Chapter 11

~*~

Jonathan

~*~

It has been a week since we found out, we haven't seen Liz since.

Train had come back alone and seemingly upset, not that I know why. He didn't even like my sister.

Jason has been pissed off ever since, Jake didn't seem that surprised honestly and I? I don't know how to feel.

I'm bit exactly close to my mother, and because of her I'm not even close toy sister or my dad.

The few people I'm close too are upset and angry. Even Damien and Leo were pissed.

I guess if I'm feeling anything it would be worry.

My sister is missing, after a huge fight, and no one knows where she is.

Mom and John came clean about their divorce, and while it may not have been a secretary dad cheated with, dad still cheated.

Mom had to come clean about the lies she told about John and Mel, apparently Melissa did try to keep in touch but mom wouldn't let her until she gave up.

The worst was finding out Melissa was in hospital, apparently John was supposes to tell mom but forgot.

She was bullied... Dad doesn't know the whole story but apparently a couple of kids ganged up on her beat her so bad they broke bones.

And it wasn't the first time.

Doctors said she had old bruises, cuts and scars.

Dad didn't even know because he was never around.

Dad had to call the police, when Melissa didn't come back last week. I've been going out at night trying to find her, I know Tristan, Train, Leo and Damien have also been looking.

Which is why we are all gathered at John's house, even mom and our step dad were here.

"What even happened when you went after her?" Tristan asked his twin.

Train glared down at the ground with a frown "to leave her alone"

I got the feeling he wasn't divulging something, but hey who was I to pry, it seemed personal.

"Do you know anywhere she would have gone?" Derrick asks John.

John however just shrugs his shoulders "we weren't that close" he said

I scoffed, gaining everyone's attention.

"What?" John asks me and I shrug like he did.

"Close or not you should have been a parent, mom isn't exactly winning mother of the year but at least she knows where we go" I didn't even care if I hurt any of their feelings.

John sighed "I know I wasn't the best parent, but I was going through a rough time as well" he said.

And I wanted to laugh.

Leo did laugh "that's your excuse? You left an eleven year old to look after herself, clean the house, cook and do all her homework by herself and your only excuse is you had it rough. She lost her entire family, the person whose had it rough is Melissa." He said snarling.

I never understood why Leo was always defensive of Melissa, but I take it the boy who notices everything had his reasons.

John looked down at his hands, a faraway look in his eyes "I know that, damnit I know. I knew it the moment the police called telling me they found my daughter half dead in a ditch with another boy, but there is only so much I can do" he said, his voice straining.

"Theirs a lot you could have done" I said, speaking up for the second time "you could have actually showed up for dinner, called her to make sure she got home from school and maybe she wouldn't have told you about the bullying, maybe she would have still ended up in that hospital bed but at least maybe she wouldn't have been alone, she wouldn't have had to go through it all with no one in her corner"

John's shoulders slumped as fears fell from his eyes but I didn't care. I spoke the truth.

"And that goes for you too mom" Jason spoke and I smiled because I was going to say that.

"You could have been there for her, brought her with us, taken care of her, you could have had a daughter who didn't expect the worst from you but instead you blamed her for dads mistakes" Jake finished.

Everyone was silent. We were now just waiting, waiting for the police to call, for Melisa to come home.

~*~

Train

~*~

We were all about to leave John's house when the front door swung open and an over grown dog ran inside barking.

It was Baker.

And trailing in behind him was Melissa. She laughed at Baker before her eyes caught sight of us and her laugh stopped.

But a smile still played on her lips as she greeted us "hey"

And I was utterly clueless.

She was acting like nothing happened!

Nothing at all!

"Mel? You're home!" Jake said as he rushed to give her a hug, much to Bakers distaste as the dog growled at Jake.

"Of course big bro! I wouldn't leave you alone like that"

The underline meaning behind that tho! I saw Melissa's mother cringe. She had hit her target.

Jake just seemed to hug her tighter.

"Where were you?!" Derrick exclaimed, his fatherly nature coming out.

Derrick couldn't have kids, so when he met the triplets mother and fell in love he was over the moon.

Now that he found out he had a stepdaughter he felt protective of her.

Melissa eyed Derrick carefully before shrugging "somewhere over the rainbow" she replied like it was the most natural answer in the world.

I snickered at the scowl on her father, stepfather and mothers face.

Earning a glare from almost everyone in the room, all except Mel who looked amused.

"He was being serious Melissa Mallery Grey!" Exclaimed John.

Melissa shrugged "and I chose not to answer him" she sassed.

And this time even Tristan and Jason laughed with me.

"Melissa!" Her Mary hissed "they are your elders, show some respect!"

Melissa sighed "I didn't come to argue or fight, I've had enough of that" sue said and turned around to leave once again.

~*~

Melissa

~*~

I walked to the door, already fed up with life. I even smiled! SMILED! After all the shit they pulled I smiled!

Agh! Some things never change!

I made it too the porch before I was stopped by Train, and the guilt ate at me.

What I had said to him...

"Look I-

" are you-" we both spoke at the same time and I smiled.

"Thank you" I said to him, smiling a small smile at the boy in front of me.

"For what?" He asked confused and I smiled.

"You defended me against my mother, when everyone else was shell shocked you stood up for me and when I walked away you were the only one to ask if I was okay, and even though I lashed out at you, you never once threw it in my face, so thank you"

Train stood there wide eyed as I finished.

He opened his mouth and closed it like a fish.

"I- you're not half bad kid" he eventually got out and I chuckled.

"You aren't as shitty as other people I've met" I replied.

"I'm sure there was a complement in there somewhere" he ruffled my hair.

Just then Tristan, Damian and Leo came walking out and I hugged all three of them.

"Thank you" I said and they all took turns patting my head before leaving.

"Melly..." I heard my mom say and I felt my heart hurt.

She hadn't called me that in my years.

"Yeah?" I said my voice shaking, I refused to turn around.

"I-I'm sorry" she cried and I felt my own tears cascading down my face.

"Sorry doesn't fix it, it doesn't make it hurt any less" I whispered loud enough for her to hear.

A heard a sob from behind me and as much as I wanted to comfort her I couldn't!

"I know sweetie" she said just as softly "I know"

After we finished crying and I hugged all my brothers tightly and introduced myself to my new stepfather they left.

Needing to go home before dark.

It was only me and dad, neither of us talking.
Eventually I decided I needed a good nights rest.
So with baker next to me I fell into a dreamless sleep.