Chapter 12

A few weeks had passed since Olivia's little intervention with Don and everything seemed to be going well. He was going to meetings two or three times a week and he and Liz seemed happier than ever. They were both planning Ciara's birthday party along with the help of Elliot and Olivia.

"Do you think she will want her friends there?" Asked Liz. She knew deep down that Ciara was struggling to make friends at school but she didn't want everyone to know. Don too had noticed Ciara's lack of friends and quickly realised what Liz was trying to say.

"Yeah I agree, I think she would just enjoy having family around and maybe Zack too." He suggested.

"Okay that's that settled, just all of us guys and Zack. Now where are we going to have this party? I was thinking we could have it here in our apartment."

"Olivia you don't have to do that we can have it in our own apartment." Insisted Liz. She loved how sister-like Olivia was to Ciara.

A short while later all the details were sorted. Ciara's seventeenth birthday party would be on Saturday night and it would be in Liz and Don's apartment. Of course the whole plan was kept from Ciara; they wanted it to be a surprise.

That evening when Ciara returned home from school Liz decided that she would talk to her and see how she was getting on at school.

"So Ciara," began Liz, "how was school?"

"Oh you know just the usual." Replied Ciara nonchalantly. She knew where this was heading.

"Is everything okay at school? Are you making friends?" Prompted Liz, she wanted to make sure her daughter was fitting in and if she wasn't then she would try to help.

"Not really. I mean I have Zack and he is in all of my classes except history so all is good." Ciara just wanted this conversation to be over and she was hoping that Liz would take the hint.

"Ciara maybe you shouldn't just tie yourself to one person. I know you and Zack are an item but you should still try to make other friends."

"Listen Liz I really don't want to have this conversation now." Responded Ciara and with that she stormed to her room and shut the door.

Liz had never seen Ciara this closed off or upset and it worried her.

Over in Elliot and Olivia's apartment the expectant couple were still floating on cloud nine. The past few months had been a little up and down for them but things were back to normal for them now. They were watching a movie together when Olivia's phone began to buzz.

"Who is that Liv?" Asked Elliot.

"Just Ciara, she wants to talk to me El so I'm gonna head up there and see what she wants to talk about." Replied Olivia.

"I might go with you and watch the game with Don"

"Yeah no problem. I'm sure it isn't anything big anyway." Olivia had noticed a change in Ciara lately and hoped that there want anything to be worried about.

When they arrived at Don and Liz's apartment they were startled by the shouting coming from inside the apartment. Olivia shot Elliot a worried look before knocking on the door.

When the door opened it revealed an angry looking Don and an even angrier looking Liz. Ciara was sitting on the couch acting as though nothing was happening.

Elliot looked at Don who shook his head and said "Liz got a call from the school saying that Ciara has been suspended for starting a fight today."

Olivia cocked an eyebrow and shot Don a questioning look.

"Liz is furious but Ciara won't tell her what happened" Added Don.

"Ciara honey, what happened?"

"Olivia can you please tell Liz to calm down." Spat Ciara. Olivia had never seen her so rude, vicious almost.

"Ciara I just want to know what happened" Pleaded Liz who was on the verge of tears.

"Okay fine!" Shouted Ciara, "some girl was talking shit about me so I just hit her."

"You just hit her?"

"Yes Liz I just hit her! Nobody talks smack about me and my family okay." Liz looked at Olivia who was smiling.

"Do you think this is funny?" Inquired Liz.

"No but Ciara just got suspended form a school that she hasn't been at all that long because she was standing up for herself and her family, I'm kind of proud of her" Admitted Olivia with a smile, causing everyone to laugh. And just like that everyone seemed to calm down. Elliot made everyone some coffee and everyone sat together and talked as if nothing had happened. That was how this family worked, no matter how bad things got it could always be worked out and they would move on.

Later that night as Ciara lay in bed reading her book Don came in to her room. He sat beside her on the bed and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Ciara what you did wasn't good but I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself." Don could only imagine how hard it was for Ciara to fit in and this wouldn't make her fit in.

"Dad I haven't had the perfect life. I know how to stand up for myself and when it comes to family, my family I will not let people talk smack about you." Replied Ciara. Don really wanted to know what they had said to her but wasn't sure if he should ask or not.

"Ciara, what did-"But Don was cut of mid-sentence by Ciara.

"They said that you were an alcoholic who only adopted me because you felt sorry for me and that Liz was only with you for your money"

"Ciara you know that isn't true right?"

"Yeah I mean Liz makes way more than you" Laughed Ciara. Her ability to make light of any situation was one of the qualities that Don loved about her.

Okay I am really sorry that I took so long to post this chapter! I hope to have updates more often now. So what do you guys think? Review please x