A/N: So I have no idea about ages and stuff, so let's say for the sake of this story – Jo is a sophomore in 2002 and Alex is a junior. Also, have no idea what time of year Americans go back to school after summer so I'm just doing this around the UK time.

September 6th, 2002

Jo has heard the whispering all her life, "Did you hear Jo Wilson has no mom, not even she wanted her", She became accustomed to ignoring it – or, pretending she ignored it. "Her dad is a drunk! My mom says he's pathetic!", But something about the way Lucy Fields had spat her name out in disgust just made her snap.

They had only been back to school for two days, and Jo's tether has already snapped. The day was going fine, she really didn't mind school – it was just the people in it. Especially, Lucy Fields, the tall blonde prided her self on being the biggest bitch. Only in her sophomore year and Lucy had already gained the title of 'IT' girl, in a small town like Fairhope everybody knew everybody and everybody knew Lucy Fields' mom and dad were almost millionaires. The fame went straight to her head once word got out that 'daddy' was buying Lucy what every little girl could only dream, because like every nasty high school villain, she used to be nice – friendly, even.

When Lucy's ego made it so no one else could fit in the room, Jo decided she'd keep as much distance between herself and Lucy Field as possible.. Jo had the opposite of what Lucy had; no money, no big house, no happy family – not that she was jealous, of Lucy Fields? No way. Although, Jo would sometimes lay awake wondering what it would be like to have someone to care for her, make her lunch for school, give her rides and then teach her how to drive once she could, bring her a hot water bottle and some soup when she was sick. Jo wanted a real family, even if they lived in some dump with no money, she just wanted a family.

"Can you believe what the guys were saying about Jo Wilson? Little, skinny, toothpick Jo Wilson!, I was in the right mind to tell them she was a waste of time and space," Jo pretended to focus on her work as Lucy 'gossiped' to her so-called friends, "Do they even know her dad is garbage? I overheard my dad telling one of his workers, that they found him outside Joe's bar the other night literally lying in the garbage, passed out drunk!" Lucy carried on, Jo thought about turning round to tell her to shut up, but Lucy was in earshot of Jo – Lucy was looking for a reaction, and that is something Jo refuses to give.

"Just where he belongs, in the trash – maybe his daughter should join him next time. I'd say her mom too, if she had one," The little minions erupted in giggles, but Jo had heard this all before and this was not going to make her snap. "Whatever, once the guys hear about how trashy Jo really is then they won't be calling her hot!, and Jackson Avery will most definitely not be wondering whether he's going to ask her out," Jackson Avery?, the guy is the biggest mommy's boy she'd ever seen – he was nice and super hot, but he was a jock and totally not the kind of guy she would be interested in. This is just some lame childish joke that Lucy thinks is funny, the thought of Jackson Avery won't get her the reaction she wants.

"Oh please, Lucy! Be serious right now, Jackson was so trying to make you jealous, you two have been flirting for weeks now. If you two are not together in the next few days I'm gonna' have a break down," Minion #3 giggles, as if to kiss Lucy's ass just that little bit more. "So right, he knows what dirt she is, and he thinks he can make me jealous with her? HA! Well, she's such a skank they'd probably get together on the first date , she'd have no idea he was using her. Just like her mother – a total slut,"

Jo would like to say despite what he life has been like, she's pretty calm when it comes to girls like Lucy, but after spending the last ten minutes of her blabbing about something or someone she has no clue about.

That was it.

Before anyone has registered what was happening, Jo had shoved Lucy straight off of her chair chair, Lucy opened her mouth to insult Jo and risen her hand to give her a hard slap – Lucy was cut off by a hard punch to the right eye, causing her to fall back and cry out in pain.

"YOU BITCH!" Was the last thing she heard before she was grabbed by gruff hands and was escorted to the principals office.

A twenty minute lecture about the school's no violence policy, a one day suspension and a warning that they would be telling her father and Jo was getting ready to go to school. Her father was unfortunately not awake for the call, with her dad being constantly at the bar or passed out after being dragged home from the bar this wasn't uncommon. Jo's dad worked nights so he was able to drink how ever much he wanted during the day and still be prepared to go to work at 3 am every morning. The very few times that they saw each other her father was far from pleasant; yelling, shoving and getting the blame for his 'shitty' life, Jo hated to admit she was used to it. She hated to admit it more that she was worried about him, every time she got a phone call about how he was passed out, she worried he wouldn't wake up.

Jo was heading out her front door and about to get in to her car, it was a piece of crap, and she's pretty sure her dad stole it but the neighbour across the street was kind enough to teach her how to drive despite the fact he was wondering the same thing. She got her license just a week ago, but something about being able to drive made Jo feel just that much more free – not that she would ever leave, not like this – not when he's like this.

The caught a glimpse of the guy in the grade above her, he lives a few doors down, his parents are always fighting – she heard rumours about him too, she had tried not to listen but the story about his mom chasing his little brother with a kitchen knife, it was interesting. His crazy family never stopped him from being one of the most popular guys in the school – he wrestles and he plays football, Jo swears the saw his name second on Lucy's 'stupid hot' list last year when they were paired for a chemistry project.

Alex Karev, that was the name on that stupid list. Alex has dropped Jo's dad off home a few times after his mom was called to come pick up his own dad because the pair were black out drunk, It was a pretty nice thing to do considering he was called in the early hours – or maybe it was just the decent thing to do. Whatever, she doesn't know much about him after a few thank you's and some I'm sorry's – but he always look's, she will take the garbage out and he'll be sat out on his creaky porch and it's like he won't take his eyes off her. Like now, they're walking to their own cars and he just won't look away. Creepy, Jo thinks.

Jo then makes a promise not to stare back, because if she's also doing it then she's creepy. And Jo Wilson is not creepy for Alex Karev. _