Broken Promises

I wish it wasn't true.

As I sat down next to my uncle Bruce, Uncle Josh, Uncle Chris, Aunt Nacy, and Aunt Angie they looked at me like I was broken, I wasn't. I wasn't fragile I could handle the truth if I needed to, I force myself to be strong but they made me feel so f*****g weak, God why do they have this hold on me like I'm some child that needs to know her place.

"So, Rylee darling how have you been?" My aunt Angle asked.

"I've been fine, I work at a fast-food place, I get good grades. Go to school, do chores, help take care of the younger ones running around our group home" I smile as hers slowly fades. She didn't want me, that was the whole problem. None of them did, I ended up going into a group home because they couldn't suck it up for however many years.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Nancy asked.

"No" I smiled.

"Well, that's good at least pregnancy isn't a problem" She whispered to Angle.

"I never said I haven't had s*x" I reply as I take a sip of my drink.

"What was that darling?" Nancy asked.

"I said, I never said I haven't had s*x" I reply.

"Not as if it would matter anyway, most of it was already taken from me by Uncle James" I smiled.

"What on earth do you mean?" She asked appalled.

"Oh, I guess the word doesn't spread much, He's in jail. For the s****l assault on a minor. Me" I smiled politely.

"That's outrageous." She scoffed.

"It's really not" I smiled.

"And Denis?" I continued.

"What about Denis?" She asked.

"Overdosed on Heroin" I answer.

"Oh my god Rylee," she says in a concerned voice.

"Scaring for a 10-year-old to watch someone die Infront of them" I smirk.

"Rylee, you must be so terrified of the outside world" My uncle Chris said.

"Not at all, I have 3 great foster brothers who are at my side if I need them" I smile.

"What?" Bruce asks.

"Yeah. Everyone in the house when you picked me up" I smile.

"So, tell us about them," Nacy said. She irked me in ways that I couldn't even explain. So prim, so proper, but couldn't help family in my most trying time.

"There's Noah, he's the oldest. 17. Taught me everything I needed to know about the group home and he's my best friend, my confidant. Jake, he's 16 but he helped me with homework and when I would have bad days would make me pancakes with fresh fruit on top. We are also close, though he does try to get me to see a therapist. And Jason, or Jay. He just turned 16 a few months ago, we have our tough times together but I know that if I need him, he's always there for me no matter what" I answer getting a questionable look.

"Why would you need a therapist?" Josh asks.

"Well, I watched Denis's overdose, James molested me, Paul molested me, Gary made me touch myself while he watched, my foster dad Randy made me touch him, my best friend Megan committed suicide in our school and I was the one that found her," I answered naming off most of the things that happened.

"Oh god Rylee," Angle said as tears fell.

"You know what the most messed up thing I've seen was?" I smiled.

"What?" Bruce asked.

"Every one of you turns me away" I scoffed.

"Rylee" Chris started.

"No, I watched as all of you said no, or said you couldn't, or moved out of state, one by one until I had no one." I scoffed again, letting out a small laugh at the end.

"None of us could at the time" Nacy defended.

"No, the only one I believe couldn't is Bruce. Since he was literally putting his life on the line" I smiled.

"And the most f****d up part of it all is that I sit here, 6 years later and nothing has changed," I smirk.

"We wanted to see how you were," She said quickly.

"Well, you saw me." I smile standing up.

"Rylee where are you going?" Bruce asked.

"I'm sorry but I can't sit here and pretend I care about anything they say!" I yell.

"Rylee sit down and stop acting like a child!" Nancy yelled, a rush of panic set in and it was fight or flight. Sometimes freeze in my case.

"No," I say lowly.

"What was that?" She scoffed.

"NO!" I yelled.

"Do you know that on top of being sexually abused I was also abused?" I yelled walking towards her, pulling down the top of my dress slightly.

"This scar just finished healing when I got to my group home. How did I get it? My foster father stabbed me with a fork." I say quickly moving to my leg. "This one," I say pointing to the indent on my leg. "Is from a different foster family that chained me to a bed so they could sexually assault me, and if I made any other noise than the ones, they wanted I was beaten. I was starved for days because I was just too big for them. I was ten, ten f*****g years old and was being beaten, starved, and used as a s*x toy for a whole house and then some!" I yelled at her.

"And where were you Nacy?" I scoffed.

"Living it up in a big fancy house, unharmed in your bed while you slept comfortably," I said again.

"You know you are the one I remember most; I remember the words you told the caseworker as she asked you to take me. 'I'm sorry but I simply don't have time to care for a child' But all you did was sit at home and drink martinis as Chad cheated on you" I laughed.

"I wasn't dumb. It's okay if I reminded you too much of my parents. I didn't need love or comfort, I needed to be somewhere safe. And you failed me, you were my last hope and I held on to it as we drove to your house, as we walked to your door, as she asked you if you would take me. Until my hope was gone, all because you couldn't be bothered." I scoffed before turning my heel.

"None of you are allowed to call yourselves family. I made my own." I smirk as I head towards the door.

"Uncle Bruce, feel free to call or come see me anytime. And thank you for such a lovely outing" I smile as I open the door, my hands are shaking as I call Noah.

"Noah," I say quickly.

"what's wrong?" He asks immediately.

"Nothing, can you come to get me please?" I ask as a smile forms on my face knowing they'll all show up.

"Of course, we are on our way" He answers as I sit on the bench outside of Nacy's house as they pile their way outside with apologies for how I was treated. I ignored them as Bruce sat beside me.

"Your foster siblings really love you?" He asks lowly.

"Yeah" I smile.

"How much?" He asks.

"That much" I smile pointing to the driveway as Noah pulls up and everyone piles out of the car.

"I'll be coming around Rylee bug" He smiles.

"I hope so" I smile back as they all run over to me making sure I'm not hurt.

"Are you okay?" Noah asks as he hugs me tightly.

"I'm fine, I promise" I smile lowly as they all form a group hug.

"Let's get you home" Jake smiles taking my hand.

I turn around as everyone watches me walk away again, this time on my account, not because they turned me down, not as a 10-year-old girl who was lost and confused. As a 15-year-old girl who finally stood her ground. Who told her story to someone, anyone she demanded to listen to it. As she faced the people who turned her away because they were hurting too.

"Oh, and in case you guys forgot. I was hurting to" I yelled before shutting the door. I watched as Noah drove away, Jason and Jake holding me close.

"I'm okay, really" I smile walking into the house.

"Are you sure?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, I finally got the closure I needed." I smile pausing a moment, "And besides, who needs a bunch of rich pricks when I have you guys" I laugh wrapping my arm around Noah and Jake.

"Why don't you go change into something comfy and I'll make popcorn and put on a movie?" Noah asked.

"I got the popcorn!" Jake yelled.

"I got the movie!" Noah yelled I smiled looking to my right I see Max, just standing there watching me like I was a bird he had been waiting to see his whole life. I gave him a quick smile before heading upstairs.

'I thought I said you couldn't come for me anymore?'

'I'm not here for you, I'm hanging out with Jason.'

'Stop staring at me then'

'I can't help but look at beauty.'

I smiled as I put my phone down. Throwing on some comfortable clothes before heading down the steps.

"What movie are we watching?" I slumped down as I sat between Jason and Max.

"Since you accomplished something today, I was thinking you pick" Jason smiled, holding up the tv remote.

"You know which one I'm going for" I smirk as I scroll over to Sweeney Todd.

"I figured" Noah smirked.

"I told you, pay up," Jake said to Jason.

"Are you guys seriously betting on my choices?" I scoffed.

"Well yeah, I had Sweeney Todd, Jason had Edward Scissorhands." Jake laughed.

"I need new friends" I scoffed as I slid back onto the couch.

We got halfway through the movie before stopping for a bathroom break, I've seen it over 100 times so I could hold it the whole time, but the boys drink way too fast. I stared at the screen trying to ignore the thoughts running through my head. What is Bruce was going to adopt me? Would I still get nights like this? Safe and sound with my family beside me?

"Everything okay?" Noah asked as he sat next to me.

"Oh yeah, everything is perfect" I smile at him.

"Any new ones?" He whispered.

"No" I smile pulling turning my wrist over so he could see it.

"Everything okay?" Jake sighs as he sits next to Noah.

"Yeah, just checking in" Noah smiled before scooting down as Max walked out, I gave him a look of really, why did you do that before Max sat down.

"All good?" Max asked as his cologne filled the air around me, butterflies in my stomach doing jumping jacks.

"Yeah" I smile as he sits down next to me.

"Play the movie!" Jason yells at me.

"I am!" I scoff loudly.

Max pulled out his phone turning the brightness down as he pressed play. I soon felt a vibrate in my lap.

'Everything okay?'

'Yeah'

'Do you want me to leave?'

'No Max'

'Are you sure?'

'I'm sure'

'I'm sorry, I'm doing a horrible job at forgetting you.'

'It's a working progress

'I don't want to forget you, Ryles'

'I don't want to hurt you, Max.'

'Then let's be friends?'

'I can't be just friends with you'

'Why not?'

'I like you too much'

I locked my phone, looking up at Max and then back to the Tv as my body slowly realized the smirk he had on his face.

I felt my phone vibrate once more; I chose to ignore it. I figured It was Max with some stupid comment. We sat for the rest of the movie, talking about different scenes that came across until the movie ended.

"No, I'm sorry but I would do him any day" I sighed as I walked to the kitchen.

"Seriously?" Jason scoffed.

"Who are we doing?" Melissa smiled as she walked into the house.

"Sweeney Todd," I smirked.

"Oh, one hundred percent" She smiled as she got on the counter next to me.

"Why?" Jake asked.

"He's hot, and he kills people to get revenge for his loved one" I smirked.

"So, all you need is a hot guy who kills people that hurt you?" Jason asked, I nodded in agreement.

"Done," Max said loudly, we all looked at him before laughing.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?" Max said leaning against the door frame.

"A little too loud" Jason laughed slapping his chest.

"Did I miss the party?" Grayson asked as he walked into the kitchen. Everyone was quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

"No, just a movie night" I smiled.

"Oh, that's good" He smiled at me.

"Ready to hang out now?" He asked.

"Yeah" I smiled as I got off the counter.

"What's the problem?" I whispered as I walked past Noah.

"Don't" he said lowly.

"Hey, why don't we hang out downstairs?" I asked.

"That's fine" He smiled walking to the basement door.

I gave Noah a confused look before heading down the steps, I took a seat on the couch as Grayson sat next to me.

"So how was dinner?" He asked.

"It was great" I smiled.

"So are you moving in with your uncle?" He asked.

"I doubt it," I said quickly as he caught me off guard.

"Why?" He asked confused.

"I don't know, I like it here" I smiled.

"You like it here?" He asked confused.

"Yeah?" I answered furrowing my brow.

"Okay" He answered as I powered up the Xbox.

I lifted my phone as Luka texted me.

'You, okay? Haven't heard from you since yesterday.'

'I'm fine Luka, just dealing with a lot.'

'Call me later?'

'Sure'

"So, Rylee, I haven't been completely honest with you" Grayson smiles.

"About what?" I ask confused.

"Well, we knew each other before we met on the street" He answered.

"What?" I scoff at his response. He pulls out his phone, showing me a picture on it.

"That's you on the left" He smiles.

"Yeah, I know." I smile.

"I don't remember this picture being taken" I reply.

"Yeah, I found it while looking through an old photo album," he answers, questions and comments came flooding to my head in a wave but I couldn't say any of them, I couldn't ask any of them.

"What?" was all I managed to say.

"We grew up together Rylee" he smiles a boyish grin before scrolling to the next photo.

"You knew my parents?" I asked concernedly.

"Well, my parents knew yours" He answered.

"Why didn't you tell me this when we met?" I ask standing up.

"I just found the pictures a few days ago" He answered.

"Rylee the point is, I know," he says quickly and quietly.

"Know what?" I ask walking around the couch as I begin to feel the panic set in. There was a secret I was told to guard with my life, no one could know from the moment my parents died.

"Rylee, I know." He repeats as his arms wrap around me.

"You need to leave," I say sternly as my voice breaks.

"Rylee it's okay," he says quickly.

"No Grayson you need to leave now!" I yell loudly pushing him back.

"Rylee," he says stepping closer as Max is the first to make it down the steps.

"She said leave!" he yelled stepping between us.

"This isn't about your love for her Max step aside" Grayson laughs.

"Make me," he says a daring tone in his voice.

"Fine, call me when you're ready to talk princess" he smirks as he walks away.

"She won't be calling you" Jason yells as he makes sure he leaves.

"Yes, she will," he says loudly once more before slamming the door.

I fall to the ground as the panic takes hold, why? Why f*****g now? Things are finally going well; can't I just live my life in f*****g peace as they wanted? Like my parents wanted? Like everyone wanted. I felt the darkness take hold as my body slipped from consciousness.

"Rylee?" Maxwell muffled voices say softly.

I force my eyes open as Maxwell holds me tightly, I try to sit up but it hurts to move.

"Let go" I mumble in pain.

"Rylee, what the f**k?" Jason says breathlessly.

"It was a panic attack I'm fine" I answer as Max helps me up.

"Rylee, this isn't fine!" Jason yells holding up my wrist.

"Jason let her be" Noah steps in.

"No, that's..." He starts but Noah cuts him off.

"Jason, let her be." He says again, sternly.

"Rylee why don't you go lie down" Noah smiles softly at me.

"Good idea," I say holding my side.

"Are you okay? What hurts?" Jake asks quickly rushing to help me up the steps.

"My ribs" I answer.

"Here," he says as he picks me up gently and carries me up to my room.

"Thanks" I smile as he lays me down on the bed.

"I'm going to help Noah; I'll be back soon" He smiles heading towards the door where an incredibly angry Maxwell stood.

"What the f**k Rylee?" Max says quickly closing the door behind him.

"What?" I ask sitting up slowly.

"Lay down" He demands, I lower myself slowly.

"Why are there more?" he asks.

"I did it last night" I answer.

"Why?" he asks again.

"Because of me?" He says.

"No, never," I reply.

"Because of Lucas?" he asks.

"Yeah" I answer.

"What happened in the hospital, Rylee?" He asks.

"He told me he loved me after I told him he broke my heart" I answer.

"So, because a guy you have been pining after for years told you he loved you?" He asked sarcastically.

"It wasn't like that Max and you know it!" I yelled hurting myself more.

"Quiet." He responded.

"It seems to me that you got what you wanted and when it was too much for you to handle you bailed." He replied.

"That's not true!" I yelled, grabbing my side as tears surfaced brimming my eyes.

"Enough! You are hurting yourself more by yelling princess" He smirks.

"I have to go pick up Noah, I'll be back tomorrow" He scoffed.

I don't answer as he leaves me, why did I feel the need to explain myself to him? Why did I fight the words he was saying though there was some truth? I hurt myself because Lucas said he loved me after I told him he broke my heart. I walked away when the words I wanted to hear came out. I roll over slowly trying to fish my phone out of my pocket.

"Hello?" His deep voice on the other end.

"I need you" I smile as a tear runs down my cheek.

"I'm on my way" He answers before the line ends.