"Thanks for dinner Miss Montgomery." Jesse exclaimed sending an award-winning smile in her direction.
"That's fine, glad you all enjoyed it." Ella smiled back and started to collecting some plates and making her way into the kitchen. I mimicked her actions and was stopped by Zack.
"Leave these, go with your friends." Zack gestured to the stairs where everyone had escaped up.
"I just wanted to talk to Ella actually." I replied collecting another plate in my already full hands.
"Let me take these then. You two can chat in here." Zack smiled taking the plates from my hands and wondering into the kitchen. I heard murmuring in the kitchen and soon Ella emerged, a wide smile on her face. A smile plastered over worry.
"Hi Nikita, thanks for coming over for dinner tonight." Smiling, Ella took a seat back at the table and I copied her actions.
"I should be thanking you for dinner! It was amazing." I smiled staring down at my hands.
"Are you okay? I know you said you were fine before, but I'm not buying it." Ella said staring at me with comforting eyes. I nervously laughed and shook my head.
"What is it hunny?" Ella had come round the table, sitting next to me, draping a comforting arm around my tense shoulders.
"Did you know I have another brother? I've been keeping that secret for a long time. Told Jesse and Blake the other day." I laughed. I had a sick, twisted life. Ella nodded for me to continue.
"He's been my best friend since I was three. We found out together and the secret tore his family apart. His Dad left them, couldn't look Tom in the face." I shrugged biting back tears.
"That's rough. Is your Dad there for him?" Ella asked, a saddened look washing over her eyes.
"Yes. Dad is there for all of his sons." I said bluntly feeling the blow in my chest.
"And you're Mom?" Ella asked gingerly placing a hand on my knee.
"Loves Tom more than she loves me. I don't know, I've kept to many secrets for her for us to have a functioning relationship." I shrugged. It was true my Mother was a bitch and I had to protect her from Dad.
"Does your father know about these secrets?" I scoffed in response.
"If Dad ever found out Mom wouldn't be safe. I can't do that to her." I may not get along with her, but she is my mother.
"And if your dad found out?" Ella questioned.
"He would kill Mom. Just like he killed..." I stopped myself before I continued. That would be opening a lot of my family baggage that didn't ever need to be delved into.
"So Mom and Dad are out-of-town for the month." I smiled trying desperately to change subject.
"You sound happy." Ella laughed and smiled broadly.
"Just knowing they are out of the country brings great relief."
"I'm sure, anyway I better go help Zack. Are you going to be okay?" Ella asked jumping from her chair.
"I think I will be." Smiling I made my way up the stairs, heading in the direction of the noise. Aria's room.
"Niki!" Spencer yelled jumping up.
"Lets go into my room, I have something to show you." Mike started to nod, leading me to his room. Falling on to his bed I noticed it wasn't much different from his room at his Dads. If slightly smaller, it was equally as messy, an organized mess I should say.
"So what is this you are wanting to show me?" I asked, I knew it was bull but games were fun right?
"Um have I shown you my new lax stick, its pretty sick?" Mike wandered to the corner of the room where it was standing. I turned to go back to Aria's room when I was stopped.
"Wait right there! You think that is all?" Mike placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me to the bed. Mike began to rummage through his mess and I laughed at his attempts to gain my interest. Honestly, a toy car he had won from Noël when they were kids was the best he could do.
"Niki! Mike!" I heard our names being yelled from Aria's room and I jumped off the bed, glad to not be forced to see Mike's keepsakes from the past ten years.
"We know it's not your birthday or anything..." Spencer began as I entered the room. They small group were gathered around a large something that was covered by a sheet and I couldn't help but wonder what it was. Mike stood next to me, his arm tightly wound around my waist, a smile spread wide across his face.
"But we thought you needed a... deserved something special." Aria continued, a smile equally as wide as Spencer's. As Blake and Jesse pulled the sheet I could see Spencer and Aria jumping up and down, eager to see my reaction. What was revealed was amazing! It was one of my favourite pictures of me, standing in front of the Big Ben last year, painted in black and white with a single splash of colour. Framed by solid black planks it looked amazing. It would fit in perfectly in my bedroom, hanging above my bed.
"Wow! You guys didn't have to do this for me!" I exclaimed keeping my eyes on the painting.
"It was Emily's idea actually, she said you could use a pick me up." Spencer laughed enveloping me in a hug.
I know this is a short chapter, but there will be longer ones to come (: Read and review.