An Unpleasant Homecoming

by Tempest Smith

As she returned home from a day trip to a couple of towns away, Loren Smith nonchalantly kicked a pebble down the street. Having her mind thinking about no subject in particular, she pondered about what she was going to have to make for the guys for dinner. Loren, also and better known as Tempest, laughed at herself.

Have to make dinner for the guys? Yeah, right. Nick, Sean and Steve probably managed to steal their own meal.

Though having only one real brother, Tempest always thought of herself as having four. For as long as she can recollect, Tempest and her older brother, Kyle, have been living with the Pilfering Trio in an abandoned tenement just outside of the small town of Robinwood in upper New York State.

From the stories that Kyle had told her, Tempest's parents had abandoned them when she was merely two and Kyle was about six. After living out on the streets for a couple of days, Kyle met Nick. Soon after, Nick introduced Kyle and Tempest to Steve and Sean, brothers. They got together and the trio took Tempest and Kyle to an old tenement, and it soon became their home. They all quickly became close friends, and soon enough, like a family.

While the Pilfering Trio stole to support themselves, Kyle soon found a job at a local factory. Even though Nick and the gang made good money, Kyle was always too proud to steal, but he supported Tempest and himself just fine with his job, and that he was proud of.

Tempest approached the tenement and left the pebble behind. She creaked open the door slowly to find the place in shambles. The way it usually was if she wasn't home. Tempest managed to make a pathway through the clutter of newspapers and such on the floor.

"Hey guys!" she called out knowing that someone would be home. "What the hell happened to this place?"

Growing up with four guys definitely had its impact on her. Always wearing old pants and shirts the guys grew out of, Tempest could never stand to be in a skirt. Though Kyle tried to undo the "damage" and make her act like a lady every once in a while, he was happy she had people who would look out for her while he was away at the factory.

Her temper flared as she looked at the mess. "You guys! I told you to keep this place clean while I was gone!"

She had gained her nickname, Tempest, only about a year after she met Nick, Steve and Sean. She didn't mind the name. Besides, someone had to try to keep those boys in line, and the name was more of a mockery at first from Steve. But, she grew into it.

Soon enough she heard footsteps on the floor above her and then what sounded like a stampede down the already falling apart steps. Cries of "Tempest!" could be heard and soon, even though she protested, she found herself in the middle of a group hug between three guys.

"Ugh!" Tempest cried out as she managed to pull the three off of her. "I was only gone a couple of days! You don't have to make a deal out of it. " She tried to glare at them, but she failed at holding back a grin.

As they gave her some room, she quickly gained her snippiness again and stated, "I thought I told you to try to keep this place at least somewhat neat while I was gone?"

Smirking, Nick gave his excuse first, "Sorry, Tempie. You know us. We couldn't help having a couple of brawls."

Nick was really the only one who called her Tempie. He was like the bad-boy of the bunch. He always got his girl and anything else that he had his eye on.

"Sorry, lass," piped in Steve. He was the jokester of the group. Always hardy, and ready to pull a good prank or mouth off sarcastically. "I guess I got a little carried away in here with that gal last night."

Nick and Steve laughed as Tempest rolled her eyes. "God, you guys are like dogs!" she stated as she walked and tried to make a path as she went to what they called the kitchen. "I leave you for a second and you tear the place up." She turned and saw that they were right on her heals. "And you jump on me what I get home, and then you follow me everywhere!" She smirked, "At least you are house trained."

Nick and Steve laughed again and made faces at her. Steve decided it was turn to put his two bits in, "Sorry, Tempest. We are just glad to have you home."

He smiled. Sean was the sensitive one of the group. He was kind and caring, but could be just as rowdy as the others.

Tempest couldn't help but smirk. "Thanks." Then she heard the door shut. She froze a moment, then ran past the boys and back into the parlor. Seeing Kyle near the doorway, she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Happy to have his baby sister home, he hugged her tight and cried, "Loren! I'm so glad you're home!"

"Oh sure," Steve said as they reentered the parlor. "He gets a hug voluntarily."
Tempest turned to the guys with a huge smile on her face, "That's because he didn't mess up the house like you three."

The Trio smirked, as well as Kyle, and Kyle stuck his hands in his pocket and glanced across the room whistling to himself. Tempest turned back to Kyle and eyed him, "Right?"

Kyle shrugged, "Sorry, Sis. That brawl the other night was too much to pass up." He smirked at the other guys.

Tempest backhanded him in the stomach and stomped over to start to pick up some papers. Kyle ran up behind her and lifted her upside down. The three joined in and began to tickle her. Tempest hollered and screamed for them to stop, but none of them would show her any mercy. They were all just happy to have her home.

The next morning Tempest work up, and after readying herself for the day, she headed downstairs. There was silence in the house, so she figured Kyle must have left early for work, and Nick, Steve and Sean were out "making" their money already.

Tempest rolled her eyes at seeing that most of the mess was still here from the previous night. As much as she hated the thought, she knew she would have to get started on it sooner or later. She moaned and cursed the boys as she bent over to straighten up more papers.

She muttered to herself, "Why can't they be neat at least some of the time, or at least clean up after themselves? They are dirty little pigs. Next time when I go away, I should stay away and then they would have to clean up themselves."

"But we would miss you too much. And, I thought you said we were dogs?"

Tempest jumped and whirled around to see Nick standing in the doorway of the kitchen and parlor. Tempest calmed herself, "Oh, Nick. It's just you. You scared the shit out of me!"

He smiled at her, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to."

Tempest rolled her eyes some and continued her work, "I thought you were out doing your job."

Nick shook his head, "No, I decided to stay home and help you today."

Tempest stopped, and then began again, "To help me?"

He knelt beside her and helped her with the papers. "Yeah," he said, "I figured I should finally start to do my share around here."

Tempest just nodded and kept at her work.

"I really missed you, you know." he said in a weak attempt to start a conversation.

Tempest just nodded again and said, "I always go out of town. Besides, It was only a couple of days."

Nick shrugged and glanced at her, "I was worried about you."

Stifling a laugh, Tempest continued to work and didn't look at him, "Well, thanks."

This time Nick nodded. He stopped from his work for a moment and traced an invisible line on her upper arm through her shirt. When he did, Tempest stopped abruptly and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I remember that fight we had," he said as he looked at Tempest. "I pulled a blade on you, because you were looking through my stuff."

Tempest nodded once again and went back to work, "Yeah, and I still have the scar." She smirked.

Nick frowned, "I'm sorry."

Still without looking at him. She replied, "It's okay. It was a while ago anyway. We always have fights like that. I have a scar on my knee from when Steve pushed me on the street for being in his way when I was like five."

Nick frowned a little, "But I shouldn't have done that to you."

He was starting to frighten her. Nick never acted like this around Tempest, or anyone for that matter.

"Are you all right?" she asked him.

Yeah, I'm fine. You are here," he smiled as he moved closer to her. He leaned in and tried her kiss her.

Tempest punched him and stood up as quick as she could. "What the hell are you doing?"

Nick rose after her with a hand on his eye. "I'm sorry, Tempest. Shit, Sean told me this would work."

Tempest was about to burst again, "Sean? He told you to do this? What is everyone conspiring against me?"

"No, I just...I just like you, and I didn't know how to approach you. So, I asked Sean to help the snipe!" His anger grew in him toward Sean.

Tempest couldn't stand it. He was like a brother to her and things were getting too weird. She didn't like it. "Okay. Well, um..." she stammered as she headed out the door and down the street. She could hear things smashing against the wall as she left.

A short while later, Sean came home with Steve for a break. They waltzed through the door laughing about how this one fat man tried to chase after them after they picked his pocket. All of a sudden, Sean felt himself being thrown up against a wall. He cried out and then opened his eyes to see Nick in front of him. Sean could feel that he had him by the collar.

"You said it would work!" Nick hollered. "You said if I sweet talked her, she would cave. Well, she didn't! She gave me this!" He turned and showed Sean his bruised cheek.

Anyone could clearly see the horror in Sean's face. Sean never minded rough housing, but knew Nick could kill him if he wanted to.

Sean slammed him against the wall again, and Sean winced saying, "Maybe if you go and ask Kyle to talk to her about it, you can try to get him to change her mind."

Nick punched him in the face. He felt like Sean deserved it since Tempest had punched him. He felt as though he needed to pass it on even though he knew it hurt Sean ten times worse.

"Come on, Nick. Let him go," Steve said, trying to calm him down.

"Shut up, Steve! Stay out of it," Nick growled. He wouldn't take his gaze off Sean for a moment.

Nick just stood there a moment, staring at Sean. His eyes glared, his breath quickened. He was mad, really mad. Then, Nick started to lay it on Sean. Over and over, Nick slammed his fist into Sean's stomach. Sean doubled over but Nick held him up with his other hand. Finally, Steve pulled Nick off of Sean.

"Let him alone, Nick!" hollered Steve. He could put up with people kicking around his younger brother a little. The kid had to handle his own fights, and that is how Sean usually wanted it anyway. But, this was enough. "He didn't do anything!"

Nick turned to Steve and took a threatening step closer to him, and got into his face. Through clenched teeth, he said, "But he humiliated me!"

"You did that yourself! It's Tempest! No one could have known how she would have reacted to something like that," Steve said trying to calm him.

Totally out of his mind, Nick needed out. His anger took control over him all the time, but Sean and Steve have never seen him like this before. He stomped out and headed in the direction of Kyle's factory. His sight had gone red from anger, and it was hard for him to focus where he was going. He was embarrassed, angry, and hurt. Three things he has never felt at the same time.

Steve helped Sean up off the floor. Just then, Tempest walked back in the door. She almost tripped over the two guys. Tempest saw it was Steve and Sean and was about to holler at them, and at Sean for suggesting such a thing to Nick, but caught herself when she saw Sean clutching his stomach and wincing as Steve helped him up. "Oh, my god, Sean, what happen?" she cried out and assisted Steve in trying to help him up.

"Nick beat him in a blind rage," Steve said as he held Sean up by putting Sean's arm around his neck.

Tempest was angry. She hated how Nick would go off like that, and she felt awful that he went off on Sean. "I...I'm sorry, Sean," she stammered as she looked at them. She left to get ice for him.

Kyle walked down the hall toward Nick. "Hey, Joe said that you needed to talk to me. Make it quick, I have to get back in there."

Nick, still blind with rage, paced in front of Kyle. "I want to go out with your sister," he said quickly as he ran a hand through his hair. He stopped in front of Kyle and looked at him, "And you're going to help me."

"What? Tempest?" Kyle said in shock. "Well, I'm sorry, but I can't do that without her approval. Have you talked to her about it?"

Nick grabbed Kyle like he did with Sean, "Yes!" he snapped. "Of course I did! But she freaked!"

Kyle's boss heard the hollering and stomped down the hall. "Hey! What's going on here?"

"Oh, um. Nothing, sir," Kyle stammered.

"Kyle isn't it?" his boss asked. "Your friend here is disturbing the factory, and you're supposed to be working!"

"Stay out of it!" Nick snapped.

His boss had enough and called out some names. Soon, a couple of guys came down the hall and soon enough, Nick and Kyle found themselves on the ground outside. Kyle could take the hint.

Suddenly, everything hit Nick like he ran into a brick wall. By getting Kyle fired, he knew he killed his relationship with both Kyle and Tempest. He knew Kyle was too proud to steal for food and money to support himself and Tempest. And, he wouldn't be able to find another job in this small town.

"Kyle, I'm sorry," he began as he still sat on the ground.

"Let me alone. Just let me alone," Kyle managed to say as he headed back home.

When he reached the tenement, he found Steve, Sean and Tempest in the parlor. He took a second glance at Sean and demanded to know what happened. Tempest and Steve explained everything to Kyle. His anger grew with each moment, but he wasn't one to flip like Nick. He pulled Tempest to the side.

Tempest looked at him, "I'm sorry, Kyle. I didn't think this would happen."

Kyle shook his head, "He got me fired, Tempest." His lips grew into a faint line from anger. "Loren, I don't want you here with him, and I wouldn't be able to find another job here anyway."

"And what do you expect we do, Kyle, leave?" Tempest said argumentative.
Kyle nodded.

Tempest shook her head. These guys were the only family she knew. She didn't want to leave them. "At least for a little," Kyle stated.

"Kyle! Please!" Tempest pleaded as tears streamed down her face. She rarely ever cried.

Steve and Sean just sat there pretending not to hear anything, but you could tell they heard. But, they knew better than to interfere.

"No, Loren. We're leaving," he said sternly, and Tempest knew the conversation was over.