CHAPTER 1

I sit staring at the clock on the wall. I'm anxious and cannot wait to get out of here.

"Mrs. Fitzgerald," I look up to see a young guy approaching my mom. My mom stands up and reaches a hand out to him. "I'm Joseph Gianni. I'm covering Mark's hearing today." Who the hell is this guy? "Mr. Rhodes extends his apologies but he got called away to a more pressing case you see." I see him turn to me and reach out his hand, "Mark, I presume?"

I don't return the gesture nor do I answer him. I just sit with my arms crossed in front of me. The only though I have is this Abercombie and Fitch model is my lawyer? He looks like the jackasses that I go to school with or well went to school with.

He takes his hand back, "Right, ok, well I reviewed the case with Mr. Rhodes and he informed me that Mark's going to agree to all the stipulations that are being laid out, correct?."

My mother looked down at me. Disappointment written all over her face. "Yes, that is what he had discussed with Mr. Rhodes. Mark's agreed to 90 days of house arrest as Mr. Rhodes discussed with him to carry out the rest of his sentence and then he will agree to any other stipulations that are laid out for him. Right honey?"

I shrug, "Sure, can we just this over with? I can't wait to get out of juvie just to be stuck in a two bedroom apartment every day." I roll my eyes.

"Great, well, then this hearing should be a quick and rather painless." He smiled. He looked like he'd been plucked off of a runway. I hate pretty boys. I hated him.

Two hours later, I'm sitting in front of the TV in my mom's penthouse that overlooks the city.

She walks out of her bedroom and barely looks at me, "Ok well I'm headed over to Degrassi to see what we can do about your schooling. I'm hoping they'll be willing to send someone over to help you. God knows I really don't have the time to work with you to keep up with your studies, but who knows, they are probably so glad to be rid of you…"

"Really mom? Do you really have to continue berating me?" I interrupt her. "Like I haven't heard this how many times over the last few months. I get it I screwed up, ok? How much longer are you going to hold it against me?"

She sighs and I see the disappointment wash over her face again, "I just don't understand what happened to you. You used to be such a good kid, Mark."

"Was I? That must have been before you bounced on me and Dad and seemed to forget you had a son!" I yelled. I got up from the couch and went to my room, slamming the door behind me. I hated her just like I hated everyone.