Blood Doesn't Make Family

Chapter II

I groaned as the sunlight shone on my face, waking me up from the deep slumber that I got for a few hours. It took me a long time to fall asleep. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I rolled out of bed. And started to get ready for the day with Ben and Sophia.I changed into a white top with washed-out ripped jeans. I packed a small purse with cash that I earned during my part-time jobs during the school holidays at the library. Taking my phone out of the charger. I sent a message to Sophia, telling her that I was ready. She replied stating that, Ben is driving over at the moment. I placed the phone into the purse. I carried my white shoes and walked over to the front porch. I sat on the bench and started to put on my shoes. When I finished trying the laces, Ben pulled in. "Good Morning, Princess!" Ben greeted me as I got into the car."Good morning babe!" Sophia greeted me as she pulled me into a side hug. "Morning guys!" I wished them overexcited causing them to chuckle. This is my personality during our outing. I am will be overly enthusiastic and adventurous. They know this and that is why Ben always looks for new places for our breakfast every week. We will then walk around the town and chat about random things. Sometimes we buy things here and there. Other times we will just window shop. We will finish the outing by stopping at our regular ice cream store for a scoop of ice cream.With them, I feel free and comfortable being myself. I am loud and childish. "Ready for the amazing day with the best people?" Ben asked amusedly as he pulled out of the driveway. I nodded my head nonstop to show him how ready I am. For the first few weeks when we started doing these outings, I used to be jealous of Ben's and Sophia's sibling relationship. They are always goofing around with each other. I have five brothers and I have no such connection with them. Apart from their names, ages and Birthday dates, which I figured with the parties my parents organized for each of them, I know nothing about them. Are we still considered siblings? I am 16 years old this year, and I know nothing about people to who I am related by blood and DNA."Ben, how is your training coming along?" I asked him as we followed Sophia who was talking to a store vendor about an item she saw."It is going great Elsa! Thank you for asking" Ben ruffled my hair making me pout at him."Yeah, thank you for asking, now I do not have to ask him again" Sophia snickered at her brothers. Who launched towards her and held her in a chokehold. I laughed at their playfulness. We went to get our ice cream and chill for another few hours. Before making our way back to my house. "Alright El, I will be speaking to your parents and convincing them to let you go to Fakern Special School," Ben tells us as we pull into the driveway. "Sophia and I will be in my room watching some dramas," I tell Ben as I pulled his sister up to my room. On the way up I heard Callen greeting Ben,"Hey, Ben! It has been a while since we saw you. What brings you over?" "Hey, Cal. Yeah, it has been a long time. I am just here to meet your parents about something," I hear Ben replying, that was the last thing I heard as I closed the room door. Sitting on my bed," You okay?" Sophia asked. I know she understands how I am feeling at the moment."No, I am not" I look at her with tears crowding in my eyes ready to roll down my cheeks."I just want to have a normal family. Siblings I can fight and argue with but still joke with. You feel different when you vent out to your family cause you know you have their support. I just want that. But it is impossible when your brothers ignore you," I ranted out to her."I have seven other people in this house that I am related to by blood yet I have never felt lonelier than this," I told her softly.Sophia pulled me into a tight hug as I break down in her arms."Elsa, I get what you mean. But are they worthy of your tears? It has been 16 years and they have not shown you a single drop of affection. Yet you are the one who is looking for their love. I think it's time you let long and started to love yourself more. Focus on your life and career. Now you have the choice to create your own family" Sophia said softly yet with a firm tone. She wiped off my tears making me smile at her slightly.What she said is true. For 16 years I have been longing for them to show me a small drop of affection. "You are right. It is time I stopped mulling over this," I said confidently. I need to step up and grow up and start to focus on myself and my growth. "Elsa, Sophia," We turned around to see Ben leaning against the door frame with tears rolling down his cheeks."El, I did not know you were going through these kinds of issues at home. Why didn't you tell me all this earlier?" He asked as he sat beside me on my bed."You have been helping me out a lot and this seems like petty things to worry you with" I shrugged as I looked at the floor."I might be Sophia's elder brother. But I am also your brother as well. We might be related by blood. But I am your family. I have the right to worry about things that hurt my sister. Promise to never keep things like this from me" Ben tilted my head so that I was looking at him. I promised him before he let me release."Also, your parents have agreed to let you apply for Fakern Special School," he smiled as Sophia and I squealed loudly as we jumped onto Ben with a hug, making him fall back on the bed laughing."Thank you so much, Ben! This means so much to me," I said as I gave him another tight hug. He patted me on the back saying welcome."I am always here to help you with everything and anything," he kissed my forehead and smiled at me.I can see the hurt and pain in his eyes whenever Ben looks at me now. But I know he will overcome it. Sophia taught me something today. Our time will not stop just because someone does not show us affection or care. We just have to change our mindset and goal. And focus on ourselves. Once we start to love ourselves more, other things will stop affecting us. You start to have peace of mindCallen's POVIt has been 16 years and I have not taken time for myself or my siblings. Since I turned 10 years old. Our dad started to train me to take over his business. There was no space to make mistakes. Any mistakes I made allowed him to hurt my siblings. My princess, our sister managed to escape the punishments as I stopped making mistakes when I turned 13 years old. I could not see my brothers in pain. And I also started to distance myself from all my siblings. Our dad stopped hurting them when he noticed it stopped affecting me. It still hurt internally but I learned to make my expression and emotions. Even if he wanted to hurt Elsa, my brothers will her. She was too young to remember that. I am thankful for that. When my brothers grew older, I told them the truth and they started to understand our parents' real personalities. From then on, we all distanced ourselves from Elsa. This was to avoid her getting hurtWe became happier when we found out that she has a best friend, Sophia. And Ben, Sophia's brother, started to take good care of our sister. I could not tell Ben what was happening. I am still scared that Elsa will get hurt.I was shocked to overhear the conversation Sophia and my sister are having at the moment. My baby sister is hurting so much. Ben looked at me with confusion and anger. I shook my head and mouthed to him later. He nodded before walking in silently. I know Ben will handle and comfort my sister.I message my brothers on our spare phone that my parents do not know we own. I tell them to meet me at our hideout location. They all replied saying they will be there soon.I sent the location to Ben as well. Asking him to join us there after he drops Sophia at home. He said okay.I sighed rubbing my face tiredly."What is happening? Why did you call for a meeting suddenly?" Daniel asked worriedly."Have patience brother. I am waiting for someone to join us" I tell him softly as I take a sip of my whiskey.This made all my brothers to looked at me carefully."WHAT THE HELL CAL!" Ben shouted as he walks in angrily."She is your sister for god sake!" He said frustrated."Ben, calm down and listen to what we have to share with you" I gestured to him to take a seat opposite me.