A Lesson Never Learned [✔]

t h i r t e e n

"Lily? Are you okay?" Vic asked quietly, driving a somewhat decent pace to his house. I only stared numbly out the window. He knew better than to talk to me when I was in this kind of mood. I hated everyone's existence right now, and when Oli tried to get me into the car, I bit him. Oli let me bite him, but just threatened to hit me if I did it again. He was in worse shape than I was. He had to live with the guilt of killing Josh. Josh was so close to everyone in the 'family', it was hard to believe that he was gone.

"Lily, you're gonna have to talk to me at some time." Vic sighed through his nose.

"I don't want to." I said weakly. Vic coughed.

"Well, just so you know, my pops is out on a job, but my brother and mama are home-"

"You call your mother 'mama'?" I sneered, glaring at him. "What are you? Twenty-one? You a fucking mommy's boy?"

Vic's eyebrow raised. "Yes. I am." I felt my nostrils flare and I sucked in my breath, trying to ignore his sassy attitude. "We're almost there."

"I don't care."

"Look, I know you're mad, but you can't take this out on me-"

"My brother just killed my best friend. Last night." I snapped. "So don't you tell me not to be mad-"

"I didn't tell you not to be mad." Vic huffed. "I asked you not to take it out on me."

I scoffed. "Whatever."

Vic grumped angrily. "You know what? I should be pissed off at you! Your brother fucking tortured me and you brought me into that mess."

"I tried to stop him." I narrowed my eyes at Vic, turning a little in my seat to face him. "And if you're still hung up about that, why are you being so obedient to him?" Vic's frown got deeper as he gripped the steering wheel harder.

"Because I know it's your safest option." Vic said quietly. I was about to argue with him, but he pulled into his driveway. "Okay. We're here." he hopped out of his car without looking behind him to see if I was following him. I slammed the car door behind me and Vic turned a little, opening his house door for me. "And be polite, Lily. My mama's a kind lady who doesn't need to worry about anything aside from her little old self. In other words, she knows nothing about gangs. Got it?"

When I finally nodded, Vic opened the door completely and stepped to the side a little, letting me through. I scowled at Vic as I passed him and let my eyes wander around the entrance. "By the way," Vic whispered, kicking off his shoes as he shut the door with his foot, "she doesn't know about Mike being allied with your brother, and we'd like it to stay like that." I nodded and crossed my arms over my chest. "Shoes off, Lils." I leaned down and pulled my Vans from my feet and Vic smiled. "Thank you."

Vic motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen where the scent of meatballs flowed from.

"Victor?" asked an older woman's voice.

"Hey, Mama." Vic grinned like a toddler, walking over to the woman with lemon blond hair. She smiled widely and hugged Vic, her head reaching his chest. Man, she was short. Vic motioned for me to come over. "Mama, this is my friend, Lily. She's going to be staying with us for a while."

The woman bustled over to me, offering me a warm smile. "Hello, Lily! Victor likes to call me 'Mama', but if you don't want to, you can call me Vivian, or whatever you want to." She held out her arms, inviting me in for a hug. I hesitated before leaning down slightly to hug the woman. She held me tightly, bringing my head down to rest on her shoulder. Her arms wrapped around me and she rubbed my back. I felt my lip tremble and I hugged her equally as tight. It had been so long since I had been hugged by a woman. I was reminded of my mother, the pang running through my stomach making my heart twist. I missed my mother so much, and Vivian just sparked how much I missed her.