What are the chances of surviving jumping out of a moving vehicle? Perhaps it's slim.

I open the car door without a single thought of looking back. The ground is moving so fast, my eyes begin to hurt from the blurry sensations. Removing my seat belt, an appealing thought washes over me. Just jump; my body would fly. Tumbling from the G-force, road rash burns at the touch. Will I make this out alive? It'd be one for the books, if I did. Temptations, sweet temptations.

Lying in the backseat of Tyler's fancy car, one foot is bent upwards and resting on the seat while the other is sprawled out, while the two of them were sitting in the front. I practically hid in my grey sweater, feeling a lot like a turtle because half my face was hidden in the collar and my hood is up.

I hated this feeling.

If I could skip out, I most definitely would.

*

"Ellie!" The little girl sprinted up to me with a widened, toothless smile.

I scooped her up in my arms and hugged her back tightly. "Kimmy," I held her.

"I missed you!" She snuggled into my chest. Fuck she was getting big.

"Missed you too, kid." I murmured before setting her back down on the ground. Kimberly ran back to where her mother, Margaret was standing - a few feet away from the door frame.

"Hello, Darlings." Her elegant voice flowed. Tyler and Lacey weaved around my body that was still standing in the doorway and walked into the house as if it was nothing to them. "Tyler," She kissed her stepson on the cheek to which he gave her a lighthearted hug. "Lacey," They hugged, giving each other a gentle laugh.

Family.

"Wow, Eli, when they told me you were looking good, I didn't think they meant this," Margaret's face looked of shock but supported warmth and happiness. "I'm so happy that you've decided to come."

"Thanks," I said before walking in hesitant behind them.

I did not belong here.

"Where's dad?" Tyler asked while he peaked around the large house for any hint of movement. Lacey was at his side like usual, her arms locked around his bicep.

"He's around back, in the shed. He should be back in a minute." Margaret told him.

The house looked more or less the same as it always has been. The second you walked in, high rise ceilings as well as a beautiful glass chandelier. The house was a great open concept, the floors were white and glossed over with little hints of brown and grey marble patterns. The walls were mainly giant windows but the wall pieces were white too, with expensive paintings plastered all over. Everything was so clean and precise.

I followed everyone to the other side of the house where there were window seats and a couch sitting, right in front of beautiful window where the backyard was in sight. The conversation between the three of them was light, easygoing, easy.

"So, Eli, How have you been? I haven't heard from you since you've come back." Margaret asked, a slight tone of disappointment in her voice.

I smiled at her to be polite. Margaret has always been kind to me, unlike her husband. "I've been doing pretty well, actually. Taking things day by day for the most part." Minus some minor details.

"It shows," She replied, before walking out to the back where her husband was.

"Did the tooth fairy give you anything for that?" I bent down to Kimberly's level and poked at her cheeks.

"Five whole dollars!" She squealed and puffed out her cheeks.

When I lost a tooth it was because my father knocked it out of me. I most definitely did not get money for it.

"Where's your sisters, Kim?" Tyler asked her. The main reason he was here was to visit his siblings, considering he saw his father all the time at work. One sister in particular.

"They're in their room getting dressed," I turned to where the slight spiral stairs are and see Zoey walking up to us. She had grown so much, she had to be fifteen years old now.

"Hi, Lacey," Zoey hugged her tightly. They've always had a nice bond. Lacey hugged her back and whispered something in her ear but I didn't catch it. "Kimmy, why don't you go tell them that everyone is here?" She turned to Kimberly who was now pouting.

I looked at Kimberly and smiled before dipping my head in the direction of the stairs. She listened happily and scrambled away.

"Zoey," Tyler ran up to his sister and hughed her tightly. "You've been ignoring my calls," He called her out, scolding.

"Because I knew that you were coming today," She whined in defense.

"Yeah, sure," He rolled his eyes.

"That's funny, you seem to always answer my texts," Lacey winked at Tyler and I watched Zoey widen her eyes. Ah yes, teenagers.

Zoey turned over to me and waited for a moment, unsure how to approach me. I took it upon myself to walk up to her and give her a friendly hug although I didn't want the contact. Behave. She and I had always been closer, considering I've known her since she's been about eleven years old.

"Hi," She smiled shy.

"Hey, Zoe," I replied and released her.

She groaned at her nickname, always hating it but I still called her that anyways to tease her.

She played with her dark brown hair for a moment before dropping her arms to her sides and fixated on yer clothes instead. She was nervous, which was odd for her. Zoey was very outspoken, it was odd to see her closed up.

The other two siblings came down and greeted each other once again. I felt overwhelmed even though I've known them all for so long now.

Lots of people.

Tyler had a big family but it was nice to see that they're all still very close with each other. Tyler was twenty-six and the oldest of the five of them, as well as the only brother.

Zoey was the second oldest of them all. She and Tyler have always been the closest of them all because she understands things more clearly. She was very mature for her age, it's almost frightening. The thought of her growing up stressed him.

Jessica was nine years old. She was quiet but it was soothing. Jessica was very small for her age because she was premature by three months. No one thought she was actually going to make it. She didn't talk much, which made it easy to get along with her.

Emma was seven years old and often her and Jessica were mistaken for twins. They look so much alike, all the sisters do really. Jessica and Emma are the only ones that visit their real mom every second weekend.

Tyler practically raised Zoey, Emma, and Jessica when they were growing up, having their parents always away on business, or fighting about nonsense. It's familiar. At least they had each other.

Then, of course there was the firecracker, Kimberly. She was five and was the only one of the siblings who didn't have the same mother as everyone else. Her real mother was Margaret from the suspected affair.

Kimberly has always taken such a liking to me, maybe it's because I'd known her since she was just a baby. I loved all his siblings to death, but the one I looked out most for is Zoey.

Everyone, including myself, piled outside to the backyard paradise. The whole yard is surrounded by a black metal fence and just behind it were all trees. The backyard itself though, was all perfectly cut grass. In one section, there was a garden of beautiful flowers of all colours. Emma and Margaret work on the garden together. Then, on the other side of the backyard, there was a large pool that's made of stone to make it look almost natural with the earth. There was stone rocks that pile up perfectly and pour out a beautiful waterfall right into the water. It was mesmerizing. Absolutely nothing like my childhood.

"Son," James came from around the corner and greeted Tyler in a handshake. "Lacey," He greeted her with the only smile he knew; cold.

I rolled my eyes on instinct because I found it pathetic and disparenting that James didn't show any form of affection towards his children.

"Elias." His voice cut like a knife.

"James." I nodded at him, giving him the same amount of emotion that he was giving us; Practically none.

He eyed me for a moment, observing what I looked like and looking for signs of trouble to pick on me for later. When he found nothing out of the ordinary, he turned to his son and gave him a nod in approval. They talked for a few minutes, but I completely drowned it out, having no interest in anything he had to say.

James and Margaret left the siblings, Lacey, and myself alone to spend time with one another while they prepared dinner. Tyler, Lacey, and I sat back in one of the chairs and watched the girls play.

"You've been quiet," Lacey turned towards me, giving me a sympathetic smile and a poke to my arm.

"Hm." I said, unbothered.

"They're all getting so old, I hate it," Tyler frowned.

"It's too bad that you can't visit more often," Lacey reached over and grabbed his hand in support.

Tyler sighed. "I want to. I'm so busy with work and them being so busy with their own lives makes it difficult. My dad's lucky that he doesn't have to come to the office as much anymore, I think the girls like that." Since Tyler was taking more responsibility for James, James was able to spend more time with his family. Unfortunately for Tyler, he spends less. He took sacrifices to please people, he wasn't selfish.

"I'm sure you can figure out a way to see them more, Ty," I commented under my breath. They'd benefit living under Tyler's roof over James any day. They'd be shown love.

"I don't think I have a choice, really. Zoey and I used to be so close, and now she's acting like she hates me and I'm just a stranger." Tyler sighed and closed his eyes for a moment.

"She's in her teenage prime, don't forget. I'm sure she's just going through a phase," Lacey attempted to sugarcoat the situation. Not that she was any good at it.

"Speak of the devil," I eye down the brunette girl who was approaching us with a grumpy look on her round face. "Hey, Zoe," I greeted.

I glanced at Tyler who watched his younger sister come to sit beside me instead of him. Pure jealousy struck his face like a baseball bat strikes a ball.

"It's Zoey," She said in a whiny tone, sporting a pout.

My lips tilted upward.

"Is it weird being back?" She squinted her eyes while she looks at me. The sun was facing in her direction, making it difficult to see clearly.

"Zoey," Tyler warned.

"A little." I said.

She remained silent at my response, but her eyes gave away that she wanted nothing more than to talk.

"Uh, hon," Lacey nudged Tyler who's been staring at Zoey and I. He finally looked away and looked up to where Lacey is now walking off to. I didn't know where she was taking him, but after a moment of sulking, he decided to follow, leaving Zoey and I alone.

"So tell me," She started. "Are you better now?"

"Have you been snooping?" I asked.

"More like eavesdropping." She admitted. "I'm not a little kid, I know that there wasn't something right with you."

"You're not a little kid." I repeated.

Being in this setting and around Tyler's family puts a lot of nerves on me. On one hand, I wanted to be on good behavior to not provoke anyone, to show James that I was fine, and to reassure Margaret that I was, in fact, safe to be around her children. The pressure and the feeling of needing to be perfect to please other people, when I am considerably not... Was disquieting.

Part of me wanted to provoke James, to show him who I really was and prove that I couldn't be changed no matter how many treatments I went through.

But I had a bigger picture to focus on.

"You know that could kill you," Zoey glanced at the cigarette in my hand that I've lit up only moments before.

"I've been told," I took in a long puff, feeling relief.

"Can I try it?" Zoey looked at me with wonder.

I looked around momentarily and see that we are alone and whoever is in the backyard, is so preoccupied by their own activities that there's a high chance of them not even knowing we exist at this point.

I extended my hand out towards where she's sitting and held the smoke in front of her. She warily takes it from my hand, and mimics the way I was holding it; In Between her index and middle finger.

I watched her movements and the way she observes the stick. She twisted it a little in her fingers, and watched as some of the ash fell on the ground in front of her. When she raised it to her face and opened her mouth, it didn't last long before her hand dropped back to her original position. I caught her bluff, relieved as she gives it back to me, with an awkward smile.

"Never take up such a filthy habit like this, Zoe." I took a puff. She's a good kid who's sheltered by her parents and has many questions that she's too afraid to ask or experiment. If I didn't give her the option, she would find another way to do it on her own. I hoped by showing her that she was not a child like everyone thought she was, that she'd trust me enough to come to me when she faced peer pressures.

"So, why are you giving Ty a hard time?" I asked now that she's calmed down.

"You never told me if you were cured," She pointed out.

I raised an eyebrow. "Tell you what. You answer my question first, and I will tell you."

Zoey's eyes brightened with eagerness. "Promise?"

I extended my hand and gave her my pinky finger. "I promise." We shook our pinkies together.

She sighed. "I don't mean to, I just can't talk to him about things." The expression on her face showed a pinch of pain.

"But you can talk to me?"

"You don't treat me like a little girl. If I tell Tyler anything, he makes such a big deal out of it, and gets upset with me. I'm scared he'll tell our dad anything I want kept a secret." She huffed. "At least with you, I know you'll be reasonable and listen. You wouldn't tell anyone."

"He's just looking out for you," I nudged her. "Give him a chance, he misses you."

"I miss him too. And I know he does but I want a brother, not a bodyguard. It's so much easier to talk to you." She laughed. "He'd kill you if he knew you were willing to let me smoke."

I smiled at that. She had no idea. "I won't tell him," I say. "Can you promise me that you'll go to him more? Show him that you're growing up, I think he'd like to spend more time with you and see it for himself."

"Your turn," She grinned.

"What was it that I promised again?"

"Did wherever you went... Help you?" Curious eyes, they almost looked familiar...

"I'm doing okay," I told her truthfully.

"Is that all you're going to tell me?" She asked, eager for more.

I laugh a little. Her and her brother are very alike. "For now." I said.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" She interviewed.

The odd flash of Aria's face hits my thoughts. I was really hoping I'd go a full day without her image in my mind. "No," I clenched my jaw.

"But you like someone."

It didn't particularly help that she was practically living at my house and we've been crossing paths countless times. I certainly did not like her.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" I switched her focus.

Zoey blushed and smiled all giddy. "No," She dragged out the word.

I flashed her a small grin. "But you like someone."

*

Dinner was exactly how I thought it might be. Everyone sitting around a large oval shaped table, the daughters all sitting together, Tyler and Lacey sitting together, Husband and wife sitting together. I decided to sit beside Kimberly because I wanted Zoey to sit beside Tyler so they can have a chance to talk. It sort of worked.

"Tyler tells me you have gotten your old job back at the shop." James broke the momentary silence.

I looked up at him and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I've been working very hard," This has got to be a test.

"Eli's been pulling off fifty-sixty hour work weeks lately," Lacey jumped in before shoving her salad into her mouth.

"Do you have experience with boats?" He asked.

"Yes." I apprenticed with them a few years back and picked up on them quite quickly. "Do you need something fixed on yours?"

"Perhaps. We'll talk about it after dinner." James gave me a businessman nod before turning back into his husband side and looked over at Margaret. "Dinner is lovely, dear"

"Thank you, darling. I hope everyone enjoys it." She grinned excitedly.

The room filled with nodding and appreciation. Margaret was a nice lady, very housewife.

"Lacey, didn't you say you were going to have an additional guest this evening?" James turned his attention towards her while passing the salt to Jessica.

Lacey glared at me for a moment. "I did, but she couldn't make it."

"Eli and her don't exactly get along," Tyler threw me under the bus. If I could kick him under the table with full reassurance that it'd be his shin I'd be hitting, I would.

I chuckled, now awkward and uneasy with having all eyes on me, thanks to my lovely friends. I didn't know what to say. Anything I did would make it worse.

I looked over to Zoey talking to Tyler finally and feel relief. She could always come to me for anything, I just wish she'd go to him first.

At the end of dinner, Emma, Jessica, and Zoey all helped pile the dishes together to bring back to the kitchen. I, on the other hand, helped Kimberly clean up her hands from playing with her food and wiped down the mess she's created. The whole time, she just giggled which made me laugh in response.

I helped her off her booster seat and crumpled the used napkins in my hand. "Why don't you go wash your hands in the washroom, kiddo," I scuffed up her hair and watched as she runs away from me, full of energy, to the sink.

"You're good with children," Margaret sneaked up behind me, startling me.

"Did you want any help cleaning up?" I asked, unsure.

"Someday, you'll build yourself a beautiful family, dear," She touched my shoulder and smiled contently at me.

"I don't think it's in the cards for me," I told her truthfully.

All she did was squeeze my shoulder before releasing me, but she didn't say a word afterwards.

Lacey followed behind me as I walked to the back doors to have an after meal cigarette - away from the house so the kids don't see me. "I'm sorry about earlier," She rushed.

"Pft, don't even worry about that, Lace."

"You know me, I just blurt things out sometimes. And Tyler is apparently adapting my traits." she laughed.

"I'm sorry if I've altered your plans of her being here," I mumbled before pulling out a smoke. "You could've brought her." I just would have ignored her.

"I'm sure James would've loved to see that." Lacey takes the cigarette from my mouth and takes a drag of her own. She doesn't smoke, but very rarely will she decide that we're sharing a stick. "I catch you looking at her sometimes, you know."

She looked at me with a knowing look, a small smile formed on her face as she took another drag.

I took the smoke back. "Just idle curiosity." I breathed out and pollute the air.

"Sure. You know I support you, E, but do you have to be so harsh with your decisions? Is being friendly really that much of an issue?" She stressed.

"Lacey, I don't want to cause any problems, that's the opposite of what I'm trying to do." I sighed, frustrated. I can't win.