I started a new story today. It's sort of boring so far, but it SHOULD get better.

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The next morning, I woke and got up. I turned off the TV and went to the kitchen to find something to eat. I made myself some eggs and bacon, I sat at the table and ate in silence going through the mail Mom must've brought this morning when I was still asleep. I was almost finished when my phone started ringing. I answered it without any fear.

"Hey baby, it's Dad."

I smiled. "Hey Daddy. Where's Mom?"

"She had to go to work early."

"Oh, so what's up?"

"Well, this week end is your brother's wedding."

"Oh shit!" I sighed. "I forgot all about it."

"I figured you would." I could tell he was smiling. "Well, are you coming?"

I thought a moment. Well, it was my brother and it was important to me, but I didn't want to break down or anything on the way. "Um… yeah, I'll go, I guess," I said hesitantly.

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

I considered this for a moment. "No, I want to go. It will give me a chance to see everyone for the first time in a while and I'll be able to wear some of the stuff you got me last night."

"Okay. I'll pick you up around eleven-ish."

"Sounds good. Call me so I don't forget." I already knew he or Mom would, but I needed him to TELL me he would.

"Okay, love you and take care."

"Bye." I hung up. Nothing different from our normal conversations. So, my older brother was getting married and I was happy for him, but I almost wished it was ME getting married. I really hoped no one would mention what had happened to me. That would be nice. Daddy will probably tell them not to, but they might anyway. Dad and bro will be right by my side CONSTANTLY, I know that.

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Saturday morning Daddy called around nine and I quickly got ready. I dressed in a knee length halter top dress and high heels. I grabbed a little bag and put jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and my old running shoes in it. I ate quickly and brushed my teeth. I never wear makeup so I just pulled my hair into a messy bun right as Dad walked in my apartment. We walked in silence to Dad's car. Mom was there waiting. "You got your license with you?" Daddy asked me.

"Yeah." I haven't driven in a long time thought. I wouldn't want to get in a wreck or anything.

"Do you want to drive?"

I did want to drive, but not Daddy's car. My car is much easier, but it made Dad sick, Mom too so I shook my head. "Nope, you go ahead."

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The wedding was short; Eric looked like he was going to faint, poor guy. At the wedding party people would greet me by saying, "Oh Liv! The last time I saw you, you were in a coma!" or something like that. I could've screamed but the last person finally said it and I had survived. Eric walked over and hugged me. "Hey. How you been?"

I smiled. "Better." And it was the truth. For some reason I have a lot of courage all of the sudden. I love it, but sometimes it worries me.

"Good. You bring clothes for football?"

I smiled. "I would never miss it." It was something our family has done for years. All the guys would get together and play football. Since I was raised by my dad mostly, Mom was always at work, I was always a tomboy and I played with them.

"Good, great. There's some people I want you to meet." He led me over to a small group of people by the door. "This is Duane Chapman, Beth, Tim, Duane Lee and Leland. They're bounty hunters."

I stood nodding. A grin spread across my face. Bro saw it and recognized it as my even grin, the one I "use" when I'm about to do something cruel. Eric looked at me another few moments and then turned back to the men. "This is my sister Olivia."

"Eric, you really don't have to introduce us," I said with my arms folded.

"You know each other?" He's starting to guess by now, but not really. He doesn't know HOW I know these people so I smile casually, then look over at Duane, the number one man and my smile turns cruel again.

"Well, we don't really know each other by name, more like reputation. These men broke into my apartment not too long ago."

Eric's jaw dropped. "Why? What?"

I saw the disbelief in his eyes and smiled again. "You can ask Daddy, he was there."

Bro stared at me for a few minutes, this time I know EXACTLY what he's thinking. Why was I not freaking out? Well, because I just served my justice. I think he saw that look in my eyes and grinned. "C'mon Liv, I want to introduce you to some more people."

I stayed only a moment longer to grin at the bounty hunters again. I, then, followed Eric.

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Later on that day, around four I changed into my jeans and was ready to play football with all the guys. I saw Dad watching me; I knew he was happy to see my smile. And for the first time in almost three years, I was truly SMILING, not my fake smile, it was the real thing. I saw Leland watching me as I tackled Eric laughing. We all laughed and we did pretty rough, but none of us cared. Daddy laughed as bro tripped me. I caught myself, but had to drop the ball to do so.

"Wait! Ah," I said trying to catch my breath. "I gotta take a break." I sighed and walked over to where Dad was sitting. Mom handed me a bottle of water. I smiled and sat down. Leland was right next to me now. "Hey," he said.

This annoyed me, but at the same time I was glad he did. "Hi," I said coolly. Dad stood with Mom.

"Baby, we're going to go in and visit," Dad told me glancing at Leland as if to tell me to be careful of him.

I nodded and took a drink of water. I looked up at Leland. My god! He was gorgeous! But then he did sort of threaten to break in my apartment. But that doesn't stop the thoughts, and he did have more manners.

"So, um, why'd you tell Eric we broke into your apartment?" he asked sitting next to me.

"Because your dad did. And you also THREATENED to." It was the 100 percent truth. I watched as Eric fought off some of our cousins.

"I guess so. Why were you all scared like that?"

I was silent and tightened my jaw. I had been so happy and I refused to think about it all, but then he would want an answer. I thought for a moment. What COULD I say?

"It's personal and I don't want to talk about it," I said quietly. He seemed to see the change in my mood when he asked so he left it at that.

"So, is Eric your only sibling?" he asked me. Well, since he's at Eric's WEDDING I'm guessing he's more than just some random person and he knows the answer to that. So, I smiled. "You already know the answer to that so don't bother asking."

He smiled at my attitude I guess. "Yeah, sorry. Well, what do you like doing?"

I almost felt like telling him to go away, but didn't for some, unknown reason. "I like to read. I hardly ever leave my apartment."

"Why not?" That question has the same answer as one of the first. I almost think he's trying to get the story out of me.

"Personal reasons. How do you know Eric?" Since he can't come up with any good questions, I'll ask the good ones.

"I met him through a friend, at a bar a few years ago."

Well, by a few years ago he probably means when I was gone so that's probably why I don't know him. Of course now that I know a little more about him he does seem like someone Eric would like to hang out with a lot. "Hmm. How much has he told you about me?" I asked just out of curiosity.

"Not much. He said you were really busy. He seemed to really avoid the conversation, but I have asked about you a lot. He still avoids it."

Well, so do I is what I felt like saying. "Yeah. It's something none of us like talking about."

"But why? Why are they so protective of you? What happened to you?"

I was silent for a moment. "It's a long story."

"Please tell me." I looked into his he eyes and saw him asking me again.

I felt the tears spring to my eyes as I thought back on those days. "I can't tell you." I guess he saw my tears so he left it at that.

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That night I laid awake as usual, but this time I wasn't scared I was just thinking. I felt like something inside me had changed when I was talking to Leland. I felt like something had left me and it was replaced by something I had never felt before. Not in that way at least. And THAT almost scared me. What was taking over me now? It wasn't fear, it was a new feeling.

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I am almost done with this story. I thought it was longer… Oh well. There's that chapter.