Chapter Nine

Addie drummed her fingers on the countertop.

It was almost an hour until her shift was over, and she was bored out of her mind.

It had been a month since her move to Venice Beach, and she thought she had settled in pretty nicely. She was learning how to roller-blade with Peter's help and he was teaching her some simple tricks on the mini ramp him and Brink had built behind the Calhoun's house. Addie had also made a few friends at school and got along with generally everyone, except for Val and his cronies. She also had a friend at work, a twenty-year-old girl named Halley, who was a sweet girl. She went to the community college and was working at the Super Save to save up for her fall semester at UCLA. She had curly chin length hair and was about two inches shorter than Addie, but had a huge presence. She was always happy and never hesitated to help someone.

Addie was also getting along with Julie very well. The older woman had become a mother figure to her in the short amount of time, helping her with Gracie and even taking the month old baby to work with her, leaving her in the office's daycare center. She also helped Addie with all the things a woman should know: how to cook, clean, and others. She also helped her with school problems and problems she had with her father.

Yes, Jerry was still the same old jerk. He hardly said a word to Addie and had lately taken to hitting Julie. Peter was about to lose it, Addie could tell. She hated that her father was treating her step-mother so poorly. Julie worked her fingers to the bone, paying for the bills and her car, while he only paid for his sports car. He blew his money on God only knew what and was never nice to her. She couldn't do anything right in his eyes, and that irked Addie to no end.

Then, there was Brink.

Addie still couldn't fathom this guy's motive. He was overly nice to her, going out of his way to help her in class. She really liked him, but knew he would never go out with her. She saw the kind of girls that were attracted to him; the ones who were pretty and dressed like punks and the ones who dressed in more expensive clothes than her.

" Addie, what's wrong?"

Halley sat the broom and dustpan behind the counter and stood beside the younger girl.

" Do you know Andy Brinker?"

" That cutie who skates at the skate park? Duh, he's friends with Jordy."

" Jordy Bormer?"

" Yeah. He's my little brother."

Addie wanted to die. How could she not have known that? Simple, she had never asked.

" I'm sorry…"

" Oh, it's okay. I should've told ya. Anyways, yeah, I know Andy. He's a cool guy. Why? Do you like him?"

Addie sighed. " Yes, but I know he doesn't like me."

Halley blew a bubble and popped it. She was always chewing gum, usually Bubble Yum that tasted like pineapples.

" And why's that? You're a pretty cool girl yourself. You not too bad looking either. "

Addie rolled her eyes. " You're just saying that because you're my friend."

" No, because it's the truth. Most of the girls here have tans and blond hair. " Halley said before blowing another bubble. " And I know I have blond hair, but mine's natural. And as you can tell, I'm as white as a ghost."

" No, I am. But that's not the point. He's always talking to Molly Clemens."

Halley snorted. " Molly Clemens just wants to sleep with him. That's the only reason she talks to him. That's the only reason she talks to those boys at the high school. And at the community college."

" What about Jordy?"

" My brother is not worthy for her attention, according to her at least. But, Brink doesn't like her. I know that much."

" How do you know?"

"'Cause I heard Jordy and him talking about it. You forget, I still live at home, and Andy and Peter were over last week."

" Oh, hush, Hal. You'll get my hopes up. Besides, I'm too preppy to get him."

" Oh, looks aren't everything, Addie."

" Yeah, I guess so."

Addie looked at the clock beside of the cash register.

" Hallelujah! My shift's over!" Addie said as she walked out of the register area.

Halley followed her and the pair went into the break room and clocked out. They grabbed their things out of the locker they shared and went out to their cars.

" See ya later, Addie."

" Bye, Hal."

Addie unlocked the driver's door to her 1999 teal green convertible Eclipse. It hadn't cost her too much, just her first three week's paychecks, which was a total of $600. The guy she bought it off of only wanted the money for the last two payments and Addie was more than willing to fork the money over; cars in California were not cheap.

The seats wear a beige leather like material and the interior was also beige. It also included a CD player. And it was a standard.

Peter, of course, was shocked that Addie could drive a standard. " How can you not roller blade and be able to drive a standard? I can roller blade and I can't drive one!" Addie had only shrugged at this and offered to teach him how to drive.

Addie put on her seatbelt and started the car. She got home twenty minutes later and parked in the driveway. Jerry was obviously home, much to Addie's dislike, because his car was in the driveway. He never parked in the garage and parked his car on the opposite side, so Julie could get out of the garage. She was forbidden to drive his car.

Addie shut the engine off, locked the doors, and walked up to the porch. She used her house key to unlock the door and went in. She walked to the left and went into the kitchen. She opened the white refrigerator and put her dinner in the microwave.

Julie always made it a point to leave her something for dinner.

Addie had just finished eating when she heard Jerry shouting. She washed off her dishes and went out into the hallway.

" Stupid-"

" Jerry, please be quiet. You'll wake the kids." Julie pleaded.

The sound of Jerry slapping her across the face echoed down the stairs.

Addie had had enough. She walked into the living room and picked up the phone and dialed 911.

" Yes, I'd like for you to send the police over here, please. My father is beating on my step-mother." Addie listened to the operator. " 321 Colpers Street. Thank you."

She hung up the phone and quietly walked upstairs. She went into her room and found that Grace wasn't in there.

" Where in the world-"

Before she could finish, she heard the infant's wails.

" Shut that stupid baby up!" Jerry ordered.

" If you would just stop yelling, she wouldn't cry." Julie said.

" Don't back talk me!"

Addie heard a loud thump, which she guessed was Julie being knocked down.

Grace cried louder.

The sound off a door being opened reached Addie's strained ears.

" People are trying to sleep, ya know." Peter said grouchily.

Peter was not a happy person when awoken at such a time at night.

" Shut up!"

Grace screamed louder.

Then she stopped.

" Jerry, get that pillow off of her!" Julie screamed.

Another thump, and still no Grace.

Addie panicked and ran down the hall and saw in horror that her baby sister was covered by a pillow.

" You son of a-" Addie pushed him away from Grace and uncovered her.

The baby let out a choked wail then began to cry.

Addie picked her up and tearfully held her in her arms.

" You bastard." Julie hissed from her spot on the floor.

She was black and blue all over.

Peter came into the room with a wooden baseball bat. He had played when he was younger and was now grateful for keeping the thing.

" Get out."

" This is my house."

" No, it's not! Julie pays for it! She was living here before you!" Addie snapped, still holding Grace.

Jerry made to slap her, but Peter swung the bat and it connected with his back.

" You little-"

The doorbell rang.

" Go answer it, Mom." Peter said calmly. " I'll keep an eye on him."

Julie got up with a pained expression and slowly walked downstairs.

" One wrong move, and I'll aim higher next time." Peter growled.

" You go right ahead." Jerry snarled.

Addie looked from Peter to Jerry.

Jerry was a lot taller and muscular, whereas Peter was a few inches taller than Addie and a lot more stockier. But Peter had an advantage; he was young and energetic.

" Jerry, there's someone here to see you." Julie said calmly from the door way.

Jerry growled and pushed past her.

" Come on." she said.

The teenagers followed her, Addie carrying Grace. They went into the living room.

" Mr. Smith, you're under arrest for spousal abuse and the attempted murder of an infant. Put your hands behind your back and remain quiet-"

" You've got to be kidding me! You can't do this! I'm a respected member of this community."

" Anything you say can and will be held against you in the court of law." the police officer continued. " Officer Mullins, call an ambulance over."

" Yes, sir." the younger man, obviously a rookie, said as he went outside to the police car parked in front off the house.

" I'll be back in a moment."

Peter dropped the bat as the policeman went outside with Jerry.

" Thank you so much, Peter. And Addie. You are so brave for calling the police." Julie hugged them both. " I'm so sorry about Gracie."

Addie felt the tears running down her cheeks again. " It's okay. She's alright. I was just so scared."

Addie started crying hysterically. She sat down on the couch, clutching Grace.

Julie sat down beside of her and hugged her.

Soon, the both of them were crying.

" Mrs. Smith?"

Julie looked up at the policemen.

" Yes, Officer Bormer?"

" Are you sure you want to press charges?"

" Yes." Julie said confidently. " If it hadn't of been for what he did to Gracie and then trying to hit Addie and Peter, I wouldn't have the guts to. But I've had enough. Tell him he'll be seeing my divorce lawyer soon."

" Yes ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. The ambulance should be here in a few minutes."

The officers tipped their hats and left.

" That's Jordy's dad, right?"

" Oh, yes, dear." Julie said.

" Wow, that's the third shock of tonight."

" What were the others?" Peter asked with a sigh as he sat down on her other side.

" I work with Halley, Jordy's sister, at the Super Save. And well, all that's happened since I've been home. This is still my home, right?"

Addie couldn't handle moving again. Her only other relative was her Aunt Glenda, and she lived in Canada. And she couldn't stand Addie. After all, she was Jerry's sister.

" Honey, this will always be your home. In fact, I'm going to see about adopting you and Gracie. You're like my own daughters now. Peter?"

Peter smiled. " Life would definitely be dull without ya."

" I beg your pardon?"

" Mom, you missed it last week. She was out on the mini ramp and did a back flip half way through a 360 and landed on her feet."

" Well, that's good."

" Mom," Peter said dryly, " you aren't supposed to flip in the middle of a 360. And she can't even do the simplest trick yet."

" You just wait, Peter Calhoun. You just wait." Addie said while shaking her right index finger at him.

The sound of an ambulance siren filled the air and the next minute, someone was knocking on the door.

" Mrs. Smi-"

" Ms. Calhoun, please. I'm okay, please check on the baby first."

" Officer Mullins told us about both of you. If you would, please head out to the ambulance, we'll take you both to the hospital. What about them?"

" I just need sleep." Peter yawned.

Addie looked at the clock on the digital cable box and saw that it was almost one o'clock.

" Yeah, that's all. Just take care of my sister."

Addie kissed Grace on the cheek and handed her to the female paramedic.

" Goodnight, guys." Julie said as she followed the paramedics out, locking and shutting the door behind her.

" I don't know about you, but I'm hitting the sack."

" Don't blame ya."

" Did you just say 'ya'?"

" Yeah. Got a problem with that?"

" Nope. See ya in the morning."

" Same here."

The teenagers sleepily walked up the stairs and went to the respected bedrooms.

A.N.- This is the longest chapter so far! Anyways, not much of the Brink and Addie thing, but I still like it. Sorry about the one word, but it's rated PG and really, it's kind of hard to write something like this chapter without one bad word. I won't make it a habit, trust me. Oh, and I had no idea if Calhoun was Peter's dad's last name or Jerry's, so I used it as Peter's mom's maiden name. Let's just say Peter's real dad was a total jerk and left his mom before he was born, so she gave him her maiden name and when he was a little older, she married Jerry. I hope that answers any of your questions, and if you have any, please feel free to write them in the review. I'll answer it in the next chapter. Thanks and later!