AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1
Darah
G
rowing up in the bible belt of East Texas, my oddness stood out. I had this way about me where I pick up on other people’s emotions. I read my tea leaves and listen to my gut, my intuition. I guess you’d say I am an empath.
Sometimes, I’d even get a vivid vision when I get touched. My mom says I am gifted. And that I get it from her grandmother’s side. I have always been a misfit, and growing up here in the bible belt hasn’t always been easy for me. My younger brother Jason had made life here so much easier since he took up for me a few years ago.
When I was at our town park, I was reading my book about sparkly vampires under a nice and cozy shady tree when my brother and his jock pals walked by.
“Look, that’s the freak my girlfriend was telling us about. Be careful! One look, and she’ll hex you,” Clayton said, mocking me.
I had ignored them as usual, but it was the first time my brother ever witnessed anyone messing with me.
“Watch your fucking mouth! You ignorant son bitch!” Jason went on a rant as he gave Clayton an upper-hand punch. Jason knocked him flat on the ground. Clayton was a wannabe rodeo cowboy and football jock. His giant belt buckle caught my eye when he tried to scoot on his ass to back away from Jason’s towering form.
“That’s my sister, and she is not a witch! You will respect her, or I will put my own hex on you and be your worst fucking nightmare! Besides, she can last eight seconds longer on any bull in this town than you could ever dream of, Clayton. Hands down, Darah can out rodeo, hunt, and fish you anytime. She is more cowboy than you can ever dream to be, and she is a lot prettier doing it, too.” Jason spits his chew on the ground next to Clayton’s frazzled face.
“Just because she is so talented doesn’t mean it’s magic, you asshole! No one disrespects my sister.” Jason stared down the other two dudes, helping Clayton off the ground.
“You owe Darah an apology. Now!” Jason demanded.
I was scared, my heart was pounding. I had never seen my brother that mad or violent before. I was embarrassed too, my face turning red, I could tell by the heat rushing into my cheeks.
“Jason, it’s no big deal.” I tried to say when my brother cut me off.
“Darah, it is a big damn deal!” Jason glared at his friends.
“He’s right, Darah. I am sorry for offending you. I was wrong, and it was childish. I don’t know you, and I had no right to be that mean to you. I am sorry, and I hope you can forgive me.” Clayton groveled, looking sheepish under my brother’s angry gaze. Clayton didn’t look me in the eye as he dusted his wranglers off, his eye was swelling, turning red before my eyes.
“It’s all good, Clayton. We are good.” I insisted, ready for them to leave so I could shake off that whole ordeal.
“I’ll meet you at the field in a minute. I need to make sure my sister is truly okay.” Jason dismissed his pals as they walked away. If they were dogs, their tails would be tucked between their legs.
“Darah, I am so sorry he said that shit to you. I had no idea you have been bullied like this.” Jason sat next to me, truly upset on my behalf.
“Stop being such a big little brother. You didn’t need to go that far. I am a big girl. I am used to ignoring them. I can’t believe you told them I can ride bulls, you liar.” I laughed, trying to defuse his tension.
“Well, you can out-hunt or fish him. Clayton is such a showoff, but he has no real skills. He’s getting to big for his britches if he thinks he can treat you like that. You are more cowboy than he can ever be, even if the bull riding was a white lie. He’s an idiot. Now that I am in high school, these fools better stay in check when it comes to you, or I will put them in their place.” Jason’s eyes turned from anger to tender as he really looked at me.
“Darah, you are my big sister. I hate that these asshats don’t know you like I do because they would all know that you are unique and wonderful. I am proud of you.” Jason got up, dusted off his jeans, and gave me his Hollywood-worthy smile with those sweet dimples.
“I love you too, little bro. See you tonight.”
After that day, Jason and I had a more grown-up relationship. I still kept it playful, but he truly changed my life. He protected me, and it wasn’t long before I was left alone. I will always love him, but for that moment, it will always be a moment close to my heart.
Shaking off that pivotal memory, I returned my thoughts to the present. After taking a couple of years off school to work, today was the big day. I graduated high school two years ago and helped my parents pay for my brother’s sports stuff. He was a big-shot football player in this town. He was about to be eighteen. I was now twenty-one and have finally gotten into college.
My parents and brother drove me from our East Texas town five hours to Austin to drop me off.
“Oh, Darah, I am so proud of you.” My mom hugged me tightly. My dad then pulled me in for a hug.
“Darlin, this is just the beginning. You have the world at your fingertips.” He gave me a sweet kiss on my head.
My brother Jason hugged me.
“Get me tickets to a University of Texas game and make friends. Tell the pretty girls about your hot younger brother.” Jason said with a wink.
