28|| Friends

Thank you all for 59k+ reads!! *mwah* ❤️🤭

"Dude no! She's out. No, she didn't leave stupid she's passed out!" I heard a voice whisper yell.

"I know she passed out I'm panicking! Nobody looks at me right now I need a moment." Another voice continued.

"Shut up Matteo. She'll wake up after Ace pours the water on her." A different one said.

How many are there?

My head was throbbing almost like someone had my head as a stress ball.

My body felt so heavy but light at the same time.

Just as I was thinking about fully waking up a cup of ice-cold water was dumped on my face.

My eyes shot open and I sat up so quickly that my head started spinning.

Once my eyes regained their vision I looked around and saw I was in the living room at home.

How did I get here?

I looked to my right and saw all my brothers standing there looking at me while Ace had a glass cup in his hand.

"How did I get here?" I asked

It was dead silent until Roman broke it. "We found you at your school soaking wet from the rain so we brought you back here"

"Oh, so you guys finally got me? I waited there for an hour just to be cold soaking wet and alone! I thought you had all left me! The boys had some "important" business to attend so that was put before me!" I panted.

All of them looked guilty but I didn't care.

"You know, I thought things would be different. I thought maybe things could turn around. I'm so sick and tired of giving out second chances." I continued.

All of them started blurting things out except for Roman.

He kept quiet. The one person I wanted to hear 'I'm sorry' from kept quiet.

"Stop! All of you. I'm going to The Spot and if I see any of you there you'll be sorry." I explained.

I hopped up from the couch and ran upstairs to my room.

I took off my wet clothes and put on a fitted hoodie and some leggings.

I grabbed my phone and debit card Romano gave to me a couple of days back.

I rushed down the stairs and started walking to The Spot.

Why do these things happen to me? Why can't I have a normal life? Why did mom have to die?

Before I knew it I arrived at the beautiful lake.

I sat on the huge rock that faced the water and watched as it ran through the rocks embedded into the ground.

Within seconds I started balling. I don't know all the reasons why but I had to let it out.

After about 5 minutes of crying, I felt a hand touch my shoulder.

I looked up and saw River looking at me with concerned eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"No," I responded with a slight voice crack.

He sat next to me and just let me cry in silence.

After I started quieting down the sound of the water flowing was the only thing that could be heard.

"Wanna talk about it?" River asked.

I wiped my eyes and sniffed the snot back up my nose. We don't want him to see more than he already has.

"It's my brothers. They say one thing but their actions show another. Especially Roman they all make me so upset! It's unbelievable how I feel loved to be unwanted in a matter of hours!" I rambled.

I started to choke up and eventually started crying again.

River placed his warm hand on my back and rubbed it in a circular motion.

I scooted closer to him and wrapped my arms around his torso while stuffing my face in his rock-solid shoulder.

"Okay, I'm not gonna let you cry all your tears." River started.

He pulled me back and looked into my eyes

"Look, you are a beautiful intelligent strong woman. There is no need to keep crying. I can tell you have been through things and one day you might share it with me but until then I don't want to see your beautiful face covered in tears ever again. Got it?" He demanded sternly.

My teary eyes widened at his bluntness the butterflies in my stomach continued to swarm.

They had arrived ever since his hand was placed on my back.

I have no idea why though. Despite all of that I tried to play it cool by nodding my head and laying back on his shoulder.

"Okay," I whispered.

I checked my phone and saw it was 1 am. Did I cry that long?

Lifted my head from Rivers' body and stood up. I was instantly cold but I tried not to focus on that for long.

"Thank you so much for tonight." I beamed.

"I'm glad I could help." He smirked.

That face could easily melt any girl's heart. Maybe even mine.

I stuck my hand out towards him and smiled.

"Friends?" I asked.

He looked at my hand grabbed it and kissed the back of it.

"Friends." He confirmed.

That night I walked him with a big smile on my face and went to bed without thinking about my worries.

•••

The rest of that week I didn't see River much I saw him for five minutes every day and we didn't even talk.

Today was Friday and I was looking forward to the weekend but also dreading it because I still lived with my brothers.

Roman had mentioned my Social worker coming to visit me to make sure everything was going well.

In simpler terms, it's actually to make sure they're not hurting me in any way.

Which they're failing at a little.

After school, I got in Ace's car and headed home. Matteo tried to make conversation with me but he didn't succeed.

Sometimes I think, am I being too hard on them? Or is it just time for me to stop giving my heart to people who don't deserve it?

Once we got home I showered and put on some leggings and a cropped white long-sleeve.

The doorbell rang just as I put my hair in a ponytail.

I walked downstairs and saw Mrs. Williams with a clipboard already starting to talk with Roman.

"Hi dear! I'm going to start chatting with you first then I'll finish talking with Mr. Moretti" Mrs. Williams beamed.

I put on a small smile and lead her to the living room where we sat beside each other with a comfortable amount of space between us.

"So, how is everything going?" She asked.

"Honestly? It's not terrible. I'm still adjusting to this new life and family but hopefully, we'll get the hang of it. I answered.

She asked me a dozen questions while still keeping me comfortable.

After about twenty minutes Roman came back and lead her to his office.

That was only thirty minutes ago and they've still been talking.

After another hour Mrs. Williams bid me goodbye and left.

Roman and I were sitting in the living quietly. The rest of the boys were somewhere in the house doing their own thing.

"Taliah, look-" he started.

"No. I will not keep going through this cycle of heartbreak and not being able to trust you. I will respect and love you till the day I die but we will not sit and talk about what you've been keeping from me until you're ready to tell me the truth." I cut him off.

Roman sighed and engulfed me in a bear hug.

"I understand. Mi dispiace tanto sorellina. Un giorno ti dirò tutto." He whispered.

I wish I understood what he said. But just like everything else, it's just a mystery that will have to be revealed to me.

Heheh hi! Thank you all for 59k+ reads and over 1.14k votes! I'm forever thankful. What do you think of this chapter? Was it cringy? QOTD: What was your dream job as a kid? Me? I really wanted to be a Gymnast or a Fashion designer. Don't forget to VCF! Xoxo

Mya❤️