𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐒⸼ 𝗈𝖼

11. the moment

ALL of them were seated at the dining room, except for Johnny and Kenzie, who had to go home considering they still had class to attend.

"So, Mills... where were you when the blonde chick came?" Charlie asked, eyeing his sister, prompting Millie to cough nervously.

"Uh... we were just..." Millie attempted to speak but faltered.

"We were hanging out in Millie's bedroom," Finn interjected calmly.

"Okay... but wasn't I asking my sister?" Charlie redirected his question, focusing on Millie.

"Well... she really didn't answer, so I answered for her," Finn explained casually, before returning his attention to his meal.

"Alright, but you didn't do anything beyond hanging out, right?" Charlie pressed further.

"What kind of question is that? If you haven't noticed, we aren't exactly friends here," Lilia interrupted, narrowing her eyebrows at her older brother.

Charlie glanced around the table, scanning the faces of his sisters and cousins, receiving shrugs in response.

"It couldn't be more obvious," Joe spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.

"What do you mean?" Lilia inquired, intrigued by Joe's cryptic statement.

Joe chuckled before rising from his seat and gesturing for Lilia to follow suit.

"Okay, how about we call it a night... Come on, it's time for bed," Charlie declared, collecting their plates and placing them in the sink.

"What are we, six?" Grace complained.

"Yes, if you add two for you and Maddie, but only one for Sades and Mills," Charlie retorted, playfully teasing his younger sisters.

"What?!?" Maddie and Sadie exclaimed in unison.

"You guys are seventeen and eighteen, therefore you still need a guardian," Charlie reasoned, with a hint of authority.

"We do not!" the girls objected once more.

"Okay, you guys obviously don't need one since you were allowed to live in the house, but I'm your brother, and my job is to take care of you guys, so please do what I say," Charlie insisted, tilting his head and gesturing towards the door.

"Okay... for the record, we're doing this just because you're the most patient and awesome brother in the world," Mills confirmed before walking out first then he guided the others to their individual rooms.

A loud knock interrupted Grace's beauty sleep, but she ignored it, hoping it would cease. However, the knocking persisted, escalating until whispers were audible outside her room. Reluctantly, she rose from her bed and opened the door, only to find an almost naked Gaten standing before her, a wide grin on his face. His usual curly hair was unkempt, and his clothes were torn and dirty, with bruises visible on his face.

Before Grace could utter a word or pose any questions, Gaten barged into her room, enveloping her in a hug from behind and covering her mouth with his hands.

She tried pulling Gaten's hands away but failed, so she stood still instead and planned to kick him in the groin. However, before she could execute her plan, muffled whispers were heard, causing her to freeze.

"I'm gonna kill him. I swear to God, if he doesn't show up, I'm gonna have to open these doors one by one," a voice threatened from beyond the door.

"What is he talking about?" Grace whispered to Gaten, her confusion evident.

Ignoring her inquiry, Gaten motioned for silence as they listened to the murmurs outside.

A few things fell to the floor, causing a loud thud.

"Shit... Come on, let's go before we get caught," another voice urged.

As the footsteps receded, Grace and Gaten exchanged bewildered glances.

"What just happened?" Grace queried, her mind racing to comprehend the situation.

"Fuck, that was intense!" Gaten exclaimed, his amusement evident.

Grace looked at Gaten incredulously, pushing him roughly, causing him to stumble and fall onto her bed.

"What did you do!?" Grace demanded, folding her arms and glaring at Gaten, who met her gaze with amused eyes.

"This is not funny! You got punched! What happened?" Grace examined his bruises, grabbing his chin.

They were so close that she could feel his breath on her cheek. Gaten put his hands on her, but her instinct told her to pull away. However, he tightened his grip on her, looking deeply into her eyes and said, "I'll never let you go again."

That made her shut up and push him, causing him to fall on the floor. He groaned, "That hurts, Miss Portman! Can you stop pushing me around!?"

"Then stop joking because it's not funny!" She argued.

"Who told you I'm joking!?" He looked at her, all seriousness.

She glared at him, making him smirk. "Why do you have bruises? What fight did you get into this time?"

They both sat on her bed, ensuring there was space between them.

"Anna cheated on me," he told her, obviously defeated.

"Anna? Anna Grudina? I didn't know she was your girlfriend. I mean, I bet no one knew," she said, standing to look for the first aid kit to help him.

He nodded in approval, answering her first and second questions and ignoring her last sentence.

"With who?!"

"Jack Mason."

"That... I should have slapped her twenty times that day! You should not have pulled me away from that scene! God! J'aurais dû la frapper, la gifler an-"

"And get hurt? I don't think so... I'm glad I pulled you away from that scene, and nothing could ever change that," he interjected.

She looked at him, her once red and angry face softening. He looked scared.

"You do know I'd rather get hurt just to hurt the person who hurt the ones I love," she said truthfully, sitting closer to him than she thought.

"I know, and that's why I pulled you away! You never care what people would think or feel when you get hurt," he sighed.

"I do care! And I know people wouldn't care... since dad cheated on mom, I was never the same... It's like the happy and bubbly Grace disappeared just like that... I became this girl who shut everyone out because she couldn't handle a little pain... Millie, she's suffered very much... She was the last person that ever talked to her mother before... before Aunt Christina died... Yes, I've lost my father... but he's not dead... and he lost us due to his selfish deeds," Grace confessed, feeling tears welling up.

"It's okay. I'm here now. I promise to be with you in every step of your life and trials. I promise I'll never leave your side," he comforted.

"Promise?" She looked at him, sincerely asking through eye contact.

"I promise," he nodded before kissing her forehead.

They lay down on the bed, cuddling. Her head rested on his chest, and she could hear the steady beating of his heart. But every time she drew circles on his chest, it became frantic, louder.

They tucked into the bed, embracing each other.