"I hate this" I say to Em as we walk downstairs, all dressed up for this dinner.

"Come on, we all suffer together. It's a 3 hour ordeal" she grin and nods as Tiny runs down before us

"Okay so is everyone ready? They're going to be here any minute?" My dad questions coming into the kitchen to join the rest of us.

We all had to dress up, Giovanni's had a strict dress code. The guys were all wearing dress shirts and actual nice shoes. Em was wearing a sophisticated navy jumpsuit, and I was wearing a classy, little black dress. I hate it. I wanted my jeans and t-shirts but apperently that was 'unacceptable' to my presumptuous ass grandparents.

"You look weird in a dress" Caleb grins as he sits beside me on the couch, Tiny was laying on the other side of me with his head resting on my lap

"Wow you really know how to flatter a girl Kazer" I say grimly, all enthusiasm gone from my voice. Making the grin he was wearing drop. I know he was trying to make me feel better, but right now, I don't think anything would.

"Hey, are you sure you want to do this?" He questions, his amber eyes boring into mine as he lays an arm on the couch behind me.

"I don't have a choice, besides its for my brothers, If they suffer so do I" I shrug even though I really didn't want to do this.

"You know I got your back right" he says seriously, his arm dropping to my shoulders. It was comforting to have him here, and even moreso to hear his words. "always"

"I know Co, Thank you" I nod offering a small smile

He just grins at me before his attention is snapped away by the doorbell ringing

"Time for he fireworks" I mumble as Tiny and I waltz to the front of the house to greet our grandparents.

"Kathy, Don...Good to see you" my dad cringes as the words leave his mouth

"Yeah it is" Kathy, my grandmother states

"Where are my grandchildren?" She beckons us as all five of us step forward

"Happy birthday twins" she says giving them a very fake tight lipped smile

"Thank you Grandma" the both say before she moves down the line to Colton

"Oh Colton, you've gotten taller" she say looking up at him "Can you still not read?"

I stare her dead in the eyes, not daring to back down.

She did not just say that to him.

I let out a scoff and look at her in disgust. Not saying anything but silently hoping she did.

"Is there something you want to say, Bailey?" She snaps. She insisted on using my first name, the one thing I'd truly hated.

And here we go.

"yeah act-" I start to say before a hand wraps around my wrist and squeezes. Becks Silent way of telling me to calm down. I look at Colton and see him nod, signalling it's okay

"Yes, grandma, I can read. It's called dyslexia, and it's a reading disability. It means I have trouble reading but I am still able to do so. It just takes me a little longer than the average person" Cotlon states coldly, a lot nicer than what I was about to say. It's sad that a fifteen, almost sixteen, year old boy has more class than a however-old she is woman.

My grandfather just snorts at this. I couldn't tell if it was to belittle my brother or at the fact that the fifteen year old just stuck up to an old ass bag of wrinkles and Botox in the most dignified way.

Kathy just rolls her eyes before she moved down to me.

"Bailey" Kathy states with venom laced in her voice as a fake smile is plastered on her face

"Kathy" I say, mirroring her fake smile as I call her by her first name

"How...Nice it is to see you. You've also grown, it looks almost as if you've gained weight. You're cheeks are chubbier than normal." she says making me scowl. I know I wasn't the skinniest girl by any means, I was a lot more muscular than the average girl, and I know for a fact I hadn't gained any weight, if anything I'd lost weight especially since being home.

"I don't know if we're looking at the same person but I think I she looks amazing" Caleb smirks as he joins us by the front door, slipping a protective arm around me. "Are you sure you aren't looking in a mirror Kath? Because I could've sworn you didn't have that third chin the last time I saw you" He says slyly with a shit eating grin on his face.

I stifle a laugh, as do the rest of us, as Caleb smiles his devious boyish smile at my now glaring grandmother. He was usually extremely respect of adults, but some just didn't deserve respect, regardless of their age.

"Oh, the ever charming Kazer boy" she states with almost as much disgust as when she aid my name

"The one and only" he smirks at her "nice to see you Kathy"

I fell a nudge beside and and see Tiny staring up at me innocently. I reach down and rub his ears comfortingly as he stares at my grandparents with an indifferent look on his face. My grandmother roll their eyes at Caleb bluntness and carry on to greet Beck.

"Beckett, hello" Kathy Greets him civilly "Are you still pursuing the useless career of writing?" She states bluntly with a slight smirk. This old wrinkly ass bitch is actively trying to piss me off.

This time it was my turn to squeeze backs hand. Though he didn't show it, my heart started to speed up, rapidly, and I felt myself get pissed off quicker than usual. A surefire sign that Beck was the source of the anger.

"Yes Kathy I am. A much more profitable profession than sitting on your ass and bossing maids around as you do" He smiles.

She had no right to be critiquing our futures. She hasn't worked a day in her life. My family was wealthy. But that was because of my father. He worked incredibly hard to build his law firm and provide for us, we are forever thankful for that fact. We've never had to borrow a penny from my grandparents. Kathy on the other hand, lived off her parents money until they died. Then her and Don got married, and while he worked, she sat at home and didn't do shit. Let the maids take care of everything. This lack of ambition and laziness then was passed onto my mother.

At Becks response, she scoffs in disgust before moving on to Em.

"Oh Emma Lynn, what have you done with your hair?" My grandmother questions Emma "You used to be pretty"

"Well grandma I think I speak for everyone else that she looks gorgeous," Arrex states simply, glaring at my grandparents

"Agreed" the rest of the guys and I all say

She cut her hair last summer after an altercation with her father, it used to almost reach her butt, now it's just passed her shoulders.

Colton had been quiet since the reading comment and hasn't let go of my hand. I glance over at him to see him staring at the ground with tears in his eyes.

I was the one who taught him to read when we were younger, I would sit down and help him read his homework for hours on end, since then my dad has gotten specialized tutors to help him. He is now one of the smartest kids in his grade, he didn't let dyslexia stop him. What my grandmother said was a low blow,and she knew it.

They greet Tyler rudely, he bonded haired boy simply brushing it off with a taunt right back and a grin, before walking over to me and staring at Tiny.

"Bailey-Belle Ryanne What is this mutt doing in this house?" My grandma gasps at Tiny

"Well Kathy, this is called a 'canine'" I say slowly, implying her stupidity "or you know,

commonly known as a dog? source of all happiness and joy? A man's best friend?" I ask sarcastically as she glares at me

"Wait, never mind, a coldhearted person like you can't feel joy, sorry I must've forgot" I grin knowing I'm making her mad.

I swear for almost a second I see my grandfather smile. I think Beck saw it too because when I glances at him he had the 'did you just see that too?' Look

"Enough Belle" my dad warns

My dad let us get away with a lot pertaining to our grandparents but once he said enough we knew to stop.

"Well let's go, our reservations are in thirty minutes" my dad says as he opens the front door

Everyone starts following my dad out, I stay slightly behind and say goodbye to Tiny. Giving him a kiss on the nose before following Caleb out.

"Okay so there's not enough room in my truck for all of us" Arrex says to us, out the window

"It's fine, Bails and I will take my truck" Caleb nods

"Thanks man"

"No problem" Caleb smiles before he and I walk across the street to his truck

"Hey thanks for defending me and all but you really didn't have to" I say quietly as I close my door

"Of course I did. I'd do it again too" he says simply "no one deserves to be talked to like that, especially you."

"Well thank you"

"No problem princess" he grins

"How are you not afraid of her?" I ask after a beat of silence

"Have you ever known me to be afraid of very many things?" He smirks "there are only six things I am genuinely afraid of, Em, Beck, Arrex, nana, my mom and you."

"You're afraid of me?" I grin, I mean, I can't imagine how. Sure I knew how to fight but I'd never hurt him.

"Most people are" He shrugs

"Wow and I thought I was a nice person" I huff as I sit back in my seat

"Oh you are. You are possibly the nicest and sweetest person I've met. But just the fact that you are so insanely intelligent and confident is scarily intimidating" he reasons

"Are you saying that small little me intimidated the bad boy"

"Oh yeah" he says, not even hesitating a little.

I let out a loud laugh, the first smile I've had all day making its way into my face

"So what are you afraid of? cause I know for damn sure that you aren't afraid of much either well besides clowns" he smirks. He knew all about that fear. In fact he and my brothers were the stem of that fear.

"Well biggest fear, clowns all the way, below that is heights. But I guess my grandma and my mom are my two biggest ones. I'm terrified of both of them"

"Yet you still talked back to her" Caleb states

"Of course, she was being a bitch to Colton and you guys. There was no way I was letting her do that without some retaliation. She preys on the quiet, and she knows Colton usually won't talk back, it pisses me off" I state simply

"You really do love us" he grins at me

"Of course, I always have. I'd do anything for you guys" I smile "I may not like you all the time, but I'll always love you"

Caleb just puts the car in park and looks at me. I can't place the emotions in his eyes but I just can't look away.

We both just sat there, unmoving. His dark amber-brown eyes staring directly into mine.

He clears his throat suddenly and looks away causing me to look forward. We were in the Giovanni's parking lot.

"We should go in" he says

"Do we have to?" I say quietly

"Come on" he says before pulling me out of my seat and onto the asphalt below

"Two more hours" I tell myself before we enter the restraunt.

-----

"So Bailey, I hear you just got back from Chicago?" My grandfather asks

I was suprised by his somewhat civil tone, it was the nicest he had sounded all night, not that he talked much in the first place.

"Oh-Uh-Yes I was there for a year. I got back about a month ago" I tell him "I was there for the law program"

"Well did you visit your mother?" Kathy sneers at me

Is she serious or just stupid? Why the hell would I go and see that abusive bitch?

"No, why would I?" I snap

"That's wonderful. I trust you plan on going into law?" My grandfather asks ignoring my grandmother

I pause, obviously taken aback by his complement but quickly regain composure.

"I am planning on it. Vanderbilt has an amazing program so does UCLA, I plan on applying to both" I say carefully "Stanford too"

"Very good. All three are very nice and extremely commendable schools. Vanderbilt is said to be an ivy league of the south" he nods

I glance over at my grandmother, seeing her scoff and roll her eyes. why can't she just be happy for me?

"Well Raina is going to Harvard" Kathy states with a smile "she's going for medicine at a much more admirable school."

Raina was my air headed cousin. She was a spoiled rich girl who fed off of our grandparents money. She's also been in love with Caleb forever. Too bad he doesn't even give her the time of day. Literally anytime shes over, he doesn't leave mine or Em's side.

"We are paying the school tuition and pulling strings as our alumni status for her to go there. She applied, but hasn't been accepted. There's no way she's getting in on test scores alone. She scored a 840 on the SAT." my grandfather sighs making me laugh. He just smiles and winks at me. "So, where are your other two friends, Wes and Jordan is it?" He questions again, civilly, I glance at my brothers again, who were just as shocked as I was.

"Wes had a prior engagement and Jordan had to watch his little sister" Arrex answers carefully, almost as if he was walking into a trap

"Too bad, I liked them both" my grandfather chimes. My brothers and I all looked at each other, questioning if we were in the right universe right now.

He used to be like this when I was younger but he really hasn't in a long time, ever since mom left.

I missed this version of my grandfather, the fun one. He was goofy and loud. He wasn't nearly as stuck up and bitchy as my grandma was. He cared about school tremendously but also really enjoyed watching football and baseball with us.

Kathy just huffs and turns to Emma

"So Emma, how is your father?"

Em just stares at her as tears well up

"Excuse me" Em says as she throws her napkin down on the table before hurrying away from the table and out of the restraunt

"Are you fucking serious?" I stare at Kathy, as done everyone else. It was nice for a second there, but leave it to her to ruin it.

"Watch your language young lady" Kathy snaps at me "Adam control you're daughter"

"I think she is handling herself just fine" my dad says harshly. Thank fucking god. He just gave me free reign to say whatever I want and I was sure as hell going to take advantage.

I glance at Beck, before exploding on my grandmother and see him with a small grin give an approving nod. At this point, none of them cared what I said, she's known about Emma's highly abusive dickwad of a father. She knows how traumatic Em's expiriences have been, and yet she still brings him up.

"You knew her dad is gone. We told you two years ago, and then we started talking about it again on Christmas when I facetimed you guys. As surprising as it sounds, You even asked how she was doing. You knew very well that her abusive fucking father is not there and thank god he isn't. Do not ever talk to her again unless it is to apologize." I sneer, venom dripping from her lips

Arrex had already gotten up and left to go after Em as soon as she got up. Everyone else just sat quietly, watching the trainwreck between my grandmother and I unfold in front of them

Kathy just stares at me in disbelief

"I will not sit here and be berated and told what to do by a child."

"Great! Then leave." I order "I may be a child but I have more class and poise than you ever will. You try to put up this image of perfection, well you're anything but. A real grandmother would be proud of ALL their grandchildren's accomplishments, they'd be supportive and happy. Instead you sit here and purposefully say things to belittle us, things that you know damn well will piss us off, knowing We wouldn't say anything back. Well now I have free reign and I'm gonna say whatever the fuck I please" I sneer. I was beyond angry. Far beyond. I have constantly been belittled by this woman my whole life. My family has been belittled since before I was even born. And I refuse to let her do it any longer.

"You are just a cold bitch of a woman, and I hope you live the rest of your miserable life alone." I yell at her as I stand up

"Sit down young lady you are making a scene, have some shame!" She quietly scolds

"What? Am I embarrassing you? Well good. I don't care what other people think of me, I'm going to stick up for myself and family. Unlike your pretentious ass, I don't need others reassurance to know my worth, maybe you should take note cause I can smell your insecurity from here." I say harshly as I start to walk away. I would've just kept going but one statement stops me in my tracks.

"I am your family, we are blood!" Judy yells after me. She really thinks blood is meaningful to me?

"We may be blood but that's all we'll ever be. You are not my family. Beck, Dad, Colton Ace and Arrex are my family. Tyler, Em, Amy Jordan, Wes and Caleb are closer than you to being family.You are just a bitch with whom I share a blood type with." I snap before walking away, my whole body shaking and I feel a wave of sadness rush over me.

I can't believe I just said that shit to her. She is my own fucking grandmother, we aren't supposed to be like this. My eyesight is so blurred by tears that I don't even notice I'm outside until I feel the cold wind hit my face.

I look up at the stars, trying to find different constellations, just trying to distract myself from crying.

I spot Orion, one of the few I actually knew and count the stars, trying to calm myself down.

Caleb knew all the constellations.

"Belle?" I hear beside me, I know it's Caleb but I don't look.

He doesn't say anything as he sits next to me, his long legs stretching out further than my rather short ones.

"Belle look at me" he orders

I don't answer. I'll cry if I do.

"Bailey Belle" he pleads his voice filled with sadness.

He never calls me by my full name. It's always princess, sometimes Bailey when he was being serious. I had hated it. My mom always called me by my full name and although he'd always loved my name, he never called me it, knowing the source of my hatred toward it and the memories that came with it.

My gaze immediately snaps to his and within seconds tears are streaming down my face.

"Come here" he says before pulling me into him. His strong arms wrapping around me, my head laying in the crook of his neck as I cry.

"Where are my brothers?" I ask through the tears, as I look up at him

"They're staying with your dad as he pays, they'll be out in a bit," he says pushing hair out of my face "you have hair in your mouth" he jokes as he pulls more hair from my face

"Thanks" I lightly laugh and more tears fall from my eyes.

"There's my favorite smile" he grins down at me "do you want me to take you home?" He asks and I nod, wanting to be anyone but bere

"Wheres Beck?" I squeak out, through the tears

"He said he'll meet us at home" Caleb says softly "he just wanted someone to make sure you're okay"

Through the sadness I could sense anger, more likely than not being because of Beck.

"Come on" he says pulling me up "take this" he pushes his leather jacket into my hands

"Caleb I'm fine"

"It's cold Princess, just wear it" he says and I reluctantly put it on. The ends of his jacket reach the middle of my thighs and the sleeves are way too long.

"Oh my god" he starts to laugh

"Shut up!" I grumble, holding back a laugh myself "it's not my fault you're a giant"

"Okay tiny" he chuckles as I climb into his truck

"Hey co?"

"What?"

"Is Em okay?" I look at him to see him already staring at me

"She will be, Arrex already brought her home" he says