6: War of hearts

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(This might be a tough one, also TW for harsh language and mentions of abuse)

After the long day of shopping the teenage girl felt really tired, she hadn't slept that good last night and that was really beginning to show now. Her eyes were half open and she rested her head in her hands while she waited for dinner. She had offered to help set the table but Maya dismissed her offer and told the girl to just wait instead.

Maya had tried to reach out to the group home where Ryan and her brother Nicolas had stayed to get some information on where they could find her brother. Luckily there was a helpful person and told her where he was. It would be about a two hour drive to see him but Maya and Carina already knew that it would be worth it because they could almost see the pain in the teenager's eyes.

Ryan could feel herself slipping in and out of sleeping state, her face pressed against the palms of her hands while she rested her eyes a little bit. It just felt so nice to finally rest for a bit.

"Ryan" Carina called, making the girl almost jump out of her seat. "Awh sorry tesoro" Ryan rubbed her eyes before mumbling something.

"Here you go" Maya handed her a plate of food, along with a glass of water. "Thank you" Ryan smiled a little bit, beginning to eat her food.

"Ma-ma!" Joel squealed, upset that he hadn't received his food yet which earned a little laugh from Ryan.

Maya handed him a plate with some mushed food along with some pieces of mashed potatoes that she was certain that he would like, but also make a mess of.

"So, Ryan we were able to find out where your brother is staying. His foster placement guardians agreed on that we could meet them tomorrow, if that's something you would like?" Carina spoke, watching how Ryan's eyes widened and she smiled,

"Yes, please, can we?" She pleaded.

"Of course, we'll meet them before lunch tomorrow" Carina nodded, happy that she got to see Ryan a little excited.

"Oh bambino, you are going to need a bath again tonight" Carina laughed, seeing their son once again with food all over his face.

"Come on, I'll give you a bath bubbs" Maya put her plate away before picking Joel up from his seat and then making their way to the bathroom.

"D-do I have to eat it all?" Ryan asked, already feeling full form eating just a little more than half of the food. She knew that she would get a stomach ache if she forced herself to eat more but she also did not want to come across as rude for not finishing the food.

"No, here let me have it, I'll put it in the dishwasher" The Italian said gently, beginning to do the dishes.

Ryan went up to the room, changing in to her navy blue pajamas and then brushing her teeth. She felt a little bit cold so she brought the blanket downstairs, finding Carina and Maya on the couch.

"Come sit, Ryan, Maya and I were just going to watch a movie" Carina suggested, patting the space right next to her. Ryan went to the couch and sat down just a little but if space between her and Carina.

When the movie had finished, Ryan went to the room and laid down in bed after she had brushed her teeth. She felt happy about seeing her brother tomorow, she just hoped that he had a good foster parents that took care of him.

Now that Joel had been left off at Maya's friends house, the two women and girl waited by the park just like they had decided. Ryan had this weird feeling in her stomach, not a good one. Just as they approached the three people sitting on the bench, Ryan spotted someone she did not expect to see.

"Nonna?" Ryan questioned, giving her Little brother a big hug.

"Oh Ryan" Her grandma sighed.

"W-What, I thought-" The girl was stunned, she didn't know what was happening and at some Point Carina and Maya noticed that too so they stood a Little bit closer to the girl.

"Your grandpa and I are keeping Nicolas with us" Ryan's grandma, Sofia, said.

"B-but what about me? Why can't i stay with you?" Ryan's anxiety began bubbling up and all she really wanted right now was her mom. She felt completely overwhelmed.

"You are very different, Ryan" Sofia began. "When you were a little girl you never wanted anyone to cuddle or hug you. You never played with toys like other kids. You are a very sensitive Bambina and your tendency to get overwhelmed and frustrated is a lot of work" she continued.

"When you were young, your mother new her tricks but when we took care of you and your little brother it was always so difficult. You were always so difficult. You couldn't handle your clothes, you couldn't eat our food, you didn't want to play" the list went on and on and it was like she just tried to make Ryan's heart shrink.

"We never had a bond you and I, and you never ever let your grandpa hug you. We didn't even know your favorite color" Sofia sighed.

"I was just o-overwhelmed" Ryan stuttered, looking down at the ground, suddenly feeling very small and uncomfortable.

"That is why everything was so much easier with Nicolas, you understand why we let him stay with us right? You can come see him whenever you would like to sweetheart" Sofia smiled, reaching out to hug the teenager.

Ryan pulled away, refusing the hug.

She felt betrayed.

Betrayed by her own family.

She knew that she was not the most easy kid but she had gotten better, she tried and she tried. She shut every feeling inside of her because she could tell that every one around her was annoyed by her.

"I- I don't want- want you to touch me" she shook her head. "You don't like me" Ryan's eyes were fixated on the ground. "Y-you hurt me" memories came flooding back. "When I was- was little you hurt me"

"Come on Ryan, it was only to make you know what was normal and not. We wanted you to fit in, not be like that" Ricardo stopped himself. "Difficult and not normal"

"That's enough" Maya had had enough from these to older people. She couldn't stand to hear another one of their opinions.

"Sissy" Nicolas reached for his sister but was pulled back by his grandfather.

"Tesoro, come one let's go to the car" Carina herself had tears in her eyes, she couldn't understand how anyone could be so cruel to their own family.

"If you walk away now, don't even think about seeing your brother again" her grandfather spat out once Carina and Ryan had started walking towards the car.

"I suggest that you keep your mouth shut, you've already said enough" Maya spoke, then moving to catch up with her wife and Ryan.

Ryan had now gotten quiet. When they arrived back at the apartment she went straight to the room, pulled the blanket over her body for comfort.

She remembered when her mother used to tell her that her brain is very brilliant, sure she did things differently but that did not mean that she wasn't as smart as the other kids. It simply meant that she learned, played and acted in other ways as the other kids.

"I don't understand how they could say that to her. She's perfect" Maya spoke, sitting down on the couch with her wife.

"I think that the little Bambina has learned to hide it pretty well, it does not seem that her family was very accepting of her and I think that she believes everything they say about her, which makes it even worse" Carina said, feeling sorry for Ryan.

"She's devastated, what are we going to do?" Maya sighed, all she wanted was to take her pain away.

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