Chapter Fifteen

(Not Edited)

The picture is where Ryder's tattoo is placed. Not what it is.

A/N: Sorry it takes me so long to post new chapters, I just want to be able to give you the best work I can. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Remember, I love feedback and constructive criticism as long as your nice about it. Also, I'm sorry if the POV changes annoy you. There is a lot in this chapter. Please give me your feedback on them because I do want you to enjoy the book. All the love, Emmaleth Keathley

~*~

It's just your anxiety I told my self.

Someone touched my shoulder and I screamed.

"Elaine! Elaine, it's me. You're okay, everything okay"

I sighed in relief as my dad wrapped his arms around me and hugged me.

"I'm sorry. I ran out of my meds and forgot to call you, I've just been so jumpy." I sated as I broke the hug. It was true, I ran out about three days ago. I can last about a day maybe two without mishaps, but after that, it gets pretty unbearable.

My dad sighed,. I know he's not angry, he just seems a bit stressed.

"I'm sorry, I know you've told me to tell you when I run out but it's just been so quiet before school started I thought I'd be fine." It's true. When I'm alone or with my family my social anxiety is fine, but once I get out in public I just turn into a broken record of worry and irrational thought that just keep playing over and over again.

"It's fine hun, but are you sure everything's okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm also really tired I suppose so I'm just gonna go to bed. I love you, dad."

"I love you too Lainey. Just let me know if something's wrong okay? You're my little girl. I'll always available."

I smiled, my dad's amazing.

Some people would say my parents are gone too long, but they're usually only gone for a couple of days. They were gone for a week this time, but that's only because they were in different countries. My mom's in Germany, and my dad was in France.

"Oh, and before you settle down, your mom will be here tomorrow around noon so be home please."

"Dad?" I stated in a confused tone.

"Yeah Hunny"

"It's Elaine. I'll be home, I'm always home." It's been an odd month, but I'm getting back to normal and I'm gonna stay that way.

"I know... but while I was on the phone with Oliva, Adeline yelled she's been out more so I assumed you had been."

"Dad, I was seriously at their house. Nothing more." I can see how Violet got away with a lot. They ended up seeing my bruise and believed the story I ended up telling them. I ran into a pole, I mean I am clumsy so.

"Okay. I'll go out and grab your meds real quick."

"Wait! Don't leave right now, it's night time and you know how people can get rowdy with their driving. Just grab them while I'm at school tomorrow." I would prefer to have them tomorrow, but I really don't feel safe enough for him to leave right now.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just don't wanna be alone right now." It was true, I don't wanna be alone but he probably wrote it off as anxiety whereas I think I could be going crazy.

"Okay. Will you be okay without your meds tomorrow then?" Asked my dad with a confused look on his face.

"Uhhh." I thought about it, no, I wouldn't be okay but he can't leave right now. I don't feel safe. "Yeah, I'll be fine." I lied. I hate lying to my family, but there's no point in telling them the truth either. I'm going right back to the way things were. "I have some classes with Adeline and Jacettia. Adeline's foster sister so I'll be fine." I finished. I mean I do have some classes with them, so it's not a total lie.

"Okay then. I'm gonna call your mom, then I'm gonna try and actually sleep." He walked out shutting my thin white door.

He always has trouble sleeping without my mom, vice versa too. Most of their business trips are together so it's not much of a problem usually, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

I sighed. My room doesn't feel right. Usually, it's a safe place where I can just unwind, but somethings off. Big time.

I walked to my bed and sat right in the middle just looking around, it's just your mind playing tricks on you. I laid all the way down just looking up at the glow in the dark stars on my white ceiling. Even though my light's on it's just nice to look at something other then blankness or a screen. Besides I can't sleep, I mean my nightmares are still happening since the almost kidnapping and my room just doesn't feel safe. I know my dad will ask questions if I wake up screaming.

I'll just sleep with my light on I decided. That should keep the nightmares away and keep the odd felling of my safe place at bay.

~*~

"No, no. Help me!" I was jolted awake by another nightmare. My light is still on so that means no one has been in here.

"Elaine, Elaine! Are you okay? I heard you yell." My dad came bursting into my room.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a nightmare, probably just more anxiety stuff." I told him, it was yet another lie. I hate this, but if I tell him: Hey, I snuck out one night after you specifically said I can't hang out with the Cooper's and Ryder. Oh, and I almost got kidnapped by a dude with a spider tattoo. Wait, don't wanna forget that I was apparently just a game they wanted to try to play, but I'm just not good enough. Oh, wait, one more thing. I still have a crush on Ryder even though he's a butthole. Yeah, that would work.

"You sure?" He questioned.

"Y-yeah."

"What are you two still doing up?"

"MOM!" I yelled. She's home early.

"Eleanor! My love, you're home!" My dad is always happy to see my mom, and she's home early. It's only five pm considering I got home from Adeline's and slept the day away.

"I love you to Sebastian." My dad walked up to my mom and kissed her. They're still my one true pairing: Always will be.

"Elaine sweetie, you look startled. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. My meds ran out and I had a nightmare." Both of my parents looked at me concerned, "Really guys. I'm fine,"

"Okay, but if you need anything. We're always here for you." Stated my mom softly as she walked up to me. She cupped my face in her soft hands and lightly kissed my forehead.

"I love you, mama. Love you dad. How about we go downstairs and binge watch New Girl?" I suggested.

"Of course, just give me and your father some time then we'll be right down. If you want you can invite Adeline and her family for one big tv marathon." My mother stated ecstatically.

My parents walked out smiling as my mother asked for a piggyback ride and of course my father obliged.

(Eleanor's POV)

"I don't know, something just seems off."

Elaine did look spooked I thought, but she said she had a nightmare which is common when she doesn't have her meds.

"Sebastion honey, she's basically sixteen. Even with anxiety, she's not going to come to us with her problems. Besides, she's Elaine how much trouble could she get into within the span of a couple of days?" Hmm. I thought in my head, Violet promised she'd call. I would call her. I always text first to be sure she's not busy and she'll either text me back and say she's in class or at work or something that she's call later. Maybe I should just call her anyway.

"I know, I know baby. It's just that she has both of our DNA and well, we know Violet was around this age when she started sneaking around. I'm just scared I'll fuck up again and I would really prefer not to." This hurt me to hear. His parents weren't the best. My father blackmailed me in order to live here and keep terrorizing me and my family. Just hearing Sebastian think of himself as a bad parent made me want to hug him and never let go.

"Oh honey, you are an amazing dad. Violet is wild, I would love to be able to say she gets it from you and you alone... but she gets it from the both of us. Honestly, I'm surprised Elaine has made it this far without mishap. Adeline has even had her run-ins with the spider gang and other things, and you see the other spawns around this small town. Elaine, Adeline, and even Violet got off super good compared to the others. We're all lucky." He knows I'm right and I know I'm right. It's just a matter of his stubborn ass admitting it.

He sighed as he walked up to me and kissed my forehead. "God I've missed you, firecracker."

I smiled big: My nickname. He rarely calls me that old name anymore, but when he does it makes me smile all night. I'm so in love with this man, I'm so glad I let myself trust him. It was a dark time for me, but I suppose it was a dark time for all of us. I wrapped my arms around him and he did the same. I love our hugs: so safe, so warm.

"We should get downstairs with Elaine huh?" Stated Sebastian after awhile. He sadly broke the hug and I was left cold as I grabbed onto his long arm. We walked downstairs and saw Elaine sitting on the couch with her knees pulled to her chest. Hmm, may her anxiety is getting worse.

(Elaine's POV)

"Lainey, are you okay hun?"I heard my mom ask me as she touched my shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking." About everything I thought. Like how can I still be into Ryder and miss the Coopers when the last time I hung out with them I came in with problems but left with more.

"You okay"

"Yeah, mom I'm fine. Also, I took your suggestion. I invited the Browns, they should be here soon." I smiled. I love it when our families get together.

DING-DONG

"I'll get it." Stated my father before looking out of the peephole before opening the doors for our friends.

"Let's hype this place up!" Stated Adeline. Our parents smiled fondly as they hugged each other and started talking.

(Ryder's POV)

"So which tattoo are you getting today?" Asked Denton as we walked into my favorite tattoo shop: Sea Serpent Saloon.

"Ryder! Hey buddy, what can I get you today?" Questioned Joshua, the owner. We're not friends but this is the only place I've ever gotten a tattoo from, he also doesn't care whether I have a parent's consent. Clearly.

"Uhh... I was thinking of a grim reaper, at the base of my neck. Can you do that for me?" I questioned.

"Of course. Pull up a picture of what you want and I'll get it done. There's a chair free over there." Joshua pointed to his station and I walked over with Denton.

I pulled up a picture of what I wanted, then Joshua got the ink and tattoo gun ready. I took off my shirt and got on my stomach so he could do what he does best.

After about an hour it was five-thirty and Joshua was done. Denton took a picture of the art and showed me. It's perfect I thought.

"Thanks, talk to you later" I stated. I'm not gonna talk to him later and he won't talk to me.

"So-" Started Denton.

"Leave me alone. I said no." I heard a women's voice yell.

"Did you hear that?" I questioned Denton.

"Yeah. Let's go. I think it's coming from the alley.

We rushed towards the holler and saw a boy with dark hair and cheap tanned skin harassing a girl in a frilly crop top and jean shorts.

"Hey, what are doing." The boy was shocked and stopped pressing the girl giving her time to run without anyone stopping her.

"Ryder, of course, it's you." Damit, Liam's back in town... that means the Spider gang is congregating which means they also know someone is interfering with their activities. I just don't know if they know it's me or not.

"Liam, what are you doing here."

"You know damn well why I'm here. You've been interfering with the gang."

"So what if I am. Watcha' gonna do about it?"

He chuckled darkly "You know how the gang keeps an eye on you since that incident last year. They've noticed a girl, her name is Elaine. They say it seems you care about her so some of them broke into her house and found your sweatshirt. So tell me little brother, who is she exactly?" I could feel my blood pressure rising. Why do I care so much?