A.J. pushed the swinging doors open and walked up to their table. "Hello little brother, Sam. Who's this?" He stared at Livvie for a second then spoke, "Could this be little Livvie Anne all grown up?"
"What do you want A.J.?" Jason asked annoyed.
A.J. smirked, "Just thought I'd let you know that I'm back. Per Grandmother's request of course. Aunt Tracy has already offered me a place at ELQ."
"Well that was quick of you," Justus said entering the diner.
A.J. waved his hands. "The early bird catches the worm." Livvie couldn't suppress the giggle that escaped at his statement. "What?" A.J. asked with a smile.
"Oh nothing. I was just always under the impression that the only worm you were interested in was the one at the bottom of the Tequila bottle."
Sam laughed out loud and A.J.'s eyes narrowed. "Aren't you a hostile thing? What have I done to deserve your attitude?"
Livvie stood up and realized with a smile that she was taller than A.J. "It's quite simple actually."
"Livvie!" Justus said in warning. "This isn't the time or place."
"Let her speak Justus. She obviously has something to say, let her say it." A.J. leaned forward in interest. "Why do you feel so much malice towards me?"
"Olivia! Don't you dare!" Justus said his voice taking on a cold edge.
She disregarded Justus and told A.J. the truth. "You killed my father."
!#$&()
"I cannot believe that you would bring something like that up in front of half the town!" Justus chastised Livvie as they walked into the penthouse. Sam was hot on their heels ready to eavesdrop when she was nearly run over by Jason.
"Watch it!" she hissed.
"We shouldn't be watching this."
"Sshhh!"
Livvie tossed her purse onto the couch. "I think it was the perfect time to broach the subject! Would you have preferred for me to bring it up in the middle of the family dinner tonight?"
Justus jerked off his jacket and loosened his tie, "I would have preferred if you hadn't brought it up at all!"
She turned towards him, "You're right."
"I am?" Justus asked skeptically.
She nodded, "Yeah, I should have just kept everything bottled up inside just like you do you anal-retentive bastard!" Her voice steadily rose as she spoke to him. "I'm sorry not all of us can be as cold and emotionless as you and Stone Cold Jason Morgan over there. Call me crazy, but it's kinda difficult for your mother to suddenly grab her head and keel over in front of you and die, then to be shipped off like some misbehaved puppy to the father who for all intensive purposes is dead to you! I would appreciate it if you cut me some damn slack!" She was screaming by the time she finished. She knew that she should feel bad for going off on Justus like that, but it felt good to finally get it all out of her system. She took a few deep breaths and spoke, this time more calmly. "I am going upstairs to unpack. I will be down here ready for dinner with the Quartermaines at 6:30. Please just leave me the hell alone." She marched up the stairs and seconds later they heard her bedroom door slam.
Justus rolled his shoulders, "She gets her temper from her mother." He turned and looked at Jason, "It'll get easier- eventually."
Sam snorted reminding the men that she was there. "She's a sixteen year old girl who's just been sent to live with a couple of strangers. If she gets over this soon, then we have something to worry about."
!#$&()
Now that she really thought about it, Livvie felt bad that she had said all that stuff in front of Jason and Sam. It wasn't their fault that her life was so screwed up. Using sheer determination she ripped the tape off one of the packed boxes and withdrew a stack of neatly folded winter clothes. She tossed them towards the closet determined to get to what she knew was at the bottom of the box. Under an expensive leather coat sat an old tea tin. She took it out carefully and cradled it against her chest. With trepidation she popped the lid off and was assaulted by memories of another life. On top was a picture of Keisha, Jason Quartermaine, and Livvie. It was Livvie's first day of school and she was clinging to her parent's hands for dear life. As long as she lived she would never forget the words her father had said to her.
Flashback"Peanut your cutting off the circulation to Daddy's hand."
"What's circucation?" Livvie asked with a slight whistle having lost her front tooth just days before.
He crouched down to her level, "You'll learn all about that in school. Now you have everything? Backpack?"
"Check," Livvie said craning her neck to look at the Barbie backpack she was carrying.
"Lunchbox?"
She held up the pink plastic lunchbox for him to see. "Check."
Jason smiled at her, "Hugs and kisses from Daddy?"
Livvie wrinkled her nose, "No check." She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and he picked her up and swung her around a few times before sitting her back on the ground with a kiss on her forehead. "Check!" they said together.
"Okay, mommy will be here to pick you up after school okay?" Livvie shook her head 'no'. "No? Why not?"
"I want you to pick me up," she pouted sticking out her lower lip.
"You're such a Daddy's girl. How bout this Peanut? Mommy gets you after school and brings you to the hospital to see me? How does that sound?"
"You won't be too busy?"
"I'll never be too busy for you. I promise, no matter what you need I'll always be there for you."
End FlashbackIt was strange that she could remember that day when she was 5 years old better than she could some things from just last year. Maybe that's the way your mind worked. It preserved memories that were important, and threw the rest out. Whatever it was she was glad she had it. It helped her remember her father.
Yeah guys, I was gone for a while, but I'm going to try to update this story way more to make up for all my slackeriness. Make sure you guys review and let me know what you think otherwise I'll stop writing.
