NEW CHAPTER!! HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

At around 10, Jace dropped me off at home. I hadn't so much as rang the doorbell when the door swung open in my face. It was Parker standing there, looking absolutely terrified. Faintly, I could here sounds of people screaming and throwing dishes.

"What the hell is going on," I asked with wide eyes. Parker gestured to the master bedroom upstairs.

"Is that Rick and Mom," I asked and Parker nodded.

"They've been fighting since morning," he said and my eyes widened. I know they'd fought before; they were a couple after all. A whole day was a bit unreasonable though, even for them.

"Let me go check it out. You stay here," I said to Parker. He was scared I realized. Scared that they'd break apart just like our parents before.

"They'll be fine Parker," I said and hugged him tightly. He buried his face in my hair and I felt cold tears trailing down my neck.

"I don't want them to get divorced Blaze," he said softly, sounding more vulnerable than I'd ever heard him. I pulled back to look him dead in the eye.

"They won't Park. And even if they do, you'll still have me. You'll always have me," I promised him and he nodded. I leaned up to kiss him on the forehead.

"I'm just going to check on them. Are you coming," I asked softly and he nodded before following me up the stairs. The shouting had risen substantially and I was pretty sure someone was breaking Grandma's vase collection that we'd used to decorate the master bedroom. I visibly shuddered as the shouting voices became clearer.

"How could you Lucy! You have 2 kids! How could you do this to them," I heard Rick lash out. He sounded like he'd lost all control.

"So what if I have kids? I'll do what I want with my life Rick," screamed mom just as I finally opened the door. Rick smashed yet another vase on the floor and a white packet of powder fell out. He then turned up to look at Parker and I, his eyes dark with anger. Parker's eyes remained glued to the white powder on the ground.

"Mom, is, is that yours," he asked. Mom's defeated look was confirmation enough. My mother, who'd never touched alcohol, who'd never gone to a bar, who'd never even touched caffeine, was doing drugs. I practically staggered back in shock, straight into Parker's arms. He held me up, his own eyes swimming with tears.

"I, I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry. I won't touch them again. I promise just please, please don't leave me," my mom sobbed and I couldn't bring myself to move even as she fell to the ground, shaking with tears. Rick looked grief-stricken and torn as he looked at her.

"I can't be around that shit Lucy, you know that," he said softly, his voice breaking. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Why," I asked, my voice hoarse. He didn't even look at me as he explained how he was still going through rehab, and he wasn't finished yet. He wasn't strong enough to handle a house full of drugs.

"I'm leaving. Just for a while. I'll be back when the rehab ends," he said to my mother who was whimpering no, over and over again. I didn't know if it was because Rick was leaving or because all her secrets were out in the open.

"You two coming with me," he asked. At that my mom's head snapped up.

"No, no you can leave but my kids stay with me," she said, her eyes blazing with challenge. Rick nodded submissively once before engulfing Parker and me in a hug. My mind was still too shocked to even put my arms around him. He drew back, his eyes boring into mine.

"You call me if you have any problems okay Blaze. Anything at all, got it," he asked and I nodded weakly before he stepped passed us and out the door. My heart broke a bit as yet another father figure left my life. The front door slamming shut brought on a fresh wave of sobs from my mother and Parker slowly went to pick her up. She batted him off angrily though, rising off the ground. Tears were still streaming down her face, but more so from anger and the sting of betrayal.

"Fine, if he leaves me then I don't need him. I'll be fine on my own," she said, determined before stumbling out the door, leaving Parker and I to clean up the mess they'd made on the floor.

"You nervous," I asked Natasha as we drove to the Midnight Gardens in her red Porsche. Mom had seemed fine all morning, and even made waffles for breakfast. She seemed slightly off after lunch though so I'd left her at home much to her anger. Parker and I had done a thorough inspection of the house the night before and gotten rid of all the shit she'd bought, but still, just in case I had Parker stay home with her. This was good in a way. They wouldn't get into any trouble with the mess I'd gotten myself into.

"Nervous about singing? No. Nervous about the trouble they're starting? Hell yes," she said openly, leaning against her seat, her fingers drumming the steering wheel. A sign of nervousness I realized, just like her brother.

"It'll turn out okay Nat. They seem to know what they're doing," I said and it was the truth. Sebastian and Luca had an elaborate sketch planned out of which I only knew my role to play, to sing and then to get the hell away from the spot through the backstage as soon as the song ended.

"You ready," Natasha asked as she killed the engine, pulling up at a parking spot. I smiled in answer.

After meeting the rest of our friends, we made our way backstage around 8. I couldn't help my nerves as I paced the length of the area. I hadn't even seen Sebastian or Luca and I was seriously wondering whether that they'd backed out last second, leaving us to fend for ourselves. I wouldn't be surprised.

"And next we have Blaze Hart and Natalie James singing a piece they composed titled Soundless," announced the guy on stage. My heart hammered as I slowly went up and took my place behind the piano, with Natasha at center stage. I noticed Jace in the front and he gave me a thumbs up, a wide grin lighting up his face. It allowed me to loosen up a little and soon the lyrics flowed out of me as my fingers danced across the black and white tiles.

The crowds were deafeningly loud, or maybe that was the beat of my heart as the song reached its end. I stood up to give a quick bow, sending a smile to Jace and the others who were already running to congratulate us backstage. Natasha bounced up and down excitedly, pleased that we'd sounded so good and in listening to her remarks I failed to notice a man appear in front of me until I bumped straight into him.

And he swung me up his arms as my world faded to darkness. 

Ooooh another cliffhanger (:

Hope you guys liked it. If you did, vote and comment below. 

-ASH