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Dad walked ahead of me, lugging one of my two suitcases. I hadn't brought much with me and dad was shocked with my lack of attire. When he saw that, he insisted that after the supplies shopping that I'd go clothes shopping with Evelyn. Even though I wanted to minimize my time with the woman who had stolen my father from us, I merely nodded to his words. But that was all I did. That was all I wanted to do from now on-just nod to all of the questions, statements, and complaints anyone had toward me.

I didn't want to fight anymore, and I definitely didn't want to rebel against anyone's orders. I had gotten all of my rebelliousness out of my system back in Maine. I'd tried to take control of my life many of times, but I'd failed more and more as time went on. Keeping a low profile and making sure my outspoken personality didn't get me in trouble was my biggest priority nowadays.

Dad used one hand to unlock the door. It creaked open and he stepped in. I followed after him quickly, hiking up my duffle bag higher on my stiff shoulder. I swept my gaze over the large foyer and the living room that panned out to the left of me.

A massive plasma TV that was mounted on a mint colored wall, below it was a plush, white fur carpet. A beautiful couch set was pressed against the wall, facing the TV. Breathtaking art pieces and paintings dotted along the tall walls and on tables. The odd thing was that I wasn't shocked about my father's riches. I was more shocked at all the family portraits they had up and photos hung up from family outings. We didn't have that in our old house when he used to live with us. Mom had to drag him out of bed to do anything, and the entire time he would sulk on his own, sipping on a beer the entire time.

I guess he wanted to be better for Evelyn, I thought to myself. Spinning around, I absorbed the entirety of the house in one glance. I finally came to a stop and asked: "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, Evelyn is out with the boys at the country club in Winchester Hills."

They went to a freaking Country Club? My God, they were snobbier than I had first assumed.

"They'll be back any moment though." Dad assured me, knotting his fingers together in front of him-unknotting them and knotting them occasionally. He was nervous. It was a huge tell-tale sign that he was uncomfortable. A quirk of a smile formed on my lips, glad in the strangest of ways. "Do you want me to show you up to your bedroom?"

I agreed and we went up the stairs. He stopped before the last room on the left and opened the door. I stepped over the threshold on my own, he stayed behind. It was a lot larger than my last room. The walls were painted a gross piss-yellow shade. I tolerate this, though. I didn't want to come off too picky and demand a change. It wasn't like I was going to be here for that long. They'd surely kick me out once college came around next year.

I flung the duffle bag to the bed and pulled out the picture frame of Lenard that I had. He was my older brother and it was the only photo that I'd taken from home and brought with me.

Dad cleared his throat as I went over to the nightstand.

"What?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

"Can you...not put that out in your room? Anyone can walk in here and see that."

I stood back and narrowed my eyes at him. Was he kidding me? My brother was the reason why I was still alive, and my father was well aware of that. "Why can't I? I don't care if people walk in and see it."

"I care though. And I don't want it there."

"He's my brother. And your son-if you've forgotten."

Well, there goes for me trying to not rebel.

He hushed me, waving both his hands downward in the attempt to calm me down. "I know, I know. It's just that I think...for the best of everyone, you shouldn't bring that out. Maybe put in a journal or scrap book."

"Did you not tell Evelyn about Lenard? And what he did for us? For me?"

He hesitated. "Of course I did."

"Oh, really? So you shouldn't mind me-"

"That's it, Silvia. You don't bring that in my house," he roared, snatching the frame from me and crashing it down on the floor, slamming a foot down on the picture. Glass flew everywhere. "You don't bring that in my house. That's my rule. If I say to do something, you go by what I say."

I could feel a tremble running through me, consuming me.

He murmured a swear word at himself, quickly and quietly, and rushed to me. "I'm sorry for yelling."

I inched away from him and wrapped my arms around myself. "It's okay."

But it wasn't okay.

It looks like you haven't changed much, I said as he shut the door.

After his footsteps faded away down the stairs, I retrieved the photo of my brother in the rubbles of glass and plastic. I tucked it back into my duffle bag and carefully cleaned up the mess dad had left.

......

It was half past five when I finally saw a car pull into the drive way. Two very tall boys around my age exited from the car, along with an older woman-who had to be Evelyn. I didn't know which boy was Hunter and which one was Maven Price. Even though they were twins, one had a buzz cut.

"Silvia," my father called out. Before I knew it, my dad was back at the front of my door. "Everyone's here. Come down and greet them."

I'd prefer to stay here and not meet anyone new.

I exhaled and raised off of the bed. Gripping the railing of the stairs, I walked painfully slowly down them. A loud conversation had broken out between the twins, joking about a party that was going on at a boys house they both played lacrosse with down at the high school.

"I don't like you boys over at the Giller's place late at night like that." Evelyn admitted, frowning. She took off her trench coat and flattened it out over the couch.

"Mom," the buzz cut boy groaned, flopping into a seat. "You know his parents. His parents know you. I don't see why you wouldn't mind us going."

"Maven, she said no. You asked her last week. The answer is the same." My dad said, coming down the stairs faster than me. Everyone's eyes followed the sound of his voice, and finally looked up to where I was, now frozen on the steps.

Dad paused, side stepping from the stairs and folded his hands behind his back. "Evelyn." He faced his wife. "Maven, Hunter. I'd like you to meet my daughter, Silvia."

"You've gotta be kidding me," Maven spat. The boy with the buzz cut. "You choose now to bring in your messed up daughter?"

I flinched at his choice of words. What had my dad told them about me?

"Maven!" his mother gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "Where in the heavens did that come from? You don't speak to your sister like that."

"Step-sister." He corrected and bounced up to his seat. "And from what I've heard about his two kids, I'll be sure to lock my room tonight." His eyes hit mine. "You know, I was in a damn good mood. A real good mood." He brushed past me up the stairs and slammed his bed room door. Everything was happening so fast, too fast. I didn't know how to comprehend it or how I was meant to react to it.

Hunter, the boy who hadn't said a word to me or rather to anyone since he'd walked in to the house, turned to me and sighed. "Don't listen to him. He's just...Maven."

I nodded, pretending like I knew what in the hell that meant. I'd stepped in only moments ago and I was already called names and screamed out. "It's all right."

"No, of course it's not," Evelyn huffed. "Ignore him, my dear. He's honestly been so out of it lately."

He seemed fine before he saw me.

_______

A/N: Silvia IS NOT related to the Twins by blood. They don't have the same mom or dad. I never state that they do. They are related through marriage. Her dad married their mom. There's no way they could've been related if the affair happened after their birth.

----------

Song: Ghosts by On An On

Lyrics:

❝ They've gotta believe me

That I'll never forget you

...

Every way I'm overcoming

To keep you alive

To keep you alive

So take me out into the night

It was all you didn't say

You had no fight

I was on the verge to scream

When you wouldn't scream

About anything❞

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