A/N: Hey, here with the next chapter, covered a little less than I planned, but it's full of drama.
Chapter Five
Lucian's POV
I had gotten settled in fairly quickly, and by settled in I mean that I went straight to the bedroom that was meant to be mine and shut the door, much to the surprise of my overeager new foster parents. Seriously Mariana, Mat's wife, was like a hyperactive squirrel on Red Bull, trying to make sure I was okay, trying to make conversation. It was like she didn't have anything better to do until Mat reminded her that they had to call my parole officer. That's when I made my escape.
"You couldn't at least try to be nice?" And now I was getting squealed at by my sister. "Or did you want to stuck in that hellhole?"
I covered my face with the pillow. "You still don't get it do you?"
"I wanted to help you." Riley said. Her lip was quivering, Jesus. "I missed you."
"You think I didn't? But Jesus Christ Riley, that was a stupid move!" My voice was getting louder with every word.
"Okay fine, remind me not to help you again you jerk!" She turned and stormed out leaving me alone.
I fell back onto the bed, still not content enough to let myself relax. Riley may not have realized what she had done, but I knew it was only a matter of time. We had left. We had gotten out from under Gina, but no one, no one is supposed to try to get out from under Gina. Once you're in you're in, and we were out which meant we were royally screwed. Any other person would think they were being paranoid, but I knew I wasn't. They were good, the best in the business, and they'd find us. I knew I could handle myself, but Riley didn't know any better. She'd been spoiled these last few months with this family. She'd probably been tailed this whole time, or not. I knew they were waiting for me. I was the ticket, the license for Gina's particular brand of crazy. I had almost blown her whole operation by leaving with Riley, getting arrested. She'd be out for blood.
I heard a knock on the door and sat up as it opened. "Hey, I never introduced myself," The girl was tiny with long dark brown hair. "I figured I should. You're Riley's brother right?"
I said nothing.
"I'm Amber, Mariana and Mat's daughter." She grinned. "I take it you're not a talker."
"Depends." I shrugged.
She looked at her phone. "Oh dang it! I'm gonna be late. Nice meeting you!" She ran out of the room. I smiled to myself. Nice, that's what they were. Just nice.
Sam's POV
"Well, this is it." I was sitting with Lou on the couch as Brandon prepared the living room for whatever company he was expecting. I wondered what he did. They were both home. I had never seen that before. "Our niece Amber's coming by for lessons. You've met her right?"
I nodded. Amber seemed nice. "Lessons?"
"Brandon teaches piano." Lou said standing up. That explained the piano then. She looked over as she saw the other girl that lived with them. "Moon! Come meet Sam and help us set the table."
The girl, Moon, was definitely interesting. She was dressed head to toe in black, but it didn't make her seem unapproachable. To me, it seemed to be the opposite. "Hey, I'm Moon."
Lou smirked. "Someone seems to be in a better mood today."
"Sam." I nodded back.
"New day." Moon said.
"How was school?"
She shrugged. "Same old, same old." She looked at me. "Can I get a hand?" She held up the glasses pointing to the cabinet. "There's more in there."
The doorbell rang. "You're good in here?" Lou asked. "I'll be quick just have to get the door."
She left leaving me and Moon to set the table. That's when it happened. I was reaching up to grab the next glass and put it on the table, but then my foot got caught on the mat under the sink.
I fell and the glass splintered. I crawled backwards, feeling the shards digging into my hands. Oh god!
"What the hell?" Everyone was in the kitchen now. Brandon, followed closely by Lou and Amber. "What happened?"
"I...I'm sorry. I'm sorry it was an accident." I shut my eyes. I knew it was coming it always did.
"Sam?" I could hear Brandon's footsteps coming closer as I opened my eyes into slits. "Relax. Okay?"
"I...I tripped and it fell. I didn't…" I couldn't breathe. I had to get away.
"Brandon, go. We'll be in in a while." Lou said.
"Uncle Brandon," I saw Amber pull him away.
It wasn't until they were out of the kitchen that I felt myself able to breath again. It was too close.
"Alright kiddo," Lou pulled me away from the broken glass. "Let's get you patched up then we're all going to talk."
I nodded.
Later, after Lou had helped me clean up we were on the couch again. Moon and Amber had went upstairs, to talk girl stuff, Lou said, but I think they just felt awkward. Brandon had brought the piano stool over and he was sitting across from me.
"You want to tell us what that was about?" Lou asked.
I sighed holding my hand steady on my lap. It hadn't stopped shaking since I dropped the glass. "I thought...I did something wrong. My Dad, he, he hurt me every time I did something wrong."
Brandon and Lou exchanged a look. They both looked pretty shocked. It made me feel even worse.
"Sam, look at me." Brandon placed a hand on my knee. I glanced up. "No one is going to hurt you when you make a mistake. Got it?"
"I…" I was shaking.
"You're safe here." Lou said. "Brandon and I, we're here for you, you and Moon. You're a part of this family, just as much as Amber, just as much as anybody."
I blinked. "Thank you."
No one had ever said that to me before. Brandon and Lou were strangers and already they were trying to help me. It felt good.
"Well," Brandon stood. "I've got to get to work. You okay now?"
I nodded. "I think so."
He smiled holding out a hand. "You ever feel anything like that again, tell me. We've got to work together on this. Cool?"
I shook. "Cool."
Piper's POV
"Hey beautiful." I turned as I heard Christian. He was grinning and holding a single red rose. "For you." He handed it to me.
I glanced over at Danny. He hadn't left, only choosing to move to the other side of the beach fiddling with his phone like usual. He caught my eye and rolled his. I stuck my tongue out.
"What, you need a chaperone now?" Christian had seen the exchange raising his eyebrows.
"Please be nice." I sighed kissing him on the lips. "He means well."
He scoffed. "Yeah, sure."
"He's just protective." I grabbed his hand. "I brought my soccer ball. Can we just try to have a good time?"
He relented grinning. "Sure."
"Thank you." I tapped him on the shoulder as I dropped the ball ahead of me. "Catch me if you can babe."
"You are so on! If I win, I come over for dinner."
The pick up game lasted for what seemed like hours as we chased each other down the beach. As we played, my thoughts wandered. Times like this with him were so few. More and more, we were arguing about my family, especially my parents, cousins and uncles, which is what Danny would be soon enough. I had overheard Gramma and Nana talking to Mom and my aunts and uncles. Danny didn't know yet, nobody even knew that I did. But is Chris what I really wanted? I didn't need someone who constantly bashed my family. Christian could be so sweet. He was old school Nicholas Sparks kind of romantic, but sometimes I felt like he was making me choose. I'd give it a few days, wait until after this dinner. Maybe I was overthinking.
"I beat you Piper, you know what that means?" Christian came up behind me tickling my ribs and planting kisses through my hair. "We have to do that family dinner. No backing out."
"Fine. "I shrugged. This would be the deciding factor, either the nail in the coffin or the thing that raised him higher in my eyes.
"Hey Danny Boy, you staying for dinner?" Christian nudged Danny.
Danny shook his head. "Curfew's in an hour. Stef and Lena'll be wondering where I am."
Christian smirked. "Wow, you really are little orphan Andy eh? Quite the boy scout." He turned to me. "Isn't your Mom his foster sister, she wouldn't care."
"Do you have to be such a dick?" Danny shoved him.
"You fucking punk!" Before I knew what was happening, Christian had pulled back his fist and slammed Danny in the jaw. He fell backwards into the sand.
"Damn it!" I shouted and ran over to him. "Chris, what was that for?"
"He was being a smart aleck."
"So you hit him?"
Christian smirked. "Someone's gotta teach him something."
I glared. "You know what Christian, forget dinner. Screw you, we're done."
"Because of one stupid fight, Jesus Babe melodramatic much?"
"No, it's a lot more than that." I helped Danny to his feet. "Wait here. This'll just take a minute."
"Sure." Danny's response came out muffled through his hand.
I motioned Christian to follow as we walked down the beach.
"So, what?" He crossed his arms. "Do you not like me anymore?"
"No Chris, it's not…" I rubbed my forehead. "I just, I feel like every time I'm with you, it's a choice between you and my family. I know… I know they're crazy, believe me, but… you can't ask me, you can't ask me to choose. And treating them like that, it's not going to make me choose you."
"Piper… I'm sorry I upset you, but I think you're overreacting. Danny, he's, he's not a part of your family yet. Just because I tease him… it doesn't mean I don't like your family."
I narrowed my eyes. "You're wrong. And it's not just him either. You think it's a joke, what you say about my brother, my parents. It's not, not to me."
"Come on Piper, don't be like that."
"You said James should be medicated."
"He flips out when you move a book an inch." Christian smirked. "It's kind of funny."
"You don't joke about something like that!" I groaned. "You just don't!"
"Piper," He reached for my arm.
"Don't touch me. Just… just leave me alone." I turned around wiping my eyes as I walked away to where I had left Danny.
"Hey, you alright?" Danny looked at me.
"I'm fine. It was bound to happen sooner or later." I sighed. "Besides, shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"This?" Danny moved his hand from his mouth. It came away red. "I've had worse, don't worry." He tried to grin. "Ow… hurts...to smile. Chris has got a killer right hook. He should take up boxing instead of soccer."
I grinned. "Aw Dan, I think that's the nicest thing you've said about him."
"I'm not all bad you know." He winced. "Shit. You think Callie has ice at the house? If I come home like this, Stef'll put out an APB on the guy."
"Come on."
When we walked into the house, the first person that we saw was Rory. She was sitting on the floor coloring and when she looked up, her mouth formed an O.
"Did you get into a fight or somethin' Uncle Danny?"
"Some jerk stole our soccer ball. It was nothing." Danny was quick to respond.
"Did you get him good Piper?"
I nodded, careful to keep my voice light. "We sure did. Is Mom around?"
"Mommy, Daddy and Uncle Jude are in the kitchen with a girl. I think she got into a fight too."
Danny and I exchanged a glance. He shrugged as we headed for the kitchen.
I saw the girl sitting at our kitchen table. She had dark hair, and her eyes were darting all around. Rory's estimation was accurate. She had bruises along her forehead. Her eyes landed on Danny and they widened.
"Danny?"
I looked over. Danny looked like he had seen a ghost. His hands balled into fists as his voice came out a whisper. "Mara, what happened?"
A/N: Okay, so Lucian is getting used to things at Mat and Mariana's and he knows something Riley doesn't regarding a woman named Gina. Sam is starting to open up to Lou and Brandon and he and Brandon are going to work on their relationship after he and Lou learned a bit about his past. He also met Moon. Piper and Christian are having trouble and Christian hit Danny. Danny also seems to know Callie and Wyatt's newest foster daughter Mara. Piper also knows that Stef and Lena are thinking of adopting Danny. Also big announcement. I have decided to include both Mike and AJ in the story. They'll be introduced soon.
The recurring characters I still need are:
) A young male police officer mid to late twenties. Could be straight or bi
2) The vice principal at Anchor Beach
3) Freshman boy 14-15-gay
4) Swim coach
