This was the last time I told myself over and over I can finally leave my abusive, alcoholic, useless father for good.

I grabbed my tatter dark blue backpack and yanked open the top zipper I grabbed what few pair of clothes I owned and shoved them into my bag along with my hairbrush, my Ipod that I got as a hand me down from a ex-friend I had years ago and my way to often necessary concealer.

I slipped on my worn out converse sneakers and for the first time during my packing I tried to actually be silent I slid open my window with a long high pitched screech trying to announce my plans for escape I curled my fingers gently around the screen and with one swift motion I popped it out of place and pulled into into my room with a thin layer of dust it brought with it lingered in the light of the doorway to my salvation.

I put one foot outside of the window and looked down at the two story jump, sure it might hurt a bit but I would be out of here for good my older brother Ari finally got his own place and said anytime I wanted I could come live with him because he knew that daddy hit me he had been there for many years of our back and forth daily fights but at 14 he left and never came back but he made sure to stay in contact and now he was 18 and had his own house.

I mean sure it might not be a huge mansion with my own bathroom but I had thought about just living out of a cardboard box many times so I had no problem just leaving this life behind for good, but I even knew in the back of my mind that it was naive to think that, I was only 16 I had to hope Ari could take care of me for 2 more years and he's not known for being consistent or planning ahead but it was better then what I had here.

I picked up my second foot to swing it out the window then I was plunged backwards by a forceful hand dragging me back into the hell I was trying so desperately to escape.

"Let me go you ugly bastard!" I screamed flailing wildly trying to grab anything we passed by to get me out of his malicious grasp that I knew would only cause pain.

He stood at the top of the stairs and held me up into a standing position "Pathetic" he spit out in disdain and punched me right in my eye as I was launched backwards down the stairs my backpack still in my grasp I land on the bottom step with a thud I feel my leg bend awkwardly behind me but I don't feel a snap so there has been some mercy so far I look up slowly at the top of the stairs I see my father Jeb swaying as he puts the beer bottle he was dangling loosely in his left hand to his parched lips he takes a big gulp but he does not look refreshed but more dehydrated then before.

I struggled to my feet and stumbling to get my footing with my ankle feeling like it was bashed in with a heavy rock but I fought through it and sprinted to the front door half dragging my sore foot behind me I ripped the door open as he reached the bottom stair I ran out into the blessed daylight where not even he dare to touch me but I kept running letting my dirty blonde hair whip behind me every step my converse hit the ground it upturned a little cloud of dry dust to leave behind me along with all my suffering, this was me turning my new leaf.

I had no problem walking, in fact I preferred it but Ari lived on the other side of town which wasn't a huge town but definitely not small and with my messed up ankle exploding in flames every step I took the sun was starting to set and the temperature was dropping dramatically but I just kept limping watching my breath come out in little puffs of smoke and drift upward to disappear drifting into the heavens above.

The moon was high in the sky if I had to guess I would say it was about 11 p.m. before I started to see his house come into view all lights on and music loud I shook my head slowly but chuckled at least their neighbors weren't super close to them I was finally standing on his front porch I rang the door bell and waited and waited ... and waited, now I don't know about you but i'm not known for my patience, so I let myself in.

It wasn't much to look at but it was homey, there were an awful lot of shoes laying around well he must have company that explains the loud music I heard blaring through the walls it sounded like the source was the basement so I helped myself to the kitchen, I would say hello later i'm not good with people anyway I rummaged through the fridge and found enough materials to make a bomb ass sandwich so as I was inhaling my second one still standing in the fridge door way letting the pale yellow light cascade over the white walls allowing shadows to dance playfully in the dark.

As I finished demolishing my sandwich I licked my fingers greedy for liquid I turned to the sink leaving the fridge open to light my way I didn't want to turn on more lights, I didn't know what his electric bill already was I turned on the water and dove my head under the faucet to take in gulps like a savage who didn't know how to use a proper cup.

"You know there's cups right?" came a deep voice from the shadows I didn't recognize I turned to fast I fell on my butt and looked up agitated and crabby from how long my day has already been so excuse me if I wasn't exactly polite to the talking shadow "Yeah, just felt like getting it straight from the source there a problem with that?" I snapped then the light turned on and I saw it was a man about my age dressed in all black as his raven colored hair dropped in front of his deep, deep brown eyes.

"You always so polite after you break into someones house and raid their kitchen?" he asked while raising an eyebrow and putting his hands on his hips he looked down at me but I could see little gold flecks in his eyes dancing playfully almost excited for the banter.

"Hey Fang you find out what that noise you heard was?" now that voice I recognized, Ari stepped into the kitchen he saw me and he turned shocked then it became pissed "What the Fuck Fang?" Ari shoved Fang hard but Fang just raised an eyebrow in response then I realized how this looked I was on the floor still with what i'm amusing is now a shiny black eye and a messed up ankle with this Fang fellow over me .

I scramble to my feet and limp between Ari and Fang I wrapped my arms around Ari in a bone crushing huge and whispered "It wasn't him, I just got here and he walked in so I got startled and fell." I felt Ari slowly relax his muscles and looked down at me since I stood about 2 feet shorter then him he let a smile creep across his face then he tousled my hair, like I hate, and looked up to Fang "Hey man i'm really sorry about that, this here is my lil sis Max."

He just nodded his hello to me I flicked my wrist in a short wave above my head as a response "Well come meet the rest of the band!" he shouted excitedly "Psshh you're in a band?!" he winked at me and grabbed my hand pulling me towards the basement door they both came out of I followed behind but my limp was getting worse so I slowed us down but he knew better then to ask about it.

As I came into view at the bottom of the stairs it became quite then a short mocha colored girl bounced up to me and grabbed my hand shaking it up and down excitedly "Hi i'm Nudge I play the violin in the band, I mean I know its not a common instrument but I really am good I promise. I think it's just what this band needs though to stand out I mean think about it, there can only be so many guitar players and drummers but violin in a rock band I mean come on, it screams individuality and notice us, right?"

I looked at her trying to process if she wanted me to answer or if she just wanted to be told she was contributing. "Umm yeah I think it's great." I smoothly recovered, her smile beamed at me indicating my answer was satisfactory "Well you've meet Nudge" Ari said with a nervous laugh rubbing the back of his head "Yeah she's a real chatter box, but an excellent addition to the band, now for the rest!" he exclaimed excitedly sweeping a wide arm out motioning to several more rag tag members in front of him who he started to group up gawking at me like I was an animal on display it made my skin crawl with the sudden attention.

"Well this here is Iggy our pianist." Iggy waved at me "delicate fingers." he said wiggling his fingers like he was playing an imaginary piano in the air in front of him. His blonde hair hung straight down in front of his pale blue eyes, he was rather tall about a foot taller then me. "This is Angel our back up singer." She looked the youngest but not by much she smiled shyly at me I couldn't help but to smile back she had long bright blonde hair down to the bottom of her back in graceful waves.

"This is Gazzy our drummer." Gazzy crossed his arms in front of him and gave me a head nod as if to say'whats up' his hair was the same color as Angel but his hair was buzzed short around the edges and longer in the front. "You've met Fang our guitar player." I saw Mr. tall and dark walk over and lean against a wall nonchalantly a little ways away from everybody. "And then we have our lead singer Lissa." I singled her out by the fact she was the last one there but she didn't greet me or wave to indicate who she was, I could tell we were gonna just be the best of friends. (Insert eye roll here)

"And last but not least me, I play a little back up guitar and sing the male lead." I had no clue Ari could sing but it has been years since I have seen him, if I missed him I normally just called when Jeb went to work but I haven't seen him in person since he left home.

"Nice to meet you all I'm Max, just Max. So I was curious if I could crash here for a bit big bro I could just take the couch upstairs." "Of course you can stay but there's a room you can stay in that beats that old couch by a mile follow me." Ari turns away from his band and walk me upstairs again and down a long off white hallway, this needs a homey touch there's no pictures or anything to say who lives here as we got to the end of the hallway there was three doors we passed the first one that Ari pointed out was the bathroom and the one at the very end was his bedroom but the one in the middle was to be mine for now.

"Ok this is it I know its not much but its comfy I promise, I actually have this room in case any of my band mates need a place for a bit we all kinda have rough home lives that's why we all get along so well, so I hope you open up to them and trust them like I do." he smiled warmly at me "It's nice to see you again Max, I'll take care of you now I promise, life will be better." I felt myself actually wanting more then anything to believe his words, only time can tell I smiled back and he closed the door and left.

I looked around my new room, it was cozy there was one small dresser, a mattress on the ground and a door that opened to a cramped closet but it's not like I had things to put in there anyway. I looked longingly at the bed and decided to just hit the hay for now I'll unpack and get to know them tomorrow I laid down and he was right it was comfortable but a muggy smell clung to the fabric, I was gonna have to fix that tomorrow I thought as I drifted off to sleep hoping to have peaceful dreams now that I was safe.

Ari POV

I walked back down to my mates happier then I've been in a long time I finally get my baby sister to be with me and safe, away from the hell's of that home, I felt guilty for leaving her when we were young but that was in the past I can fix it now, make it up to her.

"So what was with her face?" snarled Lissa wasting no time on being her super optimistic self, but she was my girlfriend as well as a necessary member of our group so we all knew how to tolerate her "You guys remember I told you briefly about how my home was an abusive hell?" I asked gazing over all of them still bunched up together waiting for answers on my new guest "Well that's my baby sis and she just got out of there today so I'm gonna assume she might be skittish at first but she'll warm up to you guys soon enough."

"OMG do you think she will want to join the band? Can she play an instrument?" Nudge pried "Or sing?" Fang suggested glaring at Lissa "She use to play keyboard actually I can ask her tomorrow it would be a great way to make her feel welcome but for now just be nothing but nice to her, I swear to God if I hear of you guys hurting her you'r out got it?" I asked sending them my protective older brother glare daring them to oppose me but they all just smiled or shrugged and went back to tuning their instruments or in Lissa's case looking at her nails.

Disclaimer