Chapter Two:

Braden and I left the quarry and went straight to K-Mart. We bought some toilet paper, some spray paint, a couple metal bats, and other stuff along the lines. We payed for it and made our way to the frat house.

RIght now, we were standing in front of the preppy and fugly frat house. I took a bat and so did Braden. We started to smash things that came in sight. Windows. flower pots, doors, light, and other stuff. I threw my bat to the side and took out a can of spray paint while drinking my slushy which didn't melt, score. I started to write things like 'Preppy College Prats', 'Prissy Drunk Heads'...

We finished with the graffiti and started to T.P. their houses and had a contest to see who could throw the farthest. I won so far. We kept wrecking the frat house, until two cops caught us and cuffed us, shoving us into the back of their cruiser.

They drove us around until the short guy with the stache pulled over when he saw a huge tire rolling down the hill. The giant cop got out of the car and stopped the wheel with his body. The tire flopped on it's side and vomit shot out of the inside. Eric, dad, Kurt, and some Fem-Fabio came to a stop right in front of the wheel.

Then they started to argue on who would get in the tire next and roll down the hill. The person that popped out of the tire was none other than Marcus.

"Hey Higgins, Feder, we found your son and daughter vandalising the frat house." The short cop said. Braden stuck his head out the window and glared at Marcus.

"You lied about the soup, you lied about the soup!" Braden exclaimed angrily. I just glared at Marcus, he looked at me with a 'what did I do to you?' expression.

"You freakin told my baby sister that 'too much conditioning can make you go blind.' You trying to poison a childs mind? What the hell were you thinking? I should perform amatuer surgery on you and see if you have a brain problem!" I yelled out just as angry as Braden.

Dad, Eric, Kurt, and Marcus drove in one car and lead the cops to Marcus' place. Once we got there, the two cops uncuffed us. Braden and I stood on the porch while the other six men stood by the door.

"Hey son, I uh, um, I…"

"Higgins, don't tell me you're afraid of your own son." The short cop said looking to Braden then Marcus.

"Oh no, I'm just uh, I um-" Then Braden grunted out angrily to Marcus, who flinched and jumped into the big cops arms.

"He's got a knife." Marcus whined like a baby.

"I guess I understand Braden doing something like this, but Mel, why you?" Dad asked.

"I was at the quarry when those frat prissy's made you jump off the cliff. You're my dad and I had to get revenge on those egotistical, barely dressed, cocky, annoying, pop-pots!" I exclaimed. Dad just waved his hands to me.

"Alright, alright, I understand, Mel. But I gotta say, thanks for sticking up for us." Dad said.

"Well I only did it for you, Kurt, and Eric. Marcus here, I just want to hurt the little scaredy cat." I was about to walk up to Marcus and hurt him, but Braden wrapped his arms around my waist and spoke to me, but the others heard it.

"Babe, calm down. You already threatened him, which by the way was pretty hot, I got this for you. Go home and relax, I'll call you." He said. I sighed and slumped in his grip. I nodded and gave him a small kiss.

I turned to dad, Kurt, and Eric and motioned them to go to the car. We all got in, me riding shotgun, and dropped off Kurt and Eric home.

We drove home and went to the dining room. But while dad and I walked, dad just had to ask about Braden.

"So what, is Braden your boyfriend now?" Dad asked, grabbing the attention of the rest of my family setting the table.

"Yes he is dad, I know I just met him, but he's a better guy than Jack ever was." This confused him a bit.

"Why what's wrong with Jack?" He asked. I never told them about Jack.

"Jack was a possessive and abusive jerk who hit me. I broke up with him when I had enough and when he tried to force me back with him, I almost smashed his face, but I broke his nose and kicked him in the nuts for good measure. If he pulls another stunt like that again, I'll sick Braden on him, I promise, dad."

"Oh, my daughter." Mom said walking to me and hugging me. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"He would always apologize when he did hit me and promise not to do it again, but those promises broke like his nose. So I took matters into my own hands and dumped him." I told mom.

"Well, I'm just glad he didn't do anything worse than what he already did. Now, come on, help set the table and we'll eat."

"Si, mom." I helped set the table and with my brothers and sister. When I saw Keithie, I was worried about what had happened to him. "Oh my god, Keithie what happened?"

"Ask your father." Mom said with malice in her voice said walking into the kitchen.

"It was an accident." Dad exclaimed, following her.

"Are you sure you're okay, lil' bro?" I asked him, running my fingers through his short hair.

"Yeah, I'm fine Melly-Belly. Like dad said, it was an accident." I nodded.

"Make sure you tell me if you anything, no matter what, just holler." He nodded and smiled to me.

"I'll keep that in mind, big sis'." I smiled and kissed his forehead.

Soon the table was set and we all sat around the table. Dad sat at the head of the table and got ready to speak.

"Okay everybody. It wasn't a perfect day, I admit it. There were some downs- sorry 'bout the leg." Dad said to Keith. "The good news is the children got through another year of school, fabulously. Greg and Melanie are seniors in high school and Keith is a sophomore. They got older even though I told you not too," Then he turned to Becky. "Especially you, stay young, and don't leave me. Besides, you and Mel are gonna stay with me until you're twenty and she's thirty."

"He's joking right?" I asked mom from across the table, she just shrugged. I groaned but sat back in my seat as dad continued. He said this part to mom.

"You've prepared us your famous chicken a la food poisoning, which we're all excited to eat," dad laughed as mom threw a piece of bread at him. "I'm just kidding. But the greatest is it's my favorite part of the day with my five best friends. To the Feders!" He raised his glass, so did we and repeated 'To the Feders!', then we began to eat. I noticed that Gref wasn't eating, I wasn't the only one who saw this.

"Homeboy, aren't you eating?" Dad asked.

"I saw something today that made me lose my appetite." I looked to my twin who was on the other side of Keith who was between us.

"What you saw me naked?" He asked quizzically. Greg and I exchanged a look of horror at the memory as dad looked at Greg, he knew I saw him but he seemed unfazed when I told him. "What?" He asked. Us twins just went back to our plates, me eating and Greg rearranging his food.

The conversations turned on how our days have been. Dad brought up the topic of what Eric told him about.

"Burp Snart?" Mom asked, although she looked like she didn't want to know.

"A Burp Snart!" Dad exclaimed as if it solved all the worlds problems. Gladly, mom changed the subject quickly about the party.

"I thought it would be fun to have a theme, no?" Mom said. "I was thinking the 80's."

"The 80's?" Keith sounded like he didn't like it.

"That sounds great mom, I love the 80's. Oh I have to think of something to wear." I said. Keith decided to bring up the topic of dates.

"Hey Greg why don't you ask Nancy Arbuckle to come by for the get together? Or do you prefer the imaginary show? And Melanie, why don't you invite your new boyfriend Braden? I bet he'll love to show up." I looked to Greg and he nodded. We both grabbed our brother's casted leg and dropped it on the table, making him exclaim in pain. I love my brother, but revenge is sweet.

Dinner passed by with the occasional conversation, teasing, or joking around. After we finished eating, the dishes was left to dad and Greg.

I went upstairs to my room and looked around my closet for something to wear. It took about half an hour but I found the perfect one. I grabbed one of my black tank tops that had a bunch of grey roses shaped a skull, black leggings, white leg warmers, grey wrist bangs, a black bandana, star earrings of the colors red, grey, white, black, and silver, black ballet flats, and my Blood-Heart choker. I put all those on and re did my make up like this morning. I wrapped the bandana around my forehead like a headband. I was good to go!

Mom, dad, and Becky went to the store to get refreshment for the party while I cleared some stuff like toys and all that stuff from the back. I put all that stuff in the huge shed by the tree house.

Once mom, dad, and Becky, they went into the house and dressed for the party. I was putting the drinks in coolers and the snacks in bowls at a table when Kurt came with Deanne, Charlotte, Andre, and Ronnie.

Then came Eric with Sally, Donna, and Bean; then came Marcus and Braden. I was opening a bag of Lays Classic when arms circled around my waist. I turned to see Braden in all his glory with his hair slicked back wearing a blue jacket and khaki pants.

"Hey." I said.

"Hey." He said back and kissed me full on the lips.

"Hey, no PDA when there's kids around." I turned to see Keith sitting with Donna and Andre. Donna was decorating Keith's cast the same way she did her boots. I did the mature thing big sister sdo and stuck my tongue out at him. Braden laughed and I turned back to him.

"How'd it go after I left your place?" I asked him.

"It was good. We sat and talked it out, turns out he's a pretty cool guy once you see past him being a complete sissy." I laughed at that.

"Yeah, but just you wait, it'll get worse. Once you see how stupid he is, you'll slowly turn just as dumb as him. I already picked up his knack for sweet talking to cars." I said. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. I shook my head and caught something by the treehouse. I pointed it out to Braden and we almost busted out laughing.

Marcus was pretty much eating the Fem-Fabio's flexed bicep, she was dressed as Hulk Hogan complete with the mustache. Eric was sitting behind her mimicking Marcus' movements using his own arm, Bean was sitting next to him laughing quietly.

"See what I mean?" I said to my boyfriend.

"Oh yeah, I see it." Then Bean and Becky came up to us with smiles on their adorable faces.

"Can you play with us?" Becky asked using her cute puppy eyes. Braden and I looked to each other and smiled. Braden agreed and they went a few feet away from me.

Braden held they by the back of their shirts and spun them around. They were laughing and squealing with glee, I was recording the whole thing with my phone. While this was happening, I saw dad with Marcus, Eric, and Kurt at a picnic table talking until Eric stood up.

Braden stopped spinning the kids and we sat with dad and them, well I was sitting on Braden's lap with his arm around my waist.

"Come on, pull the string. I dare you." Eric said to Marcus. Marcus kept denying and Eric kept insisting. I finally had enough and stood up, walking to Eric.

"I'll pull the damn string. Jeez it's not like it's gonna kill anyone." I pulled the string and everyone jumped from their seats as a huge raft inflated and landed on the table, knocking down our drinks. "I spoke too soon." I grumbled. Eric busted out laughing but stopped once I smacked his shoulder.

Soon, more and more people started to show up until it was a full house and there was a stage and a band playing.

Braden turned to me with his handsome grin and held out his hand, "May I have this dance?" He asked. I smiled and took it.

"You may." And with that we went to the dance floor and danced without a care.

His hands were on my hips and mine were on his neck. We were just staring into each other's eyes. He had the most amazing brown eyes I have ever seen. The music was cut off all of a sudden, but the singing didn't stop. It was Charlotte.

Once she realized we were listening to her, she stopped and looked to the crowd who then cheered her on.

"Hey, what's happening over there?" Braden asked pointing out a crowd of people watching something.

"Don't know, let's check it out." We walked to the crowd and slipped past people till we saw what was happening. Dad was fighting some guy I remembered him telling me about, Cavenaugh.

Right when dad was gonna punch him, Cavenaugh crouched down and begged for mercy.

"What the hell?" I said to Braden who just shrugged.

Soon the party was back on and while we were dancing, Braden and I kissed without a care. I heard a couple people 'awing' at how cute we were together.

We broke apart when we heard hooting noises. At the top of the hill we saw a huge army of college frat boys and slutty drunk girls.

A guy who I supposed was the leader stepped up with a grin, "I can't believe it. We've hit the moron jackpot. Everybody who needs a beating conveniently together in one lawn."

"Excuse me, why are you here? What's the matter?" Mom asked them.

"I'll tell you what the matter is," some blond surfer asshole dude said mocking my mothers heavy accent. "These old townies trashed our frat house," he said pointing to dad and them. "And nobody treats our good times headquarters with disrespect."

"They didn't do it, you dyed blond prissy surfer dude." I called out standing out from the group with Braden beside me holding my hand. "We did it."

"Don't try and stick up for them sweetheart." Thier leader said. I heard Braden growl at him.

"No me importa lo que diga o que usted, imbécil . Usted faltas el respeto a mi familia , y habrá un precio a orar o ítem del mismo diablo. Yo , vas a sufrir y yo seré su verdugo. (I do not care what you say or think you, dipshit . You disrespect my family , and there will be a price to pray from the devil himself . Yo, you're going to suffer and I will be his executioner .)" I said to him.

"Cut it out with the Chinese crap. We know they're trying to get back at us for making them do the naked plunge at our swimming hole!" Jackass, that's what I'm calling him now, said.

"You're swimming hole? swimming at that quarry since I was eight years old." Deanne said confidently.

"Apparently everybody in the crap town has been swimming there since they were eight years old." Jackass complained. "I guess nobody wants to leave this town because they're too busy sucking." The college jerks all cheered at his words.

A guy in a Tom Cruise suit from Top Gun spoke up. "Hey smart guy! Lenny Feder left this town, moved to Hollywood, made big bucks- probably more money than you brainiacs put together ever will. But guess what: he came back here, 'cause this beautiful town is his home. And it will always be his home." Our side cheered for this guy and dad who nodded to the Top Gun.

"Well, that was just a moving to this community, bro! But we didn't come here to hear any lame speeches. We came here to kick some old, smelly ass!" Said Blondie.

These people are a bunch of jackasses, I could smash their faces right now. And apparently dad and the others thought so too. "Fellas, we may be old."

"We may be smelly."

"We may have a penis." I saw mom, Deanne, and Sally point to Marcus' new girl.

"But the only ones getting their ass kicked around here is gonna be you spoiled, privileged, uppity, preppy D-Bags." Eric finished.

"You hear that? NOW LETS GET BUSY!" Kurt yelled out. And with that, everyone charged into the fight.

Dad punched someone who got down onto their knees. Using that to my advantage, I hopped onto the guys back and did a flying kick, hitting someone right in the face.

Braden was nearby knocking guys out easily. I managed to knock some preps out and got hit a few times, but I kept going.

"Behind you!" I heard Braden yell. I turned around to see a guy with a lacrosse stick. I kick him in the nuts and Braden grabs him in a headlock. I start to knee the guy and punch him like crazy. "Awesome party or what, honey?"

"Oh babe, this is the best summer ever." I said kissing my boyfriend. Then Braden knocks the guy out with an elbow to the back of the head.

Once he was on the ground, Braden pulled me into a spark blowing kiss. I smiled into the kiss and held his cheeks in my hands. We pulled away and he grinned.

"Have I ever told you that lip piercing is sexy?" We laughed at this. A guy came running to them, but. I turned and did a right hook, knocking him out instantly. "Now that is a turn on, babe."

We continued fighting side by side, watching each other's back and assisting the other if we have to.

Everyone stopped at the sounds of the Jackasses screams. We all turned to see him on the ground with Mr. Gigglesworth at his crotch and the deer tearing it apart. All the college kids ran away and us 80s people cheered in victory.

I saw that dad was lying face down on the ground and mom hurried over to him.

"Daddy!" I called out with worry. Just as mom got close enough, she was pushed away by some chick who works at moms boutique.

Mom got back up and kicked the lady in the face without hesitation.

"Oh I'm sorry, I hit your barrette." Mom said in fake pity.

Dad got back up and was all better. We got back to partying until the lead singer for the band suggested karaoke.

"Okay, the spotlight operator will pick someone to sing any song they want. And if we want them to sing again, we'll cheer 'em on. Spotlight please!"

The light moved around a bit looking for anyone they see fit, until it landed on the singer. Me.

"Oh, we got ourselves a singer people. Come on up." I shook my head frantically, but my family and boyfriend encouraged me.

"Fine, I'll do it." Everyone cheered on as I stepped up to the stage. Before. I could tell the musicians what to play, a voice I never wanted to hear spoke up.

"Mel." Never tone turned to the owner of the voice and it was the devil himself.

"What the hell are you doing here, Jack?!" I scream out in anger.

"I came to apologize and ask for a second chance." He said with a desperate gone.

"Ha, like I would take you back. Eric, daddy, grab him and tie him to a chair please."

Before Jack could run away, they grabbed him and tied him to a chair. He struggled and squirmed like the worm he was.

"The hell are you doing?!" He yelled out. I just ignored him and spoke to everyone through the mic.

"Listen up everyone, you're probably wondering why I wanted him to tied down. It's because I'm going to humiliate him and reveal what's truly behind the mask of Jackson Connors. This jackass was my boyfriend, but he as possessive, egotistical, idiotic, juvenile, and most of all abusive." Everyone starts to exclaim insults to Jack but I silence them. "And now with this song, I'm gonna tell him how much he is how hated." I turned back to the musicians and asked them, "Can you guys play 'Face Down' by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus?"

"Yeah we can." Said one of the guitarists.

"Then that's what we're playing." I turned to the audience and where Jack was sitting in the middle. The song began and I started to sing with so much passion, I got lost in the music.

Hey, girl, you know you drive me crazy
one look puts the rhythm in my hand.
Still I'll never understand why you hang around
I see what's going down.

Cover up with makeup in the mirror
tell yourself, it's never gonna happen again
You cry alone and then he swears he loves you.

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's gon' to end
as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found.

A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect
every action in this world will bear a consequence
If you wade around forever, you will surely drown
I see what's going down.

I see the way you go and say you're right again,
say you're right again
Heed my lecture.

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's gon' to end
as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

[x2]
Face down in the dirt,
she said, "This doesn't hurt",
she said, "I finally had enough."

One day she will tell you that she has had enough
He's coming round again.

[x2]
Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you my friend, one day this world's gon' to end
as your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

Face down in the dirt,
she said, "This doesn't hurt",
she said, "I finally had enough."

As the music ended, everyone cheered while Jack glared at me. I smirked at him and hopped of the stage. Braden came to my side and wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Now everyone knows you for who you really are. Ain't that a bitch? Now, if I cut you out, I want you to make like a tree and get the fuck out of here."

"Go to hell, bitch." Everyone in the crowd growled. I just smirked at did a tornado kick, knocking the guy out.

"Don't call me that." I said. Everyone cheered while dad and then dragged an unconscious Jack to the street.

"Sing another song!" I heard someone yell out, and the other people agreed.

"Okay, just give me a minute." I talked to the musicians and the song. I chose next was one I dedicated to Braden.

I don't know where you're going
But do you got room for one more troubled soul?
I don't know where I'm going
But I don't think I'm coming home and I said
I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead
This is the road to ruin
And we're starting at the end

Say yeah (yeah!)
Let's be alone together (yeah)
We could stay young forever (yeah)
Scream it from the top of your lungs, lungs, lungs
Say yeah (yeah!)
Let's be alone together (yeah)
We could stay young forever (yeah)
We'll stay young, young, young, young, young.

Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh
Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh
Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh
Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh

You cut me off, I lost my track
It's not my fault, I'm a maniac
It's not funny anymore, no it's not

My heart is like a stallion
They love it more when it's broke in
Do you wanna feel beautiful?
Do you wanna? Yeah!

I'm outside the door, invite me in
So we can go back and play pretend
I'm on deck, yeah, I'm up next
Tonight I'm high as a private jet

'Cause I don't know where you're going
But do you got room for one more troubled soul?
I don't know where I'm going
But I don't think I'm coming home and I said
I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead
This is the road to ruin
And we're starting at the end

Say yeah (yeah!)
Let's be alone together (yeah)
We could stay young forever (yeah)
Scream it from the top of your lungs, lungs, lungs
Say yeah (yeah!)
Let's be alone together (yeah)
We could stay young forever (yeah)
We'll stay young, young, young, young, young.

Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh
Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh
Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh
Uh, uh, uh, uh-oh

My heart is like a stallion
They love it more when it's broke in
Do you wanna feel beautiful?
Do you wanna? Yeah!

I'm outside the door, invite me in
So we can go back and play pretend
I'm on deck, yeah, I'm up next
Tonight I'm high as a private jet.

Yeah (yeah)
Let's be alone together (yeah)
We could stay young forever (yeah)
Scream it from the top of your lungs, lungs, lungs
Say yeah (yeah!)
Let's be alone together (yeah)
We could stay young forever (yeah)
We'll stay young, young, young, young, young.

I don't know where you're going
But do you got room for one more troubled soul?
I don't know where I'm going
But I don't think I'm coming home and I said
I'll check in tomorrow if I don't wake up dead
This is the road to ruin
And we're starting at the end

More cheers erupted from the crowd as I walked down the stage into Bradens waiting arms. Even though we were in front of tons of people, I pulled Braden down for another kiss which brought wolf whistles from a few people.

The night went on and Braden and I snuck into the house and up to my room. Right when we got through my door, a make out session immediately started.

"This is bothering me." I said and took off his jacket. We began kissing again until we broke apart for air. " I love you." Was what I had said without thinking. Braden looked shocked before kissing me again.

"I love you too." I smiled then we kissed again.

We both go tired and fell asleep in my bed with our arms around each other. This was what I wanted my whole life, love. This was heaven, this was bliss.