Chapter Two

"Serena I understand this is a great shock for you" said Miss Hallows from behind her office desk. As soon as she had found out she had been rushed out of school to the social worker.

"….but there is a lot I need you to look over. I am in contact with you fathers assistant legal team manager Oliver Evans. He will be here shortly to discuss you legal options"

"No I am here right now" said Mr Evans. He had been in the company since the first year it opened several years ago. The workers at Morasca Consultants had been like her family so she was glad to see him. "Serena, I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner" said Oliver and he sat next to Serena. "Miss Hallows" he said and shook hands with her.

"I was just saying that you would inform her of her legal side, I will give you some privacy" she said and she left the office. He hugged Serena lightly and she cried happy to see a familiar face in this madness. Letting her go they sat down to get down to business. "They of course left you everything. They also requested in their will that they be cremated with no funeral to which I hope you agreed" he said. Serena nodded quickly in agreement.

"The company whilst legally is yours, you won't be able to take ownership till your eighteen so they have put Luna and Artemis Chancellor in charge for now, they have been your parents advisors now for years but they said they will let you have the final choice on everything. Serena knew of them and the work they had done, she would have expected nothing less of them. They were also Diana's parents, people she could trust.

"Now the question of who will be your guardian is still up for debate however your parents left you this in the Will. They addressed it to you." said Oliver and he too left the room to leave Serena to look over everything. Serena looked at the envelope in her hand and for some reason it was a reminder that they had died less than two hours ago. Written in a very elegant script on the front was her name, it looked like her mother's hand writing.

Serena Isabella Morasca

She took at deep breath and opened it to read its contents.

My darling daughter

I always feared the day you would have to learn of my past. I knew It would come back and if you are reading this, it means I'm no longer here to tell you everything myself and what I feared most has come to pass. I want you to understand everything, so for that I need to start from the beginning when I was no more than fifteen, I was rich and beautiful in many people's eyes and was very popular at my high school, East Jubann High School. My own mother had died years ago when she gave birth to me, her name was Isabella Sierra. She had met my father when she was young and had married him because of her own father. Even in those days my darling, arranged marriages were common. I don't know if she grew to love her husband but she did her duty as a tradition wife. She had me and my two older brothers, your uncles. Joel and Jefferson. No one expected me to become anything other than to be a wife of a rich man. My brothers were cruel to everyone of lower statue and I regret to say that I to looked down on those with less than what we had. However that changed when my father's head of staff hired a young man of eighteen to be another hand in the grounds of the estate of which I lived in. He had just come out of the foster care system. That man was your father. He made me see things differently and became the love of my life. If only life was that simple than for it never was. When I turned eighteen, three years after I had began my affair my father arranged a marriage after he realised I returned the feelings as your father did. It was with Endymion Shields II he agreed I would marry, he knew his father and had been powerful friends many years before. Endymion and I had dated when I was fourteen but I ended it quickly after meeting your father. He was also a friend of my brothers. It all seemed perfect to everyone but myself. I was in love and refused to marry the man. He was nothing but power hungry, which is why I always told you never trust a Shields. Always wanting what they can't have, to which there family is most known for as a trait. Lets just say the man never forgave me for ending it. Days after my eighteenth birthday I made the choice to runaway, to elope. I wanted nothing more. I told my father the night I had planned to leave, I had my most trusted friend, Lily Adams help me move everything I had to leave. My father of course was not happy and reacted in such a away I had figured he would but I left anyway.

Your father and I built a life together and I never looked back to what I once had. The life when I had once been Jenna Shallows, daughter of Jarred and Isabella Shallows, sister of Joel and Jefferson Shallows. Fiancé to Endymion Shields. But I left it behind to be with your father and I would do it again. I loved nothing more than you and your father. Now that you know I hope you think nothing less of me. In life you have to make hard choices but always listen to your heart when your become lost.

I Love you

Jenna Isabella Morasca

Serena let out the breath that she had been holding on to since opening the letter from her mother. Her mother had been a Shallows. She put the note down and called Oliver in wanting to think about something else. It was odd how she wanted to know about her mother's family but now she wished she never knew, she would trade that with anything right now.

"Serena we have tried to get in contact with your mother's family but so far they have been unreachable. From your mother's history it seems unlikely that any of them would take you in. "said Oliver with sadness.

"But I have just arranged for you to stay with an old friend of your mother's, Lily Adams she is actually your godmother and will be your legal guardian." Serena looked to Oliver than to the note that had mentioned her name. Serena was trying desperately to take all this in and keep her sanity but it seemed she was slowly feeling it slip away with every second that pass by. "She lives in East Jubann "said Oliver.

"What's going to happen to the house"? asked Serena remembering the place she had lived in it most of her life.

"Your parents paid taxes on it for up to ten years so you can either keep it or sell it" he answered. Oliver already sensing that she would not part with her family home mentally checked that off the list. "Serena, you will be allowed to stay there for a two or four days but Miss Adams will pick you up after that, I can contact a moving group to help you… "

"No that's fine I can manage" said Serena sternly

"Molly and Diana are outside" he said. Serena looked at the door than him, thanking him than quickly got up to leave the office to see her best friends. Molly and Diana sat on seats across from the office, four metres away. They saw Serena and got up, racing toward her. Serena was than embraced into a hug by her two best friends.

"Serena we were both so worried" said Molly and the girls all parted.

" I need your help" said Serena suddenly

"Anything" answered Diana with out hesitation

…

After leaving Social Services and making her way through the mountain of press photographers outsider, Serena started packing all her things, she happened to have a stock pile of clothes. With the help of Diana and Molly she had managed to get through a large amount. When they decided to call it a night, they all laid around Serena's bedroom. Molly was sitting on the ground surround by boxes on either side of her. Diana sat cross-legged on the floor and Serena was leaning against her bed for support. Serena knew she had to tell her friends about the note. They had talked about the craziness of her mother's past just a day ago.

"My mom left me a letter in their Will" said Serena. Serena passed the envelope to her friends to read. She trusted them. Molly moved to sit next to Diana, they began to look it over. After finishing they put it down and Molly gave it back to Serena. They both fell silent for a few minutes taking it all in.

Than Molly spoke wanting to confirm, knowing it was probably a bad time. "Shallows, like Mina and Lita Shallows" Diana nudged Molly trying to say that she might not know but Serena did. "Apparently they are my cousins." said Serena a little too casually. On the ride back to her how she had pulled out her phone and searched the internet that had linked them to her mother.

"Serena, we will always be your friends no matter what" said Molly trying to cover her insensitive question.

"I know Molly. Thanks guys." said Serena with a meek smile of gratitude at her friends.

"Any time" said Diana

…

"This is Fendi, four thousand. Its not even on sale but my father managed to pull a few strings" said Beryl as she flash her handbag at her weak minded followers. They all wanted it, it was something she loved doing to people, flaunting her wealth.

"Beryl stop teasing them come on we have practice" reminded Raye looking at her diamond watch.

Beryl turned to face the four others that she shared with in popularity. Amelia Cusack , known mostly as Ami. She held one of the highest IQ in the school and rumour had it, the state. She was of middle height with bluish-black hair and many used the word pixie as a quick description. The Shallows Cousins, Mina and Lita, whilst they were related they looked completely different. Lita took after her beautiful brunette mother. She was tall and athletic but had a headstrong personally. Mina however possessed many of the Shallows traits, such as blonde hair and blue eyes. She was known to be somewhat shallow about her appearance but was loyal to her friends. Both woman beautiful in there own right. Raven Shields or just Raye as she preferred, a dark beauty with hypnotic violent eyes and long dark hair. She was known to be very sharp about things and was not accustom to losing anything.

"Your no fun Raye" sneered Beryl and she took off with her group. Beryl was popular by appearances not personality so the four girls chose not to be her friend because of that, they did however have a truce, or more that Raye had so much information on many of her indiscretions that easily would disgrace her family and could destroy her completely however she had hooked up with Raye's brother, Darien Shields and it had improved her rise to fame but he had dumped her soon after he nailed her. Raye knew her brother was somewhat of a player and never stayed interest in one girl for very long. She knew if his friends weren't dating Mina, Ami and Lita , he probably would have tried something by now.

"I can't believe you gave up the chance to be captain so that Beryl would stop being such a bitch" said Mina in dismay, her hatred for Beryl being clear to everyone around her.

"Well we can all breathe easy so it seemed needed" said Raye. It was true that she had given up the chance to be captain of the East High Cheer Squad but it was needed at the time. It was unheard of for a shields to back down, making the choice hadn't been easy.

"Hey Darien, what are you doing later"? asked Beryl who had stopped midway down the hall to talk to Raye's brother, Darien Shields. He was an infamous playboy in the area and yet many still naively came crawling to his bed, for a high school senior he had definitely achieved a lot. Like he had slept with Beryl over a year ago. Darien was known for one night stands, but Beryl was still convinced that it was more than that and like most things concerning her, Beryl was completely wrong. Darien as usual didn't even acknowledge she was there. Whilst he was single always his friends had relationships. Nathan Connor and Lita had started dating only a year ago, due to Lita's pride. Michael Logan and Mina had only just met there five month mark. Ami had been with Zack Tyler for about a year and half but if you asked either of them they would give you a proper count. Raye had been dating Jacob Leigh for two years; he was also Darien's best friend, which sometimes could be awkward.

"Mina, Lita I'm sorry to hear about your Aunt, it's so sad" said a random student than they walked away.

"What was that about? I didn't know you had an Aunt" said Raye in surprise

"Yeah well she got disowned like years ago, I guess she died or something" shrugged Mina.

Than walking toward them was Mark Jenson. "Mina, Lita. I know this is a tough time but know there are always people here for you. Here is my peer councillor hotline. We can talk anytime" said Mark, giving them both cards and he walked away.

"Okay that's it I'm ditching, I need to find out what's happening" said Lita. Mina, Raye and a very reluctant Ami agreed to come.

They left the busy corridor and exited to the student parking lot and got into Raye's which they all went to school in . They then travelled to the Shallows Estate where both Mina and Lita lived with their parents and grandfather. "Are you guys sure I should be here"? asked Ami, knowing that Raye's family was very close to the Shallows so she could get away with going along.

"Of course don't worry Ami" replied Lita, reassuring her that it was okay. They all quickly got out of the Mercedes and walked inside the mansion. They were greeted by there servants.

"Where is my father"? asked Lita who was desperate to find out what the hell was going on.

"He, your uncle and grandfather are in the viewing room" answer the servant. She thanked him and then proceeded to the viewing room. Ami and Raye decided to wait outside of the room. Mina and Lita quickly entered to see their grandfather seated in a centre chair and their fathers standing on either side of him. They both looked up to the screen. Looking at a news channel that they never watched.

"In latest news, Tyson and Jenna Morasca, the owner of Morasca Consultants, were killed in a crash collision with a drunk driver. They both were unable to be recovered. Serena Morasca, their sixteen year old daughter and Heiress to the Morasca fortune, was taken into custody by social services. " said the news report. Images flew on the screen of the family at the relevant time.

"What is going on"? asked Mina she looked at them as if to get an answer from them. They turned to face them.

"Why are you both not at school"? asked Joel. Mina looked at her father blankly forgetting that they had ditched to come to the Estate.

"We had people coming up to us offering support and counselling and we had no idea what was going on."

"We needed some closure" added Lita .

"Has it got something to do with this Morasca family"? Questioned Mina looking at the freeze frame of Jenna and Tyson Morasca at a benefit, dressed in evening wear. They saw the sudden change in the, after Mina had said "Morasca"

Mina had never seen her father, uncle and grandfather so scared in his life. Lita was completely taken back. Jenna Morasca, she was our aunt wasn't she?" asked Lita.

Raye and Ami had begun pacing, almost regretting the choice to wait outside for their two friends to exit the room but when they finally did they could see that they learned some information that had changed something. They walked up to them to find out what had happened. "Tyson and Jenna Morasca died today" finally spoke up Lita.

"The owners of Morasca Consultants"? asked Ami.

"Yes apparently Jenna Morasca is that disowned Aunt I was telling you about, she and her husband died in a car crash today. They were on their way to met a client of theirs" answered Mina, softly.

"What, you have got to be kidding" said Raye in shock.

"Come on we better get back to school" said Lita and they walked outside and all four of them got into the car after driving up the driveway the silence ended. " So have you ever meet her"? asked Ami

"No when I say she was disowned I mean it in every sense of the word. She was having an affair with a gardener for three years and left to elope with him. Tyson Morasca was that gardener, she married him. " replied Lita.

The left the Estate and drove back to East High to get to Cheer practice. Changing they got into the gym for practice. Luckily all they had missed was the start of Beryl's lectures on being the best not realising that they needed to practice for that to take place. " Now the new captain at West High was meant to be Serena Morasca but someone died or something so my sources say that it will probably be Diana Chancellor but either way we are going to win against them or some reput

ations are going to be ruined or better yet destroyed" said Beryl. Lita and Mina recalled the name Serena Morasca but said nothing more of it knowing now was not the time.

Over on the other court the basketball team was at work. Raye watch all the girls stare at her older brother as he did drills with everyone else. Raye noticed Jacob and she waved to get his attention. Raye rekindled her focus when Ami tugged her arm to get into position for the new routine that Beryl had claimed would ensure that they would win but Raye and the rest of the girls were all highly doubtful of this.

"Stop, stop. Mina your out of time" yelled Beryl. Mina crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. Beryl was just trying to emphasize that she was in charge as she did every day, at this point it was really getting on everyone's nerve.

"If you say so" she said under her breath .

….

"Serena, I'm Lily" said Lily Adams with a kind smile

Serena had Molly and Diana standing behind her for support. They had spent the last few days helping her with the house. Things needed to be thrown out and put away. Serena had locked her parents suit bedroom up and had had the task of going into her parents office. They had never hid the room from her, always allowing her to coming in whilst they had been planning events. She remember back when she was a little girl when they had just bought the house and moved from a little unit to the very large house. She would a waken many times from bad dreams, checking her parents room first realising that it was empty she would run across the hall to the office. Her mother and father would always show signs of tiredness. They always knew she was coming. Picking her up either her mother or father would hold her till she again fell asleep and placed her back in her bedroom.

"This is my son, Andrew" said Lily. He step forward, Serena noticed he was maybe a few years older than herself. " Serena Morasca, nice to meet you" said Serena politely.

"You don't seem like you would be related to Lita and Mina, they are all about social statue" said Andrew suddenly. Lily frowned and whacked his arm in dismay.

Serena let a light smile grace her face in surprise "I'll take that as a complement" said Serena.

" Good that was my intension" he replied. Serena immediately knew he was a generally nice guy, which was something she hadn't seen in away.

"These are my friends, Molly Lowe and Diana Chancellor" realising that she hadn't introduced them.

They nodded a quick hello, not liking the face that they were taking away there best friend even if it wasn't there fault but still they still saw it was a theft. " Are you ready to go"? asked Lily as she watched the last of Serena's belongings being placed in a truck.

"Yes" she replied quickly.

"Well we better head off, I'll leave you to say goodbye" said Lily

Serena quickly halted her "That's fine I have my own car" said Serena with politeness.

"Okay but at the very least we will wait for you" said Lily. Serena nodded in reply and said she would be over in a minute. Serena turned to her friends and smiled at them to left them know she was okay but it didn't ease the expressions off there face of concern.

"Serena we got you this" said Diana and they gave her a pretty coloured bag. She took it from her and opened it to pull out a photo frame. It was of them all last year at the national Cheerleading competition after they had won. The squad was behind them with there hands in the air whilst former Captain Avery and Vice-Captain Komiko and Molly, Diana and Serena stood beside them as the most experienced Cheerleaders. They even managed to get Beryl's face in the background and it looked like she was crying.

"Thanks guys" said Serena and she hugged it too her chest.

"Come back anytime okay" said Diana and Molly nodded in agreement. They bought her in for a hug that resulted in them almost holding her tight and when it came time to let go they couldn't but knew they had to there distress at that.

"I'll come back I promise, Diana be the best captain ever, Molly make sure her head doesn't blow up" said Serena and they all laughed. Serena waved and reversed her car out of the long driveway and followed the movers with Lily and her son leading the way. Serena put on some music to endure the drive there which was only forty-five minutes or so.

They pulled up into East Jubann and turned into a small street. After pulling up to a house that looked less spectacular than her home in West Jubann but it seemed to have warm charm that appealed to Serena very much. The gardens where neat and tidy and colourful. Serena didn't look down on people of low-income. She may have always lived in her large but her parents never heard cooks, cleaners or servants but from what she understood they could have afforded it. Getting out she met up with Lily and Andrew at the front.

"Come on we will show you the house." said Lily with enthusiasm. Serena figured because she had had forty minutes by herself it was time to face up to reality.

Following her into the house, Serena felt the same charm on the inside as she did on the outside, they gave her a tour than showed her upstairs to her bedroom. It was a lot smaller than her old room but she liked the large window that went from there floor to mid-wall. It had railings infront of it and allowed her to step about half a metre out. In away it was like a mini-balcony. The room was painted a light blue and had a pearl white ceiling. Thanking Lily for it she began the task of unpacking. Serena did want to ask her about her mother and find out in more detail who her parents had fallen in love but she knew that it could wait

….

"Darien" yelled Raye as she arrived home after the agony of having to practice another bad routine thanks to Beryl and her terrible choreography skills. After entering, Raye went in search for her older brother. Heading up to his bedroom. She swang the door open to find Emerald Ander, Vice-president of the Student council. She was on top of her brother. Anyone could tell they were having sex. Quickly after realising that Raye was there Emerald moved next to Darien, trying to slip her clothes back on. She got up and walked past Raye awkwardly turning to Darien and she said "Call me" and left soon after. Darien moved his arms to rest behind his head.

"You could have knocked" he said sharply.

Raye rolled her eyes. Darien really didn't care for steady relationships; all he wanted was to get laid with different girls. "I need your help" said Raye. She really hated asking for help from her older brother but she needed it.

"You couldn't have waited"? asked Darien referring to what had just happened.

"Oh please grow up now I need a favour from you" said Raye trying to get back on topic.

"What kind of favour"? asked Darien knowing that his sister almost never came to him for help so it must be a last resort situation.

"I want you to go out with Beryl….again" said Raye.

" I'm not even going to bother answering that because I think you know what I'm going to say" said Darien putting his clothes on whilst Raye turned around.

"Come one, please. Did you see the monstrosity of a routine she is trying to make us do" replied Raye trying to get him to see the problem.

"It's just cheerleading, it's not like it's a real sport and if you hate what she is doing so much than you shouldn't have let her be captain" said Darien as he walked out of the room. Raye followed him down the hall.

"I'll pretend you didn't say that and all I'm saying is date her for like two months" said Raye knowing her brother wasn't going to like this.

" Get one of your moron friends to do it" said Darien.

" I just need you to convince her to change the routine that's it." said Raye.

"I'll think about." said Darien.

"Yeah well don't think to long because I don't want West high winning this year again." yelled Raye at her brother. Raye got to her bedroom and walked onto her balcony watching her brother take off in his car. He never was ever help.

Raye retraced her step outside her bedroom only to see her father waiting. "Where did your brother go"? he asked.

"I'm not sure" she answered. Raye had never had a great relationship with her father. She had figured out along time ago that it was because a Shields had never been born a female. Raye was much to feminist to care about his views. "Well when you see him tell him to come to my office" .

"Okay" Raye was about to go call Mina or Lita when she stopped and turned to face her father. "Did you hear about what happened to Jenna and Tyson Morasca"? Asked Raye. She saw a flicker of loss but it was gone so quickly she wasn't sure if it was real. "Yes I heard" he replied Simply to her. "Well apparently Jenna Morasca is Mina and Lita's Aunt that eloped with a gardener, did you know her"? asking another question. "Of course but a very long time ago when she was Jenna Shallows" he answer in a tone that left her know to say no more on the subject. Raye watched him slam the door to his office. Turning back she picked up her phone to call her friend.