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**

So I had to learn quite a few names, but to put it this way.... Here are Carters family members: Mary, Travis and Mia -as we know-. Then there's his uncle Mike, aunt Freya, aunt Irene, little cousin Jeremy, baby Francis and aunt Jo. I think my favourites would definitely have to be Mary and Travis.... And Carter of course.

I look right whilst chewing my food, "Your hard aren't you"

He clears his throat after putting his water down, "Your fault"

I decide to tease him a little by putting my hand underneath the table and resting it on his sweats..... right where his erection is currently taking place. Carter gives me a look as I use my index finger to stroke lightly, then he sucks in a sharp breath as I finally grab. "Carmen.... you better move your hand"

"Carmen"

"Hmm?" I look over at Mike

"Be honest, what were your first thoughts about Carter"

I continue to stroke the material of my boyfriends sweats as everyone looks at me in oblivion, "Well to put it this way.... He was a dick"

No pun intended

Mary chuckles as I look back at him, he's currently staring at me with a dark look, I find it cute.

"Knew it" Freya says

"Your ok now" I add

He doesn't reply and Mary frowns, "Carter?"

"Hmm?"

"You haven't touched your food dear"

"You good?" His cousin says amused

Carter simply nods before picking up his fork, "I think this is the most we've seen him stay quiet"

"He's switched bodies with Grace" Mia jokes

I finally move my hand away and he lets out a quiet breath before taking it back once more and putting it in the same place, "Don't stop"

So it's been confirmed that the entire time he was having sexual thoughts, no wonder why he was all quiet. "Your a big baby you know that"

"So then breast feed me"

I pinch his inner thigh and he smiles

After awhile Carter eventually took my hand and just ended up holding it, I never thought I'd enjoy holding hands with him so much.

Jeremy suddenly turns in his seat, "Hi uncle

Sammy"

A guy who looks about twenty trudges into the house followed by a man who I'm guessing is Carters grandfather, "Hey little brother" Mike pulls out the chair besides him

He sits down before putting his hood up and I look back at Carter, he's staring at his uncle with narrowed eyes. "What's going on?" Jo questions

"He got discharged from the hospital today" Carters grandfather answers before looking at me

"Nice to meet you Carmen, I'm Greg"

I smile in return, somehow I feel like now isn't the time for me to talk. "Why were you in hospital?" Melissa questions her little brother

He doesn't answer so Greg does it for him,"He overdosed-

"Your so dramatic" Sam finally scoffs

Ok I may have got all my facts wrong about rich people, except for the one..... they always have issues. "Did you or did you not pass out?" His father replies

"It was molly-

"Jesus Sam" Mary scoffs

Julia raises her eyebrows with surprise as she makes her way back to the kitchen, that was my exact reaction too.

"Who's Molly?" Jeremy frowns

"It's not a person" Mia replies

She cuts up her food too

Stop it Carmen

I look back at Sam, "I told him three months ago that he was on his last chance, enough is enough" Greg says to his wife

Mike frowns, "And by that you mean?"

"Rehab"

"What the fuck?" Sam says annoyed

"Fuck" Francis giggles

I smile a little, she's so cute. "You said you stopped using" Carter finally says

"I did-

"So then what's this?" Travis says annoyed

"It was only molly ok? I was gonna stop afterwards-

"But you overdosed, matter of fact your lucky your still breathing" Mary says seriously

"Can we please talk about something else? Like Irene and that abusive boyfriend or some shit like that-

I raise my eyebrows a little, "You get used to it" Carter says to me

I nod slowly, "There's nothing to discuss, she is no longer with him. Your sisters doing just fine looking after Jeremy" Mary says as Jeremy talks to a silent Grace

"Took you long enough"

She rolls her eyes in return, "How are you honey, how's things been since recovery?" Mary asks Mia

I knew I was right

Carter frowns, "Wait what?" Him and Melissa say at the same time

"Skipped ten chapters" Travis tuts

"You have an Ed?" I ask her, Sam finally notices me

"I prefer to say had"

"Same"

As she frowns, Freya, Travis and Mike look at me intrigued. "What did you have?" Freya asks me

"Anorexia"

"Ugh, me too" Mia says

I don't know it makes me feel somewhat better knowing people who went through the same thing as me, "Since when?" Carter scoffs

"Months before she turned sixteen, it was easier for her to skip meals when mom and dad went on holiday" Travis replies

"How many times have I told you it's not a good idea to leave the kids all the time" Mary scolds here son

"It was one time" He defends

"Did you ever purge?" Mia asks me

"Purge?" Travis frowns

"I didn't really see a point to it"

"I did"

"I used laxatives though" I tell her

"And did a lot of sit ups" We both then say before laughing

"Ooh oh my god, I found this cool trick that helps you maintain or lose-

"Dude, no" Carter interrupts

"Relax it's not like she'll try it" Mia waves him off

"Don't encourage it-

"Ok what's with protective Carter"

"Ha, yeah I sort of passed out one time in his front room"

"And it wasn't funny" He says to me

"Dang I fell down the stairs" Mia tuts, Greg frowns

Everyone's looking back and forth between the two of us, shocked as to how we're joking about the situation. Honestly it's the only way I cope, why cry about it when I can laugh.

"Was your world spinning? Because mine definitely was-

"Oh my god yes!-

"Whilst I'm glad you both find your disorders amusing..... could we maybe continue eating?" Freya cuts in

Mia rolls her eyes playfully at her mother and I sit back, Carter refuses to even look at me.

I frown

-

"You sure you don't need help with that?"

"No it's ok my dear, me and Julia will do it" Mary assures me

I set down a few plates into the sink as I look out at the backyard, where Carter currently is. "Try to see it from his point of view" Julia says softly

I frown, "I wasn't trying to make him mad"

"I know dear, but if Carter was to pass out right in front of you you'd be pretty upset"

I sigh because she's right. I would be upset, matter of fact the waterworks would be endless until I knew he was ok.

She takes the last set of plates from me before giving a little smile and I return it before heading towards outside.

I shield my eyes from the sun, "Hey"

Carter looks up from his phone, "Hey"

There was no emotion in that hey

"Look babe I'm sorry"

He looks at me, "I was only kidding about that day-

"But you see Carmen I didn't think it was funny"

"I know" I say quietly

"I thought you were gone"

I look at him softly, "Joking about it makes me feel less bad"

He frowns, "About what?"

I shrug as I sit besides him, "Well I mean I promised you that I'd stay alive and then I fricking collapsed"

"Carmen you can't feel bad about that, I shouldn't have made you promise-

"No but I did and I was still selfish, so for that i'm sorry"

He pulls me into his side before kissing me on the head, "I don't want us to dwell on the past"

I smile a little, "Me too"

~*~

"Can you guys shut up?"

"Nobody wants to watch this shit" Travis replies

"Well we do so deal with it" I say amused

He sighs, "I guess since the queen has spoken I'm gonna have to oblige"

Carter looks at his cousin weirdly, "Whipped" Mia mouths at me, I snort in return before lying back down against the couch

After dinner all the adults went into the other room with the little ones, Travis, Carter, Mia and I stayed in the front room and put on a movie.... The boys obviously didn't get a say in the matter. "Let's go upstairs" Carter murmurs

"Wasn't the teasing hand job enough?"

He shakes his head and I turn his face away before going on my phone

I frown

"Everything ok?" Carter asks as he looks down at me

"I've gotta go" I whisper

"Why?"

"Dad wants to talk to all of us" I say apologetically

He sighs, "Text me later?"

I place a hand on his cheek before giving him a quick kiss, "Love you"

I then get up before treading over Mia's feet, "You going home?"

I nod and Travis pouts, "When do I see you again princess?"

"Carter can you give my number" I say amused

"He won't"

"He's right" My boyfriend agrees

"Mia's got it too" I pick up my shoes before heading into the other room to say goodbye to all the adults

It was the usual 'see you laters' and the 'it was nice meeting you'.

I left Carters house wondering what this upcoming family meeting could possibly be about

Camila snorts as she opens the front door, "It's as if you don't even live here anymore"

I frown as I follow her in, "Aunt Camila?"

"Don't look too happy"

"No I just thought dad wanted to talk to us" I say confused

She picks up her wine glass, "Oh he does..... front room"

All my siblings are in fact sitting down in the living room, including Lola. I sit in between Lorenzo and Santiago as Camila stands behind dad. "Good time?" Dad asks me, I nod as I sit back

"Did you eat?" Daniel asks

"No" I say sarcastically, he rolls his eyes

I look over at my little sister as mom walks in, "You ok?" I mouth, she nods

"I think that this family meeting most definitely needed to happen" Dad says as mom sits next to him

"Who did what now?" Camila asks

He ignores her, "Before I speak, is there anything that any of you would like to discuss?"

None of us say anything and he looks at me, "Mi hija?"

I shake my head, "Respect" Isabella finally says

Matteo frowns as our mother looks directly at me and then Lola, "Ya he dicho esto antes y lo diré de nuevo. I will not be disrespected in my own house, especially by my children" She says seriously

-I said this before and I'll say it again-

"Wait a minute, your talking about respect?"

"Camila" Dad warns

"The swearing, the shouting, the slamming of doors. You all must have forgotten who I am to you"

Lol

Isabella looks at me, "You can hate me Carmen and I understand why but you don't realise that you have an influence on the rest of your siblings"

"Because I don't put up with your nonsense?-

"Because you think that you can talk to me however you want-

"Well I'm sorry but you lost all of my respect the minute we had that intervention with Dr Gomez" I scoff

"What are you two even talking about?" Matty says confused

"We're going off topic" Dad says

My respect for Isabella flew out of the window after she revealed to me why she always treated me like I wasn't hers, "My point is it's got to stop"

"I see your point..... but at the same time your full of shit"

She narrows her eyes, "You know what your treatment towards me led to and if you think for a second that I'm just gonna sit back and let you start to tear Lola apart then your even more delusional than I thought"

"This is the second time I'm hearing about Lola, what have I missed?" Dad asks me

"I'm gay" My little sister finally says

Adri smiles a little and Daniel raises his eyebrows with surprise, "Really?"

She nods as aunt Camila sits down, "You've got a girlfriend?"

"Yeah...."

"You like girls?" Matteo frowns

"Mhm"

"Me too"

I laugh a little and she smiles

"How come I've never met her?" Dad frowns

Isabella scoffs, "Roberto"

"What?"

Ok dads reaction actually shocked me, I expected him to start shouting and to start getting mad.... I guess not. "Shut up Izzy, it's not about you" Camila says

"I bought her here but mom wasn't exactly nice" Lola says annoyed

"What'd she do?" Lorenzo asks

"She called her a crazy sinner and then a demon..... then she told me that I can't be gay in her house" Our little sister recites

Daniel frowns, "Dramatic much?"

"Then I guess it's a good thing that this isn't your mothers house" Dad finally says

"Wait what?" We all say in unison

Mom pours herself a glass of wine and dad looks at her to explain, she sits down. "Your father and I are getting a divorce" Isabella finally announces

It's like..... anyone would be sad right? But for some reason this doesn't feel like that at all, it's almost relieving.

"Fuck yeah" Camila scoffs, Mom looks at her with irritation

I look at all my siblings one by one, they all seem to be thinking to themselves. The only person who looks visibly happy is Lola...

"Wait what?" Adriana finally processes the announcement

Dad looks at his wife of twenty years before looking back at us, "We feel like this is the best decision for us both"

"How long have you guys known?" Santi scoffs

"A few months"

"Where will you go?" Matty frowns

"Spain" She says softly

I snort, "Your joking"

She shakes her head, "I'm moving back into my old home with abuela"

"When?"

"In a week"

Matty gets up before hugging her right away and Lola watches as he does so, I know that look all too well. It's a look of envy, she craves for motherly love and I don't blame her. It's no secret that Matty is Isabella's favourite child...and no matter how bad she's done us wrong, I think we'll all miss her in some way.

Dad thought it would be a good idea for us to end the day on a light note, so a movie it was. I think everyone wanted to say that they'd miss mom but they're mad at her because of her actions towards Lola, I don't even know what to feel right now.

My little sister sits beside me and I lie my head against hers, "Do you miss it?" She asks quietly

I look at her, "Miss what"

"When everything was normal and Isabella treated you like her daughter.... So much so that it just felt right to call her mom" Lola murmurs

I smile sadly, "Honestly? I forgot what that's like"

"I'm glad she's going to Spain" She mumbles

My eyes drop a little, "Hmm" I reply before letting the tiredness take over