Fighting For Us - Book 4

The Brown Household

It was true Stef was very much heartbroken about how her relationship with Stefanie had turned sour. Since the little girl was born, even before she was born, she loved her dearly and had been ecstatic when Tess named her after her. Receiving picture after picture and visiting Stefanie, Stef had always made it a point to help Tess as well as be in the little girl's life. She took her role as Stefanie's godmother very seriously, and over the past few months, Stefanie's behavior was leaving her heartbroken. Why she was acting reckless, why she was rude to her parents and why she refused to speak to Stef, no one understood. It was like she had become a different person leaving all the people who loved her in her life, clueless.

"Where have you been? Where, Stefanie" Tess screamed as it was now past one in the morning and her and Jerry had been beside themselves as it was the fifth night in a row the girl had snuck out. Being the person she was now, Stefanie rolled her eyes and walked passed her parents.

"I was out."

"Stefanie Marie, that is not an answer! Not at all!" Tess continued to yell as the girl looked her dead in the face.

"Yeah...it is. It's my answer. So buzz off! Geez! You're so annoying!"

"Stefanie ,you don't speak to your mother that way! We talked about this! You are grounded and had no business going out." Jerry said sternly as the girl let out a sigh. If she was honest, she hated this rift she had going on between herself and her father. He had changed over the last few weeks, becoming sterner and sterner, and she couldn't use her charm with him anymore.

"And you reek! You smell like...like booze and weed and....what are you doing? Are you having sex? Huh? Tell me! Tell me you wouldn't be that stupid!" Tess yelled again completely ignoring Jerry who's discipline did next to nothing. And Stefanie knew that.

"My name is Starlette, mother! I told you that!"

"I did not name you that! I did not name you that at all! Your name is Stefanie Marie, and that is what we will call you! You are named after..."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Maybe I don't want to be named after HER anymore! I like my new name and my new life, and you're not a part of it! None of you are!"

"Go upstairs, Stefanie! Now!" Jerry yelled. "You are grounded for a month!

"It's Starlette!! Are you deaf? STAR-LETTE!!!!" The young teen who was dressing skankier by the day stepped towards her father who was appalled that her cleavage was showing and that her skirt was so damn high, one could almost see her ass cheeks. He knew how young teenage boys thought, and the thought of his little girl being taken advantage of was hurting his heart more than ever.

"I DID NOT NAME YOU THAT, STEFANIE!" Tess screamed again as Stefanie got in her face.

"So! What you gonna do about it? Huh? You're weak! That's why your girlfriend had to take care of you! You can't stand up for yourself let alone up to anyone else!" She snapped as Tess was so angry, not to mention heartbroken and confused, that she had no idea what to say to the girl. What in the hell was happening? Since when did her sweet, little girl hate her so much? She had always tried to protect her and keep her safe, and the fact that she was out and about doing whatever she pleased was killing her inside.

"Stefanie, upstairs now! And put something appropriate on!" Jerry yelled as the girl shrugged her shoulders and went upstairs not caring one bit. Truth was neither Tess or Jerry knew what to do, for Stefanie had never given Tess a problem. Not one and now that she was being a nightmare, they were completely lost on what to do or handle her.

"I'm trying, Tess. I am." Jerry said as the dark skinned woman shook her head.

"It's not hard enough. You need to be sterner with her. Because she won't listen to me at all.She has no respect for me, and it's a little too late, don't you think?" She snapped then softened as she saw the pain on her husband's face. "Look, I'm as lost as you, okay? Maybe she needs military school or something. Lena had mentioned that for Frankie when she was off the rails."