(Max is Four)

"Maximum! Come to bed darling!" I smiled at my moms voice and ran into my room, eagerly curling up under the covers. Dad smiled at me and brushed my hair back.

You are so beautiful Max. I love you." Dad kissed my forehead and walked over to the shelves. "What story tonight?"

"Blue bears!" I said, as mom tucked me in. I loved that story more than the rest. Mom and Dad both chuckled as he bulled it off the shelf and began to read.

(One year later)

I cried silent tears as I stood there in my black dress. Mom was in that coffin. Mom was dead. Mom was gone. I remembered once when I was three, she promised that she'd always be there to protect me. How could she protect me from the first day of school now that she was living in the pretty clouds?

The clouds were gray and dull, and then they began to cry. Were those my moms tears? Was she crying because she missed me? My moms tears slipped down my cheeks, but all I could do was stand there and shiver.

I felt a hand intertwine with mine and looked to my left. Iggy stood there, a sad smile on his face. "Your mom was nice. She made really good chocolate chip cookies." Iggy was a year older than me, but he was like my big brother, my best friend. He hugged me and let me cry into his shoulder.

When we got home, my dad just sat at the kitchen table for a long time. After a few minutes, I went to my room. That's the day everything changed.

He started drinking and doing drugs. And some nights if he came home upset, I'd find myself being hit for no reason. I learned the new rules quickly. I wasn't allowed to talk anymore. Anywhere. I had to clean the house while he was wherever he was. And it had better be spotless when he got back.

Iggy and I stopped hanging out after the funeral, and life just got worse. especially in school.

(Sixth Grade)

"Why don't you talk?" a redhead sneered at me.

"Isn't it obvious?" another one dragged on. "She's brainless. I'll bet that if you knocked on her head it would echo." I just sat under the oak tree, not listening. Talking wasn't allowed. The redhead smirked.

"Let's try it." The redhead hit my head hard 3 times. I just glanced up at her and looked back down at my black Converse. Dad- no, he wasn't my dad anymore- hit me upside the head with a rifle a few times. After that, the redheads hits were nothing but flies landing on my head.

Lissa kicked my leg with her high heels. "Don't you feel stuff, brat? No? Well, then, I guess you don't mind if..." She shoved me on my back and snapped her fingers. The two girls behind her clenched their hands into fists and went at me. Throwing punches left and right. I laid there and took it, remembering the consequence for flinching, or screaming, or crying, or blocking.

I thought it would go on forever. That is, until somebody stopped them. A strawberry haired boy and a shadow shoved the girls back. Iggy, and... who was the boy with him?

Iggy left the girl he tackled alone, the black haired boy punched the one he pushed off of me.

"What's your problem, Brigid?" Iggy snarled at the girl who now had a bloody nose. She was the one who had punched me the most. The boy with Iggy stood up and held out his hand towards me. Was He going to hit me or something? I stood up on my own and watched the redhead bat her eyes at him.

"Hey Nicky! You look so hot in black, have I told you that?" she asked.

"Only a thousand times a day. It's getting annoying! And I don't like you Lissa! You're a backstabbing liar! And how could you beat up some innocent girl?" 'Nicky' snarled. I could hear the venom in his voice. He spun around in a rage and looked at me. His features instantly softening.

"I'm so sorry for the dog's behavior. Do you know where the clinic is?" I just looked at him like he was from some foreign country. A clinic? I was never allowed to have anyone help me. Iggy looked over at me.

"Come on Max, let's go to the clinic. You're bleeding." he whispered. I just stood there, not paying attention to them. I wiped my upper lip and turned away to walk home. School was over anyway. My last period was a free one.

When I got home, Jeb was there. "Get to work!" He snapped at me, and so, without a word as usual, I did.