Family Ties Read Online Free PDF

Arissa’s that night. Arissa, Rose, and Andrew take turns signing my cast. Andrew pops popcorn to snack on while we play card and board games.
    My family didn’t offer to sign my cast. Playing cards and board games would never happen in the Parker house. At least, not with me included in them.
    “Does it hurt?” Arissa asks once we’ve settled into bed.
    “It did before, but the ibuprofen helps.”
    “Would you be mad if I said something uncool about your parents?”
    No one’s ever said anything bad about my parents to me before, but I can’t imagine disagreeing with anyone’s poor opinion of them. “I don’t think so.”
    She rolls to her side, propping her head up on her hand. “I think they’re mean. They make you do everything and Victoria gets spoiled.”
    “I think they like her better than me.”
    “I like you better than Victoria.”
    Tears well up and my throat feels like something is stuck in it. No one’s ever said they like me better than someone else.
    I kept to myself because my parents didn’t allow me to make friends. They shut down any attempt to do so, so I stopped trying. I became the quiet one in class. The one no one bothered and the one always picked last for anything.
    “Your parents are nice enough when I’m over, but I don’t think they like being nice,” she adds. My parents don’t like people in the house, so she doesn’t come over often. When she does, it’s only long enough to work on homework.
    I choke back the tears. “Are there other nice parents like yours?”
    “Of course there are.”
    “Seriously?” I ask, still believing the Jerichos are an anomaly and all parents are like mine. I want to believe there are more parents like Arissa’s, but it doesn’t seem real. Not when all I’ve known is my father’s brutality and my mother’s apathy.
    “Seriously. What about all those books you read?”
    “Those aren’t real, Riss.” My life has always been clearly defined by my parents and I never attempted to relate the imaginary stories to it. Until meeting Arissa, I never thought my life could be different than it is now.
    “They aren’t,” she agrees, “but there are people like the characters in real life. Didn’t you meet your friends’ parents before?”
    “I never had friends before you.”
    “Why?”
    “My parents don’t like me talking to other people.”
    “I think it’s sad you never had a friend before.”
    “I don’t really mind. I like having you for a friend, Riss.”
    “I like having you for a friend too.”

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    Arissa and I are talking about our classes at lunch when Jason takes a seat next to her.
    “So what happened to your arm, Parker?” he asks, gesturing with his chin.
    “I tripped over one of my sister’s toys and fell.”
    Lying is too easy the more I have to do it. I have to follow the rules, but I hate being dishonest with my friends. It will be one more thing they won’t like about me if they ever learn the truth.
    “So do I get to sign it or what?”
    Arissa smiles, winking at me while mouthing, “He likes you.”
    My eyes widen at her.
    Jason glances between us. “What?”
    “Riss is being gross, showing me the food in her mouth.”
    “Way to go Jericho!” He slaps her back.
    “I do what I can,” she says, laughing.
    “So back to your cast, Parker. Do I get to sign it?”
    “If you want.”
    He draws out a black Sharpie from his pocket and straddles the bench next to me.
    “Aw, how ‘tweet,” Arissa coos.
    “Jealous, Jericho?” he asks, scribbling on my cast inside my upper arm.
    “In your dreams, Waters,” she retorts.
    “It’s not you I dream about,” he replies. “Done,” he proclaims, popping the cap on the pen with the center of his palm.
    I check where he signed. He drew a heart and wrote inside:
    To my Parker
    ~JW~
    I smile at him. “Thanks. But what’s your girlfriend going to say?”
    He flashes a playful smile. It makes him look innocent, sincere, and confident all at