Chapter II

-Claire POV-

As we walk home from school Fang acts as silly as ever, always joking around and saying things that don't make sense. She may act all layed back and carefree but when it comes to people she cares about she can become a totally different person... almost scary. I've known Fang since I was in 8th grade yet I still don't know who she truly is. We are closing in fast towards the end of Junior year and I'm worried because Fang's grades are dropping she seems depressed too. It's unlike her, she is always at the top of her class.

"Well we're here! At the doors to hell!" Fang yells loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Stop being overly dramatic Fang, you'll live" I say while trying to role my eyes as if I'm annoyed.

But I know she isn't being dramatic, she is living in hell and I don't understand how she can continue joking and smiling about it.

I wait for her to walk up the stairs but she just sits on the steps to the Orphanage.

"Fang you're already late, if you walk in now you might be able to get away with it." I say worriedly

"Tch hell no princess, I'd rather chill out here than go in there. I can take a few taps from the old hag!" Fang says with a smile.

I know Fang just says this so I stop arguing but I feel sad that she has this faux mask on that hides the pain. I want to be able to see that so I can comfort her, help her, do something. I want her to be comfortable enough to talk to me about this but all she does is brush it off with a joke.

Me and Claire chat more before I see the black Mercedes pull up beside the curb. I get up and start walking to the car while my butler Mr. Lehner starts to get out of the car to open my door.

"I got it , but thanks" I say while walking to the door.

I never have felt it necessary for people to do things for me just because I have money and status. I want people to do things for me because they respect me for me.

" See ya Claire!" I hear Fang yell loudly. I nod at her and try to resist smiling at her silliness. I watch her as the car starts pulling away and immediately see her expression change from that goofy and cocky smile to a frown as she reaches for the intercom button.

-Fang POV-

I walk up to my room with my back and arms on fire from the blows the old hag gave me.

I wonder why she even does this job if she hates all of us.

I immediately head to the bathroom to get a cold rag to put on my forming bruises just to get some sort of relief. I then jump into my top bunk to rest before dinner.

I don't understand why I got such an unfair life, there are people out there who do nothing for the world but harm it and are so privileged. What have I done to deserve this life?

-Flashback 9 Years Ago-

"You are never here to spend time with your kids! All you do is sleep! And you show no maturity or responsibility!" I hear my mom yell

This is a normal occurrence in my house, yelling, screaming, items being thrown and doors slamming. My sister Vanille starts to cry, I don't like to see her cry so I usher her into my room and turn on my small boombox with music trying to drown out the yelling.

"Hey Vanille! Why don't we have a party with your Barbie dolls?" I saw while trying to act excited.

I hate Barbie Dolls, I'm more of a lego and G.I Joe girl.

However seeing her eyes light up in excitement counteracts my distaste in Barbies. We play until eventually I hear the noise die down, a door slams and there are soft sobs. I get up and turn off the boombox and take Vanille's hand to go investigate.

"Momma? Are you ok?" I say softly while seeing the tears run down my mom's face.

"Here mommy, don't be sad." Vanille says while handing a box of tissues to my mom

"I'm ok girls, thank you. I love you girls." My mother says while hugging me and Vanille.

-Present-

I suppose that was always common till about 7th grade when my parents decided to divorce. I never knew that the environment I lived wasn't normal or healthy. I only figured it out when I was 10 and had a friend come over, she always commented on how my parents fought and how parents usually don't fight like my parents do. After that I started observing other families and realized I was living in a different world. I was always a daddy's girl, he let me stay up as late as I wanted to, eat whatever I wanted to and let me skip school. As a kid this made me favor him over my mom, but as I got older I realized I didn't want to have instability or be living without structure. I realized why my mom was so strict with me, she wanted me to succeed in life. My dad didn't care about anything except being liked and having fun. I didn't want to turn out like him, lazy and a life with no goal. Me and my dad's relationship grew apart, he treated mom like crap. He constantly said things about her under his breath not knowing I could hear. It fueled my rage and hate for him and also made me realized I couldn't trust anyone. If someone who had sworn their life and love to another person could turn their back on them and talk shit about them then anyone could do the same to me.

"Fang! Get your ass down here! Dinner is ready!" The hag yells while I jump up and out of my bed not wanting to test her patience any more than I have today.

After eating dinner, which I swear was a smaller amount than everyone else, I went upstairs and layed in my bunk thinking about the blue eyed beauty that insisted on walking me home.

She's not gonna like seeing the bruises on my arms, luckily most of them are on my back so she won't she them.

I've known for a long time I was into girls, in fifth grade my hormones started raging and I think I liked just about every girl in class! However in 8th grade I met Claire, we first crossed paths when I transferred in from another school. At first I thought she hated me but I realized later on it was jealousy. One minute she acted like she wanted to be friends but at other times she seemed angry at me. I think it was mostly because I excelled in academics, not only that but I always came out on top when it came to overall GPA and grades. I was the new "smart kid" and I guess she didn't like that since that used to be her title, but I just wanted to succeed in life. By freshman year she got over her competitiveness and we started to become one day she called me something that changed our relationship forever, she called me her 'friend', and when she called me her friend my wall diminished. And just like that I realized I wanted her in my life, not just at arms length anymore.