(I'm so so so so so sorry it has taken me so long, I'll try to upload more, I have been incredibly busy but thank you so much for your patience. Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy :) )
The weeks passed and it was now Lucille's birthday and the family would be going out to dinner. Gabriella had been keeping an eye on Lilliana based on some concerns that both her and Troy had and had discussed earlier that day during free period.
(flashback)
They had been released from world history, only for Troy to steal her away to the rooftop for their free period. They sat side by side on the wooden bench before he started his topic of discussion. "Is everything ok with Lilliana?"
The question made Gabriella sigh. "I don't think so, she's normally so open with me but there's something she's hiding. She just hasn't been herself lately, she's been too quiet but I don't want to push her into telling me if she's not ready. I thought I was just making a big deal out of nothing, but if you're noticing too, I might try a little bit more to find out what's going on."
He smiled. "Yeah, I don't think it's anything too bad, there's just something that seems a bit off, she's not quite herself."
"I'm glad that someone else is noticing and I'm not going crazy."
He laughed in response and they moved on to more light-hearted topics for the remainder of their free period.
(end flashback)
Gabriella had kept a closer eye on Lilliana, now knowing that Troy had also noticed the girl's behaviour. Usually the twins were quite energetic and Jacob had helped bring the six-year-old further out of her shell, but now, although Jacob still seemed to have the same attitude, Lilliana had retreated back into her shell. The teen also noticed that she'd become especially clingy, choosing to always stay with her older sister.
She walked into their shared room and found Lilliana slipping on her ballerina flats before walking over to her sister. "Do I look pretty Bria?"
The teen smiled as she looked at the white shirt and overall dress that the girl chose, and her hair tied in two pigtails at the back of her head, "you look beautiful Livie." She glanced at the light blue cardigan lying on the bed, grabbing it, she placed it around the girl, Lilliana threading her arms through. Gabriella tucked her hair behind her ear. "All ready now. Can you come talk to me for a minute?" The girl nodded and they moved to sit on their bed. "I know there's something wrong Sweet Girl and I want you to remember that you can tell me anything."
"I know."
"Do you want to tell me what's been bothering you?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine, nothing's wrong."
Gabriella sighed, "Alright but remember I love you and I hate seeing you upset, so when you're ready, promise you'll tell me what's wrong?"
"I promise." The little girl hugged her. "I love you Bria."
At that moment, Jack called out to them and they went downstairs, coming to a stop beside the two boys. Troy smiled at his sister. "You look very pretty Lil."
Lilliana smiled shyly. "Thank you."
His eyes moved to Gabriella's floral off-shoulder shirt, white skirt and denim jacket. "You too Brie." He chuckled at the blush on her cheeks before his Dad started talking.
"Alright everyone, let's get going." They drove to the restaurant and during the time in the car and at dinner, Gabriella noticed that Lilliana was alway by her side, never distancing herself more than a few metres. When they were finished dinner, Jack turned to the kids. "Why don't you four wait outside while your mom and I pay?"
They nodded and walked outside and stood on the sidewalk by the street. Troy and Gabriella started talking about school, keeping the twins in their peripherals as they stood beside them. Jacob hadn't been in a good mood and pulled on Lilliana's hair making her squeak. "Please stop."
Troy looked down at his brother. "Jakie, don't be mean to your sister, that wasn't nice."
Jacob glared at his brother and turned on his sister, pushing her onto the road, behind their parked car. The little girl fell onto the rough bitumen, grazing up her knees, the shock of the fall causing her to panic. Gabriella immediately lifted her sister into her arms, holding her tightly as the girl gripped her. Troy grabbed his brother's forearm and leant down to his level. "Jacob David, never do that again, do you know how dangerous that was?"
"I don't care."
"You don't care? You could've gotten your sister seriously hurt and you don't care?"
"No I don't. I don't like Lilly. I wish she never came back." He glared at Gabriella. "It's all your fault. I hate you and I wish you both weren't here."
Lilliana only cried harder and Gabriella attempted to soothe her as Troy's gaze hardened on the boy. "That is a disgusting thing to say about your sister."
At that moment, Jack and Lucille came out, the former speaking up as she saw her daughter in tears and her oldest son reprimanding her youngest. "What's all the commotion out here, what's wrong?"
Troy looked down at Jacob. "Are you going to tell her." The boy only glared at him so he continued. "Fine, he was pulling Lilly's hair and when we told him to stop, he pushed her onto the road."
"JACOB DAVID BOLTON!"
Lilliana's hands immediately covered her ears as she whimpered. Gabriella kissed the top of her head and looked at the adults who turned to their daughter with concern. "She doesn't like yelling, it reminds her of... them. I'm just gonna take her over here and try to calm her."
Lucille nodded as the girl walked away and faced her son. "Jacob, we've always said that you're never to lay a hand on your siblings, if you have a problem, you talk about it, you don't hit or shove them. You shouldn't have done that to Lilly and you're grounded for two days for your behaviour."
"I don't care, she's the favourite anyway."
Lucille softened slightly. "You know that's not true Jakie, we love you all the same."
"LIAR, YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT LILLY, EVERYONE ONLY CARES ABOUT LILLY."
"We're going home now, we're not going to be yelling and screaming out in public, I'll go get the girls. On the way home, I want you to think about what you did wrong Jacob."
Troy spoke up. "Mom, I'll go get them
(with Gabriella and Lilliana)
Gabriella walked around the corner with her sister and placed her on the ground, kneeling in front of her. The little girl reached to hug her again but the teen had to stop her. "I'll hold you in a second Baby, I promise but we need to calm you down first." Lilliana nodded and Gabriella pulled her phone out of her pocket. "Ok breathe in and out when I tell you to, ok?" She nodded once again and Gabriella instructed the girl to breathe in each time she traced the long edge of her phone and breathe out each time she traced the shorter edge. After repeating the cycle a few more times, Lilliana's breathing had levelled out and the teen hugged her sister. "We won't talk about it now because I don't want you to get worked up again so we'll talk at home. Let me have a look at your knees." She saw the drying blood on her sister's knees and sighed, cupping the girl's cheek."I'll fix you up when we get home, I love you so much Livie please remember that." She saw the pleading look in the six-year-old's eyes and smiled sadly. She kissed her forehead and whispered. "I love you everyday to the end of the universe."
The statement made Lilliana smiled and she tightened her grip on Gabriella's neck, whispering her response and placing a kiss on her cheek. "I love you everyday to the end of the universe."
Troy cleared his throat, interrupting their moment. "We're heading home now." Gabriella nodded and took her sister's hand. When they got close enough to the boy, he leaned down and placed a kiss on his sister's cheek. "I'm sorry you got hurt Lil, we do love you, don't listen to what Jakie said."
Lilliana nodded before looking up at Gabriella. The teen could see the silent question she didn't want to ask and wordlessly lifted the girl into her arms, her expression saddening as she felt her sister bury her head into her neck. Troy placed his hand on Gabriella's back and led them back to the car where the family drove home wordlessly.