Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Revenge, I Just Love It

A/N so I know it's been a really long time, I'm sorry :/, but I hope you guys are still just excited about reading this, as I was writing it =D

I don't know if any of you like listening to music when you read, but if you're interested my song inspiration for this chapter was called, Rising, Rising by Crywolf, which I recommend.

Anyway enjoy,

Chapter 5: Friend

Daniel had just wanted to say goodbye.

It wasn't as though he and Emily were great friends or anything, they were somewhere weird on the continuum between friendly strangers and friends. But he did care about her and he'd always caught the sense that she was alone, that she didn't really have anybody, and that saddened him. If he had lived here then he certainly would have wanted to be that someone for her, but he didn't and he wasn't naive enough to believe that when he left they would still remain in touch. She barely spoke to him when he was sitting right next to her on the bench, let alone hundreds of miles away.

He doubted she'd bring it up on his last night here in Connecticut though, doubted she'd say anything other than a simple goodbye. Maybe that's just what he had to do too; a simple goodbye, a kind smile, and his number. He'd write it down on a piece of paper and give it to her. If you ever want to talk or something, he'd say, call me. He doubted she would, doubted he'd ever hear from her once he left, but at least by giving her his number, he left it open… open for her to decide.

With his journal in his left hand and a paper plate with a piece of his team's celebratory cake for her in his right hand, Daniel made his way to the bench one last time. Only for his previous thoughts to be wasted.

Only for her to not even appear.

2 days earlier

It was another cold night as Amanda wandered towards the bench, sketchbook in tow. Tonight she'd come prepared with a jacket around her shoulders, though it was so thin and worn-out that she probably shouldn't have even bothered. It did little to protect her against the windchill. Still, it was a jacket, and if she had one on, then she had rationalized that Daniel would not offer her his own again, if he even decided to show.

After they'd gotten into an argument yesterday night, he had promised to leave her alone.

"One sip" he had said "One sip and I'll leave you alone", since that's what she had wanted, well what she had asked for. In truth she didn't know what she wanted...she just didn't want to feel hurt anymore.

Shivering slightly as she tried to get comfortable on the rigid bench, Amanda looked up to the sky, her eyes fixating on a tiny little star; her star, which she could actually see tonight. Often times it got hidden behind the dark clouds or the suburban lights. It certainly wasn't the brightest nor the biggest, it was small and probably always overlooked… but that's why she liked it, because it seemed like the star was just holding on, desperately trying to keep a grasp of itself… a sentiment which she identified with.

A smooth warm voice snapped her out of her thoughts with a kind hello, and Amanda looked up to see Daniel Grayson sitting down beside her.

It almost made her wanted to laugh bitterly, even in the darkness of the night, even when he wasn't even trying too, he still so blatantly embodied everything that she hated; a Grayson, wealth, happiness, ignorance, and kindness. Kindness being the one infuriating trait of his, that she probably hated the most, because despite her best efforts, both to distance herself and to repel him away from her, his kindness seemed to nullify all attempts, and worse had surprisingly made him into at least somewhat of a maybe welcome sight.

"You promised you'd leave me alone" Amanda muttered pointedly, looking up at him with sharp eyes, or at least trying to. "For the night," Daniel sighed, breaking her gaze, as he looked up towards the sky, "I didn't mean to upset you, Emily" he added sincerely, remembering that pained expression deep behind her brown eyes he had unintentionally exposed.

"You didn't upset me" she snapped back defensively, her voice low as to not sound as agitated by his comment as she felt.

"Then anger you" he appeased, somehow knowing that anger was probably something she could admit to more than sadness.

Shifting her eyes away from Daniel's, Amanda picked up her sketchbook and pencil, as cue to him that she was going to draw. "If you just came here to talk then go away, I'm not up for it", she muttered, as though she ever really talked at all.

"Then let's not talk" he murmured back, side glancing at her as she'd begun to draw.

He couldn't say that she looked at peace while drawing, but he could say that she looked the most at ease. It was a nice sight in a way, or at least it would have been if it wasn't for the sad aura that clung to her so heavily turning the image bittersweet.

Picking up his own journal, his fingers tapping gently on the bench, as he tried to metamorphose his thoughts into words. Daniel flipped to his half-written poem from the night before, an idea floating into his head that he decided to work with.

…

…

…

"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" Daniel questioned playfully, a good while later, snapping Amanda out of her quiet bubble, as he held up his journal, and looked towards her sketchbook.

"No way" Amanda replied promptly shutting him down, knowing exactly what it was he was referencing too, "My drawings are private… I don't show them to anyone."

Knowing better than to press, Daniel nodded his head slowly, doubting she was one to yield anyway. "Fine, I'll still show you mine though" he replied, as though he was doing her a favour. Chuckling lightly, as her eyebrows furrowed into a frown, so clearly reading, I don't want it, he then playfully muttered, "Come on, you can't tell me, that you're not even the least bit interested in whether I'm any good."

Amanda rolled her eyes, despite his words ringing slightly true, "Even if I was, reading it wouldn't help, I doubt I know the difference between shit poetry and good poetry anyway".

Daniel laughed, as he ripped out the last page of his journal with the poem written on it, folding it four times so that it would have to be opened to be read. "Trust me you'll know, good poetry is like good art, it's something you can connect to" he assured her, holding out the paper for her to take.

Amanda hesitated, sighed and then tentatively took it anyway, as Daniel closed his journal and stood up from the bench, "You can tell me what you think tomorrow" he quickly said, not wanting her to read it in front of him, " it's late, so we should probably get going."

Amanda nodded her head in agreeance, standing up herself and sliding it in her pocket. "Fine" she muttered, "but if I don't like it, I'm telling you, and it's your own fault for giving it to me".

"Fair enough", Daniel replied lightly, "but I'd hope you wouldn't be too harsh on my last night here" he subtly added, wanting to remind her that he was leaving.

"Oh yeah" Amanda whispered, masking her feelings well, whatever they were, even she couldn't quite decide. It would certainly be easier once he was gone, no more confusing feelings or confusing thoughts, it'd be back to normal which she could navigate through, instead of the unknown terrain he had her trudging through. But easier was not always better, and her normal was not ever nice, and plus she couldn't deny that the thought of having the bench all to herself again made her feel a little bit more lonely than she already was on the inside. Still despite those feelings, she couldn't help but mutter, "It'll be nice to have the bench back again".

"I'm sure" he replied with a smile, which she weakly returned before turning around in the direction she was going in.

Stopping shortly, as if remembering something she forgot, Amanda slowly turned around again and looked back at him, "And Daniel" she muttered, just loud enough to garner his attention, as he turned back to look at her. "Good luck with your match against the reigning champions tomorrow" she finished, her voice getting quieter the wider the grin on his face had grown.

Still, it had made him happy, too happy in her opinion, it almost made her want to take her words back.

She hadn't said them because she really cared about his game. She'd just figured that after all the kindness Daniel had shown her over the past few days, she should at least once reciprocate a little kindness back to him before he left. Though in a sense that was her caring.

"Thanks, I'll bring you some of our celebratory cake tomorrow" Daniel promised, grateful for her words, and happy that they confirmed that she had been listening all those times he'd rambled about his football matches after all. Nodding her head twice in reply, Daniel's seemingly contagious grin, caused even Amanda's lips to curl up into the tiniest of smiles. Though she tried to hide it as she turned and quickly walked away, hearing his voice echo goodbye in the near distance.

She didn't say it back though, she'd already shown him her one act of kindness.

Daniel probably should have just left it at that, left her without a goodbye, anyone else probably would have. If she had wanted to, then she would have shown, and if she couldn't have, if something had come up, then that was just life...and life moved on. It certainly didn't wait around for one-week friends, if that's what she was.

But he didn't leave it at that, instead the next day, the day he was supposed to be leaving home for the Hampton's. Daniel had gotten up early in the morning, gotten dressed and left the hotel with her on his mind, hoping he could find her within just a few hours.

His wish came true.

He'd found her by the lake, along the path they'd briefly walked through, the night they had gotten into that fight. She was sitting down on the grass, her back against the largest tree. She wasn't drawing at the moment, just looking out sadly towards the lake, her earphones plugged in, as though she didn't want to be bothered by the world.

He couldn't allow her that luxury though as he slowly approached, calling her name to get her attention. She didn't hear the first time, so he called again and then again, watching as she turned her head in surprise, unplugged her earphones, and then very reluctantly stood up to face him.

He spoke first, his smile having instantly faded upon walking closer to her, "What happened?" he asked in horror, not wanting to, but not being able to ignore the painful looking bruise on the left side of her face just underneath her left eye. He was no expert on bruises, but he'd had his fair share from football practice, so he could tell that it was past the swelling phase now, it leaving a purple discolored mark across her cheek, "Are you okay" he pressed, his face creased in instant concern. Concern Amanda wasn't used to as she brushed it off completely, ignoring his question altogether, and taking a step away from him, as though she was afraid he was going to pull her closer to him.

"What are you doing here Daniel?" she asked bluntly. If she was happy to see him, then he certainly couldn't tell. "Shouldn't you be halfway home to the Hampton's by now?"

"I wanted to say goodbye." he replied in honesty, his words sounding sillier when said out loud, he could tell by Emily's face that she certainly thought so. "I waited for you at the bench yesterday, though I guess it makes sense why you didn't show," he added quietly, the sympathy in his eyes as he stared at her face, causing her to avert her eyes. That's why she hadn't gone to the bench to say goodbye. Not because she had the bruise but because she hadn't wanted him to see her with it. She knew he'd make a fuss, knew he'd look at her with those naive and sympathetic eyes she hated most.

"Well goodbye then Daniel" she muttered aloofly, turning her back to him and quickly walking away. She just wasn't in the mood today, she didn't feel like playing nice, and even if she was, she'd still only end it with a simple goodbye anyway.

"Wait" Daniel called after her, his longer legs catching up to her quickly, and much to Amanda's irritation keeping pace. He didn't know what he wanted, or what he had expected upon finding her, but he certainly hadn't wasted all his time searching for her, for her to walk away. "Who did this to you, Emily?", he asked in concern.

"What the hell does it matter" she replied, shaking her head in contempt, tempted to leave it at that, but knowing by the firm look in his eyes that he wouldn't allow her to, "I told a bunch of people to fuck off at school, they didn't like it".

"I don't believe you" Daniel said stiffly, his sympathetic eyes only seeming to antagonize Amanda further.

"What? You think, I'm too good to get into school fights?" she asked mockingly.

"On the contrary" he retorted, "but I think if you'd gotten into a school fight then you would have won"

"It was three against one".

"Or man against teenage girl" Daniel said seriously, causing her to abruptly stop and freeze, her face hardening into a cold glower, no doubt to mask the pain behind her chestnut-coloured eyes.

"What are you talking about?" she said defensively, the sharpened tone in her voice warning him to stop.

He didn't.

"I went to your house earlier" he said slowly, watching as her eyes widened in angered surprise. "I met your foster father, I'm assuming... he looked mean, vile, I could practically smell the alcohol off his breath".

He was a gruff looking man; broad, medium height and a little on the heavy side. He looked like the type of man, you'd see drunk at a bar, grumbling about his football team's loss and picking fights with anyone who bothered him. He certainly didn't look like the type of man a teenage girl should be living with.

"and he certainly didn't seem to care for you much, didn't have any kind words to say," Daniel added quietly, watching as her face had begun to pale.

"What are you to her?" the man had asked snidely, " A girl like her certainly doesn't have any friends, let alone someone who cares enough to come to her house."

"A girl like what?" Daniel challenged defensively, bristling at the nasty comment and aura coming off the boorish man.

He only laughed harshly, "You don't even know" he said tauntingly, "she lied to you about her name… poor girl, she should know she can't hide her past, she's the devil's daughter after all".

You went to my house" Amanda asked in disbelief, clearly incensed; her voice raised harshly just short of yelling, "I never even told you where I lived".

"I followed you home Thursday night" Daniel admitted, quickly trying to explain, "You didn't notice but there was a suspicious looking man hiding behind the trees around where we were, I didn't know if he was dangerous or just drunk and high or something….but I knew that you wouldn't let me walk you home, even if I told you. So just in case anything were to happen, I decided to trail behind you on your walk home. You were plugged in, didn't even realize."

Amanda shook her head in anger, his justification meaning nothing to her at the moment but that he'd overstepped, "I don't need your help, I can take care of myself" she sneered.

"Yeah, sure looks like it", Daniel countered, his words sounding much harsher than he'd intended, as his eyes landed on her bruise once again.

"Go home" she snarled, her emotions mixed at the sting she'd felt from his words, unsure of whether she felt more angry or hurt by his comment. "A spoilt Grayson like you, wouldn't understand a thing", she added, shoving past him, as she begun to walk away.

"I don't care" Daniel said angrily, catching up to her once again, "If he's hurting you, then you shouldn't have to live with that, you should tell someone".

"Tell who?" Amanda snapped.

"I don't know… the police, the foster system" his voice trailed off as she began to bitterly laugh.

"How naive".

"I don't understand, you have proof, you have the bruise"

"It's still his word against mine, and that bruise could have come from anywhere… they wouldn't do a thing".

"Isn't that what they're here for... to help?" Daniel persisted.

"Maybe the privileged, the pure, the innocent like you… but they don't give a damn about me".

"Why, what have you really done?" Daniel questioned.

"Haven't you heard?" Amanda asked, pausing for effect as she took in a sharp breath, her eyes dancing angrily with fire, "I'm the devil's daughter, I'm…".

…

…

…

"Amanda Clarke", Daniel finished for her in a quiet exhale, watching as her eyes widened in painful surprise and she fell silent.

He had found out this morning from her nasty foster father, who had built up to it; a spiteful grin on his face as he'd let out the truth, clearly wanting the secret to repel Daniel away from her.

He could tell by her foster father's face, that he hadn't hidden his shock well, it probably being mistaken as horror, which no doubt the man had cruelly wanted to see. But Daniel wasn't horrified, just shocked which was only understandable, anyone would be, let alone someone whose family had been so heavily involved in the David Clarke case. But thinking about it now...her closed-off attitude, her aura, her anger, her mistrust it all made sense; perfect sense after what he was sure she'd sadly endured.

"But that doesn't make you the devil".

His words catching her by surprise, Amanda instantly dropped her gaze to the floor. Feeling tears begin to well up slowly in her eyes. She wasn't usually one for theatrics, but she'd wanted to see the shock on Daniel's face, wanted him to instantly pull away as though he could catch whatever nastiness was in her blood. She supposed she'd just wanted the satisfaction of knowing that he was no different from anyone else. She should have known that she wouldn't get what she wanted...she never did.

"It doesn't even matter" Amanda muttered painfully, the lump in her throat, causing her voice to sound wobbly, "the world isn't a fair place… we don't all get a fair chance."

"I'm sorry" Daniel uttered in reflex, a sickening feeling beginning to swell up in his stomach, as he heard his father's apathetic voice in his mind, "The world is made up of Gods and insects, Son… don't concern yourself with insects". It still haunted him, his father's words, his father's screwed up philosophy.

He didn't want to live like that, he never had, and so he'd always feigned naivety to avoid such thoughts. He knew some people had it better or worse, he knew the scales were tipped unevenly. He knew but still chose to believe that everybody had the chance to reach where they wanted if they just tried… if they just worked hard enough… if they just this...or just that. That way, ignoring how unfairly skewed it really was, it was much easier to stomach his own privileges.

"I can see that" Amanda had once said, "that you're actually a good person".

He'd always liked to think so, but how good was a person who chose to live in ignorance for his own selfish reasons anyway?
Probably not as good as he imagined.

Trying to wipe away the few stray tears that had slipped down her face, Amanda finally shifted her eyes back up towards Daniel. He was quietly seething, this being his first real time seeing just how obstructed the scales really were up close. "Go home Daniel" she whispered, too tired to even call him out on being so naive, "at least you have one. I'll be fine, in just two more years I'll be out the system anyway".

Daniel shook his head, not willing to accept that, "So what, you're just gonna let him hit you for two more years… that's fucked up" he muttered angrily.

"Yeah well it's my life not yours" she snapped, "and even if I could get moved to another home, there's no guarantee it would be better, there are worse things than getting knocked around a couple times a month".

"Like what" Daniel challenged, clearly not thinking. She didn't reply though, only looked down in response, remaining quiet; not wanting to say anything out loud, and he was thankful she didn't. He probably wouldn't have been able to stomach it…the stories she'd heard over the years.

…

…

…

"I'm going to help you" Daniel whispered, his voice interrupting the silence that had grown between them in his previous words. He didn't know how, but he knew that he wasn't letting her go back to that house. "I promise".

"What?" Amanda breathed shallowly, sighing in contempt, she didn't believe in being saved, and least of all she didn't believe in promises, she'd heard too many over the years.

"You can trust me"

"I'm going to help you"

"This family won't hurt you"

"We'll run away, It'll be okay"

"We won't lose contact, I promise"

"I love you Amanda, Infinity times Infinity"

All cheap lies, and shattered promises, which just eventually disintegrated to dust and left her even more broken.

"I'm going to help you" Daniel repeated, this time sounding more certain, more resolute. If she'd looked into his eyes, then surely she would have seen that too, but by his first words she'd already begun to pull away not willing to open herself up to yet another broken promise.

"You don't even know me" Amanda whispered under her breath, as she began to walk away for the third time that day. Daniel refused to allow her though, refused to allow her to take another step away, as he reached for her, his right hand latching onto her left, cementing her in place, despite her stubborn struggle for him to let go.

"Maybe not…" Daniel whispered back, giving her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze, as Amanda finally stopped struggling long enough to feel the warmth of his hand, and the way he held on to hers firmly but never forcibly, "but I know that I'm your friend."

So I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, a little spoiler, but in the next chapter, Amanda will be back in the Hampton's, and yes, you'll see her reunite with Jack, which is super exciting, so all those Jemily fans, just hold on, the next chapter is where it begins for you guys ;)

Also speaking of Jemily, I'm currently working on a collab story with starfiction123, called Sensei, A Little Help? which is a sequel, with a twist to her first story Admist The Two Graves. It's mostly her doing all the hard work, I'm just helping out a little with the sequel, but I highly recommend both of them, she's an absolutely brilliant writer and her stories are super entertaining and sweet.