right where you left me

Chapter 17 - Too Real. Too Raw.

"So you really made something of yourself?" Bindi said, looking at her children and husband.

"Yeah, I guess I did." I was proud of Eden. I truly was.

"Any boyfriend?" Darcy said, winking at her younger sister. I also knew the answer to that.

"No," Eden chuckled. "But why did you assume a boy?"

"I thought Tipp was the only fruity one in the family," Bindi teased. Mum rolled her eyes.

"Really guys? I am right here," I exclaimed. I knew it was all in the manner of love, but something about Bindi feeling as if she had the right to still treat me like I was six, didn't feel right to me. Not anymore at least.

"That's not the point," Eden then said. "I am working in Europe, and I'm happy. You won't need to worry about me."

"That's a little late now," Finn said. "We've been worrying about you for over a decade." This time, Eden rolled her eyes.

"Where are you working?" Mum asked, trying to keep the conversation positive.

"Germany," Eden answered.

"But where in Germany?" Darcy asked, looking deeply at Eden, but Eden was looking at me, and I was staring at her. We both knew that we couldn't say it. We couldn't.

"Wolfsburg," she replied. "For the football club."

"Wow," Bindi exclaimed. "That's incredible."

"Yeah," I added. "You should've told me." This was the best I could come up with.

"Sorry," Eden said, wanting to move on. We talked some more until it was coming close to sunrise, and it was time everyone got some sleep. Leah sat patiently with me, closing her eyes on my shoulder.

"You didn't say that you and Leah Williamson were dating," Eden said, as Leah fell asleep and the others had already left.

"Wasn't a lot of time to talk about our private lives," I responded, sarcastically. "Especially when I was coming to terms with finding my sister after a decade."

"Touche," Eden answered, smiling at me. Since we were in private, it was easier to talk.

"You should've told me you were going to come," I said to her. "I could've prepared myself."

"But that just ruins the surprise." She winked at me, before getting in the car to head back, most likely, to her hotel, while I woke Leah up, and grabbed us an Uber to get back to Jemma and Finn's, seeing as they went off to start their honeymoon.

After getting Leah into bed, I headed downstairs seeing if there was anything that could calm me. The stress that had built up, over the past few hours, was becoming overbearing. I couldn't handle it. Eden was back; Bindi was a bitch; Darcy was just...Darcy. It was the most eventful 24 hours I had had since... Well, I don't even know.

As I found Finn's hidden stash, under a floorboard in the old part of the house, I grabbed the drinks, pouring it down my throat to feel the burn.

"Jeez, that's strong," I said to myself, as the absolute vodka was living in my throat. I would never drink around my family; I knew it brought up too many bad memories for my siblings and my mother, but it was something I needed, not something I wanted.

"Tipp?" Leah called out, walking down the stairs with a hoodie dangling from my body. I quickly hid the bottle back away, grabbing a mint from the cupboard.

"Yeah?" I called back.

"It's 5am. Get to bed." I chuckled slightly, and ran upstairs, crashing onto the bed, and kissing Leah softly on the side of her face.

We only had a few more days together, until Leah had to get back to England to start her camp in preparation for the Euros. I was still contemplating what to do: do I stay in Sydney, or do I leave this hell hole as soon as possible? It was all up in the air. It was all questionable. Just like my life was.

note:

- hey friends, how r we all atm? let me know thoughts, suggestions, opinions etc.

- ive realised how far ive moved from my original intention with this story and now im considering something called planning... something i have never done with like any of my stories. anyways, i may end up taking a little while to plan the rest of the series out including mila's story hehehe <3

- also... there is a clue for mila's title story coming soon... let me know if u can find it <3 (NOT IN THIS CHAPTER LOL... or maybe it is ;)

-UPDATE: FAR OUT GUYS ANOTHER ACL!!! And it's our girl... I can't deal with this. Like I just- my heart is breaking