"There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen

She had a marvelous time ruinin' everything"

"Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. Spen-" Xander practically bounces up and down as I walk through the empty corridors of school purposely ignoring him. "What" I snap interrupting him. "You forgot your lunch.. but you'll not be getting it with that attitude." He says walking passed me with a cunning grin.

"I'll just buy some" I yell ahead to the dark skinned boy running ahead of me down towards the lab. "Well I'll happily have that lunch you packed yourself then" he replies, already out of sight.

I make my way down the long corridor all the way to literature. Once I've arrived I take my assigned seat at the back of the class, next to my lovely brother Jameson. I hate alphabetically chosen seats, it means every class I have with my brothers I'm stuck sitting next to them. And lucky for me, our school has certain classes with mixed year groups, meaning I have classes with both of them.

"Is there a special occasion? Why are you here?" I ask Jameson who usually isn't present at all during school.

"Skye told me I had to come in today or she wouldn't let me meet the guest" he says. "Guest?" I ask with a raised eye brow. "Avery Kylie Grambs. The girl who's in the old man's will" he informs.

"Oh shit. So she finally answered?" I ask, "No, Grayson's on his way to her" he says. "Why does no one tell me anything around here?" I sigh. "Nash is gonna be back as well" he adds.

"Nash is coming home?" I ask excitedly, "Yeah. I don't know how long for though." He tells me. "Well hopefully he doesn't bring that Margaret lady he was fucking the last time he visited. She was like 60." I reminisce.

"At least your room isn't right next to his. All I could hear all night was him doing that weird kinky 'yeehaw' thing he does when he's about to cum." Jameson tells me.

"He still does that?" I yell, equally shocked and amused. I potentially raised my voice a little louder than one should when whispering in class.

"Excuse me, Miss Hawthorne. Care to share with the rest of the class what was so funny?" Mrs Treusch -our Literature teacher- addresses.

"Not really." I frown, knowing exactly how this plays out most days.

"Come on Spencer, you know the drill. You too Jameson." She orders in her croaky voice. Her skin sagging with wrinkles.

We both sigh and stand to our feet in perfect sync.

Miss Treusch has a rule. Those who speak in her class must reenact their conversation at the front of the class. Who knows why but the old hag probably gets a kick out of hearing high school kids gossip.

"Our 'family member' is gonna come back for the will reading." Jameson starts deadpan. Careful not to tell anyone it's Nash. "Really? Hopefully he doesn't bring the Margaret lady he was fucking the last time he visited. She was like 60." I reply flatly.

"At least your room isn't right next to his. All I could hear all night was him doing that weird kinky 'yeehaw' thing he does when he's about to cum." Jameson says, earning quiet giggles from our class mates.

"That is quite enough Hawthornes. I'm sure the class does not need to know about Nash's quirks in the bedroom." Miss Treusch scolds.

Jameson and I both take a single step to walk back to our desks however at the same time we pause.

"We didn't tell you it was Nash.." Jameson raises his eyebrow.

She's around 60, just the age he's into. How else could she know it was about him unless she witnessed his kink first hand.

"Did you.. sleep with our brother?" My eyes widen to the point my eyebrows almost fall off my head. "Enough. Of course not.. You told us it was Nash." She lies.

"No they didn't." The whole class smirks in unison.

"Silence. Back to the task at hand. Any more from you two and you'll be sent straight to the headmaster." She yells.

Jameson and I share a glance and shiver with disgust. We sink quietly into our seats, too repulsed to say anything else.

By the time lunch comes around I'm starving. I make my way to the labs where I know Xander will be. I peak inside a few classes before I find him.

Thea Calligaris, Rebecca Laughlin, Noah Thatcher and him stand around a blob of metal. The four of them are all a very close group, whether they're all friends or not is beyond me.

Noah and Xander are close friends as far as I know. His family comes from money just like ours, however not as much as ours. Everyone in this school comes from money yet by far, us Hawthorne's are the wealthiest.

"Spencer. Just the girl I wanted to see." Xander smiles. "Give me money." I demand flatly. "Hi? How are you?" He hints.

"Hi. How are you? Thats great to hear. Give me the money." I smirk sarcastically.

"What money?" He asks genuinely confused. "I don't have cash on me and the lunch ladies don't accept cards. If you're eating my lunch I need money." I explain.

"What did you pack?" He asks. "Cheese sandwich, strawberries, cucumber and a juice box." I tell him. "I'll be having that then." He smiles excitedly. "Fine by me." I shrug and wait as he removes money from his pocket.

His hand stops before he can place it in my hand. "How would you like to do me a favour?" He offers. "I don't like your favours much." I say with fear.

"Thea get the door!" He yells suddenly and I start running towards the nearby door but unfortunately Thea gets there first locking it with the keys Xander received as 'science captain' or as I like to say 'nerd'.

I groan in agony, knowing I'm trapped and about to be forced into doing something.

"Take your uniform off." Xander orders. "Look, whatever incestuous orgy you're into I'd rather not partake " I recoil, "Gross, no. I have something for you to wear." He tells me.

I sigh and stick my hand out for him to hand me his designated costume. I go to the corner of the room to put it on. "No peaking." I shout.

I slip off my blazer followed by my tie, shirt, shoes and skirt. "I'm gonna strangle you one day." I holler at Xander, removing my tights now too.

I never thought I would spend my Friday lunch standing in a science classroom half naked.

"Quit staring at my sister dude." Xander scolds, my eyes widen. I slide into the black long sleeved and legged body suit, I look down at myself and see multiple wires connected to the suit.

"Why do you need me?" I ask as I return to the group. "You are our puppet. We're building a robot and you're basically the model. The robots body will look exactly like yours does over that suit." He explains.

Great. Just what I need. A robot representation of all my insecurities.

"So this robot is going to have my ass and boobs?" I laugh. Xander sighs, "Yeah, I suppose it will." He replies, "Lucky robot." I smirk.

"Ok we're about to power it up. Once the computer starts scanning your body you have 10 minutes of wearing that suit before you can take it off." Xander tells me.

"You're so lucky that I can't say no to your baby face." I scoff.

"I am." He smiles giving me a hug. "Gross get off nerd." I smile jokingly, "Love you too Spence." He grins, using my nickname. Only my family uses this nickname. And by family I mean strictly my brothers and the old man.

The computer beeps, "Okay 10 minutes have started. Go get your lunch." Xander tells me.

Thea begrudgingly unlocks the door and I walk through, wearing the body suit.

I make my way to the canteen, receiving a few strange glances on the way. This kid owes me.

I pick up a slice of cheese pizza and sit at my usual table. Jameson, some of his friends and some girls who think they're my friends but don't make an effort to know a single thing about me.

"Don't even open your fucking mouth." I warn Jameson, knowing he's about to laugh at me. "What happened to you?" Jameson's friend asks laughing.

"Xander happened. I'm gonna fucking kill that punk. He made me strip naked in the middle of a science lab and his pervy friend was staring at me." I fume.

"Noah?" Jameson asks repulsed. I nod, biting into my pizza. "See you need to work on your speed. When Xander asks for a favour you can't hesitate, you need to run immediately, it's the only way you can live." Jameson only half jokes.

"Shit i should probably head back now." I say when I notice I've already take half my time.

"Finish your lunch. He won't mind waiting." Jameson says calmly.

"It's fine, I'm gonna eat it on the way." I tell him. He nods and allows me to leave. I take the pizza with me and dump it in the trash can outside the canteen.

Once getting changed back into my uniform I finish the day with history followed by geography. Finally I get to leave school and go home.

When I arrive home I see Nash's motor cycle. I run inside as quickly as possible. I see Jameson standing by the staircase with a bottle in hand. He wears a shirt half buttoned and trousers.

"Starting already?" I ask, "It's five o'clock somewhere." Jameson jokes. "Where is he?" I get to the point, desperate to see Nash. "He's getting dressed in his room. Which you should do too. It's about to start." He tells me.

"What's about to start?" I ask confused. "The Will?" He hints as if it's obvious. "Today? Why does nobody tell me anything around here?" I sigh and make my way up the stairs passed him.

"Best behaviour." I warn him. "Yes sir." He winks, saluting me.

I roll my eyes and enter my bedroom on the third floor. I pick out a small black dress with long sleeves. I keep my tights from school on and top up my light makeup, now adding red lipstick.

I quickly straighten out my brown hair and spray a little perfume. I place a necklace around my neck and a couple rings on my fingers. Topping off the look with black heals that make me reasonably taller.

When I leave my room I see out of the window a new SUV parked outside the house.

The hallway outside The Great Room has a few groups scattered around in converse. Zara and Constantine, Mr and Mrs Laughlin, Some security, the lawyers, then a group I don't recognise all participants of.

I approach the group cautiously, Grayson and Xander stand with two unknown girls, one of which who has bright blue hair. They both wear dirty clothes, not actually dirt but not exactly dry cleaned like all of our clothes.

"Grayson." I nod in greeting, waiting for him to introduce me. "Avery Grambs and her sister Libby." He wastes no time introducing us. "Ladies, My sister Spencer." He introduces.

I extend my hand for Avery to shake. She hesitantly takes it, "I don't bite." I say slightly bitterly but disguise it with a fake laugh. She laughs nervously and then I shake her sisters hand.

"So how did you know the old man?" I ask, standing as tall as I can. "I- I didn't" she stutters. I clench my jaw, "Well he did love donating to the less fortunate." I smile pitifully, scanning my eyes up and down her. "Play nice Spencer." Grayson warns.

"I'm just saying." I shrug. "Well thank you for 'saying' however I'm not some charity that needs donations." Avery tells me bravely.

"No of course not. Just a joke Ava." I smile, bitting back the sour look I want to give her. "It's Avery." She corrects, "Oh sorry. My mistake. Well safe travels home once you get whatever the old man donated you." I smile and walk away.

"Is she always like that?" Avery asks, "What? Manipulative? Cunning? Identical personality to Grayson? No, not always." Xander shrugs, knowing I can hear him.

"Nash!" I exclaim loudly when I see him. I run towards him with a smile and he hugs me, lifting me up into the air. "Hey kid" He grins. "I missed you Nashinator." I say, "I didn't miss that nickname." He laughs.

I return to Grayson, Xander and the guests. "When will we be starting?" I ask him. "Whenever Jameson arrives." He answers begrudgingly.

"Gray, darling" Our Mother calls as she approaches us. "Oh and Cece too, perfect." She adds when she notices me beside him. Grayson and I share eye contact for a moment, bracing ourselves.

Cece doesn't even make sense, Spencer is my name. She just wants to try and convince herself she's close to us I guess, but if she really was she would be able to call me Spence.

"They're ready for us in the Great Room," Skye tells us. "Or they will be shortly. Where's your brother?" She asks.

"You're going to need to be a little more specific, Mother." I bite my cheek. She rolls her eyes at me. "Don't you 'Mother' me, Spencer Hawthorne."

Skye looks to Grayson and adjusts his suit for him, his jaw is clenched. I know as well as she does that suit has been perfectly fixed so she does not need to be 'fixing' it.

"You'd think he was born wearing that suit," Skye turns to Avery "but Gray was my little streaker. A real free spirit. We couldn't keep clothes on him at all, really, until he was four. Frankly, I didn't even try." She laughs.

"As for this one, she kept her clothes on most of the time but oh boy when she didn't.. I still remember walking in on her first time. She was 14 and hadn't discovered the concept of locking her door."

I close my eyes tight with embarrassment. I look to Grayson who just shakes his head at me, a way of telling me she's not worth wasting my breathe.

"You must be Ava." She scans Avery up and down. Like Mother like daughter.

"Avery," Grayson corrects. "Her name is Avery, Mother." He doesn't show it but I can easily tell he's starting to get annoyed.

"I always swore my children would call me by my first name," Skye tells Avery. "I'd raise them as my equals, you know? But then, I always imagined having girls. Four boys and only one girl later..." She shrugs innocently. That's a little demeaning, 'only one girl'.

"Do you mind if I ask, dear, when is your birthday?" She takes Avery by surprise, placing her hand on her cheek.

"Scorpio? Or Capricorn? Not a Pisces, clearly-"

"Mother," Grayson warns, and then he corrects himself. "Skye." He humours her for a moment.

"Grayson's a good boy," Skye tells Avery. "Too good." Then she winks. "Spencer is not so much a good girl." She teases with a laugh.

"We'll talk." Skye tells Avery.

"I doubt Ms. Grambs plans to stay long enough for a fireside chat, or a tarot reading." Zara says with a polite but somehow still cunning and false smile I also inherited.

"I'm Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris." She introduces, "Do you mind if I ask, how did you know my father?" She asks.

"I didn't" Avery sounds almost nervous. I mentally note that down.

"Well, we appreciate your presence. It's been a trying time these past few weeks, as I'm sure you can imagine." She says after a brief silence.

"Zara?" Constantine joins us, his black hair slicked back as usual. He snakes his arm around Zara's waist "Mr. Ortega would like a word."

"My sister 'has words' with people," Skye comments. "I have conversations. Lovely conversations. Quite frankly, that's how I ended up with five children. Wonderful, intimate conversations with five fascinating men..." She starts.

As children, our bedtime stories were Skye's intimate conversations with our Fathers.
"I will pay you to stop right there," Grayson begs, with a pained expression on his face.
Skye pats his cheek. "Bribe. Threaten. Buy out. You couldn't be more Hawthorne, darling, if you tried." She smiles.

"That's why we call him the heir apparent."

I always tried to act like Grayson, hoping they would call me that too. Not because I wanted the money, but because I wanted the title. I wanted to be special, I hoped that I could be spoken of highly like he was. I guess that never worked.

"Now," Skye says, looping one arm around Avery and the other around Grayson. "Why don't we make our way to the Great Room?"

And just like that she marches them through into the great hall. Grayson turns his head around and we share a look.

I don't follow as everyone makes their way inside the hall. Instead I make my way hurriedly up the staircase.

I approach the balcony where my shirtless brother stands, looking out into the beautiful outstretched garden.

"Where's your shirt?" I question. "Where's you off switch?" He fires back. Drunk. Again. "Jamie.. This needs to stop." I lecture.

He stays quiet. "I want to be able to talk to my brother when he's sober." I tell him, leaning on the balcony beside him. "I know you miss her but-" I start but I'm cut off.

"I don't.. miss her." He raises his voice slightly. "Okay.. you don't miss her. Just put your shirt on and come inside." I try.

"If yes is no and once is never, then how may sides does a triangle have?" He asks, jumping up onto the railing of the balcony.

"If yes is no and once is never a triangle will always have three sides or it isn't a triangle you fucking imbecile." I answer. "We've been over this. Think outside the box." He paces back and forth on the thin railing.

"We've been over this. You've used up 8 of your lives already." I joke. "What goes up but can never come down?" He asks, "My body count." I reply deadpan.

"What can you catch but not throw?" Jameson perseveres. "Money." I answer, completely uninterested.

"What gets bigger the more you take away?" He tries, starting to get frustrated. "My body count!" I repeat. "What has to be broken before you can use it?" He tries, "this one is easy."

I pretend to think for a moment, "My heart." I answer. "That doesn't even make sense." He complains.

As I am about to go off on him, suddenly a voice speaks from below us. "Your age. A cold. A hole and an egg." She says.

"Not bad." He smirks, "but those were easy."

She walks forward and looks up at us. "Your sister never got them." Avery says, glaring at me.

"My sister is brain dead." He replies. I slap his knee so his leg buckles and he wobbles as if he is going to fall.

"You're going to fall," Avery tells Jameson.

No shit.

"An interesting proposition." He smirks.

"That wasn't a proposition," She says.

"There's no shame in propositioning a Hawthorne." He shrugs.

I watch her as here eyes trail down his chest. I already have a negative opinion on her, this has just made it worse. Being an outsider inheriting money from my Grandfather, now insulting me and hitting on my brother.

"You must be Mystery Girl,"

"Her name is Ava." I tell him, purposely messing up her name. "My name is Avery." She corrects us both.

"Whatever you say M.G. Can I call you M.G? Mystery girl.." Jameson now purposely balances on one leg to scare both Avery and I.

"No." Avery answers, crossing her arms at him.

"Don't!" She helps when he twists around on the railings, still balancing on one leg.

I don't move an inch. "What are you doing.. Stop him!" She yells at me as he is about to jump. I grin as she panics.

Jameson swiftly twists himself on the railing and drops so he is dangling on without any support other than his two arms. I bite back a laugh as Avery flinches.

He drops down beside her. "You shouldn't be out here M.G." He flirts.

"Neither should you." She fires back.

I cough obviously and Jameson rolls his eyes, walking beneath where I stand. I swing my legs over the iron railing, making sure not to show under my skirt. I do the same thing he did, dropping until I'm hanging from my arms.

Except instead of jumping he lifts me down, holding me by my waist, and places me down, on the ground. Normally I would just jump but not in my heals, not that I couldn't land it but I fear I may break my favourite shoes.

"If I do what I should no more often than I say what I shouldn't. What does that make me?" He asks her.

Okay, this time I know he just put a bunch of words together.

"What.. does that make me?" He asks hoarsely, face close to Avery.

"Drunk." Avery replies, "And two." She adds. "What?" Jameson asks confused. "The answer to your first riddle. If yes is no and once is never. A triangle has two sides." She explains.

"Touché M.G" Jameson smirks. "Touché." He repeats as he walks back inside. I follow him holding his shirt. Avery thankfully stays where she is as I grab my brother and forcefully make him put his shirt on.

"I don't like her one bit." I clench my jaw as he buttons himself. He smirks, "I love it when you hate someone." He laughs. I tighten my eyes at him, "What?" I ask angrily. "You're just so judgy and once you decide you hate someone that's them branded for life."

"Shut up and put your tie on." I roll my eyes.

Eventually he manages to get himself together and we walk inside together. "Look who's finally decided to show up." Xander jokes. I glance to the back row and notice Avery back before us.

"Let's just get on with it." I say as I strut towards the front row. Five chairs sit, three of us already seated. Jameson and I take a seat beside our brothers and just like that we begin.

I know everyone's been waiting for this moment for years, since before I was born. Sickly anticipating the death of the old man. It's cruel when I think about it. I initially respected Avery for taking so long to reply and keeping everyone on their toes but now I've met her i don't respect her much.

"Now that everyone is here," Mr Ortega speaks, "let's get started."

"You are here," Mr. Ortega begins, "to hear the last will and testament of Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne. Per Mr. Hawthorne's instructions, my colleagues will now distribute letters he has left for each of you."

I am passed a letter with my name scrawled across the front in calligraph ink, the old man's distinct handwriting.

"You may open these letters when the reading is concluded."

"Mr. Hawthorne stipulated that all of the following individuals must be physically present for the reading of this will: Skye Hawthorne, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris, Nash Hawthorne, Grayson Hawthorne, Jameson Hawthorne, Spencer Hawthorne, Alexander Hawthorne, and Ms. Avery Kylie Grambs of New Castle, Connecticut."

"Since you are all here," Mr. Ortega confirms, "we may begin."

"I, Tobias Tattersall Hawthorne," Mr. Ortega reads, "being of sound body andmind, decree that my worldly possessions, including all monetary and physicalassets, be disposed of as follows."

This is a big deal. Whether he decided to equally divide the money or give extra to the heir apparent could destroy this family.

"To Andrew and Lottie Laughlin, for years of loyal service, I bequeath a sum of one hundred thousand dollars apiece, with lifelong, rent-free tenancy granted in Wayback Cottage, located on the western border of my Texas estate."

"To John Oren, head of my security detail, who has saved my life more times and in more ways than I can count, I leave the contents of my toolbox, held currently in the offices of McNamara, Ortega, and Jones, as well as a sum of three hundred thousand dollars."

"To my mother-in-law, Pearl O'Day, I leave an annuity of one hundred thousand dollars a year, plus a trust for medical expenses as set forth in the appendix. All jewelry belonging to my late wife, Alice O'Day Hawthorne, shall pass to her mother upon my death, to be distributed as she sees fit upon hers."

Nan huffs. "Don't you go getting any ideas," she announces "I'm going to outlive you all."
Mr Ortega smiles but when he looks down to the will and the smile fades "To..." He pauses.

"To my daughters, Zara Hawthorne-Calligaris and Skye Hawthorne, I leave the funds necessary to pay off all debts accrued as of the date and time of my death."

"Additionally, I leave to Skye my compass, may she always know true north,and to Zara, I leave my wedding ring, may she love as wholly and steadfastly asI loved her mother."

"Go on." Constantine demands. "To each of my daughters," Mr. Ortega reads slowly, "beyond that already stated, I leave a one-time inheritance of fifty thousand dollars."

My brothers and I instinctively look around ourselves with shock. Each of us wearing the same confused look.

"You did this." Zara turns toward Skye. I watch as everything unfolds.
"Me?" Skye says angrily.

"Daddy was never the same after Toby died," Zara continues. "Disappeared," Skye corrects firmly.

"God, listen to you! You got in his head, didn't you, Skye? Batted your eyelashes and convinced him to bypass us and leave everything to your-" Zara spits.

"Kids."

"The word you're looking for is kids." Skye says furiously.

"The word she's looking for is bastards." Nash corrects carelessly. "Not like we haven't heard it before." I bite down on my cheek.

"If I'd had a child..." Zara's voice catches.

"But you didn't." Skye lets it sink in. "Did you, Zara?"

"Enough." Constantine steps in "We will sort this out."

"I'm afraid there's nothing to be sorted." Mr. Ortega speaks up "You will find the will is ironclad, with significant disincentives to any who might be tempted to challenge it."

"Now, if I may continue..." Mr. Ortega looks back down at the will in his hands. "To my grandsons, Nash Westbrook Hawthorne, Grayson Davenport Hawthorne, Jameson Winchester Hawthorne, and Alexander Blackwood Hawthorne, I leave..."

"Everything," Zara mutters bitterly.

"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars apiece, payable on their twenty-fifth birthdays, until such time to be managed by Alisa Ortega, trustee."

The rooms goes silent.

"What?" Alisa says shockingly. "I mean... what?"

"The hell," Nash tells her pleasantly. "The phrase you're looking for, darlin', is what the hell?"

Grayson and I make eye contact.

Slowly everyone in the room turns towards me, eyeing me.

"And to my Granddaughter, Spencer Alice Hawthorne. I leave you-" Mr Ortega double takes, adjusting his glasses to confirm he read it right.

The expressions on his face make me feel Ill.

"Just say it already. He left her everything!" Zara shouts.

Mr Ortega clears his throat and resumes. "To my Granddaughter Spencer Alice Hawthorne.. I leave you nothing." He speaks through a lump in his throat.

My breathing hitches, I swallow. I try to process the information.

I knew he could be cruel at times however this is a whole other level. He gave his workers money and me nothing. Now I know the eyes on me are for the worst reasons.

"What is going on here?" Grayson asks strongly.

"If he didn't give it to her then.. that means.." Zara speaks up, the pieces slotting together in her mind just as they do in everyone else's. And suddenly the stares are no longer directed at me.

"Please, everyone," Mr. Ortega holds up a hand. "Allow me to finish."

Forty-six point two billion dollars.

I'm the last one now to turn. Turn towards the stranger hidden at the back. The stranger who is about to pull the last block of this Jenga game that will collapse my family.

"The remainder of my estate," He reads, "including all properties, monetary assets, and worldly possessions not otherwise specified, I leave to Avery Kylie Grambs."