Deana's Problem. Ch1

A/N: Yugi and co don't belong to me... bla... Only Deana and her family...bla. You get the picture. Anyway, Deana is an orphan, and she lives with an abusive family that adopted her. They made her live in the closet and only adopted her because they promised a daughter to "someone" for a hand in marriage. If any of the above bugs you, don't read the story. : P
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Deana rubbed her eyes and yawned, suddenly a sharp pain ran down her back. She gave off a small whimper like she did every morning, grabbed her books and backpack from one of the shelves above her head and started downstairs to see if she would be allowed to eat this morning.

"There you are, Deana! You'll be cooking breakfast this morning while I go wake up Faith!" Her 'mother' yelled at her.

Faith was her 'sister', more or less. It was the Johnson family's real child. Being that Deana was adopted so they could raise her for a man to marry; they treated Faith a lot better. It was like this: Faith wanted something; they would skip buying something for Deana, and give Faith whatever she wanted. What Faith wanted could be pretty expensive, so they had started to stop buying even the most necessary things for Deana. She only had one pair of clothes now, and even those were two sizes too small.

"Yes'm." Deana said, starting to cook eggs and bacon. There was another hour before school, which she had hoped to use for studying for her math test, but disobeying was not a smart idea.

Deana finished up breakfast, was yelled at not to eat any of it, accidentally left her lunch on the counter, and headed off for school. Deana's first class was math, which Yugi happened to be in. Yugi never really talked to Deana, no one really talked to Deana, but today she was looking really drained and out of it, so he walked up to her and did what no person in their right mind would do.

"Hey, Deana." Yugi said with a sheepish smile.

Deana lifted her head sleepily from the desk hearing her name, then realized Yugi was talking to her. "Nnn, wha-?"

"Are you ok? You look really sleepy." Yugi asked a concerned face appearing this time.

"Mmm... Ya, I'm ok, I just stayed up late last night... Hey, do we have a test today?" Deana realized she had forgotten all about the test, with a more awake looking face, with a hint of panic, she stared at Yugi not hoping for the answer that was clearly coming.

"Yes, didn't you study?"

She really didn't want to tell Yugi about her condition at home, she had yet to tell anyone. Coming up with an excuse, she replied slowly," I guess I forgot..."

Yugi was about to say something else, but the teacher walked in and class started. Deana was surprised how much she could remember, but knew she was going to fail this test anyway. She could already feel her 'father' hitting her back for failing another test.

After a few other classes, she walked to lunch, and Yugi invited Deana to sit with him and his friends. She didn't have lunch, because it was still on the counter at home, and the way her stomach growled, the whole group could guess she didn't have breakfast and maybe not dinner the day before either.

"Hey, uh, Deana? Don't you have anything to eat?" Tea asked, staring at her with a face between 'why the heck did Yugi invite you' and 'omg, no food for a day (concern, concern)'.

"I stayed up late, woke up late, and was in a hurry, so I guess I forgot my lunch." Deana had a look on her face that said, 'lying, but don't ask, it's personal'.

They all looked at her and wondered. All of them gave her a little of their own lunches, which added up to a good amount.

"You shouldn't, really. I'm okay." Deana said surprised, that was one of the first times anyone had actually been nice to her, and she wasn't sure how to react.

"You need to eat something; it's not healthy to skip meals." Tristan said.

"But-"

Joey interrupted, "Really, it's no problem Deana. Eat it."

"Okay", Deana said reluctantly, and started to chow down at a pace that stated meals were skipped often.

Deana went through with the rest of her school day like she usually did, mostly uneventful, other then the typical guys making fun of her for having no friends and stuff like that. After school was over, Yugi invited her to come with him and his friends to the arcade, mostly because he felt sorry for her. He had seen how everyone else treated her. She agreed, surprised he'd ask someone like her to hang out with him and his friends.

They walked in and Deana walked over to her favorite game, and pulled out a quarter," I'm gonna beat the high score this time for sure!"

"Whatever, Deana. You know, that high score happens to belong to me. I'm the first one ever to beat 'DED'. I beat he's peeved." Joey Bragged.

"He?" Deana questioned," Joey, I'm DED, Deana Elaine Delof. And my initials are gonna be at the top when I'm done with this game."

Joey looked stunned at this fact, and amazed at how well Deana played this game. After all it was a fighting game, girls aren't supposed to like fighting games. The whole group watched wide-eyed until Deana beat the game with a score Joey knew he couldn't beat.

"Yes! What did I tell you?" Deana said, then saw her watch, "Omigosh! I've got to go guys! I didn't do my chores this morning!"

She was about to run off, but Yugi caught her at the door, "Deana, is everything ok?"

"I told you Yugi, my chores aren't done... My dad's gonna hit me harder then usual if I don't get home RIGHT NOW!" She was struggling to get out of Yugi's grasp, and then realized what she had just hinted in at.

"What? You...You're beaten?" Yugi couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"I... need to go Yugi, please, I'll explain later." She said, more roughly then she wanted. But Yugi dropped her arm. "Just, don't tell your friends, okay?"

"I promise I won't tell anyone." Yugi said in his promise making voice.

"Thanks. I've got to go, see you at school, Yugi!" Deana yelled back as she ran off towards her house.

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"Where were you? None of your chores are done you idiot!" Her 'father' yelled very harshly.

"No please, daddy, you've been drinking again..." Deana said to him in a pleading voice. But it was too late, he was heading toward her with a threatening look on his face that said he was gonna smack her hard. "I-I'll go do them right n-now. I'll start on Faith's too, she didn't tell me she w- wanted m-me to make her bed this morning, b-but I should h-have checked anyway. I-I'm s-sorry I'm home late daddy, I won't forget a-again!"

He began to hit her really hard ignoring all of her pleas. She was crying the whole way through it. When he was finished, her face was completely tear stained, and had a great pain stinging through her back.

"I-I'm s-sorry d-daddy," Deana said between sobs, "I'll g-go d-do my ch- chores now."

"Suck it up, bi--- (a/n:I don't really like curse words, deal with it). Now hurry up, before I hit you again!"

Deana hurried through her chores, and Faith's, holding back tears afraid to make him madder. When he drunk, he was pretty dangerous. He lit up, and Deana resisted choking. After she had finished, she hurried off to make dinner, so he wouldn't yell at his wife. When she was yelled at, Deana was blamed.

"I-I made dinner daddy, c-can you tell mom when she comes back to heat it up? Just a few minutes in the microwave should do. I need to go do my homework and switch laundry loads." Deana said, hoping he wouldn't get mad.

"Whatever, bi---." He said, turning the television on.

She walked up to her "room" quietly, and did her homework quickly. She came downstairs again to switch loads of laundry, and rushed upstairs to put it away quickly. And finally when all of this was done, Faith and 'mom' were home and started to eat with 'dad'. She looked at them with questioning hopeful eyes that were asking if she could eat.

"Did you water the plants yet?" 'Mother' asked.

"N-no, I-I'll go do that now. S-sorry." Deana said quickly, and hurried outside, even though now it was dark, to water the plants.

She picked up the hose and examined it for a moment, then started to cry uncontrollably. She knew if anyone came outside and found her crying they would hurt her. But right now, that didn't matter. It was dark, and she knew no one would come to find her this late. She continued crying and began to water the plants, strangely finding herself longing for the presence of another. Anyone who could make her feel better right now.