Chapter Eight

*Not Edited*

I tried my best this chapter but was having some writer's block with it, I hope it's still good. Also, don't be silent, please give me feedback, good or bad.

Trigger warning: Elaine is an Atheist/Agnostic, so she talks about that in this chapter if that bothers you I'm sorry, but this forms who she is as a person. She's not the only Atheist/Agnostic in this book either, again I'm sorry but that's just the way it is, and yes there are Christians and a lot of other Religions in this book.

*Elaine's POV*

I woke up to laughing coming from upstairs, I just don't know where upstairs.

I looked at my phone: It was already 10 Am, I must've been more tired than I thought. I got up and winced in pain at the cut on my hip.

I went to my bathroom, grabbed a towel then pulled open my light pink pastel shower curtains, adjusted the water to the perfect luke-warm temperature and stripped out of my clothes then got into the shower, the water hitting my skin felt like heaven, even if it is a fictional place in my mind, I thought. I grabbed my mango-strawberry shampoo and started lathering it into my hair and making sure to scrub my scalp. I wish I brought my Alexa in here with me again I thought rinsing out my shampoo then grabbing my same sent conditioner and rubbed it in gently, I rinsed it out at the one-minute mark then decided it was a perfect time for a nice bath.

I was in the bath for about five minutes before I heard laughing again, then it hit me. IT'S VIOLET'S BIRTHDAY PARTY TODAY.

I pulled the plug to the tub then quickly grabbed my fluffy white towel: wrapped it around my body then tried to get out of the tub, keyword tried my left foot got caught on the tub and I fell on my cut hip right on the hard floor. The pain knocked the air out of my lungs and coughed a bit, hopefully, my family didn't hear the fall I thought standing up looking in the mirror, I grabbed my hairbrush and started brushing my hair.

I got dressed and walked out of my room, I was in a purple T-shirt and black leggings.

I walked into Violet's room and saw mom and dad as well "hey guys, what are you doing" I asked politely

"Figuring out which of the seven dresses that Violet, your father, and I picked out this morning would be perfect for her party," said my mom looking at the bed where the dresses were. I walked into the room from where I stood by the entry.

"Hey Dad," I said giving him a hug

"Hey E," said my dad breaking the hug. I walked over to my mom and gave her a quick side hug, mainly because she was concentrating on all the super pretty dresses laid out on Violet's bed. Speaking of which I still have a bone to pick with her, I turned towards her and said "hey mom, dad, can I speak to Violet alone please"

"of course, besides I think I picked out the dress, Elaine you're next," said our mom walking out of the room with dad following behind: They closed the white wooden door.

"what's wrong," asked Violet genuinely, does she not know what she did?

"You went to dinner without me and took Julia," I said slowly but politely

"And. I was on the patio and saw you leave with a couple of hotties so I thought you could use some fun, and I didn't know where you went" said Violet smiling raising her eyebrows up and down.

"I'M NOT LOSING MY VIRGINITY TO TWO BOYS I JUST MET" I yelled, I'm sure my parents heard but I don't care at this point she didn't even think I would want to see her even though she's leaving tomorrow. "You're leaving tomorrow Vi, I want to see you, I don't care about friends right now, because whether or not you want to believe this, a family is forever, and you will hopefully always be there for me and I will do the same, Vi I love you," I said truthfully

"I lied," said Violet out of nowhere

"Lied about what," I asked

"I didn't come and get you because I didn't know where you were, I knew where you were, I looked through our telescope to see who you were talking to and I saw the Cooper twins," said Violet.

"But how do you know where I was, it's there--"

"Brothers house, yeah I know... Denton and I used to hook up" said Violet

"Then why, why didn't you get me, I wanted to be with you, I still do"

"BECAUSE, because I don't want you worrying, about me, about me leaving the state, about what you're gonna do when you have no family in school, I need you to make friends so it doesn't make me worry too," said Violet almost crying "and I'm not leaving because of the relationship with mom and dad, I'm leaving the bad memories in this house behind, yes that means the good ones too but I can keep them close to the heart, but I just want the bad memories gone," said Violet now crying, wow this is harder on her than I thought like I said she never cries.

I walked over to her and hugged her at first she just held her arms at her side, she sometimes doesn't know how to handle somebody comforting her, but she eventually hugged me back and said, still crying "I'm gonna miss you so much E," she hugged me tighter making me cry, ugghh I hate crying, it was my turn to hug her tighter. "I'm gonna miss you too V, but I want you to have a lot of fun, but still do your schoolwork of course," I said breaking the hug wiping my tears.

"Okay, I'll go get mom and dad, oh but before I do that, I'm glad you and dad are getting along," I said before walking out of her room shutting her door.

*Ryder's POV* (Same day around the same time)

I was at the ice cream shop downtown: BJ's, it's usually super busy and I would be in the corner of the shop avoiding anyone who wasn't taking my order, but they were unusually not busy today, it was odd.

"what would you like to order" asked the all too cheerful women in front of me, she must be new in town, I didn't recognize her and New Port is a small town, I didn't think much of it and ordered my favorite: "marshmallow sundae" "that'll be five dollars," the women said politely, I gave her my only cash left and waited patiently for the sundae, about thirty seconds later I saw the ice cream coming my way, the same women who took my order gave it to me and said, smiling "thanks for coming to BJ's have a wonderful day" "Yeah, you too" I mumbled going to where I usually sat in the shop, I loved it because it was the only place in here with a higher chair so I could see who was coming in an out, and no I'm not some stalker I just like knowing what's going on around me.

I sat there thinking about what the twins and I could do tonight before I heard the shop's door jingle signaling more people walking in, I looked up and saw a family of four, I thought nothing of it and turned back to my almost empty sundae bowl.

"NO, I REFUSE TO BE SEVERED BY A BLACK PERSON" yelled the man that just walked in with his family this angered me to absolutely no end, it was the same women who served me and she was nothing but nice, right then and there I wanted to knock him out but his two children were standing right there, and I wouldn't do that: Yet.

"I-I'm sorry sir but I'm the only one here right now my boss had to pick her child up from the sitter" replied the kind women.

"I DON"T GIVE A SHIT, get me a WHITE to take my family's order, NOW!" that's when I lost it I quickly got up out of the high seat making it scrape loudly against the floor grabbing the attention of the man, I walked up to him and looked down to face him and said as calmly as I could "Get your GOD DAMN order OR GET THE HELL OUT"

"Fine, then we'll leave" finally spoke the women with the two children clinging to her legs.

"Good, and don't come back," I said as they were walking out, I turned around to the women and said "you okay"

"yeah, thanks" she replied, I walked back to where my ice cream was and finished it off.

~*~

"Denton" I hollered through the loft apartment, I heard footsteps and took off my leather jacket.

"What have I told you about yelling in my house," said Denton as soon as he got into the kitchen

"where are the twins," I asked avoiding his question.

"out trying to get you another fight, I would do it but I have a birthday party to go soon"

"who's" I questioned

"Violet Richardson, you know her"

"Yeah, she's hot, tried fucking her once but she said she was taken, but damn it would've been a good one" I replied, Denton smirked and said "hell yeah it would've"

"how do you know"

"I did her, more than once too"

"damn, good job" I praised, I looked over and saw the clones standing at the doorway.

"Whatcha talking about," asked Jax

"Violet Richardson" I answered

"damn, she's a babe isn't she," said the twins at the same time, again.

"Anyway, are you going to her eighteenth birthday party tonight," asked Jake.

"sure" I replied, I needed a good party and if Violet was throwing it, it's gonna be good.

"No," said Denton

"what do you mean no," I said getting mad, I may love the dude like my own family but I'm getting sick of him trying to control me.

"you aren't going to this party, not only are you extremely rude to Elaine, all it seems you want to do is get in her older sister's pants, and nobody needs you causing trouble," said Denton.

"I don't care what you say, I'm going and you are not stopping me, plus it's been rough at home I could use a good party," I said walking back to the front door still looking at Denton, I turned my back to him, grabbed my leather jacket and walked out of the beautiful house.

*Elaine's POV* Almost party time

"Okay, we got the streamers, disco ball, confetti," I said out loud to Adeline in my room before I counted the rest of the items off in my head using my fingers to keep track.

"Elaine, it's going to be perfect, anything you do for your sister shell think is perfect, even if it's a disaster," said Adeline, probably trying to destress me, well thanks but it's not working: last night with my sister, I laughed, and it's a party, fits perfectly I thought.

"Oh my God, what if it is a disaster, it can't be a disaster," I said quickly, breathing heavily.

"It will be a dream as long as you, mom, and dad are there," said Violet walking into my room, I sighed.

"I hope it will be a dream without the disaster part," I said, my anxiety kicking in

"well I'm going to go get dressed the party is in thirty minutes," said Violet walking out of my room.

"me too, and my new foster sister is coming as well, I hope that's okay," said Adeline

"Yeah, that's fine, just use the front door," I said politely

"ugghhh, fine just this once," said Adeline walking out of my bedroom door for the first time in eight years.

I grabbed my long simple dark blue dress, put it on and walked down the stairs, I saw Violet talking with mom and dad, probably about the party I thought.

"Elaine, come here," said my mom, she was in her dress, it was a lighter more mature pink while dad was in a black suit, my sister always wanted a formal birthday party for the first half, then people would change into normal clothes and party, I walked towards my family and smiled as cheerfully as possible, "stand by Violet, I want to take pictures of you two, you both look gorgeous," me and Violet stood by each other in our gowns and smiled, mom took a few photos before the doorbell rung "that must be our first guest of the evening, Violet get the door please" mom said politely "okay" said Violet walking away "I'm going to go get the juice" said mom walking to the kitchen, I hope she knows I'm the only one who probably not going to spike it.

"so, what are you going to do tonight," I asked my dad, my mom was going to make sure no one hooked up in our guest bedrooms.

"probably help your mother with the crazy kids until the non-formal part, then I'm breaking out the keg for Vi" said dad, I was hoping he was joking about the keg, but no, he was dead serious, there's something I don't know, but when is there not something I don't know.

"seriously, a keg, there already going to be spiking the juice," I said truthfully

"You need to have fun, one beer tonight, and your mom didn't want the keg even I was adamant at first but Violet insisted, and your mom said only one beer if you have one tonight, okay"

"One, no beer for me, two you, mom, and V are all crazy, and did you tell people to bring a change of non-formal clothes"

"yes we informed them about the clothes," said Violet walking into the living room with Julia in a short red sleeveless dress.

"good, but where are they putting their change of clothes," I asked.

"in the guest bedrooms, they can change together or in one of our six bathrooms" answered Violet.

The doorbell rang, I sighed, "it'll be fun" I whispered to myself grabbing the door.

*Ryder's POV* Getting ready for the party

"You didn't tell me it was FORMAL," I said to Denton and the twins as I put my tuxedo on.

"well you said nobody could stop you from coming, plus it's only the first half, the rest is normal party shit, bring a change of clothes," said Denton adjusting his tie.

"he's right, plus tuxes make the girls crazy," said Jake.

"he's right, but will Mr. and Mrs. Richardson let us hook up in their house," asked Jax

"probably not, Violet always came here when we had sex and said her dad would freak if she had sex at home so they probably won't let some random teenagers have a one night stand in their guest bedrooms" Denton replied before grabbing his car keys and walking out of the house, I grabbed my motorcycle keys and said to the twins "see you there, and don't piss off Denton."

It wasn't a long drive, I mean I could've walked but Denton said because I wasn't formally invited I had to be on time or he'll beat my ass, he was the only one out of the twins and him who actually stood a chance against me but I would still win, and he knew it.

I got there at the same time as the Cooper siblings, we walked up to the white door and rung the doorbell, we waited for about thirty seconds when we heard footsteps, the door opened to reveal Elaine, what was she doing here, why was she everywhere I went, was she stalking me.

"Elaine, Ryder," we said each others name at the same time before asking together "what are you doing here," she blushed, "s-sorry"

"It's fine tinker bell," Denton said from behind me before stepping in front of me and saying "but what are you doing here"

"you're kidding right, she's my sister you idiots, Elaine Richardson, Violet Richardson boys," said Violet rolling her eyes, "now get the hell in here," she said waving her hand for us to walk in, and who would've thought the Bad Girl's little sister was the Good Girl.

*Elaine's POV* When she opens the door

I opened the front door and saw Ryder and the Cooper's, thanks for letting me know they were coming Violet I thought.

"Ryde, Elaine," both me and Ryder said each other's names at the same time "what are you doing here," we asked at the same time, did he not know Violet was my sister?

"It's fine tinker bell," Denton said from behind Ryder before stepping in front of him and finishing his sentence "but what are you doing here" I mentally face palmed myself did they all not know?

"you're kidding right, she's my sister you idiots, Elaine Richardson, Violet Richardson boys," said Violet from behind me, "now get the hell in here," she said waving her hand for them to walk in, does she know Ryder I thought, of course, she knows Ryder she used to hook up with Denton, but why invite him to her birthday?

~*~

It was ten now and people were just walking into the house. It was already the non-formal part and I think the party's in full swing but I don't know when people said that because people just kept coming, and my anxiety was really flaring up, I have Social Anxiety and Separation Anxiety. I was walking through the crowd trying to find my dad to ask him when I could go up to my bedroom because of my anxiety, I found him by the set of stairs that lead closer to my room, mom was probably at the others I thought, I walked up to him and said "dad, my anxiety is flaring up, when can I go to my room"

"you aren't right now, go take your anxiety medicine and see how you do, if it gets worse come talk to me, okay, like I said, fun" he was really acting weird lately I thought.

"Okay, but I do have to go get my pills out of my bathroom," I said truthfully

"Okay, go but you better come down these stairs too okay"

"Okay, love you," I said walking up the stairs, I walked in my bedroom then walked into my bathroom, I opened the cabinet and grabbed my anxiety pills, I took two, then put them back, walked back downstairs and took a deep breath.

I saw Adeline doing a handstand on the keg with people around her shouting "CHUG, CHUG CHUG, CHUG, CHUG" they kept going until Adeline finally got down then chugged the some more out of a solo cup, great, she's drunk, I walked up to her and said "where's your sister that you were brining"

"Sheeeee weeenttt hoomee" Adeline slurred

"SIS" yelled Violet running to hug me, is she drunk too I thought then Julia yelled "guys, it's Violet's little sister, do you think she could down a beer as fast as V" I started breathing heavily and the crowd around me said YEAH I felt like passing out before something cold touched my shoulder, it was Adeline with a solo cup, my eyes went wide before she whispered in my ear "It's juice, just chug it" my breathing picked up more when the crowd started shouting chug, I brought the cup to my lips and reminded myself it's just juice, I started chugging and kept repeating in my head it's just juice, it's just juice, once I finished I was so dizzy from my anxiety that I shoved the cup in Adeline's hands and ran out of my house, I hate parties, and Julia I thought as I ran onto the beach, I got to the wet sand and sat down out of breath before I heard a voice I could never forget say "who would've thought the good girl would chug acahol or even touch it for that matter"

"it was juice"

"then why'd you run out like that" asked Ryder

"Embarrassment, and some Anxiety," I said almost all of it true, I don't have some Anxiety, I take medicine to prevent Anxiety attacks, I shivered at not only the cold breeze but the fact that it was considerably cold tonight.

"You should get inside princess, it's cold and you're by the ocean," said Ryder before walking off, dang he's cute.

I walked inside with the party still raging on and snuck upstairs while dad was spacing out, I got up to my room and locked my door, I took off my tights and a tank top, then went into my bathroom to brush my teeth before bed, I thought of Ryder and how he was being kind of nice tonight, I smiled before I realized he was nice after I told him about the Anxiety, great he was pitying me, I hate pitty.

I was done brushing my teeth and went to grab my nightgown before I tripped on my rug and fell to the floor, on the side where I cut my hip, it knocked the air out of me: I got up and looked at my hip, good it was scabbed over enough it didn't open again I actually grabbed my nightgown this time without any mishaps, slipped it on and laid in my bed, hoping tomorrow would never come, I didn't want Violet to leave, but I want her to be happy.