Stars ||| ADOPTED BY SHANE DAWSON BOOK 2

Rocks

Raven:

The sound of my phone vibrating from Chris's bedside wakes me up. I groan, and reach my arm as far as it goes to the wooden table. Chris slightly moves from on top of me.

"What." I say, exhausted. It's Issac.

"Shut the fuck up and listen,okay?" I slowly get up,Chris groaning at my decision,and head to the hallway.

"How's Uncle Tom? Is he still acting like a boomer?"

"Yes,cause he is a boomer,dumbass." I flinch at my brother's tone,something has to be seriously wrong for him to be so frustrated. "Look,I'm sorry. I'm just stressing out. I can't find a place that's cheap enough for both of us to stay-"

"Don't worry. I'm okay."

"No it's not okay, Mel!" A single tear falls from my face at the sudden outburst. "I'm picking you up today, and we'll figure this out. Remember what dad said?"

"Promise...promise me this.." My father lays in the hospital gurney, his eyes barely open. It's been an effort for him to do anything. Issac says it's because he's getting weaker,but that can't be it-my father is a fighter. He's been fighting cancer for years.

"-Take care of...t-he family.." I watch from across the room, tears in my eyes as Issac sits and listens eagerly. "A-and always..stay together..your sister needs you."

"...so you better be ready by noon. We'll stay together, I promise." Issac hangs up the phone.

I stand in the hallway trying to rap my head around it all. I've not only gotten myself kicked out of my Uncle's house, but I've also might have gotten my brother kicked out too. We're teenagers, how are we supposed to live on our own?

And how are we gonna stay together? That's the only thing that's troubling me. We have to stay together no matter what,because we only have eachother. My father knew that. He knew that the day he turned sick, my schizophrenic mom wouldn't carry the family. Nor would he, because he was getting weaker. Issac and I became each other's rock for years..

I bow my head and close my eyes. "Dear,God, please watch over us. Please make sure daddy will take care of us from the heavens..and even mama too-no matter how fucked up she is.."
I take a deep,ragged breath to keep myself from crying. "..Amen."

I open my eyes, and wipe the salty tears that fell in the process. One deep breath,two..

I can't.

That one sob escapes my mouth, and no matter how hard I try to keep it under control, I can't. Just like my life. Call me a control freak, but that's always been me. I've always had to make sure that I had my life under control , the way my father wanted it too-but life is uncontrollable.

What am I going to do?

"Hey, are you okay?" Those three words that make everything worse. I shake my head at the sound of Shane's voice and let myself be embraced in his dirty robe.

"I..mean yes...I-I'm okay." I say, pulling away from him.

It's not that I don't want help, it's that I can't stand the thought of someone seeing me vulnerable and weak,when I've healed so much over the years.

Shane gives me a sad look. This should be my dream. After all the wierd fanfics I wrote about him in middle school, you'd think I'd be prepared for moments like these. I'm not.

"I don't believe you."

"Well you should, cause I'm fucking fine." Shane draws back as if he's hurt, and I instantly feel regret. "I-I'm sorry..I just want to be left alone...thanks for caring."

"Its okay.." he makes a sad smile. "If you need anything..someone to talk to, I'm here for you."

"Thank you."

Shane smiles and gives me another long hug. I watch as he exits slowly down the stairs, rubbing his eyes out of exhaustion. Another deep breath, and I open the door to Chris's room.

She can't see me vulnerable, I'm her rock. If rocks break, they can't support.

Shane:
"Thank you." I smile and give the girl another long hug, before exiting.

That just broke my heart.

Never before have I seen someone so strong and so good at hidding her emotions, break like that. Raven in my eyes has always been this creepy,emo, fan girl who also is in love with my daughter. I've never seen her cry before.

It reminded me of Chris. How she would put up an armor, only to have it fall to pieces shortly after. Maybe I should check on Raven's situation with her family. It seems pretty rough.

"It's about time your up!" My fiancé hops up from the couch and kisses my cheek. "Good morning handsome."

"G'Morning.." I mutter, and plop myself on the couch nearest to where Ryland was sitting. He returns to his spot, Cheeto lays on his lap.

"Hey,whats wrong?"

I sigh and put my head in my hands. "I saw Raven break down this morning...something's seriously wrong."

"I know how much you love to fix things,but somethings it's not our business to fix. We don't know what her situation is, or what it's like, but I'm sure it's fine."

I sigh, and put my arm around Ryland. "I just feel like I should. She got kicked out her house for being herself, that shit can mess someone up."

The doorbell rings. I groan. Not that I hate Guest, it's just that I was finally getting comfortable, and I was looking forward to deep conversations while watching YouTube with Ryland before the launch meeting today.

"I'm coming!" Ryland jumps up, full of energy to the door.

I slump lower into the couch, and pick up Cheeto. "Cheeto, you're my only friend."

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A/N: my poor baby, ray, is sad 😔. Hey! Who is your favorite character in the book? (Mine is Raven because she's fun to draw, and just a mysterious character in general. I also like Chris, because I relate to her more- but Raven is the real OG!)

Kay, I'm done. Comment down your favorite character.

MAKE SURE TO VOTEEEEEEEEEE.

Tnx, luv uuuu, byeee.