TEACH ME TO SIN

JERICHO

"Mum, sit down." I grumbled, throwing my hands up in the universal symbol of hopelessness.

She giggled. It sounded so much like my giggle. She rested back on the settee and crossed her legs.

"You look gorgeous mum." I smiled at her.

She smiled back, "I know. Now get on with it" she waved her hand at me.

I rolled my eyes. Mum was a busy bee, her body always pulsing with energy. I was so much like her; active and vibrant. And that was what I was hoping I'd be able to capture in my painting. Her essence. Much more than her beauty. And she was a beauty. She always said she was too beautiful to settle for one man. I knew it was all a hoax. She loved my father dearly. When I was younger, I had never understood it, though I had never questioned it.

Why didn't I have one dad like all my friends? But I loved having two dads. It was twice the love. And twice the birthday gifts, I thought with a grin. As I picked up my brush, I heard the front door open. I groaned loud because I knew that there was no chance in hell of mum sitting still for this picture anymore. I could as well just trash the whole thing.

Mum shot me an apologetic grin even as she jumped out of her seat and dashed across the house. I followed at a more sedate pace, grumbling the entire way.

I rolled my eyes as mum jumped into dad's arm, kissing him full on the mouth, turned to my other dad and whispered something to him, causing both of them to laugh conspiratorially. I cleared my throat loudly.

"Lonely daughter here" I pouted.

"Hey there" Dad smiled at me. This one was Ethan III. I'd never met Ethan I or II.

"You ruined my painting" I accused.

"Which of us?" my father asked. This one was Grayson.

"Both of you."

"Maybe you should try finding a more motionless model. You know your mum can't stay at a place to save her life" Ethan kissed my forehead as he walked past me. I turned in time to see mum eye him appreciatively. Gross. I made a face, narrowing my eyes at her.

She laughed breezily as she walked past me. Grayson's eyes went dark as he watched her. God help us all. It was one of those days! I needed to be anywhere but this house. After so many years of being married, my parents still couldn't keep their hands off each other. It was weird as hell.

"Mum, dads! I will be far, far away from you guys' sight. Will be back in an hour." I said as I kicked my feet into my sneakers. Or never.

"Two hours." Mum retorted.

"Three." Ethan argued. With that, they all joined into a chorus of chuckling. I growled, rolling my eyes. It wasn't even that funny. Where had I been, when normal parents were being distributed? Weren't they too old to be jumping each other's bones and ripping each other's clothes? I sped past Mrs. Darren, the housekeeper as I dashed out. I heard her chuckling behind me. I was so glad it was funny for one of us.

My parents were adorably in love, but they needed to tone that shit down. My poor eyes had seen more things than I ever should have, and my poor ears, well, It was too horrifying to even talk about.

I cycled down the street, feeling the evening breeze whip my ponytail around. None of the neighbors were friends of my family. We were kind of isolated around here. It wasn't surprising, either. I loved my parents, but almost nobody else did.

They were well, in lieu of a better word, eccentric. They made inappropriate jokes. They were very handy with each other. They spoke in half sentences, and only them could ever understand. And most horrifying of all, they were a three-way couple; a throuple. They were my parents, so of course I didn't raise a brow at them. They were who they were, and I loved them for it. Unfortunately, it also meant I had to hide it, so I could have friends in school.

My parents just wanted me to be happy, and they had all been willing to hide their relationship. But then, I had realized it hadn't been fair to them. They weren't lesser people for loving each other. They had big enough hearts to love each other. They were, in fact, superior people.

I unfortunately lost all my friends. To my relief, though. Who wanted to be friends with close minded, judgmental fools? Not me.

One moment I had been riding easily through the street, next thing I was flying in the air and crashing onto the sidewalk. I shrieked in horror. It had all happened so fast. My body curled with pain. I looked up to see the small rock my bicycle had run into. Goddamn. I had been so distracted that I hadn't noticed it on time. My bicycle lay some ways away from me, and I hoped it hadn't been wrecked beyond reason.

My head felt super heavy and my vision had gone blurry. I touched the back of my head with a groan, and my hand came away sticky and red with blood. Fuck. Tears sprung to my eyes. I tried to sit up, but the effort made my head spin like a merry-go-round.

"Hey, don't move." A deep voice suddenly said. I blinked and turned my head to see who it was. "I said not to move." He bit out.

I looked up and up and up. He was tall, with dark hair, silver eyes. That was all I could see through the haze of my vision. Before blessed darkness shrouded me. All I could think was that he was beautiful. Was he an angel, or was he dead?

JERICHO

Fortunately, I didn't get a nasty bump from the accident. Just a slight one that had disappeared totally. Unfortunately, Ethan had made my beloved bicycle disappear until further notice.

I was sure that Grayson was going around looking for top of the line helmets, knee caps and etcetera. Left to Ethan, he'd get me a full-body armor. No way was I riding my bicycle with a helmet and all that. That'd take away whatever fun I got from it. I'd just rather Ethan went ahead and forced a car on me.

That morning, mum was driving me to school. I was wearing my plaid blue skirt and white polo. My hair was left down instead of its usual ponytail. Mum's reasoning was that a ponytail would stress the area of injury. I rolled my eyes at that one. I had hair ties stacked in my purse, and I was using them as soon as she left.

"Be good," she said as I hopped out of the car.

"I'm always good." I pointed out.

She narrowed her eyes at me" too good maybe"

"What does that mean?"

She sighed, "I don't know Jerry. Occasionally I wish you'd just be bad so we'd know what you are capable of".

"Maybe I don't have anything bad in me. Isn't that something I should be applauded for? You guys never have to worry about me".

"Oh you definitely have something bad in you. You have three naughty parents. Your bed is in there and one day, it's all going to come exploding out".

"Sheesh mum. Have a great day" I smiled and walked away.

"Love you, Jerry Berry."

I groaned as people around me tittered and chuckled. Did I mention that my name is Jericho? In short, it was Jerry. I'd complained when I was six that it was a boy's name. Hence, the addition of berry. The name was now much worse. In a world of Ariana's and Amelia's and Kylie's, I was a Jerry Berry.

I ignored all the surrounding whispers, my mind completely on the beautiful man from a week ago. Mum said she got a call from my number and a nurse said I had been admitted to the hospital. Turned out, Ethan's whole rule about setting up an emergency contact was helpful. He was super overprotective of me. I wondered if he was my biological dad. But mum said I shouldn't worry about it. They'd never checked. I had mum's blue eyes and either her or Grayson's gold curls. I think it made them relieved that I didn't pop out favoring either of my dad's appearance. It also made me relieved.

"Hey Jerry '' someone drew behind me. I sighed and ignored that whiny voice. Natalie Craig's whiny voice. I pulled open my locker just as she slammed it shut. I swallowed back my growl. She was two inches shorter than me, with too straight dishwasher blonde hair and brown eyes. And far too much makeup.

"I was just wondering something." She began.

"Surprise surprise. I didn't know you could use that peanut up there for anything."

People around chuckled. She smirked, "do your dads fuck each other while your mum watches, or do they all line fuck?"

Chuckles went up all around. Seriously! This was the best taunt they could come up with? What a joke. I grin. "Why? Are you asking for your dad? Or your mum?"

Her face twisted. "It's a legit question, you bitch. One woman can't love two men. One is her true love, who unfortunately can't get it up properly. The other is help."

"Very enlightening Natalie. I would be sure to pass your question across to them."

"What happens when one of them falls out of love, Jerry? Oh, let me tell you. The whole dynamic falls apart like a house of cards. It's obvious your parents love each other more than they could ever love you. Your mum has two husbands for god sake. Where does that leave you?"

I grin at her, "with three parents. Your mum has zero husbands. I hope that leaves a lot of space for you." I brushed past her shoulder as I walked away, hearing the chuckles behind me and Natalie's aggravated groan.

Seriously, Natalie and her brood are losers. Their attempts to shame me had been humiliating once upon a time, when I'd been younger, stupider, and confused. Those were the dark years. I remember screaming at my parents to just choose one. I remembered hating them for making me go through shit. I also remembered the day I realized I hated myself for hating them. I came home early from school after getting in a fight. I had been heading to my room when I heard someone crying. I knelt down and peeped through the railing. My parents were in the kitchen. Grayson was standing beside two suitcases. Mum had been crying so hard. Ethan was pacing.

"It's best for her, Izzy. And you know it." Grayson had said.

"Shut the fuck up Gray. I love you, but I will hit you if you say 'it's best for her' one more time." I was shocked. Ethan had sounded angry and choked. Had he been crying? I'd always seen Ethan as tough and domineering. Sure, Gray had an inch on him, but Ethan was always like the superior power. He could never be crying. No. No.

"Don't go. Don't go" mum had been saying between sobs.

" Izzy. Baby" Gray cupped her face. "None of us are happy right now. Jerry is our kid. And it kills me to see her so unhappy. She didn't sign up for this. We always knew things might get hard. She's just a kid and kids are cruel. I hate seeing her go through so much. Ethan, please back me up on this."

"When did you decide all of this? When did you go ahead and make this decision for us? Huh?" Ethan barked.

"I will be a ten-minute drive away. Maybe Jerry can come stay during the weekends if she likes. We can still vacation together or something" Gray's voice broke, "we can Skype. Or something"

"Gra-"

"It's better this way, Ethan. It is. Please. For Jerry. We love Jerry. We'd do anything for that kid. We love her, Izzy. I'm not going forever. Ethan, please. I can't- we can't-"

"It feels awfully like you are dumping us," Ethan whispered.

"Baby"Gray whispered back. With that, Izzy crumpled into Gray's arms. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.

Gray pulled away finally and grabbed his suitcases, "I will come see you Friday. When she's at school. Or something" his voice was hoarse.

"Don't go. Don't leave us" mum lunged from the island. Ethan caught her around the waist and pulled her back to him. She struggled, kicking and screaming. "We can make her understand. Don't go Gray. Ethan, don't let him go. Don't let him do this to us. Gray! Gray! Get the fuck back here"

With that, I started racing down the stairs, my cheeks flowing with tears, " daddy! Daddy!" I lunged for Gray and wrapped my hands around his waist, "don't leave us. Don't go".

"I'm not going forever, Jerry berry. Just for a while. So you can get friends again".

"I don't love my friends. I love you" I screamed, "I hate them all for saying those things about you guys. I should never have said those things too. I love you. I love my dads and my mum. Please don't leave us. I'm sorry. I'm sorry".

Gray dropped to his knees and I flew into his arms. Mum joined us on the ground, then Ethan. We were all crying together. At that moment, I decided I loved having three parents, and I was proud to be a member of this unconventional family.

I dropped into my seat at the back of the class and next to the window. I loved sitting by the window. Most times, I doodled whatever I could see out of the window.

"Nice view."

I turn with a start. A boy was leaning too close to me. I frowned. He grinned and backed up. I took in his face and did a double take. Eyes, a dark brown. Floppy brown hair, a dimple on his right cheek where his lip was curled up in a smirk. He was cute. Not cute. Hot. Wait, why was he talking to me?

"I'm new. Transferred here a week ago. I'm Bennett Kent. Son of Clark Kent. At least I used to be".

"What does that mean?"

"The state let me choose my surname. Greatest, coolest and awesome were rejected. So what's the next best thing?"

" Apparently it's becoming Superman's son for you"

"I was eight"

I grinned,so, foster kid?

"Yeah. My new parents have nine kids. I'm the tenth. Super nice people. The Alleys".

"I'm Jerry River-Blaise"

" Your name is Jerry? Woah. I knew there was a reason I wanted to talk to you aside from the cool let down you gave that girl out there, which I regret to inform you I missed the beginning"

"Jerry is short for Jericho. And Natalie is just a bitch. I have three parents by the way in case you want to switch seats. I don't mean that my mum has been married twice. She's married to two men. At once"

"I've had twelve parents. Not at once though, so not as cool as yours. And I'm the son of a man who flies to the sun to charge up. Why would three parents faze me?" he huffed.

"I officially like you, Ben. Stay alert for the vipers. You are cute enough to become snake food".

He looked at me and smiled. "Want to be on my animal control team?"

I mock sighed "do I have a choice Kent?" it seemed I had made my first official friend.

JERICHO

"I've got a friend!"I yelled excitedly as I skipped into the house. I slowed my pace considerably when I entered the living room and got the stink eye from Ethan. Protective much. He probably thinks I'll just fall and never get up again.

He and mum are on the couch. He's typing away on his laptop, and mum is flipping through stations and nursing a glass of wine. I plopped down between both of them, " did you hear? I've got a friend."

"I'm sure the whole street heard honey," mum said. I swung my eyes to Ethan just in time to see his mouth 'pathetic' over my shoulder.

"I'm one step in place," I said.

"In place of what?"

"Getting my husbands"

Mum choked on her wine. Ethan went so still. His eyes narrowed to slits. "What did you say?"

I thumped mum's back. "I'm kidding dad. Sheesh," then lower" hypocrite."

His cheeks tinged red. He opened his mouth to say something.

" Dinner's ready." Father says from the door post, cutting dad off. I skipped out of the couch. Bubbling with all the enthusiasm and excitement of having a friend. My very first real friend. We'd live on the same street in the future and our kids would be best friends. Not to skip ahead or anything, though. God, I was blowing this out of proportion. It was still early days. The vipers could get their hands on him by tomorrow. Or he could die. That'd suck. I kissed my father's cheek as I walked by.

"What's this about a new friend?" he asked, pulling out a stool on the island for me. We had a huge dining table. But we preferred all our meals here. The kitchen was big and cozy and bright. Seating arrangements were as usual. Dad at the first stool, mum second, me third and father last.

"His name is Bennett and-"

"He's a boy?" father sputtered.

"Chill" the three of us chorus, glaring at him.

"She's seventeen" he grumbled.

"I'm pretty sure he hasn't tried to look down my shirt. I will, of course, inform you once he does".

"now look here-"

"You are destroying Jerry's whole 'new friend' bubble" dad glared at him. Father glared back.

"Testosterone" mum whispered to me out of the side of her mouth. But I couldn't laugh. I suddenly didn't feel good.

"I'm going to go walk around. Or something" I stood up.

" Jerry" dad stood up too.

"Go"Father smiled at me. I didn't wait to listen to Dad's growl. I picked my way out of the house, stuffing my feet back into my sneakers. I wished I had my bicycle. What I'd give to ride around the neighborhood. Mrs. Darren looked at me with a question on her weathered face. I smiled assuredly at her and left the gated compound.

I got why Dad was overprotective. It wasn't just me. It was just how he was. He growled at any guy who looked at mum. Once, mum had an extra painful period and Ethan had admitted her into the hospital. Mum used to be a bartender at a hole in the wall diner in New York. Dad would stand nearby and scowl at anyone who talked to her and stared at her. Mum described it as being so annoying. She got zero tips, and it pissed her boss off so much that she got dismissed. She refused to talk to him for a month.

It was just that I'd always been good. The most rebellion I'd done was telling my parents I hated them because I had no friends in school.

I wanted to do something bad. Like getting a tattoo. Oh boy. Dad would freak out.

Get Drunk. Dad would kill me.

Sleepover. Dad would never let me.

Get a boyfriend. Little hope for that.

Dye my hair. Dad would murder me.

Get a piercing. I didn't even want to be pierced.

Christ. Even in my head, Ethan was speaking to me. I wondered how he'd like being treated like a hopeless teddy for once. Ha! I'm –" oomph"

I bumped into something. I frowned. Someone, actually.

"Sorry." I mumbled, ready to walk away, when my nostrils suddenly filled with a heady scent. I leaned forward and sniffed. This man smelled like something I wanted filling my lungs, forever.

I looked up and up. My angel of death. The dark hair and mysterious eyes. The aquiline nose and scruffy jaw. The wide shoulders were new, though. So was his scowl. Jeez. I'd be enough of frowning men in a day.

"Hello"I smiled. Mum always said I had a charming smile. So I used it now. His scowl didn't leave, leaving me to wonder if that was just how his face was set, "I'm Jerry."

His mouth kicked up at one corner. Great. He thought my name was amusing.

"What's your name?"

"Rose"He said.

I narrowed my eyes at him, " are you lying? Why did your parents name you rose?"

"I was precious." He has an accent, I realize. I looked at him closely. He was definitely not American. It was an Italian accent if I wasn't mistake. I knew because my mum is always trying out new accents. It was really amusing to me. But for some reason, it never made my dads laugh. They just stared at her hard. If I were her, I'd have stopped doing it years ago. Poor reaction was discouraging.

"You aren't precious anymore?"

"How's your head?" he asked instead.

"Eh, good?"

"Good" then he turned and began to walk away. I looked up and realized I'm standing just past what I can now correctly say is his house. It's bigger than the other houses on the street. I wondered if he lived there alone.

"Nice to meet you-er- Rose?"

He doesn't even look back. Just disappeared into his gate. I blinked. Okay, that was weird. I didn't know whether to think Rose was rude or not. On the one hand, he asked me about my head.

And why was I fascinated with him anyway. He was probably two decades older than me. I traced my steps back to his gate. It was terribly high. On a closer look, even his fence was so high. The house looked sort of like a castle. Older and more classic than other of the neighboring houses. There were pillars and a grand front door. Like huge and unwelcoming. There was a man in a suit at the front door. Not Rose. I peered closer.

"Do you need something?"

I yelp. A tan man in a suit was staring at me. Looking very unhappy to see me. I blinked. Another Italian accent. Who are these guys?

"N-no. I- I don't need anything. I'm just -uhm- going to go" with that, I turned and ran back the way I came. Unfortunately, I knew the mystery of Rose and the Italian suits would weigh in my mind. I promised myself I wouldn't try to do any snooping or investigating.

Even as I made the promise, I knew I was going to break it.