Chasing Stars

The night came and went. I had refused to eat dinner with them, staying locked in my room as long as I could. The next morning I heard Bandit and Lindsey leave for the day. I was sitting in my office chair starring out of the window. The sun was coming up and I could feel my eyes drooping. My door opened without warning but I refused to turn my head towards the source. I knew it was Gerard. He walked over to my still made bed and took a seat.

"Mikey's gonna come over around noon today, Frank and Ray will be in shortly after that. Bandit is doing a half day at school, so you don't have to go at all today," he said looking at me. Silence engulfed the room. "I see you where painting last night," he tried. I swallowed hard, not even caring that tears where beginning to fall. I quickly whipped them away and stood up.

"I've run out of space," I said simply handing him my brush. "You wanna know what's in my head Gerard. Take a good hard look." With that, I walked out of the room shutting the door behind me. It wasn't long before Gerard entered the kitchen where I had taken my refuge.

"Did you eat yet?" he asked in a sullen voice.

"Do I ever?" I retorted taking another drink from my coffee cup. "Where are you dragging me to today?" I asked looking up from my phone.

"Well we're going to the phone store first since you decided to destroy mine last night. Then we're going to the grocery store," he stated as I let out a groan of annoyance. "I know torture right? Then we are coming back here and Mikey is meeting us and the Frank and Ray are coming by." He finished while grabbing a to-go mug and pouring coffee in it.

"I'm so excited for today," I said in the most sarcastic voice I could muster although my heart really wasn't in it.

"Yeah I can tell. Hey real quick, your punishment for yesterday…" he started gaging my look before continuing cautiously. "I want the three reasons. You are grounded and by grounded I don't mean sitting in your room, I mean you are coming with me everywhere. As for you breaking my phone, you're going to do choirs around the house until you pay off the debt. And finally for your comments last night, I want an apology." I gaged him when he finished. I knew he deserved one but I wasn't willing to back down. At least not yet. I wasn't ready to make nice and pretend like yesterday never existed.

"You deserve better than me. You know that right?" I asked looking Gerard in the eyes. Gerard grabbed his shoes and sat down to slide them on.

"You need to stop doubting yourself," he said standing back up.

"And you should probably stop believing in me," I muttered.

"Grab your shoes," he sad shacking his head in irritation.

After we went to the phone store and of course the dreaded grocery store, we arrived back at the house to see Mikey already there and waiting. I put all the groceries away, part of my punishment and all. Shortly after that, Lindsey and Bandit came home. I had just walked into the kitchen when I heard a knock. I walked towards the door, yawning. I opened the door to reveal a man with to much hair, a women with long blond hair and a boy.

"Let me guess, Gerard's friends?" I said with a polite smile.

"Hey, you must be the Rylynn we've been hearing so much about. I'm Ray and this is my wife Krista," Ray said extending a hand. I shock his hand and stepped aside to let him in.

"I ah… I think everyone is on the deck out back," I stated turning towards the cupboard to grab a bottle of water. We all walked that direction. Everyone said their hellos and gave their hugs. I walked over to my seat next to Gerard who was still insisting on watching my every move.

"Did you get everything done?" he asked in my ear so no one could hear. I nodded. "Thanks," he replied.

"Not like I had a choice," I said through a smile. He shock his head and wrapped his arm around my chair.

"Wow I'm in shock," Ray said pointing at Gerard and I. I turned and looked at Gerard and then back at Ray, confused by his comment. "You look a lot like your dad," Ray stated. I looked at Gerard again.

"No I'm prettier," I stated sarcastically. Everyone chuckled.

"When is Cherri and Lily coming, I want to see them," Bandit asked for the 9th time since she got home. I rolled my eyes and rested my head on my elbow.

"They'll be here soon," Lindsey assured the young girl.

"I'm bored," Bandit stated.

"Why don't you two go draw or play with your toys," Gerard suggested to the two small children.

"Can Rylynn come with me," Bandit asked in a sweet tone.

"No," I quickly replied. The young child walked over to my chair resting her arms on the arm rest and batting her eyes. "No," I leaned in and said with a smile.

"Come on," she said dramatically and attempting to shake my chair.

"I don't want to," I stated turning away from her. Everyone else got caught up in a conversation. Bandit let go of the chair and pulled on my shirt.

"You know you want to," she said in a sweet voice. I turned back to her.

"I said no, leave me alone," I said again. I pulled her hands away from my shirt. She latched right back on.

"Rylynn, come on you never play with me." she whined.

"Because I'm not seven," I stated. She got mad and pulled at my shirt again. My patience was thin and I was about to lose my cool.

"Rylynn," she whined again.

"Gerard," I practically yelled quickly gaining his attention.

"Bandit, leave her alone," he said strictly. A door bell rang in the distance. Gerard raised his eyebrows at Bandit as she began to jump up and down.

"Rylynn, come on, it's Cherri and Lily I just know it," she stated pulling at my arm. I let out a groan and stood up following the small child. She wasn't allowed to open the door so clearly I needed to go. I opened the door to see three small children come running in and two adults on the other side.

"Welcome, everyone's on the deck," I said with a smile.

I turned around to hear, "Come on lets sneak into Rylynn's room."

"Stay out," I shouted at Bandit. She turned back and smiled evilly at me.

"Try and stop me," she said softly. I stomped back out to the deck forgetting about Frank and Jamia at the door.

"Gerard, you better get those evil children out of my room or you're only going to have one daughter," I yelled clearly upset. Gerard groaned and slide his chair back and walked past me into the house. I turned and followed him.

"Bandit," Gerard called walking up the stairs. They all quickly ran out of my room and into the hallway. "Okay, house rule, is everyone listening?" he asked kneeling down to their level. "Miles," he announced gaining the boy's attention. "Do not go into Rylynn's room. If fact don't annoy her at all. Now give me a hug because I haven't seen you in months." I walked past the hug fest and into my room. Everything still looked in place.

"Are you going to live?" Gerard asked from the door way.

"They better stay out," I muttered walked towards the door. I shut it behind me.

"They will," he assured me.

"Somehow I don't believe you," I muttered again.

"Have a little faith," Gerard stated as we walked downstairs. He was in a very happy mood. One that confused me greatly. Normally he was happy but this was just nuts.

"What happened to you?" I asked squinting my eyes and staring at him like he was crazy. He gave me a 'are you kidding' look.

"Frank! Jamia!" Gerard shouted as he enter the room that led to the deck. Frank smile and gave Gerard a hug. Gerard hugged Jamia and grabbed the bags out of their hands and set them on the couch in the sitting room. "Hey I want you to meet my daughter," Gerard said excited looking around at me and waving me forward. I rolled my eyes and walk to the group.

"Hello," I said with a small smile.

"This is Rylynn. Ry this is Frank and Jamia," Gerard said like a high school girl.

"Hi Rylynn, it's great to finally meet you. Gerard can't stop talking about you," Frank said in a chipper voice.

"I'm sure that's true after yesterday," I said with a smirk.

"Did I mention she's a smart ass sometimes?" Gerard said smirking back at me.

"Nope and you didn't mention she's the spitting image of you," Jamia said.

"Or that she acts just like you and Mikey," Frank said smiling at me.

"Whatever, I'm going back outside," I stated walking away and toward the deck. I opened the door and returned to my seat. Gerard, Frank and Jamia all followed me out. Everyone stood and hugged, saying their hellos. Mikey slide over next to me so Frank and Jamia could sit next to each other. I shot him a glare that only Gerard saw as he sat on the other side of me. Gerard leaned over to whisper in my ear.

"You've been great today but please don't start glaring at Mikey."

I pulled my hand up to my mouth and started to bit at my nails. I glanced at Gerard from the corner of my eye and nodded. Gerard turned back to the conversation while I prayed this night would end soon. I hated pretending. I hated how completely uncomfortable I felt in my own skin. As if Gerard sensed my emotion, he wrapped his arm around my chair.

Notes

Here you all go!

I hope you like it. Let me know.

~Nailsntacks