A/N: Well, I just happened to notice that there are not enough fics describing Sabrina as a character, and I'd just like to really look into that, especially because there are so many on Chloe. Also, I really like the idea of Sabrina and Max. Hopefully you enjoy this one!

By the way, this is something of an AU when Sabrina meets Chloe in Year 9. It doesn't change the events that happen, it's just a little thing I missed. Shout out to yellow14 for pointing out my mistake.

Disclaimer: MLB and all its characters would be wrapped in warm blankets and be given food while most pairings become canon by now if this were mine. So no.

Sabrina hadn't always been a meek voice to be stomped on. She used to love learning, love her classmates, love being faced with a challenge, and when she solved that challenge, she loved the surge of confidence she got. She loved breathing in life and everything it had to offer. Until her life was mounted for a downward spiral.

In fifth grade, there came a fateful day that would start the pattern of events that would weigh down on her enough to deform her spirit into something unrecognizable. This was the day she last saw her mother.

The room that should have felt more open was cramped and crushing with all the beeping machines. The white of the walls looked more like gray as they were stained by the terrible sadness felt by those who inhabited it. Though this was not just any Hospital room. This was room 27B.

A little Sabrina Raincomprix was excited to see her mother after a wonderful day at school. She had received not one, but two good tests back, and she made a new friend who liked school as much as she did. His name was Max, and she didn't know it yet, but they would later become study partners, go-to people for help, and overall inseparable.

She was bouncing in her seat to tell her sunshine of a mother all about it. Her father in the driver's seat in front of her had already heard the story and had a gentle smile on his face. For he knew the truth, but wanted to prolong his little daughter's excitement just a little longer.

All Roger Raincomprix felt was terror for what he was supposed to do now. Sabrina was going to have questions he wouldn't know how to answer, he was going to have to see that smile of hers grow dimmer, and worst of all, he feared that she would come to resent him or blame him for what would inevitably happen to her mother; but for now, he smiled and relished the moment of happiness from his daughter that was almost contagious.

They reached the towering building in less time than Roger would have liked and more time than Sabrina hoped. The nurse with her surprisingly genuine smile led them through the maze of hallways and as they reached room 27B, they were told to wait outside for a moment until they were told to go in.

Claire Raincomprix used to be radiant in her beauty. Red hair that glowed in the sun, a bright laugh that could brighten any storm, and most of all, the most comforting hugs, the ability to listen, and how her eyes would sadden whenever she saw a loved one sad and how she couldn't stand to see them hurt. No matter what, she could be counted on to come through. This would be the first time she wouldn't. And even though Sabrina's innocent eyes refused to see the dark circles under her eyes, her hair darkened by sweat, the paleness of her skin and the lackluster of her eyes, they all knew it; and even though no one dared to accept the unjust end to something so beautiful, she had taken the bitter pill like a soldier. Sabrina wasn't stupid. She knew that her father was trying to make her feel better, but she understood that her maman was going away. And she was not coming back.

When the pair entered the room, she looked up from her lap and her red eyes immediately brightened. She slowly pushed herself up as Sabrina ran to the bedside with a cheerful "Maman!"

"Cherie! How was your day?" She said in a way that could have fooled anyone into thinking everything was okay.

"I got a 98 on my Maths test, and a 100 on my Spelling quiz! Oh! And I made a new friend today!" She listed proudly.

"Oh my, that's wonderful! I would expect nothing less from you cherie." She replied reaching up to stroke her hair after bopping her on he nose. At that moment, Roger approached them.

"How are you feeling today?" He asked quietly. He knew if he spoke any louder, his voice would start to shake and Claire made it very clear that she did not want that. Claire paused for a moment, thinking on her answer. One learns to do that when they appreciate the meaning of the words "well", "good", and "fine".

"At peace." She said, and Roger believed her. She was about to say something else, but her eyes focused on somewhere else, her expression turned to one of shock, and she slowly laid back down on the bed. Her warm expression turned stony.

"Sabrina, Roger, I want you to listen to me." And no one fails to comply to this command.

"I love you both so much and that will never change. Even when you don't see me anymore, I will. Always and always and always. I ask only one thing of you two." Her eyes begin to water at this.

"Be happy. Do what makes you happy, and disregard what anyone says about what makes you happy." She paused to catch her breath and struggled to smile again. She spoke quietly in the silent room, resting her head on the pillow. A single tear dropped from her right eye as she put in one last effort, draining her remaining energy, to say one more thing.

"I love you" came the shaky whisper, and her strength gave out. Her eyes closed gently as she felt a white light enveloping her as her soul began to slide.

It had been said before, but this one held a different meaning than the last. Goodbye. I'm going to miss you as much as you're going to miss me.

Her father was an excellent support system, no one could deny that Roger Raincomprix was there to cry and talk with his girl. But there were certain questions that he couldn't answer though he tried. Oh goodness, he tried. He just couldn't replace the empty space that had been left when Claire… He refused to even conceive the idea of a light so bright to be out.

Max also helped. By this time, he could tell that something was off with his friend, and he asked about it once, but she paused for a moment, and quickly said she was fine. Deciding not to push, Mx did his best to cheer is friend up the only way he knew how: by fanboying about the topics discussed in class just like they always did, of course.

Sixth grade was just starting and Sabrina had closed herself off a little bit from her father and everyone else during this time. Max had recently moved away with a tearful goodbye, and it was just harder to connect with everyone who just didn't know how she felt. She just couldn't relate to them anymore. In short, she had forgotten how to trust.

Though now that Max was gone, the other kids didn't like that Sabrina dressed different and how confidently she spoke in class, and wanted to bring her down a notch. So every day, just enough that it would hurt, but ambiguous enough to lack proof of bullying. A sly comment here and there, a snicker behind her after she heard her name, and she always sat alone. The thing is that by eighth grade, when people asked her what was wrong, she would say "nothing" because she was so used to it that it was considered normal for her. And her father was concerned.

By the time ninth grade rolled around, she was at the top of her class, and her and her father had to move to a different part of the city because of work. Lycee Francois Dupont was where she would be enrolled. Her heart sped up in excitement as she heard Max's name on the list during her first roll-call, as she would finally get to see her best friend of old again, but her hope was short-lived as the girl beside her commented on her turquoise shorts and how they were a fashion atrocity; and thus, she met Chloe.

See, when a human being is exposed to something that clearly has negative effects for an extended period of time, they don't only see it as normal, they become addicted to it. So she was initially repulsed by Chloe's demeanor, but subconsciously gravitated towards it because it was familiar.

On top of that, her classes were starting to teach things she didn't understand as quickly as normal. Being the overachiever she is, she worked at it harder and harder, but she just couldn't grasp it. When her first test came back and she saw a red 56 on it, she got up and took it as a sign to work harder, and threw herself into her schoolwork even more. She was not improving like she wanted to, and this took a toll on her.

Why can't I grasp it? I've been able to before.

What's going on with me? All the other kids get it.

I've been working harder, so WHY isn't it WORKING?!

Work harder, deadlines are coming closer… My average is suffering…

This is what defines me! What do I have if not my genius?!

What would maman think? Oh I miss her so.

This was the war waged on her mind when she was alone. Not that Chloe helped much. The extra homework provided a way to occupy her mind. A twisted route to escape from a sadness that was pent up and needed to be released. Then she started letting it out, just not in the way one might suggest. The light within her had gone out, leaving only glowing embers behind by the time she reached tenth grade.

Sabrina used to be this kind, genius who was not afraid of what other people thought. No one remembered that Sabrina. No one except one person. The only one who cared enough to know that something was wrong within those uncharacteristic snarky remarks and do something about it. Max remembered; and he wanted the bright girl he used to share his excitement of school with back. And he was just about to get his chance.

A/N: There's what I think happened in Sabrina's life before she met Chloe (which I totally forgot was in Year 2, but *shrugs* I'm going to ignore that bit of the canon) And even though her father is great, I feel like the fact that she's a valuable human being hasn't sunk in yet. Thanks for reading!

- rainbowrider 1290