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

Maria and Dennis who now seemed surprise at this news.

“I was always the one to take the blame for everything my siblings do. It hurts to know you’re not trusted and that you are the black sheep of the family, but I have gotten used to it. I’ll be fine. I didn’t die from it before so I won’t die now either.” I turned and smiled weakly at the crew.

“Well as of today you won’t have to, because we won’t let you take it this time.” Darnell wrapped his arms around my and out of nowhere a tear fell down my cheek.

I soon everyone was enfolded into a big bear hug and for once I felt safe and protected.

            There was a sound coming from the upstairs and we all went in search of where it was coming from. We were about to turn into the hall that lead to Dre’s room when he appeared enfolded in the arms of a giggling Layla.

“Well look what we have here.” I sneered. They were both surprised that they stepped apart quickly.

“So this is what you do behind my best friend’s back? Go around with other guys? Some girlfriend you are.” I scoffed

I turned and went back down to the front room where the drunken bodies once laid, now was alive with kids trying to make their way out the door and on their way home. Among them were Gabri and the others.

“You were here too?” I asked shocked. I kept wondering if my eyes were deceiving me, but it wasn’t.

            She was about to answer when she reach for her phone in her pocket. She looked suddenly terrified and I suddenly knew it must be her parents. The others had the same look on their faces as they too reached for their phones.

“Put the phones on speaker.” I told them. They were a bit reluctant in doing so but Gabe and the rest of the crew helped in me.

“Hey guys, I’m so sorry for the trouble and worry I must have caused you. I planned a sleepover in which it seems the guys here totally forgot to tell you out of their excitement to be staying at my dad’s house. But don’t worry they are safe.” I smiled knowing I had always had a way of charming my friends’ parents on a numerous occasions.

“Oh DJ, thank goodness you guys are safe we were really worried sick.” Mrs. Merlo said relieved.

After reassuring them all I added that they wouldn’t be home until late, since we had planned a full day event, they all hung up.

“There you asses have been saved so no need to worry about getting home in a hurry.” I shrugged

“So you think you can all this with money?” Jayson questioned crossly.

“Nope” I replied popping the ‘p’.

“So what’s this all about then?” He shouted then winced as he held his head obviously from a hangover.

“Stop shouting will you?” Kymara whispered holding her head with her eyes closed tight.

“That’s my reason. And you guys need breakfast.”

“OH NO! I feel like I’m about to….” Before she could say it, Jade hurled all over Zeus’s shoes

“Oh man! Look at my shoes. I was really staring to like ‘em. Dang!” Zeus groaned as if in terrible pain.

“Don’t worry I’ll get you new ones, since I owe you some birthday gifts.” I smiled.

“C’mon let’s get you guys cleaned up.” I motioned them to follow

            I showed them into my room so they could have a bath, and took their clothes to the laundry room to be laundered. As soon their clothes were finished I took them back to them. They were dressed in the bath robes I had offered them and looked seriously uncomfortable.

“Here are your clothes, ready to be used again.” I smiled and handed them over.

“You like this don’t you? That we have to depend on you?” Jade whispered as if terrified that I had been contaminated by rich and famous lifestyle I had always looked down on.

“Well from a friend’s point of view, you should be able to depend on me, so yes.” Their eyes changed at those words and I suddenly realized that they had taken it the other way.

I sighed and sat on the fluffy carpeted floor, and hung my head tired of putting in a front that made it seemed like I was just doing fine.

“Look, I never once thought of you guys as anything things else than my best friends despite all that had happened. Even though I kept a part of me away from you guys.” I sighed again. “There were many times that I wanted to tell you but… I didn’t feel like I could. This happened before and I suffered for it a little. It’s not you I don’t trust it’s your parents. I didn’t know what would happen if they found out. I don’t want my life to be sold to pages of societies magazines, to be tortured day and night, to not be able to do anything privately anymore because someone always seem to realize who you are.” I looked up at them now with tears streaming down my face.

“My friends’ lives shouldn’t be burdened by my life either. So I kinda spared you from being harassed. Anyway I’ll let you guys get your breakfast now.” And with that I made my way to the door.

“DJ, things don’t have to be like this.” Jayson begged now holding to my arm before I could leave. “Let us decide what we want to do. Don’t do it for us.”

“We’re on our way down for breakfast Maria. Could you set the family table?” I said ignoring Jayson’s begging. “Let’s go.”

 

            The table was set and all my friends and Dre sat around the table, with dad sitting at the head. We sat for awhile eating in silence. Then there was a loud clatter and everyone looked up at Darnell who looked outrageously annoyed.

“Someone just died.” He said

“What?!” all the Alphas stared at him quizzically, wondering what he was up to.

“Silence just died. So can y’all start talking before its resurrected and kill me too.” I replied grumpily.

By now I was dying from laughter. If there is anything anyone would know about me, is that my laughter was contagious, so pretty soon everyone at the table, even Dre began to laugh.

“OK, why are we laughing?” Jade questioned

“IDK.” I replied.

Soon we had desert and I decided it was time to talk while the air seemed lighter. So I got up and all eyes were on me.

“Over the years I’ve taken the blame for the things my brothers or sisters have done. I hated coming here so much since I had to face my stepmother on every occasion. I wondered many times why is it that I had to do the chores that were never mine to be done, but I never complained much.”

Everyone even Dre listened and I wondered what was going through his head. I wondered if he would say I was lying or admit these things did happen.

“Whenever I tried to talk to dad about what happens, Lola (my stepmom) would interrupt and tells my dad how much I was lying. She would even place things into my room that would make it seem like I was really lying. So some summers ago I decided it was the last time that I would deal with it and that I would never come back here. I painted the portrait of a picture that I had cherished, when I was truly happy.”

I looked around to see if I still had everyone’s attention, and when I realized that I did I continued. “Mrs. Watkins was supposed to burn the portrait be she said that I was to give it some time before I do that, but things didn’t change, so I told her to give back to me. I had all the intention to burn it, but she said that she was unable to find it. Then she moved away shortly.”

I turned to Randy who was listening very attentively.

“I’m sorry Randy. I never mean to take out my anger on you, any of you.” I looked at them all to show that I was sincere.

“And to you Dre, not once did I ever have the intention of keeping dad to my self as you mom told you countless times. All I had ever wanted from the time I found out I had a brother was to share most of my time with him. But you never gave that chance none of you guys gave me the chance. And Dad, I am sorry for everything. Right now I’m just tired of always fighting people away to avoid being hurt, in turn hurting the people I care about, even the ones I behave as if I don’t care about.” As new tears streamed down my face I turned to leave the room.

I wiped the stubborn tears that refused to stop as I made my way out of the room only to bump into Lola.

“So you’re really going to allow this… this… little liar convince you that all has ever happened was my fault and that I am the one that lies?” Lola’s words stopped me in my tracks.

“You bitch! All you’ve ever done was ruin my life. The only blessing was receiving siblings from you but sad that you’ve tainted them all with you lies. You never once accepted me you low down dirty slime of a scumbag!”

“DJ!” I turned at the sound of my name to see Kevin standing by the door. “You apologize this instant!” he commanded

“No I will not. And stop shouting at me this is not one of your squad members. I’m tired of doing what everyone wants me to do. I’m tired of taking shit from people and I’m tired of dealing with you.” I pointed to Lola who stood astonished that I responded in such fury. She never seen me angry like this and I would always take all the crap dished out at me.

“I think you have been hanging around these hoodlums too long” she said motioning to the Alphas.

“Hoodlums you call us? We’ve been called worse lady.” Darson stated matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, plus we knew DJ with this temper. That’s how we became friends. We were the ones to help her to put her temper into dancing, it helped. So you should be grateful to us.” Gabe said calmly.

“You haven’t seen the worst of her temper yet. So be happy she’s just shouting at you and not throwing things.” Cassie chimed in.

“Please don’t remind me of that episode.” Said dad as he shuddered at the memory. “You really need to control that temper Dami. I think you need to take an anger management class.” He added.

“That didn’t work the last time. She somehow made the doctor angry instead.” Austin said who must have just entered the room since I hadn’t noticed him there before.

“What am I going to do with you?” dad groaned. “Dad would never believe that his granddaughter has a temper as terrible as his or worse I might add.”

At that he laughed and sighed as looked at Lola. By now the twins were home and so were the girls. They too were inside the room and I tensed at what may come from all this.

“Lola, I’ve realized that the worst thing I ever did was marrying you but then I’m grateful for the kids that I received. But the one that needed my protection from you really didn’t receive it. She’s a lot like her mother and I would want it any other way so yes I will believe what she says. You are no longer welcomed here. I have tolerated all your foolishness and so have the kids. You’ll be escorted from the premises.”

“What?!!” she screamed.

“You will not allowance for the children either. They’ll be staying with me most of the time end my to-be-bride. So find some other way to be publicized without publicizing our name. And I will not pay