Tattered and Torn

After skating for a few hours, Joey had received a call from his parents asking us to come back to the house. I hadn't said much to any of them including Joey. Dani was having a ball, however, and seemed to be getting on quite well with Corey. It wasn't much of a surprise to me as he's her favorite member of the band. Seeing how much he paid attention to her, did surprise me though.

The skate park was only a few blocks from the house so we had opted to walk there. Dani was a social butterfly and was just chatting everyone up, much to their amusement, while I sort of hung in the back. This was so surreal and odd that I was having a hard time wrapping my head around it all. I mean, I come home to find my favorite band chilling in my leaving room and then finding out I'm closely related to one of them! Who could honestly comprehend all this?

Walking into the houe felt like we'd walked into World War 3. The screaming, cussing, and sounds of breaking glass were nothing new to Dani and I but the guys all seemed incredibly uncomfortable. Putting up our skateboards was a great excuse to go hide out in my bedroom. Unfortunately Dani wasn't hearing it and asked all the guys to follow us up to my room. Turning to give her an evil glare, she just smiled sweetly at me like she didn't know how uncomfortable I was with strangers in my room. Even if they were my favorite band.

"OH MY GOD!!! Your room is fucking amazing!" Joey exclaimed as soon as he'd walked in.

"You have a door knocker?! That's cool!" Clown said

"Did you decorate this yourself?" Corey asked me, sitting down at my computer desk

"Yes she did. Some of the furniture was built by my Uncle for her, though. The rest of it she bought online." Dani told the group as I fucked around in my closet trying to hide from them

Because I'd turned the entire attic into my room, having 11 people in it didn't seem as crowded as it normally would have. I even built a nice bathroom so that I wouldn't have to go downstairs as much. Hell, a few years back I bought myself a mini-fridge as well. Everyone eventually found a seat, although most of them were sitting on the floor, and it got eerily quiet. Joey kept looking at me like he wanted to say something and Jim kept looking at me like, well I'm not sure why exactly he was staring at me.

When I couldnt' stand the silence anymore, I walked over to my computer desk and started up Windows Media Player. Immediately 'Duality' started blaring through the surruound sound speakers that were hidden throughout my room. Joey just smiled at me. Corey, Clown, and Chris had engaged Dani in conversation. Paul, Sid, Mick, and Craig were sort of looking around and talking about my room. Joey and Jim were just staring at me. Again. Or still, however you wanna look at it.

"HEEYYYYY Lil! You up there?" I heard Gary yell

Sighing heavily I knew what was coming. But then began to wonder how things would play out with the 9 guys. Cautiously opening my door, Gary stood there. His eyes were glazed, skin pale, and a small trickle of blood from the needle hole in his arm was running down his arm. Seeing me, he grabbed my tit and then I slapped him. Not liking the unsubordinate behavior, he slapped me back causing me to stumble back into the bedroom.

Gary had apparently forgotten that there were other people besides the people downstairs in the house. Due to the drugs that were running through his body, he didn't seem to notice the 9 full-grown men scattered throughout my room. He slapped me again telling me what a dirty whore I was and causing my lip to split. I was trying to find my balance before he pushed me down but was caught by some strong arms.

"I'd suggest you leave now." I heard Mick exclaim loudly

"What are you gonna do if I don't?" Gary said defiantly

"I'm only gonna tell you one more time to leave." Mick replied, crossing his arms across his massive chest and taking a step towards Gary

"You can't threaten me in my own house, you fucktard!!" Gary laughed maniacally

"Gary, go back downstairs. I think there's cookies or brownies." Dani said, trying to diffuse a rapidly heating situation

'I want my daughter back, you home-wrecking whore!' We heard Joey's mom scream loudly from downstairs

"Fuck you, you little twit!!" Gary said before slapping Dani

Corey didn't take to that too well and stood up beside Mick. Chris held Dani tightly against him, trying to shield her from whatever was about to happen.

"Hey Gary, I think one of your clients is trying to sneak away with a bag in the backyard!!" I suddenly exclaimed

His eyes went wide and then raced downstairs. That never failed to work! Dani moved to shut and lock the door again before Corey made his way to her to check her out. There was already a bruise forming on her right cheek and Corey looked absolutely appalled by it. Everyone then turned to me and my still bleeding lip. Looking down, I noticed the arms that caught me from falling were still firmly wrapped around my waist.

Pulling away from him I walked into my bathroom to clean my face up. Standing up after grabbing a black washcloth, I found Jim standing by my sink looking intently at me. He took the cloth from me and then wet it. Silently he motioned for me to have a seat on the sink before gently washing my face up. It surprised me at how gentle he was, especially with my very tender lip. Joey soon appeared in the door way looking very concerned.

"Does that happen often?" He quietly questioned

"He tries, especially when he's high. That's why I have locks on my door and why the door is made of wrought-iron." I informed the pair

"I don't think it's safe for you to stay here tonight." Joey exclaimed

I started laughing causing them both to look at me funny.

"You come into my home with your parents telling me that my parents aren't really my parents. You see only a fraction of the shit that goes on here and you tell me it's not safe for me to stay here. Like you really know what the fuck happens around here.

Where the hell were you people when I really needed saving? Where the fuck was this "other family" when I had no real family to speak of? Where the hell where these fucking "loving parents" when my own were.... why the fuck don't you just go back to Iowa and leave me alone!" I screamed at him

I quickly left my room and went downstairs. Dani was calling my name as she ran behind me. Joey's parents were still arguing with "Mom" and the lawyers and Gary was vomitting in the corner of the living room. Sighing, I walked out of the house when I heard the loud footsteps of what almost sounded like a heard of elephants but was really 9 grown men. Once outside, I took off running. There was only 1 place I wanted to be and Dani knew that I wanted to be alone for a little while.