Song: I'm still here- Sia

As long as I can remember I have loved the stage. I loved being the center of attention. I love to dance more than anything in the world. Dancing makes me feel free and alive. The curtain goes up and the lights are all on me as I twirl and take the stage. When I was really little I can remember my mom taking me to all my recitals. I was her little star. I meant everything to her. My father was my superhero or that is how I remember him anyway. He was always there for everything, making sure to never miss one important moment in my life. I had a family.

 I had an older sister, Carlie and two older brothers, Sammy and Jacob; making me the youngest of the family. I was adored by all of them. I always got what I wanted and it was because I was the baby. My parents made sure that we had everything and I mean everything. We had the perfect little family and then one night it was all taken away in a blink of an eye. One minute we are playing and the next Carlie is screaming at me to get out of the house. I remember her forcing me out of her bedroom window and telling me to run...run far away and never look back.

 However, I was so scared that I went and hid in the playhouse right in the backyard. To me that was really far away from the house but not far enough apparently. When the door opened up, I was shocked to see this angelic figure looking back at me. She opened up her arms to me and promised me that no one would ever, ever hurt me again. She promised me that the bad men would never harm me.

 And then years later I find out that the one who took my family away was actually by half brother. Apparently my father left him and his mother years before he married my mother. He came back for some type of revenge. I just never understood why did he have to take all of them away. My mother, my sister and my brothers had nothing to do with what my father did to them. It's crazy how I still have nightmares about that night and how I still fear even now that he will come back for me but I know he gone from this Earth.

I know he will never come for me because of my new family made sure of that. Scarlett and Mekhi Adler had taught me so much over the years. They gave me the best childhood a girl could ever ask for. They raised me as if I was their biological daughter. I can't see out into the audience due to all the hundreds of lights on me but I know that they are sitting there in the crowd watching me on my opening night. I can't recall a time in my childhood that they were not there.

My partner reaches out for me and I take his hand. I let him guide me throughout the performance. Ballet has been my main focus since I moved to New York. Scarlett and Mekhi made sure that I got into one of the best schools here so that I can pursue my dreams in dance. Three years in and I finally got the lead part. It's about time. I have worked my ass off to get where I am today.

The play comes to an end and the curtains go down. We all line up to come back on stage for the final bow. Gabe swings me around and kisses my hands and then leans into me and kisses me softly on the lips. I smile from ear to ear as chills run my my body. Not 9only from the kiss but the cheers coming from the audience thriller li s me every time. The curtain goes back up and everyone runs out to bow. He holds my hand tightly by his side and then when it is our turn we run out and take our bow. I hear the loud applause all around us and then we bow again. When we straighten back up, Gabe turns to me and leans in to kiss me with such passion as if he is showing or even proving to the world that I am his. When he pulls away, I lick my lips and walk off the stage pissed at him for doing this out in public for all to see. I'm  so not ready to let everyone know about us yet.

The lights go off and I can hear the curtain drop behind us. I keep walking to the back towards the dressing room. Gabe walks in right behind me. "Vi...what is wrong? Are you mad at me?"I don't say a word to him as I undress.

He walks over to me and grabs my arm and forces me to look at him. "Is it so wrong that I love you? Is it so wrong that I kissed you out there?"

I jerk my arm away. "You just don't get it do you? My family is out there watching tonight and here you are making moves on me. Gabe they don't know that we are seeing each other."

"Well they do now; what the hell is the problem?" His hand cups around the back of my neck and he pulls me closer into him for another kiss. I let him kiss me and finally a part of me gives in and I kiss him back.

When I pull away, I keep my hand on his chest. "Gabe...you don't know how they are. They are so protective over me. I can assure you that any moment they will be knocking on that door and asking me what in the hell was that. You can't just go around and kiss me like that in front of everyone."

He lets go of me with a little force. I can tell he is pissed off before he even has to say anything. "What is this Vi...are you ashamed to be seen with me. I love you...hell we have been together for over a year now and you still haven't fucking told them about us?"

"Gabe...you just don't understand. You don't know how my family is. I'm not sure you would want to get involved with them."

"You act like they are bad but you talk so highly of them." He reaches out and places both of his hands on the sides of my hip to hold me close and still. "It's time babe that we finally meet, stop keeping me in the dark."

"Fine...you can meet them but don't say that I didn't warn you ahead of time." I take his hands and take them off of my hips to finish getting dressed. When we step out of the dressing room sure enough the both of them are there waiting for me. I look over at Gabe and then back at them, trying not to look nervous. I put the thought behind me. "Mom, dad, this is Gabe...Gabe this is Scarlett and Mekhi Adler my parents."

Gabe holds his hand out to my dad and he at least shakes his hand. He eyes him down and then looks over at me. When they release he holds his hand out for Scarlett and she shakes it as well with a firm grip. "It's nice to meet you. It looks like you two have been together for a while now. So tell me how long exactly?"

I barge in to stop him from talking, "Mom we started dating a little over a year ago. I know I should have told you guys, I'm sorry."

"We don't keep secrets in this family Violet...I have known about Gabe from the moment you got together. I just can't figure out why it took you so long to tell us."

I should have known that they would have already known. They know everything. These past three years that I have been living here thinking that I am a free to do whatever I please, what a fucking joke. I wonder who they have hired to keep taps of me. "Mom I can explain?"

"No worries...if we are going to make it to the restaurant in time we need to be going." She starts to walk off and Mekhi follows right behind her. I can tell he wants to say something to me but decides against it. Gabe reaches out for my hand and we follow suit quietly behind them.

We get out to the parking lot and I am greeted by Ashton and Atticus. I nearly jump out of my skin as I let go of Gabe and run over to Atticus. He reaches out for me and picks my whole body up into a great big hug. "There she is...you were amazing up there on stage. We have missed you so much kido."

"I'm not a little kid anymore Atticus. I can't believe you guys are here. You watched me...you really came to watch," I say excitedly.

"Of course, why would we not." He puts me back down on my feet and kisses my forehead. He looks over at Gabe giving him a go to hell look. "And who is this?"

"This is Gabe...my dance partner...also my boyfriend."

While they shake hands, I turn to hug Ashton. "Ashton thank you for coming as well." He hugs me and kisses both sides of my face. When he lets go he shakes Gabe's hand as well. Ashton walks over and opens the door and my parents get in first and then I climb in the back, then Gabe.

I give them an update on everything that has been going on. I mostly talk about school related things. I try not to focus on Gabe. When he places his hand on my knee, I kindly remove it when I notice my mom looking down at it. I can feel the tension in this small space and I can't wait to get at the damn restaurant.When we pull up, I can't get out fast enough. However I have to wait for Ashton to open the door. We all get out and go inside.

The restaurant it a five star place, and the prices are outrageous but I am use to the way they blow money. Gabe however looks at the prices and almost chokes on his water. He leans over to me and whispers in my ear. "Babe we can't afford this shit."

I pat him softly on the leg. "Don't worry about it they have it covered."

"You know I don't like people paying for me," he whispers harshly and almost loud enough for them to hear.

I look over at my parents and then glance over to look at him. "These are not just people they are my family and believe me they got it." Hell if he only knew what they did for a living and how much money they bank on one job he would be shocked.

I order the seafood platter only because it is outrageously over priced and then a bottle of the finest wine they have just to prove my point. I almost laugh when Gabe decides on the shrimp platter because it was like the cheapest item on the menu. He sticks with the water as well. However when they bring the three hundred dollar bottle of wine over, I pour him a glass as well. He gives me a look like he can't believe I just did that.

"What I thought we were celebrating," I say with a cheerful smile before taking a long sip.

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Author's Note: Well I hope you enjoyed the first chapter in, sorry if a little boring but I promise you Dark side of Violet will have lots of twist and turns in the plot with killing, blood and sex to meet your needs of the Cleaner's Daughter Series. If you liked it please vote and if you loved it please share for others to see; I would greatly appreciate it.