AN: So I'm back. It's been a while but I haven't forgotten about this story or my other one. Thanks for those who have waited patiently and for those who have started following this story recently. I will try my hardest to update on a regular schedule now. Please enjoy this chapter, it's shorter than the rest but it's crucial to the plot.

Disclaimer: I don't own GA or CCS

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Chapter 11 - Siblings

ScarletMidnight19

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Jennifer knew what day it was, she knew what her father would do, but even so it still came as a surprise when loud pounding was heard through her entire apartment. She jumped at the loud noise and made her way to her door. She sighed in exasperation when she saw her personal MUA and Stylist. They on the other hand screamed in excitement.

As they let themselves into her apartment, they started chattering excitedly about today's event.

"So feel old yet?" Her stylist asked

"Not, really. Considering how father likes to coddle me, it's really hard to feel grown."

"But, you're his only daughter and everybody knows how much he likes to brag about you. You're his pride and joy Jenny" Her MUA had said, as he set the makeup on her table.

Jenny could only stay quiet as she looked outside the window. Her mind replaying what he had said.

'Pride and Joy.' She sat contemplating of the truth in those words. Her father had always made time for her, he always praised her in anything she did, and when she finished doing a job he would be the first to call and congratulate her, he then would take her out to dinner. They would go this fancy restaurant, and then they would order their usual. After that they would go on a walk down the beach, the park, or the sidewalk street, just the two of them talking about anything and everything. And when finally it was time to drop her off he would hug her and give her a chaste kiss on the forehead, telling her how proud he was of her.

She let a smile grace her face. 'That's right. I'm his pride and joy.'

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It was just like she expected, Music flowed throughout the manor, lively chatter filling up the rooms. Influential people everywhere she looked, she wouldn't have expected less from her father. As she made way, many greeted her and wished her a happy birthday.

"Jenny!" She turned at the mention of her name, a soft smile emerging at the sight of her father.

"Father" she embraced him.

"How was your day. Did you get all of my gifts?" He asked clearly excited.

"It was great father. And your gifts were amazing, thank you." After her stylist and MUA had finished with her, they had shown her the gifts her father had bought for her. First he had gotten a custom made dress, imported all the way from France. Next he had gotten her a brand new car, custom made as well, and lastly he gave her a Siamese cat. She didn't really care about the dress or the car seeing as she could buy one for herself whenever she wanted to but the gesture was still appreciated, what she loved the most was the cat, which she had named Coco.

"You're very welcome, princess. After all you are my pride and joy"

She smiled.

"You can count on me father to reach the top. To be number one" she said cheekily.

He grabbed her hand giving the top a soft pat as he sighed. "Yes I know. You're the only one who I can count on"

Her smile faltered, as she picked up on the underlying meaning that sentence held. Many people have thought that the Collins Family is a perfect one. Little do they know it's just a cover. The relationship between her and her father is no fake and is actually genuine, but the relationship with her brother now that's another thing. Her little brother and father have never seen eye to eye, they always argued back and forth some even resulting into physical fights, her brother in the receiving end. Her father was always cold towards him, not really caring when he got in trouble in school, or even when something was bothering him. As a result her brother grew distant and aloof. Only speaking when spoken to, and even then he always tended to ignore them. Her relationship with her brother was not the best when they were little and as time grew by their relationship was, basically, non-existent. She never spoke of him, and she never brought him up, as a result many don't even know she has a brother.

She doesn't despise him but she doesn't love him either. She just rarely ever wants to see him, or talk to him, or hang out with him. She doesn't really care about what he does, this she does know.

Still, a really small part of her wants to be close to her brother. To have a real sibling relationship. To be able to count on him in whatever. To be there for him whenever he's in trouble, to tease him just for fun, to be able to laugh with him, to be able to play fight with each other. She's seen other siblings and how they act towards each other. She wishes that she could've had that type of relationship with her brother, but, when she would go to try and fix things her father would always butt in. And as time went by that feeling slowly started to dwindle, and now it resides as a very small feeling deep within her.

"Jenny, why don't you go look for your brother?" Her father asked bringing her back to reality. She processed the question. Her brother was here? Where?

"He's here?"

"Unfortunately yes. That brat decided to separate himself from the festivities and I have no idea where he is. Honestly he's so troublesome" He grumbled. "So can you look for him? If I go your birthday is going to end in a disaster and I honestly don't feel like dealing with him. That insufferable twit."

Before she could reply he had already started walking away.

Sighing she did as she was told.

Some time had passed since she started looking and so far she couldn't find him. Not only that but the fact that they hadn't seen each other in some years was troublesome. He should be taller now, and his appearance would have changed as well. With no luck she set out to look for her father instead, as she did she caught one of her friends, he had a glass of wine in one hand making his way towards her.

"Jenny, happy birthday"

She looked down trying to hide the blush forming, she breathed in and out and looked back up at him again.

"Thank you, Leo" He nodded

Leo Ling, drummer of the rising boy band Eclipse. With silky blond messy hair and luminous forest green eyes, a lean body structure and a tattoo she knew was there hidden by his shirt. His gold chain wrapped around his wrist, it becoming his signature chain. He was absolutely handsome, and she couldn't deny the attraction she had towards him.

"So what's new? When are you releasing your debut song? I can't wait for it!" She said in a hurry realizing a breath and a radiant smile.

Before he could reply though, a hand slammed itself into Leo's back. She turned to the side only to see Jake. Kevin behind him talking animatedly with a brunette who seemed to be ignoring him.

Jennifer did her best not to stare all the same time scrutinizing her.

The brunette's face betraying no emotion, her eyes though held a sadness she was sure she had only seen once in her brother. Those same eyes were puffy, and a slight pinkish. Dried mascara stained her cheeks a clear sign she was crying. Her dress had stains of dirt here and there, and her hair was a mess as she seemed to be messing it up

unconsciously, a clear sign she was frustrated. Her hands held her heels, her other hand grabbing the hem of her dress clenching and unclenching her fist. And as she looked back up to her face she noticed her biting her lower lip, her brows scrunched as a thoughtful look overcame her.

Her hazel eyes looked up to meet her own hazel eyes. Both of them staring at each other. The brunette going back to her poker face, as she scrutinized her.

"Mikan, come on" Kevin called to said girl beside him.

Coming out of her stupor she nodded slowly before taking her eyes of Jennifer. She walked slowly out of the hall following Kevin and Leo.

"Who was that?" Jenny asked as she knew Jake was still beside her.

"Hmm? Oh her? She's Mikan. A real handful but she's real cool"

"Mikan?" She asked again looking at him

"Yeah. And get this. She knows your brother they're both friends, but I think they're fighting at the moment. She won't tell us though."

Wait, friends? Her and her brother? That's not possible. He doesn't talk or likes socializing at all. He absolutely despises people as a whole.

"He has friends ya know?" Jake stated as he realized what Jenny must've been thinking "Mikan's right, you barely know anything about your own brother"

She raised an eyebrow at him an accusatory look on her face.

"Hey, don't give me that look. I suggest you try to get to know your brother a bit more. Talk to him, hang out with him. From what I know, and seen, he's a really indifferent person. He only has his friends to rely on, as I'm sure your father doesn't give him the time of day, and you don't even bother to check on him." And then he walked away, waving at her as he made his way out.

Jenny stood there, staring blankly ahead as Jake's words rang in her head. She sighed and walked out to the garden, sitting down on a bench she sighed as she looked up towards the night sky. The moon hidden by clouds refusing to let it shine. She looked down, and as she did, she saw a figure coming out from the hedge maze.

The figure looked at her, stiffening at the sight of her. She made a motion, beckoning the figure towards her.

"How are you?" Jenny asked

The figure stayed silent, standing in front of her gaze averted. Jenny sighed. "Anthony, sit down"

When he made no move to sit, she grabbed his hand pulling him next to her, the force surprising him as he stumbled forward and hitting his knee in the process. He fixed himself and sat right, leaving space between the two, an awkward atmosphere settling between the two.

"How are you Anthony?" She asked once again. He stood quiet, clenching the fabric of his pants in his fist, his jaw set and his body tensing. He let the fabric loose, unclenching his fist in the process, taking a deep breath in he decided to answer.

"Fine" was his only reply.

She looked at him unsure. Deciding it best to leave it alone she nodded. Both staying quiet. A couple minutes passed by, none had said a word since, both relished in the silence.

A glimmer caught Jennys gaze. The corner of her eye looking at what her brother had in his hand. A silver chain necklace, holding an orange stone with silver lining in place. She saw him rubbing the stone with his thumb an apologetic look on his face. As quick as lighting she grabbed it, noticing Anthony's look of anger, she calmly spoke, not once sparing her brother another glance.

"I'm just curious. I won't take it seeing as it's important to you"

She noticed a name in gold lettering in the stone. Mikie was what it said. Curios, she asked her brother who Mikie was to which he replied that it was none of her business, at the same time attempting to grab the necklace which she in turn slapped, hard may I add, his hand away. As he rubbed his hand, she turned the stone backwards. Reading the engraved words in the silver area surrounding the stone. 'To Mikan, The female leader of the MAD girls. With love the MAD'

"Mikan?" She mumbled, and at that moment Anthony snatched the necklace from her.

"Don't EVER do that again" he sneered. Deciding that it was best to leave he stood, already deciding what to do to get back to the hotel, unfortunately Jenny grabbed him and pushed him back down in the bench forcing him to sit once more.

"Oh no we're going to talk" She all but demanded

"Oh and pray tell of what?" He drawled

"Why was Mikan crying?" She asked, and he tensed at the question

"I don't know what you're talking about" He gritted out, clenching the fabric of his pants in his fist once again.

"Okay fine. I know we don't have a great relationship, and I know it's practically non existent, but one of my friends mentioned something that Mikan had said about me. Truth be told I was offended because how can a girl who doesn't know me, judge me? But apparently she knows you." She sighed as she looked up at the sky, the moon still hidden by the clouds. "And so I made up my mind to get to know you better. Your likes, and dislikes. Your personality and attitude. Your ambitions and goals in life. I want to know my little brother more. I want to know who the real Anthony Collins is. And seeing as I just met Mikan an hour ago, and looking worse for wear, I guess I wanted to know what happened, since I bet it involves you. I want to be a big sister for you. I want you to rely on me when something's bothering you. If you need any help to know that I'll always be here. And even if your happy, to just be able to talk and have fun conversations. To have a real sibling relationship with you." She turned to look at him, giving a small reassuring smile. His face still remaining neutral but giving a nod in understanding.

"So why was she crying?"

He breathed in, his jaw tensing as he prepared to speak.

"We got into a fight" he mumbled. "She said some things, and I said some hurtful things as well. But what the big head doesn't understand is that we're doing this to protect her."

"We?"

"Me and my friends"

She nodded "what are you protecting her of?"

"Not what, who." He sneered "There's this girl in my class who doesn't like her. And well she has a lot of support from classmates, and teachers. She can do anything to her and get away with it. So we need to do something to expel her and for that we need to play her little game, and that includes outcasting Mikan."

"What I don't get though, is why go to extremes into outcasting h-"

"Because she could seriously get hurt, don't you get that?"

"I do."

"Then why are you saying you don't get why we're outcasting her?" He asked furiously

"You didn't let me finish. If you're friends and you trust her and accepted her into your group of friends than why not tell her straight up? Why make an elaborate plan? I'm sure if you explained it to her she would've understood, consequences and all. She would've worked with you. Friendship is about trust, and with that trust it will become stronger and unbreakable. If you do something like this than her trust in people is just going to vanish completely." And as he heard that last sentence he realized she was right. Her friends back in Japan ha played her, had betrayed her. And because of that she had no trust in people, and as soon as she started to trust them they outcasted her giving no reason as to why either. Her trust in people had completely vanished and this time for good.

"I messed up big time. Fuck." Jenny raised an eyebrow at her brother as she watched him get up and pace in front her, hands ruffling his hair as he mumbled words she couldn't make out. A look of utter defeat sprawled all over his face.

"Anthony?" She called out to him. No response as he still kept on pacing. She called to him again. And again. And again, until.

"ANTHONY!"

He looked at her and a look of realization overcame him.

"Did you drive here?" He asked

"Yes. Why?" She looked at him confused. He gave no reply as he took her wrist and dragged her to the entrance, going around the mansion as to not be seen by any one. "Anthony where are we going?"

"You're going to drive me to the hotel, I need to make things right." He all but stated leaving no room for argument. And at that moment Jennifer felt elated.

She gave her brother advice, and he listened to her and took it. He could've just listened and still do nothing. Not only that but he wants her to drive him back, sure it might be because she was the only one there at the moment, but to her it was big step towards their relationship.

And surely but slowly in time he would come to her whenever he's in trouble, in need of advice, or just to hang out. And at the thought of that she couldn't help but smile.

And as she radiated happiness, Anthony couldn't help the smile that appeared. He would finally have a real sibling relationship with his sister. A bond he so hard tried to deny he never wanted, and suddenly the future didn't seem so bleak anymore.