I really don't need a dad!

Chapter 6

T.J

My mom left for her honeymoon yesterday. She sent me a couple of pictures of the hotel room she was staying in and couldn't stop gushing about how Aiden had them decorate the room with roses. It was around seven in the morning, I had just woke up and looked like death. I slept in my makeup and with my luck it was smeared all over my face. I decided to take an everything shower since my mom wasn't home.

*roughly an hour later*

I came out of the bathroom after finishing up post shower routine and checked my phone. I had gotten a couple texts from Ash. They were a bunch of texts reminding me to eat something for breakfast. As much as I appreciate the reminders eating makes me want to rip the skin off my body. Though I think Ash can read my mind because as soon as I ignored his texts he called me.

T.J: hey ash honey

Ashton: don't hey me, eat something I want to see it. At least one of those gross smoothies things.

T.J: You know I'll throw it up so why does it matter. 

Ashton: One meal. All food groups or I'm telling your mother.

I sat in silence for a minute.

T.J: fine, one meal today.

Ashton: thank you, will I be seeing you at work today?

T.J: No not today, I was planning to take it easy this week. Plus it's not like there is a shortage of girls

[They continued talking for a bit until T.J heard a knock on the door. She hung up and put on a sweater and some flare leggings (yes i have to specify). Her hair was still damp and she ran to the door.]

I was confused since i didn't recall ordering anything online, I opened the door and froze in shock. There were 5 large men and then the little sweetheart Julie. How lovely. "hello" I said in a low voice unsure what else to say.  "Can we come in? There is something we need to talk about as step siblings" Axel said. I looked at him then quickly glanced over to the set of brothers who  looked like they wanted to kill me then locked eyes with Bryce. "Sure, uh come in" I opened the door wider letting all of them inside. Julie gave me a small side hug before sitting next to what looked like the boy version of her. I thought for a minute then realized that he was probably her twin Jaxon.  

They all squished next to each other on the couch and I pulled up a chair from the dining table to sit on. "So what did you guy want to talk about?" I asked meekly. All their eyes were glued to my face and I started pulling my sleeves down unconsciously. "We uh we wanted to apologize for last time. When we stood up you and your mom for that meal after the wedding" Axel voiced after an uncomfortable pause. "Oh it's okay it was your dad that was more upset about it" I said with a dry laugh trying to lighten the mood. Silence fell over the room once more, you could hear the clock ticking and everyone's breathing. Then i heard it. The breathing, it was getting heavier. Just ever so slightly but noticeable. I locked eyes with the once it was coming from. I have a pepper spray in my pocket but I wish I was facing the kitchen. Maybe I could have grabbed a knife.

Almost like clockwork the breathing stopped and the man rose to his feet. He had softer facial features than his older brothers 'takes after his mother' was what i was thinking. His hair was a dirty blond and fell straight. He had a mole below his mouth and a nose ring.

I flinched when he stood but he turned to his siblings "Alright we did this now can we leave" he bellowed out. Axel stood up now "Ezra control yourself". So if this one was Ezra that means Elijah (mole on cheek) was the other one. I stayed seated while the two brothers went on about each other being hot headed. Bryce was on his phone unbothered and Julie and Jaxon were trying to break up their fight.  Elijah had his hazel eyes glued to me, as if he was reading my every move.

"Just because of that slut we have to go to these extents" Ezra yelled finally before making eye contact with me. I stood up, I think he stood around 5'10. He was thinner than his older brothers but men's strength usually go beyond what you see. Bryce got up in a second after he said that and got in Ezra's face. They were all yelling at each other. Endless screaming. I walked down the hall to my room and locked the door. I could still hear them yelling at each other, it was ringing in my head. I grabbed the trash can in my room and threw up. 'I still can't do loud sounds'.

Elijah

'This is exactly why I said we should've left Ezra at home' I thought to myself. He was already raising a fuss in the car about how this was a waste of time and how we should just lie that we met her. I watched the scene unfold. All my brothers getting in each others faces while Juju and Jaxon tried pulling them apart. I looked at the apartment, it was pretty small. I guess you don't need much space for two women living together. After the bickering still went on I rose to my feet. "Alright shall we head out?" I said as my siblings just stared back at me blankly. Their eyes quickly looked at the chair, now empty, where T.J was sitting. "Where did she go?" Julie asked as she looked around "She got up around five minutes ago, looked like she was nauseous" I said. "Just great now we have more to apologize for" Axel said sighing heavily. Ezra was looking at the ground probably regretting his mistakes by now. 

He looked up at me with pleading eyes wanting me to somehow find a solution to his blow-up. We stood in silence for a minute, "Does anyone want to go fetch T.J from the room down the hall?". Everyone looked at the floor, cowards. I started walking down the hall until we heard the door open. It was a man; looked about 6 foot tall, blond bleached hair, pale skin, built fairly well and he was wearing baggy sweats. 'looks like Ezra's type' I looked over to him and he was all red. Unfortunately the man gave us a cold glare.

We all stood stuck in our places and looked back at the man. "Ashton? right?" Axel voiced after a pause. Ashton nodded before saying "I think the lot of you have over stayed your welcome, why don't you show yourselves out". He had an expressionless face while holding the door open with one hand. I started heading towards the door till Bryce opened his fat mouth "Sorry we still have unfinished business with T.J, so unfortunately we can't leave just yet" he said while glaring at Ezra. Ashton went down the hall and we heard doors open and close. After a couple seconds T.J came out. Her face looked tired but her eyes watched us carefully. 

"what's wrong?" she asked slowly and Bryce pushed Ezra forward. "I'm sorry for throwing a fit and calling you names" Ezra said quickly. "It's cool, are we good now?" she said while staring him straight in the face. Ezra just nodded back looking defeated, he should know by now that nothing was going to change our parents decision and we just had to be cordial with each other.  "Thank you for hearing us out, we'll get out your way now" Axel said as he moved towards the door. "no problem, thank you for coming out of your way for this" she responded with a smile. 

Bryce

"Well that was fucking embarrassing" I said once we all sat in the car. We were waiting for Julie to come down, she stayed back to chat with T.J. Axel just sighed and looked down "you know you're actually so lucky that she isn't a snitch, one phone call to dad about what happened would make him fly back to put you in your place". Ezra stared at Axel, turning red with anger "but you don't know whether she's a snitch or not". Everyone let out a sigh at that statement. 'How can someone be so clueless' she could have threatened to tell our parents right then and there.

Julie opened the car door and climbed inside, a smile stretched across her face. The smell of chocolate and frosting filled the car. "what's that?" Elijah asked while staring at the small box on Julie's lap. It was a small cake box with a small bow on top and messy drawings all around it. "It's her triple layer chocolate cake, she sent me a picture yesterday. It's a good thing we stopped by today before she gave it to Ashton" she said smiling "you guys have been talking, Ju?" Ezra asked with his eyes wide. "Well Bryce and Ax also keep in touch with her, we have her number and stuff" Julie said while staring at her phone. Ezra cocked his head towards me with accusing eyes, I just glared back at him.

Ezra

I was in utter disbelief there was no way they're all just pretending this is ok. If Bryce wasn't in the car I would actually say something but after he got in my face like that I know i shouldn't push my luck.

[They drive home, it was quiet since most of them are on their phones]