^ Xavier Martinez

***

I walk down the stairs and see some bags by the door.

I hide behind the wall in the lounge room. My father and brother are sitting at the dining table.

Xavier head is on the table and he's crying. "I don't want to go to Boarding School."

Dad stands up. "We are leaving in ten minutes. You should say 'goodbye' to your sister.

Xavier runs from the table and he crashes into me. "I'm sorry, Ashy."

I hug my five year old brother. "Call me when you can?"

He nods. "I will. Don't forget about me while I'm gone."

"I could never forget my snot nose little brother." I ruffle his hair.

Dad picks up his keys from the kitchen table. "Xavier, we're leaving." Dad yells.

I walk into the kitchen. "Can I come, Dad?"

Xavier stands next to me. "Please?" He begs.

Mum walks into the kitchen. "Ashton, you've got school."

"Can't I take the day off? Your sending my brother away."

Dad picks up Xavier's things and they walk out the door.

Mum holds onto me.

"Xavier," I yell.

That was the last time I saw of him until he graduated High School.

***

I wake up with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Xavier.

I haven't thought of that day since I was a little girl.

What made my brother change?

I look at the time.

I need to get ready for work.

I look through the cupboard for something to wear to work. I pull out a black skirt, stockings and a white blouse.

I walk out to the kitchen and find Sandra cooking pancakes. "Good morning,"

She looks up from the frying pan. "Morning, do you want some?"

I smile. "Sure, why are you in a good mood this morning?"

"Richy will be at the office today. I can't wait to see him."

"Does that mean I won't be able to take the mail up to them?"

Sandra smiles. "I think it would be good for us both to take it upstairs today. I know you've got something that you want to give him."

I laugh. "You know me too well."

We eat breakfast.

She looks at me. "Are you going to move in with, Cody?"

I shake my head. "He hasn't asked me. If he did I would say 'yes' in a heartbeat."

She nods. "I want to ask Rich to move in with me."

"That's great. Are you going to kick me out?"

Sandra shakes her head.

I finish my breakfast and start doing he dishes. Sandra walks to her room and gets ready.

"Sandra I'm leaving." I yell.

She walks out of the room wearing a dress and knee high-boots. "What do you think?"

"He's going to love the outfit, Sandy."

Sandra and I walk to my car. I put the key in the ignition. I pull out of the parking area and drive to work.

On the way to work we are stuck in traffic.

I tap the steering wheel with my finger.

Taylor swifts song 'Shake it off' comes on the radio. Sandra and I sing along to the song. I start throwing my hand in the air and the guys in the car next to mine are watching us.

I stay out too late
Got nothing in my brain
That's what people say, mmm-mmm
That's what people say, mmm-mmm

I go on too many dates [chuckle]
But I can't make them stay
At least that's what people say, mmm-mmm
That's what people say, mmm-mmm

But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind
Saying, "It's gonna be alright."

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

I never miss a beat
I'm lightning on my feet
And that's what they don't see, mmm-mmm
That's what they don't see, mmm-mmm

I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own)
I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)
And that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm
That's what they don't know, mmm-mmm

But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop grooving
It's like I got this music
In my mind
Saying, "It's gonna be alright."

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Hey, hey, hey
Just think while you've been getting down and out about the liars and the dirty, dirty cheats of the world,
You could've been getting down to this sick beat.

My ex-man brought his new girlfriend
She's like "Oh, my god!" but I'm just gonna shake.
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won't you come on over, baby? We can shake, shake, shake

Yeah ohhh

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate (haters gonna hate)
I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break (mmmm)
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake (and fake, and fake, and fake)
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

Shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off (you've got to),
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off,
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

The traffic moves and I make it work half an hour later. I park the car. Sandra and I run to mail room and we start sorting out the mail.

In the stack of mail I come across one with my name on it.

Sandra looks at it. "It's addressed to Ashton Martinez."

I nod. "I know. It also has the prison logo on it. I need to open it with the guys."

***

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