Hello again. I needed to get these first chapters done. I know it's hard to get into a story without much context. And of course, a plot is already unfolding. Warning: contains peer pressure, mentions of rape, and crude language. If you don't like it, don't read it! Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Gil's Pov

Finally, senior year is here. I honestly didn't think I'd make it this far. My grades are shit and my behavior record is trash, but I made it through three years of high school. I can do one more year. I hopped out of bed, full of enthusiasm. I'm going to start this year right! I'm going to stay positive. I will not have a repeat of previous years. I suddenly heard screaming from the hallway.

"Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit! I don't want to hear any more excuses! You are a man in this household! You are supposed to help support this family!"

"Father, it's not my fault. They fired me out of nowhere-"

There was a loud smack and a slight thud. Likely Ludwig catching his balance on the wall.

"I said no more excuses! What about your sister? Do you expect her to get a job? That is not her role. You are responsible if we lose our house. The electric bill is due tomorrow. Find a way to pay it or get out!"

Stomps receded down the hall and into the distance before there was a door slam. This was a normal morning for our family. Dad always yelling at Ludwig, and if he knew I was awake, I'd get another "lecture" on my grades and behavior. Talks on how to please men in society and how to be a lady. All that bullshit. My father wasn't exactly the gentlest person either... But he knew where to strike so no one saw the bruises. Ludwig opened my door and walked in. Now facing me.

"I'm sorry we woke you. You should get ready for school. We have twenty minutes before we have to leave."

"Ludwig, let me see it. I know he hit you."

He turned. I shot towards him and touched the wound gently.

"Oh my god...he's never hit your face before. He must've been beyond pissed."

"Well, I did lose my job. I didn't think he'd be happy about it. They found out I wasn't eighteen, and cut me just like that. Never mind I've been working there loyally for two years. Or that I'll be eighteen in three weeks." Ludwig sighed.

He had been working illegally at a club as a bartender since he was sixteen. Faked an I.D. and birth certificate to get the job. He worked so hard every day to provide for the family, and so Dad would be satisfied enough not to beat him every second. Usual part-time teen jobs didn't way enough to pay bills and Dad's alcohol problem.

"It'll be okay, West. You'll find a new job soon. Just start applying, and they'll come flooding in. You'll see!" I punched him lightly in the arm.

He smiled slightly. "Sure. If you say so."

"C'mon, let's clean that up. It'll bruise for sure, so make up a juicy story."

We headed to bathroom. He sat on the toilet seat and started poking the wound. He shouldn't do that. It's making it worse. I dabbed some rubbing alcohol on it with cotton swabs and got him some pain meds out of the medicine cabinet. Once I declared that he was all done, I headed to my room to get ready for the day. Picked out some tee shirt and shorts. No need to dress up, it's just school. As I pulled the shirt over my head, my phone buzzed. A text...from Elizabeta.

"Hello my lovely! Can't wait to see you at school! I've missed you! XoXo 3"

I smiled. She always sent the nicest "good morning" texts. She's been my girlfriend for a little over a year now. We've had normal couple disputes here and there, but it's nothing that a little make-up sex can't fix. That's the best kind. Hot and gentle, filled with hate and love. I texted back...

"I missed you too, babe. Betcha' can't wait to see this hot bod! Just kidding, love you too. See ya there."

I looked at the time on my phone and saw that it had been twenty-three minutes since Ludwig had told me that I had twenty to get ready. He'd better not leave me again! I grabbed my binder and rushed out the door. He was pulling out of the driveway! Asshole!

"Ey! Wait, what the hell, bro. I was coming!"

"I told you twenty minutes." He was so stern.

"Whatever Liz texted me, and I got distracted. You know how she is. I gotta text back. Plus, I miss her so..."

"Just buckle up so we can go. You'll see her soon enough." He smiled and put the gear in reverse. God, I can't wait to see her. I've never told her, but she's the light of my life. I love her so much.

Amelia's Pov (Earlier that morning)

I headed up the porch, and knocked on the door. Francis opened the door dramatically.

"Ah hello mon amour! I'm so happy you came. I need to talk to you."

I put on the sternest face possible. "Yeah well, I'm just curious, so don't think this doesn't change anything. I'm still mad." I lifted my chin high to give out a confident vibe.

"Of course, I would expect it. Come and sit. I'll get you a glass of water."

He blew a kiss and headed to the kitchen. I sat on the sofa with my hands in my lap, sitting up straight. I want him to know that I wouldn't be persuaded so easily into forgiveness. I will be stern with him. I'm tired of being a pushover. He headed over with a glass of water, he gave it to me and sat down. Good, at a respectable distance away.

"So, the real reason I wanted you to come over was so we can talk about boundaries. You said you have boundaries, and I need to know if they've changed after last night."

This didn't sound like an apology...

"My boundaries...are the same. Stop above the waist. Everything below is off limits. Kissing and making out if fine."

"But mon cher, you seemed like you wanted a lot more than that last night."

I squinted suspiciously. "Everything that I did last night was within my boundaries. You are the one who overstepped." I was getting mad. "I was fine with little traced over my leg, but as soon as your hand went up to where it wasn't supposed to be, I stopped it."

"I slowly moved up. I gave you plenty of chances to stop me before I-"

"That's not the point Francis! I pulled away. You got mad. I wanted to stop. You forced yourself on me. I TOLD YOU TO STOP, AND YOU DIDN'T!" I was fuming.

"You cannot simply kiss a man the way you did and then suddenly stop. That's unfair. What about my needs. You caused me to get all hot and bothered, so you should help take care of it."

"But I said stop. Do not turn this around on me! It is not my fault. I am not a slut to told what to do and who to please! Waiting until I'm completely sure is important to me. You're supposed to care about what's important to me, Francis. That's how relationships work! It's not all about your sexual needs!"

"You weren't sure? You seemed sure by the way you were rubbing on me. Grinding on me. Kissing me with those lips." He moved toward me and leaned closer. "You were asking for it."

SMACK!

I slapped him hard. My face was red and tears were pricking my eyes.

"How dare you. I did not ask you to force yourself on me. You were going to rape me Francis if I hadn't stopped you. You didn't give a damn if I was ready. All you thought was that you were horny and you were ready. Not for one second did you think about me."

"I did think about you. About how look you'd look sprawled out underneath me. What noises you'd make-"

I punched him. Hard in the face. God, it hurt my hand so much. But he looked in worse shape than my hand did.

"That's it. We're over Francis. Don't every speak to me again. Stay the hell away from me."

I stormed out ignoring his strings of cursing about how I ruined his beautiful face. I don't care. He hurt me worse. I need to call Mattie. I dialed her number and it started ringing...

"Hello?"

"Hey Mattie, I need you to come pick me up from Francis' place."

"He's not giving you a ride?"

"...No, it's over between us. I'll tell you what happened on the way."

"Okay Ams, I'll be there in ten."

Mattie's Pov

I left the house in just enough time to avoid one of Papa's bear hugs. I knew things with Amelia and Francis wouldn't work out. He had a douchey vibe. Seemed way too about himself and not enough about Amelia. I stopped giving her my opinion years ago. She doesn't listen anyway.

I pulled up to Francis' house, and Amelia got into the car quickly. She buckled up and took a deep breath. Seemed like one she had been holding in for a while.

"Drive."

"Okay, fine." I started the route to school. She was inspecting her hand. It was bruised terribly.

"Oh my gosh, what happened to your hand?"

"Francis said that I was asking for it...and some other lewd offensive things..."

"And?"

"I punched him in the face..." She shrugged.

"What?!" I laughed. I haven't laughed like that in a long time. My sister just punched a guy in the face. She finally did it. After all the bullshit she put up with!

"I couldn't just let him say that to me!" She started laughing as well.

We just went into those long-lasting laugh fits. We were both red-faced and crying, we were laughing so hard. It's nice to have a good laugh with your sister every once in a while. We both settled and took deep breathes. Amelia sighed.

"I think I'm done with relationships for a while. I want the next guy I get with to be a serious commitment. I want him to commit. Just as much as I do."

"That's a good idea. I'm sure you'll find him someday."

She's said all this before. It's never worked out. She always goes back to the same routine of douchey guys who only care about sex. They never really get to know her as a person. I'm not even sure if some of the guys even care to learn her name. Once they don't get what they're after (sex), they ditch her. And I'm always here to pick up the pieces. The caregiver. That the kind of person I am. With my family and all my friends. Well, all three of them anyway. I guess that's just the role my personality gives off. The traffic to the school entrance pulled me out of my thoughts. I hadn't even noticed Amelia's terrible music choice. They're checking student I.D. and parking decals, do you have yours? She pulled hers out of her wallet and handed it to me.

We checked in past the gate and I parked in my usual spot. Close to the band hall so I can quickly get out quickly and beat the traffic. I looked at Amelia.

"Ready? This is our last year." I held my hand out.

"Let's make it count!" She took my hand and we made a thumb wrestle hold. We kissed our own thumbs and pulled away. Our twin handshake. We got out of the car and headed inside.

What Mattie and Gil didn't know was that they both had the same exact thought when they stepped foot into the school... "I'm ready to get out of here."

This is chapter two! I hope it provided a little context into everyone's lives and personalities. Reviews are always great. Can't wait to write chapter three. :)