“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.”
–Richard Bach
Camila POV
,,See ya." Nick said and he and Riley just left letting me and Shawn speechless.
I wanted to keep Riley back, but if I'd do that she would only hate me more. But if I let her go she will just....go.
Before I decided what to do next Shawn did and started walking after them, but I held him back. I think I made a decision without realizing it by doing this.
,,She will see that Nick is lying. If we go after her she will hate us. Let her see it by herself who is right and who is wrong." I said and and Shawn looked at me, then at the front door where Riley and Nick walked through a few seconds ago, and then back at me.
,,You want her to go away with HIM!?" He said confused.
,,No. I don't want that, but I think it's the better option right now." I said and Shawn let out a frustrated breath.
,,Mila, we can't just stand here and let her go!"
,,What do you wanna do then!? I don't know how to handle this kind of situation. We never argued with one of our kids like that, so I have no fucking clue what to do. What do you wanna do!?" I said not realizing that I raised my voice at Shawn. I didn't want to let my anger out at him, so I tried to calm myself down and hide my face in between my hands.
,,I- I don't know..." I heard Shawn say and then heard one of the dogs bark.
I didn't realize that Thunder and Tarzan weren't here until now. But where were they?
I put my hands away from my face and looked around for Tarzan and Thunder and I saw that they were locked in the backyard. Riley must have locked them out so they couldn't attack Nick. Shawn walked over to the the glass door and opened it for Tarzan and Thunder.
,,I'm sorry... I shouldn't have raised my voice at you. I know you feel just as frustrated and it wasn't fair to raise my voice at you." I said and walked over to Shawn taking one of his hands in mine.
,,You don't need to be sorry. I didn't took it personal or whatever. I know it was because of all the stress this damn situation caused." Shawn said while going through his hair with his free hand. He was doing that pretty often during the past years when he was stressed.
,,I'm calling Mary and I'll tell her what happened. Maybe she can talk with Nick." I said.
,,I doubt that, but trying won't hurt anyone." Shawn said and I nodded.
I immediately called Mary and told her all the stuff that happened and she said she will try to reach Nick and talk to him. After I talked to her, I knew Shawn and I had to fix another problem. Nate was probably now even more mad and I really didn't want that, but I have no saying in that. All I can do is try to fix the problem.
,,We should check on Nate. He is probably still mad at Riley..." I said and Shawn nodded, but just when Shawn opened his mouth to say something, my phone started to ring.
I was hoping that it was Mary with some good news, but it was Carlos. It wasn't the best timing to call, but I answered the phone anyways because he is family.
,,Hi...Might I call you a little bit later 'cause right now it's a pretty bad timing." I said as I answered the phone.
,,Yeah sure. I just called to ask you how the first days of school were. But no problem, you can call me when you have time." Carlos said.
,,Okay, call you later." I said and then hung up. ,,Nate." I simply said and Shawn nodded before we both made our way upstairs.
When we got at Nate's room, his door was closed, so I knocked and waited for his answer together with Shawn.
,,Who is it?" I heard Nate from the other side of the door.
,,The people who made you." I said and then the door opened to reveal Nate and Ami who was sitting on Nate's bed.
,,I showered if you wanted to ask that." Nate said and walked over to the bed to sit next to Ami.
,,We aren't here because of that." Shawn said and then we both walked over his bed. I sat on the bed next to Nate and Ami and Shawn kneed in front of Nathan's bed.
,,We wanted to ask you if you are okay." I said and Shawn nodded in agreement.
,,We are okay." Nate answered.
,,Are you mad?" I asked.
,,Not at you." Nate said.
,,At Riley?" Shawn asked and Nate nodded.
,,She didn't even say sorry for not coming when we got home. She was with that weird man and just ignored us." Nate said and pointed at him and Ami.
,,You said she was mad at you, but why is she not talking to us?" Ami asked and to be honest I didn't know what to answer.
I understand why Riley is mad, but I hate the fact that she believes Nick. I guess it is my fault for not telling her the truth from the begging. I was dumb. I know that. But I don't want our family to be destroyed by that. I don't want Nick to destroy my family again.
,,I really don't know princess, but she will come around at some point. You two are staying her siblings no matter what. Okay?” Shawn said and Nate and Ami nodded.
,,I'm still mad at her. She should have come at my game." Nate said and crossed his arms over his chest.
,,We are not gonna tell you how to feel, but just try not to be too harsh on her. Family is always the most important at the end of the day. Okay?" I said and Nate nodded.
,,Anything else you wanna tell or ask us?" Shawn asked.
,,Where is Riley?" Ami asked.
,,She is mad at me and daddy and now she left with Nick. We are not happy about that, but we'll fix it." I said and Shawn nodded.
Riley POV
,,Where are we going now?" I asked Nick after we left my house.
,,I can show you where I live. It's not very organized right now tho." He said and smiled at me.
I stared at Nick since we met at the cafe and I couldn't see much similarities between us. When mom showed me pictures of Nina it was like she was showing me myself. I mean I don't look exactly like Nina because I also think I look a little bit like mom. I always liked to think that I look like mom because I felt more like I belonged in my family. Don't get me wrong. I don't feel left out because I'm not mom's and dad's biological daughter, but sometimes I feel different. Sometimes I feel weird when I know that I'm theoretically just Camila's niece and I have no biological connection with Shawn. I feel weird sometimes and I can't lie.
I feel bad that I reacted like I did and not only how I reacted towards mom and dad, but also towards Mason. When he tried to explain to me why I shouldn't trust Nick, I overreacted and told him to fuck off. I was mad, yes, but I should've said that. Mason is my best friend and I treated him like shit. I feel bad for doing that and I also feel bad for yelling at mom and dad. Yes, I am mad at them. I am very mad, but I shouldn't have yelled at them.
,,I live in an apartment together with my girlfriend but it's kinda far away so we'll need to take the cab." Nick said.
,,You have a girlfriend?" I asked.
,,Yeah.... It took me a while to get over your mom, but I think Nina would want me to be happy even if it's with someone else." Nick said and I nodded.
,,So you loved Nina?" I asked.
,,Of course I did. She was my first real love." Nick said and gave me a smile before he stopped a cab and we both got in.
Nick told the driver where to go and then a silence covered the whole car. It was kinda awkward, but I wanted to get to know Nick. I just didn't know what to ask. I mean he answered most of my questions at the cafe, but I still have a tone others. I just don't know which of my questions I should ask.
,,So why did that friend of yours left?" Nick asked and his question confused me.
,,What friend?" I asked.
,,Ahm... the one you were with at the cafe earlier. Did you two get in an argument?" Nick asked.
Mason was at some point at the bathroom when we were at the cafe and when he came back he wanted to talk to me and just with me and not also with Nick, so we went outside the cafe to talk. He told me he thought that we should go and not believe Nick and that's how our argument started.
Mason was weird from the beginning with Nick and that was probably what pissed me off, but I overreacted by yelling at him and he was just caring. I made a mental note to text Mason when we get at Nick's apartment and make sure he is not mad at me.
,,That was Mason and we are okay. He just had to go home." I said not wanting to tell Nick the truth because I was still having my doubts.
Nick just nodded and the rest of the car drive was totally silent. No one said anything and to be honest I was pretty exhausted to do or say anything. This day messed with my brain at the maximum level.
When we arrived, Nick payed the driver and then we both got out of the cab. I followed Nick into one of the buildings and we didn't even have to walk any stairs because his apartment was at the first floor.
,,Nick, where the heck have you been all day long!?" I heard a female voice yell right when we entered Nick's apartment.
,,Alessia.... We have visitors...." Nick said and then a woman walked out a room with a confused and at the same time curious look. ,,Babe, this is Riley. Riley, this is the girlfriend I told you about." Nick said and I started analyzing this woman without even noticing it.
She was tall, had straight blond hair and green eyes. She was the total opposite of Nina. She was also wearing a some really revealing clothes and she was also looking pretty young. I mean with that that she was for sure not forty and something like Nick.
,,It's nice to meet you." I said with a smile, but the woman -I think her name was Alessia- was only looking weird at me.
,,You brought a little girl here?" She asked and I felt really attacked by that. I am 14 almost 15! I'm not that little anymore, but okay. Whatever.
,,Alessia, this is my daughter Riley." Nick said and Alessia slapped her mouth with her hand in shock.
,,Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I didn't know that! It's nice to meet you Riley!" She said and then ran to me and gave me a really tight hug.
She was hugging me so tight that I didn't even got enough oxygen. And she also had a really strong perfume that was literally suffocating me. I wanna go home...
,,I think that's enough, babe." Nick said and Alessia pulled away from me. ,,I will show you your room. It's nothing special, but just a guest room. I hope you still like it tho." Nick said and I followed him into a room that only had a bed.
,,Ahm... I didn't take any clothes with me..." I said and played nervously with my hands.
,,That's no problem! I can give you some. They might be a little too big for you, but we'll make it work." Alessia said with a smile.
,,I have school tomorrow... I have no school materials here." I said.
,,I can run to the store and buy you some quickly. You and Alessia can get to know each other in the meantime." Nick said and I just nodded. ,,I'll be right back." Nick said and walked away.
,,So.... Riley.... How old are you?" Alessia asked me and leaned against the doorframe.
,,I'm fourteen, almost fifteen." I answered and she nodded.
,,Do you have a boyfriend? I had my first boyfriend at that age." She said and I shook my head.
,,I don't." I then said.
,,Well you still have plenty of time. Did you have your first kiss?" She asked me and I once again shook my head. ,,That means Nick took good care with keeping the boys away from you." She said and that confused me.
,,What do you mean? Nick and I just met..." I said.
,,Really!? I'm didn't know that.... I mean Nick and I are only dating for a few weeks so yeah... but he told me a lot about you." Alessia said and I nodded even if I thought it was a little weird.
,,Might you excuse me for a few seconds? I kinda need to call someone..." I said and took my phone out from my back pocket.
,,Yeah sure. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything." Alessia said and I nodded before she walked away and closed the door to the room I was in.
Right after the door closed, my fingers immediately worked on finding Mason's contact, so I could call him and apologize. When I found him, I immediately called him and started biting on my bottom lip while I was waiting for him to pick up.
,,Yeah...?" Mason asked with a tired and at the same time sad voice.
,,Mason, I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted like that. I'm so sorry. I know you care about me and you just want the best for me, but I'm just stubborn and- I'm sorry. I don't want you to be mad at me because you are my best friend and I hate it when you are mad at me...." I said in super speed so he couldn't hang up.
,,Riley, I'm not mad at you. I'm just worried. I don't trust Nick even if he is your biological father or whatever." He said and I can't lie about the fact that I was relieved when I heard that he wasn't mad.
,,I know, but please don't get mad when I tell you this..."
,,What did you do?"
,,I am at Nick's apartment...."
,,You WHAT!? Riley, this better be a joke." Mason said and he sounded quite angry.
,,It's not. I'm mad at my parents and just can't believe them anymore."
,,Rileyyyy!" Mason groaned. ,,Send me the address." Mason said and that took me by surprise.
,,What? No!" I said.
,,That wasn't a question or a request. You are sending me the address."
,,Mason, no! You can't come here. It's pretty far away from home and you are gonna get in trouble with your mom." I said.
,,I'm telling her I'm sleeping over at yours which is partially true. Now send me the address." Mason said.
,,You wanna sleep here!? Forget it!"
,,If you are sleeping there then I'm sleeping there too. Now send me the damn address Riley or I'm gonna track your phone by myself."
,,How do you wanna do that?" I asked and was beyond curious.
,,I learned from George, one of our old classmates, how to do it. No send me your address or I'm gonna find it out by myself."
,,Fine, but you are not sleeping here. You can forget that." I said.
,,If you sleep there then I do to. You can go home tho and I'm going home too. It's your decision." Mason said and I groaned and rolled my eyes.
,,Why are you like this?" I groaned.
,,Send the address!" Mason said going back to the subject.
,,Fine. See you later. Do never call me stubborn again 'cause you are worse."
,,I learned from the master." He said and then hung up the phone.
Great! Just great!
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So because the opinions about the new book were kinda different I decided something. I will end this book in the near future and will start a new book that is going to be more about the kids (like Riley, Mason, Stacy, etc.), but still about shawmila of course. So it's basically gonna be the continuation of this book, but still a little different that's why I want to make a new book instead of continuing this one. I will also start writing a new shawmila book which I'm already really excited about because it has a really cool summer vibe. So what do you guys think about this idea?
Out of context, but I love Mason!