twitching.
"Um, uh, hi." Lexi mumbles, shifting from foot to foot, randomly facing her siblings, or me, looking lost.
"Stop it, Kyle." Nicole snaps, her tone harsh, eyes piercing. "You're making her nervous, and we'll never get anything out of her with that attitude."
Nicole steps up and wraps her arms around Lexi, drawing her baby sister in for a hug. Lexi awkwardly raises her arms under her sister's enveloping arms, and hugs her. While Nicole rubs Lexi's back affectionately, their brother rolls his eyes, unable to look at either, or me.
"Well, uh, welcome!" I say in a friendly voice, turning and waving my arm, welcoming them in. "Maybe we should head to the living room to chat?"
"That sounds like a good idea," Nicole says as she pulls back from Lexi, but keeps her arms around the younger girl.
"Fine." Kyle says dismissively, hardly able to glance at me.
Lexi leads the way through the house, while Kyle and I walk behind the two women. Nicole seems unwilling to let go of Lexi, and is holding her hand as we traverse the palatial estate. I can't help but notice that Nicole is almost as lovely as Lexi, appearing to be in her mid-twenties with a nice body, long auburn hair, and an attractive, lightly-freckled face. Naturally, I think my love is more beautiful, but Nicole is definitely a gorgeous woman.
I remember Lexi telling me that her siblings were both very popular in their high school days. Lexi always feels like she has a lot to live up to, and she admires her older siblings. Yet, Lexi is the quiet baby, even now, at eighteen years old. Though she isn't nearly as quiet anymore. The desire to be as popular as her older brother and sister, yet feeling like an outcast, is part of what allowed Lexi to get trapped by Keith.
We reach the main living room, and Lexi leads Nicole to the couch. Kyle sits in one of the wing chairs, well away from everyone else, yet especially from me, taking in the room as if it's filthy, cluttered, or unkempt. I sit in the other wing chair facing the couch. There's several agonizing seconds of utter silence hanging over everyone, as they eye each other nervously, unready to begin.
"Can I get anyone something to drink? Eat?" I offer.
"No, thank you." Nicole says with a friendly smile. I notice she's still unwilling to release Lexi's hand.
"I'm fine." Kyle responds in a rude grunt.
"So, um, hi!" Lexi chirps, looking awkwardly at her older brother.
"Hello, Alexis." Kyle says calmly.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Lexi'?" she asks, her tone strong.
"You'll always be Alexis, my baby sister." Kyle says, smiling for the first time since he got here.
"You'll always be our baby sister." Nicole says affectionately.
"H- How did you find me?" Lexi asks.
"We would have found you sooner if you'd bothered to call or text when you needed help." Kyle says, the frown back on his face.
"Kyle!" Nicole hisses.
"I don't need help!" Lexi insists. "I'm doing just fine, thank you!"
"Anyway," Nicole interjects before Lexi or Kyle can continue speaking, "Kyle and I went to our parents' house for din-"
"Your parents." Lexi says in a voice full of venom, "They aren't my parents anymore."
"Fine." Nicole sighs, "Mine and Kyle's parents then. We went there for dinner and obviously noticed you weren't around." Nicole then bites her lower lip, looking devastated.
"We asked, and they told us you were no longer a part of this family." Kyle says when Nicole can't continue.
"Of course we asked why..." Nicole says, taking a deep breath, "That's when they told us about the videos and pictures."
"Alexis, what were you thinking?" Kyle asks, disappointment written all over his face.
Lexi doesn't speak. She looks down at her toes, her eyes glistening. Nicole releases Lexi's hand so she can wrap her arm around her sister's shoulders and draw her in. Lexi buries her face in her big sister's shoulder as Nicole squeezes her upper arm.
"It isn't Lexi's fault." I state firmly.
"And what would you know about it?" Kyle asks with a sneer.
I glance over at Lexi and see her nod her auburn head. From the way her head is buried in Nicole's shoulder, I can't see her face, but I can tell she is giving me permission to tell her siblings what happened. This won't be an easy conversation.
"Lexi was raped by a man named Keith Strulk." I state plainly.
The reaction is immediate. Nicole lets out a loud gasp and covers her mouth with her hand. Kyle's eyes go wide and I can see him grip the arms of the wing chair tightly. I can tell he wants to go and find Keith, and kill him. I understand the sentiment.
"He would feed her drugs and share her with his friends. He took pictures and videos. Keith made her feel worthless. She ended up hooking up with guys on her own after that." I explain.
"Alexis, are you an addict?" asks Kyle seriously.
"N-no." Lexi mutters as she lifts her head from Nicole's shoulder. She brushes a lock of hair behind her ear before continuing, "He just gave me pills sometimes so I wouldn't really know what was going on."
"Oh my God, we need to have him arrested!" Nicole exclaims.
"It isn't that easy." I say, "There's no evidence or anything. Just Lexi's word."
"And you're saying her word isn't good enough?" Nicole asks, glaring at me for the first time.
"It's good enough for me, but it won't put someone in jail, sadly." I explain calmly, "He has been reported, too." I say, slightly stretching the truth. He was reported, just by my daughter, not Lexi.
"Fine." Nicole snaps before hugging Lexi to her chest and running her fingers through the younger girl's hair. "So, where do you come in?"
"Isn't it obvious?" asks Kyle with a sneer, "He took advantage of her when she was vulnerable."
"He did not!" Lexi exclaims before I can respond. She sits up and glares at her brother, "Steven showed me what it was like to have a guy actually care about me! He loves me and I love him!"
