Here is chapter 27. FYI I believe that this story will be done by chapter 40. Not a hundred percent sure but after doing some quick calculations in my head that's how long it will take for me to narrate the whole story of the four teens. Also I already have a Rolivia fic in mind so stay tuned ;). Anyway enjoy!
Non ducor, duco
I am not led I lead
Her phone started vibrating once again on the nightstand but she chose to ignore it once more. It had only been a couple of hours since she had arrived at the Barba household. She had put a few of her clothes in Rafael's wardrobe and had placed her backpack next to his desk. She hadn't taken much, only the things that rightfully belonged to her; her books, literature and school books, clothes, a few toiletries and every piece of jewelry that she owned.
Her mother had been calling her and texting her non stop ever since she left the hospital in such a hurry, clearly upset. She refused to talk to her, there was no point in trying to make any sense out of that woman. She did see the texts though. Every single one was telling her to come back, discuss things more thoroughly or she would ask her to show some respect and be more understanding.
On her way out of her house she took out the keys of the apartment and the old track and placed them on the coffee table in the living room. She thought that it would be enough for her mother and sister to get the message but these women kept surprising her. Frustrated from all the texting she decided to finally reply to the woman and end things there.
"Beth Anne, leave me alone. You wanna go with Kim back to Loganville suit yourselves. I am staying here, with the people who actually love me, the people who have been more of a family to me the past few years than you have been my whole life. I am sure you'll manage without me. Stop calling, stop texting, just keep ignoring my existence like you've been doing for the past few months. I am glad you got rid of both Jims in your life. Have a nice trip."
She pressed the send button and let out an exasperated sigh. She placed her phone back on the nightstand and laid down on the bed again. She was so utterly exhausted. She just wanted to rest, for a few seconds just get away from all the drama. When she heard her phone vibrating again she couldn't help but roll her eyes. She took it in her hands and opened her mother's message.
"Have at it, Amanda. We already talked to our realtor, he is gonna take care of the house, I am selling the track and we are leaving in two days. If you change your mind you know where to find us, if not... goodbye I guess."
She read the message again and again until it finally registered in her mind; the only family she had was gone. Why didn't she feel the need to cry? Why wasn't this something that made her sad?
All she could feel was redemption.
Redemption and freedom.
Freedom, like the one she felt when they told her that her father was locked up. That kind of freedom. The ones who were causing her immense pain she had gotten rid of.
Relief.
She rested the phone on her chest and smiled. As her eyes flattered close a lone tear escaped from the corner of one and landed on the pillow.
"Hey, babe what's going on? Why are you crying?" Rafael walked into the room, wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants.
She startled, slightly. She was so consumed by her own thoughts, that she didn't hear her boyfriend entering the room.
"Don't worry, it's happy tears." She patted the empty seat next to her on the bed, silently inviting him to join her. "Beth texted. They are leaving on Saturday."
He rushed to get under the covers and cuddle with the blonde girl, wanting to provide her with as much comfort as possible. When she was finally snuggled into his warm embrace he found the courage to reply.
"They are leaving on your birthday? That is just-"
"Hey, hey, relax, I am not mad." She interrupted him and he frowned. "One more dark cloud disappearing from above me. That will only give me a chance to shine brighter." She said softly, kissing the crook of his neck. "Plus, I wanna spend my birthday with you and your mom and grandma and the guys. Them leaving is actually the greatest gift they could give me."
"Well, I am glad that you don't let this drag you down." He placed a kiss on blonde locks. "Though it would probably be good if you... You know... booked an appointment with dr. Hanover?" It came out very hesitantly. He didn't know how the blonde would react to him, telling her what to do.
"You are right, I will text her right away and book an appointment for as soon as possible."
She grabbed her phone and searched through her contacts to find the name 'Alexis Hanover'. After a few minutes of back and forth texting, she placed the devise back on the nightstand and made herself comfortable in Rafael's embrace.
"So?" He asked, his hand caressing her arm.
"She has an opening on Saturday morning. I know, it's a bummer but I put the appointment at ten thirty in the morning so we can then have the rest of the day to ourselves."
With her body pressed against his and her head rested on his shoulder she felt content.
It felt so surreal. Needing to believe that this wasn't a product of her imagination, she put her palm on top of his chest, feeling his strong and steady heartbeat.
"I am here, baby. I am here." He reassured her.
Lord how much she loved the way he could read her mind and Lord how much she loved him. In that thought they both fell into deep sleep, the most peaceful one they have had in a while.
Friday had come and gone before they had even realized it. The day was spent with Amanda telling everyone what had happened with her sister and her mother and also assuring them that she was okay with it and that she would manage as long as they were by her side.
After school they all went at Olivia's for another study group of theirs. Advanced mathematics being a pain in the ass for every single one of them, even Rafael who seemed rather good at this particular subject. After three hours of nonstop studying they all decided to call it a day and go in their respective homes.
Home. Even though it wasn't her home, it felt like it was. Lucia has made sure of that. In a slip of the tongue she called her mama. It came out of her mouth without thinking but when she went to apologize the older woman stopped her.
"I don't mind if you wanna call me mom or mama or mother. If that is something that you need, I am more than happy to give it to you. You know I feel like you are my second child so, no apologies."
She was too embarrassed and ashamed so she kept calling her Lucia, at least for now.
After a long shower and a bit more studying they decided to watch a movie all together. After giving it some thought they chose one particularly sad movie "The miracle in cell seven" which had both women in tears and Rafael clearly touched.
The moment the clock hit twelve am, they were already in bed ready to go to sleep. He turned to look at her and smiled.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked him, giving him a rather suspicious glare.
"Happy birthday honey. Sweet eighteen." He leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "Love you, always and forever."
Now it was Saturday morning and Amanda was walking up the stairs that lead to dr. Hanover's office.
"Hello, Amanda. Happy birthday!" The other woman greater her pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Hello to you too. Thank you!" She hugged her back and smiled widely.
"So, you said it's an emergency. Tell me." Leave to Alexis to cut to the chase.
"Okay so, long story short my sister thought it was a good idea to stop taking her meds, she started cocaine again and overdosed." She paused for a second.
"That is a lot to take-"
"Oh wait that's not even the half of it." She chuckled. "My mother and I got into a fight in the hospital, she said I was just like my father just because I wanted to send Kim to rehab and then she said that they are leaving for Georgia. Their flight leaves in an hour or so actually." She said it all in one breath and she exhaled with relief, happy to let it all out.
"And may I ask what are you doing here?" The doc asked. She hadn't understood yet why Amanda wasn't heading towards JFK as we speak.
"I am not going with them. I am staying here, in New York, with my family. The people who I actually love and who love me back. So, yeah, all in all I am broke, in a very expensive city but the minute I finish school, I am gonna find a job. Maybe in a library or as a waitress, I think I will figure things out." She sighed and laid back on the two seater.
"Okay, that is a lot to take in even for me." She chuckled. "How does that make you feel? Your mother and sister leaving."
"Is it bad that I feel free? Like there is nothing holding me back anymore. I can do as I please, cause as of today I am an adult." She straightened her back in an attempt to play serious. When the dr. looked at her unconvinced she sighed again. "You think I am deflecting. I thought it myself. But no, I just don't care. I have been helping people who didn't appreciate my help, took care of them even though they didn't deserve it. It's time I do something for myself."
"Well... that's a very... adult thing to say." She shook her head and laughed. "God, look at you all put together, progressing, understanding the importance of self-care. I am truly proud of you." The older blonde in the room smiled.
Amanda kind as always smiled back.
She felt proud of herself too.
Her session with Hanover ended at eleven thirty. When she finally arrived at Rafael's apartment it was around twelve o'clock. Lucia had given her a spare key, which she used to open the door to the premises.
When she walked in her eyes filled with tears at the sight.
"Happy birthday Amanda!" Everybody said in unison.
Olivia was standing between Rafael and Fin, holding a, what appeared to be, chocolate cake with two candles on top, shaped in the numbers one and eight respectively. That cake was definitely Catalina's work. She was there too, along with Lucia, and they were all smiling at her.
When she approached them they all started singing the birthday song and the tears ran down her cheeks shamelessly. When they were done singing, she took a deep breath ready to blow off the candles.
"Make a wish first!" Olivia stopped her.
The blonde after thinking for a few seconds found her one and only wish.
'I wish to spend the rest of my life with these wonderful people.'
And she blew the candles. Everyone then started hugging her and giving her kisses on the cheek, wishing her the best. She had never felt happier in her life.
"Thank you so much, guys. You are the best." She said wiping the remnants of her tears away.
"No, you are the best. It was the least we could do." Fin said and Amanda patted him on the shoulder.
Before she could reply her phone echoed in the house and she rolled her eyes. She thought it would probably be her mother or sister and she wasn't in the mood to talk to either of them.
"Okay, Olivia help me with cake and boys, will you do the table?" Lucia started giving orders around, understanding that the blonde needed some space. When an appreciative nod from the said blonde came as a response, she smiled at her as in saying 'we are good'.
"Amanda Rollins." She picked up the phone.
"Hello Ms. Rollins, this is Dane McAllister. We met briefly a couple of weeks ago?" A male voice was heard from the other end of the line.
"Yeah, grandma's lawyer. After the funeral, the will arraignments. How can I help you?" She asked politely.
"Well... there was one part of the will that your grandmother wanted to keep a secret. I am in New York for a business meeting, do you think we could meet let's say around five pm?"
"Um... sure. Just give me the place." When the lawyer gave her an address she went to her phone's notes and wrote it down. "Would it be okay if I brought a friend?"
"That's entirely up to you. As long as that friend is not a family member."
When the blonde assured him that that wasn't the case, he wished her happy birthday, as well, and hang up the phone.
"Everything alright?" Rafa asked when the blonde sat on the table.
"No idea. That was my grandma's lawyer. He said he wanted to meet. Something about her will." She shrugged and thanked Olivia as the brunette passed her a plate with a slice of cake on it.
"Want me to come with you?" The boy asked wrapping his left arm around her shoulders.
"I would appreciate it. Now, enough talking, I wanna devour this cake, it looks delicious."
And the day continued with some light banter, teasing about Amanda joining the 'old folks group' now that she has finally reached adulthood and she couldn't be happier to spend her birthday with this newfound family of hers.
Her stomach was the fullest it had ever been, but so was her mind.
She had been beating her head off to try and figure out what could he possibly need her. As far as she knew her grandmother didn't have anything that worths a fortune except for that golden cross who is wrapped around her neck.
When they arrived at the small coffee shop the lawyer had suggested they meet, Amanda spotted him immediately and went to sit in the table.
"Hello, nice to see you again." He said and shook her extended hand. She just smiled back and prompted Rafa to sit next to her.
"So, what's this about?"
"Oh, I see you are straight forward, just like Amanda was." He chuckled, and the blonde appreciated the comment.
"I have been told." Under the table Rafael had placed his hand on her thigh, in an effort to calm her nerves down, needless to say that his touch was magical and took every ounce of her anxiety away.
"So, the reason why I called you is because your mother wanted a part of the will left out." He pulled out a file from the black briefcase next to him and placed it on the table.
The blonde gave him a questioning glare and opened the file that he slid towards her. After reading a few lines her eyes widened and her right hand flew to her mouth that was now agape.
"Amanda, baby, what is it?" Rafael next to her asked her, concerned about Amanda's state.
"Grandma, Uh, She... she had some money saved... in a bank account that apparently nobody knew existed. It's a tone of money and she... she wanted me to have it. There is a postscript saying..." she paused as a small sob escaped from her lips. "'Inis vitae sed non amoris.'"
"Enlighten me?"
"It's a Latin phrase, she loved Latin. It means 'the end of life but not of love'." She paused again. "Rafa, the bank account contains seven hundred grand."
DUN DUN. Something had to go good for her guys. She needed it. I needed it. Everyone needed it and tell me I am wrong I dare you. Read and review. Have a nice day or night!