Life With The Uries (The Urie's Daughter Adopted By Brendon Urie) Book 3

Don't Give Up On Me

Ryleigh
There was a ringing in my ears. "What?"I asked. "I'm your half brother,"Josh said. He pulled a sheet of paper from his wallet. "We had them draw blood at your last appointment for a DNA test to make sure our suspicions were right,"Josh said. "You always reminded me a lot of Ashley and Abigail,"Josh added. My jaw dropped. I've never met my brother but he's been here the whole time. I crinkled the paper in my hand and fled from the room. With the paper in my fist, I locked myself in the bathroom down the hall. I felt a panic attack coming on and I needed to calm myself down.

I don't know how long I crouched on the bathroom floor before I heard a knock. "Ryleigh, can I come on?"Pete asked through the door. I stayed silent but unlocked the door. He took that as a sign to enter and locked it back before he leaned back against it. "How're you holding up? They told me what happened,"Pete said. I just stared at my shoes.

"Please, you can talk to me,"he said softly. I finally looked up at him. His eyes were soft. "He was here the whole freaking time. I always wondered if my half brother and I would get along and we have been the whole time. My mother took me away,"I said angrily and wiped away the few angry tears running down my cheeks. "It's understandable for you to be upset. This is a lot to digest in one day,"Pete said. 

I shook my head and stood up to leave when I realized he was sitting in front of the door so I backed away into the small corner and curled up in a ball. I decided to finally look at the paper Josh handed me. Sure enough, my results matched up to theirs. "I have to see them,"I said and stood. I wiped my nose on my sleeve. Pete moved away from the doorway to let me out and then I was running again.

They hadn't left the hallway we were in. I ran all the way across the venue without realizing it. Josh turned to look at me when he heard my footsteps running towards them. I jumped into his arms. "I'm so sorry,"I said and started to cry again. "What're you sorry for?"he asked. "I ran, again,"I said. He just hugged me tight while I clung to him like he was the only thing keeping me here. He sat me down once I was calm again and Dad instantly hugged me.

"God, I never thought I would meet him. But you've been here the last few years, we just didn't have any clue,"I said with a small chuckle that came out more estranged than I wanted.

*******

I stayed in the dressing room, looking at pictures of my siblings, my dad, and step mom with Josh. All this time, I had a family who would love me but I was trapped with that crazy witch who took me away from all of that. It sunk in then that my "biological father" wasn't actually in blood relations to me. He was just another man in the long list of those who hurt me.

I started to cry again as all of those painful memories slammed me again and again. I had a biological father who probably loved me like a father should. Dad and Josh kept me close in a hug between them. They understood and, for that, I couldn't be more grateful. I wasn't leaving Dad, though. They couldn't make me. I didn't think they would. Josh knows how happy I am here and they can see me all the time.

"Do they know about me?"I asked, worriedly, when I calmed down. "They know you exist. Jordan knows I found you but he's keeping it a secret till we stop by Columbus so I can explain everything then. You're welcome to come,"he said. I nodded. I glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's about time for soundcheck,"Dad said.

Suddenly, a very hyper and excited Frank Iero showed up in the doorway. "Ryleigh, you want to help me with something?"He asked out of breath. "Sure,"I said and stood. Josh and Dad looked at me with concern. "I'll be okay,"I said. I couldn't blame them after all that has happened today and how I also have been arrested with My Chem before.

"Please, don't get arrested again,"Dad called after me as I began to run down the hallway with Frank to side stage. "What'd you need me for again?"I painted, holding my side. "I'm gonna prank Ray,"he answered, mimicking my own expression. "I'm in. Just to be clear, we're not doing anything illegal right?"I asked. "It's all legal,"he assured me with a smile on his face. "What exactly is the plan then?"I asked.

"I'm going to say something to catch his attention in the dead mic and, while he's distracted, you'll replace his beer bottle with this root beer. He always takes his labels off so he won't know the difference if we switch them,"he said quickly and quietly. I kind of felt bad because Ray was the unsuspecting victim but this would be fun.

I don't know what Frank said but Ray began searching the arena before keeping his eyes on a guy, most likely crew, walking out. I quickly grabbed the beer and swapped them. "What're you doing, Ryleigh?"He asked me as he turned around to look right at me. "Shit!"I thought. "Nothing. I was just checking to see if my bass was set for tonight and sound check later,"I lied with the beer bottle hidden behind my back.

I hurried off after that and met Frank behind the stage. He sipped the beer and we made our way quietly back to side stage. We watched patiently in secret as Ray played and then went to take a drink of his "beer". He took a sip, made a face, and spit it out every where. "What the hell?"he yelled, confused. Frank and I started cracking up. He instantly looked to us. "Is this rootbeer?"he asked us as he came closer. This made us laugh harder. He sighed and turned away. Frank was always the biggest prankster of the band.

He opened another beer and then went back to what he was doing as if he had never been interrupted. His in ear monitors were in so there was no way he could hear us outside the dead Mic. "Wanna see something else? I think I need another beer,"Frank said. "I'm not getting involved this time,"I said with my hands raised. Frank shrugged. "Just watch,"he said and approached the dead Mic again.

Ray instantly started to look around. While he was distracted, Frank snuck over behind the drumset and stole three of Ray's beers in his hands with two others shoved in his hoodie pocket. All that was left was the open one. Frank made a run for it back to me. Ray spotted him and noticed the nonexistent pile of beer. "Frank, come on, man. That's not even funny,"Ray shouted. As we took off running through the venue, I knew I had never felt so carefree before my band family found me. I had never felt so safe, happy, and loved. I hoped it would never change.