Grievance: Episode 8

By Tetonia Blossom

Six Friends, Minus One Tragic Death, Equals A Senior Year Crissana High Will Never Forget.

Admiration always comes with a price. For THE SIX: Emmitt, Ellie, Hannah, Connor, Kristen, and Tristin, popularity in small town Crissana, Arizona came easy. The inseparable friends have been the envy of their classmates since third grade, and are expected to rule senior year as well. That is until Emmitt’s car is pushed over a cliff, with his twin sister, Ellie, asleep inside.

Now Ellie’s death is all anyone can talk about, while the remaining five begin senior year under an even brighter spotlight. Emmitt hasn’t been seen since the funeral. All eyes are on Kristen as she assumes the role of student body president. Connor has his hands full with an imploding relationship, while Tristin is questioning her sexuality, for the second time. At the center of it all is Hannah, whose boyfriend caused the accident. Everyone’s questioning why she continues to stand by him, especially her friends, and it’s Dax’s job, as Crissana’s anonymous Sun Vlogger, to find the answer.

Grievance explores tragedy, heartbreak, and the unexpected obstacles which can lead you to question who you are or hope to be. The story follows six young characters as they deal with mature situations, including domestic abuse, sexual identity, promiscuity, mental health, and religious beliefs in today’s high school setting. Grievance is a story of hope, honesty, and the power of true friendship—ones you know will last a lifetime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tetonia Blossom
• Release date: Dec 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310683794

Tetonia Blossom

Tetonia Blossom graduated from the California State University, Northridge’s School of Cinema, Television, and Arts where she discovered that day dreaming could actually be a career. She’s a soon to be Sims 4 addict who enjoys popcorn for dinner and spends way too much time with her imaginary friends. In her opinion, a story worth writing has to contain the 3 H’s: Humor, Heat, and Honest Heroines. She lives in Maricopa, Arizona with her husband and rapidly growing hoard of romance and YA novels.Jingle My Way is her NaNoWriMo turned debut novel.For more information, please www.tromelblossom.com

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GRIEVANCE

Episode 8

Tetonia Blossom

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 Tetonia Blossom

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products or copyrighted material used throughout this work of fiction, including the following: Charlie’s Angels, Filpagram. CCC, ASU, Advil, Photoshop, Anna Wintor. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

For information please visit:

www.GrievanceSeries.com

Cover Art by Irene Zeleskou

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Sneak Peak: Episode 9

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It is our choices... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

— J. K. Rowling

Chapter One

Emmitt

Emmitt had been waiting all day to video chat with Tristin. It was way too windy for the thin jacket he was wearing, but after months of therapy sessions and supervised outings, he was happy to finally have some time to himself.

Where are you? Tristin asked.

Miracle Mile. I’m meeting my parents at this pizza place.

Are you sure it’s all right for you to be alone out there? What if you have another…attack?

Trist, I’m fine. I’ve been going out for weeks now.

Not alone.

I know and it’s well over do. Besides, I haven’t had an attack in almost two weeks.

When he first arrived, Emmitt couldn’t get through a single session without having an attack. He was convinced his therapist triggered them on purpose. Now that he’d gotten through those days he could appreciate the aggressive treatment. Emmitt told Dr. Yarner on day one that he wanted to get better as fast as possible so he could get back to his friends. It took another two weeks before he admitted Hannah was the real reason.

Facing Ellie’s death and reliving memories through photos, videos, and stories was hard for Emmitt and his parents at first. He never realized his condition was the reason his parents never mentioned Ellie. He’d just assumed it was their way of coping. The lowest point was when his dad broke down in tears. Emmitt couldn’t remember ever seeing him cry, not even during Ellie’s funeral.

If you don’t have attacks anymore, does that mean you can finally come home?

I’m not sure yet. We have a family session tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll say I’m okay to go home.

Do you think you’re ready? I mean really ready, not just hopeful.

Emmitt was nervous about going back to his room and if the attacks would come back, but he had to try. All he had to do was follow Dr. Yarner’s steps and he’d be all right. It was just a matter of his friends accepting the new Emmitt.

Yes, I’m ready.

Tristin grinned. Good, because I can’t wait for you to come home.

Why? What happened now?

Nothing, I just…miss you.

Wow, an honest answer without having to slap it out of you.

I take it back.

There’s the Trist I’ve been missing. So how are things? Emmitt grinned and Tristin rolled her eyes.

I don’t want to talk about it.

So you and Chelsea are still broken up?

We didn’t break up. We’re just on a break.

How is that different from what I said?

Break ups are final. Chelsea and I will get back together once I clear my head.

I wasn’t even aware it was still cloudy.

Look, you’re the one who has Brian trailing me every hour of the damn day. How am I supposed to forget about him when he’s everywhere?

Tristin, it’s been what…eight weeks, if your feelings for him haven’t dulled by now and you haven’t been able to scare him off, shouldn’t that tell you something?

No.

Look, I can’t help you if you refuse to accept the truth. You like him. It’s not that big of a deal.

Yes it is. It’s all I can freaking think about and I think it’s giving me an ulcer. I’m having all these crazy dreams and I can’t even sit in the cafeteria anymore without the urge to throw up.

If hanging out with Brian is affecting you this much, I’ll tell him to back off.

No, don’t!

Emmitt shook his head. Trist, I don’t know what you want me to say.

Don’t say anything. I told you I didn’t want to talk about it.

Emmitt could see the worry before she averted her eyes. The last time he’d seen that look was just before she came out to her parents. She was in the middle of an identity crisis and so was Emmitt. He had to accept the fact that he wasn’t a twin anymore. Maybe it was time for Tristin to accept the fact that she was bi-sexual. Dr. Yarner helped Emmitt realize that discovering his individuality didn’t negate the eighteen years he’d been a twin.

Re-building his life didn’t mean that Emmitt was betraying Ellie or moving on without her. A lot of his takeaways from his sessions were coming up with new ways to honor Ellie’s memory.

Tristin, it’s okay to like them both, he said and she sighed. Look, you did the right thing by taking a break from Chelsea. If you’re single, you’re free to follow your heart.

Try telling Chelsea that, she keeps threatening to come to Crissana and kick Brian’s ass.

Does he know?

No.

Trist, you know Chelsea. Don’t you think you should warn him?

No and you better not say anything. I don’t want him thinking I broke up with Chelsea because of him.

But that’s exactly what you did.

No I didn’t. Besides, he doesn’t like me like that and I don’t want him too.

Sure you don’t.

Emmitt never expected Brian to last this long with Tristin, but he knew it wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart or the promise he’d made Emmitt. Brian refused to admit it, but he liked Tristin too. Emmitt wished he could say that all he cared about was Tristin’s happiness, but he also had Kristen to worry about. With her crazy schedule, he was forced to catch up with her via text and all she ever wrote was that she was doing great.

How’s Kristen?

You mean super girl? She’s taking on too much as usual. I’m waiting for her to get out of Homecoming committee so we can head over to Hannah’s.

I thought you said your wrist was healed.

It is.

And you two are still riding to school together?

So? What’s wrong with that?

Nothing, it’s great actually. It means a lot to me to see you two getting along. Ellie would be speechless if she saw this.

Tristin met his eyes, hers slightly uncomfortable.

It’s part of my treatment, Emmitt confided. I spent a lot of time burying my thoughts of her and my therapist says that I need to not be afraid of mentioning her name. I know it’s kind of weird.

No, it’s not. I’m sorry I just haven’t heard you talk about her in a long time.

I know, but you’ll be hearing a lot more when I get back.

"Emmitt, I’m willing to talk about