CH. 10: Friends and Relations
Tayler was a loner, she always had been. She didn't necessarily want to be, but at times it appeared as if she didn't have a choice. It had been like that in Plattsburgh because she wasn't allowed to have after school activities or participate in any school club, her dad always preferring for her to be home. Tayler wasn't sure, but it almost appeared as if she was destined to be a loner her entire life. Only here in the city it was for entirely different reasons. She was being encouraged to fit in, only Tayler was finding that to be easier said than done considering she seemed to be having an extremely hard time making friends. Then again, it wasn't like she knew how to make friends, she wasn't exactly what you would call a social butterfly.
Nicki had done what Linda had asked by showing her around. But she could only do so much for the friend zone. She had asked her to sit with her and her friends in the cafeteria at lunch, but Tayler shrugged making some sort of excuse of needing to do her homework and found a table in the corner where she could eat. She wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings as she tried to block out the noise in the cafeteria and focus on her math homework. She had just looked up from her paper to take a bite of her food when she saw another girl standing at the table, her own meal tray in her hand. Tayler didn't say anything and instead stared at her blankly, her mouth partially ajar.
"Can I sit down?" The girl, who appeared to be the same age as herself questioned.
"Ugh, yeah," Tayler finally managed to find her voice.
"I'm Becky Rawlings," the girl introduced herself, taking a seat next to her.
"Tayler Donnovan," Tayler managed to give her a small smile in response.
"So why do you do your homework during lunch?"
"So I can watch tv when I get home instead of spending so much time on my homework. This way, I only have to do my afternoon classes homework when I get there."
"Do you watch a lot of tv?"
"Not much else to do," Tayler shrugged.
"You live in New York City." Becky begged to differ. Knowing it was the city of excitement.
"Technically I live in Staten Island," Tayler clarified.
"What's the difference?"
"One thing I didn't mention," Tayler wasn't sure if she should mention it, but she figured that it would justify her explanation. "My stepdads name is Reagan."
"You mean, your one of those Reagans? As in Commissioner Reagan?" Becky sounded surprised.
"Well I'm not a Reagan," Tayler clarified. "But yes, my stepdad is Detective Reagan, his son."
"Which means you can't get in any trouble or your stepdad will ground you for six months." Becky laughed.
"Something like that, probably." Tayler shrugged, not knowing how to reply. "Not really sure what he'd do. I haven't been in trouble before, so I'm not sure what he and my mom would do."
"Don't you want to know?" Becky had to admit, that she herself would be curious.
"Well yeah, but the only way to find out is by getting in trouble."
"And you don't feel like testing the theory?"
"Why test the theory when all I have to do is ask my two half-brothers."
"And you don't think he'd treat you differently punishment wise."
"They say no," Tayler shook her head. "But who knows."
"Do you trust them?"
"No," Tayler said quickly. "I don't know them."
"Have they done anything to make you doubt them?"
"It's actually the opposite. Linda's been trying really hard to make me one of the family."
"What about your stepdad?"
"I don't know," Tayler shrugged. "Haven't spent too much time with him."
"You live with him."
"Technically we just live in the same house. I normally stay in the basement. Unless you count the other day when he made me stay downstairs and play video games."
"You guys have a clean basement?"
"It's technically my bedroom."
"That's cool,"
"My mom and stepdad made it for me
"So they make you a room and you still don't trust them?"
"It's complicated, my mom left when I was little."
"She didn't have joint custody?"
"My dad wouldn't let me see her," Tayler explained.
"So you've pretty much been sent to live with strangers?"
"Pretty much," Tayler ended with the short version. Finding it hard to believe that she opened up so much to a total stranger.
"That's rough," Becky said apologetically.
"Tell me about it," Tayler closed her math book so she could finish her lunch before the bell rang.
XXXXXXXX
"How was your day?" Linda asked once her daughter got in the car.
"Fine, I guess," Tayler shrugged buckling her seat belt.
"Nicki said she saw you talking to someone at school. Did you make a new friend?" Linda asked excitedly.
"Do you have her spying on me now?"
"No," it was obvious Linda wasn't expecting such an outburst or reaction from her daughter. Especially considering it wasn't in her nature, and she knew it.
"It seems like it," Tayler argued.
"I'm just trying to help, and Nicki stopped by the car before she got in with her mom and we started talking."
Tayler let out a long sigh and turned back to her mother. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that. Are you going to punish me?"
"It was just a misunderstanding," Linda shook her head, showing that she understood.
Tayler nodded, and dropped the subject when her brothers got in the car.
It was nearing an hour after the four arrived home and as usual Linda sent her children to their rooms to do their homework while she worked on things around the house.
"Tayler?" Linda called when she opened the door to the basement as she descended the stairs.
"I'm down here," Tayler called back.
"What are you doing?"
"Watching tv," Tayler paused the television show she had been binge watching since she got home from school.
"Have you done your homework?" Linda didn't want to start pestering her on the rules of the home. And that meant homework before pleasure. But she couldn't help but ask, she was her mother after all.
"Yes," Tayler nodded.
"That was fast, you must not have had very much," Linda knew it hadn't been very long since they had gotten home from school.
"I worked on it during lunch."
"How is it going?"
"Fine," Tayler shrugged.
Linda could tell her daughter wasn't going to offer any more information on the subject so she decided to continue with the real reason she came down there.
"I have you allowance."
"What allowance?"
"Jack and Sean get an allowance once a month, and so will you. It's not a lot, but neither of you need a lot. Danny and I supply all your needs. But we do give an allowance for chores done well and without complaint. So here's $10.00," Linda handed her the bill.
"But I haven't been here a month."
"No," Linda agreed. "But you have been here for three weeks and have done jobs you haven't been asked to do, like helping with the dishes and laundry. That being said, the boys have assigned chores and I have come up with a list you can do."
Taylers face showed little to no expression. Unlike other kids who were being told of chores they were going to have to do on a regular basis. Because if she was being completely honest, she didn't mind too much. She did a lot more back at her home in Plattsburgh. And this time, she was only going to have to help out with the laundry, do the dishes once a week, keep her room clean, and maybe a few other things from time to time.
"You don't need to pay me for helping out," Tayler shook her head solemnly. "You bought me new things when I moved here and for when I started school."
"Your my daughter Tayler and I want to take care of you the same as I do Jack and Sean, it's my job."
"But Danny," Tayler started to make an excuse. "It's not his job to take care of me as you say."
"Tayler, he wants you here. He's already said that."
"Come on Linda, we both know he's just saying that to keep you happy."
"That isn't true Tayler, you don't know Danny. He's a good man and he doesn't care if your not biologically his. He wants to provide for you."
"Whatever you say," Tayler shrugged. Again not the type to argue. Even if she did think she was right.
"Anyways," Linda continued. Knowing the conversation on the matter was over. "Thank you for your help," Linda took Taylers hand and placed the money inside. "Now right now, I have to go check on dinner in the oven. But one day soon, you, me and Danny are going to have a talk." Linda promised her as she started for the stairs.
"Joy," Tayler mumbled to herself.
A few minutes later and Tayler was once again interrupted. Only this time, it was by her brother.
"Tayler!" Jack burst through the door and ran down the stairs, without even bothering to knock or anything else along that line.
"What?"
"Mom said we can play video games, let's go."
"Your asking me and not Sean?" Tayler sounded surprised.
"Why wouldn't I? You seemed to have fun when Dad was playing with us, I thought you might want to play again."
"Ugh, yeah, sure," Tayler wast still having trouble believing that he wanted to spend time with her. Causing her to think That maybe having a half brother wouldn't be so bad.
The two siblings had been playing for almost an hour when Danny got home and moved into the kitchen to talk with his wife, who was working on dinner. She was being unusually quiet and Danny was beginning to think something was bothering her.
"Whats the matter Linda?"
"Nothing," Linda shook her head. "I'm just still trying to get through to Tayler. She took to having to take part in chores great, but she's still struggling with talking to me."
"Did something happen today?"
"She was just so offensive when I tried to ask her if she had made a new friend today."
"What happened?"
"She just reacted so quickly by accusing me of having Nicki spy on her that she yelled at me."
"She yelled at you?" Danny knew that wasn't something Tayler did, knowing that she usually chose to remain quiet and not overreact.
"She apologized almost immediately, but she also asked if I was going to punish her."
"Does it warrant discipline?"
"No," Linda shook her head. But you do know we're going to have to start parenting her eventually," Linda looked at Danny. "And I mean we." She added, when he was about to speak. "You are her step father."
"Your her mother, and you haven't even parented her," Danny begged to differ.
"So I was thinking, I'm not sure if it's a good idea for Tayler to have acess to so much technology in her room."
"What makes you say that?" Danny was trying to catch on after she seemed to change the subject so quickly.
"You know how the boys cant wait to come downstairs after they finished their homework?
"Yeah," Danny nodded.
"Tayler isn't going to do that. And that's what going to keep her from socializing with us.
"She's down here now," Danny gestured back at the living room, just as the arguing in the room ensued, getting louder, causing both parents to wander in.
"Your going to make our team lose!" Jack yelled.
"No, I'm not! Your the one not following me!" Tayler argued back, only not as loud as Jack.
"Your suppose to be following me!"
"No! Your suppose to be helping me shoot the aliens. But your too busy whining!" Tayler said emphatically.
"I am not! I'm just tired of you not listening!"
"Why would I listen to you?"
"I don't know, because I've been playing this game a lot longer than you have!"
"You should really be a lot better than," Tayler took her eyes off the screen just long enough to give him an expression that made him appear as if he was clueless as to what was going on.
"Maybe we shouldn't play together!" Jack suggested, his voice raising with each word he spoke.
"Jack, Tayler," Danny tried to stop them. But it was obvious they weren't going to acknowledge him.
"Fine by me," Tayler said agreeingly.
"Then drop out!"
"You drop out! It was your idea for both of us not to play!"
"I meant you!"
Tayler was about to say something along the lines of her being the one to continue playing since he's played a lot longer than she has, but was interrupted.
"Jack, Tayler stop both of you," Danny had tried to get their attention more than once to get them to stop arguing, and after the second time of them not bothering to listen, Danny went over and pressed the power button.
"Dad!" Jack was the one to voice a complaint.
Inwardly, Tayler wanted to complain to home as well, but she couldn't bring herself to voice anything.
"I told you to stop and you wouldn't listen to me, so no game."
Tayler huffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest, before getting up from the couch and returning to the basement.
"What did I say?" He looked at Linda confused.
"I don't know, maybe it's because you corrected her." Linda had to admit she wasn't sure, but she figured her thought warranted at least a suggestion.
"So what? Am I not supposed to correct her?"
"Are you kidding? How are we ever going to make this one family unless you do? Besides you have every right to, your name is on the custody papers."
"All I'm trying to do is be consistent. If I correct Jack I'm going to correct her too.
This is so confusing," Danny took a seat on the couch and ran a hand through his hair tiredly.
"Your telling me," Linda took a seat next to him. "You want a beer?"
"Oh yeah."
Tayler wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel. Danny and Linda hadn't really corrected her before, and she wasn't sure how she felt it either. She knew he had every right to. She was arguing and didn't even acknowledge Danny when he tried to get them to quiet down. But that didn't make things any easier for her to process. She wasn't use to correction and especially not from someone she didn't know.
XXXXXXXX
Danny came in the following morning and Baez could tell something was off.
"Teenagers are difficult," was all Danny said as he took a seat at the table and held his coffee mug just inches from his nose, allowing the aroma to fill his nostrils. Hoping it would help livin his senses after the night he had.
"Your just now figuring that out?" His partner teased.
"Let me know how you feel about it when when you have teenagers," Danny ignored her snide comment.
"What's going on detective? You taking on a new challenge that seems to be difficult?"
"There's something going on with Tayler, but she won't talk."
"Since when have you had trouble getting people to talk?"
"This is different, Tayler has to live with me.
"Do you have trouble getting your boys to talk about something they don't want to talk about it?"
"No, but that's different."
"How is it different? You just said she lived with you." Baez reminded him of his previous statement.
"It just is, the boys know me. Tayler doesn't."
"Well if your going to be raising her, I suggest you get to know one another, otherwise your going to have trouble when she gets to be about 17."
"I no," Danny nodded, showing that he had already been thinking about the future. "So what case do you want to work today?" Danny shifted through some of the files atop his desk, changing the subject to something work related.
"How bout a cold one?"
"No," Danny complained.
"Why not? You got to choose last time."
"No I didn't, we were handed that one," Danny reminded her.
"I know, by your sister."
"I didn't want to take it either, but somebody had to do it."
"In that case, somebody has to take this one."
"Ugh, somebody did take this one, about ten years ago and they couldn't solve it," Danny said truthfully.
"And here I thought you were one of the greatest," Maria made it sound as if he was losing his touch.
"Fine," Danny sighed giving in.
XXXXXXXX
Tayler, once again was found sitting alone and in the same place she had before, eating lunch while working on her homework.
"Mind if I sit with you again?" Becky's voice caused her to look up.
"Sure," Tayler closed her social studies book, deciding to focus on her lunch.
"So are we going to be friends?" Becky asked the question so suddenly, it took Tayler by surprise.
"If you want to," Tayler shrugged. "You'd actually be the first friend I've made since being here."
"I saw you walking around with Nicki Boyle. Aren't you friends with her?"
"Well I wouldn't necessarily say we were friends. Nicki's my step cousin and she's just showing me around because her aunt told her to." Tayler explained.
"Sounds like she comes from a family that has to listen to anyone in authority other than her parents."
"Especially her Grandpa. When he speaks everybody listens. I've only been around him a couple times and I've already learned that." Tayler let on that she was right in her thinking.
"Old school family," Becky understood. "Sounds like mine."
"So what about you? You've learned all about my new strange family. What kind of family do you have?"
"Hmm," Becky thought about it. "Where do I start?" She started to laugh when they were approached by a girl several years older than both she and Tayler. And one that Tayler didn't remember seeing before.
Before Tayler knew what was happening, the girl reached out jerked Taylers tray away from her.
Tayler, who normally never ran out of thoughts to ponder was in such shock and disarray that for the first time in a while didn't know what to think. Her mouth was open and she was in total shock that someone had come up to her and just took her lunch tray from her.
"Thanks, and I'll be taking your lunch every Thursday from now on." The girl smiled menacingly before walking away laughing.
"What are you going to do?" Becky wasn't by any means shocked, and it was by no surprise that she was the first to speak.
"I, I don't know," Tayler stammered. Truthfully, she didn't think there was anything she could do. She knew she didn't have any money to buy lunch, forgetting the allowance money Linda had given her at home, and that was leaving her lunch less for the day.
"What would I say? I'm new here and I don't even know who that was."
"That was Max. Real name Maxine, but I wouldn't recommend calling her that unless you want real trouble.
"What do you mean?" Tayler felt compelled to ask.
"Didn't you have lunch snatchers at your old school?"
"Well yeah, but over there we just called them bullies.
"Ah yes, and so did we, but that was before we adopted a non-tolerance for bullying.
"We had one too," Tayler said after thinking about it. "But it didn't do any good."
"Does it ever?"
"If it makes you feel any better, I get mine taken away on Monday," she gave her an apologetic look. "Do you want to share my lunch?" Becky slid her tray between them.
"No thanks," Tayler gave her a small smile. "I'm not very hungry," she lied.
XXXXXXXX
"Hey Tayler, how was your day?" Linda asked when she saw her daughter come through the door after Erin picked her up from school and dropped her off, since Linda had to pick Jack up early for an eye doctor appointment.
"Can I get something to eat?" Tayler didn't answer her question and instead asked one of her own.
"Of course," Linda sounded confused. "But don't eat too much. We'll have dinner as soon as Danny gets home."
Tayler started to dig through the fridge and had just settled on making a quick sandwich when Linda spoke again.
"You know you don't have to ask if you can get something to eat. This is your home now."
"Thanks," Tayler muttered. Not paying much attention to what Linda was saying and instead focused on her sandwich.
"Tayler," Linda was beginning to notice something regarding her daughters behavior. "Did you eat lunch today?"
Tayler again didn't speak and Linda knew she had her answer.
"Why not? I know Nicki showed you where the cafeteria is."
"I just didn't okay," Tayler grew frustrated and left the kitchen in a rush to hurry down to the basement before her mother figured it out.
"That went well," Linda sighed. Trying to determine what was bothering her daughter.
She hated to think that Tayler was going to cause her to punish her so soon, especially after Danny had to get on to her the day before. She hadn't done anything yet to cause her to punish her that day, but she had a feeling they were just at the tip of the iceberg, knowing something was wrong and it was up to her as her mother to get her to talk, regarding what was bothering her.
Taylers stomach growled, causing her to wish she hadn't gotten so upset and rushed down to her room before she had a chance to eat her snack. Especially considering it was only 4:30 and it was going to be awhile before Danny got home and they sat down to dinner. Her thoughts were everywhere, as she tried to focus on what happened that day in the cafeteria. She was glad that she may have actually made a new friend. But she was also worried about losing her lunch. Becky hadn't said anything about how much of a bully Max was aside from being a major lunch thief. She wished she could have been honest and let on to Linda regarding what had happened to her that day. But no matter what, no matter how much she wanted to, she knew she couldn't. Her mother would want to try and solve the problem by going to the principle, and all that would bring was unwanted attention to her. Then again, she didn't really think it would matter if the school officials new or not. It wasn't like they could eat lunch with her every Thursday. And even if they could, that would be entirely too embarrassing, and that was the last thing she wanted. She was new and was hoping to get along better at this school considering she had different parents that seemed to encourage integration in sports or other activities. She wasn't really all that athletic. At least she didn't think so. But that didn't mean she couldn't participate in other activities given the chance. But before she integrated into anything, she had to get this lunch thing under control. Unfortunately, she had no idea how she was going to do that.
Linda waited for at least an hour before she even considered trying to talk with her daughter again. She knew there was something bothering her and she knew she had to try and get to the bottom of it.
"Tayler," Linda opened the door after making a quick rasp on the door.
"Come in," Taylers voice showed absolutely no emotion other than dreading the fact that Linda wanted to talk again.
"I brought your sandwich," Linda handed her, her plate along with a glass of water.
"Thanks," Tayler took it from her. She gave her a small smile to show that she was thankful, but other than that, her tone remained steady.
"I don't want to make you upset," Linda said carefully. "But I want you to remind you, that we do prepay for you to have a lunch account."
"I know,"
"Have you been eating it?"
"Sometimes," Tayler responded by saying the only thing she could think to say without offering too much information.
"Tayler, it's important for you to eat lunch everyday," Linda strained.
"I know," Tayler repeated.
"Then why?"
"I just didn't okay?!" Tayler yelled.
"Don't yell at me Tayler," Linda corrected.
Tayler didn't say anything, and instead responded by leaving her mother standing alone as she headed straight to the basement.
Linda sighed, and was tempted to follow her, but decided to let things be as she thought things through, wanting to discuss things with Danny first.
"I sure with I knew what was bothering Tayler," Linda had been pondering the same thought over and over again, and she finally voiced it aloud to her husband when he arrived home.
"What happened?" Danny was getting use to seeing his wife in distress regarding his step-daughters behavior after it had occurred more than once since he got home from work.
"She came home acting like she was starving to death and it's because she didn't eat lunch, and when I asked her why, she became very offensive." She explained.
"Linda, Tayler isn't going to tell us anything," Danny enlightened her.
"Danny, if something's wrong with my daughter. I want to know about it."
"I know you do," Danny agreed with her. "But it seems pretty straight forward to me," he shrugged.
"What do you mean?"
"The way I see it there are only three things that keep a teenager from eating.
1. They are too busy playing or talking. And we both know that that's not Tayler.
2. They forget their lunch. Tayler has a lunch account so we know it's not that.
3. They get their lunch taken. Faculty can't do it, so that leaves only one thing."
"A bully," the two said simultaneously.
"Augh," Linda's face fell. "Why didn't I think about that earlier? And how did you come up with it so fast?"
"It's a gift," Danny grinned. "That and deductive reasoning is part of my job."
"Poor Tayler, and at her new school that I was hoping would be really great for her."
"It was just one incident Linda, it's going to be fine."
"I know it is, because I'm going to talk to the principal first thing tomorrow morning when I drop her off," Linda sounded more determined than Danny had heard her in awhile.
"That's not a good idea."
"Danny she's my daughter, I have to protect her."
"Don't you see Linda, acting as a concerned parent is only going to make things worse for her."
"We have to do something Danny."
"I know, and I'll handle it," he assured her.
"What are you going to do?" Linda sounded worried.
"I'll let you know," was all Danny could tell her at the moment. Basically because he hadn't completely figured it out yet.
"Danny," Linda sounded aggravated with his secrecy.
"Trust me Linda," Danny said firmly.
Linda sighed, but finally replied. "I'm going to go talk to Tayler."
"I'll go," Danny stopped her.
"Are you just going to go right out and ask her about it?"
"Usually the way I do things," Danny shrugged.
"I know," Linda nodded in agreement. "But do you think that's the best way to talk to Tayler?"
"She's part of the family, and you've already said we needed to start treating her as such. So that's what I'm going to do." Danny headed for the basement, determination in his eyes.
"Tayler," he called at the top of the stairs.
"Where else would I be?" Tayler responded.
"You know you can wander the house aimlessly like other teenagers do," Danny said reaching the bottom of the stairway.
"Maybe later," Tayler lied.
Neither of them said anything, Tayler making the occasional glance at him as he stood in one place.
"Aren't you going to go through the whole deal of asking me the same question every adult asks about how was school?" Tayler figured he was only down there to ask the same question Linda always did.
"Why waste my breath?" Danny said sarcastically. "What kid is going to answer with something other than fine?"
Tayler squinted, her mouth partially ajar as she thought how right and perceptive he was.
"Most kids hate school and will never answer by saying it was good," he continued on with his explanation regarding his reasoning. "Whereas on the other hand, if you were to say you had a bad day. You would know I would ask you why and and most likely you wouldn't want to say anything about it so you decide to answer with the most logical explanation. Am I right?"
"Ugh yeah, I guess," Tayler had to admit she had no idea how to answer his question.
"Now suppose you tell me why you lost your lunch today?"
"How'd you know?" Tayler sighed, finding her voice.
"That's privileged information," Danny thought of an alternative way to say he couldn't give away all his secrets.
"But I didn't tell anyone."
"I'm a detective Tayler, I figured it out," Danny let on, just trying to cut to the chase.
"You know, your getting annoying with that already," Tayler crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"I'll take it as a compliment," Danny smiled. "Now start talking."
Tayler responded by telling him what he wanted to know about how she lost her lunch trying her best to say as little as possible.
"In other words a typical bully without the physical altercation?" Danny was glad he had at least guessed right when talking with Linda earlier.
"Wasn't that big a deal," Tayler lied. Not wanting to let out as to how much it bothered her.
"Either way," Danny could tell she wasn't being entirely truthful, making a mental note to talked to Linda regarding her daughters lying. "Don't worry about losing your lunch. I'll take care of it."
"Danny you can't!" Tayler pleaded.
"Calm down," Danny held a hand up to slow her down a bit so he could explain. "I'm not going to go down there in full parent mode like your expecting and what Linda wants to do."
Tayler sighed, trying to regain her composure after the near heart attack. She was still worried about what he was going to do, but at least he didn't plan on storming the school grounds.
"What are you going to do?" Tayler was almost too afraid to ask.
"Don't worry about it," Danny sounded as if it was no big deal. Not wanting bullying and what she was going to do to make it stop be a 13 year olds concern. That was the job of the parents, and stopping it was exactly what he was going to do. He hoped that once it was all over, she would heave learned to trust him. But even if she didn't, it was all worth it. At least to him it was. "Now come on upstairs," Danny nodded at the stairs.
"Do I have to?"
"Yes, it's almost time for dinner," Danny made her go in front of him to ensue she would really come up.
XXXXXXXX
It was the weekend, and Jack and Sean were bored. Danny was working, Linda was busy with the house chores and Tayler as usual was down in the basement. They started out playing football but it started raining and forced the brothers inside.
"Now what are we going to do?" Sean looked at his brother.
"We need to get groceries," Linda spoke up before Jack had a chance to reply.
"Do we have to go?" Sean sounded anxious as he waited for an answer.
"Well I'm not just going to leave you here alone."
"Taylers here," Sean pointed out.
"I guess it's okay," Linda said thinking it over. "I won't be gone long," she said decided. "I'm going to go tell Tayler."
"We'll tell her," Sean volunteered.
"Okay," Linda was in a hurry to get going before the storm worsened. "No going outside."
"Mom it's raining," Jack pointed out the open door.
"Right," Linda rushed out to the car so she could hurry and get home.
"Now what?" Jack closed and locked the door behind her.
"Annoy Tayler is always a good option," Sean recommended.
"Good idea," Jack raced his brother down to the basement.
"What do you two want?" Tayler looked annoyed at the way they just came barreling down into her room.
"We're just here to give you a dose of annoyance, courtesy of your half-brothers."
"Just leave me alone," Tayler tried ignoring them at first, until they started going through her stuff and fighting over the remote causing her DVD player to shut off.
"If you don't stop I'm going to go tell Linda," Tayler threatened, not sure if she would actually go through with telling on them or not.
"She's gone, she went to get groceries," Jack enlightened her of the good news.
"Oh joy," Tayler said sarcastically.
"Your stuck with us getting to annoy you the whole time," Sean looked pleased at the day's outcome.
"That just gives me plenty time to kill you," Tayler thought aloud. "The good news of her being gone goes both ways."
"That would just ruin our parents day." Jack and Sean exchanged glances, trying to come up with something else to do.
"Maybe all three of us could do something fun," Sean suggested.
"I don't think so," Tayler was quick to turn him down.
"Why not?"
"Because if you remember, you don't like me and I don't like you."
"I guess you do have a point," Sean shrugged. Not wanting to be the only sibling to think differently of the other.
"I know I do," Tayler pointed at herself. "Because what we do is tolerate one another."
"But we haven't fought much, not really," Sean reminded her.
"That's because we don't want to get in trouble. You heard Danny when we started arguing over the game," Tayler pointed at Jack.
"We didn't really get in trouble," Jack clarified her thinking. "Because when you get in trouble with Dad, you'll know it."
Tayler wasn't quite sure what her half-brother meant by that. Then again, she figured he'd know. She after all, had never really been in trouble before other than a few minor chastisements here and there from her father, and now from her mother and step-father. And when it came to her father, she received very little on the conversation end of things. in fact, it seemed to her that Danny and Linda spoke to her far more often than he ever did. And when it came right down to it, she never remembered talking to anyone as much as she had since she moved in with the Reagans.
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It was Wednesday night and Tayler was worried. The following day was Thursday which meant she was going to be losing her lunch again. Danny has said he was going to take care of it, but he hadn't said anything about it since they spoke the first time, making her think that he had forgotten. Then again, she didn't really expect him to remember, she didn't count herself to be all that important to him, so she wouldn't be surprised if it completely slipped his mind on purpose.
Tayler had been on edge all Thursday morning, dreading the coming lunch hour. So much so, she couldn't concentrate on her morning classes. She had been staring ahead blankly and didn't even know the teacher was calling on her until she was standing next to her desk.
"Miss Donovan," the social studies teacher Mrs. Sanderson spoke. "You must start paying attention."
"Yes Mam," Tayler responded appropriately.
"This is the second time I've had to call on you for not paying attention today."
"I know," Tayler started to say but was cut off.
"If you don't start paying attention, I'm going to have to send a note home to your parents," Mrs. Sanderson warned.
"You won't have to," Tayler shook her head promising.
Tayler strived to pay better attention once Mrs. Sanderson returned to the front. She kept her pencil in her hand and her eyes focused on her book. She still had no idea what Mrs. Sanderson was teaching on, but she was doing her best to make it look like she was paying attention. Doing her best to keep a note from being sent home. Knowing that the last thing she wanted was a lecture from Linda regarding proper behavior in class. Especially considering she already knew how to act in class.
Tayler finally managed to make it to lunch, and as she had done everyday for the past week, she met her new friend Becky at their usual table.
"So last week when we were talking, you said you were going to tell me about your family?" Tayler started their lunch topic conversation.
"I'm actually not very different from you. I have a step-parent. Only in my case it's a stepmom."
"Do you get along?"
"I love my stepmom."
"How long has she been your stepmom?"
"Couple years, she's my mom now." Becky said matter of factly.
"Did she adopt you?"
"No, but she didn't have to. It's kind of hard to explain how and when it happened. But I think part of it was when my dad went away on a business trip and I was left with my stepmom."
"Yeah, not much of a chance of that happening with me. My stepdads usually the one gone working. Although I have to say, he's around a lot more often than my dad ever was. I've already got in trouble with him for arguing with my half-brother Jack."
"What'd you get? Grounded, spanked, removal of property?" Becky named a few.
"I didn't really receive a punishment," Tayler clarified.
"Then how did you get in trouble?" Becky was confused.
"He corrected us."
"That's not really getting in trouble."
"That's what Jack said," Tayler admitted.
"And if your family is anything like mine you'll know when you get in trouble."
"Have you been talking to Jack?"
"I don't even know Jack," Becky picked up for herself.
"Nevermind," Tayler shook her head laughing.
The two were just getting started on their lunch, when Becky spoke again, nodding ahead.
"There's a cute guy talking to Nicki."
"What? That's Jamie," Tayler sounded surprised.
"Who's Jamie?"
"A cop," Tayler wasn't sure how else to reply.
"Well he's coming over here," Becky replied. "Nicki just pointed you out."
"Please don't call him cute," Tayler shook her head disgusted. "He's kind of my uncle."
"How can he kind of be your uncle?"
"He's my stepdads younger brother. But he wants me to call him uncle. It's weird I know."
"Sounds kind of nice to me," Becky shrugged. "A step-parents family accepting you as their own. I know from experience remember."
"Jamie," Tayler stood when he approached the table. "What are you doing here?"
"Schools security officer called in sick. I had the day off so I volunteered." Jamie made it sound so simple that it was difficult to question him about it.
"But your not wearing your uniform?" Tayler pointed out.
"It's on the down low," Jamie responded.
"Did Danny say something to you?" Tayler was looking for answers.
"I don't know what your talking about," Jamie sounded completely innocent. "I'm just here for the paycheck."
"He's lying you know," Becky said once he walked away.
"I know," Tayler smiled and she watched Jamie take up a position in the cafeteria where he could watch the coming and going of students. It seemed to Tayler however, that his gaze was centered primarily on Max.
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Tayler was in a much better mood that night now that everything was settled at school. She was tired after not sleeping well that night before and she was certain she would be able to sleep much better. Unfortunately, she was wrong as she pondered the way in which her new family had helped her out of her predicament.
Danny was working late that night and the rest of the household was upstairs in bed when Tayler decided to sneak out the backyard for a breath of fresh air hoping it would help her think through the day's events along with her step-father and step-uncle.
She had been out for maybe thirty minutes when her thoughts were interrupted.
"What are you doing out here?"
"Watching the stars," Tayler spun around in surprise when she heard her stepfather.
"I take it Linda doesn't know your out here," Danny walked up beside her.
"I'm alive aren't I?"
"Good point," Danny chuckled.
Tayler returned her gaze to the twinkling stars in the sky above and Danny followed suit. After several deep breaths, Tayler spoke.
"You remembered."
"I said I'd take care of it," Danny didn't at all sound troubled by having to to get involved in her schooling.
"Max got expelled," Tayler told him. "From what I heard she's been warned in the past."
"I heard," Danny nodded.
"How'd you know?" She looked at him confused.
"Email," Danny smirked.
"The principle?" Tayler figured.
"Yeah," Danny nodded.
Neither of them said anything for a moment, Danny wanted to go straight up to bed, but he chose to take a seat on one of the yard chairs and stretch out, trying to appear relaxed, getting the feeling she had more to say and he didn't wan to rush her.
"Why'd you and Jamie help me?" Tayler finally asked, trying not to appear uncomfortable.
"Your a Reagan," Danny said simply. "We take care of our own."
"But I," Tayler started.
"And before you say your not a Reagan," Danny interrupted her, already predicting what she was going to say. "You are, and it's too late to argue about it. Now your suppose to be in bed and not outside. Now get going and don't let me catch you out here at midnight anymore." Danny pointed at her, trying to sound serious, but his face expression was saying different, being he had a smile on his face.
"Yes Sir," Tayler nodded, making her way into the house, followed closely by Danny.
"Goodnight," Danny opened the door to her bedroom. "Now get some sleep," he pointed down the stairs.
Tayler made her way down the stairs and turned off the light before crawling under the covers. Certain she would be able to get some sleep now that she had a clear head. Even if she was still thinking about what he said about her being a Reagan.
Hope you all enjoyed the update... Thanks for all the follows, favorites and reviews... JusticeStandsTRUE