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It'd practically been a week and Bianca and her aunt still couldn't manage to find any jobs. Bianca was searching as hard as she could, but that didn't seem to matter to her aunt. She was constantly being yelled at for not finding a job, and she hated it. She was trying her best, but her aunt never understood that. It was Saturday morning now, and Bianca finally reached the point where she couldn't take it anymore. Her aunt Juliana was getting on her last nerves. She was drinking past the legal limit every day, and she was sitting at home and doing nothing! Bianca had never seen her like this, and it frightened and shocked her all at the same time.

She left without muttering anything to her aunt, and she quickly decided to head over to the Dot. There were tears in her eyes but she wiped them off quickly, she didn't want anyone to see her like that.

...

By the time she arrived she had finally calmed down enough to stop her tears. She just didn't understand what was going on. She knew Juliana was under pressure, but why did she always take that out on Bianca? Still, she forced herself to be strong. That's how she had always been. From the time that both of her parents died, to now. She entered the Dot, ready to drown out her sorrows in a big burger, fries, and a shake. She ordered just that and the waiter flashed her a comforting smile and told her that he'd be on it. She took a seat in an empty table as she pulled out her phone. There were text messages from Fitz and Owen but she didn't bother to answer them. She had agreed to a relationship with Fitz but right now she really didn't feel like talking to anyone. She just wanted to eat her food in peace and be alone with her thoughts for once.

The waiter came back with her order and she mumbled a bitter thank you as she dug into her food. She really didn't care who was watching her at the moment. Half way through her meal she looked up and she felt like screaming her head off. There was Clare Edwards, once again. How many times was she going to have to see the freak? She thought to herself.

Clare was seated with a group of people that Bianca didn't know. She had seen Clare with Eli, Adam, Alli, and Jenna, but she had never seen these people before. The curious side of her wondered who they were, but then she remembered, she didn't care. She didn't give a crap about Clare Edwards anyway. The girl was just a pain in her ass. She continued eating as she tried not to look at Clare, she didn't want to draw any attention to herself.

...

Clare was sitting with a few members from church on Saturday. She really just wanted to get out of the house, and since her boyfriend was busy today, she figured why not hang out with the church? Her parents had been fighting non stop lately, and she really didn't want to deal with it. The church members talked about their personal struggles with faith, and that's when everything just started pouring out for Clare. She told them about her family issues and she wondered if she should have done that. Her family had this reputation to keep up. They were supposed to be the 'Perfect Christian Family', but the truth was, they were just as dysfunctional as everyone else. Clare knew God would help her get through it, but sometimes the burdens felt so heavy that she wasn't sure if she could make it. She still kept her faith though because she knew that all of these obstacles would only make her stronger.

As the group talked and laughed, she turned her head and noticed Bianca sitting there alone. How many times had she run into the girl now? Clare thought to herself. But then she thought maybe it was a sign. Maybe Clare was supposed to talk to Bianca, or be friends with her, or something. She didn't want to bother Bianca, but she felt something pulling at her to go to talk to Bianca, and now was the perfect time. It's not like Clare had anything to hide, but she didn't exactly want to answer questions from Adam, Eli, and Alli about why she was hanging out with Bianca.

"You guys, I'll just be a minute ok?"

The group nodded and continued talking, and Clare drew in a deep breath as she walked over to Bianca.

...

Bianca could hear light footsteps and she looked up to see a petite girl with porcelain skin and curly brown hair. She rolled her eyes.

Of course it was Clare.

She put her shake down as she glared at Clare, "What is it Edwards? Can't I just eat in peace?"

Surprisingly Clare chuckled at this, "Of course, I just wanted to see how you were doing. May I sit down?"

Bianca rolled her eyes, "It's a free country."

Clare took a seat across from her as she played with her hands nervously, "So..."

"So what Clare?"

"I was just wondering-"

"It's not always good to wonder"

Clare rolled her eyes at Bianca's sassy comments, "Ok Bianca, you can refrain from your comebacks you know? It's just me."

"And what's that's supposed to mean?"

"Ugh! Nothing I was just going to ask you," she looked down at the table shyly, "How is your aunt?"

For a minute Bianca didn't say anything. She had expected another sermon, but this, this was far from that. She let out a bitter chuckle, "Well she lost her job and now we both have to start looking for jobs or else we'll have to move. We haven't had any luck yet."

"I'm sorry," Clare said.

"Unless you were the one that fired her, you have nothing to be sorry about."

Clare tossed her a small smile and nodded.

"Besides, I guess not everyone gets to be happy right?"

"What?"

"Isn't that how your little God works? He gives some people perfect families and then the other ones he just says screw you to? That's how it feels," Bianca stated bitterly.

"No family is perfect Bianca."

"Oh really? Last time I checked your parents were still alive and you didn't have to live with your aunt. Last time I checked you weren't looking for a job. Your little parents have everything figured out don't they?" Bianca accused.

Clare was fed up with this, but she tried to keep her composure, "Don't pretend like you know me ok? You know nothing about my family!"

Bianca was surprised to hear Clare raise her voice, but before she could mutter another word Clare kept talking.

"I know you've been through a lot Bianca, but that doesn't mean it's ok for you to be rude to the people around you. All I'm trying to do is be a friend, because everyone needs a friend Bianca. And for your information my family is far from perfect. They argue everyday and they're planning on getting a divorce."

"Clare-"

"No, just listen ok? They have no idea what kind of stress that is on me. I've grown up with my family being a loving little family, and then all of the sudden something changes," Clare felt something getting caught in her throat as her eyes began to sting but she kept talking, "They stop going out on little dates. They stop giving each other hugs and kisses and sooner or later all they have left is the routine."

"Alright Clare! I get it. I guess your family isn't perfect, but at least they're alive. My parents died when I was three years old. All I have is my aunt right now, and I don't even know if she likes me." Saying everything out loud made Bianca want to cry, "I don't have anyone Clare."

Clare cleared her throat as she looked at Bianca, "Did you know I have a sister Bianca?"

"No."

"Her name is Darcy. She was raped," Clare could barely say the word without breaking down, "And then she took off. She was the closest thing that I ever had. My parents never really payed attention to me when I was younger and my sister was everything to me. When she got raped she changed. She felt like she had no one, and then she took off to Africa. I haven't even heard from her since that day!"

Bianca didn't know what to say. She wanted to say that she was sorry but she couldn't get the words out of her mouth.

Clare drew in another breath, "All I'm saying is that...God gives us hardships. He never said life was going to be easy, but if we just let everything that's happening to us control what we do with our life, then we're going to end up miserable. You always have someone Bianca, you always have God."

Bianca thought that she would yell at Clare for preaching again, but she didn't. She just sat there, completely astonished. She never expected anything to be wrong with Clare's family and it made her wonder how she had the strength to keep believing in a God that let all of these things happen. Interrupting the two teens intense gaze, her phone rang. It was Fitz.

"I...I have to go," Bianca mumbled as she grabbed her bag.

"Just think about what I said ok?"

Bianca felt herself nodding as she made her way out the Dot. She answered her phone in the process, "Hey Fitz."

"Hey, I need to see you like now."

Bianca smiled, "That bad huh?"

"This isn't the time to be cute Bee!" Fitz snapped.

Bianca was confused now, "Hey don't yell at me! Now what's going on?"

"Your little friend...he's back. And he wants to see you."

"My little friend?"

"Anson."

The word sent a shiver down her spine. She felt her throat become dry, "No...No that can't-"

"He sent me a little message today. Told me that if he didn't see you soon something bad was going to happen."

Bianca couldn't speak now. Her past was coming back to haunt her and she wasn't sure what to do.

"Bee? Be careful. Please be very careful. You know as well as I do that this guy is capable of anything."

"Yeah," she cleared her throat, "Alright. Fitz, I'll meet you at the Rave."

"Alright, be there in 10."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think :)