I looked around nervously as I made my way home from Tyson's house. It was dark out and the street lights ended at the end of the street. I jumped when she saw a shadow move across the road. I changed my path and went down the nearest alley, picking up my pace. 'Relax Hil. It's probably the wind," I told myself as my shoes made clopping sounds in the puddles on the ground.

Suddenly, I heard a noise. My head whipped around furiously as I looked at see a person walking towards me. I didn't hesitate. As soon as I was around the corner, I took off at a dead run to my house. Around one corner, then another, then another. When I was sure the person was gone I stopped and bent over, my hands on my knees, panting. I turned around. The person was gone. I turned back onto my course only to jump as I bumped into a figure in front of me.

I winced in pain as I was thrown against the wall and my head banged on the hard brick. "Hey! Who the hell do you think you are?" I protested angrily to the person who pushed me. The person stepped into the light. I gasped. "A-alex?" I stammered. He smirked.

"Hey Babe, miss me?" He asked as he moved closed.

"What are you doing here, Alex?" I asked as I backed away slowly.

"Oh come on Hil, no friendly hello for you boyfriend?" He questioned as he took my arms in his hands.

"Ex-boyfriend you mean," I responded coldly. He growled and pushed me up against the wall.

"I don't know what you mean," He said cooly as he leant down for a kiss.

"Get away from me!" I yelled as I pushed him away from me. He grabbed me harder this time and pushed me into a nearby dumpster. He pressed against me.

"Baby, I'll always be here and I don't know what you mean by ex-boyfriend because this relationship isn't over until I say it is," He said calmly. I glared at him with hatred.

"You try to make me a prostitute for your little gang and think I still want to be with you?" I questioned in anger.

"Hey, you said you'd do it," He said as he squeezed my arms harder. I flinched.

"After you threatened me that you'd hurt my friends," I practically screamed. He smirked.

"I never got the chance, did I?" His eyes darkened. "Not after the cops got us that is." He smiled. "But jueuvie was a breeze. Pretend you're all better and they let you out on good behavior." I gasped.

"Alex, I swear if you ever do anything to the bladebre-"

"You'll what?" He cut me off. "Face it Hil, you'll always be my girl. If they knew about your past they wouldn't want to be your friends anymore." I looked down because I knew it was true. "Come on Baby," He held his hand out to me. "Come back to me." I looked at the extended hand, then at his face.

"No," I screamed as I ran down the alley. When I reached the light, I collided into another figure. I fell onto the pavement with a thud. I looked down panting, mainly because I didn't want to see who I had bumped into.

"Hilary?" A farmiliar voice questioned. I looked up into the golden eyes of Mariah.

I sighed. "Oh Mariah, it's you." I said placing my hand on my chest. She looked around. "Who else would it be?"

"No one," I said quickly. It was silent for a moment. "So, um where are you going?" I asked quietly.

"I was just on my way home," She said looking at the road ahead of her. (A/N: In this story the white tigers moved to Japan.)

"Oh, umm do you want to sleep over tonight?" I asked pleading she would say yes.

"Sure!" She said excitedly. I let out a sigh of relief and got up off the ground brushing myself off. "I'll have to call Lee and the others when we get to your house, though.

"Yeah," I said nervously as I glanced back into the alley. No one was there. I turned back to the road.

(Back at Hilary's)

I pulled the keys out of the door and walked into the apartment with Mariah trailing behind me. "Hey Hil, can I use your phone now?" She asked as she closed the door behind us.

"Yeah," I said as I went into the kitchen, only to see a present on the counter. I eyed it warily and read the tag.

"Happy Birthday Hil, Sorry but I won't be able to see you tomorrow. Working all day. Hope this makes up for it. Love Always, Jake" I smiled at the tag.

"Who's that from?" Mariah asked as she appeared over my shoulder.

"My older brother," I responded quietly.

"It's your birthday?" She asked reading the tag.

"Tomorrow," I answered simply.

"Um, Hil, I need to go to the bathroom," She said.

"Umm, it's down the hall and to the left." I said taking off the bow on the box. She left the room. I peeled the wrapping off the present, to reveal a small box. Inside was a small jewelery box with the name Hialry engraved into it. I smiled at it and hugged it into my chest. Mariah walked back in.

"So, Hil. Where are your parents?" Mariah asked as she leaned against the counters. It was quiet for a minute.

"They died when I was eight," I said quietly.

"Oh God, Sorry," She said looking down.

"It's ok," I said looking down also. "But hey, didn't I ask you to sleep over?" I asked brightening up. "Come on!" I said grabbing her wrist and pulling her into my room. That night's events were drowned out by loud pop music and the distinct smell of acetone. (A/N: For all those who don't know, acetone is the main ingredient in nail polish remover, but I couldn't find the most active ingredient in real nail polish so you're gonna hafta deal.)

Umm, yeah this is my first fic, so I hope ya like.