Open Your Heart (Ben Bruce Fan Fic)

Stand Together

Song: The Word Alive - Like Father Like Son

Lila

 "Hey Lila!" Anna chirped when she picked up her phone. I blew out a sigh. I didn't know why she was suddenly trying to get close to me, but I guess it was coming in handy now, since the last thing I wanted was to go home or to Ben's place.

"Hey Anna. Can I come to your place. I need someone to talk to," I responded hopefully. I had never been in a situation like this were I just needed to get away from everyone in my normal everyday life.

"Of course, Lila. You're welcome here any time," she replied to my relief. I never thought I'd be happy to get to see my sister. When we were little she would terrorize me. She thought because she was four years older than me that she was allowed to make my life a living hell. When we were teenagers, she totally ignored me as often as she could. Now that we were adults, my parents favored her because she was much more successful. She had a good job. She was married to the perfect guy with two kids. I always had thought she believed she was too good for me. We just didn't have a good relationship.

As I drove along the road, my mind went back to when Anna had gotten married.

~Flashback~

I looked down at my food trying to block out everyone in the room. The banquet hall was filled with Anna and her husband, Michael's, friends and family. I hadn't wanted to come. I hadn't actually talked to my sister in years, but she suddenly insisted on me coming to her wedding. Even though she had wanted me here so badly, she hadn't even acknowledged my presence all day. I knew she was busy enjoying her special day, but it would have been nice if she could have stopped by and said hello. I didn't want a full fledged conversation. That would have actually been worse than her ignoring me. I hadn't even met her new husband even though she was my sister. The situation was just so awkward. Besides the friendly greeting, I wouldn't know what to say to her.

"Lila! That dress actually looks good on you," a familiar voice said from behind me. I turned my back to see my mom giving me a fake smile. I should have known it was her with a comment like that. I knew she had meant it to sound just as rude as it had.

"Anna looks really nice," I told her awkwardly. I chose just to ignore what my mom had said instead of making a scene at my sister's wedding. As weird as our relationship, she didn't deserve that. "She looks like she's having a great time," I added, glancing over at my sister.

"Of course she is, Lila. It's her wedding. She probably won't have the time to come over here to talk to you. It was really a waste of money for you to come. You two haven't spoken in so long," my mother responded. My mother was completely tactless. She looked at me as a dud and she wasn't afraid of making her feelings known.

Thankfully, someone called my mom's name and she scurried away leaving me alone with my food again.

~End Flashback~

Finally, I pulled into my sister's driveway. I could see my niece, Victoria, playing with Michael in the grass in front of Anna and Michael's suburban house. Their life was like something out of a movie: perfect. Why couldn't I have something like that? Even if I wasn't mad at Ben, our lives would never be like this. Even if we got married and had kids one day, Ben would always be on tour. Our lives could never be picture perfect.

"Lila!" Anna cried out from the porch. She was holding my nephew, Anthony, who was only ten months old, in her arms. She gave me a huge smile from her spot in a wicker patio chair. I shot her a half smile and waved at her. I kept telling me that she was all I had right now. My boyfriend was a jerk and my only friends were also his friends.