OVERRIDE

Chapter 11 Flashback Part 3

*Flashback*

"And here arriving, we have the Colemans!" Said another reporter. The girls and I hopped out of our taxi cab and stepped out onto the red carpet. The Stevens' theme this year was "Hollywood".

"Just keep a smile, girls." I said as I stepped out first. Peyton's face was puffy, Kara's was red, and Gracie's was tear-streaked.

I grabbed Gracie's hand and then lead the girls towards the mansion. So many people were snapping pictures of us, and it was quite embarrassing with the state that we were in.

My black, straight hair, that was under my white beanie flew up behind me as we walked in. The wind was unforgiving, and snow pelted us like crazy. I gripped Gracie's hand tighter.

What I never understood about this family was why I was the odd one out. Mom and my sisters were both blonde, with blue eyes. I on the other hand, was like dad, I had jet black hair and green eyes. Even though we all had straight hair...with the exception of Peyton with slight wave, I was still the odd one out.

"Lia!" Cried Justin as we walked in. He grabbed my arm and "escorted" me in through the mansion with my sisters tailgating behind.

"What do you want?" I sneered.

"Ooh, sassy." He said with a smirk. He was dressed in a suit with a red tie.

"If you want sassy, go for Peyton. She's closest to your age, your height, and your type."

Justin chuckled. "Nah, she's not as sexy as you my dear."

I wrangled out of his grasp. "Stop it!" I cried.

"Sorry, but you're going to marry me, so it's inevitable."

I slapped him right across his cheek.

He gasped and raised his arm to slap me. He did so swiftly and painfully, especially with cold cheeks.

"Hey!" I cried, slapping him again.

"Lia! Stop!" Said Peyton, grabbing my waist.

"No!" I cried as I kept slapping him. News reports and guests soon turned their attention to us.

"Everyone's looking, Lia, now stop it!" She said under her breath.

"No!" I cried again

Justin slapped me again.

"Hello there, Lia." Came the deep

voice of Ricky Stevens. We both dropped our hands and looked down.

"How are you, Lia?" He asked with the same evil smirk Justin had.

Ricky was wearing a suit with a green tie, and grew out a mustache. His black hair matched his coat.

I glared at him. "Horrible." I said.

"Now Lia," he responded, "I'm sure that even though your parents aren't here yet, they wouldn't approve of your sassy demeanor."

"Oh really?" I asked, a bit too loud. "Or would they even CARE, because SOMEONE killed them?"

EVERYONE, and I do mean everyone in that room turned around with wide eyes and gasped.

"Come in here, Lia." Ricky, opening the door to a small room.

"No." I said sternly. "I'm a completely capable woman, you're not the boss of me."

"No, you're not, you're only 16." Said Ricky, calmly. "You can't take care of anyone."

"Yes. I. Can." I said, grabbing Kara's and Gracie's hand. Peyton stood firmly behind me. We began to walk back out to the taxis.

"What are you doing?" Peyton whispered into my ear.

"Just follow my lead." I whispered to her.

We stormed out of the mansion with Ricky and Justin at our tails.

"Hurry." I said to them as I pushed them into a taxi.

I saw Ricky out if the corner of my eye and shoved myself into the cab. I slammed the door as Ricky pressed his hands up against it and gave us this horrid snarl that I didn't know any human being on earth was capable of.

"You have until SHE-" he stuck his index finger out at Gracie, and she hid behind Kara. "-turns 18, you got it? You'll soon be married to our son, and there's NOTHING you can do to stop it."

I stuck out my middle finger at him as we drove by, and Peyton covered Gracie's eyes as she and Kara laughed.

"Nice ring, Li." She said, laughing

"I want to see!" Gracie cried, squirming.

"Thanks, it was from Thomas."

Peyton's face changed from laughing I stern.

Thomas was my first, and only boyfriend, when I was 15. He gave me this diamond-studded band (they were fake, of course) as a good-bye present from when he moved. Ricky found out that we were dating, and then forced his family to move all the way out west, where I'll never see him again. This ring was his memento for me.

"Guys, seriously." Said Kara. "This is bad. This is VERY bad."

I sighed. "You're right. We're going home where no one but us lives now. I have to get a job, we have to move out-"

"Wait, MOVE?" Asked Peyton.

I nodded. "We can't afford to live in our house anymore. I'll be the one paying for the expenses."

"No." Said Peyton. "You can't do that."

"I HAVE to, if we want to stick together."

All three of them gave me wide eyed looks.

"It's for the best." I said. "Don't worry."