The way things were going, Jeff found himself looking back on his days at Greendale almost longingly. Dealing with inane classes and the study group's insanity was a cinch compared to the stress he was enduring right now. It was just one thing after another.

First there was the merger situation at work. The Boston firm was causing all sorts of problems with the acquisition. Every day Jeff was either on the phone or skyping with them trying to deal with some new issue. And as each day passed the possibility of traveling to Boston was becoming a reality. And since he was about to get married, this was a great cause for concern.

Then there was the wedding, and all the hassle planning that involved. It seemed there was just one issue after another. Just the other day their DJ canceled because he had inadvertently booked two receptions on the same day, which meant having to scramble to again find someone they both liked to play at their wedding. That was just one problem of many they had to deal with.

But all this stress was nothing compared to what Jeff was going through with his daughter. He knew taking her in wasn't going to be easy, but he never imagined she'd drive him this nuts. It had been almost two months and she still felt the need to rebel and be disobedient. There had been more than one occasion where Jeff had discovered Lexi had snuck out after he and Annie had gone to sleep. Her academic performance in school was also suffering. In addition to the note from her biology teacher, Jeff had received letters indicating she was in danger of failing math and French on her next report card.

Worst of all, things between Lexi and Annie were still terrible. Though Jeff knew Annie had inadvertently hurt Lexi during their fight with the poster, it still didn't excuse how the girl continued to treat his fiancé. And even though she hadn't put anymore artwork back on her door, Lexi still found ways to undermine Annie's authority. No matter how many times Jeff told her enough was enough, Lexi seemed to live to make Annie uncomfortable.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"I just don't know what to do anymore," Jeff spoke into his phone.

Feeling at a loss he had finally decided he needed some advice, and since Shirley had years of experience when it came to raising kids, Jeff figured she'd be a good resource on the matter.

"I'm not faulting you Jeffrey, since this is a tough situation to be in. But you have to lay down the law and let that girl know she can't walk all over the two of you."

"I am! I keep telling her not to do these things. But she won't listen."

"Then you have to do more until you get through to her. Find out what matters and take it away until she gets the message. When Elijah started rebelling I tried taking away TV and video games and it didn't change things. But once I threatened to take him off the lacrosse team he finally started behaving again."

"So you're saying I should just punish her until the message gets through?"

"I'm saying you have to be the parent, and let her know she has to respect her father, and her step mother. If talking doesn't work, you have to try punishment. I know it sucks being the bad guy when it comes to your kids, but sometimes we have to do unpleasant things to get them to listen."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Lexi practically skipped down the hallway in happiness. Her smile grew even wider when she saw Cassidy.

"Cass!" she yelled and ran over to her friend.

"Hey," Cassidy coolly responded.

"What's up with you?" Lexi asked as she kept up with her friend. "Never mind, you'll feel better when you hear what happened. Someone covered Stacy's house with toilet paper last night. Isn't that great?"

"I heard," Cassidy replied. "I thought you might have done it."

"I wish I could take credit, but I didn't do it. But do you know what this means? Egging her car started a rebellion against Miss Bitch! We're working to take down the tyrant that oppresses the people."

"I doubt pulling pranks on Stacy and her family is the same as sparking the French Revolution," Cassidy simply stated.

"What's your problem? You're acting like I've done something wrong."

Cassidy stopped walking and turned to face Lexi, determined to speak her mind. "Lexi, what's going on with you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how you've been acting lately, Lex. You don't do any school work or pay attention in class."

"What are you, my parent?" she scoffed. "So I've been slacking off a bit. It's not the end of the world."

"It's not just that. You keep doing all these stupid things. Like the other night when you texted me at 1am because you 'borrowed' your dad's car and wanted me to go joy riding."

"I thought my best friend would like to have some fun with me, instead of staying in like a goody two shoes," Lexi countered.

"Well, unlike you, I'm not going to sneak out again for a stupid reason. And what about you bragging about how you went drinking with some college guy and dry humped him in his car?"

"See, if you had come with me that night you could have had a college guy of your own," she replied with a grin.

"Do you hear yourself right now?" Cassidy groaned in frustration. "Look…" She glanced around and pulled Lexi aside to a private alcove. "I know it's been rough with your mom and all, but you can't keep lashing out like this."

"I'm not lashing out. I'm just…I've been through a lot. With my mom and moving in with my dad, and having to deal with the Pocket Princess."

"She's not that bad."

"Oh, how would you know Cass? You only met her once for two seconds."

"Because I went over and talked to her, and she seems like a nice person."

"What?" Lexi asked in surprise. "Wait, what? What are you talking about?"

"The other day I talked to Annie, and she-."

"What!" Lexi yelled. "You talked to her about me? How could you do that?"

"I went over to defend you!" Cassidy yelled, matching Lexi's anger. "To tell her off for making you feel unwanted. But she isn't this monster you keep making her out to be. She cares about you and wants to help you."

"Who do you think knows that bitch better? The person who lives with her or someone who talked to her twice? Although for all I know, you two meet all the time, having secret meetings where you gals gossip all about me."

"Do you hear yourself? You sound like a crazy person right now."

"Because I just found out my best friend betrayed me. I thought you were my friend."

"I am your friend Lex. But I'm not going to just stand by while you destroy yourself. I'm trying to help you. Everyone is trying to help you, and all you keep doing is pushing everyone away."

"I'm fine," she hissed. "Have fun with your new bestie."

With that Lexi stormed away.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"I mean, I'm going through some heavy stuff here, and everyone expects me to just get over it."

"Yeah, that's rough," Ian said, glanced at his watch impatiently. He had been listening to the girl go on and on about her problems for twenty minutes. When she texted him that she wanted to see him he'd hoped for a repeat performance of the other night. Or possibly more than just dry humping and hand jobs. But all she wanted to do was talk.

He stroked her hair, pretending to listen as she went on about her friend and some evil princess mother or something. As she leaned against his shoulder he ducked his head down and captured her lips. "Not now," she moaned and tried to pull away. He pulled her into him as he kissed her again, his other hand squeezing her chest. "I said no," she yelled forcefully as she pulled back.

"Okay," he hissed. "Geez, what's with you?"

"I wanted to talk to someone about my problems."

"Then see a therapist." He shook his head as he leaned over and opened the passenger side door of his car. "I should have known better than to get involved with some high school kid. Why don't you just go home, cause I'm not going to sit here and listen to your bullshit all night."

Lexi looked at him in disbelief. "You're an asshole."

She barely got out of the car before he sped off without a second glance in her direction. She watched him drive off before she started walking home.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day Lexi searched the school hallways for Cassidy until she finally spotted her friend exiting the women's room. "Cassie, wait up!"

"What, are you going to yell at me again because I actually care?"

"Cass, I'm sorry, okay. I shouldn't have jumped down your throat like that for trying to help." Lexi sighed at the stony look her friend was giving her. "I went to see Ian last night."

"Who?"

"That guy I fooled around with. He was a dick. I tried talking to him and all he wanted was to screw around with me. And when I said no he made me walk home."

Cassidy's face softened, even though part of her wanted to chastise her for going out and seeing the creep in the first place. "That sucks. Why didn't you call me for a ride?"

"Because you were pissed at me."

"Yeah, I was mad at you. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't have picked you up if you were stranded. Especially from a tool like that."

"Yeah well, it's no big deal. He was an ass. And it's good it didn't go any further. He didn't have a lot to satisfy a girl, if you know what I mean. When I reached in his pants it felt like a cold wet tootsie roll."

Cassidy started giggling, with Lexi following a moment later. Both girls stood laughing for several seconds before Cassidy finally managed to stop. "Listen, I'm sorry for seeing your step mother like that. I was trying to help, but I probably shouldn't have done that."

"Yeah well, I shouldn't have jumped on you either. I know you were just trying to help."

Cassidy nodded as she looked at her friend with concern. "I'm not trying to get on your case, but I am worried about you."

"It's just…it's hard. I keep trying to move on like I'm supposed to, but it still hurts."

"I know. And it probably always will. But you need to do things to deal with the pain that's not so self-destructive."

Just then Lexi felt someone shove into her. She turned around, groaning when she saw who it was. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

"I know you toiled papered my house Lexsity," Stacy sneered. "My parents are pissed. It took forever to get off because it rained."

"Lexsity? It that supposed to be an insult?" Cassidy asked.

Stacy glared at Cassidy before looking back at Lexi. "The only reason my parents aren't suing is because there wasn't any damage."

"Sorry to burst your bubble Stace, but it wasn't me. Because if it was I would have bragged about it to everyone."

"Oh sure, you didn't do it. Just like you didn't egg my car and cause over a thousand dollars worth of damage!"

"Nope, that wasn't me either," Lexi lied, giving her best poker face.

"I know it was you."

"How?" Lexi asked. "Do you have any proof? Because unless you have something besides speculation, it's just your word against mine."

"So what, you picked up some lawyer tricks from your daddy Ginger Scarecrow?" Stacy huffed in frustration

"I'm just telling it like it is. Unless you have proof that I did those things, you've got nothing."

She and Cassidy started to walk away when Stacy yelled, "It's a good thing your mom's dead. Now she doesn't have to waste her life with a little cunt like you."

With a furious scream Lexi charged over, fists clenched and shaking in rage, and clocked Stacy in the face. Stacy gasped in horror before Lexi tackled her to the ground, punching her as Stacy grabbed and pulled at Lexi's hair as hard as she could. Both girls rolled around as a crowd gathered, cheering and egging the girls on. Cassidy ran over and tried to pry them apart until security broke through the crowd and pulled the two girls off each other.

"You're going to pay for this you bitch!" Stacy yelled. "You're going to pay!"

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Annie slowly opened her eyes as she pushed herself up on the couch. It was unusual for her to unexpectedly take a nap like that. She didn't even remember falling asleep. Though considering how tired and worn out she'd been feeling lately, a nap didn't seem that bad of an idea.

She reached for her phone on the coffee table, which was the cause of her waking up. "Jeff…wait, what happened?...Okay, I'll be right over."

Twenty minutes later Annie pulled the school doors open and walked down the hallway before arriving at the principal's waiting area, where Jeff was already sitting on a wooden bench, along with two other adults. "Jeff, what happened? You said there was a fight…?"

"Yeah." He quickly got up and took Annie's bag from her before they sat down. "Are you okay? You look exhausted."

"I'm fine. Just tell me what happened."

"Apparently Lexi got into a fight with another girl."

"Apparently," Mr. Cumberdale curtly stated. "From the bruises on my daughter's face I'd say they definitely got into a fight."

Before Jeff could respond the office door opened and Lexi and Stacy walked out. Principal Buxton stuck her head out a moment later.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cumberdale, Mr. Winger, Ms. Edison. You can come in now."

The four adults went into the office and sat in the chairs lined in front of the large wooden desk.

"Thank you for coming as quickly as you did. I'll get to the point. Both of your daughters, Miss Cumberdale and Miss Milton, got into a fight this morning. Miss Milton was the one who instigated the altercation, although I've had several people say that Miss Cumberdale verbally instigated things until they escalated into physical violence."

"Why were they fighting?" Annie asked.

"Because she's a terror," Mrs. Cumberdale coolly stated. "My Stacy says she's the one who's been vandalizing our property. She should be thrown in jail where she belongs."

"Don't talk about my daughter like that," Jeff snapped.

"People!" Principal Buxton sternly said. "Whatever has happened off school grounds is not our concern at the moment." She waited until both parents calmed down before continuing. "Now, generally fighting on school grounds is an automatic two week suspension for both parties involved. However, taken into account your daughter's recent hardships Mr. Winger, I'm willing to be lenient. Both girls will receive after school detention for a month."

"A month!" Mr. Cumberdale yelled. "My daughter didn't do anything wrong and you're punishing her-."

"Mr. Cumberdale," Principal Buxton sternly said, cutting the man off. "I could have suspended your daughter as per our policy, but since it wouldn't be fair to be lenient on one person and not the other, she's also getting a lighter punishment. And if I may speak openly, this is not the first time she's gone out of her way to be verbally abusive to someone. Frankly, someone attacking her out of anger was just a matter of time."

Mr. Cumberdale stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. "I'm going to speak to the school board about how you run this school because clearly you're not fit to be in the educational system." With that he walked out of the office, his wife following right behind him.

"I'd like to talk to the two of you for a moment please," Principal Buxton said as Jeff and Annie started to leave. She waited until they sat back down before continuing. "I am well aware of the emotional toll of losing a parent. My father died when I was 29 and it took me close to a year to fully make peace with it. As a result, we have shown great leniency to Miss Milton during this time. But her current behavior will no longer be tolerated, no matter what personal issues she is going through. Her grades have steadily fallen, her teachers say she frequently skips classes and doesn't pay attention when she's there. She's been allowed to do whatever she wants in the name of dealing with her grief and it's going to stop."

"She's just…" Jeff said before trailing off, knowing he didn't have any sort of defense.

"I get that you're concerned for your daughter Mr. Winger, but letting her constantly get away with things is not the answer. My decision not to suspend her is the last bit of leniency myself or any other faculty member will be showing her. From here on out she will be expected to shape up and toe the line, regardless of what she's going through. I hope you will make sure she ships up outside of school too."

"We are," Annie quickly stated. "We'll make sure her behavior improves and that she does as well in school as she did before."

"I hope so. I believe Alexis has lots of potential and a bright future. I'd hate for it to be thrown away. I have some paper-work to finish up. I'm sure you two can find your way out. Hopefully the next time we meet it's under much better circumstances."

"I hope so too," Jeff said as he and Annie got up to leave. "Goodbye."

As they left the office, Lexi was standing by herself in the waiting room while Stacy and her family were glaring at her.

"Let's go Lexi."

"Just a minute," Mr. Cumberdale called out. "I have a few things to discuss with you regarding your daughter."

"Now is not the time," Jeff sternly stated.

"I think it is," Mrs. Cumberdale smugly replied. "Look at the bruises on our daughter's face. We have half a mind to call our lawyer and sue you over this."

"I'd like to see you try. I'd just love to tear apart whatever dime store ambulance chaser you guys have," Jeff angrily said.

"We have one of the best lawyers in the state at our disposal, thank you very much," Mrs. Cumberdale arrogantly stated. "By the time he's done with you you'll wish your little hell brat had never even spoken to our precious Stacy."

Both Jeff and Lexi opened their mouths to start yelling. But before they could get a word out Annie stepped forward, cold fury radiating from every muscle in her face.

"Don't you dare talk about her like that," she coldly stated, as all three Cumberdales looked on in surprise. "She has more integrity than your daughter could ever hope for. Just from the things Lexi has said your daughter's done, I can attest she had every right to stand up for herself. And," she focused her attention on Stacy. "If you do anything else to mock that girl or her mother, anymore on-line postings where you say it's a good thing her mother is dead, you and your entire family are in for a world of dread."

Annie turned on her heels and walked out of the building, with Lexi and Jeff following in complete shock.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The drive home was extremely tense. Jeff gripped the steering wheel tightly, while Annie leaned her head against the car window. And Lexi fidgeted nervously in the back seat, knowing the hammer was about to come down.

"I know you're going to say I shouldn't have fought her, but she deserved it for saying-."

"Stop talking," Jeff sternly said. She shut her mouth as Jeff turned his body enough so he could see Lexi while keeping his eyes on the road. "I don't care what caused you to think it'd be a good idea to go all fight club today. All of it's going to stop. The fights and sneaking out and slacking off, they all end now. You think you can do whatever you want and everyone has to let you because you're dealing with things. Well, guess what? You're not the only one who's dealt with loss. My dad walked out on me when I was a kid and my mom didn't let me get away with half the stuff I've let slide with you."

Annie looked at Jeff as he continued to discipline his daughter. "You think a month's detention is bad? That's nothing. Starting now you're on complete lock down. No phone, no computer, no lap top, no sketch pad or art supplies. For the next two months the only time you're not at home studying is when you're at school. That means no seeing friends, no going out, no texting, nothing."

"But dad-."

"Don't 'but dad' me. You argue and I'll make it three months. Try me."

"We're doing this because we care about you, not to hurt you," Annie said.

"Sure Pocket Princess," Lexi snidely said, although it was more out of habit than true malice.

Without warning Jeff slammed on the brakes, and everyone lurched forward in their seats. Before the rubber on the tires could even stop smoking Jeff fully turned towards his daughter, who shrank back from his anger. "ENOUGH ALRIGHT! I'm tired of you treating Annie like this. She's my fiancé and your future step-mother, and she deserves some respect! She's done everything possible to be there for you and all you've done is treat her like shit. That's going to stop right this second. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," Lexi weakly said. "I'm…I'm sorry Annie."

"Okay," Annie said, startled at Jeff's outburst. She kept quiet as Jeff started the car and continued driving. But she couldn't deny a small part of her was glad to have Jeff stand up for her.