"

BROKEN

I stood at the end of stairs looking at my father and step-mother entering the mansion. My step- brothers and sister ran to them hugging them closer because they were coming home from their business trip after around 2 months. My step-mother had three big bags in her hand as she happily handed them to her children. Martina, started squealing loudly saying 'Gifts! Thank you, mom- dad'.

They hugged them again before settling in living room unpacking their presents. My eyes were fixed on my father to capture some kind of emotion towards me. I wasn't expecting expensive gifts but just a small nod of acknowledging me. His eyes gazed at me with the same cold emotion, I was seeing for last 10 years.

With the same emotionless face, he turned towards his wife and her children and his lips turned into something you call smile. A small knot tugged in my stomach but I tried to swallow all my emotions. I should have been habitual to this but that small hope was there telling me that maybe my father still cared for me but some hopes are just hopeless, aren't they? I silently walked back to my room, not that anyone knew I was there and closed the door silently. I sat near window, not wanting to cry over something this stupid.

So, this is pretty much what happened with me for last ten years. They behave like I don't even exist. They don't care if I'm alive or dead. It all started when my mom died. I was seven that time. Before that my dad was the perfect example of how a father should be but she left and everything changed.

He changed, he stopped caring, and he just dragged me from place to place. He married thrice after that just for money. After his second marriage I realized that he was nothing but a conceited jerk.

He made sure that I don't get along with the family. Now he was married to Annie the only daughter of some rich man. She already had three children, Connor, who was senior in school then Martina, who was in same grade as me and then last one Nick who was the only person who talked to me when I was in their house and he was six.

Suddenly the door opened and on the cue, Nick ran to me. He plopped on the bed while hugging his new Car.

"Gracie, look, mom bought me new car." He smiled giddily. I chuckled softly while sitting beside him, ruffling his blond locks.

"That's cool, Nick." I tried to match his smile.

"Where is your gift?" I knew he would ask me this question as he always did.

"Well, you see, dad didn't get what I wanted so he told me he would bring my gift next time." I lied.

"Again?" his small lips turned into frown but then he looked at me with a wide grin on his lips,

"I will buy you the biggest gift ever, I promise." tears burned at the back of my eyes as I hugged him tightly.

"Ok!"

"

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I typed furiously on computer keyboard as thoughts were playing soccer in my head. I had to get them out. You see, it was a habit of mine, whenever I felt anxious, I would write something. This time, I started with a story of a girl, her feelings on some level were same as mine but main thing about these characters were I could relate them and it made me feel better.

It was a story which was close to my heart and wanted to write it down on paper or anywhere so if anything went wrong, I would still have a proof. I mean come on; you wouldn't know what will happen in future. What if I get amnesia and then lose my memory? No no! Sounds like exaggeration. But come on, a girl can take care of her valuable memory and time, right?

I looked outside the window and it seemed like whole town had a white bed sheet covered over it. It was the best thing about winter, it was chilly but it was stable with no emotions. It was cold like someone's heart and unbreakable.

"Danny! I'm hungry." My brother broke the silence with his loud yelling.

"Coming." I yelled back and shut down my computer.

Running downstairs I found my older brothers sitting in living room playing x-box. I have three older, over-protective brothers but I love them more than anything.

They are triplets and eighteen. Dawson is oldest has black hair and green eyes then there is Drake who has brown hair and Blue eyes and last one is Damien who is the most possessive of all of them and has black hair with blue eyes.

"Danny, hungry!" Damien pouted like a small child.

"What do you want to eat?" I asked him but he shrugged.

"Let's go out to eat." Dawson replied while putting his controller away.

I smiled widely at him and hugged him. He laughed loudly while twirling me in circle.

"I'll grab my coat." I ran upstairs.

I could hear shuffling as they were getting ready too. In next few minutes we were sitting in Dawson's car and driving towards our favorite diner. As soon as we entered, the bell rang and Rosie, owner of the diner greeted us with big smile.

"Aren't those Carver siblings?" she gushed and led us to our usual seat.

We always came here after every two days and it was all familiar. I used to work for her on weekdays so for me it was like second home.

"Danielle, how are you child?" she asked me as I hugged her saying 'fine'. She was like a mother figure for us, for me.

"And what about you, young men?" she asked my brothers and they did the same only they three hugged her together literally cutting her air supply.

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating but you got what I mean, right?

"So usual order?" And we all nodded. She went away and Damien and Drake started bickering over some non sense issue. Dawson just shrugged and pulled me into his warm embrace.

"What happened, munchkin? Missing school?"

"Yeah! Dying to go there!" I rolled my eyes while he laughed at my sarcasm.

"Don't worry we'll be there." He rubbed my hand and I just placed my head on his shoulder.

The bell at the entrance of the diner rang and I looked up. There stood, Kyle, bad boy of the school. He was alone and the hood was covering his head. But I recognized him because we shared four classes together.

His eyes met mine; he gave a small nod of acknowledgement. In return, I smiled. His eyes turned beside me and I noticed Dawson saw the small exchange.

"Is he your friend?" he asked and on the cue, Damien and Drake turned towards us.

"Ummm... No?" I smiled sheepishly. He raised his eyebrow so I exhaled,

"We share some classes that's how I know him." I told him.

Damien turned towards Kyle and narrowed his eyes.
"Something is really wrong with that guy. He never talks to anyone." He stated.

"Don't judge, Dami! You don't even know him." I interrupted.

"She is right. We haven't even talked to him once so we can't judge." Drake nodded understandingly. I smiled at him which he returned.

"True! But stay away." Dam said and I groaned while hiding my face in Dawson's chest. A laugh vibrated from his chest as other two joined him.

"Here's your order." Stacy came bouncing and put our plates in front of us.

"Thanks Stace!" Drake nodded and she turned pink. You see, they had something going on. They never talked much just staring and everything but both of them had big crush on each other. I always found it funny to trouble and tease them. So on this time, I giggled which gained me a glare from both Stacy and Drake.

We continued with our dinner and after finishing bid goodbye. We sat in car as I took window sit behind Dawson. My eyes found Kyle who was leaning against his bike looking at something. My gaze followed his and found two little twins playing with snow. There was small smile on Kyle's face which was little shocking.

Kyle was kind of guy from whom everyone preferred to stay away. He never talked to anyone except his friend, Noah! They were called what you know as Bad boys. There were even rumors about them being in gang which were total absurd. He was a straight A student, always attended lectures which would be little difficult for someone who belonged to gang. Except some detentions because of his snarky comments and fights with snobby jocks, he was clean.

Car jerked ahead and I came out of my thoughts. I looked for him but he was gone which wasn't surprising at all. I shook my head to forget about a certain bad boy.

"Are you okay, Danny?" Damien asked me and I nodded giving him a small smile.

"I love you." He mumbled while hugging me and kissing my hair.

"I love you too, Dami."

"I'm cold too. I need a hug!"

Drake yelled from passenger side and jumped back while hugging me from other side.

We all laughed at our childishness. I saw Dawson pouting as he was looking at us from rear view mirror.

"I'm so tempted to stop the car and join you guys." He said and we all laughed again.

"Don't. I'm sleepy. I want to go home." I mumbled in my brothers' embrace.

"Go to sleep, Lil sister." Drake kissed my head and then they started chatting about their upcoming games.

Soon, sleep took over and I rested my head on my brother's chest while he was stroking my head. After some time, I felt myself being lifted but I just ignored and drifted into peaceful sleep.

Kyle!