A Different Kind Of Dysfunction - A Shameless Fanfiction (Book One)

Blows and bruises

Tessa screamed, jumping between them. "Stop it! Leave her alone!"

Sylvia grabbed Tessa by the wrist and shoved her hard onto the couch.

Tessa hit the cushions with a muffled sob, scrambling up to protect Lily again.

Rory lunged forward, but Leah grabbed his arm, hissing, "Don’t — she’ll call the cops."

Sylvia stood there, breathing hard, fists clenched at her sides.

"You think you’re grown?" she spat at Lily. "You think you can talk to me like that in my own house?"

"This isn’t your house," Lily said through gritted teeth, tears burning her eyes. "It’s ours. You just live here."

Sylvia let out a wild, bitter laugh — like Lily was the crazy one.

"You think you can survive without me?" Sylvia sneered. "You little bitches would be dead without me."

Lily wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and stared at her.

"We’re already dead," she whispered.

Sylvia stared back at her for a long moment — then stumbled back into the bedroom and slammed the door hard enough that a framed picture fell off the wall.

The kids sat frozen for a long, horrible second.

Then Rory dropped into the broken armchair, scrubbing his hands over his face.

Leah crouched next to Tessa, checking her for bruises.

Tessa shook her head quickly. "I’m fine," she whispered. "I’m fine."

Lily stood there, trembling, adrenaline making her skin feel too tight.

Alyssa crept over silently, her doll dragging behind her, and wrapped her arms around Lily’s waist.

Lily hugged her back tightly, her hand trembling against Alyssa’s hair.

"I’m sorry," Lily whispered. "I’m sorry."

"You didn’t do anything wrong," Tessa said fiercely, standing up.

Lily met her twin’s eyes — so wide and full of tears, but burning with something stronger underneath.

Tessa wasn’t angry often.

But when she was?

It mattered.

"I had to," Lily said, voice breaking.

"I know," Tessa said, grabbing her hand.

"We’re not scared of her anymore," Lily said.
It came out shaky, but real.

Tessa squeezed her hand hard. "Never again."

And maybe they were lying to themselves.
Maybe the fear would creep back in tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that.

But right now?

Right now, Lily believed it.

They weren’t scared anymore.

And that changed everything.

---

When Adeline got home two hours later, she immediately knew something was wrong.

The house was too quiet.

Not peaceful — tense.

She dropped her backpack by the door and spotted Leah first, sitting stiffly at the kitchen table, coloring in a frayed notebook without looking up.

"Where’s everyone else?" Adeline asked carefully.

Leah shrugged without answering.

Adeline’s stomach twisted.

She found Rory pacing in the hallway, bruises blooming purple on his forearms — defensive bruises.

Tessa was lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, eyes glassy.

Alyssa was curled into Lily’s side.

And Lily —

Adeline sucked in a sharp breath.

The side of Lily’s face was swollen red and starting to purple around the edges.

"What happened?" Adeline demanded.

Nobody answered.

Lily didn’t even blink.

Adeline crouched down in front of her carefully. "Lily. Please."

Lily’s voice was flat when she finally spoke.

"I fought back."

Adeline closed her eyes for a second, fighting tears.

Not because Lily fought back.

But because she knew what it meant.

Sylvia had crossed a line she couldn’t uncross.

And now — now, none of them could pretend anymore.

The war wasn't coming.

It was already here.

---

Later, after the kids were fed and Alyssa was asleep, Adeline stood in the hallway, staring at Sylvia’s closed bedroom door.

Hating her.

Hating herself for letting it happen.

She made herself a promise.

Next time Sylvia came for them?

Adeline would be ready.

She wouldn’t just stand there.

She wouldn’t just survive.

She would fight back.

Because the Whitmans weren’t just kids anymore.

They were a goddamn army.

And they were done losing.

[Word count total: ~1,087 words]