Once on the second floor, Beatrice runs into the bathroom I was just in barely ten minutes ago and comes out a moment later with one large blue cup. Stifling a giggle, she nods for me to follow, and heads down the hallway. I hesitatingly stumble behind.

Coldwater. Two sleeping teens.

I know where this plan of hers is headed, and I'm almost positive I don't want to be a part of it, yet I still follow her into the first room. Staying close to the white door, you never know when you just might need to make a run for it, I watch as a wicked smile curves it way onto Beatrice's pale lips. With the care of a mother and her newborn, She tips the cup slightly over Jaylin's hair, a few drops of water getting on her face.

A startled Jaylin immediately raises, turning to the side to glare at her mother, who in turn just throws the rest of the water on her face.

I almost feel bad for the girl

"WHAT THE FUCKING HELL, MOTHER?!" Jaylin's jaw locks in place and her golden eyes shot daggers at Beatrice's retreating back.

"I told you to be up by eight at the latest, Love. You know the rules." She shrugs none apologetically. "Also, don't cuss. It kills innocent fairies, remember?"

"WH-?" She begins voice husky from her earlier outbreak but never finishes. Instead, she runs a hand down her face, exhales, calmly saying, "You know what? Just get out. I don't want to see you, or your ugly new daughter."

Ok, then.

"It's my house: you get out." Beatrice's voice is as low as it is cold and detached. It, plus the harsh way she slams the door behind us, sends unpleasant goosebumps up my body.

You're about-to-pee-yourself scared, and you're not even the one in trouble... My conscience comments it's an unnecessary opinion. If it was a person with a body and all, I bet it's face would be scrunched up, a look of pure skepticism aiming at me.

It's kinda sad that it's right, but I don't let that truth get to me as Beatrice and I reach the main floor. She quietly makes her way to her seat at the table, Robert and a sleepy looking Jace are already seated and places her head in her hands.

I take the seat by Jace, the same one I was in at yesterday's awkward dinner, and almost start to wish I was back with the Johnsons. I'm so deep into my wishing that a part of my mind even tries to convince me that the Allens were better than this. At least with them, we were all messed up in more ways than one. I wasn't the only one constantly ruining things.

It's been less than twenty fours, and I've already managed to break this once happy family apart.

New record! The brat in me cheers sarcastically, waving his cheerleading pom-poms with the enthusiasm of a dead rat. I don't pay attention to his little dig: fighting with something inside your head is kinda stupid, for one, and frankly, I don't have the energy. 

It feels like the silence lasts at least a century before Robert clears his throat mildly, gathering all our attention.
"Jay seems to be in a mood, so let's just let her be. In the meantime, I'm going to dig in." True to his words, the second the sentence leaves his lips, his hands are on the food. One scoping eggs and the other grabbing toast. Jace and Beatrice join in, and a minute later I do too.

It's like me I have eaten in three days the way my stomach reacts to my first bite of toast. Immediately as greedy as Robert, who already has three servings of everything on his plate, I grab another piece of toast and spread peanut butter on it. The delicious toast is soon forgotten once my hungry eyes settle on what I truly believe is one of God's best gifts to humanity: bacon. It lays on a plain plate across from me, and right in front of Robert, taunting me because it somehow knows I'll least comfortable with him. Next to Jaylin, anyway. That girl is a straight-up A class bitch.

I focus my attention on the bacon as I send it this mental message: You better taste as delicious as you look or else...

Though I don't know why I add the 'or else'. I'm going to eat it both ways: there's no such thing as bad-tasting bacon in my books.

Breathe. You got this, girl! Fat J, the nice voice in my head encourages in what I imagine is her sweet voice. The voice I usually hear from is little Jax: the brat. I imagine that voice as a boy because it first appeared the day I met Jaxon. Little Jax has his bitter personality and is constantly telling me meaningful lies disguised as the truth.

"Robert?"

For the first time since he started eating, Robert looks up and right at me.

Now or never.

"Can you..." I'm doing so good so far, but with this relation comes the truth: I'm sitting at a table with strangers, and they're all looking at me.

Please stop looking at me.

Most people find it respectful when someone looks them in the eyes while they talk. I find it awkward and would favor someone looking any but at me when they talk. But nooo. No one does that. Such a shame really, if you ask me anyway.

"Um...Pass the bacon please?"

My mental debate must have distracted my mind from my social fear, as I don't stutter. A smile crosses my face at this realization.

Wow! It only took you 24 hours. Exactly 23.9 more hours than the average person.

It disappears just as soon.

With a friendly nod, Robert passes the bacon and goes back to eating. I take a couple of pieces and compile.

Silence...I lo-.

"Hey Mom, what are we doing today?" Jace's stuffed mouth somehow manages to say, despite there being legit no room in it: his food almost falls out at one point.

"Eat with your mouth closed, honey." Beatrice sings, her normal voice is back with its full-blown cheeriness. "And I was thinking you and Jay could take Jacqueline shoppi-."

"NO." The girl in question gracefully waltzes into the kitchen. Her signature look: an angry scowl, is drawn on her rose-pink lips. Ironically though, her grey crop top spells out the word 'happy' in big, bold black letters. I almost smile at this. She pairs the top off with a mini black skirt and her hair in its naturally curly state.

"Sweetie, you don't really have a choice. We talked about this." Beatrice sighs, setting down her fork. Her appetite is probably gone. "Dad and I have work today, remember?"

"I remember, Mom. You told me last night. But I don't get why I don't have a choice." She leans her back against a wall and glares at her mother.

"You don't have a choice because Jacqueline needs someone to take her, and you have to be that someone for today."

_______

Hey, people:) Thanks a ton for reading. Please vote, comment, and share if you liked this chapter:)

Note: I'm leaving for camp today, and won't be back for a few days. The camp doesn't allow phones, but like every teenager going, I'm still taking mine. I'll try to do as many reads for reads as possible there, but know I might get my phone taken away.

Thanks for understanding,

Liv:)

DP: Jul.28.17
WC: 1,171