Tangled Love [1]

Chapter 2

Edited

It's been 3 years since that disastrous night and it still haunts Adelaide to this day. If someone so much as makes a move to touch her she'll flinch away; she stays as far away as she can from sharp objects and tends to bite her nails off as a nervous habit. She's sitting and reading quietly whilst the rest are rowdy and running around the room. Adelaide rolls her eyes and blocks them out and continues reading about Harry and his adventures. It's when an unfamiliar blonde rams into her does she look up to see a family of five: three little girls and a mom and dad. Two of the little girls seem as close as can be and quiet and subdued... the other on the other hand is bouncing in her place as she grins up at the adults.

"I want this one!!! Please please, please! Davis, Reyna? Please please please!"

"Now, Morgan," speaks up the woman with a scolding tone and a smile. "Why don't you ask Peyton and Lea what they think?"

"And do we need to remind you that you are welcome to call us mom and dad." the man says softly and Morgan makes a face and slowly shakes her head no before turning to the two other girls. They look at each other before smiling and turning to Morgan and nodding. Morgan screeches and embraces Adie in a hug causing the girl to flinch away. The woman, Reyna, pulls Morgan off of the scared child and smiles.

"Sorry about Morgan... she's a bit rambunctious."

Adelaide just stares at the family, half envious half scared. They all looked like a perfect family but that's how her family was til her mom died. She looks at each individually: the man is staring at her -seeming to size her up-, the woman is smiling gently at her, the blonde is looking around the room in wonder with a small bounce, the other two girls are silently talking. The one with curly hair smiles slightly at something the young girl with wavy hair says. They suddenly both turn to her and she flinches away in fear causing a frown to flit across the curly hair girl's face before she smiles again.

"I'm Peyton! But you can call me Tony. This is Lea or Lei Lei." Adelaide waves with a meek smile. "You're not much of a talker are you." She shakes her head no and Tony looks at her parents. "I agree with Momo, I want her."

"I'm not a dang pet." bites out Adie before she realizes what she said and quickly covers her mouth afraid of what her talking will do. Lei Lei smirks and nods her agreement... this girl has got fire in her. They just need to get her out of her shell.

The man, Davis, turns to her and finally smiles, "How would you like to become a Mason?"

~*~
Adelaide is dutifully doing the dishes after making breakfast when she hears pounding feet rushing down the stairs. The young girl of 8 tenses and ducks her head over the sink, hiding her tears of fear. A strong hand on her shoulder causes her to shriek and drop the plate she is washing causing it to shatter. She scatters away from Davis and protects her face with her hands. He watches her with wide eyes before approaching her slowly, trying not to frighten her, however, this reminds her of her dad, like a predator to prey, slowly stalking up to her. She whimpers and falls to her knees and Davis follows suit, gently pulling her into a hug.
"I don't know what you think I was going to do to you, but I swear I wasn't."

"My father." she whimpers and he soothingly rubs her back.

"What about him?"

"H-he used to do bad stuff to me and my sister." she provides vaguely, her hand moving to her scar. Davis follows her movements and his eyes widen.

He places his hand over hers, "He did this to you... gave you this scar." She nods mutely. "Well, Reyna and I will never ever treat you like this. I promise."