Abby had known Holtzmann the longest. She had shown up once at Abby`s lab and never seemed to leave again. Holtzmann wasn't a private person she would happily tell you she was just about to go to the bathroom and she would gladly voice her opinions on matters, matters that often didnt concern her. However Holtzmann didn't mention her family much. Abby knew that Holtz`s mam died when Holtz was only little, she also knew that this was something Holtz didn't like speaking about. Holtz however had never mentioned her father.

Abby shook her head, she knew she had overstepped the mark. Holtz had trusted her enough to tell her about her mother, if she had wanted to share further about her family she would have. She felt guilty that she had made Holtz feel uncomfortable. She sighed and scooped Holtz up into a hug.

"I'm sorry Holtz that wasn't fair" Holtzmann stayed quiet.

"No" she whispered. Abby released her and held her by her elbows. Holtz adjusted her goggles and stated to undo a braid. She wiped off her makeup on her sleeve and hid her painted nails in her pockets.

"Maybe I should tell you" she mumbled.

"Honestly Holtz, you don't have too, it's okay" Abby said soothingly.

"Yeah Holtzy it was just a stupid game" Patty added. Holtz shook her head, she took the last handful of popcorn and started her story.

Holtzmann was only little when her mother died. However she could remember the day it happened, she was playing out in the garden. Her dad came out on the patio and called her name.

"Jillian will you come here a second?" she grinned up at her dad and hopped over to him. He stuck his arms under hers and lifted her inside. He sat down with Holtzmann on his knee, she reached up to pull his ears. He normally would stick out his tongue and make a funny noise, not today. His face stayed sad. Holtzmann wriggled off his lap and stood in front of him.

"Dad" she said quietly. It was then that Holtzmann`s father took her hands and told her of the terrible accident that claimed her mother`s life. Holtzmann cried and cried. Her father took her up to her room and tucked her in.

The weeks after her mother had passed were horrible, Holtzmann`s father would take her to school but would soon have to come and pick her up. She would get into fights, shout at teachers and lock herself in the toilets. The weeks turned into months and soon Holtzmann`s father began to get annoyed.

One day Holtzmann`s father picked Holtz up from school. She flashed a sad smile at the secretary and picked Jillian up. He carried her to the car and drove home in silence. Holtzmann tried to talk to him but he ignored her. Once they arrived back at the house Holtzmann`s dad grabbed her by the arm roughly and dragged her inside. Holtz was scared, her father was never rough with her, and he would never hurt her.

"I'm sick of this Jillian, you need to start behaving" Holtz blinked up at him, then she looked down at her arm, his grip was so tight that red rings began to form. She whimpered and tried to push him off, he pulled her towards him and leered in her face.

"Understand?" he hissed. Holtzmann nodded as tears began to escape from her eyes. Her father let go of her arm and pushed her backwards. Holtz hit the floor, she curled up and cried quietly as her father shut his bedroom door behind him.

Holtzmann didn't create anymore problems at school. She kept her head down and started to work properly. She didn't start any more fights, she didn't snap at any more teachers and she didn't lock herself in anymore toilet cubicles. Her father never mentioned the day where he grabbed her arm, neither did she. He never apologised for it either. He became distant, Holtzmann couldn't remember the last time he joked with her or hugged her. She felt alone. Holtzmann was now a teenager. She didn't have many friends, all the other girls thought she was odd. There was one boy who she would eat her lunch with, they would meet at the science block and discuss physics over their sandwiches.

One day she and George were discussing collision theory, George had finished his tuna sandwich and leaned over to Holtz. She wasn't sure what to do, George was supposed to be her friend. Just a friend. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer. Before Holtzmann could think, his lips came crashing down on hers. He smelt of tuna and it felt all wrong. Holtzmann brought balled fists up to his chest and pushed him away.

"What are you doing?!" she gasped.

"What do you mean!" he whispered.

"George you're just a friend, I don't want..." she was cut off my George trying again. She got up and ran from the classroom. There she ran into her science teacher, tears were spilling from her eyes and she was on the verge of a panic attack. Mrs Lawson bundled her up into a hug and led her to the staffroom. She made Holtz a cup of tea and waited for her to calm down. Holtz told Mrs Lawson about George. She told her that she hadn't wanted too. Mrs Lawson took her hand and squeezed it. All thhe teachers at the school knew about Jillian Holtzmann`s circumstances. Mrs Lawson also knew that Holtz`s father was detached, she knew that no one would have sat down and told Holtz about the birds and the bees. She also knew that Holtzmann pretended to be tough but the assault from George would have devastated her.

Holtzmann wanted to go back to her lessons, however she was shaking so badly that she couldn't even pick up a pen. Against Holtzmann`s wishes Mrs Lawson had to call Holtz`s father.