Hi! I’ve been abandoning you for a while and I’m sorry. Our school has been dumping everything on its students and I’m constantly getting sidetracked. Sorry about that! Hope you like this chapter!

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Starting Over

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After unpacking most of the stuff from her bag and box, Serena went to the dining room for dinner. The Lucas’s were already there, making light conversation or consulting digital organizers. Mrs. Lucas placed a whole roast chicken on the table.

“Hey Serena!” she greeted her “So, how do you like the house?

“It’s alright,” said Serena. She gazed curiously at the roast chicken.

“Oh I hope you’re not a vegetarian,” said Mrs Lucas, seeing Serena’s look.

“Oh no, no it’s fine,” said Serena “I’m not.” She took a seat beside Frankie.

“Hey Serena,” said Frankie. Serena acknowledged him with a nod.

“So, since you’re our sister,” said Frankie “You might as well know the little details about our family. To put it simply, the secrets.” His voice dropped at the last word. Serena leaned towards him, interested.

“I’m listening,” said Serena. Nick, Kevin and Joe looked at them suspiciously.

“Well Joe,” said Frankie nodding towards Joe “He’s never gotten a girl his entire life and he has a HUGE crush on Stella.” Serena bit her tongue to stop her from guffawing. The brothers too were listening to every word.

“Nick has a girlfriend,” continued Frankie. Serena raised her eyebrow and looked sideways at Nick. He was slowly growing pink.

“Who is it?” asked Serena, enjoying every bit of information.

“Oh this girl named Penny,” said Frankie “They’ve been dating since forever—“

“Okay Frankie that’s enough,” interrupted Nick haughtily. Serena gave him a look.

“Come on, let the boy finish,” she said and turned back to Frankie “Go on.”

“And Kevin,” said Frankie “Well….he more or less has the same IQ as Forrest Gump.” Serena had to let out a small laugh.

“Hey!” exclaimed Kevin “Mom said it was 90!”

“Whatever, Forrest,” teased Frankie. Serena laughed and high-fived Frankie.

“Boy you are GOLD!” she said. Frankie just grinned. The other three brothers glowered at both of them.

“Come on kids, no bickering at the table,” scolded Mrs. Lucas. All three opened their mouths to speak, but were silenced immediately by a look from her.

“So Serena,” said Mrs. Lucas, addressing Serena, who was poking the contents of her plate “I’m sure you’re expecting an explanation for all this.” Serena looked up at her.

“Um…yeah,” she said. The whole Lucas family looked embarrassed for a while, except for Frankie, who was spooning chicken in his mouth.

“Well, before the fame, we were just your average family,” explained Mrs. Lucas “After we had Kevin, Joe and Nick, we weren’t sure if we could handle any more children. But a year later, we found out we were having a girl.”

“That same year, your father lost his job and our savings were cut deeply because we still had to support your brothers. Then we decided that the only way to save us from poverty was to give you away.”

“At first, the doctor suggested that we should get an abortion, but we strongly decided against it and we began to look for good orphanages to put you in.” Serena was horrified. I was supposed to be aborted?! Suddenly, Mrs. Lucas smiled.

“I remember the day you were born,” she said remembering the event “The boys and your father were in the room when they brought you in.”

“Yeah,” said Mr. Lucas “You were this tiny little thing. It looked like the blankets swallowed you whole.” He laughed. Serena’s mouth twitched into a smile.

‘When the nurse gave you to me,” continued Mrs. Lucas “you gripped my finger so tight and you smiled at me.” Her eyes welled up with tears. Serena tried her best not to let the feeling of tearing overcome her. Mrs Lucas then looked at Joe.

“Remember the first thing you said about her?” she asked him “I remember you said ‘Mama! She has the same eyes as you!’” She laughed. Joe looked confused.

“I did?” he asked.

“Of course you wouldn’t remember,” she said “You were just three.” She turned back to Serena. “It broke my heart to give you away. But we were still in a delicate state and we didn’t want to risk anything. Then a miracle happened.”

“One day Nicholas was having his haircut and he sang as the barber trimmed his hair. Then someone walked up to us and offered to put him in a play. So, we gave that a shot and he did splendidly. Soon after, he began to star in many other plays and he was noticed by so many people.”

“Then I found out that Joseph too has a voice and together with Kevin, they gave a record label a copy of a CD they made and that’s how JONAS started.” She gazed proudly at her sons, who smiled at her. Serena frowned.

“So after that, you forget all about me,” she asked, a tone of hurt hidden in her voice.

“Well no not exactly,” said Mrs. Lucas “Around the time I was pregnant with Frankie, I went to the orphanage I put you in to check if I can still get you back. It turned out that you were already gone.” She looked down sadly. Serena stared at her intently.

“So told all my boys to see if they see a girl that has the Lucas features, light brown eyes, dark brown hair, they should catch her attention.” Mrs. Lucas smiled widely. “How lucky are we to find you.” She sighed happily “You look so much like your brother Joseph.” Joe looked really embarrassed. Serena gave him a look of contempt.

“Do you understand now?” asked Mrs. Lucas “The reason why we left you?” Everyone was now looking at Serena intently. She took a deep breath.

“Well, I’m glad that I wasn’t a rag doll that someone threw away and has forgotten about,” said Serena “And I’m not sure if I should be flattered or disgusted that I look like that guy.” She jerked her thumb at Joe, who looked insulted.

“But, I guess I can fit in here,” she said shrugging. Mrs. Lucas clapped her hands together in delight.

“Just one thing,” she said.

“Anything,” said Mr. and Mrs. Lucas together.

“Where do you keep your black paint?” she asked.

“I-in the garage,” said Mr. Lucas “Why?” Serena merely smiled.

“Thanks,” she said and stood up. She strode to the back door and exited the room.

“What’s she gonna do with the black paint?” asked Mr. Lucas.

“It’s a goth thing,” replied Nick and he resumed eating.

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“Hello?” said Serena waving a hand in front of her friends’ faces. They’ve been frozen solid for a few minutes, still holding their forks. Serena tried snapping. Nothing.

“Guys?” asked Serena, poking Abby and Katie in the shoulder. Nothing.

Finally, Abby’s lips moved slightly.

“S-say that again…” said Abby faintly. Katie nodded stiffly, her eyes still unmoving. Serena took a deep breath.

“Okay, for the hundredth time,” said Serena “I am the sister of Nick, Kevin and Joe Lucas. I found out that I was adopted a few days ago. I was living a lie for 14 years. They are my real family.” Katie and Abby didn’t stir.

“Y-you’re not lying are you…?’ asked Katie softly. Serena sighed.

“Again, I am as serious as a seizure,” said Serena. Katie and Abby stiffly exchanged glances.

“Guys!” exclaimed Serena “Come on!” Her friends barely said anything when she heard a voice.

“Hey sis,” said the voice. She looked up and saw Nick pass by, only stopping to wink discreetly at her. Katie and Abby’s jaws dropped in shock. She then felt a thump on her head.

“Yo sis,” said another voice. Rubbing her head, she looked up and saw Joe walking past with a smile on his face. Katie and Abby’s mouths dropped an inch lower.

“WHADDUP SISTAH?!” hollered Kevin who jumped in beside Serena, who jumped violently. Katie’s and Abby’s eyebrows reached their hairlines.

“GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!” snapped Serena and Kevin ran away. She turned to face her friends, who looked like they’ve just seen a scandal.

“So, now do you believe me?” asked Serena. After a few minutes, her friends screams drowned the whole cafeteria. They shook her and hugged her and screamed in her ear until her hearing was drowned with “OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” words.

She looked at her brothers, who were seated in a table a few feet away, and wondered if this new life was all it was cut out to be.