Off the Island

Never Cared

Flashback
Clays POV
"Are you sure you're ready to go?" Hazel asked. I looked out on my new team. All the other bandits have already left. Its just me and Hazel now. Our new team is ready to be on their own. "Yeah. I guess so. Im kinda nervous." I admitted. "I feel you there. Come on Clay. Its time to go." She held out her hand to me. I took a deep breath. "Yeah. Lets go." I took her hand.

After Hazel and I got off the island, and cashed out our accounts, we werent sure where to go. Finding a place to stay wasn't so hard. Noah and Farrah were happy to help us with that. "What am I supposed to do now? Things were so much easier on the island." I said. Noah shrugged. "You like surfing right? Go do that." He suggested. "I thought about that, but I still feel really awkward about just being here! I mean... I dont have the best memories." I looked down. "Ohh, I see. You need to talk to your parents." He said. "Excuse me?!" I shrieked. "The only way you can start to live comfortably here, is if you tie up those loose ends." He said. "Have you done that?" I asked nervously. "Not yet. Farrah and I were waiting for Hazel to come home so we can take our parents to court." He said. "Oh! ...oh" I huffed. "Go see them. Itll make you feel so much better." He said. I sighed. "Ok." I agreed.

I wasnt too sure about seeing my family, so I went to the beach to clear my head. Hazel, Farrah, and Noah left to get a lawyer a few hours ago so Im on my own. I've been surfing for hours, just trying to clear my head. The only reason I had to stop is so I could reapply my sunblock. I heard a lot of laughing and looked over. A group of kids, who look to be around seventeen, are playing around with a football. The ball shot right at my head and I quickly used my surf board to block it. I put the board down and bent down to pick up the ball. One of the guys ran over to me. "Sorry about the ball! Hey! Weren't you the guy surfing out there? You're really good." He said. I handed him the ball. "Thanks." I smiled. I took a good look at him as he turned away from me. "Justin?" I asked. He stopped and turned to look at me confused. "How do you know my name?" He asked. I exhaled in shock. "My names Clay. Its been a while." I said. Justins eyes widened. "Clay... you're my brother?" He asked. "Yep. Your totally adopted brother." I huffed. He dropped the ball in horror and ran away. "What the-? Justin!" I yelled. He just kept running in fear. "What did they tell him?" I asked myself. His friends ran after him, but one of the girls ran over to me. She looked younger than everyone else. Probably sixteen. "What did you say to him?!" She shrieked. I recognized her too. "Hey Christy." I said. Her eyes widened. "Clay?!" She yelled. "At least you recognized me." I huffed. She smiled and jumped on me. She hugged me tightly. "I missed you so much!" She squealed. I hugged her back and put her down. "What's wrong with Justin?" I asked. "Oh... well... when you dissapeared, mom told everyone you got taken to juvie. She... disgraced you. She tried her hardest to make us all believe her, but I couldnt. I know you, Clay. I know you would never do anything like that." She said. I smiled at her. "You've grown since I last saw you. Looking good." I complimented. She smiled. "Thanks. Where have you been?" She asked. "Teen Island. Now that Im twenty, they kicked me out. So my girl and I came home together." I said. "Girlfriend huh? Cool." She said. "My friends say I need to make good with my family. At least Ive got you." I said. She crossed her arms. "Ill see what I can do for you. Im sure dad will be happy. In the mean time, I gotta go stop the track team from running down the whole beach." She huffed. "You run track?" I asked shocked. "Im the captain!" She ran off.

Christy convinced mom and dad to see me. I dont know how she got them in the same room. None of my other siblings know Im here though. They've all graduated already and some of them have moved away. I knocked on my parents door and Christy opened it for me. "Hey! Come on." She led me inside. We walked to the living room where my parents were waiting. "Wow. You're alive." Mom said. I growled under my breath. Christy patted my shoulder and walked to her room. "Yes. I am." I huffed. "So, Teen Island huh? You actually learn anything there?" Dad asked, with a smile. "You'd be surprised. Did you really tell people I was sent to juvie? First Im adopted, then Im crazy, and now Im a criminal?!" I exclaimed. "What else was I supposed to say?!" Mom yelled. "That I went missing?! That I was kidnapped?! Did you even try to find me?" I asked. She went silent. "You didnt. Let me ask you this. Did you ever care about me? At all?" I asked. "Of course we did!" Mom said. "Not enough clearly!" I snapped. "Enough!" We heard. Christy stormed back into the room. "Stop lying to him! You never cared! The second he went missing, you converted his room to a storage closet! You trashed all his stuff and told us to forget him! You were happy he was gone!" She yelled. Mom was taken back. "Thank you Christy" I said genuinely. She turned to me and smiled. "I always looked up to you Clay. Even when they were horrible to you, you remained strong. I for one am glad to have you back." She admitted. I smiled and we hugged. "Clay?" Dad asked. I looked over at him. "Im so sorry for everything. I know it may not mean much to you now, but Im proud to have you as my son." He said. I smiled. "It means everything dad." I assured him. He walked to me and I hugged him.

"How was your day?" I asked Hazel. "Tiring. Traumatic. Brought back some very painful memories." She sighed. I opened my arms and she crawled over the bed to sit with me. "Im sorry babe. I wish I was there with you. I can go tomorrow for sure." I assured her. "Its ok. Your family is important too. Speaking of, howd it go?" She asked. I sighed heavily. "It was a lost cause. My mom is still ashamed of me, and she convinced all my siblings that I was sent to juvie. They're all scared of me now. Except my youngest sister Christy. She still cares about me, so I guess Im lucky to still have her, and my dad." I said. "Thats good. Im sorry about your mom." She said. I shrugged. "Its ok. Noah was right. It was relieving to see them again." I said. Hazel smiled and kissed my cheek. "Its time for bed. Come on." She got off me laid down. I laid down beside her and we went to sleep.

I introduced Christy to Hazel. They got along pretty well. Later though, we got a knock on the door. I answered it and raised an eyebrow at the strangers. "Can I help you?" I asked. It was an adult couple. "Im sorry. Does Hazel North live here?" They asked. "Hazel!" I called. She came to the door and was stunned. "Mr and Mrs. Dune?" She asked. My eyes widened as I realized these were Emmas parents. "We just wanted to apologize for everything that happened to you. We couldn't believe it when we heard about it." Mrs. Dune said. "Thank you. Im sorry about Emma and Darrel. I heard about them going missing." Hazel said. I raised an eyebrow at Hazel and she sent me a quick look so Id shut up. "Thats another reason we're here. We heard you were sent to Teen Island with your brother. Since he and Darrel dissapeared at the same time, I was wondering if maybe you saw him or Emma on the island?" Mr. Dune asked. I glanced to the side. Hazel took a deep breath. "No. Im sorry. I didnt see them on the island." She lied. They sighed. "Thats ok. We're glad to see you're alright. You have a good day Hazel." They said. "You too." Hazel shut the door as they walked away. "Why would you do that?" I asked confused. "If Emma hasnt already gone to see them, then I cant be the one to tell them she's here in Florida. She has to do it herself." Hazel said. "And what if she doesnt?" I asked. Hazel sighed. "Lets hope she does. Or else, its gonna take a tole on her forever." She shrugged.

End of Flashback