Chapter One: Falling Chairs and Soar Throats

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, Three Days Grace, Breaking Bejamin, Evanescence, or Rise Against, don't rub it in.

A/N: Very slight violence. Not graphic, just putting that out there. Hope you like it my pretties!

It was just another day at Yancy Academy, school for troubled kids, which I am. I have 0 friends and hate just about everyone, except my brother, Joseph. He is the only family I have left. Lauren shouldn't even qualify as our mother. If your wondering "Why doesn't she just call her mom 'mom'?". Two reasons. First, she's ins't good enough to be called a mom, we usually just call her by her name. Second, if we did call her mom or mother, there's a difference between the two terms. A mother is just someone who is responsible for your life. A mom is someone who, you make cookies with, or who comforts you when your tummy hurts. No, we didn't have a mom, in fact, we barely even have a mother. Anyway, Joseph and I went to Yancy together. He was in 8th grade and I was in 9th. It was the same routine every morning. Get up, don't cut your feet on broken beer bottles on your way to the bathroom, get dressed, eat and leave. When I say eat, I don't mean "Eggs and bacon and orange juice" and whatnot. We didn't get those pleasures. We got cereal, and we were lucky if we got some fruit with it. So, this particular day I made sure we had fruit and a granola bar with our cereal. I bought them the previous night, knowing we would need them for energy. I had gotten dressed in black jeans and a "Three Days Grace" t-shirt, and my combat boots. I was preparing breakfast when Joseph came cautiously down the stairs. See, as much as we hate Lauren, we would rather live here than a foster home, with the risk of getting separated. Yes, we would rather stay in a dump rather then risk being separated. We were each other best friends. Sure, Jo had friends, but I didn't. I don't like getting close to other people, because I knew they would just end up leaving me for something better. I don't get close to people, it just isn't me. When Joseph saw that we had a little extra food this morning, his jaw dropped. We didn't always get breakfast, so this was like a feast. We were both skinnier than necessary, but not so much that people started for too long.

"Dude, Cassidy,where did you get all this food?" he asked, staring at it.

I laughed, "Where do you think? The trash? Nah, I bought it from the grocery store. I had some cash so I thought id get some food for breakfast". He was still staring at me.

"Dude, if you don't eat it, I will". That seemed to snap him out of it. He ran over to the chair, fortunately dodging the glass. He practically dove into his chair, which fell backwards in the process. I busted up laughing which in turn, got me a glare from my brother. But hey, he has never scared me, and he will not start now.

"That. Was. Hilarious." I said smoothly, walking over and munching on my granola bar.

"Cas"

"What"

"Your face is hilarious" he mumbled.

"WHAT WAS THAT? HUH? HUH? HUH? YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME BOY?" I joked tickling him as I said this. He was busting up laughing. We were being loud, as usual, but we didn't care. It's not like she was here to tell us to quiet down. Eventually I stopped at we finished our breakfast.

"Alright, lets go" I said and walked towards the door. I slipped my shoes on and shouldered my backpack, which had my school crap, plus my phone, laptop and charger for both items. Joseph grabbed his stuff and we exited the house. We walked towards to bus stop. When the bus arrived, we were the part of the last people on, but I had my own spot. Everyone knew not to sit in my spot, or to bother my brother. One time, a couple of guys called him some names and I beat them up so bad they needed to call the ambulance to come pick them up from the school. That was at our last school though, I got kicked out and changed schools, Jo right behind me. Anyway, as I got on the bus, any and all traces of happiness and/or friendliness disappeared. That whole "humor/tickling" thing is a side of me that only Joseph ever saw. Even that was sort of rare for him. I went and sat in my seat, with no one next to me, and Jo went to sit by his friends. I immediately put my headphones in, and started scrolling through my "Favorites" playlist. I clicked on the song "Riot" by Three Days Grace. They are my favorite band, along with Greenday, Breaking Benjamin, and a few others. The bus ride was short, and soon we were out filing out. The first few periods were normal. Then lunch came. Joseph always asked to sit with me, but each day I would tell him to go and sit with his friends. He would reluctantly listen and go hang out with some other people. I always sat alone, and hardly ate. The food usually served tasted horrible, but when the Principle was feeling nice (not very often) we would get something a little special. I guess today wasn't one of those days. Sludge with a side of crud. Yummy. I had been sitting down for a few minutes when three girls, known as the "Leaders of the Popular Group" walked over to me.

"Hey, freak" one said. I bit back many words coming to my mind and simply stayed quiet.. You see, I hadn't had to beat anyone up yet, so these idiots had no clue what I could do. Finally, after what seemed like hours of them standing there, glaring, I gave in and spoke.

"What do you want?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Oh nothing, just stay away from the new guy okay? I mean, it's not like he would EVER like you, but you might scare him off. So back off" she smiled sickly sweet.

I stood up,"Thanks, but I don't take advice from-" suddenly, I got a heap of sludge and crud right on my head. Everyone stopped talking and looked at us. They all started laughing, and I glanced at Josephs table. They weren't laughing. Good. Now I don't have to beat them up. I wiped the sludge from my eyes and smiled at the girls. They were all looking smug, like the jerks they were. I pretended to sigh in defeat. Then, I pulled back my arm, and decked the first girl in the throat. She fell back. She was gonna have a soar throat for a while. I would've laughed if I didn't have to deal with the other two. I grabbed ones arm and twisted in behind her back so hard, I heard it pop out of socket. The third girl has enough sense to run. The girl who I punched was trying to get air into her lungs, and the other was crying on the floor. Wimps. I'd had worse done to me. I looked around. Dead silence, great.

"Well, nothing to see here. Just beating a few people up, go back to your lives." I turn around and grabbed my back pack. I started walking out of the cafe, and I glanced at Jo. I sent him a clear message "I'm going home" he shook his head vigorously. I gave him a questioning look, and his eyes were practically begging me to stay. I sighed. Only Joseph could make me do anything. I listen to know one. Occasionally Jo would convince me of something, and this was one of those days. I gave him the "Fine" look. And excited the cafe, everyone still staring at me, so I turned around and flipped them off with a smug smile.

Alright, I edited this chapter a bit, so hope you like it. ~ dark-rebellion di angelo