Dangerously Beautiful Scars

16. family bonding

"Ready to go, everyone?" Angelo asked, gathering the siblings for a rare family bonding outing.

"Yeah, everyone except Alexander," Austin replied, descending the stairs in casual attire.

"Why?" Greyson asked, his tone tinged with disappointment. It had been ages since they last had a family activity.

"He said he had some appointments," Austin explained.

"But he asked me to clear his schedule for today, and I did," Callum said, entering the room with Xander and Xavier in tow.

"So he lied to us?" Xavier questioned aloud, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"What do you say we spy on him?" Xavier suggested, and Xander and Angelo quickly agreed, their eyes lighting up with mischief.

"You guys are going to be in serious trouble if you get caught," Eva warned, not looking up from her phone.

"No, we won't—because you'll be involved too," Xander said with a smirk.

"That little sh—" Eva started, but Austin's stern look cut her off.

"Guys, we should respect his privacy," Austin said firmly. Despite their groans, everyone reluctantly agreed, realizing Eva had a point.

"How about we check out that new amusement park? I heard the haunted house there is pretty great," Callum suggested, quickly lightening the mood.

With a chorus of agreement, they set off for the park, their earlier mischief forgotten as excitement took over.

The afternoon sun bathed the amusement park in a warm, golden glow as the siblings made their way through the entrance, their laughter mingling with the excited chatter of the crowd. The air was thick with the scent of popcorn and cotton candy, and the distant sounds of roller coasters whooshing through the air added a thrilling energy to the atmosphere.

Austin, with his ever-calm demeanor, led the group toward the first ride, a towering Ferris wheel. "We should start slow," he suggested, eyeing Callum with a grin. Callum, usually the serious one, gave a rare chuckle. "Why not? Let's see the view from up there."

Greyson hung back a little, hands in his pockets, observing the lively scene with his usual quiet presence. But even he couldn't hide the small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he saw Xavier bouncing around, trying to convince Xander to join him on the bumper cars.

"You know you want to, Xander!" Xavier teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief. Xander, who had been steadily working on controlling his temper, rolled his eyes but couldn't resist the infectious energy of his younger brother. "Fine, but don't cry when I win," he retorted, earning a laugh from Angelo, who had been watching the exchange with amusement.

Angelo, now towering over most of his siblings, was eager to try out the more thrilling rides. "I'll take on the roller coasters with anyone who's brave enough!" he declared, puffing out his chest in mock seriousness. Eva, standing nearby, smirked. "You're on, little prince," she challenged, using the nickname that always made Angelo grin despite his tough exterior.

They all scattered across the park, trying out different rides and games. Callum and Austin paired up to take on the haunted house, their usual roles reversed as Austin playfully tried to spook Callum at every turn. Greyson, meanwhile, found himself drawn to the quieter attractions, enjoying a leisurely carousel ride and watching the others from afar, content in the knowledge that they were all having fun.

Xavier, true to form, managed to drag nearly everyone into a prank war, this time involving water guns from a carnival game booth. The siblings, drenched and laughing, took turns chasing each other around, with Xander surprisingly joining in, his usually stern face lit up with a rare, genuine smile.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange, they gathered at a food stall, sharing giant pretzels and soft drinks. The mood was light, everyone basking in the easy camaraderie that had defined their day together.

"I wish Alexzander could've joined us," Angelo mused, wiping some sugar from his lips. "He would've loved the Ferris wheel."

Xavier, ever the optimist, grinned. "We'll just have to drag him along next time. He can't say no forever."

Angelo nodded, still full of energy despite the day's activities. "Next time, I'll get him on the roller coasters. Just wait."

As they made their way toward the exit, the siblings walked in a loose line, shoulders brushing, laughing and talking about their favorite moments of the day. They might have been involved in a world filled with danger and responsibility, but today, they were just a family, enjoying each other's company and creating memories that would last long after the day was over.