Okay just for the record, I don't own any of the 7th Heaven characters, but I do own Veronica (Ronnie) Jenkins-Camden as well as Chad Delano and Luke Delano. Enjoy! This is the sequel to Discoveries.
Chapter One!
"Ronnie, wait up!" Simon Camden called from the front step of their house. Already halfway down the driveway, 15-year-old Ronnie paused and turned to see Simon struggling to stuff his paper-bagged lunch in his backpack. She smiled patiently.
"You're gonna make us late again." She called. Simon moaned, finally gave up, unable to fit his lunch in his bag, and carried it in his hand as he caught up to Ronnie.
"I didn't make us late last time. Dad was the one who was late. He was too busy getting his church stuff." Simon said as he followed Ronnie to the car.
"Well, he's already waiting in the car for us. Lucy's waiting too. They're both waiting for us." Ronnie explained as the two got intothe car.
"You're late." Lucy glared at her brother from the front seat and Simon shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to get into an argument.
"It doesn't matter, you'll get to school on time." Eric Camden said to Lucy, Ronnie and Simon who he was chauffeuring to school that morning. Ronnie sighed to herself with a smile. They're a littlecrazy, but I love 'em. As Eric drove the three teenagers to school, Ronnie stared at the window with a smile on her face, thinking once again about how lucky she was to have these people as her family.
Ronnie wasn't biologically a member of the Camden family. She had been raised with abusive parents up until she was a teenager, just struggling to survive. She wanted so desperately to escape the life she had been forced to live, but it had all come crashing down around her when her father, angry because he found out Ronnie had gone to church, shot her! It had been close, but Eric Camden, the reverend at Glen Oaks Community Church, who had suspected abuse, arrived at the house just in time to save her. Ronnie was released to social services, but Eric and his wife Annie had grown close to the young girl, visiting her everyday in the hospital.
They decided to adopt her.
Ronnie was finally able to live a life filled with love and family, but not long afterwards, her father had killed his wife, Ronnie's mother, and himself, leaving Ronnie feeling confused and guilty. That was six months ago, and Ronnie was still undergoing therapy to help her with the feelings she had about her parents. But having her adoptive family's support made all the difference in the world. She felt she could always talk to Eric and Annie about anything, her adoptive parents. Eric was so easy to go to about spiritual matters, being the reverend of the church. Ronnie was still fairly new to her faith, and appreciated honest answers from Eric. Annie was so caring and so attentive to every need Ronnie had. Ronnie had been an only child, so being adopted into the Camden family, she found herself with seven brothers and sisters.
Matt, the oldest, was 23 years old and resided with his best friend John in a small apartment not far from where the Camdens lived. Ronnie loved his frequent visits home and loved to hear his stories from the medical world, since he was studying to become a doctor.
Mary was the oldest daughter, who was 19 years old. She lived at home with her parents and siblings. She loved playing basketball and Ronnie, who was now on the basketball team at school, often played one on one with Mary for practice.
Lucy was 17 and very much interested in the opposite sex. Her sisters and brothers always wondered who her boyfriend would be this week, as her love interests always seemed to be changing. She shared a bedroom in the attic with her sister Mary. Ronnie loved hanging out with Lucy, the closest sister to her age, and sharing secrets with her.
Simon, who was 14, did very well in school and was always getting straight A's. Ronnie got along very well with Simon, being so close in age, and they often worked on their homework together. Sometimes Simon was able to help Ronnie with her homework, even though she was a grade ahead of him.
Ruthie was the youngest daughter. At 10 years old, she was already showing signs of a gifted child and she was the only member of the Camden family to attend a private school. She and Ronnie got along very well.
The youngest of the family were the twins, 2-year-old's Sam and David who were just like any other toddler entering their terrible twos. Ronnie sometimes became frustrated with the crying and the screaming, but she usually escaped to her bedroom or tagging along with Mary and Lucy, who took the car and went for ice cream to get away from the little brothers.
Ronnie loved how close the family was. She loved how safe she felt, a feeling she had never had before she met the Camdens.
"Ronnie, Ronnie!" Lucy shook Ronnie awake, who had fallen asleep in the car. Ronnie opened her eyes and looked around, realizing they had arrived at their school.
"Woah." She muttered as she stretched her arms, surprised she had drifted off to sleep in only a matter of minutes. Eric turned in his seat to smile at Ronnie.
"You seem a little tired honey." He said. Simon rolled his eyes.
"No kidding dad." He said.
"Sorry, I'm awake. Let's go." Ronnie grabbed her backpack and opened the car door.
"Ronnie." Eric called as Lucy and Simon had already begun to run up the school steps. Ronnie turned around.
"Yeah Eric?" She asked. It still felt weird, calling him Eric. In her heart, Eric and Annie were her mom and dad, but she hadn't felt comfortable expressing it yet. She didn't know if it was appropriate or not.
"Are you getting enough sleep?" Eric asked, concerned. Ronnie smiled, still amazed at how much these people cared about her.
"I guess. Well last night I was up kind of late. I was on the phone with Chad until after midnight, trying to help him understand our math homework." She explained, referring to her best friend who was in her tenth grade class. She had met him a few months after she had moved in with the Camdens, and they had become extremely close, despite the fact they were of the opposite sex.
"Ronnie, you know phone curfew is 11:00p.m." Eric said with raised eyebrows. Ronnie froze, unconsciously feeling the same fear she would get when her father began to get angry. She knew Eric would never hurt her like her father did, but still, somewhere deep down, that fear was still there. Eric noticed it immediately.
"You're not in trouble Ron; we put that rule in place so you go to bed at a decent time so you don't end up falling asleep in the car." He said with a wink. Ronnie felt relieved and blushed.
"I know. I just felt sorry for Chad. He said he tried to get the homework done earlier, but couldn't understand. He called me earlier, around 8:00p.m. but he said he couldn't talk. He wouldn't tell me why but he hung up pretty fast, asking if I'd call him around 11:00p.m. I knew about the rule, but he sounded so desperate." She explained, still curious why Chad wasn't able to talk. Eric nodded with a smile.
"You're a good kid Ronnie." He looked at the time. "You'd better run; the bell will ring in a few minutes." Ronnie puckered her brow and checked her watch. She widened her eyes.
"Bye Eric!" She called as she turned and ran toward the school, almost tripping on the steps. Eric laughed to himself as he started up the car. She really is a good kid. He smiled proudly. She's really come a long way.