A few months later

All this time, I took all that mistreatment for my sister. She didn't know what it meant to have a family, it wasn't something I could give her. She was eight when my parents past and I had barely turned 15, I felt powerless. But I wanted her to be happy.

"Abby, pass me the pecans," Luke gestures toward the kitchen cabinets. 

"Sweet or salty?" I examine the different bags.

He admires his masterpiece, "What do you think?"

I look over has his work. Luke challenged his mom, that he would be able to make a much better pasty than she could; so he decided to make this weird avocado pie where he found the recipe for on the internet. 

In my opinion, it was a very stupid idea. Why? because I got stuck helping him out. 

"Sweet?" I wait for his approval

"Sounds good to me."

He slowly starts placing the pecans around the pie. I lost my nerve

"Luke, give me that," I grab the bag and throw a hand full of pecans around the pie. 

He takes a few glances between the pie and me, "At least it's finished."

"Abby, Luke, we've set the table," We head over to the dinner table, as Honey calls for us. 

Luke carries his pie as if it were a rare possession, heading over to Honey. 

"Look, mom. What do you think?" 

She smiles, "I can't get used to it."

"I'm talking about the pie," Luke reminding her about his pie. 

"Call me mom, one more time and I promise I'll stop," Honey beams.

Honey is a very kind person. Even when she went through so much as a kid, she still wants to give her family and her life meaning. Luke apparently never called her mom ever since she divorced Luke's father. But now, I think he's realized that Honey is trying her best as a mom. 

"O.k, o.k. Look mom, my pie," he looks annoyed, but I think he just doesn't know how to say he's happy. 

Honey smiles widely, "Abby, Stacy, come on kids. Let's eat."

As we all take a seat at the dinner table, Stacy makes a funny face when she sees Luke's pie. She gives it a minute till she decides to say something. 

"What, is that?" she looks a bit freaked out. 

"My pie," Luke states with pride. 

I see Jess furrowing her eyebrows.

"It looks like someone puked on it," Stacy eyes it. 

I have to say, she isn't wrong. The pie has a weird type of green that looks more like mold, than an avocado green; And the pecans, I threw on it, don't really help its cause. 

"Wow, just wow. I expected an insult from anyone but you, Stacy. I am hurt," Luke acts petty.

"Luke, sweety, it does look a bit odd," Honey carefully says, but I can see that she's just teasing him. 

"Wow. Now you to mom. At least Jess is on my side, right Jess?" He turns to Jess. 

I let out a snort, as Jess gives him a very forced smile, but does not say anything. 

"What? Jess!" He turns to me, "Abby?"

"Hey, don't look at me. It was your idea to make an avocado pie."

"Fine. Whatever. Let's just eat," Luke acts as he's hurt. 

"I still think it came out great, " He continues to defend her weird-looking pie. 

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My whole life has been filled with surprises, I've grown to detest them because of their uncertainty. I am hating this one at the moment. 

"Luke, hurry up," I have my eyes closed because he said he had a surprise and didn't want me to see. 

"Wait, I am almost done," he sounds far away.

"No, that's it. You said that five minutes ago," I open my eyes and walk toward the family room.

"Surprise!" 

I step back surprised, falling over to the ground. There is a cake on the table with everyone gathered around.

"Are you o.k?" Luke stretches his hand out. 

"What's going on?" I stand up with Luke's help.

"Getting you ready for the scouting trip in a few days, and your birthday was spent fighting your way through court, we thought we should celebrate," Luke explains.

"Celebrate?" I ask a bit uncomfortable

"Celebrate a new beginning, along with your missed birthday," Honey smiles. 

I look over to Jess and Luke, "Thank you."

As we finish eating,  I realize my sister has become very quiet compared to how talkative she was, ever since Mrs. White was trialed and sentenced to 20 years of prison. She doesn't laugh as freely as she used to.

Everyone starts heading to their rooms and going to do their own thing.

"Jess, want to go outside?" I offer. 

She simply nods.

We go outside to sit on the front back porch of Honey's house. 

"You've been awfully quiet," I start. 

She looks at me a bit expressionless. 

"Are you unhappy? Or did do something?"

She shakes her head. 

"You don't want to tell me do you?"

She thinks for a bit, before she says, "It's not that. it's just..."

I give her time to continue. As a sister, I was trying my best to protect her, but maybe as her friend, I lied to her. 

"I knew about it," her eyes start to water. 

"What do you mean?"

"I knew about m-...er...Mrs. White," She starts sobbing.

"It's O.K, Jess. She's in jail now and I promise that even though Mr. White hasn't been caught, I will protect you," I wrap my arms around her. 

"No, I mean, when I came from school one day, I heard them talk. They were talking about us," She cries until she continues.  "They said they would get rid of us the first chance they got. I ran out of the house as fast as I could, but I was too scared to say anything, I couldn't tell you. I was scared that they would do something."

Tears stream down my face. I hug Jess tight. 

I've been a horrible person to everyone. I didn't even realize I was hurting my own sister. 

"I'm sorry, Jess. I promise I won't ever keep anything from you ever again."

We sob heavily together.