Instantly Ryan's mind went to a hundred different places at once. Just by the word rules she was feeling out because what if she had already broken one? What are they going to expect from her?
"It's nothing bad, it is just to keep you safe" Maya reassured her.
"For me the most important thing is that whenever you go somewhere, I want you to send us a text to tell me where you are or if you are okay. Also to if you feel like there is something bothering you, please come to us" Carina spoke, only wanting the girl to feel safe and to trust them.
"And also that you go to school, we don't expect straight A's, we just want you to do your best" Maya added.
"Okay, I can do that" she nodded, confirming.
When Joel began to fall asleep on Ryan's lap, Carina went to go grab him and place him in his crib so he could nap for a little while. Maya stayed with Ryan on the couch.
"What do you say about taking a trip to get you some more personal stuff, your own shampoos and clothes and so on" Maya suggested, wanting the girl to really feel like this was her home too.
"Please I don't need anything, I have my stuff from my backpack" The teenager insisted.
"Sweetheart, that's just a change of clothes, you need more than that" Maya told Ryan.
"I don't want you to buy me stuff" Ryan began to get a little frustrated.
"Just because Carina and I are willing to buy you stuff, it doesn't have to mean anything for you, I'm not trying to take anyones place, I just want to buy you clothes" Maya explained.
Hesitantly Ryan agreed. "Alright, we can do it" she nodded, not wanting to break any of the rules or disobey what Hannah had told her.
So, After Joel was placed in his stroller, still sleeping, the two older women along with Ryan and the little baby started making their way to the mall. Since it wasn't longer than a ten minute walk, they opted on not taking the car.
"Let's go inside here first, what do you think, Ryan? Are you more of a dress kind of girl or do you like to wear jeans more?" Carina asked the girl, taking charge of the shopping.
"I'm not the dress kind of girl" Ryan replied nervously, not wanting to say the wrong thing.
"Ah okay, like Maya then" she nodded to herself, beginning to search for jeans and shirts to go along with it. "Let's take these, and these"
"Shh bubbas" Maya picked up the whining little boy from the stroller, settling him on her hip which seemed to make him calm.
"Go try them on" Carina encouraged.
Ryan made her way in to the changing room and deciding what she wanted to start with. While she did that, Maya and Carina stood outside of the changing rooms, Joel standing on Maya's lap with the help of Maya having her hands on his sides so he wouldn't fall.
It was the time around this age that babies usually started walking but since Joel was born prematurely, three weeks before his actual due date, his milestones had been significantly delayed comparing to other children. But neither of the woman were concerned about it yet, he would just need a little bit longer to develop strength.
"Ma-ma" the brown eyed boy babbled, giggling when his mamma started making funny faces.
"I've tried them now" Ryan announced, walking out of the changing room.
"Was there anything you liked?" Maya asked.
"Uh yeah" she nodded, handing Maya the clothes she thought fit well. "I liked these"
"Let's buy it then" Maya smiled, handing the boy to Carina so she could pay for the clothes. After she had done that, Joel was placed in the stroller again and they all started making their way out of the mall.
Ryan was deep in thought while she strolled down the street, beginning to cross the street before she was suddenly pulled back by a gentle tug on her arm.
"Ryan! You need to watch where you are going, you could've gotten hurt!" Maya raised her voice.
Ryan's eyes went wide, she felt a lump in her throat form and her anxiety began bubbling up. "Let go please" she pleaded, her voice breaking and tears filling up her eyes. "No, stop" Ryan spoke again when Maya tried to put her hand on her back.
The teenagers body felt like it was burning, she began to feel overwhelmed. She got so frightened.
"Ryan, Bambina, look at me please" Carina said gently, guiding Ryan over to the bench so they could sit down. Carina gestured for Maya to continue walking home because Ryan needed to calm down.
"Breath" The older Italian woman gently placed Ryan's hand in hers, drawing circles on the palm of her hand in the same pattern as she took deep breaths in and out.
"Relax" she continued with her movement on the teenagers hand until she could visually see that Ryan had calmed down.
The teenager pressed her hand to her chest, wincing.
"Does it hurt?" Carina asked gently.
"Mmhm, every time it gets like this, my chest hurts" Ryan admitted, feeling scared of opening up.
"Hm, why did you react that way when Maya grabbed your arm?" Carina asked, feeling like there was something that the girl was hiding from her. Because that big reaction from such a small thing did not seem normal.
"It hurt"
"Can you let me see your arm?"
Hesitantly Ryan reached to pull the sleeve of her shirt up and show her arm to Carina, which earned a gasp from the woman. "Honey, who did this to you?" She immediately asked.
"I don't know" She shrugged, hearing Hannah's voice in the back of her head, telling her to keep her mouth shut. "Please tell me, Ryan, I can tell that it is hurting you" Carina requested softly.
"Hannah did it" Ryan whispered, almost inaudible but yet still, Carina could hear her loud and clear. She felt her Italian temper bubbling up and even though she did not know this teenager all that well yet, she had sworn to protect her the minute she stepped her foot in to the Deluca household.
"Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me, you are very brave" Carina praised. "Was this a one time thing or did it happen on multiple occasions?" She asked, needing to know the details of every incident.
"It wasn't a one time thing" Ryan shook her head, looking up at Carina.
They continued to sit on the bench for a while, Carina still keeping Ryan's hand in hers because the teenager hadn't made a move to remove her hand.
"My brother was there too" Ryan shared.
"What happened to your brother? Maya and I were not informed that you had siblings" Carina stated, now wondering what that Hannah girl was doing.
"Nicolas got sent to another family, I don't know where he is, I don't know how to" Carina could feel her heart break for the girl, she herself knew how sad she was when she got separated from Andrea.
"Let Maya and I handle that, I'm sure we can get a hold of him so you can meet up" Carina reassured the girl. They began to head back to the apartment, strolling their way back.
"Ryan, I'm really sorry, I did not have the intention to make you scared" Maya apologized immediately, she felt bad.
"It's okay, I overreacted" Ryan said, accepting the hug when Maya opened her arms for her.
At first she was a little tense when they hugged but when she accepted it and laid her head on to Maya's shoulder she could feel all her worries being calmed down. Maya rubbed the teenagers back until she felt her beginning to let go.
"Thank you for the clothes, I really appreciate it"
——
A/N
Do you think they will find her brother? What do you think happened to him?
Hope you have a great day!
