Chapter Seven: Family Matters (Or So They Say)
"Guys, I'd like you to meet my oldest friend. This," I turned and gestured in front of me. "Is Michael." Michael waved and smiled nervously. I felt Paul tense up beside me. "Michael, this is David, Dwayne, Marko, and-"
"Paul." He interuppted quickly. He was wearing his trademark smirk, but his eyes twinkled with jealousy as he held my hand. "Her boyfriend." My cheeks flushed a little when he said 'boyfriend', but luckly no one noticed.
"Rriigghhtt..." Michael sighed and looked at the beach, apparantly I wasn't the only one akwarded out by this.
"Don't be jealous." I turned and whispered into Paul's neck. He chuckled and growled teasingly at me.
"Now what would give you that idea?" I glared at him playfully before turning back to Michael. "So, umm...what are you doing here?" Michael looked back at me, slightly confused.
"You haven't heard yet?" I shook my head.
"Heard what?" His face fell, my heart quickned it's pace and I laughed nervously. "Michael?"
"Perhaps we could talk elsewhere?" Paul started to object but David cut him off, whispering something in his ear. He scowled but nodded and gave my hand a light squeeze.
"You gonna be okay Eve?" Paul asked, the other boys starting to walk off.
"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine. Go, have fun." I smiled at him, he smirked but I could tell he was unsettled. He leaned down, pressing his lips against mine possessively. Michael coughed and Paul smirked into the kiss, before he pulled away with a sigh. Guaranteed my cheecks were now as red as the fires on the beach, I waved as Paul jogged to catch up with the others, jumping onto Marko's back. Laughing, I turned to face Michael. He raised an eyebrow at me. "What?" I asked innocently.
"Never would have him pegged as your type."
"Well a lot has changed since I ran away. Now where do you want to talk?" He gestured behind him.
"Ladies first."
Only a few minutes later, we settled down into a booth inside the pizza parlour.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"
"I'll just take a Coke." Michael replied to the blonde waitress, she smiled at him.
"Yeah, of course." I noticed how she was leaning against the table, certainly not hiding her 'assests'.
"Umm excuse me?" Rolling her eyes, she looked at me. "Yeah, hi. Can I get a water?"
"Whatever." She whirled around and walked off, leaving behind a laughing Michael and me.
"Wow, look who's become a lady-killer."
"And look who's become a bad-girl biker."
"Okay, so you win this round." I smiled, Michael returning one of his own. Coughing, I quickly changed the topic. "So, what brought you all the way out here to Santa Carla?" His smile dropped and his eyes clouded over.
"Yo-" He took a deep sigh. "Your mom." My blood froze in my veins. "Eve,"
"Don't. Michael, if this is a joke, it isn't funny."
"I'm being serious." He grabbed my hands. "She's, well, she's gone Eve." A whimper escaped my quivering lips. "The doctors said her heart finally quit, I'm sorry." My throat closed up as tears tried to creep down my cheek. I took a shaky breath, holding them back.
"An-an-and my brother?"
"He's fine, but your mom left everything to you two in her will. Your dad? Well," He scratched the back of his head. "He's taking as one would expect."
"He wants us dead." I translated, Michael nodded slowly.
"I grabbed your brother and ran as soon as I could."
"He's here? Now?!"
"Yeah, my family was going to be moving here soon, so I left before them and brought him with me. He should be around here somewhe-"
"Eve! Eve!" The tears I had tried so hard to hold back, flowed down my cheeks as I turned and saw the familiar boy running towards me.
"Laddie!" I kneeled down and scooped him into a tight hug, my tears falling into his blonde hair. Sniffling, I pulled back, his arms still looped around my neck, he smiled widely. "Your hair." I laughed, holding him back so I could see his face. "It got so long, look at you!" I kissed his forehed and pulled him into another hug. Laddie was only six years younger than I was, and was only nine when I ran away. Of course I was terrified to leave him alone with our abusive, drunken father, but I made up my decision when I found out we were to be staying with my aunt while my mother was ill. Convinced he was in good hands, I left to try to start a new life.
"I thought I was never going to see you again." He nuzzled into my neck, my heart breaking as I heard the saddness in his voice.
"Never. Laddie, I would never leave you alone with him." I reassured him, brushing my hand through his hair. I looked at Michael and mouthed the words, 'Thank you'. He nodded as I pulled Laddie onto the seat next to me, the eleven year old bouncing excitedly as the waitress returned with our drinks. She stared in surprise at Laddie, looking quickly back and forth between Michael and I.
"Umm...uh, your drinks." She sat down the glasses. "Can I get you anything for your...?"
"Brother." The relief was visable as I clarifed Laddie's relations. "And yes please. What do you want to get?"
"Soda!"
"Alright." I laughed. "I don't think you need any more caffine though. Another Coke please?" She nodded and walked off quickly. Laddie looked up at me, his brown eyes sparkling. "You better not be bouncing all over the boardwalk later, deal?"
"Deal." He nodded happily. "I've missed you sis...where you going to come back?"
"Of course, I had to get enough money to support the two of us. But I was going to come back for you, never doubt it."
"Yeah, I didn't know what I was going to do, I just knew I had to get Laddie as far away from your father as possible. So we ran here. I was going to let him live with me and my family, they are coming in later, but now that we found you..."
"I wanna live with Eve!" Laddie whined, Michael and I smiled at the small boy.
"Of course Lad-oh. I forgot."
"What?" Michael asked me, Laddie pouted.
"I'm...um...kinda-ish...living with the boys." The last part of the sentance came out a squeak.
"You're what?!" Michael hissed at me as the waitress brought Laddie his drink. He sipped on the soda happily and eyes a nearby arcade, oblivious to our conversation. "Eve, when did you meet these guys?!"
"Umm...a couple nights ago..." I muttered, Michael stared at me with a mixture of astonishment and confusion.
"A-are you serious right now?" I nodded sheepishly. "Wow. Don't you think that's going a liiiittle too fast?" I sighed in exasparation, trying to avoid Michael's gaze.
"I know but, there is something about Paul..." My memory flashed with the dreams I had before I met him, where I would hear only his voice. I had forgotten until now. "I don't know what, but I feel...different, around him."
"Yeah, it's called lust Eve." Michael pointed out, half joking, half serious. I rolled my eyes.
"Oh please, it's not that..."
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow skepticly.
"Well...not all of it..." I thought to myself, smirking.
"Do I wanna know what you are smirking about?"
"Probably not." I teased, attempting to lighten the mood. "Look, I'll talk to the guys tonight and see how they feel about Laddie staying with us. If they say no, I'll go back to my old place, alright?" He huffed, then fell back into his chair.
"Alright, fine. Laddie?" My brother looked at Michael. "You're going to chill at my place tonight, okay bud?"
"Yeah, that's cool." He smiled, Michael couldn't help but smile back. He looked at me as I stared at the table, spacing out.
"Are you feeling alright Eve?" Distracted, I jerked my head up to look at him.
"Hmm?"
"Are you feeling alright?" He repeated, I shrugged in response.
"I guess so, why?"
"Well you haven't touched your drink and you look a little pale."
"I'm always pale." I retorted, spinning the straw around my glass, bored.
"Good point, but you live in California and you are pale. Not to mention you have bags under your eyes. Really bad ones too."
"Gee thanks." I replied sarcastically, how could he see my eyes through my...I reached up and realized my glasses must have fallen off by the ride. I never even noticed, dang, I liked those glasses too.
"So this Paul guy...?" I glanced at Michael, who was grinning from ear to ear.
"What about him?" I asked, grabbing a napkin and began playing with it, tearing the edges.
"He's the jealous type, eh?"
"He's just...protective."
"Uh-huh, yeah, that's the word." He continued grinning, I crumpled the napkin and lobbed it at his face.
"Oh don't get so full of yourself, he was jealous of Chad even."
"Chad?! He's here?!" I nodded. "I thought he was one of the reasons you ran away from home, I mean, after what he did to you-" I covered Laddie's ears, who looked at me confused.
"Hey! Small child! That is enough of that." He raised his hands in defense and leaned forward onto his hands. "And...he was. But, somehow, he found me again."
"Wow, stalker much?" I laughed dryly, but Michael's face grew worried and he gestured for me to cover Laddie's ears again.
"Sorry Laddie, adult conversation." I sighed as I covered his ears, he pouted but didn't complain. I felt bad for having to exclude him. "Here." I handed him a $10. "Go ride some rides, don't talk to anyone and stay close by, okay?" Laddie's eyes grew wide as he saw the money before he nodded and excitedly bounded off, I watched him smiling before turning to Michael. "Okay, what?"
"Chad hasn't...tried...anything has he?"
"No, of course not." I replied nonchalantly, hoping to not get too deep into the subject. "You worry too much."
"Eve, he raped you!" Michael hissed at me, I flinched as if slapped. "How can I not worry?!"
"H-he was drunk." I mumbled under my breath.
"That isn't an excuse." His gaze held a firm grip on mine. "So help me god, if he tries something-"
"Listen, I am FINE. Not to mention Paul and the boys have my back, they did earlier." He perked up and I bit my lip, realizing what had slipped out.
"Earlier? What happened earlier?"
"Okay, don't freak out." I told him about the Frogs, the House of Mirrors, the fight Chad and I had, my fall, and the boys coming.
"Holy..." He placed his hand over his mouth, obviously angry. "That son of a bitch."
"You sound like David."
"Where is he?"
"David?" I asked, confused.
"Chad Eve! Chad!" I flinched as his voice rose, grabbing the attention of a few customers. "Where is he?" He lowered his voice.
"I don't know, he ran off." He was pissed about it, but seemed to accept this response.
"I'll kill him if he shows his face around here."
"Get in line." I muttered, scowling.
"Why didn't he want you going with Paul?"
"Umm..." Should I bring up the 'vampire' thing? "Jealousy?"
"He said you were better off dead. Chad has always been the jealous type, but that is a little overboard, even for him. So what it it?"
"Well..."
"Oh it can't be that crazy-"
"He thinks the boys are vampires." I blurted out, Michael's eyes widening.
"Or maybe it can."
"So that's why he doesn't like me."
"Jesus!" I jumped and spun around to see the four boys behind me, Paul and David sat in the booth right behind me, Marko and Dwayne stood by the door, flirting with some girls. Paul laughed and wrapped his arms around me, kissing the side of my neck.
"That never gets old. So your boyfriend thinks we are vampires? I thought he didn't like me because of my luscious hair, amazing body, beautiful eyes..." I rolled my eyes, I didn't want the boys to know about Chad's suspiscions. Both the blondes were smiling, but David's eyes were grim. I shot a questioning glance at him, but he shook his head and looked away. "But, vampires? That's a little...wierd."
"You're telling me. And he is not my boyfriend," I froze, thinking back on the conversations we had. "How long have you been there?"
"Eh, we just got here." I sighed in relief, not even realizing I was holding my breath. David quickly turned and looked at me, sensing my relief.
"So, this punk give you any trouble?" David jerked his thumb at Michael, who was glowering for being called a punk.
"No he's fine." He nodded slowly. I started to get up but was stopped when something latched onto my legs. "Whoa, Laddie?"
"Do we have to go already?" He asked Michael, frowning, and again, my heart broke when I saw his sad little eyes.
"Yeah," He replied. I kneeled down and ruffled Laddie's sandy hair.
"Hey, I will come to see you first thing tomorrow," I held a pinky up and winked at him. "Pinky promise?" He wrapped his pinky around mine and our hands shook.
"Pinky promise."
"Time for us to Laddie, it's late." Michael stated, Laddie quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his head into my chest. I laid my head against his hair.
"Good night Laddie." I whispered, he started to follow Michael.
"Good night sissy!" He shouted back with a wave before disappearing from sight.
"'Sissy'?" David questioned. I flinched a little, remembering how I told the boys I was an only child. I scratched the back of my head and turned to face the boys, Marko and Dwayne rejoining us.
"Yeaaahhh, I have a confession to make."
"Oh?" David asked suprisingly, while not looking suprised at all. "How ironic, so do we." Paul shot a quick glare at David
"You do?"
"Yeah," Paul grabbed my hand gently. "But that can wait till we get home." He glanced at David, who shrugged slightly.
"We are leaving already?" I asked, it was only ten, if that.
"Yep," Marko jumped and sat on the table, a nearby couple frowned at us, David politely flipped him the bird. "We got in trouble...again."
"Ugh...what did you do?"
"Well...we were on the carousel..." David started.
"David was flirting with some surfer's girl." Dwayne interrupted, recieving a glared from the blonde.
"Anyway, the punk grabbed Dwayne and we may have gotten into a fight." David scratched the back of his head, smiling, not ashamed at all.
"Why does this not surprise me?" I groaned and rubbed the bridge of my nose before Paul held onto my hand.
"Aw, you love me."
"By some miracle." He smirked and playfully bit the side of my neck.
"Be nice."
"Make me." I challenged, his smirk widened.
"Don't make me take you up on that offer." He threatned as he pressed his forehead against mine. "You ready to go home?" I lightly pressed my lips to his.
"Always."
End of Chapter Seven
Hello again! Did you miss me? Unfourtnatly for you I am becoming used to this so I will be more like myself...which is insane. =3 You have been warned. So the winner of the poll was...*epic drum roll* LADDIE! Am I the only one who finds it funny that the eleven year old who said a grand total of THREE WORDS throughout the whole movie, got more votes then the two main characters combined? o.O" I LOVE THAT KID! XD So you will probably not see a whole bunch frm Michael...so sad *coughsarcasmcough* ;3 Next chapter, just a head's up, there will be some disturbing factors and may not be appropriate for younger peoples.
(What are you doing on this site if you are younger anyway? GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!...or...something =3) Just an FYI. Bet you didn't see that coming with Chad did ya? Or maybe you did...PSYCHICS! O.o So almost no one has answered my poll...so I assume you don't want me stopping this fanfic anytime soon...but I might put up another, idk. :P If you have any suggestions in your brilliant little minds, message me with them! Anyway, I'll leave ya'll alone. ^w^ Hope you enjoyed! And as usual, review and recommend!
~Ciao! ;)