All Chapters of SECRETS & SCANDALS: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The day of the burial came too soon. I wasn’t ready. I don’t even think I moved when I woke up that morning. The rain had already started - just a light drizzle - but it felt like the whole world was warning me, ‘today’s going to hurt’. Everyone was in black. Umbrellas everywhere. But halfway through, the rain didn’t care about that anymore. It poured, soaking everyone. No one moved. No one spoke. Just the sound of water hitting coats and skin, and the occasional sniffle. I held Aunty Linda’s hand. Tight. Her hand was warm. Mine was cold, all over. But I didn’t let go. If I did, I felt like I’d fall apart. I couldn’t stop staring at the caskets. Two. Side by side. That was them. My parents. Right there. White lilies covered the tops. They loved those. I remember them in vases all around the house. I shut my eyes hard. I had told myself - don’t cry. Not today. Be strong. You don’t want them to see you fall apart. You want them to be proud. But inside, I was shaking. I wa

IVY (WHAT HAPPENS TO IVY).The room fell silent for a moment, aunt Linda’s words seemed to mellow the mood, but that didn’t last long at all. Not long before that someone started the conversation again, i couldn’t even remember who exactly, all I knew was that i was tired of the whole thing. A lump formed in my throat, my head was hurting, the room was spinning. I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to keep myself from losing my cool, but none of that seemed to matter to the people in the room, all they cared about was themselves. Somewhere along the line, someone suggested placing me in some government welfare agency across the state, since I had long passed the age for foster care. A few murmurs of agreement came from my dad’s side of the family, but my mom’s side looked around uncomfortably, though it seemed like they were for me, they weren’t offering any help to her situation. It was only aunt Linda who cursed them out calling them all sorts of foul names which had shocke

IVY- A NEW HOME My first night at Aunt Linda’s place was weird. It wasn’t bad. Just felt a little off. Too quiet. And a bit cold, not like temperature cold but just - not warm. The house wasn’t bad, t’was just hard to settle in. It didn’t feel like home. Not even close. I mean, I was thankful to her, really, I was. But still. I put my things on the floor and began to unpack which really didn’t take long to do either. I didn’t bring much to be honest. Just what I thought I would need for a few days’ worth of stuff. A few clothes, a phone charger, the stuffed bear I’ve had since I was six. The rest of what I had was left back at the house. Our house. I couldn’t pack up everything and leave like that. It was still home, even if it wasn’t anymore. That house was all I knew. My parents. The smell. The memories. Every wall had a piece of our memories embedded in it. I couldn’t pack that in a bag. Aunt Linda really did try, though. She made up the guest bed with fresh sheets, al

THE NOTEEveryone was quiet.They were all looking at me. Waiting.I hated when people stared. I opened the paper with shaky fingers. My heart was doing too much for a piece of paper.“I got the same drink you were having earlier. Didn’t know what you liked. Hope your day’s been okay. —L”That was it.Four lines.Simple. But something about it made the air feel heavier. I didn’t say anything. Just read it again. And again.Sophia leaned in too close.“Okay, what did he say?” She asked. “Is it something cute? Let me see, just a little peek?“He didn’t just drop you food and vanish like some mystery hero. What’s in the note?”I pushed it over to her without looking up. She grabbed it immediately. Her friends tried not to act interested, but they leaned in too.I picked the shake and drank from it. It was already melting. Same drink as before. So he had noticed. That was… weird.Not bad weird. Just - Liam wasn’t the type. Or maybe I just thought he wasn’t.Sophia didn’t say anythi

MORNING SURPRISE I woke up late. My hair was sticking to my cheek, and my pillow had a slight crumple from where I’d slept on the note.I blinked a few times, rolled over, and finally sat up.Downstairs was quiet, but I could smell toast.I yawned and dragged myself to the kitchen, one sock still on, the other missing. My pyjamas was wrinkled. I rubbed at my eyes as I walked in.Then I froze.Aunt Linda was in the kitchen… kissing someone.I blinked again, but it was real.“Eep,” I squeaked, stepping back a little too loudly.They broke apart fast. Aunt Linda turned like she’d been caught stealing.“Oh my God,” she muttered.The man looked surprised for a second, then just laughed out loud.“You didn’t tell me she was this beautiful,” he said, grinning at me like he had not just been munching the hell out of my aunt face in front of the fridge.I stood with my mouth open. Speechless. I stared at the ceiling. The toaster. My feet.“Sorry, sweetheart,” he added, grinning. “Didn’t mean