Stay Strong (IM5/Dana Vaughns)

Chapter 1: The Meeting

City's POV:

"Uggghhhh" my 11 year old self groaned into the phone.

"I mean it isn't like my Uncle cares about me anymore! He didn't even help my parents when we needed him! And now I have to sit through his 3rd wedding before I get sent to Chicago with the rest of the family."

'Well at least it's not New York again. You won't try to get killed plus I heard the Pizza is amazing there." says my best friend Lily through the phone. I laughed. "I got to go but call me later tonight. Mkay?"

"Mkay. Luv ya Lils." I responded cheerfully.

"Luv ya too. Ciao!"

I got up from my seat and walked to grab some punch. On the way there, Ibumped into someone and he spilled his drink all over my black dress.

"Hey!" I heard "Watch where your going!".

"Sorry."I said frustrated with his attidude. He was hispanic, about 2, 3 years older than me. He was wearing a black suit with a bat man tie and you could see mini freckles on his face.

He walked away still looking back at me, sending me scowls. I rolled my eyes as I grabbed a napkin to wipe punch off my dress. Great! My night just went from nightmare to hell in 2 minutes!

I go back to sit at my table and play on my phone. Then my bitch, itch evil witch (Don't judge my nicknames) Aunt Claudia walked up to me.

"Hey Niecey." she said with her full on Brooklyn accent while chewing her enourmously large pink bubble gum. I hate her because her and her 8 year old daughter Haley have been made a wall between my uncle and his family since the first day they met him. She is the reason why he won't speak to us. She is the reason I am moving to Chicago. She is the reason why my life is so fucked up!

"How many times do I have to tell you. Dont. Call. Me. That. I'm not your niece this is just a temporary stage in my Uncle's Mid-Life Crisis." I said gritting through my teeth still staring at my phone.

"Awwww. You don't have be mean to your new Aunt! But whatever, I like you to meet someone. His name is Gabriel and he will be your new cousin! Yea!" she said with fake excitiment in her voice. She moved to the side and I saw the cocky guy who spilled punch on me earlier.

"You!" he snarled.

"Yea whatever." I said not caring

"Well, I let you to get to it!" she flashed a fake smile before she left.

"So I guess treating people like crap runs in the family." I said bitterly while flashing a fake smile, still staring at my phone.

"I guess being clumsy and stupid runs in yours." he smiles coldly.

"You know what I had it with your family!" I yell at him.

"Yeah, really? I had it with yours!" he yells back.

I could barely hear what he is yelling at me because I am yelling something at him at the same time. We argue for what seems like 5 minutes before my little brother, Nicky shows up.

"V why are you yelling at our new cousin?" he ask sadly with his giant puppy dog eyes. "Are you to fighting?" He looks like he is at the verge of crying. I felt so guilty that I was about to explain to him but Gabriel beat me to it.

"No, little guy. We weren't fighting. We just were talking very loudly but we are alright. How bout you grab the three of us some cake and will go sit and get to know each other right there." he says as he points to a tree a little bit outside the party zone.

"Okay!" Nicky says joyfully and runs of to go grab us some cake. Gabriel and I start to walk towards he tree. There was an awkard silence until Gabriel decides to break it.

"I'm sorry..um.."

"Veronica" I cut him off "My name is Veronica but most people call me City, except for family."

"Okay will Veronica. How bout we start over? Your little brother seems like a nice kid and I don't want us to be fighting in front of him because of our family's differences."

"I would love to start over." I smile. He smiles too and I realize that is the first time I seen a genuine side to him.

"Okay let me start. My name is Gabriel Morales but people call me Gabe. I am 15, I live in Miami, Florida, I love to sing and dance and Batman is the ultimate super hero!" he says as we sit down by the tree. I laugh at his last remark. "Your turn!"

"Well, my name is Veronica but my friends call me City and my family calls me V. Don't ask why people call me City it is a very long story." I giggle at the last part. He laughs. "I am 11 soon to be 12. I was born in New York, raised in Miami and soon to move to Chicago. I am not your average person. I have known what it's like to lose family to violence and gangs, I know what it's like to be homeless, I know what it's like to be an outcast and I know what it's like to experience change. Trust me when I say I hate change but I get it very often. I am just so use to having everything taken from you and having to work hard to earn it back. Also Batman is not the ultimate super hero it's Spiderman!" I say.

"No it's not it's Batman." says my little brother handing Gabe and I each a piece of cake.

"See he gets it!" says Gabe while laughing while high fiving Nicky.

"Your supposed to be my little brother you know." We all laughed.

We spent the rest of the night dancing, laughing and talking. Eventually Nicky fell asleep on Gabe's lap while I rest my head on Gab's shoulders. We were looking at the stars when he ask me the worst question anyone could have ever ask me.

"Also what happened to your wrist?" he says looking at my cut.

"Maybe I'll tell you one day but all you have to know are 2 words. You ready?" I ask on the verge of tears. He nods.

"Stay Strong"

A/N: Hello my sweeties!!!!! Okay I hope your enjoying the story so far!!!! Comment below if you have any suggests or comments (duh!). Please talk to me if you have any suggestions for the rest of the story and I promise I'll update soon!!! Luv u all!!!

XOXO,

P. Vaughns