'Nick's POV~
I sit down at the table, my mother and father quietly eating their meals. I grab my fork and start to eat, my fork pauses at my mouth when my mothers voice rings in my ears.
"That child is a problem, I'm considering giving her up, I was talking to this lovely family at work and this couple was looking for a live in maid."
I freeze and my anger boils over, "Don't you dare! You have been nothing but cruel to her and you do not even deserve the right to be called a mother. You don't even recognize Rillan as a part of this family!"
She drops her fork on the plate and looks up at me with a very stern expression on her face, I stare back at her with an angry one.
"Do not speak to me like that Nicklaus, I will make sure you are off that precious football team you cherish so much. Or maybe I'll make sure you are never scouted at any of your games." She reply's coldly
I'm about to open my mouth to comment when my father stops me, "That is quite enough Nicklaus, you as well Marisa."
My mother scowls at him, "He has no right to speak to me like that!"
He gives her the coldest look I've ever seen him make, "And you have no right to talk about selling your daughter to a family you just met. He is right, you have no right to call yourself a mother."
He scoots his chair out and stands up, grabbing his plate and making his way into the kitchen. He walks back out and shuts himself in his office, on the opposite of the dining room. I look at my stunned mother, she readjusts her composure before retreating into her bedroom. I look down at my uneaten food and sigh, before grabbing my plate and placing it in the fridge in the kitchen.
I pile some food on another plate and pour some orange juice in a glass and walk up the stairs. I hear giggling in Rillan's room and I instantly stop dead in my tracts. My heart starts beating faster and I suck in a breath before knocking gently on her door.
"Honeybun? I brought you some dinner. " I say softly
I hear shuffling of feet before she unlocks and opens the door, "Thanks Nicky, I'm starving."
I chuckle, "Yeah I'm sure you are, would Nate like some too?"
She freezes and gives me a guilty laugh, I smirk at her, but when Nate walks out of the closest I freeze. My eyes rake over his form and I noticed he changed his hair style. He looks up at me and a red blush starts to spread up his cheeks. My heart stops at how cute he looks but I look away and down at Rillan.
"I'll go grab some food for Nathanial," I say turning around and walking out of the room.
I take the stairs two at a time and hustle to grab a plate, strategically placing food on it. Nathanial hates his food touching each other, so I make sure there is plenty of room separating them. I pop the plate in the microwave and grab a cup pouring juice in it.
Carefully, I make my way back up the stairs. My head pops up at the voices coming from Rillan's room.
"-Kissing my brother."
I walk in, "See who kissing me?"
They both jump, "No one!"
My eyes find Nates as he makes his way over to me. I hand him his plate and cup, his hand touches mine and I linger there strangely enjoying how warm his hands are. I wink at my sister before turning around and closing the door behind me, I walk back into my room but not before hearing Nates voice through the door.
"I think I'm in love with your brother." I stop dead in my tracks and glance at her door.
I can feel my heart pounding in my chest but I walk into my room and close the door, sliding down to the floor. My heart was pounding, I didn't know how to start to understand how I was feeling now.
"Why do I feel this way.." I whisper.
~Ryllan's POV~
I toss my fork onto my empty plate and place it on my side table, Nate takes a sip of his juice and moans.
"Ughh this juice is so good, what is this freshly squeezed??"
I laugh, "I wouldn't say no because you know my parents and their bougie expensive items. I mean you've seen their alcohol cabinet and our wine cellar."
Nate smirks and I instantly shake my head, "It's locked up, don't even ask me."
He pouts and I double over laughing, he picks up a pillow and throws it at me. I dodge and giggle more, which he frowns at.
"Oh don't look so sad, we can raid the alcohol cabinet another night, but it's getting late and you need to head home."
He glances at his phone and nods, "Yeah your right, my mom might start texting and calling soon if I don't start heading home now. I'll leave the movies here and grab them another time."
I nod grabbing his plate and placing it on top of mine, "Don't forget to finish your juice."
He gasps and grabs his cup chugging it, "Thanks for reminding me, it's too good not to finish."
I laugh, "You can have that anytime you're here, the fridge is stocked full of fancy juices and fruits. As well as the pantry, we have so many different types of snacks, honestly I just grab an apple anytime I get hungry. If Nicky doesn't make my lunch i just won't eat."
He shakes his head, "You really need to eat more, I barely see you eat hun."
I look away from him, knowing that I'll just say something to upset him if I keep his gaze. "I'm just not that hungry most of the time, must be all the changes to my work out. I haven't been running as much as I used to, I'm using eating more when I'm running longer."
I look back up at him and he nods, "Sounds alright right, when are you going back up to the trails?"
I shrug getting up and opening my window, "Probably this weekend, I might go up Saturday.."
Nate walks up beside me and I feel his hand on my shoulder, "Are you going to hide from your boyfriend? You told me he's coming home Saturday right?"
I watch as he climbs out and sits on the big branch next to my window, "Yeah, but I'm not sure what time, I'll just head up early morning and head back around lunch."
He nods, "Alright hun, I'll see you tomorrow."
I give a small smile and watch him climb down. He waves at me from the bottom, before walking towards his car. I watch him leave and close my window after. I hear a knock on my door and a stern voice.
"Rillan come open the door." I freeze, It's my step father.
I don't move.
"Rillan. Now." This time he sounded angry.
I slowly make my way towards my door and unlock it, I open it slowly and see his annoyed expression.
"Is everything okay?" I say slowly, careful not to raise my voice or show any hint of emotion.
He pushes his way into my room, "We need to talk about your behavior towards your mother. You've been very disrespectful and I will not tolerate it."
"But I.."
I suddenly can't breathe, It takes me a second to realize his hands were on my throat. "Do not talk back to me!"
I claw at his hands, desperately trying to breathe. Which only makes him angrier, "You speak when your told to! Do not forget that!"
He releases and I gasp falling to the ground holding my throat. Tears pouring down my face as he grabs my hair pulling my face up.
"You WILL apologize to your mother you ungrateful brat."
I nod, keeping my mouth shut and trying to keep my sobs in. He lets go and walks over to the door opening it enough for my mother to walk in. I see a smug smirk on her face which only makes me hate her more. She catches my hateful glare and slaps me across the face.
"How dare you look at me like that you bitch!"
A strangled cry leaves my mouth as my father grabs my hair again pulling me to my feet. My hands go to my head as the pain increases, "Stop! Let go of me!" I scream
A huge force towards my stomach has me buckling to the ground again, he punches me again knocking me head to the floor.
The wind is knocked out of me and I struggle to breathe again. He brings his foot back, ramming it into my ribs. Tears pour from my eyes as I let out an ear piercing scream.
"SHUT UP!" My step father screams kicking me again in the stomach.
My door slams open, "WHAT THE HELL DAD!"
Nick pushes him away from me and grabs me, pulling me to his chest, "Why are you doing this! Leave her alone!!"
"Stay out of this Nicklaus, We are just making sure Rillan knows her place."
"You're Killing her! Get out!" He let's go to push them both out of the room and slams the door. He locks it and rushes back over to me.
I cry out as he tries to move me, "Oh honeybun I'm so sorry.. I had no idea this way going on, I got in the shower and didn't hear you until I turned the water off.."
He picks me up gently and places me on the bed, I gasp as searing pain reverberates through my torso. I cry harder as Nick tries to make me comfortable, I look at him and he gives me a sad look.
"I'm so sorry Illa.. I don't know what to do.. I can't call anyone. You need to stay somewhere else tonight, they are too angry and I don't know if they will come back in here when I'm asleep.."
"Don't apologize.. It's.. okay." I murmur.
"Can I call Nate? Maybe you can stay with him tonight, until things blow over."
I nod and point at my phone, he picks it up and dials Nate's number. I lay back and close my eyes, the pain making it hard to relax.
"Hello? Nate its Nick, Can Rillan say with you tonight? Something happened with my parents and she's in bad shape."
I hear Nate's frantic muffled voice as they talk back and forth, my mind is foggy and I go in and out of consciousness. When I manage to regain consciousness again, I open my eyes to Nate sitting next to me. I look around and see his band posters all over the walls.
"I guess I passed out.." I whisper.
Nate doesn't laugh, "How are you feeling?"
I nod, "As long as I don't move It's bearable."
He grabs my hand and looks at me sadly, "Illa.. You can't stay there anymore. I can't let you go back there! We have to call the cops or something this isn't okay."
I shake my head, "The cops are good friends with my parents, they donate a large amount of money every year to the police departments."
Nate sighs, I squeeze his hand. "Let's just go to bed for now, I'm exhausted and we have school tomorrow."
He nods, "Okay, but how are you going to get through school tomorrow? You're in a lot of pain."
"Lots of medication." I smile
He shakes his head, "You are a strange person Rillan."
I smile wider, "I know, now go turn the light off its killing my eyes!" He chuckles and gets up slapping the switch on the wall. He climbs in next to me and I drift off into a dreamless sleep.
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