Happy 18th

“Rise and shine, Aria.”

“...Holy shit! Uncle Edward? Is that really you?!”

“In the flesh.”

“That's some scarred flesh. What the hell happened?”

"...Sensitive."

"Oh God, sorry, I swear my fucking brain and mouth aren't connected sometimes."

“Never mind... It really is good to see you."

"Where've you been all this time?! What the hell happened?! We missed you!"

"Ah... it's a long story."

“Aren't you wondering how you got here, anyway?”

“...Now that you mention it, yeah. I feel like shit.”

“First hangover? ”

“Yeah. Still, it's a miracle I haven't already turned to drink. Okay, what happened?”

"I found you in the pub, completely smashed. You didn't recognise me, though given how much I've changed, that's no surprise... Anyway, you were thrown out because you got into an argument with someone and it nearly turned violent."

"...Yeah, sounds about right for me."

"You were too drunk to manage yourself and I was worried something might happen, being that vulnerable... So I brought you to a safe place. Well, as safe as I can manage. I realise it may not have been the best idea. You must be freezing.”

“You're not wrong. Jesus. My own fault, I stormed out of the house without a coat and I didn't want to ruin my dramatic exit by going back for it. But who cares about that? Tell me what happened to you!”

"I'm not really up for discussing that, to be honest.

“No choice. I haven't seen you in years. Why are you homeless? How did you get scarred like that? Is it something to do with Tate?”

"...Well, the fact that you're asking me that proves he hasn't changed. I was hoping perhaps things had improved. Oh dear."

“Come on, help me out here! I've been going crazy thinking about all this. Raya and I want to know the truth.”

“How is she?”

“Not bad, considering... There was a house fire and she got burned. But she's grown up to be a great person. I've done my best to protect her.”

“I'm sorry to hear about the fire. I'm glad you've been there for her, though. You always did dote on her, even as a small child.”

“Yeah... Well, Ellis is a single dad now and Tate remarried and had triplets. That's the short version. Now stop changing the subject and give me some bloody answers.”

“Ugh. Fine.”

“A man set up a camera and sent the feed back to Tate. He cut me up to try and blackmail him into giving him his money back. Your father is a heartless bastard and he didn't give a damn. He just switched off the computer and went on his merry fucking way.”

“Fucking hell! Even for him, that's...'

'I know. You don't need to say anything.'

'...S-So was this the same person who attacked Tate?”

“Yes. He used me as bait... Tate was his real target all along.”

"You said Tate owed him money... I know Tate used Olivia's money to pay him back. That's why she still lives with us, even now Tate's remarried."

"Ah... I didn't know that."

“I know more than people give me credit for. They think I'm some stupid angry kid, that I only care about myself. That's not true. Yeah, I'm kinda messed up, but I want to find out why this family is so screwed up. And it starts with finding out why that money belonged to that man, and why Tate had it. And also why she helped him out.”

“Oh, Aria... you're not going to like any of the answers. It's all so incredibly disgusting... You shouldn't be exposed to this.”

“I have to know the truth. I'm an adult now; I can handle it.”

“I'm not going to be the one to tell you. At least, not today. It's too painful for me. You can see how much of a disaster my situation is...”

“Let me help you out. I'll find somewhere for us to live! You and I, we're victims of all this. Maybe I can put this right.”

“You'd really do that?”

“Of course!”

"I'm not how you remember me, you know..."

"I don't care! I'm just glad to have you back!"

“...Aww... Okay. I'll give you his name. He's called Miles Atwood.”

“Atwood? So he is related to me... What's the relation?”

“Your other uncle. Your mother's half brother. Olivia's stepson.”

“Wait. Sheri had a brother? In all this time, nobody ever thought to tell me?"

"Honestly, you're better off not knowing about him..."

"Looks like I'll be asking Olivia. Look, I'd better go. I am going to be in so much fucking trouble...”

“Okay. Be careful, Aria.”

“Yeah, I will. I'll be back!”