Among Stars by Nevi Bernard (best beach reads of all time txt) 📖

            As soon as I felt the arms around me loosened, I ran towards him and threw my arms around him and finally cried, not really knowing why I was crying. His arms tightened and ran his up and down my soothing the pain. Then holding me away he looked into my eyes and said, “You shouldn’t have to lie for us anymore. I’m sorry that you were put in as place that you had to.”

Then he wrapped his arms around me, removing the pressure I didn’t know was there. After getting everyone to sit he told them the truth about what had happened. Cassie though she was as young I, she clarified that she had over all that had happened and that Gabe wasn’t lying. First, Zeus was angry that he lied to, but after being reminded if the person Duce was, He apologized.

That day was a day of confession and rebuilding of the bond that was severed. We practiced and hung out like we used to forgetting about the things that had once cause trouble in our friendship. It wasn’t until the Wednesday before my school’s Homecoming weekend that I remembered where I needed to be.

“Guys I know this is a very bad time to tell you this but I have to go home today.” I say petulantly.

I sighed as tears well up into my eyes at the thought that I may not see these guys for some time. I really didn’t want to go but I had to. I told them about the big evening event that was coming up, and how much I needed to be there.

“So why don’t we just come with you?” Cassie said.

“Hey that’s an awesome idea!” I shrieked excitedly

            So ten minutes later we are all packed into Gabe’s four wheel drive and two other cars and we were on our way to Malibu. I was so excited that I didn’t have to say good bye just yet. But I still didn’t tell them the most important thing; and that is who my father was. Could I tell them? I wondered nervously.

“Hey Fox, you ok? You look like you’re about to hurl.” Zeus looked at me with concern.

“Yeah, fine.” I squeaked

They all look at me now knowing that I wasn’t fine but I wouldn’t tell them even if my life depended on it.

The first thing that came into view as Gabe drove towards our gate was the many reporters that stood there. I twisted my fingers nervously as I saw that I must have caused a great deal worry to my family. I didn’t think of them as family some hours ago, when I was still on the other side of LA. Gabe looks at me through the rear view mirror with eyes that said that I had a lot of explaining to do. 

“I think you need to close the windows.” I said so softly and everyone turns to look at me which cause me to slouch just a little.

We stopped in front of the gate and the reporters went in to frenzy, trying to find out who was in the vehicle. Luckily the tinted windows prevented them from seeing anyone inside. I aimed the remote towards the gate as it slid open slowly. Gabe proceeded through as a few reporters tried to enter, but was prevented by a band of police that I hadn’t seen when we first approached the gat. Before they could try to investigate who had entered, we were already going down the road leading to the house.

            I sighed and we all filed out of the vehicle finally, totally unaware of the uproar we’d caused until we heard shouts.

“Don’t move! Put your hands up where I came see them!”

My heart hammered in my chest but I refused to obey, so I turned and walked towards the house as the shouts came again. I halted at the door and spun around to face the officers with the sweetest smile.

“Hello officers, how may I help you?”

There eyes that were already bulging seem to almost pop right out at the sight of me. Now that my hair was back to its jet black color, and I wasn’t wearing contacts then I was the splitting image of my father except for the dimples that were like my mom’s.

“Who are you? And what purpose do you have here?” Demands the pudgy officer. His hands trembled terribly as he aimed the gun at me, while keeping his eyes on the others.

“Well my name is Damira Jaxsonia Olivét Nicolaidia Vincenzo Caldera. And how may I help you?” I asked again as if I hadn’t been missing for a week.

            “Y – Y – You’re the Vincenzo kid?” the pudgy officer’s partner stuttered shocked.

“Duh! Who else did you expect the – ” I was interrupted by the angry booming voice behind that caused me to jump. “Uncle Pe!!” I shrieked in a fake excited voice, while I shook at the thought of what he might do to me since I’d never seen the look that I saw on his face now.

“Don’t you uncle Pe.”

I sighed and turned to the other guys only to realize the other two vehicles weren’t parked with the rest.

“Officers they’re with me and please tell your other colleagues by the gate to let through the other two vehicles that came with us.” I ordered ignoring Pedro who I knew was boiling with anger.

Everyone stood quietly as we waited for the others to arrive. And as soon as they did we entered the house that was filled with police and detectives who stopped to stare as we all entered.

“Wow wonderful day isn’t it? Well I’ll be going to my room now. C’mon guys” I said coolly trying to slip away.

            “Oh no you don’t! You come back here young lady.” Dad roars angrily.

Cassie squeezed my shoulders as I shook with anger too. I spun around to face him staring daggers at him, willing him to back down, but he didn’t.

“Where the hell have you been?” he commanded

“None of…..” I began but was interrupted by a squeal I knew too well, and turned to see mom standing in the hall leading to the library and Kevin standing by her.

It was then that the tears that I had been willing not to fall since I got back, rolled down my cheeks. I was just tired of crying but my soul was still a mess and needed some serious cleansing. No one could stop me at the moment as I ran and threw my arms around her neck and hug tight, unwilling to let go.

“I’m sorry.” I cried over and over into her neck as she rubbed my back and rocked me.

“Gabe, Darnell, Darson…” She said and soon I felt their arms wrapped around us and I finally let go of the tears kept trying to hold back. We all cried together as if to be crying for the same reason. And I too like Zeus felt at peace.

*                                *                                *

            “So you’re trying to tell me that not once you thought to call home?” dad was still upset thought he was trying to remain calm as he pace back and forth.

“Nope whenever we’re all together we seem to shut the world out. And we had some serious family matters to handle.” I replied evenly

“You had a family matter to handle here too.” Dad counteracted

“Well they’re my real family including mom, Kev, Aus, Pe, Rico, Leon, and Alex of course. You guys aren’t.” I motioned to dad, Dre and the others as my voice trailed off.

“Really? And what are we to you?” he asked in a strained voice that didn’t sound like his.

I sighed. “I don’t know. People I try to avoid as much as I can.”

            By the look on his face he seemed hurt but not much he seemed to be a little ok.

“So you’re trying to say you avoid being in my presence.” He said not asking a question. “I’m your father and that has got to mean something to you.”

“Not really. You were replaced when you weren’t there when I needed you the most. Kevin is all I need in a father. You left once and tore our family apart. All we asked was for you to pay just a little more attention to us after discovering you NEW kid, let us all bond. But you were never interested. So once you left you were replaced.” I turned away so I couldn’t see the hurt on his face.

“Ok now we’re getting some where.” Said the behavioral psychologist, who I totally forgot her name. She had been around from the day I went missing, checking for any clues that would give anyone a clue why I ran away.

            “You don’t know the importance of family, or what it fells like to lose one.” Dad snapped angrily.

“Man, you might want to apologize for making a statement like that. You really have never seen her thrown a tantrum, otherwise you would avoid it” Cassie defended me .

“Stay out of this little girl this doesn’t concern you.” His words seem to bite and I had had it.

“Don’t you dear talk to her like that. You are the one who knows nothing. Do you know how it feels to see some one you love like family about to lose their life, only to save them not thinking about your own safety? Do you know what it feels like to be the target of Gang leader because you interfered with his actions only to be saved by the same person who was being hunted in the first place? To see you friend lying in a pool of blood gapping for his life for he’d sacrificed his to save yours? Or to see them being brought out into a body bag, that signifies that you’ll never see them again, while the other is being framed and arrested? YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE!” I screamed as a sea of tears rushed down my face.

I pushed myself out of my seat and turned away from everyone as the anger inside rage like the ocean on a stormy night. I heaved uncontrollably and saw nothing I began throwing things everywhere until I saw my bloody knuckles. I had clue what it was cause from and turned to find the living room in complete disarray. The glass coffee table was smashed along with other things that laid elsewhere. All I felt were a band of arms around my waist and I saw the shocked expressions on everyone’s face before my panic attack caused my legs to feel like they were made of rubber and everything started to go dark. My head hit something hard.

“DJ!!” I heard someone wailed as everything went completely dark.

*                                *                                *

            “Wake up DJ. Please open your eyes.” I heard the voice of my doctor.

I obeyed and opened my eyes slowly and smiled at Dr. Brendon, who smiled right back.

“I can see you been throwing tantrums again. How many fingers do you see?” she was now all business- like but I always prefer the more jovial concerned doctor.

“I see eighty-nine.” I giggled

“DJ stop messing around and talk with the doctor.” Dad commanded from somewhere in the room and I frowned.

“Don’t worry