I am bored out of my mind and mum certainly isn't making things better. Now that she's no longer confined to being James' problem, she's been on a power trip. Yelling at those dumbasses I saw the other day, snapping at me to "find something to do that doesn't involve prostitution," and, of course, being only marginally calmed by James. Even my sister has stayed out of her way and, honestly, spends more and more time out of the house. Carlisle, too, has left me alone with mum and James but he told me his girlfriend (or, at least, that's what I think they are) is worried because their puppies disappeared the other day. Apparently, Roger has been on one about it and blames mum but Carlisle pointed out that he blames mum for everything and that Anita doesn't believe him. To be honest, given mum's current obsession with finishing the runway looks for her new line, I wouldn't be surprised if Roger's right. I'm the only one, though. James almost got in a fist fight with him over it although it probably wasn't a good idea on Roger's part to have suggested James would do anything to keep sleeping with mum. Even now I can't help but laugh; it's so true, if you ask me, and I bet he —

"You smiling for once, Caroline?"

I look up from my laptop and glare at my stepfather for a moment, even more so when he simply smirks.

"Is there a rule that says I can't?" I sass. "Has mum banned me from doing that too?"

He sighs, leaning heavily against the doorframe. I know he's thinking of what to say because he always is. He treats me like a criminal and he always has.

"I wish you and Cru would stop sniping at each other," He finally says. "It's not making things better for you, and I know it's hurting her —"

"You'll do and say anything for her —" I angrily start.

"Yes, I —" He says far too calmly for my liking.

"— let me finish, damn it!" I snap, startling him. "You'll do anything for her because you like sleeping with her! You're guided by your dick when it comes to her, and —"

"That's enough, Caroline," He says, yet his voice is still even and, right now, that pisses me off more than anything else.

"Get angry for once!" I yell. "Stop acting like the good guy when I know you're not!"

He's silent for a moment and it takes me too long to realize why. He must have heard her heels clicking and, like the dick he is, he gently pulls mum in while she scowls at me.

"I see you're as charming as ever," Mum says dryly.

I roll my eyes. "Really, James?" I say, sending my stepfather a disdainful look. "You let your wife deal with the kid you wish she'd never had?"

"I don't wish that," James snaps, and, for a minute, I'm so stunned that I cannot respond. "I just wish you wouldn't hurt your mother."

I glare at him. "You know that she does that for herself, right? I mean, she's always smoking or making dumb choices about dad or —"

"No," He says sharply before shaking his head. "Listen, I've spent years trying handle your nonsense, Caroline, and it seems you're only getting worse. I hate to say it but I think reform school is what it'll take to straighten you out."

Despite every instinct in my body, I turn to mum pleadingly.

"He's always treated me like a criminal!" I exclaim, tears stinging at my eyes. "Are you really going to let him go through with this?"

Mum is silent for a moment and says nothing. Then, she gently rests a hand over his chest.

"Let's not be hasty," She murmurs. "I have my new line debuting soon and I'd hate for it to be overshadowed by gossip."

God, I still can never quite believe just how selfish mum really is. It's never about caring for us, it's always about her fucking job and how much money we have.

"I understand that," He finally replies. "But I don't want her to keep upsetting you either. Honestly, you can't have a rational conversation with —"

"You're right," I sass, ignoring the irritated look mum sends me and the angry stare I'm getting from him. "I can't ever have a rational conversation with you because I can't apply logic to crazy."

My stepfather bristles and I know I've plucked a nerve. He starts to say something — probably a comment on my attitude — but mum, much to my surprise, stops him.

"Let me handle this."

He and I both stare at her in shock.

"Cru…" He murmurs worriedly. "Won't that strain you?"

She sighs. "I think I can handle my own daughter."

He hesitates but relents, if not without pressing a kiss to her cheek before he, by the sound of it, storms off down the stairs. There's silence, after, worsened only by mum quietly shutting the door and starting to pace across my room while she shakily lights a cigarette.

"Are you trying to make things worse?"

I'm surprised for a moment by how calm mum sounds.

"What?" I say, almost dumbfounded. "Why

would I —"

"You and I both know what you're doing, Caroline," Mum says warningly. "Don't try playing dumb with me."

I scowl. "Of all people, why did you have to marry him? Again, he's always treated me like a criminal!"

Mum raises an eyebrow and takes a long draw on her cigarette. Either she thinks I'm right, or something bad is about to happen.

"He only cares about you and Carlisle…" I say weakly. "Probably because he's only managed to knock you up once."

Mum sends me a dark look. "That's not true, even if it is how you feel."

I cross my arms. "Oh, really?"

"I have gone through hell and back for all three of you," Mum snaps. "Or did you forget about what happened in New York?"

"I know you did everything you could to keep us safe from dad," I say more harshly than I mean to. "And I know how much time you spent away from the company after Carlisle was born because of how sick he was but —"

"Jamie and I were terrified, Caroline," Mum says and for once she sounds weak. "After everything we went through struggling to have a child and to keep you and your sister safe, it was…"

I don't meet her gaze, still refusing to concede defeat.

"I don't care what he's done for you, or for them, or whatever," I say quietly. "I don't care that he's reasonable most of the time either. I still hate him."