Run-Away Little Sister: Hurting

Chapter Twelve: Hope

ANASTASIA'S POV:

Hope.

A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Walking from our newly found lockers to our first class of the day was utterly nerve-wracking. My anxiety was at a high point it hadn't reached for years. There was a high chance that I was about see one of my older brothers for the first time in two years.

I didn't want to see my brothers. I had hoped to never see them again. Now though, that seemed a little bit inevitable. I was going to see them at some point. We were on the same side of town that they live on and there was only one high school we were allowed to go to because of where we lived.

We had to be on this side of town because it was closer to where my future building was located, it was closer to where I needed to be. So as much as I didn't like living on this side of town where I was going to end up running into my biological family at some point, I had to push myself past that point, past that detail, and remember that I was doing this to help my adoptive family continue on with the legacy they started.

I was not only doing this to continue on with their legacy, but because this could help find their killers.

And that was worth everything to me.

Standing in front of the door, where Mr. Smith's world history class was taking place, I took in a deep breath, watching as my friends gathered around me.

Luke, Layla, Wyatt, myself, Jamie, Max, and Kayla were lined up in that specific order, myself being a step in front of the group.

Myself being the leader and them being my underbosses, meant I was generally in the front lines and they were my second line of defense, right behind me. It was the way we worked, if I fell down I knew I had six other people to pick up my slack. 

"You've got this, girly." Jamie told me, smiling at my stiff figure.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Yeah." Max replied.

"And we'll be right here." Luke continued.

Kayla continued his sentence, "We're not leaving anytime soon either."

"Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving..." Jamie started, "We continue getting stronger and more resilient, so hang on tight, don't let go, and remember that."

"Thanks Jam." I smiled slightly at her.

"You're welcome. It's something my mom and I would say all the time." Jamie informed me, returning the smile.

"Okay, I've got this. He's just possibly my older brother who let me get abused for seven years. This is nothing." I ranted quietly before Layla cut me off.

"Hey, do the thing that makes us seem badass!" she told me excitedly.

"Alright, Layla." I laughed slightly.

"Stern faces, you heard the woman." Layla demanded.

I looked at my best friends faces and seen that they all had amusement in their eyes, yet their faces were emotionless. I took a deep breath and put my hand on the doorknob before slightly letting the door open.

I picked my foot up and slammed it against the door, watching as the door hit the wall, listening to the slam that followed seconds later with the silence of the classroom as they all stared at us in the doorway, shock covering their faces.

Entering the room, all seven of us scanned the room silently, my eyes locked on five familiar faces. Jackson, Mason, Matthew, Nathan, and Dane.

My older brothers and the man who tried to r**e me.

Good lord, please help me get through this class period.

I sighed heavily, watching as my brothers faces all morphed into shock and Dane's morphed into confusion along with the rest of the class.

He didn't recognize me.

After everything he's ever done to me, all the trauma he added onto my life, he doesn't even remember the girl he gave nightmares too. Maybe I've changed over the two years I've been gone, but not so much to where I'm not recognizable.

"Excuse me, sir, are you in there?" Layla asked Matthew sarcastically, in her usual peppy, high-pitched voice.

"Uh-I-what? Ana? Is that you?" Matthew ignored Layla, his eyes staying connected to mine.

His eyes held a mixture of emotions: regret, happiness, and sorrow, being the clearest three. Nathan, Jackson, and Mason watched our interaction with each other, seemingly waiting on the edge of their seats as to what my response would be.

My best friends, on the other hand, were watching in concern. They all knew what my brothers had done to me, they watched as I was totally destroyed in California from the abuse I had gone through.

I completely reinvented myself once I was in California, but that didn't stop the occasional flinches from sudden touches, loud yells, loud noises, or accidental slamming of doors. I've worked on myself for two years, and somedays it still feels like just yesterday that I escaped my living hell.

I don't talk about my pain or trauma, it's just settled in the pit of my stomach and the back of my brain, laying there unresolved, unbothered, untouched, waiting for the perfect moment to remind me that it was there.

"Who's Ana?" I asked obliviously, "My name is Anastasia Wolp, one of your many new students."

"Oh-um..." Matthew stuttered, "Sorry, you just look like someone I used to know."

"And she has the same first name as her." Mason called out, giving more context to the classroom as to who Matthew could be talking about. 

Each of my brothers looked saddened by the newly discovered information of me not being their so called "sister". But it was true, I wasn't really their sister.

I haven't been their sister since I was seven years old.

I haven't been their sister since the abuse started. 

"Anyway." Matthew cleared his throat, "Students, please meet our newest students. Make them feel welcome today, and everyday. For now though, why don't we have our new students introduce themselves and then we'll get started."

"We'll pass." Luke stated, rolling his eyes.

"Thanks for the offer though, teach." Layla smiled sarcastically again.

"Now why don't you tell us where to sit before we find places ourselves?" I finished, watching as Matthew's eyes widened in surprise at our comments.

"Um-yeah-sure Ana... Anastasia, sorry." Matthew spoke sheepishly.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

Now he was sorry.

Where was that apology seven years ago when he let me take the fall?

"Can I have the Smith Brothers and Miss Wolp stay for a moment extra, please. Thank you." Matthew called out.

I sighed heavily as I watched the other teenagers get out of their seats and walk to the door, as I listened to the bell ring, signaling the next period would be starting soon.

"You want one of us to stay with you?" Jamie whispered, as she leaned over to my ear.

I shook my head, "No, you guys can go ahead and get to your next class. I'll get to mine soon enough. I'll be fine, hopefully."

"Alright, just remember that you are a bad b***h. You're perfect, you're wonderful, and nothing they say will ever change that." Layla told me, placing her hand on my shoulder lightly.

"Thanks Layla. I love you."

"I love you too." she smiled happily at me.

"Now go, I'll see you guys soon enough."

I watched as my best friends and family filed out of the room, I stayed seated in my seat, not bothering to move.

"Can I help you Mr. Smith?" I asked innocently, trying to keep the act up.

"Ana, I'm almost positive it's you, drop the act, please." Matthew told me, leaning against his desk.

"Fine, you got me." I laughed humorlessly, as I began picking up my stuff and shoving it into my backpack, "Now what do you want?"

"I wanted to talk with you, and I figured our brothers would want to be here when I did." Matthew told me.

"No." I said.

"No?" all four of my biological brothers asked in unison.

"No. I don't want to talk to you guys. Nathan is the only brother I'd ever consider talking to right now. If you want to talk with me, it'll be outside of school, whenever I choose, not when you try to force me. So if this isn't about my education, so kindly f**k off."

I stood out of my seat, placing my backpack on my shoulder.

"If you want to talk, we can talk once I feel ready to have a conversation with you about our real selves, not for educational purposes, but that moment is not right now, so if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave now."

And without looking back I walked away from those I once considered my brothers...

Only through suffering do you have change and self-improvement in life.

Author's Note -

Here's the twelfth chapter of "Run-Away Little Sister: Hurting". It's different than the original version, but I think that it's so much better than the original. We're still slightly behind the original version, but we should be caught up real soon. Chapter thirteen should also be out soon.

Let me know what you all think about this chapter. And make sure you all comment, vote (by clicking the star), and share this story with those who might like it.

Thanks for reading!

-Michaela {The Author}

Original Version Published: March 5th. 2019

Edited Version Published: September 10th. 2021