Maria Robbins-Torres
Wait what? Did they just... my sperm donor was... my mom was ... WHAT. I glance into the kitchen and see them only paying attention to each other. Creeping up the stairs I sneak into their room and head over to the drawer they keep all our documents in. I pull mine out and as a second thought my mama's and a legal looking one with her name on it as well.
Going back to my room I lock my bedroom door and sink to the floor opening my folder, the first document is my birth certificate, but it has both of my moms names on it, without mention of a man. Next is a bunch of papers from the NICU apparently I was not a healthy baby. My gaze catches a NICU visitor log, and glancing at it, I have to re-read it to make sure. A few hour after I was born my mom, Calliope Torres came to see me, but nobody else came for another week and a half, not my moms, siblings, aunts, uncles or cousins. Feeling tears prick my eyes I shut that folder, It's not getting me anywhere. Opening my mom's I flick through to the day I was born and backtrack nine months, to around the time she would of got IVF. Nothing, but then I see a report of her been brought into the hospital, ' sexual assault' 'bruises' 'broken bones' 'brutal'. Fast forward three weeks, pregnancy test, POSITIVE. 'Termination Scheduled'. I feel my stomach sink, they were going to abort me. 'Termination re-scheduled'. They really didn't want me. They LIED to me. Throwing the folder across the floor it slides under the tarantula's terrarium. I try to bite back the sobs, but they slip out anyway, and next thing I know i'm curled up on the floor, my body shaking as I cry.
"Mia? What's wrong?" I hear my older brother Calvin through the door. I ignore him. "Maria?Maria, I'm going to get mom's," They aren't my moms, if they were they wouldn't lie to me my whole life.
"Baby, can you open the door for us please?" I hear my mo... Callie, through the door.
"Maria?" Arizona now.
"GO AWAY" I yell through my sobs.
"Maria? Open the door sweetie,"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
It must work, because they don't say anything else. When I finally get a hold of myself, I pick up the legal folder, and see its the court file from the rape. 'David Hades, 25' '15 years' 'rape in the third degree' sperm donor my ass. Picking up the two folders next to me I reach under the tarantulas and grab the other one, standing up I reach in and pick up Lilly giving her a quick kiss before patting Amber and head over to my bed, slipping the files under my mattress, in case I need them. Glancing around my room I sigh, I shouldn't be this mad at them they raised me, gave me everything I could possibly need or want. But they lied to me, they didn't want me, they were going to abort me. They didn't even visit me when I was born, some parents. Why did they not just tell me, it's easy, hey Maria, by the way, you weren't planned, some dude forced himself on you're mama and that's how you were made, we didn't want you, and you most likely have dirty rapist genes, try not to hurt anyone.
Glancing back at the file, I see the prison name and ward, I'm going to see him, find out what I got from him.
If my dad's a monster, that makes me one too, right?
Grace Grey-Sloan
It's finally the weekend, and I have NO plans for it, which is fine with me. Rolling back over in my bed I stretch before picking up my phone, going onto Instagram I'm hit with pictures of my cousin, that's it just them, mostly Ella, Maria and Rachel, which isn't really surprising seeing as all they do is take pictures, they are lucky none of our parents have an account on this or they would all be in shit, seeing as in most of the pictures their holding alcohol or you can tell they are at a party somewhere. Rolling my eyes I keep strolling. After a while my phone vibrates in my hand, and I see a text from Pristine asking me to stay over, sighing I make up a lie about homework, not in the mood , which sounds bad.
Rolling out of bed I wonder downstairs, seeing my mom and dad sitting on the couch, laughing together, love shining in their eyes.
"Hey Gracie, how'd you sleep?" My mom asks, catching my eye.
"Fine," I smile back at her sitting at down next to her and leaning into her side.
"How are you feeling?" My dad asks scanning me.
"Gracie, can you drive me to the shop?"Ella says planting herself onto my lap and staring at me with my dad's blue eyes.
"Okay, give me ten minutes to get ready, Elz." As my phone buzzes from a text from Josiah asking me if i want to go shopping, I tell him I'm busy with homework and family things.
Ella Grey-Sloan
"So we are going to meet with them and discuss adoption," They say to us.
I look at Dalton. When my parents called us all down for a family meeting this is NOT what I expected, I thought he was going to talk them out of it. He shrugs, and looks away as our parents let us go. He's the first one out of the room, and I get up catching up with him on the staircase.
"Dalton,"
"Ella,"
"You said you would talk them out of it,"
"Ella, its my brother or sister, it's an innocent baby, who is related to me,"
"Just because you share blood doesn't make it you're sibling,"
"Yes it does, that's what a sibling is, you share the same parents,"
"We don't share the same dna, does that mean you're not my brother?" I say, feeling myself getting emotional
"Of course I am thats not what I meant and you know it,"
"WELL YOU'RE NOT ACTING LIKE A VERY GOOD BROTHER ARE YOU, YOU'RE MEANT TO HAVE MY BACK,"
"WELL MAYBE IF YOU USED YOUR HEAD AND KEPT YOUR LEGS CLOSED YOU WOULDN'T OF HAD THIS PROBLEM, IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOU WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO GET YOURSELF KNOCKED UP!"
"Excuse me?" I hear quietly from behind me.
I look at Dalton, tears beginning to run down my cheeks without permission and I can tell by his face he regrets saying it.
"Ella, what is he talking about?"
I can't turn around, I know both of my parents are behind me, and I can't face them, my eyes wide and panicked as I stare at him, and he knows as he whispers a quiet sorry before running up the stairs to his room.
"Ella?"
Rachel Avery
When I wake my head is pounding, and my throat dry. Sighing I pull out a bottle of vodka and down it, before reaching into the pocket of the coat I was wearing last night and taking out what was left of my 'goody bag' swallowing a couple of roxy's.
When I get down stairs I see my mom and dad both in the kitchen looking around.
"What are you doing?" I ask, my hands drumming on the counter top.
"There is nearly $100 missing from your moms wallet, and it's either here or someone took it, and the only people who could have is you or Pris, which I know you wouldn't do would you?"
I feel my heart drop to my stomach, but try to act casual, clenching my fists, "Of course not, what would I need that for?" I ask with a small chuckle.
My dad keeps his eyes locked on me and I look away swallowing, when I look back his face says it all, he knows, he knows I took it.
"Rachel."
I look at them both before turning around going up to my room.
Less than two minutes later my parents walk in and sit down on my bed, I feel them staring from where I'm standing at the wardrobe, pulling out clothes.
"Rachel, come here," I hear my moms voice, soft but demanding.
"Why would you need $100?"
"Can you leave so I can get changed please,"
"Rachel."
I ignore them heading to the door with my clothes. My dad jumps in front of me, grabbing my shoulders, "Why did you steal money from your mom Rachel, I don't get it, you know if you need money you can ask for it, you know if you need anything you can ask us."
I look at the floor, thinking, I can NOT tell them that I stole money for alcohol or drugs, but they won't leave if I don't tell them something, If I say I took it for anything stupid i'm in more trouble than I already am. Rolling my eyes I push past him , unable to find anything to say. Grabbing my bag and jacket I run down the stairs slipping on pumps, and running out the house, unsure where I'm going..
Pristine Avery
Sighing I roll over, 4.30. I close my eyes trying to get back to sleep, I haven't had a proper night sleep in weeks, and it's weighing on me. My mom noticed blood on my pillow the other day, from one of my nosebleeds, but I told her I tripped, not wanting to tell her I've been getting frequent nosebleeds while sleeping, and waking up frozen in the middle of the night, unable to move my limbs. I know it isn't normal, but I can cope with them, they need to focus on Dylan and figure out what is going on with Rachel. I wake up again at 8, and pick up my phone, asking Grace if she wants to stay here for the night, but she texts back saying she's busy, sighing I stand up walking down the stairs, I use the wall as support to keep my body up, as I reach the bottom the house phone starts ringing so I grab it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Pristine, it's your Uncle Richard, is your mom or dad home?"
"Somewhere, I'll find them,"
Walking around the house I can't see them anywhere, and head back upstairs, keeping conversation with Richard. Eventually I find them in Rachel's bedroom, going through her drawers.
"Umm, uncle Owen's on the phone," I say holding it out. "Why are you going through Rachel's room?"
My mom shakes her head at me. "She's over there? Can you keep her for a little while? Yeah, she stole money of April. Like $100., I know, I don't know what's happening with her, I'm worried. What would she need that much money for? She's got herself in to trouble and shes too scared to come to us about it,. I don't know what it is, she's been acting weird for months. Yeah. Thanks Owen, I'll come around soon."
Walking around the corner I close my eyes. I really can't say anything now, with Rachel Stealing they really have enough going on.
Calvin Robbins-Torres
My moms take my phone off me as soon as Hannah hangs up, saying they will phone her mom. I end up staring at the ceiling, how the hell did I get myself into this mess? Sighing I go to my window, glancing into the house behind me to see if I can spot Hannah, glad we live in houses behind each other and we both have back bedrooms.
It's still for a while, until her bedroom light turns on and she walks in, glancing out the window and spotting me, I grab the pad of paper off my desk and scribble to her.
You okay? She disappears and comes back with her own paper.
Yeah, sorry I got you into this mess.
It's okay, you're my bestfriend, we drag each other into messes its what we do.
I'm still really sorry.
What you going to tell Alison?
Crap. I didn't think about that, she's going to hate me.
She won't hate you, she loves you.
I don't know. Are you aware that Maria is climbing out her window?
Glancing down, I see a head of pink hair disappear around the corner of the house.
Oh well, she'll come back, she's probs going to see Ella or Rachel.
Just then the door to her room opens and Hope comes in, laughing at our notes.
Got to go. My mom wants me. Talk tomorrow? x
Yeah x
Joshua Grey Shepherd
I head downstairs, seeing my dad in the kitchen. Turning discreetly I try heading to the front door not getting seen, I haven't spoke to my dad since I told him I was gay last night, high tailing it out of the room.
"Josh! Wait!"
"Gotta go dad, I'm on weekend shift, going to be late, be home later, love you bye." I rush out before going straight to my car.
It wasn't exactly A lie, I am on weekend shift, but it doesn't start for another hour, so I head to the coffee shop around the corner from my work. After ordering a cup of coffee and a muffin I sit down at the back of the room, taking in the scene outside my window, it has gotten a lot better than it did when we opened the center a few years ago, less kids on the street, not as much gang affiliation. A few years ago I wouldn't want to walk on these streets, but now I feel safer doing so. I see a boy sit at the table next to me, pulling out a notepad and begining to sketch, he keeps glancing at me, and I take in his lightly tan skin, spiky light brown hair and sparkling green eyes, he smiles at me and my stomach tightens at it, his full lips filling up his face.
"Hey," He says.
"Hi,"
"I'm Franklin,"
"Joshua, it's nice to meet you,"
"You too, tell me Joshua, what brings you here this early in the morning?"
"I work around the corner at the youth center, just grabbing something before shift,"
"My brother went to that youth center, saved his life, he's at yale now, got a full scholarship,"
"I'm glad," I smile at him, "What about you Franklin, what brings you here?"
"I like it at this time of the morning, it's quite, lets me think,"
I glance at my watch and see the time."I have to go or I'm going to be late for work,"
He passes me a piece of paper, smiling at me."Bye."
Walking out I glance down, seeing the sketch he was doing was of me, It was nice talking to you, call me sometime and we can meet for coffee again. and a number scribbled down. Folding it I stick it into my bag.
Tucker Jones-Bailey
"What do you want to do today baby?" I ask Lucy drawing patterns on her arm.
"This. Can we just stay in bed and watch movies? It's not often we can do that," She sighs.
"I know, we need to start getting shifts at the same time so we can spend it together," I laugh.
"What time do you think Arizona will phone?"
"Soon. She text me earlier saying she was on her way to work,"
"Okay," she whispers, cuddling into me more.
We lie there for about an hour just talking mindlessly when my phone starts ringing, and picking it up I see my aunt Arizona's name splayed across the screen.
"Hey Zona"
"Hey Tuck, I have the results of the test, you ready?"
"Wait, I'll put you on speaker,"
"Hey Arizona," Lucy says from next to me.
"Hey Lucy, So the pregnancy test was positive,"
She pauses to let us talk, but were both in such shock and we can't speak.
"Guys? You okay?"
"Holy Crap," Lucy whispers from next to me.
Hannah Shepherd
I hang up with Calvin, and take a deep breath, walking briskly, I'm hoping to get to the police station in 20 minutes. It's my fault, and I'm not letting Calvin take the blame. I'm about halfway there when a car pulls up next to me.
"Hannah, get in the car,"
"No. I have to do this mom,"
"No you don't Hannah, please just get in the car,"
"I can't,"
"Why?"
"Because it's my fault! I can't let Cal get into trouble for something that wouldn't of happened if it wasn't for me,"
She stops the car completely and gets out standing in front of me." Whatever you do it won't help, Calvin done it, and they can prove it, it's not up to you to fix that, you and Calvin are just going to need to go with the punches, we will all do what we can to help, and Callie is phoning Tucker to see if he can help,"
"I'm sorry, mommy." I sob, throwing myself into her arms. "I didn't know what to do, I was so scared, I thought you would hate me, everyone is so smart and I'm… not. I'm stupid,"
"You're not stupid Hannah, everyone has their strengths, have you met this family, nobody is the same. You might struggle in school, but you have so many things that you are good at."
"Yeah?"
"Yes, baby, you have so many strengths," She whispers pulling me tighter into her body.
Sutton Grey Sloan
40 hours in, and i'm stuck with another feeding tube, it's the third one they have put in, as I've ripped the other two out. Sighing I pick up the magazine my mom brought for me, I skip through the pages about celebrities dating lives and find the page headlined lose 1 stone in a week, grabbing highlighters I go over the tips. Sighing I glance outside, it's late and there isn't many people in. Taking a deep breath I grab on to the feeding tube yanking at it. My nose stings as it tears out, and my eyes begin to water. throwing the tube across the room I take deep breath. I need to cut. Taking a deep breath, I take out my IV, glad they took the heart monitor away this morning as that would be harder to disconnect myself from. Glancing into the corridor, I can't see anyone, and run down the hall, into the supply cupboard, raking through the shelves, looking for anything that I could use. Eventually I just start pulling things off the shelves, finding a pair of scissors. My hands shake as I rip open the package, and I roll up my pyjama top, pressing the edge to my side. A weight gets lifted off my chest when I make the first cut, and eventually my whole body feels like it's weightless, and I can breath again, reaching for the gauze the door pushes open and I freeze, quickly ducking down behind the shelves.
I shiver there hiding. I can't be caught in here, or I'll get kept in for longer to 'recover'. But I need to get out. It's not fair on my family, enough of them are stuck in here as it is, and Tate, I need to get out for Tate, she's my best friend and she needs me. Even if I can just fake it, and get out, and I'll make up for it, lose the weight again.
"Hello?" I hear footsteps, and curl further into myself, my hand clenching the scissors so hard I can feel them digging into my palm. "Sutton? What are you doing in here? Are you bleeding?"
Glancing up I see my Aunt Arizona looking down at me. " Sutton, can you give me the scissors please." She says reaching his hand out to me. I shake my head, then feel her hands on mine, clenching my fist harder. "Okay, Okay. Come on let's get you back to you're room." She says softly pulling me up to my feet.
Ruaridh Hunt
The doorbell rings and pulling it open I see my aunt Teddy standing on the other side.
"Hey Ruaridh, you ready to do this?"
I nod taking a deep breath and let her in. "Remember, let them talk first, get their worries out,"
WE head in to the living room where my parents are sitting on one of the sofas, and we sit on the one across from them.
"Teddy, what did you want to talk about?"
"Rue told me about his decision about his future, and you're reaction to it," She says calmly leaning back into the sofa.
"I don't want him serving overseas Teddy, you saw what it was like over their, all the injured soldiers."
"We were in a war zone as well Owen, we need people out there keeping our country safe, and if Rue wants to do that then good for him, you should be proud,"
"Ruaridh, do you really want to join the army," my mom asks looking at me.
"I nod, leaning my forearms on my thighs.
"Why?"
"I heard dad's stories and Aunt Teddy's stories, and I could help so many people, could make this country safer for the family, and any future offspring,"
"Ruaridh, it physically hurts me knowing that you would be in danger,"
"Were always in danger mom, I could go outside and get hit by a bus, or kidnapped, or stabbed. This way I would be in danger yeah, but I would be in danger making my family a little bit safer," I say looking into her eyes
Imogen Hunt
I sit on my bed, my phone sitting on my lap, with Connie's number on the screen, but I can't bring myself to press call. I throw myself backwards, my body sinking into the mattress.
Worthless little girl. You are PATHETIC. You're family are setting you up, they're trying to get rid of you.
"No their not," I mumbled, squeezing my eyes shut.
Poor, naive little Imogen. They don't want you, they have never wanted you.
"Yes they do, they love me, they told me themselves,"
No they don't, they hate you, they wish you were dead.
I sit up, grabbing my phone and unlocking it with shaking hands, pressing the call button I bring the phone up to my ear, trembling.
"Hello, this is Dr. Matthews, how can I help?"
"Did my parent's hire you to kill me?"
"No. Is that you Imogen?"
"Yeah. Is this a set-up? Is that what is happening, they're saying it's a set-up."
"Who?"
I pause. "That doesn't matter, you didn't answer the question,"
She isn't going to tell you the truth Imogen.
"Shut up!" I snap.
"Imogen listen to me, nobody is trying to set you up, we're all just trying to help you,"
"I want them to be quiet, they're never quiet, I can't sleep, I cant hold a conversation, their always their,"
"Do you want to come in and talk to me at some point?"
"I...I don't know, I don't know if I can trust you, they're telling me I can't,"
"You can, we can meet in the cafeteria if you want, and all your aunts and uncles are at the hospital with your parents, so if it gets too much we can get one of them to pick you up,"
"Okay,"
"Okay, can you put one of your parents on and we'll set up an appointment,"
I go down stairs and sit on the couch, handing my dad the phone and leaning onto my mom.
"Tomorrow?" My dad asks, "Yeah of course, were both in the hospital on shift if you need us. Okay, thanks Connie," he says hanging up and handing me my phone back, pressing a kiss to the side of my head.
Henry Burton Jr.
"Hello, my name is Frank and I'm a coke addict, I've been sober for 4 years"
"My name is Susan, and I am a Crystal meth addict, 3 years sober"
"Hi, I'm Amelia, and I'm an Oxy addict, and I have been sober for 18 years"
"Henry, I'm addicted to Heroin, I've been sober for just over a year"
"Hello everyone, we are all here because we are fighting addictions," The group leader says, " My name is Helen, and I am an Ecstasy addict, I have been clean for 23 years, it's still hard, and occasionally I feel a burning inside of me, craving that high, and some days I nearly crack, but theses meetings get me through, knowing that I'm not alone helps, would anyone like to share,"
It's silent for a minute, before my Aunt Amy shifts in her seat and takes a deep breath, "I started using when I was, um, 14. It was a way to escape, I grew up in a crazy household, with 3 older sisters and an older brother, and when I say older I mean their is a 7 year gap between me and my brother who is the next youngest, when I was five, me and Derek, my brother, went to work with my dad, who owned a store, when two guys came in, they took all the money, and they wanted his watch, my dad refused, because my mom gave him that watch, so they shot him, he died instantly. When I was 16, maybe 17, I overdosed and my brother brought me back, which is when I got sober the first time, then I relapsed when I was 29, and at that time, I meet Ryan, and we got engaged, but he overdosed, we decided to get sober together and have a family after one more night, but when I woke up, he was dead, I've been sober ever since, and now have twin girls who are 15, and my everything" When she finishes she has tears running down her cheeks, and I reach out my hand, placing it on her arm, which she covers, glancing over and smiling at me.
I feel sorry for my aunt Amelia, she's had a hard life, and it makes me feel stupid, because she went through all that, and I got addicted to heroin because I'm a idiot who succumbed to peer-pressure.
"I'm sorry to hear all of that Amelia, but it seems as if you have turned your life around, I'm proud of you, would anyone else like to share," Helen asks.
Amy nudges me, but I shake my head.
"What's wrong?" She whispers in my ear.
"Nothing,"
"Junior."
"I don't have anything to share, nothing pushed me to drugs, I was just a silly little boy who listened to what his friends said,"
"You were not silly, you were trying to fit in, and you may not have went through the same as everyone else, but you still took drugs, you deserve to be heard the same as me,"
Frank and Susan share next, telling us their struggle. When they finish I take a deep breath, I might as well, Amelia shared, if she can do so can I.
"Umm, the summer before I started high school, I met a couple of guys through one of my cousins, he was on the baseball team, and because I was going to try to get on to it, I tagged along and they started injecting themselves with heroin, and edging me on, so I took it, and then I took it again, and next thing I know, I'm taking it everyday, all the time, I hardly remember my freshman year, then one night, I took it, and passed out on the bathroom floor, my mom came home from work, and found me, they said if she came 5 minutes later I would of died, and after that, I knew I couldn't put her through that, she had already lost my dad, I couldn't put her through that again, I nearly relapsed last night, one of my closest friends, and the girl I have feelings for freaked out in the middle of school, and got taken to hospital, they think she has schizophrenia, and it got to me, badly. But I went to my aunt, who I trust more than anything and she took the drugs off of me and talked me down."
"Thank you for sharing Henry, I hope you're friend is alright."