Staceys pov
After meeting Rachel for the first time in years, I was shocked, to say the least.
She was beautiful, had a boyfriend, best friend, and clearly wasn't afraid to talk her mind. It seemed she was living a good life from the outside, but you could easily tell she wasn't if you looked closely.
When she said we weren't her siblings, that hurt. A lot. It's my own fault though. I left her, we all left her, and now we're paying the price.
She's definetly not the quiet little girl we left behind, she's strong, bold and opinionated now. She has a lot of anger towards us which is very clear.
Getting her to trust us again is going to be hard work.
Looking around the apartment, it looks so run down. The place is freezing, there's alcohol bottles everywhere and there is no food at all, which worries me.
It looks like somewhere that's being used as a drug den or something like that, not a home.
The thought of Rachel living in a place like this worries me.
☆ ☆ ☆
We head out to get something to eat and update the others on the situation.
We head to the local diner and get a booth. Ethan calls Allie and the twins. I call Caleb, Hayley, and Luke.
We update them on what Rachel's like and how she hates us. We tell them about the apartment and how run down it is.
Our food arrives, and I look up to see its Rachel who's serving us. I couldn't believe it. Why is she working here in the diner? She's only 16, what does she need to be working for?
When I ask her she replies saying" How else are bills gonna be paid" and practically runs away from us.
Why would she be paying the bills? What bills is a 16 year old paying? I'm really confused
By the look on Ethan's face, he's clearly confused too.
" What does she mean how else will the bills get paid?" I ask him confused
" I'm not sure stace, but there's definitely more going on than we know about" Ethan tells me. I agree with him, there definetly is something going on, maybe it's something with mom. I hope not
Rachel never comes back to the table, she must have switched sections to get away from us. We finish our food, pay and leave.
We were going to stay with Rachel and Mom at the apartment, but im not sure now if that's a good idea. But all the hotels are probably full by now and I don't want to sleep in the car again.
It's like Ethan can read my mind when he says
"I don't think it's a good idea to stay there either, but we've no other choice."
" Yeah, I guess. I wonder when she's done work" I hope she's not working late shifts.
" Come on, maybe we'll get to talk to mom anyway" Ethan starts the car waiting for me to get in. We drive to the apartment we used to call "home".
When we arrive, we grab our bags and head upstairs to the apartment. It seems as though someone is there as the lights are on. I knock on the door, not wanting to just barge in if someone is there.
" Mom!" Ethan and I both say at the same time, a bit shocked to see our mother.
" What do you 2 want?" Mom bites out at us.
Her tone shocks me a bit. Is this how she talks to Rachel? Surely not, right?
" We came to check on things, and see you and Rachel. It's been a while" I explain to her, as Ethan is starting to lose his calm from her glares at us.
" Where is that useless waste of a sister of yours, she has my medicine" The way mom talks about Rachel angers me. How could a mother say that about their daughter? How could mom say that about Rachel?
Maybe mom and Rachel don't get along. Oh and what does she mean about " medicine". What medicine does mom need and why is Rachel getting it? Im so confused right now.
" Wait, what medicine do you need and why is Rachel getting it? Can't you get it urself?" Ethan asks her as if he's reading my mind.
" It's none of your business what I take. I'm rachels mother she does as I say and that's it." Mother barks back starting to get angry.
" OK why don't we all go inside, sit on the couch and talk" i suggest, trying to break some of the tension.
" Whatever" mom replies walking inside. Ethan looks really angry at what mom said and how's she's acting. I get we left her too, and that's probably why she's so mad right?
We walk inside to the familiar apartment and make our way to the couch and sit down. I notice the lack of photos and decor in the apartment. The apartment looks like no one lives here. It certainly doesn't look like a home, not a good one anyway
Rachel walks in just as mom sits down. Rachel looks exhausted, but when she sees us a look of anger takes over her face.
"What the fuck are they doing here?" She asks mom, confused as to why were here.
" I don't know and don't care, now did you get my stuff?" Mom asks her, forgetting that we're still here.
What stuff us Rachel buying for mom?
" Yeah I did, here" Rachel hands her a small black plastic bag. I can't see what's inside but it doesn't look like medication anyway, that's for sure.
" What's that Rach?" Ethan asks her, also wondering what's it the bag.
" Firstly, it's none of your business. Secondly, don't call me Rach, ever" Rachel spits out at him, her anger rising even higher
" We always called you Rach, what's your problem with it?" I ask confused as to why we can't call her Rach anymore
" That was when we were still 'family', and when yous where still here, now you're dead to me. Only my friends call me Rach. No one else" I sigh. Getting her to talk to us is going to be a lot harder than I thought.
" I'm leaving, im not staying for a family reunion" Rachel turns around to leave heading for the door. Ethan and i jump up to stop her.
" It's 10.30pm, where are you going?" I ask
" Why do you care, I haven't seen or heard from yous in over 10 years and now yous want to play 'happy family', yeah I don't thinks so. That's not how this works." Clearly Rachel is going to be difficult with us all of the time.
" I don't care Rachel your not going anywhere this late at night" Ethan tells her mad.
Rachel pushes past him and opens the door " Your not my parent or my brother, you can't tell me what to do. Not now or ever, you gave up that right when you left me" Then she leaves and we don't even move to stop her.
Her words stung like a bitch. It's like having a deep cut and pouring alcohol on it. That sting, so painful.
Judging by the look on Ethan's face, he's feeling that pain too.
Mom just smirks at us. " Why didn't you stop her, you're her mother." Ethan is furious, but I don't think it's at mom. I think it's at himself. He's always regretted not bringing Rachel with him when he left. We all have, but Ethan especially.
" That girl's useless. What's the point in stopping her?, maybe I'll get lucky and something will happen her" Mom laughs to herself. How could she say that about Rachel. She's definitely changed since we left.
" What the fuck is wrong with you?, your a sick woman. Rachel is your daughter" Ethan looks like he's about to explode with anger at mom.
" Whatever, what are you still doing here anyway?" Mom clearly couldn't care less about
Rachel.
" We're staying here tonight"
" if that's ok?" I add.
" Well your not staying in my room. You can have the couch or Rachels room" Thank god we can stay here. I did not want to sleep in the car again.
" Thank you" Ethan and I reply at the same time.
I wonder if Rachel will come back tonight. I hope so, I don't like the idea of her being out all night. Especially not in this area.
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄
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Teen FictionRachel has a tough life. Her father left her when she was younger. Her mother hates her, says she's useless and a waste of a girl. Her siblings all left her, in the space of 5 years her 6 siblings left, the first one when she was only 5 years old. ...
