Credence

by Penelope Douglas

Noah. Calm, pleasant, happy Noah. What a surprise. And an asshole.

Girl im not surprised, those "nice guys" are just as bad as psycho creeps like kaleb and predators like UNCLE jake

It’s meditative, like cooking.

Sure i guess, i don't like cooking personally

My earbuds are in, but no music plays, because I forgot to turn on my playlist when I came into the barn an hour ago.

Mood

He joked with me, and I joked back. There was no illusion about what he wanted. I didn’t have to play games or pretend.

Girl no, you are stuck in rock bottom so don't go fishing for some nasty ass mediocre d*ck

I can’t talk right or say the right things, but maybe I can be soft and sweet and happy in bed. Maybe I could be loving there.

Poor girl, you should not be here

Kaleb is planted on the table, his nose bloody

Noice

His lips are etched into a snarl.

I don't know why but every time i hear someone snarl, i think of ross from friends make that sound and i can't take it seriously

“Get started on dinner,” Jake tells me as I pass. “I’m not hungry.” “We are,” he grits out.

F*CK YOU BITCHES!!!

“That’s not my problem,” I shoot back, glaring at my uncle. “You want a servant, hire one.”

Tell them tiernan

“And since I won’t do what I’m told,” I add, “send me home.”

Mirai come get your girl

“I don’t feel bad for you one bit,” I tell him. “You got what you deserved, because you used me as an excuse to start a fight. You weren’t defending my honor.”

That's right f*ck you, you disgusting creep

“I’ve been here three days, and you have intimidated me, threatened me, and taunted me. You’ve acted like bullies,” I tell them. “Isn’t this what you wanted? For me to yell? Fight? Isn’t that what you said?” “I said you’d benefit from some time here, and I was right!” Jake fires back. “You’ve got no idea how to work inside of a unit. Be part of a team. A family.”

She is not wrong and yall not even a stable unit, you got kids who are disgusting creeps annd you are a predator yourself so screw yall

“Let me educate you, girl,” he growls. “You’re the kid. I’m the adult. You do as you’re told, and there’s no problem. That system works for us.” He towers over me. “Just. Do. As. You’re. Told!”

OR WHAT BITCH?! You gonna send her home, please do!!

“And you’re spoiled.”

You judgmental hypocritical sh*tbag

It’s degrading. I feel like shit.

Fuck him

But I can’t see him. My uncle crowds me, and I can’t stop the tears from pooling.

Wow so mature and responsible Jake is, how could she not enjoy being there in such a healthy evironment

He’s right, right?

No fuck him 🖕🏼

God, why did I do that? What a fucking basket case. He’s going to send me home now because I’m emotional and too much work. I cry quietly into my arm.

He should send you home because this is not a safe or healthy environment for YOU

The bundle at the bottom of the bag fits in the palm of my hand, and I can smell the cinnamon bears before I even open it. How did this get back in here? I threw the whole bag of candy out.

Haunted candy bag!

Your parents never gave you anything sweet. That’s why you’re not.

I get what this is supposed to be…but why does it still piss me off?! I think it is the wording, still fuck y'all

I’d closed and locked it when I went to bed. Thoughts wash over me, but my heart isn’t beating fast. I should be mad. Someone came in here while I was asleep. Someone went through my trash. Someone is trolling me on a paper bag.

Be upset, i would

I don’t know if blaming my parents is a good enough reason for being such a miserable fucking person, but someone in this world gets me, and I’m not even offended they said I wasn’t sweet. I know I’m not, and someone understands why.

It is not that you aren't sweet, it was that you were severly neglected! Fuck those hypocritical bitches!

“I’m going to go home,” I say quietly. “You are home.” He sets a mug in front of me.

NO FUCK YOU JAKE

Because life is only happy when it’s shared.

Valid for some, not for everyone

I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t want to go home where I’m alone.

What about mirai?!

My eyes drop to his lips, and for a moment, I’m with him, breathing with him, my blood coursing hot under my skin as I take in his tanned face, his smooth mouth, and the rugged scruff along his jaw.

Way to ruin a "wholesome" moment dear author

The last time he spoke to me he threatened to spank me.

Eww

“Cool,” he mumbles and crashes back down on his bed, face-first.

Mood

Messy but not really dirty.

Mood?

Oh, never mind. I close my fist and finally drop my hand, turning to leave.

That's right, screw kaleb, not literally for the love of god

“I like getting up early,” he tells me. “It’s the only time the house and land are quiet, and I have the energy to enjoy it.”

Can't relate

It’s not that I don’t have questions, but questions start conversations.

Mood

“I’m not sure I should talk about it, if Kaleb won’t.”

…… :/

“It’s not every morning, thank you.”

Eww

“Their mother is in prison,” he states. “Ten to fifteen up in Quintana.”

Damn if it was mentioned before, i totally forgot lmao

“I dove into her,” he explains instead, “because I couldn’t stop loving someone else.”

Eww

thinking things that are only suitable to do behind closed doors.

Eww why mention that

But with a preppy haircut and baby face that makes him look like he should be the douchebag quarterback on a CW show.

LMAO

“I was quite the belle of the ball back in the day, you know?” Was? Seems he still is.

Why must we, just why

barely remember my grandfather, since he died when I was six, but I know he divorced his first wife—my dad’s mother—when my dad was about twelve, and chose another Dutch woman for his second wife. She already had a son of her own—Jake.

Family drama~

Her body was so beautiful, the way the wet clothes stuck to her.”

Sir why did you say that to your teenage estranged niece

Jake nods. “Your grandfather knew I wasn’t going to let her go, so your parents helped get rid of her.”

“She felt so guilty, thinking she’d had sex with another man,” Jake continues, leading me into the stable to tend to the horses, “it was a piece of cake for the family to convince her our relationship was over unless she wanted me to find out what she’d done. ‘And hey, here’s fifty grand to cover moving expenses. Disappear, kid. Don’t call him.’” “You never tried to find her?” “I did,” he tells me. “I found her in some apartment in San Francisco.”

Poor Flora

“She wouldn’t even let me through the door,” he says. “Couldn’t look me in the eye. Said she couldn’t see me anymore and didn’t want me to call.”

How old was she?

“About a week after I left her apartment and her sister called to tell me she’d died.” Died? I stop. “Suicide?” He nods and continues working. “Oh, my God.”

Fuck this whole family like don't reproduce anymore

“I moved onto this land with a run-down trailer and no indoor plumbing. Now I have a house, a shop, a business, and my sons. Things turned out far better for me than I deserved.”

But your sons suck ass so you still fucked up

“Your parents, Tiernan,” he says, cutting me off and looking me in the eye. “Not your fault.”

You clearly make it feel like it’s her fault

“Yeah, professional help,” I grumble. “He . . .”

Agreed

Kaleb scares me.

Keep this energy the whole time and RUN

“You’re fucking lucky Kaleb found you and not me, because I wouldn’t have waited before you left before I fucking killed him.”

Eww back off weirdo, this whole town fucking sucks