The Gray Family: Forces Of Nature✔️(Wattpad version)

Spiral

Pax

After that day, I did what any mature adult does; I avoided people. It didn't help that my classmates whispered about me or that Shaun and I weren't speaking at the moment. I kept my distance from everyone, including my brothers. It's a little hard when you share the same house.

I stopped seeing Dr. Shaw, which didn't help. Any appointments I had, I canceled. My medication ran out, and didn't bother to refill it. All my progress got set back because of Sable's antics, and I let my anxiety take over.

Anxiety is a funny thing; your mind magnifies a situation ten times worse than it is. You create so many scenarios in your head that aren't true. You mix that with my temper, and you have more issues.

My brothers tried to talk to me, but I shut them out. I didn't need another lecture. Every time I saw Shaun, I avoided him. I even asked Nik to change my shift and take me off the counter. The less I dealt with people, the better.

I sat in the bakery's kitchen, working on a cake. I put a lot of time into decorating it, wanting it to look like Grandpa's cakes. I finished the cake and Nik saw it.

"It's terrible, isn't it?" I asked, looking at the finished product.

"Well," Nik said as I furrowed my brows.

Frazier showed up, and I grabbed the cake, tossing it into the trash can.

"What's going on?" Frazier asked.

"I ruined the cake. It's not like Grandpa's cakes, so I will make another one," I said, getting to work.

Nik and Frazier looked at each other, then at me as I worked. If Grandpa saw what I did, he would feel disappointed in me.

"Pax, maybe you should take a break," Frazier suggested.

"Not until I get it right. I want to send Grandpa a picture so that he's proud of me," I said as I made another cake.

"I'll call Nash," Frazier whispered as Nik nodded.

I finished mixing the cake, placing the batter into pans, and baked it. I waited until it was cold, then sat there for hours decorating it. Every part had to be perfect since I'm a Gray, and my grandpa is a well-known baker.

I finished and furrowed my brows. It wasn't perfect, and I doubt edible.

"Pax?" I heard someone say.

I looked to see Pops and Grandpa standing at the doorway. I grabbed the cake quickly and threw it in the trash can. I turned around and looked at them as they looked at me, confused.

"The cake is terrible, but I can do much better. I mean, no one wants a horrible-looking cake, and it will ruin our name. So, I will make another one," I said as I gathered ingredients.

Grandpa and Pops watched me as Grandpa held his hand up behind him. They watched as I went to work and attempted to make a cake. Knowing both were watching me made me nervous. I didn't want to disappoint Grandpa and have him think I suck at something he was excellent at doing.

"I'll get it this time, and it will make you proud, Grandpa," I said as I worked to put the batter in the pans, making a mess. "Shit, I'll clean that up. Sorry, I'm trying," I said as I cleaned up my mess. "Please don't feel disappointed in me."

Grandpa walked towards me as I took the pans to the oven, put them in, and then closed the oven door. I started mixing the frosting and made a mess. Nothing was working right with the cake, and I felt embarrassed.

I kept mumbling as Grandpa pulled me to him and hugged me, then I buried my face and cried.

"Pax, it's okay," Grandpa said, comforting me as I wrapped my arms around him tight. He let me cry, saying nothing. My anxiety went into overdrive, and I couldn't handle it.

After my breakdown, JJ walked into the kitchen and sat down with me along with Pops and Grandpa. JJ let me talk as the three listen to me. It was nice to open up and not feel so overwhelmed about things.

"Pax, when we feel threatened, we have a flight or fight reaction. Your anxiety sent you into a flight reaction, which is common. Have you been drawing?" JJ asked me.

"Yeah, it helps," I said.

"Good, keep drawing, and we need to get you back on your medication. I think the major problem happened recently. Now, it becomes a legal issue, which I'm obligated to report to the authorities," JJ informed me.

I looked at JJ and sighed.

"It was a stupid mistake, and everyone berated me for it when I didn't know," I told the others.

"The others shouldn't have said anything. It wasn't their place," Grandpa told me.

I looked at Grandpa, then at Pops, who didn't say much. Great, now the hammer will fall.

"I agree," Pops said as I looked at him, surprised. "It wasn't their place, and now it's time to fix it."

"You're not mad?" I asked Pops.

"No, Pax, I'm not. I'm disappointed in your brothers and cousins," Pops said as I felt relief wash over me.

"I have a suggestion," Grandpa mentioned as we looked at him.

JJ left to take care of my medication, and Grandpa and Pops helped me with a cake. They guided me on making one, and Grandpa sat down with me, teaching me how to decorate it. It reminded me of when Grandpa would sit with me when I drew. While Grandpa helped me, Pops took matters into his hands.

Lex

I went to the house to visit the boys, and to my surprise, my nephews were there. That saves me a trip. The boys were a little surprised at me. Okay, that's a lie. My visit shocked them.

"Pops, what are you doing here?" Payton asked, shocked.

"I came to find out why your brother stopped taking his meds and quit his therapies," I mentioned as everyone gave me a guilty look. "What? Cat got your tongue?" I asked.

"Pops," Parker said. I shot Parker a look. He shut his mouth.

"Don't talk, listen. Paxton made a mistake, thinking someone gave a damn about him. That kid only wants someone to love him, and he feels alone. You could have helped Pax, but you scolded him. It's not your job to rebuke your brother and cousin. It's your job to love and help him. You all disappoint your parents and me," I told everyone.

They looked at me, feeling ashamed. I walked over to the door and opened it as my sisters- and brother-in-law walked into the house. They looked at the boys and shook their heads. I let my sisters handle their boys as I went to visit Shaun.

I rang the buzzer, and the door opened. I went up to Shaun's apartment and knocked. He opened it, surprised to see me. I went inside his apartment, and he closed the door behind me.

We talked. It was time to fix the situation because my boy needed me. Pax didn't need scolding; he required compassion. If any of my boys were in trouble, I would help them, not let them drown. That's what family does for each other because of family matters.

Pax

I finished decorating the cake and looked at it. I smiled, feeling proud of myself. I looked at Grandpa, who smiled. I hugged him.

"Pax?" I heard someone say.

We turned, and I saw my family standing there. I got up from my seat and stood there. I worried that my family would scold me again. Then Shaun walked past everyone, and I lowered my head. Shaun pulled me to him and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight, gripping his shirt.

My brothers walked towards me and engulfed us with a hug. Pops and Grandpa watched us. My cousins talked to me, and for once, I didn't feel so overwhelmed.

"You did good," Grandpa told Lex.

"I learned from the best," Lex told Grandpa. They looked at each other and smiled.

"Sometimes, you need understanding when you're spiraling out of control," Larkin mentioned as everyone watched us.

I didn't need coddling. I needed people to love me when I didn't love myself. As Pops said, family matters and my family mattered to me.