"We think we've climbed so high

Up all the backs we've condemned

We face no consequence

This is the beginning of the end."

- Nine Inch Nails

She stands there looking so out of place; she doesn't feel comfortable. Everyone seems to know each other, and she obviously sticks out like a sore thumb. Earlier in the day, she tried in vain to get her parents to change their mind; they were dead set on her meeting some of her new classmates. As much as she hates to admit it, she's changed. She was born in America, but the second she turned one, her parents shipped her off to England to teach her some manners. Now, she's thirteen and as graceful as ever, but she doesn't even know how to act in the States anymore. Are you supposed to greet everyone? Are you supposed to talk at the dinner table or wait your turn? Do you excuse yourself or just get up and leave?

A tap on her shoulder nearly makes her jump into the air and scream in fright, almost upsetting the glass in her hand. "Jesus Christ," she mutters and then realizes what she's said; when they were in the cathedral in London, the priest taught them to never use the Lord's name in vain. She fingers her cross necklace before turning around to face the person that touched her. "What was that for?" It comes out rather harshly and the blonde girl standing before her backs away a little.

"That came out wrong, I'm so sorry. My name's Massie, it's nice to meet you." She holds out her hand to shake the other girl's own, but she pulls her into a hug.

"We don't do hugs! Well, I don't do hugs. My name's Claire, by the way. I was on the lookout for you; your mom told me that you'd be standing here."

"Why did she tell you that?"

"Hasn't she told you? Oh, wait, that's me. My parents are the one's that your mom and dad will work for; I'm Claire Harrington. Actually, I used to be Claire Lyons, but when my dad passed away and when Derrick's mom passed away, Derrick and I were best friends so our parents got married."

"That's interesting." Massie racks her brain for words to say. What do you say to someone who has lost their father?

Seeing the confused look on her face, Claire throws her arm around Massie's shoulders and smiles. "You don't need to say anything. It's fine." She frowns for a few seconds before smiling again. "Let's go upstairs, I want you to meet my brother."

"Your brother is Derrick, I presume?" Massie asks as she and Claire ascend the huge stairs, all her nervousness somehow forgotten.

"Yes, it is. He's a jerk sometimes, but most of the time, he's nice. He's really into soccer, so if he starts talking about it, just nod and smile. It works every time."

"What works every time?" Derrick's voice startles Massie and for the second time this night, she's ready to scream. "Were you talking about me, Claire?"

She smiles up at him. "I most definitely was not. Anyway, Derrick, here she is. This is Massie, the girl that Mom and Dad were telling us about."

"Massie, huh?" He lifts an eyebrow. "What a pretty name to match a pretty girl."

Massie feels herself blush. "He's also a self-named player," Claire states firmly, staring Derrick in the eyes.

"I am not," he scoffs, winking at Massie. "I haven't dated every girl in the school."

"Haven't you dated every girl in the grade?"

"I haven't. Okay, maybe I have..."

Mass watches as they bicker back and forth. She's always wanted a sibling to fight with. And, to her, it's obvious that if they weren't brother and sister by marriage, they would definitely go out. Claire mentioned before that they were best friends before they became brother and sister. That is definitely easy to believe.

"Shut up," Claire says with finality. "Massie, let's go, I want to show you to your room."

She walks off, beckoning for Mass to follow her. She's bossy, but she isn't self-centered. It's nice. "Oh, and by the way," Derrick says, leaning into Massie's ears, his lips grazing her earlobe, "I totally dig chicks with accents." He winks one more time and pushes Massie in the direction of Claire, making her almost collide into Claire's back.

Claire grips Massie's hand firmly and pulls her along the hallway, passing several different rooms until, finally, they reach a door that's been painted dark purple. Massie loves the room already, even though she's never seen it. Claire pushes the door open and Massie walks into it. It looks exactly like her purple and green room back in London, except most of the regular furniture has been replaced with puzzle piece furniture.

She snaps out if her dreamy daze and notices Claire seated on one of the two beds. Two beds… "Are we going to be sharing a room?" Massie asks, sitting on the other bed.

"No, my room is just across from yours. This room actually used to be the guest room, where we'd come every Friday night and have sleepovers." Her face darkens.

"I don't mean to be an intruder, but, who's 'we'?"

Claire looks away but continues talking. "My best friend Alicia and I used to come up here and do sleepovers all the time. We were really close until she found out that Derrick was becoming my brother. She had a crush on Derrick, and, she thought that I was going to start developing feeling for him, even though he's my brother. So, she became distant and started hanging out with the wrong types of people. Now, she's the current ruler and alpha if the entire school. No one goes against her."

"I wouldn't blame her; Derrick is cute."

She ducks to avoid being hit by a pillow Claire playfully lobs at her head. "Don't say that. When he was my best friend, I didn't mind, but, now that he's my brother, it seems wrong."

"Don't be angry. It's the truth." She giggles and throws the pillow back at Claire.

Very soon, it turns into an all out pillow fight, and Massie is thrilled; she's always seen movies about sisters having pillow fights but she's never quite experienced it. They're so into the fight they don't realize Derrick enter the room.

"Guys," he begins, but his head is nearly taken off by a pillow thrown from Massie's hand. "Guys," he begins again, but, this time, the pillow hits him squarely in the eye, also from Massie's hand.

"Oh, God, my eye," he complains.

"Never say His name in vain," Massie mutters subconsciously. She fingers her cross once more and rushes over to Derrick. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean for the pillow to hit you like that."

"Just leave him." Claire collapses onto the bed. "He's being a sissy."

"I'm not a sissy; that thing clearly hit my eye."

As she watches them bicker once more, Massie thinks that her parents couldn't have picked a better family for her to get along with. Then, she thinks about how there's school again, and she tells herself that she isn't prepared. Nevertheless, she starts school tomorrow and she has to make a good impression (and probably take down the alpha as an added bonus).

this isn't really going to be a long story; probably ten chapters at most. it's basically about massington, but there'll be lots of friendship thrown in there. the reason for the title is that massie's meeting derrick is the beginning of the end of an old chapter in her life. she's had a shaky past with guys - it'll come up later - so, yeah. that's why. also, it's sort of hinting at their relationship, about how meeting him is the beginning of the end of the relationship, which just shows that it's going to be difficult.

leave a review, if you'd like. i'm not sure if it's edited or not; i'll check back later.

ox,

aly