Disclaimer:

The following story is completely fictional. It is merely the work of an over-active imagination from the mind of a bored and stressed author. I have no affiliation with A&E or the Chapman family. If I did, I wouldn't be writing this ;)

Chapter 1

Brielle sighed wearily as she walked out of her classroom at Koontsville, looking for Erin, whom she had met through her cousins. Another school year started. She stopped at her locker to drop off her books when Erin ran up behind her, leaning against the lockers and breathing deeply.

"What's up with you?"

"We have to get out of here, before they show up."

"They?"

"There's this group of guys, a gang, they like to beat up on kids after school."

"That's horrible!"

"Yeah, well, I'd rather not be around when they show up." Erin pulled Brielle after her, a death grip on her arm. She shook her head at her friend and pulled on her arm.

"I can walk by myself, thank you very much." Finally pulling free from Erin's hold, she stopped and pulled her backpack up on her shoulder as Erin let out an exasperated sigh but stayed with her friend. They replayed the day's events to each other as they walked towards the front doors, Brielle pausing as Erin came to a stop in front of her. Glancing out the doors, she saw a group of boys standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Um, can we go back inside? I forgot my homework."

"Oh, for the love of God, come on!" Brielle grabbed Erin's arms and pulled her down the steps, holding her head high and not making eye contact with any of guys.

"Hey, girls, how was school?"

"Um…"

"Erin, don't. Just follow me." She pulled her friend's arm and refused to look at the group.

"Wait up!" Brielle had to stop to keep from running into the guy in front of her.

"What?"

"You're new here, aren't you? I've never seen you before." Brielle pushed Erin back towards the school instinctively and kept a wary eye on the guy in front of her. He looked at her as a cheetah would watch its soon-to-be helpless prey.

"Sorry to disappoint the welcoming committee, but I already had the tour. Thanks." She pushed forcefully through the group, knocking one guy back a step.

"That's not very nice," he told her, grabbing onto her upper arm. Brielle winced, knowing there would be a bruise later, as she turned around. The guy raised his hand and connected with her mouth, drawing blood. Lifting a hand gingerly to her lips, she felt the blood and turned to face the group.

"You know why you should never hit a girl?" She kicked her knee up into his stomach then, when he doubled over in pain, elbowed him in the nose. "We'll hit back. Harder."

Turning around in a circle, she looked to see if anyone would come at her and as her eyes rested on the person off to her side, she froze.

Instead of rushing forward to help his friend, Leland stood still, his eyes on Brielle. He tried to tell her, without words, that he had no part in what had happened, that he hadn't wanted this.

Brielle's face hardened and she spun around, stalking away from the school and down the street. She couldn't believe Leland never told her that he was in a gang. She'd trusted him, opened up to him in ways she'd never done before. He knew her secrets, her deepest fears. After spending a month together, getting to know each other, he'd never mentioned anything to her.

Erin ran after her friend quickly, not wanting to be the one the boys took their anger out on. She saw the way Brielle had looked at one of the boys, almost like she knew him. He hadn't moved to help his friend, just stood there looking at Brielle, almost pleading with her. They couldn't possibly know each other, could they?

"Bri, wait up!" Brielle didn't look back, but she did slow down slightly. "What was that about?"

"What was what about?"

"Don't," Erin told her, glaring slightly, "even try that. You know."

"Leland and I live next door to each other."

"So, that's where you've been hiding out!"

"Anyway, he never once mentioned anything about a gang." Erin could see that she was really hurt and put a comforting arm around her.

"Maybe he didn't want to disappoint you, or hurt you."

"Well, he did." Brielle pulled away and walked to the river near her house where she knew she could be alone for a while. The same spot Leland showed me when we first met. Tears formed in her eyes as she climbed the large rock and lay back but she refused to let them out.

"Bri?" She closed her eyes and sat up, turning her back to the river.

"What?"

"Come on, just let me explain."

"Fine." Leland sighed and crawled up behind her; this was not going to be easy.

"I'm sorry; I didn't realize it would bother you so much."

"It did."

"I'm really sorry. I didn't tell you because…" he broke off, not wanting to continue. She turned to face him, and when he saw the hurt in her eyes, it hit him. Hard.

"Well?"

"I thought that if you knew you wouldn't want to hang out anymore."

"That's not enough to chase me away, Leland. If anything, it makes me want to stay and help."

"Help me how?"

"You have no idea what you're doing to yourself with all these drugs."

"So? That's my problem and what I do is none of your business," he told her, turning away.

"Leland, you made it my business the day you came over," Brielle snapped. "I realize where you've been throughout the summer, every time I had to watch your sister/brother when Duane Lee wasn't around."

"Why do you care?"

"You're my friend, that's why. If you want to be an arrogant bastard, fine. I want no part in it." She jumped off the rock and walked away, not stopping when Leland called after her. She took off in a run after she crossed the street, the tears now threatening to spill onto her cheeks.

Turning up an alley, she took out her key ring and picked up the one she was looking for. Brielle held her head high as she walked down the backside of Bail Bonds Alley. Checking the back door on one building, she took a deep breath before unlocking the door and letting herself in. As expected, no one was in the main room even though there was a light on in the side room. She walked over to the office and curled up in a chair, closing her eyes and letting herself relax.

A while later, she heard the back door open and she stretched in the chair before exiting the office. Duane and Tim were talking to their latest captive so she stayed near the office door, waiting for them to finish. Tim noticed her first and motioned her over. Brielle obeyed, walking timidly over to the couch where he sat. As she sat down, a uniformed officer entered from the front door and Duane moved to meet him.

"What happened?" Tim asked her gently, not wanting to draw the officer's attention.

"Some guy at school hit me. It's okay, though. I gave him a bloody nose before he could do it again." Tim smiled and ruffled her hair affectionately.

"There's my girl. Do you want something cold for your lip?" Brielle nodded and Tim went to the fridge to see what he could find.

"Okay there, Brielle?" She nodded at Duane as Tim handed her a can of soda, then started to clean the blood from her face. She sat still as he washed away the blood, and then put the cold can to her lips. "Who was it?"

"I don't know, but you can ask your son."

"It was someone Leland knew?" She nodded again, looking up when Duane sighed.

"I don't think he wanted it to happen. I can't believe he never told me he was in a gang."

"I'm sorry you had to find out that way. I've been trying to get him out of that gang for a while. He just won't do anything." Brielle was silent, thinking over the little signs she had seen over the past month and not understood what they meant, until now.

The tears that had been threatening to spill finally made their way slowly down her cheeks. Duane knelt down in front of her and pulled her to him, letting her cry on his shoulder as Tim rubbed her back and whispered words of comfort. Brielle held on tightly to Duane, grateful for what they both did for her. Even after her tears had dried, they insisted she stay so they could watch over her. Leland had brought her down to his dad's office a few days after they had met, and she instantly became attached to Duane and Tim. Smiling as she listened to them talking, she closed her eyes and let herself sleep.

**A/N: If you would like photos , drop a review or send me an e-mail (AIM - ravenofnevermore) and I'll send you the link. For some reason it doesn't like my link.**