[Lily's POV]

Auntie Ryan's shop is pretty cool.

Its full of a lot of weird stuff and bunch of creepy antiques and even some taxidermy animals and jars for of freaky stuff.

I should consider getting a job here once I start high school.

"Well, what do you think??" Uncle Balz asked as I looked around.

"This looked sick," I said, then spotted something on a shelf and grabbed a cool looking knife with weird engravings.

"Cool," I said, about to poke the top.

"Careful, now. That has a vial full of rattlesnake venom at the handle," Auntie Ryan said, taking it and putting it back in its holster. "And is only for displaying purposes now."

"Wicked," I said as she put it back.

"Speaking of knife, I remember TJ calling you Blade at the hospital. Want to explain??" Uncle Balz asked.

I then explained how I joined an LA gang, and was good using a switch blade, so I earned the name 'Blade' by how good I am at handling it. I also told them its from my self harming.

"Wow," Auntie Ryan said in disbelief.

"You shouldn't continue harming yourself, Lily... or Blade," he said.

"Whichever is fine, but I think I just wanna be Lily again," I said.

"Alright, well, like I said. Don't treat your skin like paper and cut it. Okay??" Uncle Balz said.

I smiled and nodded. "I'll try. I promise," I said.

Uncle Balz then hugged me, along with Auntie Ryan, and I hugged them back.

Its great to be back.

I hung around the store a bit when my uncle called me.

"Hey, Lily bug!!" he called. Only he and Uncle Ryan called my Lily Bug as a kid.

I can remember having nicknames like Lily Pad, LiL, Lily Onyx, and Bubba, and Snowy, since I loved Snow White a lot.

I still get those names, though, now that I'm back.

"Yeah??" I said walking in.

"You're dad's on Skype," he said.

I ran up and he then pulled onto my lap.

"Hey!" I said. "I can grab a chair."

"What?? Its been 10 years since you sat on my lap. Like it or not, you're still my little niece," he said, hugging me.

I pouted and then he dialed for a video chat on his laptop.

"Hey, guys," Dad said as soon as he answered the call.

"Hey, Daddy," I said.

"Hey, baby girl. enjoying your visit to Strange & Unusual??" he asked.

"Its really cool," I said. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too. But on the bright side, your mom's in jail, and your "siblings" are going to foster care," he said.

"Seriously??" I said, surprised.

"I say celebration!!" Uncle Balz called out.

"Yup. Oh, and I met a certain Keirana... She packs a punch," he said, putting an ice pack on his head.

"She hurt you?!" I asked angry. That blonde bitch.

"No. She just didn't want to leave. It took 4 guys to get her in a car," he said.

I gave a 'yikes' look. "Are you okay??" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright, baby girl," he smiled. "I'll be home this weekend after I deal with some stuff and then some great news. Kay??" he said.

"Okay," I said.

"Alright, gotta go. Balz, take care of my princess while I'm gone," Balz said.

"Gotcha!" Uncle Balz said.

"Bye, Dad!!" I said.

"Bye, Lily," he smiled and then the call ended.

Balz gave me a big bear hug and poked my side, making me jump and squeak and him laugh.

I smacked his shoulder and ran over to where Auntie Ryan was.

"At what time... Yeah, sure, I can do it... Okay, later," she said, hanging up.

"Who was that??" I asked.

"A client. I'm a tattoo artist, too," she said.

"Cool," I said. "I actually got 2 tattoos," I said.

"Seriously?? But you're 14," she said.

"I had my sources. Wanna see??" I asked.

"Sure," she said.

I lifted the side of my shirt and showed her the Gothic Snow White tattoo on my side.

"Wow, that's awesome! What about the other one??" she asked.

I lift the leg of my jeans and show her the swirly Chris tattoo I got for my dad.

"That's so sweet," she said. "You know, if I can convince your dad, I can get you a tattoo," she said. "Does he know about those??"

"That would be awesome. And not really," I said.

"Great. I'll let you know when. And wow. Might as well let him know," she said.

I smiled and nodded.

I love my unique family.

~~~~~~~

Josh Balz + Ryan Ashley ---->>>>>

Lily's Snow White tattoo design on the external link----->>>