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"Live life to the fullest, and focus on the positive."— Matt Cameron

Chapter 40
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I didn't expect the silence from my dad. I couldn't tell if I were lucky, and the principal hadn't called him, or if my father was just guilt-tripping me.

I tried to head to my bedroom as quick as possible with an excuse of overloading homework. My intentions failed as I heard my dad's voice.

"Sit down, now," he demanded.

Slowly, I took a seat at the end of the table. Far away from him.

Teresa smiled at me as she placed a plate down. I nodded my head as a thanks, wary of my father's upcoming wrath.

Instead, I got the opposite. The atmosphere was quiet, the tension unbearable. I stared down at my feet as I weighed at the thought of speaking first.

My head raised as the door of the living room opened. Ryland walked through it, and started the conversation himself, as I slightly expected him to do.

"What happened, Kimberly?" he sat in the chair next to mine, glaring at me.

I chose not to answer him. Instead, I looked at my father, whose eyes were already on me.

"How could you be so stupid, Kimberly?" Ryland asked, his words painful. "Now, you're suspended for a damn week."

"This is really none of your concern, Ryland," Teresa cut in, to my surprise.

I trailed my shaky fingertips across my silverware, before placing it back down. It was quiet again, before I interrupted it.

"Dad, I don't know what got into me..." I trailed off into my lie. I knew exactly what happened; I reached my limit and snapped.

Still, he said nothing.

Finally, I could no longer take the anticipation of the punishment. "Just yell at me, scold me, do something."

"The food is amazing, dear," dad bypassed my words, and acknowledged Teresa instead.

I was sure I sounded insane, begging for my father's punishment. But, I could no longer handle the awkward tension in the room, awaiting for my dad's scolding.

Neither of them knew of the bullying, but I did let them know that Amber had been tormenting me ever since I started at that school. They claimed that I should have been the better person, which nearly sent me into heart palpitations. How the hell do you be the bigger person when you're constantly getting pushed over? I didn't feel an ounce of regret for what I did, and if I had the opportunity, I'd do it again, gladly.

"Dad?" I said as he took a sip of his water.

This time, he got the message. He placed his glass down, clasping his hands together before looking into my eyes.

I frowned. "Why aren't you yelling, or something? I know Mr. Collision told you, so why aren't you saying anything?" I questioned, my words desperate.

I gulped as he stood up. "I'm not angry, Kimberly, just disappointed." With a shake of his head, his brown eyes wandered over me once more, before he turned and walked into his bedroom.

"He's not alone," Ryland said, raking a hand through his blonde hair as he leaned back into the chair. 

I shut my eyes, wishing that this was a dream. My dads' words hurt as well as Ryland's, even though I knew it was coming. To hear of his disappointment hurt far worse than any punishment he could have given.

"I have work to do," I mumbled, pushing away the plate of food.

I could feel Ryland's, and Teresa's eyes on my back as I walked away. Before I could stop it from happening, the tear of anger skidded down my cheek.

***

The sound of a soft knock on my door drew my attention from my work. "Come in," I called out, voice scratchy from the lack of talking.

Teresa stepped into my room, a gentle smile on her face. "I brought you something to eat." It was then that I noticed the plate she held with a burger, and French fries as a side.

I shook my head, and looked back down at the piece of paper in front of me. "I'm not hungry," I muttered.

"Sure, you aren't," she smiled, setting the plate down.

I shrugged my shoulders, attempting to end the conversation. I couldn't find a reason for her being here, but either way, I never wanted to be with her when it wasn't needed.

"I'm sorry...about what your father said. Ryland was in the wrong, too. They're usually not like that—" she started before I cut her off.

Agitation gnawed at me. "How would you know of all people? You haven't even been around either of them enough to know their favorite colors," I snapped at her.

She looked taken aback by my response. I sighed, rubbing my hands across the fabric of my clothes before looking in her eyes.

"Sorry," I apologized.

I wasn't truly sorry. I just didn't want dad to be angrier than he already was, and I knew that Teresa might go running to him if I went too far.

"Oh," Teresa smiled, smoothing down her baby blue dress. "It's alright, I deserved it."

I couldn't argue with that.

"Can I sit?" she questioned, nodding at my bed.

I motioned toward my bed, scooting my things out of the way. I watched her as she occupied the empty spot.

"Look at what I got back," she smiled, before placing my phone on the bed.

I blinked at it in shock before picking it up. "Thanks," I mumbled.

"I know that there's a lot of tension between us...and I sincerely apologize for that. And, I am sorry for causing your outburst at that young man's home," she began.

"His name is Kade," I corrected.

She nodded her head, before continuing,"Well, I just wanted to make it up to you. This was your house before it was mine...and it would be wrong of me to try and change that." Her nude lips stretched in a tiny smile.

I didn't return the smile just yet. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that you and I could go and just have a girls day. You could bring a friend if that would make you more comfortable. How does a day getting our nails done, and a movie sound?" I raised an eyebrow as she placed a hand on my knee.

"Expensive," I started. "I don't know that we can fit that into our budget. Plus, I don't think my dad would like me going out while I'm suspended." Even if I were lying, I wasn't sure that I wanted to go with her, either way.

She waved me off, smiling. "Don't you worry about that. In fact, I was hired to a job before I came here. By chance, the opening was still open, and they said I start next Monday. And, just leave your dad to me."

"That's good," I mumbled, staring at my crossed legs.

At my hesitation, she spoke again,"Listen, Kimberly. I want to make this work, and I understand that you are angry, and you have every right to be. You were an innocent child, and I should have remembered that. I know that I'm not your mother, but I just wanted you to know that I'm here, and that's what matters. I got clean for a reason, Kimberly."

I raised my eyes to her. She was right, she wasn't my mother. She never would be. But, she was Ryland's. I knew that I would have to deal with her for a while, so I guessed that I could give her a chance. Even if I didn't like it, I would pretend to if it kept my family happy.

"Alright," I attempted a smile. "I'll go, but my friend, Raven will probably come along, if that's alright."

"It's perfect," her smile radiated the room. "Thank you, Kimberly."

***

"What have you gotten me into?" Raven mumbled into the phone.

"You won't be the only one to suffer," I responded.

I could hear her sigh through the other line of the phone. "You're lucky I owe you for the party night, babe."

"You'd do it for me regardless," I smiled even though she couldn't see it. "You love me too much."

I heard shuffling through the other line, before her mother's voice blurred through. More ruffling sounded out, then Raven spoke, again.

"I'll call you later, babe; mom's taking me out for Indian. When I get back, I'm expecting full details of Amber getting knocked off her high horse," she said, giggling afterwards. "I always knew you packed a hard ass punch; I heard gossip that you even broke her nose."

I laughed with her. I told Raven about the fight as soon as she called to check on me, even though I knew that she would definitely hear about it tomorrow. It would most likely be the most talked about subject of the school until another incident occurred. Maggie and Jax would soon be apart of the fray, as well.

Raven had ditched today, she claimed 'in honor' of me, but I knew better. She just wanted an excuse to sleep in.

I hadn't told her about the car ride with Kade, but I stopped using his name when I told her of him protecting me from Amber. It wasn't that I didn't trust her, because I truly did, but I felt that it would be better to keep what Kade and I had between us.

"Alright, babe, I'll see you later," I said to her. "Love you."

"I love you, darling," she attempted a British accent. "Bye, pretty girl."We both shared a laugh once more, before I ended the call. Luckily, she hadn't complained too much when I told her of the girls day we would both have with Teresa.

I swung my legs over the bed in a slumped form. I yawned as I thought over the upcoming work that would be performed today.

My dad had reached out to Uncle Dylan sometime last night. He told him of my suspension, and mentioned that I might as well work if I wouldn't attend school all week. I couldn't complain though, since it would keep me busy.

After I dressed, I left my room. Ryland, dad, and Teresa were all at the kitchen table, finishing up breakfast. I sighed as the men of the house acknowledged me with a casual eye glance.

"I'm ready, Ryland," I smiled at him.

He was upset with me, for the same stupid reason my dad was. I had gotten into trouble, but it wasn't like I went to jail. I understood that they were only looking out for me, but I didn't consider this the right way. Mentally, it was draining.

I watched as his eyes rose to meet mine, before he lowered them to his cereal. "I'm not." With that, he continued to finish up his breakfast. Painfully slow.

I sighed, tugging on my ponytail in a way of comfort. Teresa stood, passing me to make her way to the kitchen sink.

"Give them time," she whispered, patting my shoulder.

That's what I thought I was doing.

After a stretch of minutes, he placed the bowl in the sink. Without any acknowledgment, his jean housed legs strode past me.

"You'll have to call Raven or someone to pick you up later," he said to me after we both entered the car.

I frowned. "Why?"

"I have class," he said. "Something you wouldn't understand, right now," I heard him mutter.

I glared at my brother, shaking my head. "Is this some type of punishment?" I asked him as he backed out of our driveway.

My body fell smack against the passenger seat as he came to an abrupt stop. I swallowed the lump in my throat once I came in contact with my brother's grasslike eyes.

"Do you really think I would lie to you like you've been doing to me for the past few months?" his eyes squinted in accusation.

I sighed. It was far too early for this.

"Just forget it," I muttered.

Ryland and I were never like this. Shocked didn't come close to how I felt about this situation. We were introduced to one another when I was seven and he was eleven, and that was only from the rare weekends I had with my father. Ryland taught seven-year old me how to play Minecraft and how to build a blanket fort. We moved in with one another when I was fourteen and he was eighteen. We'd missed out on so many years with the other, that when I first met him, I didn't think it possible to form such a close bond. But, we had. We were the only true sibling the other had, and that bond was our defense mechanisms against the world. Me and him. That was how things were. But, I needed to remind myself.

We were no longer children.

***

"I still can't believe how grown you've gotten, Kimmy," My uncle grinned at me, the corner of his brown eyes crinkling.

I smiled in return. "I could say the same thing about you."

"With as long as he was gone, you would think he would have grown a baby inside of him," Celeste added, placing her husband's arm on her shoulders.

I watched as he craned his thick neck to her height. Their lips touched, and I looked away in discomfort.

Probably because you don't have it, Kimberly.

Shay was the first to notice my exhaustion. "I have this one, honey," she offered to me.

I smiled appreciatively. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, baby," she patted my hand before walking to the front of the diner to greet the customers.

I had thought that this would be easy. But, that was when I had only worked a couple of hours, not an entire day.

I leaned on my elbow, eyes shut in a moment of weakness. I sighed, knowing that this simple luxury would be over soon.

"Sitting down on the job?" a male voice interrupted my privacy.

I looked up into eyes that were in close comparison of the rarest of jewels.

Daniel smiled down at me, his head titling in greeting. "What's up?"

Immediately, Kades' words of warning came to mind. I didn't know if he was right about Daniel, but I refused to allow him to control who I associated with. But...he had warned me for a reason.

"Hey," I smiled in response.

"Can I sit, or will Ryder pop out of nowhere?" he joked.

I made a mental check: the only people that had brought up Kade by his last name usually didn't have good intentions. I usually heard it when it came to fighting, so he must have something to do with Kades' other life.

When I didn't laugh, Daniel's smile fell. He sat across from me atop one of the stools, his expression now serious.

"Are you alright?" he questioned, leaning forward. "I've been thinking about you since the party."

My eyebrow raised as I attempted to pull myself together. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you're around Kade," he smiled at me.

I smiled in response, though I didn't know what he meant by that. I knew now that I wouldn't get any answers if I didn't confront these things up front.

"Daniel?" I began.

He leaned on his elbow, his lips uplifting. "Yes?"

"Kade...told me something," I continued, cautious of my words.

Daniel nodded, though I saw the hesitation. "And, what did he tell you?"

"He told me that you were..." I paused to choose the right words, but then stopped myself. If I told him he was bad, then he sure as hell would get better at hiding that he was bad. "An old friend." I blamed my skepticism at Raven for forcing me to watch all of those true crime documentaries.

At this, Daniel's entire being transitioned. His nostrils flared, his eyes seemed to darken if that were even possible, and I saw his body go rigid. Before you could catch the change, his eyes shut. When he opened them, he looked to be back to normal. Check two, marked.

He nibbled on his bottom lip, nodding to himself. "It's okay, I know he probably lied and told you some bad shit about me, but...he's one to talk, trust me."

"What do you mean?" I asked, leaning in closer to him.

If this meant that I would get answers to unasked questions, then I would be all in for it. Obviously, these two had some type of history with one another. Whatever it was, I was slightly more sure that I trusted Kade to be true.

Daniel seemed to notice my interest. He smiled, before his hand took possession of mine across the table.

"Never mind, but if I were you, I wouldn't waste my time on the guy. A total angry stone, if you ask me. A loss of stone, at that...just try and stay away from him, yeah?" his lips were frowning by the end of his words.

My gaze shifted into a glare at his words; I didn't know why I'd grown so angry in such a short time, but to hear him talk about Kade like that lit something inside of me.

I shook my head, tightening my fingers around the wood. "He's not stone, or anything like it. And, I'm not really sure it's him I should be staying away from." For some reason, defending Kade came easy to my tongue as I spewed my words to Daniel, who looked taken aback.

He made a reach for my hand. "I didn't mean to upset—"

I yanked my hand back, biting into my lip as I shook my head. "It's best if you leave."

Daniels' eyes squinted at my reaction before he cleared his throat. "Listen," he stood up, handing a piece of paper to me. "I have to go, but you contact me if you need anything, you got it?"

I glared down at the paper before moving my gaze to his. I watched him as he slid either hand into a pocket, his blue eyes finding mine, again. "Don't forget what I said about him, Kimberly. I'm only trying to keep you safe, and well."

I nodded my head, though I knew I wouldn't listen. It seems I never did.

I expected him to walk away without another word, but he did the opposite. Instead, he leaned down, and planted a small kiss on my cheek so quickly, I barely caught it.

"No puedo esperar a verte de nuevo, chica bonita," he whispered into my reddened ear.