A life worth living

Fighting

When we get inside Kain wraps us both in a hug and we sit down on the couch. "So. You believe that man was working with Tristan?"

I nod and Kain stares confused. "Why would you even get involved with him in the first place?!" Nate says getting louder by the second.

"I didn't mean to! If I knew who he was when I was younger I never would have spoken to him!" Nate's face gets angrier and he stands.

"Well my family is in danger because of you!" Kain stands and grabs his brothers arm. "Rise is just as much our family as any of the other boys!" He yells not nearly as aggressive.

I stand with tears in my eyes. "No... I'm not. Let me know when my social worker gets here." And with that I run to my room. I sit down on the bed and pulled my knees to my chest.

I knew this wasn't going to last but I really was hoping it would. I slowly drift into a dreamless sleep which I was awaken from by a knock on my door.

I sit up and Riley walks in. "Are you ok?" He asks and my eyes widen. He never speaks to anyone except Chris. I nod and he walks over and sits next to me.

"Kain told us what happened. Nate went for a drive. He's not sending you back if that's what you're thinking." I look up at him and start crying again.

I hugged him gently while he returned it. Aaron walks in and picks me up throwing me over his shoulder. "Lets go squirt."

He says and I start kicking. "Put me down!" I yell as he carries me down the stairs. When we reach the bottom, he brings me into the kitchen and sat me in front of Kain.

"Aaron I told you to ask him to come down here. He's not a sack of potatoes." Aaron laughs and leaves the room.

Kain turns his attention back to me and speaks. "I want you to know that you are part of this family, and we all love you. Nate understands this but he was angry. He didn't mean to hurt you." I slowly nod and Kain wraps me in a tight hug.

We only pull apart when someone knocks on the front door. "I got it!" Gabe yells and then a thud. " Ha! I'll get it!" Jake yells just as loud. The door opens and Chris yells, " I did it!" I hear murmuring and then Grayson comes running in and picks me up.

"Hey Hey heyyy!" He yells and Kain lightly punches his arm. "Put him down. He is emotionally vulnerable right now." He jokes, but I don't think he took it as a joke because he quickly puts me down with worried eyes.

"What happened?!" He asks and I hug him. "I'm ok. Don't worry." He returns the hug and we head up to my room.

Shutting the door behind me Grayson sits on the bed. "Seriously Rise. What's wrong?" I sit next to him and cry. He attacks me in a hug and speaks soothing words. "Hey... you're ok. I promise."

I sit up and he again asks what's wrong. "I got into a fight with Nate and I was already having a bad day." He gives me a look telling me to continue and I do. I explain everything that had happened this morning and by the end we were both in tears and he was squeezing my hand.

We stare sit across from each other, still holding hands. The silence was no where near uncomfortable as we held eye contact. All of a sudden Gray leans forward and our lips touch.

At first I'm surprised but quickly close my eyes and kiss back. I swing my arms over his shoulders as he wraps his around my waist, pulling me closer. I move onto his lap and tangle my hands in his hair.

Just then, there was a knock on my door and we pull apart as he goes to open it. "Oh hello again Grayson. Can I please speak to Rise alone?" Gray shoots me a look as if to ask, do you wanna talk to him? I give him a small nod and Gray leaves the room.

"Look Rise. What I said was out of line. You are a part of this family. I am not sending you back there." He gives me a hug to which I return without speaking.

After a few moments he gets up to leave and Gray comes back in. "Now. Where were we?" He asks smirking and I immediately climb back onto his lap as our make out session resumed.

We were once again interrupted, but this time they didn't knock.

Chris runs in with Riley on his tail and they freeze when they see us. I quickly climb off of Grayson and Chris laughs evilly. "I'm telling Nate and you will be out of here in a second."

He runs out and Riley continues following him. I hear yelling down stairs, a small slam and then stomping coming from the stairwell. I jump slightly as the door busts open and Nate storms in.

"Grayson go home." He doesn't move.

"Now!" Grayson gives me a peck on the cheek before running out the door.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing?! You are 14! You're 14, and you're acting like a slut!" My eyes water again and I don't notice him move towards me.

Well, this is until he grabs me by the collar of my shirt and tosses me to the ground. He gets a few good kicks to my stomach and there was a loud cracking sound before realizing what he was doing.

He drops to his knees and starts freaking out. "I-I'm sorry! Rise? Rise?!" I slowly slip into unconscious with a single tear sliding down my cheek.

When I woke up again I was in my bed and Aaron came in to check on me. "Hey squirt! How are yah?" He asks and I roll my eyes and ignore him. He sighs and leaves to tell Kain I'm awake I assume. I get up and grab my backpack wincing at the pain in my ribs.

I stuff it with a few days of clothes, my charger, my switchblade, my earrings and lay it next to my bed. By the end of tonight, I'll be gone. Kain came rushing in and brings me into a hug.

"Hey sweetheart! Nate is being asked to move out for a bit while he works on his anger. You gave us all quite the scare." I slowly nod and lay down slowly drifting back into a sleep while waiting for the time I leave.