Friendly Reminder to read Chapter 32 then 33 and finally the Epilogue since I posted this all at once, lol!

As per usual I will reply to any comment posted on this chapter in the next 3 days!!

Can't wait to see what you think!

Enjoy!

|| Chapter 33 ||

A piece of paper slams down on the dining room table in front of me. I don't touch it, instead I read the top of the page and my eyes widen. "You're making me sign a contract?"

My father and mother sit down across from me. My father has his no nonsense lawyer face on and my mother's hands are clasped together on the table. "We believe that this is our only solution for you," my father replies in a calm tone.

I rest my hand on the mini stack of papers and slide it back to them. "I'm not signing anything without a lawyer present, I know my rights." I fold my arms across my chest.

"Crap," my mother mutters, "This was so much easier when we did it to Sebastian."

"That's because Sebastian is a chump." I look back and forth between both my parents. "I would like my lawyer present."

My father places one hand on the table, sliding the contract back over to me. "You don't have a lawyer."

"Then I'll represent myself."

I pull the contract to me but right before I open it my father stops me, "You can't represent yourself."

I arch an eyebrow. "And why not? If there is no one present that is capable, I am legally allowed to represent myself."

My father doesn't even blink. "No, because if you represent yourself you're going to try get this case dismissed and that is never going to happen."

My lips purse in thought before I loudly announce, "Then I call Madeline Hayes to represent me."

Maddie walks into the room a few moments later, still in her bright purple pajamas. "What am I doing?"

I gesture to the seat next to me. She sits down carefully. "You're my acting lawyer in a case against me."

She raises an eyebrow. "Am I the prosecutor?"

"No, I'm the defendant," I inform her. She nods her head once, scanning through the pages slowly.

Maddie sits up a little straighter and looks my father dead in the eye. "You expect my client to sign this contract when she gets no benefits from it?" I lean back in my chair and am tempted to put my hands behind my head but I know that that is being too cocky. "She has to stop any and all illegal activities for the next school year to avoid a-fourth suspension?" She whips her head to face me in complete shock.

I shrug my shoulders, "It's been a long standing fight with the law little sis."

Maddie nods her head, mulling over our options. "What does my client receive at the end of this school year if she upholds your rules?"

My mothers face is one of complete shock and confusion as she watches her youngest child, negotiate. "You are not allowed to go to work with your father anymore."

"We're willing to pay for her college tuition," my father ignores my mothers comment and circles back to the conversation at hand.

Maddie scoffs leaning back in her seat, "In what universe would you not be paying for her college tuition?"

"In the universe where she gets suspended again." My mother looks at my father with wide eyes, clearly blind sided at his statement.

Maddie catches the look and proceeds to smirk. "Then what will the college fund assigned in her name be used for?"

My father's cold smile is terrifying, "A backyard pool."

My mother slams a hand on the table standing up and pushing her chair back, "This is ridiculous. You are ten! Stop acting like an adult, it's scaring me and Tessa, just tell us what you want and we'll think about it."

Maddie doesn't even flinch, "A new car."

"YOU ARE TEN!" My mother says loudly as if that'll stop Maddie.

"New? No, all of our children get second hand cars as their first cars, you know that." My father leans forward in his chair, staring down Maddie. To her credit she doesn't bat an eyelash, looking completely unafraid.

"Fine, then," I interrupt, "Then how about I get your car when you buy that Maserati you've been eyeing for the last few weeks?" Maddie looks over at me with an impressed smile.

"I am not giving you a Mercedes Benz S-class as your first car, that is out of the question and how did you even know about the Maserati?" He demands.

"I have my sources." If you count brochures in his home office as sources. "I won't get in trouble or suspended at all this year and I get the car, that's my deal."

My father arches an eyebrow, staring at my laid back attitude. "If you get my car, I expect no suspensions ever. Not even a slap on the wrist now or in college, do you hear me?"

I grin, holding my hand out for him to shake, "You have yourself a deal, dad."

He breathes deeply and shakes my hand firmly. My mother, bless her soul, is still staring completely confused and shocked at everything that just happened. She whirls on my father, "How the hell did you just get outsmarted by a ten year old and seventeen year old?"

"We raised them, that's how," he answers, taking the contract from us as he moves to stand up. "I'll have the revisions by morning."

"Hey daddy," Maddie calls out as they start leaving the room, "might wanna start saving now, I think I'm going to Law School."

My dad smirks at her and nods his head, "I don't expect anything less from you Munchkin."

"A pleasure doing business with you Miss Hayes, your new nerf gun will be on your bed by end of day," I say, standing up from the table. She grins and nods her head, rushing back into the living room where the other siblings are chilling.

"Oh, oh, George Washington!" Sebastian's voice yells out as I walk through into the living room.

Olivia looks at him with disbelief, "I know you did not just say George Washington with that much confidence."

He throws his arms wide. "I didn't study History!"

"Then what have you been doing for the last thirteen years in school?" Charlotte asks.

"Cheating off Soph, we've already covered this!" He explains, as if what he said wasn't wrong at all.

They're sitting around the coffee table, playing some trivia game when I walk in. Sebastian is sitting on the couch and Olivia is on the floor leaning against his legs. Charlotte is opposite Olivia and Sophie is perched on the armchair closest to the table. Maddie is sitting on the arm of Sophie's chair. Everyone is still in their pajama's. "Tess, who led the battle of Yorktown?"

"George Washington when he was still a General in 1781 before he became president in 1789," I inform them with a small smile. Sebastian claps his hands loudly and stands up to give me a high five.

Olivia and Charlotte look back and forth at each other with stunned expression. "Well I'll be damned." Sophie snorts, covering her mouth. Maddie leans her head on Sophie's shoulder, her own shoulders shaking silently.

"Ha! Suck it! I'm smart, you're dumb," Sebastian boasts, leaning back in his seat, laying his arms across the back of the couch in a power move.

"Excuse me?" Olivia asks slowly turning her head to look directly at him.

He bites his bottom lip. "I love you and I cherish you?" He states it more as a question than anything.

She lifts her chin, "Nice save." He winks at her and she smirks in reply quirking an eyebrow slyly. He puckers his lips and she bites the bottom of her lip. Gross.

"You guys are nasty," Charlotte comments, getting up from the floor. "I'll grab some snacks."

I volunteer to help her since I had yet to sit down. We walk into the kitchen and she goes for the walk in pantry, grabbing a few bags of chips and some chocolates. I take out a couple cups from the shelf and start pouring everyone some drinks.

Charlotte clears her throat pointedly. She watching me with a grim smile, "So, you spoke to Drew?"

My head nods slowly and I stop what I'm doing to lean against the counter behind me. "Yeah, it went well."

"No awkwardness?"

"Nope, well I mean a little in the beginning, he was driving around our neighborhood for like twenty minutes to work up the courage to come over." She laughs at that, pulling out a few plates to make a spread of chips. "I'm just glad that it's relatively back to normal, you know?"

"Hey I get it, fighting with someone is never easy but I'm glad you made up." She looks away from me and continues pouring different kind of chips onto the plate.

I shift on my feet, "How-how was the memorial?" The memorial service for Nathan's dad was a few nights ago. I stayed home with Maddie for the night ordering junk food and watching movies until late.

She sighs, dropping the chip packet on the counter. "It was fine, he didn't want me sitting with him."

My head perks up at that. "What?"

"Yeah, you find that strange too right? His dad died, I planned the service but he didn't want me sitting near him. I sat with mom and dad on the other side of the church," she looks down at the counter, "He didn't even talk to me."

"He's just grieving Lottie, we all saw how he was acting before the service, you can't blame him from wanting to be with his family on the day...can you?" I ask more for own reassurance than hers, still trying to understand his meaning behind this whole situation.

She purses her lips. "You're right, I was just being clingy, ugh I hate feeling like this." She runs her hands through her hair, looking more anxious than calm.

"Char, don't overthink it," I tell her, trying to give a simpler version of what I used to do in the feelings department.

She gives me crooked smile, "Since when are you so empathetic?"

I show her my teeth in a wide smile. "Since I realised people have real feelings and don't get over things as quickly as I do." She chuckles, grabbing the finished plate of chips and pretzels, holding them in one hand and a few different chocolates in the other. "When do you guys have to head out?"

She sighs heavily, "Friday. I'm road tripping with Soph and then flying to New York from there."

"Liv and Bass?"

She gives me a sad smile, "Same day, they gotta get to Florida before school starts so it's going to take almost a week with stops."

"The summer goes by so quickly. I hate it when you guys leave," I tell her honestly, shuffling my feet.

"We hate leaving, New York is a nightmare if you're by yourself, I'm lucky to have Jackson there with me, we've become good friends over the years."

I pull out a tray for everyone's drinks. "Yeah, bonded over your mutual hatred for Chase?"

She snorts, chuckling a little. "Chase just needed a kick in the ass and Jackson supplied it. He hasn't spoken to him since." She shrugs moving out of the kitchen, me following closely. "When does Drew leave?"

"Wednesday."

She stops in the doorway. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." She gives me a look and I cave. "I'll be fine." She winks, nodding her head once.

"Maddie, are you ready? Natasha's mother is on her way!" My mother shouts from the top of the stairs. Maddie almost crashes into Charlotte as she runs past to get to the stairs.

"I haven't even done my hair yet!" She panics, skidding to the stairs.

Sebastian holds out a hand. "You're also still in pajamas."

Maddie freezes, looking down at her purple polka dot pajama shorts before staring at us in full panic mode. "Help me," she whines with a pout on her lips.

Sophie claps her hands together. "Olivia and Charlotte, pack her overnight bag." They both nod their head and scramble to drop whatever they're doing to rush up the stairs ahead of Maddie. "Sebastian, hair." He sighs loudly, practically groaning. Sophie gives him a sharp look at he pushes off the couch, moving quickly and quietly. "Munchkin, let's get you dressed."

Sophie puts an arm around her and leads her up the staircase straight to her bedroom where everyone is making a loud commotion. "Mads," I call. She stops at the top of the stairs and turns to face me. "Grayson going to be there?" She grits her teeth and scrunches her nose. That's a yes. "I got you covered."

Her eyes light up at words and she nods her head in excitement. I walk up the stairs, almost getting trampled by Olivia with a toothbrush in her hand, and walk straight into my room, locking the door behind me. I kneel in front of my cushioned lounge chair, ripping off the pillows and cushions off, until I'm left with a small latch with a lock on it.

I unlock it and lift the lid up, staring at my secret stash. "Okay," I mumble to myself, rifling through the contents, "Nothing illegal, nothing illegal." I hum to myself, moving the death peppers to one side and the multiple bottles of hair dye, knowing Grayson won't be sleeping over since the boys are spending the day but the girls are sleeping over. I pull out a classic prank that always gets the immature kids laughing.

I lock everything back up and arrange every cushion in the exact places they were in before and leave my room. "Munchkin." I knock on her door. Olivia and Charlotte are arguing over a set of pajamas and Sophie is rolling her eyes, fixing Maddie's cute shorts and shirt. Sebastian is busy braiding her hair down her back. He's fast and efficient, his hands pulling the hair gently and swiftly. "I got the goods."

She glances from the corner of her eye and grins widely. "A fart machine?"

"An expensive fart machine thank you. Just place this small device in his back pocket-"

"-No butt touching," Sebastian warns, tugging lightly on a piece of her hair.

"Anyway," I ignore Sebastian which makes Maddie giggle, "just place it in his pocket and you use this remote," I hold up the remote, showing her what it all looks like.

"Score! Thanks Tessy."

I tap the doorway, handing over the device and remote to Charlotte so she can pack it in the bag. A doorbell rings and our mother calls that she's going to answer it, knowing it'll be Natasha's mother. Sebastian rushes the last few hairs, tying the braid with a small elastic band. Maddie gives him a quick hug.

She runs to Olivia and Charlotte, hugging them both and grabs her backpack then stops at Sophie, squeezing her tight. She slows down when she gets to me at the door and looks up at me in silent question. I open my arms and she grins, jumping into them before ditching us all in her room and sprinting down the stairs.

We all head down the stairs to see mom outside with Natasha's mom, chatting together. Maddie says goodbye to mom and greets Natasha's mom then heads to the SUV. The door opens as she gets there and a familiar brown haired boy with grayish-brown eyes jumps out, a cocky grin on his face. "Hey Munchkin."

She immediately scowls up at him. He's almost a head taller than her. "Grayson, don't call me that." He opens the trunk for her and she throws her bag among others already stacked in there.

"Hi Maddie!" Natasha yells from the front seat and a few other kids call out to her, immediately asking her questions or trying to show her things. Well, we know who the popular one is in the bunch.

"Hey Percy," Maddie says softly to the blonde-haired boy sitting in the back row as she climbs in the middle seat in the second row. Grayson tugs the end of her braid making her whip her head around and punch him in the arm. He grins at her.

Natasha's mom says goodbye to all of us and heads for the SUV. Grayson sits in the only empty seat left next to Maddie and slams the door shut. We wave goodbye until they get to the end of the driveway. Our mother turns to face us, "She's either going to fall in love with that boy or she's going to kill him, there is no in between."

We all laugh and head back inside. "Maddie has more of a social life than the rest of us and she's only ten," Sebastian states. He slumps back onto the couch. "Let's do something fun...movies?"

"I'm down." The others agree and we head upstairs to get ourselves ready.

|| ✨ ||

The movie theater is packed for a weekday but the summer is almost over and it is a weekend so there's a bunch of families out. Mom and dad are walking ahead of us, their arms wrapped around each other.

It's funny to look at their height difference since mom is barely over 5'5 and dad is well over 6'3. Harry, Sebastian and I obviously take after our dad in the height division with Sophie clearly taking after mom with her 5'4 height and Charlotte is a mix with her being 5'8. Now, we just have to wait for Maddie to grow to see which parent she takes after. We all think it's mom since she's not the tallest ten year old out there.

Sebastian runs and jumps on my back making my knees buckle but before I fall over I balance the added weight and struggle to stand up, but still manage to stand. "Damn, I was hoping you'd fall over," Sebastian says from my back. He wraps his legs around my waist and strangles my neck from his hold.

There's a few students from school milling around the area. Some of them are brave enough to wave and call out my name, saying hello while others watch all of us walk into the theater. It's strange to be a part of a legacy my siblings have created in this town with their popularity. It's easy to get recognized when your siblings left their marks on our high school.

I walk confidently for a few more seconds until my steps slow and my knees start to buckle. "Fuck you're heavy, get off before I die."

He scoffs loudly but lets go, dropping his feet to the floor. "Stop being so dramatic, T." I shove him so hard he almost knocks into someone else. Olivia laughs at him, linking arms with Charlotte and Sophie, keeping her in between.

Our father looks over our mothers head at the five of us. "We're sitting far away from you all."

Sebastian smirks, "Gonna get some action, Dad?" Sebastian winks, alluding to something clearly inappropriate. I cover my mouth quickly so I don't literally laugh out loud.

Our father just stares at Sebastian with the most disappointed face I've ever seen. "Still more action than you'll ever get."

"OH MY GOD!" Olivia screams, laughing so loudly people look over at us. Charlotte and Sophie both lift their faces to the ceiling and burst out laughing.

My legs tremble from trying to stand up while still laughing so hard that no noise is coming out of my mouth. I have to lean on Sophie so that I don't fall over. Charlotte is helping Olivia from falling to her knees.

Sebastian walks over to my dad and shakes his hand. "Respect, respect."

Mom just stands there with a secret smile on her face, doing a small dance on the spot, "That's my hubby!"

|| ✨ ||

The way I was laughing so hard at the their dads comeback, absolute GOLD!!

Well, we have one chapter left, it's crazy how fast this is going and how long it's actually taken me to finish this story.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Had to get a little more Hayes Family moments in before the end!

Until one last time,

Sammipott xx