Actual Demon
“Chlo, what are you doing?” Payton questioned from her place at the kitchen counter where she was doing her homework.
Chloe, fifteen years old and full of teenage rebellion, hobbled her way through the kitchen trying to be as quiet as possible. Her soccer bag swung from one arm while the other tried to guide her gimp leg to the stool next to her little sister.
Once the sweats clad teen got to the counter, she hopped up onto the stool and took a moment to catch her breath. The metal and cloth brace was a lot harder to move around with than Chloe anticipated.
“It’s three forty-five. I’m going to practice, what else would I be doing?” the older O’Hara-Solo sister swiped a piece of cheese from the youngers snack plate.
“You can barely walk by yourself” the ten year old raised an eyebrow “did Mama say you could?”
“Lil Mama’s on the phone with Big Momma, she’ll never know I was gone,”
Payton heaved a sigh; of course her big sister was trying to pull another fast one on their parents.
Almost a week ago Chloe had misread a shot on goal, landed incorrectly and messed up her knee pretty badly. The doctor had told Chloe and their parents that she had torn a few minor ligaments in her leg, forcing the young keeper to sit out for at least two weeks while her knee healed.
Kelley had been on Chloe’s ass for the last few days, not allowing her to do anything more strenuous than her physical therapy exercises and crutching around the house and school. At first it had been great, getting a couple days off from practice and having her Mama dote on her.
But now Kelley was driving her daughter insane with the coddling.
Chloe could barely walk down the stairs without Kelley breathing down her neck about not straining her knee too much. It was absolutely maddening and Chloe needed to get out of the house. Besides, it wasn’t like she was planning on playing; Chlo just wanted to be with her team. But if Coach Anders wanted to see how Chloe was recovering, by throwing her in goal for a few rounds, she wouldn’t refuse.
During times like these, Chloe would call on Hope to diffuse the situation. Chloe’s big bad ass Mom would pull her wife away, persuading her to let their teenager have some space. Hope and Chloe were alike that way, they both coveted their independence.
Except that now Chloe didn’t have reinforcements. Hope was away on National team business as the goalkeepers coach, leaving Payton and Chloe at home with Kell. So Chloe had to use her last option; the unpredictable weapon in her arsenal she hoped she would never have to resort to.
“Hey P, how much do you love me?”
Payton shook her head violently. There was no fucking way Payton was going to interfere with her Mama’s rules. The fourth grader could handle a lot of things; Chloe used to use her as a goalie before she switched positions and made her the test subject of any weird science experiments, but the wrath of Kelley O’Hara-Solo was not something Payton liked to be involved with.
“No, no way Chloe. I’m not distracting Mama for you. You’re on your own”
Chloe eyed her sister, deciding on whether or not Payton was firm in her objections or if the younger girl could be persuaded by certain deals. Payton matched Chloe’s stare, resolute in her decision.
In fact, Payton decided to have a little fun because Chloe was currently crippled and thus, couldn’t physically hurt her. So really, the younger girl had nothing to lose save for a verbal battering later.
Payton took a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying the look of confusion followed quickly by horror coming over Chloe’s face.
“MAMA, CHLOE’S TRYING TO GO PLAY SOCCER”
Both girls froze as they heard movement on the floor above them which quickly turned into hurried footsteps coming down the stairs.
Chloe was seething. Her suspicions were correct. The theory that Chloe had been harboring since her moms brought that six pound loaf of screaming baby home from the hospital was confirmed. Payton O’Hara-Solo was an actual demon ascended from hell.
“Chloe Maureen,” Kelley’s voice had a dangerous warning tone “I will call Mom if you even think about leaving this house.”
“Oh my God, fine” Chloe quickly deflated before turning her attention back to the smug nosed fourth grader sitting to her left. She jabbed a finger in her little sister’s face, looking the girl dead in the eye.
“I will remember this and the minute I can walk properly you’re fucking dead.”
Payton nodded, knowing that in a few weeks she’d probably be six feet under. But seeing her big sister utterly helpless for a brief moment in time, while their mother escorted her back upstairs, was absolutely worth it.