Alright so chapter two isn't that interesting, but I guess it's needed.

I'll also be introducing ALEXIS she's okay. Kind of a boring character in this version.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ETERNAL NIGHT BY PENNAME07

Chapter 2 – Changing Myself

I jumped off the last step of the bus; two large bags over my shoulder. I took a step toward the small apartment complex before me, and immediately felt like I was being watched. Turning quickly on my heels, suddenly ready for a fight, I found the bus driver looking down at me strangely. "Uh… yes?"

His white brows pulled together. "I can't close the door unless you move, Miss," he answered politely.

With a quick blink, I took two steps back, "Sorry."

The old man pulled away then, leaving me in the quiet loneliness. I went unmoving for many moments, as if waiting to be picked by my mother. My real mother, the mother that I've never met. The one who was as much as a mystery as my very tomorrow.

Shaking the morbid thoughts away, I climbed the outside stairs to the 4th floor. I wrapped against the door numbered '421'. "Lexi!" I called softly, hoping she would her me. Though, quickly seeing it wouldn't work, I took out my cell phone. Shuffling through my phone book, I found 'Lexi!' then hit the talk button.

After 3 rings, a groggy voice answered, "Hello?"

"Open the damn door, Alexis!"

"Okay, okay. Coming," A moment later, the door swung open to show the tall p.j. clad Alexis.

"Finally," I rushed past her.

"What's wrong, Pey Pey?"

My anger spilled over the edges. "What's wrong? What's wrong?! I'M ADOPTED!"

It fell quiet for a moment then Alexis asked, "Really?" I nodded. The tall girl's face broke into a large, silly grin. "Welcome to the club, bitch!"

"What the hell, Alexis! You're supposed to let me cry on your shoulder and tell me its gonna be ok!" she yelled at her with tears in her eyes.

Lexi shook her head. "No, sweetie, that's Madi's job, not mine."

I growled. "Fine, dammit!" I turned and walked down the hall to the spare room, now labeled, 'Mine.'

She followed me, lightly chuckling as she did, "I'm sorry, P." I ignored her and unpacked my clothes and such. "Come on; tell me how you found out."

I paused at the open closet door. With a sigh, I sat on the bed and Lexi soon joined me. "Basically, I got a gift from my birth parents, so Lindsey and Austin are pissed off. I left them."

"What was the gift?"

I unclasped the choker and showed it to her. "I have no idea what it means, but its' from them."

"Hm, cool. Did they send a letter or anything?" Alexis turned the trinket over and over in her hands, looking at it from all angles.

I nod. "But it didn't tell me anything about them. All it really said was 'Happy Birthday, Peyton'."

Lexi handed the choker back and asked, "So you don't know if you have any siblings or anything?" I shook my head. "Well, we'll just have to fix that, huh?" I smile at her and nod. "Alright, I don't know about you, but I'm beat. 'Night, P." Alexis got up and left the room.

"G'night," I replied and lie down, quickly falling into sleep.

- - - - - -

You shook me all night long, yeah you shook me all night long! You shook me all night long, yeah you shook me all night long!

"Argh…" I groaned at the loud music. Then I realized it was coming from my cell phone. "Madi!" I quickly grabbed my phone before her call went to voice message. "Mad?"

"Hey! I got your call. Are you ok?"

I smirked at her obvious concern. "I'm alright now, Madi. I stayed the night with Lexi."

"What happened?" She seemed calmer now.

I sighed, not sure whether I could tell it again. "I had a nice birthday and all, I wish you could've come of course, but after everyone left, I went to go get the mail. So, I got this package from someone. When I showed my mom she was a little freaked and she told me to go to bed. Later, she and Austin were talking downstairs… about me being adopted. So here I am!" It was silent on the opposite line for a moment. "Madi?"

She finally spoke again. "I'm so sorry, baby. That's such a horrible way to find out!"

I gave a weak smile. "It's okay."

"So, what are you going to do all day?" she asked.

"Well, I'm supposed to hang out with Zack and Amber, but I don't think I'm going to now. I might go shopping and do some errands instead."

She gasped, "Can I go? I don't want you to be alone all day!"

"Um, sure!"

"Cool, I'll pick you up in 30," with that, she was gone and I sat alone till Alexis burst through the door fully clothed. "AHH! Lexi get out!" I screamed.

"Shut up," she sat in the arm chair near the door, "you self conscience, twit."

"Don't call me a twit, Bitch."

"Whore."

"Asshole!"

"Alright, that's enough. So who was that?"

"Madi. She's coming to get me in a bit."

She nodded. "Well, don't you think you should get out of bed and start getting ready?"

I nod and get up, taking the blanket with me.

- - - - - -

I quickly pulled my long hair into a ponytail as Madi's car horn blew. "Coming!" I yelled out the window. I took one more glance into the long closet mirror, taking in the purple top and dark skinny jeans. Smoothing my hair down once more before walking out the door.

Madi stood outside, facing the balcony. "Hey," I murmured softly. She turned with a smile. "Hey, baby," she quickly came over and pulled me into a tight embrace, "Are you okay?"

I laughed at her protectiveness. "I'm FINE! Really."

"Sure, sure," She pulled away and gave me a peck on the cheek before taking my hands and leading me down the stairs, "Come on. Let's get this day started!" We climbed into her small Mazda, cranked up some tunes, and we were off.

"Before we go to the mall, can we go to the bank?" I asked as I slip my hand into hers.

"Of course!" she brought my hand up to her lips and kissed it. "What are ya gonna do, withdrawal it all?" she joked. I nodded. "Are you serious?"

"I can't leave it in there to my 'families' disposal. Especially when I need it more then they do," I explained. My blond nodded in understanding. I reached forward and changed the song to 'You Give Love a Bad Name'.

We went through the drive through and withdrew every dollar I could from the savings account. $1,347. "It'll have to be enough, I suppose."

Madi chuckled then leaned over and softly kissed me, "I love you. You know that?"

"Yeah, I know," I laughed.

- - - - - -

It was almost noon by the time we reached the mall outlet. Madi insisted we go clothes shopping. I had to agree; though I had no idea the clothes would be for me! She bought me three new t-shirts, two pairs of jeans, a dress, and a heavy black jacket.

As we left the store, I saw our new destination. A salon.

"Hey, you wanna get a manicure?" I ask her.

Her face lightened up. "Sure!" I led her to the receptionist and she was taken to a chair. As she waited for her nail artist, I scheduled my own appointment.

I went to sit beside her. "Hey."

She gave me a questioning look. "Hello?"

"What?" I asked her innocently.

"What were you doing over there, Peyton?"

"Nothing."

She glared slightly at me, "Liar. Now, tell me!"

"Fine," I sighed. "I'm getting my hair cut."

"…… How much?" I simply starred at her before gesturing an estimate, "P, you can't! You love your long hair!"

I shook my head. "Not really. Lindsey loved it, I hate it." She thought about it a moment. Eventually, she stringed her fingers through my hair.

Finally, she nods. "Okay, just don't get all of it shaved off. I love running my fingers through your hair," she laughed, trying to lighten the mood. I laugh with her, and then I hear them call me back. I kissed her cheek and follow the lady to a swivel chair in front of a mirror.

A moment later a young black haired women came I and greeted me, "Hey, I'm Candace, I'll be doing your hair," she shook my hand, overly friendly. She looked around, "Where are your parents?"

I glared at her through the glass. "Not here." I answered.

I saw as she gulped. She then tried to smile. "Alright! So, what would you like me to do?"

"Hm… I don't really know…"

"Well, I'll go to another costumer and you go through these magazines and find the style for you. Okay?" I nod and she leaves the room.

Flipping through a few magazines, filled cover to cover in supermodels and their long flowing hair, until I saw the 'Hair for Men'. "Why the hell not," I though as I decided to go through it. Surprisingly, I was interested in the unfeminine cuts. "Hm……"

"So, have you decided on a style?" Candace asked as she reentered the small cubical.

I nod silently "This. Though, could you make the bangs a little longer?" I added while pointing to a shorter style.

"Oh my god! Um… you sure you wanna cut all that off?" She asked, trying not to look as shocked as she, obviously, was. I just nodded. "Ok…well. Here we go." She pulled me out too a sink where she shampooed my already clean hair. She wrapped it in a towel then led me back to the chair and mirror. Candace then picked up her scissors and took the first snip at my hair. Cutting it at the neck. I tried to suppress the shriek at the back of my throat. This was it. No turning back now. My old life is officially gone with that first snap of the scissors. It cut my old life away from my new. New beginnings start today with this simple change in me.

- - - - - -

"Hey Lexi, we're home!!" I yell as I open the apartment door. It was 3:20 and Alexis should've been home by now.

"OH MY GOD! Wait till you see P's new cut!" Madi nearly screamed ecstatically coming through the door throwing her car keys onto the bar.

I roll my eyes with a smile. "Madi! I wanted to see how long it would take for her to notice!"

She shrugged. "Oh well, too late. Lol."

I stare at her, shocked. "Did you seriously just say 'lol'?" she nods. "WTH! I thought you hated when people did that instead of just saying the words?"

Madi just shakes her head ignoring my random outburst. While I yell at her for ignoring me, she notices the note on the table. "What's this?"

I joined her. Reading the note over her shoulder, I realized it was in Alexis' handwriting.

Hey P,

Sorry I wasn't there to greet ya, girl. I was called into work last minute. I'll be home around eight or so. Until then, you can check up on some siblings of yours on this website. . It didn't help me, but you're a totally different person. Good luck, Peyton. See you later.

Madi took the note to the computer in the corner. She logged into my setting, the password being her name of course, and typed in the address. "Uh, what are you doing, Mad'?"

Without looking up from the web page, she answered, "Looking for you're family."

"And what if I wasn't planning on looking for them? What if I don't care about them? I don't. I don't want to meet them, Madi. They obviously didn't want me, so I don't want them!"

She swiveled the chair toward me and gave me a hard stare. "Peyton Adrianne. What the hell is wrong with you? Whether you want them or not doesn't really matter. Even if you don't want to meet them, don't you want to at least see if they're even alive? Or if you have a sister or brother? You never know, maybe they were left behind like you!" I just stare at her and say nothing. "Well," she turned back to the screen, "it doesn't matter anyway. I've already looked up every human in the U.S.A. with your blood type, birthday, eye color, and hair color." I saw her grin reflect off the screen.

I sigh. "Fine, I'll check it out!" I say, giving up. I came over and looked at the monitor. There was one boy on the screen that matched on all topics. He was the same age as me. He was adopted at birth. His name was Sean Collins.

- - - - - -

Since Sean was the only one there, I assumed he was more than likely family. I did a little more searching on him. I found his Myspace, Facebook, and something called a Gaia. Since Facebook was the only thing I had, I decided to i.m. him.

PeyPey- Hello.

Hisboi- Uh, hi?

I laughed at the awkwardness of it.

PeyPey- I'm sorry if this seems a little forward. But I need to see you.

Hisboi- …… Don't you live a little too far to be saying things like that?

PeyPey- Maybe. But it's the truth. Please, I swear I'm not some freak who wants to rape your brains out, I promise!

Hisboi- lol. Somehow, I actually believe you. Alright, you find a way to get here and I'll hear you out, Peyton.

PeyPey- Thank you so much. I can be there in a week, is that okay?

Hisboi- Sounds great! Um, g2g. My bf just got home. Bye!!

I pushed away from the keyboard. "So, how's the search going?" Madi asked from the kitchen, where she was now preparing dinner for us and Lexi when she got back from work.

I put my hands behind my head and stretched. I gave a large grin in her direction, "I'm meeting my maybe-brother next week. In Kansas City, Kansas."

So there it is! Hope you liked it.

I'm almost done with Chapter 3. I haven't had much inspiration lately but don't worry, it'll come to me!