Four years. Can you believe it? There's just been so much going on in my life, good and bad, and it's been a lot… Thankfully, I've been feeling a little better these past few weeks and I've gotten some much needed motivation kicking me in the pants. Thank you to those who kept messaging me, even when I felt like just dropping this story all together, and I want to offer an apology for anyone who gave up on me coming back. Here's a new chapter and please, feel free to check out my new story: Surviving Yerba. Much love, -Mercy

Chapter Twenty-Three

Notes Left Unplayed

(Tori)

-Two months later-

I lie awake in bed, staring at the ceiling as Jade sleeps beside me, thinking about everything that's happened in the past few months. After I was discharged from the hospital, I went back to my parents' house to continue my recovery. But even with Jade there to help, I could see the toll it was taking on my mom, who was already busy taking care of my dad. I was only home for three weeks before I sat down with my parents and told them I wanted to move in with Jade by the end of the week. Though they tried to persuade me to wait a little longer, I held my ground and assured them I was ready. They finally gave in, and I started packing. Well, mostly Jade packed for me, with Missy coming by to help when she wasn't busy hanging out with Rachel.

The day came, and I was officially living with Jade in our new place. It felt like our own little bubble—a private island we could escape to whenever we wanted. And lately, we'd been doing a lot of escaping. Jack has been adjusting to the new environment and his brand-new bed, though he often just sleeps with us or in Jake's room.

Jake… I knew how much he meant to Jade, but seeing them together has made it even clearer. After everything they've both been through, Jade is fiercely protective of him, making sure he knows he's loved. From what she's told me, Jake's had a tough transition and still struggles with bad dreams. Jade's always quick to wake up and comfort him when he needs it. Both of her moms offered to find a child psychologist for him, and Jade agreed—with the condition that he join her in a few of her therapy sessions first to help him get comfortable talking to someone. It seems to be helping, but we're taking things one step at a time.

I sit up and stretch, leaning over to kiss Jade's forehead before getting out of bed. Thanks to physical therapy, I've been moving a lot better, though it hasn't been easy. My doctor said that being immobile for nearly two weeks affected my strength, but I get plenty of exercise between PT, walking Jack, and spending time with Jade. It's helping me feel more like myself again, even when I have nightmares about being trapped in Mr. West's basement. School hasn't been too bad either. My teachers have been understanding, though Sikowitz was pretty upset with me for not having a safety whistle on my keys. Helen told me he'd been so worried about me that his class was almost… normal.

I finally make my way downstairs, a little winded, but manage just fine and head to the kitchen, where I see Rachel already making breakfast. She took some time off work to help us out, and with Missy around so much, the two of them have become nearly inseparable. Missy has been a huge help with Jake, keeping him busy with games, reading, or taking him to the park when I'm too worn out to move but don't want him feeling cooped up.

"Hey, Rach…" I give Rachel a hug and lean against the counter, catching my breath. She grabs my hand, leading me over to the table.

"I keep telling you to call me so I can help you down. Stop pushing yourself," she scolds, setting a plate of food in front of me with my medication and some apple juice. "I'm here to help you girls, so please, rest as much as you want." I start to say something, but she stops me and heads to the bottom of the stairs with a smirk. "Hang on a sec." She takes a deep breath. "JADE, COME HERE QUICK!"

I jump at her shout and hear a thud from upstairs, stifling my laughter as I hear Jade scrambling around. Rachel returns to the kitchen just as Jade hurries down the stairs, out of breath.

"What?! What happened?!" Rachel sets a plate down on the table, waving her over.

"Oh nothing, just wanted you to come down for breakfast." Jade's jaw drops and I can tell she is absolutely seething.

"Rachel, what the hell?! I was sleeping!" She glares at her and me while I try not to laugh.

"It's nearly noon. You'd have slept all day if I let you," Rachel teases, nudging Jade to sit down and pushing a plate of food in front of her.

Jade rolls her eyes, reaching for her fork. "You could have just called my phone," she grumbles, starting to eat. "You scared the hell out of me."

Rachel laughs lightly, brushing it off. "Relax, it's not like anyone's dying."

Jade's fork clatters against the plate, the sound cutting sharply through the room, and everything goes silent. Rachel freezes, her smile slipping as she meets Jade's gaze, and a tense, heavy quiet settles over us, the weight of her words too much to ignore.

"Yeah, don't… don't joke like that, okay?" Jade's voice comes out softer, with a hint of vulnerability she rarely lets anyone see. Her eyes shift downward, shadowed with a mixture of emotions she's been carrying around lately. I reach over, take her hand, and squeeze it gently. She holds on, and I can feel the tension in her fingers start to ease.

Rachel clears her throat, glancing away, clearly uncomfortable. She picks up a warm pancake and places it on my plate, then leans against the counter, sipping her coffee. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean it like that," she says quietly. "I wasn't trying to make light of anything that happened. Sometimes I don't think before I speak."

Jade takes a final bite, her face set in a mask of composure, before standing and carrying her plate to the sink. She grips the edge of the counter, her back to us, her shoulders tight with emotion. I can see the tremor in her posture, a crack in her steady facade.

"It's fine," she says, though her voice is strained. "It's not like I'm going to cry over the man who killed one of my exes and almost killed me and my girlfriend." Her words are flat, forced, as though she's trying to push back the feelings threatening to surface. But I know she's conflicted, knowing her dad is getting the death sentence. Despite all the pain he's caused, the finality of it all has left her shaken.

I start to rise from my chair, ready to comfort her, but Rachel moves faster. She steps up beside Jade, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. Jade tenses, surprised, but then leans into Rachel, her head resting against her shoulder. Rachel holds her, her hand moving in gentle, soothing circles on Jade's back.

"You've all been through so much, JJ," Rachel murmurs, her voice soft and comforting. "It's okay to feel however you need to. We're here for you, no matter what." Rachel motions for me to come over and I stand, wrapping my arms around the both of them.

Jade lets out a slow breath, some of the tension finally leaving her as she allows herself to be held. "Yeah… I know," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "Sometimes it just… hits me all at once." We stand there in silence, letting Jade breathe, just holding her as she processes the weight of everything. After a few moments, she pulls back, wiping at her eyes quickly, her usual edge returning. "I'm fine," she says, trying to shrug it off, but her voice wavers just slightly.

Rachel smiles gently, not letting her pull too far away. "I know you are. But even strong people need time to heal. You don't have to rush through this, Jade. No one's expecting that."

"You've been there for me when I needed it, and I'll be here for you, we all will." I kiss her forehead and stroke her cheek.

Jade nods, her eyes softening, and she gives the both of us a grateful smile. "Thanks, both of you," she murmurs. Rachel looks at me and gives me a small wink before tightening the hug again. I grin and hold her tight as well. Jade starts trying to push us off and laughs, squirming to escape our arms. "Stop! Let me go."

"Alright, alright." I chuckle and let go, Rachel doing the same.

"You two are ridiculous." Jade straightens up, smoothing her hair as she tries to regain her usual composure, though a trace of her laughter still lingers in her eyes. She shakes her head, feigning exasperation.

"That's our job. Gotta keep you on your toes." Rachel chuckles, giving her a gentle pat on the back.

"Yeah," I add, nudging her lightly. "Can't have you thinking you're too cool for hugs." Jade just shakes her head, smiling and I sit back down, finishing the rest of my breakfast as the three of us chat.

I'm helping Rachel with the dishes, despite her and Jade's protests, when Missy comes in, carrying a couple bags.

"You would not believe the deal I found on clothes today!" She sets them down and Jade and I look through the bags, finding some really cute outfits. It's a mix of clothes for her and clothes for the baby. She's certain she's having a girl, so she's been buying a lot of pinks and purples.

"You know, if I'd known you were going clothes shopping, I would have taken you." Rachel comes over, looking through the bags.

"And have you pay for everything again? No thank you. I earned my money fair and square, babysitting Jake on the weekends." She grins, sitting down and resting her hand on her stomach. She's not really showing yet, but she does have a little bump.

"You wouldn't even have that if Jade hadn't practically forced the money on you. You were going to work for free." Rachel nudges her with her elbow and she laughs.

Missy laughs, leaning back against the table, her fingers absently tracing over the small bump on her stomach. "Honestly, Jake's a sweetheart. It's not like babysitting at all—it's more like having a little buddy. Besides, he's usually content as long as there's snacks and his action figures nearby."

Jade smirks, drying a glass and giving Missy a playful nudge. "You mean you just hand him a juice box and let him watch cartoons?"

Missy grins. "Hey, that kid has great taste in shows. Besides, he's obsessed with that superhero set you got him. He'll re-enact entire episodes while I play the audience. Where is he anyway? I got a new spiderman for him."

"He's at a playdate with a couple of his friends from school. I'll be picking him up in about an hour or so." Rachel smiles. "Anyway, I'm glad you're getting something out of it. But you know, you don't have to wait until the weekends to make money. I know school's keeping you busy, but I'd be happy to help with anything you need."

Missy's face brightens a little. "Well, I do need to get a new music book for school. My teacher's not thrilled with me using a photocopy." She chuckles, but there's a flicker of worry in her eyes.

"Not a problem. I'll add it to the list next time I go out," Rachel says, reaching to squeeze Missy's shoulder.

Missy hesitates, biting her lip, her usual lightheartedness slipping. "There's… there's something else, too." She glances down, tracing the rim of her glass. "I left my violin at my parents' house when I… when I left. It was a birthday gift from my dad. I didn't think about it when I was packing, but now… I need it for school, and I don't exactly have the money to buy another."

Her voice cracks a bit, and I can see the hurt beneath her casual tone. The violin clearly means a lot to her, not just as an instrument but as a connection to the dad she once knew, before everything got complicated.

Jade's expression softens, and she puts a reassuring hand on Missy's arm. "We'll figure it out, Missy. There's got to be a way to get it back. Maybe I could go with you."

Missy shakes her head quickly, looking down. "I don't want you guys dealing with him. It'd just… make things worse. He was already so angry when he found out about the baby."

I give Missy a comforting smile. "It'll be okay. It's something of yours that you need for school. Even he can't be that callous. Jade will take you if you want. The sooner the better, right?" She nods, smiling.

"Yeah, you're right. Would that be okay Jade?" She nods, finishing her coffee and setting the cup in the sink.

"Yeah, let's go in a little while. Let me just take a shower first." She heads towards the stairs, and while Rachel and Missy are focused on the baby clothes, she catches my attention and motions for me to follow her. I carefully slip away, and go upstairs with her, smirking.

In the warmth of the shower, Jade's hand reaches for mine, guiding me gently under the steady flow of water. The heat relaxes every muscle, softening any lingering tension as our hands linger on each other's skin, tracing paths as if to memorize each other all over again. Her fingers glide across my shoulders, smoothing over my arms and up my back, where she lets her hands settle, pulling me closer. The steam surrounds us, creating a world that feels safe, like nothing else exists beyond this moment.

I brush the wet strands of hair from her face, my fingers trailing down to rest on her cheek. She closes her eyes, leaning into my touch, and I feel her heartbeat beneath my fingertips—a steady, comforting rhythm that makes me feel grounded. My hands slip down to her waist, where I hold her close, letting the warmth of the water and our shared closeness melt away everything else.

She tilts her head back, letting the water cascade over her face, and when her gaze meets mine, there's a softness in her eyes that pulls me in even deeper. We stand there for what feels like forever, losing ourselves in each other, before we have to finally step back from the water beginning to cool.

After we get washed up, Jade reaches for a towel, handing me one before wrapping herself up. The air feels lighter somehow, like we've left our worries behind in the warmth of the shower. As we head into the bedroom, I catch her glancing at me with a look that says everything neither of us needed to say out loud.

She dries her hair with the towel, wrapping it into a loose bun on top of her head, while I pull on a cozy pair of sweats and one of her hoodies, the familiar scent of her comforting. She smirks as she watches me tug the hoodie over my head. "I swear, you wear my clothes more than your own."

"What can I say, you have good taste." I chuckle, laying back on the bed and watching her get dressed. Jade laughs, shaking her head as she pulls on a soft T-shirt and her favorite pair of jeans.

She catches me watching her and raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a playful grin. "See something you like?"

"Maybe," I tease, reaching out to grab her hand and tugging her down beside me on the bed. She lets herself fall, settling comfortably against me, her head resting on my shoulder. I wrap an arm around her, feeling her warmth, and for a moment, we just lie there, the quiet and calm wrapping around us like a second blanket.

Her fingers trace gentle patterns along my arm, almost absentmindedly, and I feel her sigh softly. "You know… After everything… it's nice to just be here with you, like this." she says as she moves her hand to my chest, feeling my heartbeat.

I place my hand over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Yeah," I sigh, my voice soft. "We went through hell and back… and now we have this. Just us."

The silence between us isn't empty; it's filled with everything we don't need to say. The memories, the pain, the hope—it's all there, resting quietly in this moment. She nuzzles her head a little deeper into the crook of my neck, and I feel her fingers move in gentle circles against my chest.

"I gotta head back downstairs… Give me a good reason to stay home instead…" She murmurs and I chuckle, rubbing her back.

"As much as I'd love to keep laying here, you should go help Missy. The sooner you're home, the sooner the cuddles can resume."

Jade groans softly, burying her face against my shoulder in mock frustration. "You're too reasonable for your own good, you know that?"

I laugh, brushing my fingers through her hair soothingly. "Just helping where I can, Babe."

She chuckles, reluctantly sitting up and stretching before turning back to me, a playful glint in her eye. "Fine, but you owe me more than just cuddles later."

"Oh, I plan on it." I smirk, and she leans down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before finally pushing herself to her feet.

She glances back, catching me staring, and gives me a look that somehow says both I love you and you're a dork at the same time.

"Alright, I'm going," she says with a sigh, as though it's the hardest thing she's had to do all day. "But don't think I'm not counting down until I'm home."

I give her a playful salute. "Noted. Now go be a hero and save Missy's violin from her father."

Jade laughs, shaking her head as she grabs her jacket. "Hero, huh? I better make it a good rescue mission, then."

"Bring back the prize," I say with a grin, leaning back against the pillows. "And if you can, Missy's sanity."

She snorts, slipping her arms into her jacket. "I'll do my best." Her face suddenly softens, and I can tell she's thinking about the awkwardness of the whole situation with Missy's dad. "Honestly, I think she just needs some closure. Even if it's just for the violin."

I nod, feeling a pang of sympathy for Missy. "It's a big deal, having a part of her past back with her. Plus, that violin was a gift from him; it's probably tied to a lot of memories."

Jade pauses, and I can see the resolve settle in her expression. "Well, let's hope he's even willing to talk to us. If not… I'll still find a way to get it for her."

"Careful," I tease lightly, "she might start thinking you're a little soft."

She gives me a mock glare. "She wouldn't dare."

With one last smile, she heads for the door, her footsteps fading down the stairs. I lie back, staring at the ceiling, a faint smile on my face.

(Jade)

As I make my way down the stairs, I can't shake the weight of what's ahead. Missy deserves her violin back, and I'm determined to help her get it—whatever it takes.

I find Missy in the living room, sorting through the baby clothes she picked up earlier, her brow furrowed in concentration. As I approach, she glances up and smiles, though I can see a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

"You ready for this?" I ask, trying to keep my tone light.

Missy nods but doesn't say anything. Instead, she takes a deep breath and sets down a soft pink onesie. "Yeah. I just… I didn't think I'd have to deal with my dad again so soon."

I can relate. The thought of facing her father again after everything feels heavy. "I get that. But this isn't just about him. It's about you getting back what's yours."

"Right," she says, trying to sound more confident than she feels. "It's just a violin, but it's more than that to me. It was a gift from him. And now… I'm scared he'll just refuse to give it back."

I place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll handle it together. If he gets confrontational, just remember you're not alone. I'm right there with you."

"Thanks, Jade." She smiles, her expression softening. "I really appreciate it."

"Let's get going then," I say, trying to inject some enthusiasm into the moment. "The sooner we get this over with, the better."

We head out, and as I drive, I can feel the tension building in the air. I glance at Missy, and she's staring out the window, lost in thought.

When we finally pull up to her parents' house, my heart races. The place looks the same, but it feels different—charged with memories that are both good and bad.

"Are you ready?" I ask, turning to Missy.

She takes a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I think so. Just… let's get in and out, okay?"

"Yeah. I'm following your lead. You want to stay and talk to him, we can." I reach over, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before we step out of the car together.

As we walk toward the front door, Missy's gaze stays to the ground, not looking up. I can sense the memories flooding back for her—the last time she was here, the anger, the hurt. I wish I could ease her fears, but this is something she has to face herself.

I knock on the door, the sound echoing in the quiet. We wait in silence, the weight of the moment settling in. After what feels like an eternity, her dad opens the door, a surprised expression crossing his face.

"Michelle," he says, his voice flat. "What are you doing here?"

"Can we come in?" she asks, her voice steady despite the tension.

He hesitates but finally steps aside, letting us in. The air feels thick with unspoken words as we enter the living room, and I can sense Missy's anxiety rising.

"Why are you here?" he asks, crossing his arms as he leans against the door-frame.

"I came to get my violin," Missy replies, her voice firmer now.

Her father's expression shifts, anger flickering in his eyes. "And you think I'm just going to hand it over?"

I step forward, scowling. "She deserves that violin back. It means a lot to her."

He narrows his eyes at me, clearly annoyed by my interference. "This doesn't concern you."

"What concerns her, concerns me," I say, meeting his gaze.

"I just want my violin, Dad… You got it for me… It's important to me." He stares at us for a moment and sighs.

"Fine, it's in my office. Stay here." He walks away to get it and Missy lets out a breath of relief.

"I can't believe it. He actually agreed to give it back.."

"I knew he would. Even after everything, he's still your dad." I smile,also relieved. This went easier than I thought it would.

He returns, holding the case, and hands it to her. As she takes it, cradling it against her chest, I can see a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Thank you," We turn to go, but he stops us.

"Wait." Missy turns around and sees that he's holding a violin. Confused, she opens up the case, only to find it empty.

"Dad, what-" He stops her, and before we can do anything, he slams the violin against the wall, smashing it. "No!" I watch in disbelief as the pieces fall to the floor and Missy tries to pick them up, struggling in vain to put it back together. I growl and turn to face him, my hands clenched into fists.

"Why the hell would you do that?!" He just looks at me, indifferent.

"I paid for it, didn't I? I'm allowed to do what I want with it and I decided that she didn't deserve it anymore." He turns to Missy who's still on the floor. "Not after she disgraced this family by getting pregnant."

I feel a surge of anger wash over me as I watch Missy's face crumble at his words, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You can't be serious," I say, my voice shaking with rage. "You really think that's how this works?"

"Stay out of this," he replies, his tone flat, dismissive. "She made her choice, and now she has to deal with the consequences. This was a gift, and now it's gone. End of story."

"End of story?" I spit back, stepping closer. "You can't just destroy something that meant so much to her because you're angry. That's not how being a parent works!"

Missy is still on the floor, her fingers trembling as she picks up all the pieces of her violin, tears streaming down her cheeks as she puts every single one of them in the case. "It wasn't just an instrument… it was a part of me," she whispers, her voice breaking.

Her father looks at her with an expression that's almost bored, like he couldn't care less about her pain. "You lost that with the choices you made, Michelle. You brought this on yourself."

"No, I didn't!" she shouts, the fire in her voice a stark contrast to the vulnerability on her face. "I'm trying to do better! I wanted to show you that!"

He shrugs, unfazed by her outburst. "Well, it's not like you'll need it anyway. I'm not paying for another semester at that school. It's bad enough I'm legally required to give those people money for taking you in. Maybe you just needed to learn the hard way. I'm not going to coddle you anymore."

"You were never coddling her. You're hurting her!" I shout, frustration bubbling over. "That's not a lesson—"

But he interrupts, dismissing my words with a wave of his hand. "Enough. I've had my say. Now you both need to leave. You're wasting my time."

"Fine." I turn to Missy, my heart breaking for her. "Let's go. We don't need to stay here any longer."

As we turn to leave, I can't shake the feeling of anger simmering inside me. I want to say more, to fight for Missy, but I know it won't change anything. Outside, the cool air hits us, and I can see her shoulders shaking as she struggles to slow her tears.

"I'm so sorry, Missy," I say gently, putting my arm around her. "You didn't deserve that."

"I just wanted something from him to hold on to," she whispers, her voice cracking. "I thought maybe if I could get it back, it would help me feel like he still loved me. But now…" Her voice trails off, and I can see the disappointment etched across her features.

"Trust me, I know what it's like to have a shitty dad…" I lead her back to the back and we start heading back to my house. We sit in silence for a bit and I occasionally glance at Missy, watching as she just sits there, opening and closing the case, as though all the broken pieces will somehow fix themselves.

After a while, Missy gets a phone call from her mom, and I try not to listen in, to give her some privacy, but whatever her mom says seems to upset her more. Missy hangs up on her and I decide not to ask her about it just yet. Instead, I focus on the road and pick up the pace a bit. She's quiet

Pulling into the driveway, I see that Missy doesn't get out right away. She just sits there, staring at the violin case, and looks lost in thought.

"I don't even know why I took this." She mumbles, opening the case again to look at the broken pieces. "It's not like it can be fixed… Nothing I can do but toss it."

"Better than letting him be the one to do it. At least… you can say goodbye to it.."

"Yea…" She sighs, opening the car door. "Thanks for trying to help me get it back, Jade…" She gets out and after looking at it one more time, she drops the whole violin case into the trashcan and goes inside. I get out and look at it, sighing.

(Tori)

Rachel and I are folding laundry in the living room when the front door creaks open. I glance up, expecting to see both Missy and Jade, but only Missy steps inside. Her face is pale, her eyes distant, and she quietly closes the door behind her, almost as if she's trying not to disturb anyone.

"Missy?" I ask, moving closer, sensing something's wrong. "Did… everything go okay?"

She hesitates, her gaze dropping to her empty hands, her expression flat and oddly calm. "No. Not really. He… he smashed it," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "My violin. I threw the pieces away on the way back."

"Oh, Missy…" My heart sinks, and Rachel steps forward, placing a comforting hand on Missy's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, honey," Rachel says softly, her tone full of anger and sadness.

Missy's head droops down some, as if she's run out of energy. "It's not like I need it anymore." She lets out a shaky breath and adds, "He's not paying for my next semester at Hollywood Arts. I don't know if I'll be able to stay or if I'll have to transfer somewhere else."

I exchange a quick look with Rachel, who's clearly just as concerned. "Missy, we'll help you figure it out. Maybe You can use the money he sends to my parents for you."

"It's probably not going to be enough.."

"Then we'll figure it out." Rachel pulls her into a hug.

Missy opens her mouth as if to protest but then closes it again, the fight leaving her. "I thought maybe having my violin back would help me feel like everything will be okay, but now… I just don't know what to feel anymore."

The door opens and Jade steps in, looking over at Missy with sad eyes before she comes over to sit beside me. "Hey, I know it doesn't help the big problem, but for now, borrow my old violin. I never use it anyway." She looks a little embarrassed, glancing at Rachel. "I wasn't very good with it anyway." Rachel lets out a laugh and the mood seems to shift as the three of us look at her.

"Not very good? JJ, sweetie, you were downright abusive to that poor thing. That violin made sounds I'd never heard outside of a horror film." I try to stifle a giggle and turn away when Jade shoots me a glare.

"Hey, I was not that bad."

"Jade, the neighbors offered to come check on our sick cat. If that was 'not that bad', then please, do not give it another try." I hear quiet giggling and look over at Missy, seeing her trying hard to not let Jade see her laughing. I smile, glad that her mood is a little better.

"I'm sorry, Jade, I've just never heard bad violin playing described like that before." She grins, scooting back so she's not within Jade's reach. "Maybe I can teach you?" Rachel comes over and kneels, putting both hands on Missy's shoulders.

"Missy, I will literally pay you to make sure Jade never touches a violin again." She says it with such seriousness that Missy and I both burst out laughing.

"Har har, Rach." Jade rolls her eyes and gets up, heading down to the hall closet. She returns with a violin case, waving it in Rachel's face. "Oooo I'm touching it. What are you going to do about it?" She shakes her head, smirking, and turns to Missy. "Here, it's probably not as fancy as yours was, but it's in perfect condition. Might just need some tuning." She hands it to Missy who opens it. Inside is a beautiful pitch black violin.

"Wow… A Mezzo-Forte…" She takes it out of the case and gently examines it.

"Is that good? I just picked the first one I saw when Rachel and my mom took me to a music shop before starting at H.A."

"I'll say it's good. It probably cost more than mine did. These are pretty popular." Jade immediately turns to Rachel and smacks her arm.

"Why did you spend so much money on something I gave up on after 2 months?" Rachel just laughs and grabs Jade, messing up her hair.

"Because, my beautiful, precious, dummy of a daughter, you wanted it, so why not? It made you happy, even if you did give up on it." Jade growls and fights to get out of Rachel's hold and I laughs, turning back to Missy. My eyes widen when I realize she's crying and I take the violin from her before holding her hands.

"Hey hey, what's wrong? Are you okay?" She just shakes her head, still sobbing, and wraps her arms around me.

"My… my mom…" Jade stops fighting with Rachel and pulls away quickly.

"What did she say to you?" I look at Jade, confused, and then back to Missy. Was her mom there when it happened?

"She told me not to come back to the house… That it was only going to upset my dad more…" She lets go of me and covers her face with her hands. "She told me that the money she gave me when he kicked me out was the last help I was getting from her and to just leave them alone to get on with their lives. She said I'm just making it harder for them."

Rachel's smile fades, replaced with a look of deep sadness and frustration as she takes in what Missy has said. Jade's face softens, all traces of humor gone as she watches Missy break down and I hold her tightly, hoping I can give her even a fraction of the comfort she needs right now

"Missy…" Rachel says softly, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how much that hurt to hear from your own mom. You deserve so much better."

Missy manages a small shrug, though her expression betrays how much it weighs on her. "It's just… everything I thought I had, it's all falling apart. I thought I'd at least have her support, even if my dad never came around… I don't know what I did to make her hate me. I know she's dealing with him, but… I'm still her daughter. I thought that would matter more."

Jade reaches out, putting a hand on Missy's knee. "It should matter more. She should be on your side, not pushing you away because of his issues."

Rachel nods in agreement. "Sometimes people don't understand that support isn't just about giving money; it's about standing by you when things get hard. If she can't do that, it doesn't mean you're not worthy of love, Missy. Maybe it means she's not worthy of your's."

Missy takes a deep breath, her gaze falling back to the violin in her hands. "Maybe you're right.."

Jade's lips curve into a small smile as she watches Missy. "Remember, no matter what, you've got us looking out for you."

"Exactly, you're family. You're stuck with us whether you like it or not." Rachel rubs her back and Missy gives her a small smile, nodding. "Now, why don't you show us what you can do with this," Rachel hands her the violin and Missy's eyes light up. I sit back and lean against Jade, watching Missy prep and play the violin, having heard her play in the past at school and at her house.

Missy is about to play when Rachel's watch beeps and she shuts it off. "Hang on, I need to go pick up Jake."

"No, you don't," Jade says, standing and pulling me up with her. "Tori and I will go get him."

I head to the closet by the door, grabbing my sneakers and slipping them on while Jade grabs my keys, giving them a little jingle as she catches my eye. She's telling me we're taking my car, and I can't help but grin, excited to get out and drive.

"Are you sure? I really don't mind going," Rachel says, starting to stand, but Jade gently pushes her back onto the couch.

"It's fine, Rachel. I can pick up my little brother. Besides, you should stay and listen to Missy play."

I grab my glasses from the coffee table and whistle for Jack, who comes trotting over, his favorite chew toy in his mouth—a new one Jade got him just the other day.

"I'm taking Jack with us," I say, clipping his harness on, "and we'll pick up something for dinner on the way home. Maybe pizza. We'll be back soon."

We wave goodbye and head out, Jack following beside us. After getting him settled into the backseat, I slide into the driver's seat and take my keys from Jade. Starting the car, I feel a thrill of freedom. I had to wait a long time to be able to drive again, but ever since I got the doctor's approval, I've loved getting behind the wheel. I know it makes Rachel a little nervous, but having Jade by my side for these drives makes me feel steady.

"Excited?" Jade asks, chuckling as she buckles her seat-belt.

"Definitely." I grin.

I pull out of the driveway, the familiar hum of the engine filling my ears as I head down the road.