Family Discipline

Chapter 22

Authors note: This chapter picks up 6 weeks after Edens suicide attempt. Things are finding there new normal.

Tanners POV

Today is the day my girl can have her phone back and start talking to the outside world again. After long discussions with her doctor and her parents it was best she went somewhere and start over. She's been in an in patient therapy center since her release from the hospital 4 weeks ago.

"Good morning beautiful, these streets or the halls aren't the same without the one and only Eden Reid."

"You always know how to bring a smile to my face. How is everybody back home I miss you guys."

"Things are still tense and weird between Grayson and I,  rest of your family is doing good. Just trying to settle into this new normal."

"So I got some exciting news. I've found out I'm really good with music and i have applied to several music high schools here and I got accepted into one of the top ranked schools in the nation."

"Babe that's awesome, just take it slow okay I'm happy you found something positive to look forward to but just be cautious of the stress it can bring. I need my baby girl alive and well."

"Be happy for me Tanner this is huge. Are you coming with this weekend for family day? It's the first time in weeks I can have visitors and I'd really like to see you."

"I am happy for you babe and I don't know, you have your parents and your brothers who want to see you too."

"We are together now, you can't keep avoiding Grayson he will get over it eventually."

"I'm not avoiding him I'm just I don't know. I will talk to your parents and see if it's okay. I got to go babe Mrs. Johnson is getting suspicious and I'd like to keep my phone. I love you 😘"

"I love you too and I better see you this weekend."

I put my phone away before I managed to get myself in trouble and loose my phone for the rest of the day.

She looked good. I haven't seen that smile in what seems like years. She seems to be in a really good place and I couldn't be more proud of her. This music thing though I want to be supportive but it scares me. She's so fragile and it's a high stress career choice I'm scared of losing her again.

Eden POV

I had been staring at my phone for hours in hopes somebody would text me or try and call.  When I finally gave up hope I heard my phone ding and saw had a message from Tanner.

I immediately felt warm inside and I couldn't help but smile. Ever since he confessed his love for me and we talked it out we officially  became a couple. It's been a long time coming and years in the making but we finally did it.

I love this boy more than humanly possible. I want to see his blonde hair blue eyed self Saturday more than anybody else. Just to be in his arms again and feel his warmth and softness of his lips against mine.

Only problem now is Grayson. He's trying to be okay with it but he don't know the Tanner I know. He only knows the parts Tanner allows him to see.  I get it he's being over protective it's what big brothers do and I didn't mean to fall in love with his best friend things just happen.

Makes it easier when I'm out of state all we have is phone calls, text and facetime.

Aiden POV

This past month has been hell. I've never had to deal with anxiety until now. I've never been away from Eden for longer than a few hours and even that's rare. Now she's in a different state and starting a new life apart from me. I'm handling it best I can but it's hard.

The first few days back at school was the worst. All the whispering and talk behind my back. The stares and the meaningless I'm sorry about your sister how is she doing.

The ones who pretended to care pissed me off the most.  They don't even know her and if she wasn't the talk of the town they wouldn't even know her name.

Those first few days I had some close calls and walked out of the school once. Grayson had to force me off of a poor freshman who asked a question at the wrong time.

Dad has been giving me chances and warnings to cool off he knows this is hard but fighting isn't my answer.

Honestly I'm pissed off at him for sending Eden away,  pissed at her for causing all of this, pissed off at myself for not doing anything about it and pissed off at every fake person in school who pretends like they give a damn.

So I'm on a short fuse and ready to explode at any moment.

Mason POV

Nobody talks in this family anymore. Grayson leaves before anybody gets up and comes home late only to go to his room without saying a single word. Aiden is one wrong look away from killing somebody. You don't even want to try and talk to him because your face may pay the price.

Dad picks up extra shifts at work just to avoid being at home and mom stays at work late to come home and go straight to Edens room and cry.

I've learned how to be a fairly good cook lately because if anybody wants to eat it's on me or we would all starve.

I spend my nights alone lost in my thoughts. I've snuck into Edens room couple nights a week just to try and feel her presence. Those are the nights I cry myself to sleep in her bed.

This new normal sucks and we as a family are falling apart.

Grayson POV

I decided to hang back and graduate on time instead of early. With Eden gone and me trying to leave at same time would be too much.

I avoid the house, it doesn't feel like a home anymore. It's so broken and sad I try and stay gone as much as possible.

I'm trying to get over Tanner and Eden but it's hard. Your playboy best friend and your very valuable sister how would you feel? He insist he's not like that with her and that it's different and deeply rooted but I don't know. It's Tanner so anything is possible but I don't want my sister to be his lab rat while he test his theories and figures himself out.

I may seem like an ass but if you knew Tanner way I do you would understand.

I have bigger problems to deal with anyway like how to keep Aiden from fighting every person who tries to talk to him.

He's lost and severely broken and without Eden here I'm not sure I can get him back.

We thankfully get to see her this weekend and maybe that will calm him a bit.