Chapter 8

~*~

Melissa

~*~

Monday came fast and because I didn't have school I spent it with Baker.

He refused to let me near him so I settled with sitting by his cage humming.

That was how most of my week was spent.

I'd wake up, have breakfast and go to the animal shelter.

On Tuesday I started feeding Baker treats and snacks, which he refused to actually eat.

On Wednesday he actually ate the treats and allowed me near his cage, which made me so freaking happy.

Thursday I gave him a blankets and toys I bought for him and washed in my detergent so my scent was on it.

He freaking loved his gift, who knew Baker was such a playful dog? Not the animal shelter that's for sure.

On Friday he allowed me in his cage and we played all day and I was in seventh heaven.

And since all the furniture and that came on Monday, I spent my nights making the house dad bought into a home. Or as close to a home as I could get.

My dad didn't come home, he didn't call or text. I heard nothing. But I made sure he knew I was still alive by using his credit card in the shops.

I bought baker a doggy house, more blankets and toys, I bought a pooper scooper for his mess and so much more.

It cost quite a bit of money, but did I care?

No.

I was angry at dad still. Just because I understood didn't mean it didn't hurt or piss me off.

I was glad though, because my brothers and their friends helped with all the furniture and that.

By helped I mean they did all the work. I supervised.

Saturday I spent adopting Baker, it was a struggle to get a collar on him as he didn't like it much but I prevailed.

Baker had sulked all day because of the collar but by dinner time he was glued to my feet.

I was a sucker for the puppy dog face!

Now it was Sunday and I had plans with Leo and Damian to have super at their house with my brothers.

It was free food so who was I to say no?

But of course Baker didn't want me to leave as he played in front of the door.

I had already gotten ready, wearing legging and a football jersey, it was my favorite lazy Sunday outfit but it also brought back so many painful memories.

Baker must have noticed my change of mood because he whined and came toward me. I smiled.

"I've known you a week and your already my favorite person in the world" I told Baker rubbing behind his ear a soft smile on my face as he wagged his tail.

Of course Baker wasn't a person but fuck if he wasn't better company than any human ever was.

"I need to go now" I say to Baker rubbing him behind his ear one more time before heading out the door.

I was late as it was but you know eh.

I walked across the street, I had offered to bring something for dinner but they had said no so instead I brought dessert.

It was a death by chocolate cheese cake I made myself. It had Nutella in it.

I knocked on the door and instead of Damien or Leo opening the door, Krystal stood at the door a bright smile on her face. She looked beautiful.

"Oh honey hey!" Krystal exclaimed and I smiled. I was confused but said nothing.

It would be rude.

"He Krystal, how are you?" I asked, kindly.

She put a hand on her heart and said in mock hurt "I'm awful, my favorite customer hasn't returned to my shop"

I laughed "I'm sorry I haven't had time to stop by" I was genuinely sorry, Krystal had been the first person in this town who didn't judge me or pull her nose up to me and I was grateful for that.

She smiled "When you do get time my doors are always open"

I felt my heart break at the offer, because honestly no one had ever wanted me around and here this woman who didn't know me was welcoming me with such warmth.

I closed my eyes as I smiled so she wouldn't see the pain behind my bright hazel eyes.

"Thank you" and I meant it.

Soon I was inside sitting in the living room talking with my brothers and Leo, when Damien walked in.

I didn't even greet him before I started talking "I don't know how you can be related to Krystal! I mean I understand Leo his a sweetheart but you?! Like how? Then again just being related to someone doesn't mean your gonna have a similar personality, but it seems Leo took after her maybe your an alien!" I rambled on animatedly.

But stopped short when I realized he wasn't alone. Behind him stood two bulking men. Both identical and taller than Damien.

Twins.

"Oh... Hey" I said smiling.

By the looks of it they were Damien and Leo's brothers. They had similar features. I just called their brother an alien.

Fudge it!

"Who are you?" One of the twins said he didn't sound happy. Although identical you could see the differences between the two.

The guy that spoke was taller, leaner, had a lighter skin tone and darker shade of green than his twin. He also looked meaner.

"She's-" Damien started to reply for me but I cut him off.

"I can speak for myself Dame" I said looking him in the eyes, which seemed to panic when I interrupted him "my name is Melissa, I just moved in across the street, I am 18 years old doing my last year of school and I'm the triplets little sister, you can call me Mel or Liz if you want" I said.

I stare at the two of them as they tensed upon hearing I moved in across the street.

"What are you doing here?" The other twin asked in a gentler tone, but it was still hard and kind of cold. I shrugged.

"I'm sitting obviously" was my sarcastic reply. I wasn't lying I hadn't moved from the couch.

I saw the mean ones jaw clench at my reply. Odd.

Sighing I say "I was invited, but if that offer no longer stands, I can leave"

I had no problem leaving; it wouldn't be the first time people didn't want me there.

I was used to it.

"NO!" Leo shouted quickly surprising me.

I blinked at him and so did everyone else in the room.

"I-I-" he stuttered before straightening up and saying with confidence "you promised"

I cringed. Fuck I did.

I looked at him for a moment before I said "your right I did" so I turned to his older brothers and shrugged.

The atmosphere was thick. Which didn't change during dinner.

Krystal sensed the tension and started asking questions as we ate.

"Why did you move?" Krystal asked, and I sighed. I knew people would ask but I didn't want to talk about it.

At the same time I wouldn't lie about it, "Something bad happened in our old town, it was bad enough that we had to pack up and move" I vaguely reply.

"What happened?" Tristan the mean twin asked.

I looked down at the table, frowning "that is a story for another time"

Krystal nodded, looking concerned.

"What about your father? Where is he?" Asked Train the nicer twin.

I remembered what he said to me and looked at the table "where he always is..." I whispered, my heart aching in my chest. I didn't even have the energy to be angry.

They all heard. Krystal looked at me with sympathy which I actually didn't mind. It meant she cared and I was glad at least someone did.

"I got a dog" I perked up, trying to lift the intense atmosphere.

Jason choked on what he was drinking "you what?!" He asked wide eyed.

I nodded enthusiastically "his names Baker I adopted him yesterday and he's the cutest thing I've ever seen and such a sweetheart. He has manners too! He always sits without being told when I give him food and waits until I'm seated at the table to start eating and he sleeps with me at night, it's been helping a lot having him around with the nightm-" I said excitedly but stopped short when I realized what I was about to say.

Shaking my head I smiled a million dollar smile "you should come over sometime so I can introduce you to him"

Jason looked troubled at what I was about to say but Jo smiled "He sounds like a good dog"

I beamed.

"How did you get dad to agree? He hates pets" Jake asked shocked.

"I didn't tell him" I shrug

"His not going to be happy Mel" Jake said but I looked him right in the eyes and smiled a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry about it" I say.

Dad had no say in my decision.

Baker would do me a world of good, he could help me maybe more than even my brothers could.

He was already doing a darn good job at it. I would have been in a bad place if I hadn't have been busy winning him over.

He was the best thing for me.

And the man who was barely even in my life wouldn't take that away, because I would fight tooth and nail for Baker.