Penumbra
The morning sun rose and the rays of light hit Pan's face waking her up. Pan opened her eyes and noticed it was eight-thirty. She quickly rose from her bed, throwing the sheets to the floor and got dressed as fast as possible. She was late for school again. She ran downstairs after she was finished getting dressed and gulped down her breakfast and ran out the door locking it behind her.
AT THE ORPHANAGE
Gohan and Videl were at the orphanage talking to Felicity about their new child. They sat in Felicity's office discussing the custody papers.
"Mr. and Mrs. Son, I appreciate you coming down to see our children. Each one is special, each one is unique. Especially the one you have chosen to adopt."
"That's good to hear," Videl said happily.
"Ms. Felicity, is this child cheery, helpful, and trustworthy?"
"Yes she is. You have no problems about that. I take it you have a problem child at home. Is that correct?"
"Yes it is. She doesn't do things as she is told, she back talks, gets bad grades, and almost anything else you can name."
"Ah, I see," she said as she walked over to her desk and was shuffling through the files to pull out the one of the child they chose to adopt. "Here are the child's records." Gohan and Videl read through the papers to learn more of the child.
Name: Raayne Aubrey Summer
DOB: February 23, 1990
Blood type: O-
They continued reading on about Raayne and seemed to grow interest in her more and more. Videl looked up to Felicity and asked," May we see her?" Felicity shook her head and led them down the hallway to the children's playroom. As Felicity began to open the door, the children stopped their playing and looked at the door. They turned around and faced her warm heartedly.
"Good morning Ms. Felicity," they all said as they bowed down to greet her.
"Good morning to you too. Now run along and continue as you were." The children went back to their activities and Felicity called out to a little girl who had been sitting in the corner writing in her book. She had long brown hair with a beautiful natural blonde highlight to it. Her eyes were a mix of blue and green like a fresh clean lake. The color of her skin was like the brown tone of a fresh baked cookie. She was sitting alone and looked up from her book every now and then.
"Raayne, could you come here please?" Raayne closed her book and headed over to Felicity and the two strangers who stood next to her.
"Raayne, these are your new parents. They came here to adopt you and take you home." Her eyes filled with delight and she ran up to Gohan and held his leg tightly. His eyes filled up with a tear when he was reminded of when Pan was this age. He picked up Raayne and hugged her back. Felicity took the three to the office and arranged the settlement of the adoption papers and the legalization of the guardian rights to Gohan and Videl.
"Well, here you go. She is now legally yours."
"Thank you Ms. Felicity."
"No problem." Gohan and Videl walked out of the office with their new daughter and took her into the car. She was now straight on her way to her new home, and to also be known as Raayne Aubrey Summer Son. All that could run through her mind was what the house looked like, who else would live with her, and who else she can play with.
AT SCHOOL
The room was filled with a cold chill as the teacher was explaining the formula for finding the volume of a sphere and the area along with all the other shapes. Bra sat quietly in her seat as she waited to see when Pan was going to show up with her white chocolate cappuccino. Class had been in session for about half an hour when Pan came running in the door out of breath.
"Ms. Son, may I ask why you are late?"
"Uh... Sure you can ask, but that doesn't mean I would tell you." The teacher raised an eyebrow at Pan and waited for her response. "Oh, c'mon Mrs. Thomas. It's early in the morning and you know I am usually late."
"Alright. Take your seat and take the notes that are up on the board. It's a good thing I like you or you would have been out of here a long time ago."
"I know." Pan sat down in front of Bra where she usually did and took down her notes. The class had finished with their lesson and had fifteen minutes to spare of free time. Mrs. Thomas handed out the homework to the kids and then they all started talking to other class mates. Bra and Rin turned to Pan and started their usual conversation.
"So Pan, did you bring it?"
"Bring what?" Bra gasped that Pan had forgotten her drink and Rin was already laughing knowing what Bra was going to do.
"Pan?! You forgot my white chocolate cappuccino! How could you forget?! You bring me a cup every morning and now you forgot again! Now I'm gonna cry." Rin was laughing hysterically and Pan slapped her own forehead as she had remembered that she forgot something. Bra gave an evil glare and then put on a huge smile as she was thinking of something in store for Pan. Bra lifted her hand and smacked Pan upside the head a few times and then took her backpack and frantically searched it to see if Pan was just hiding it.
"Bra, I'm sorry I forgot. I really am. I woke up late cause of parents again."
"You got in a fight with them again didn't you?" Rin asked. Bra was still searching and was panicking as she still could not find the drink. Then she looked up to Pan and gave her the puppy dog eyes. Water began to swell in them and she tugged on Pan's shirt. Pan wasn't paying attention because she was talking to Rin at the time.
"I'll get you for this Pan. Just you wait," Bra said to herself as she decided to join in the conversation.
"I guess you could say that. We had a huge disagreement about them adopting a kid. They said it was for me that they were doing it, but I know that they just wanted a better kid than me. That's all they really wanted."
"Oh," both Bra and Rin said in unison. "That has to suck," Rin finished. Suddenly, Bra looked at Pan's fist and noticed huge cuts that were on her hand.
"Oh Kami! Who did this to you?" she said as she held up Pan's right hand.
"I did. Last night when my parents told me about the adoption I went into my room and punched the wall. You can tell how upset it made me. Then after I washed up I listened to the rest of the tape and I started to cry. I fell asleep shortly after. So you know why I am late and why the cuts are there, but don't worry. You know that with my Saiyan blood that I heal fast. So they should be gone by the end of the week."
The bell rang and the class jolted up and ran to their next class or ran to their friends. Pan, Bra, and Rin all gave each other a hug and left their separate ways.
AT SON RESIDENCE
Videl and Gohan had just finished unpacking the only things that Raayne had with her to take to her new home. Raayne was wondering through the house exploring the different rooms. She got to Pan's room last and she had a big smile on her face. She had a sister. She looked deeper into her new sister's room and saw that she played guitar, had a bit of power since she saw the hole in the wall, and was also someone to be online a lot. She noticed Pan was online a lot because there were messages from friends galore. She continued to look in her sister's room and saw her fish tank. She turned on the fish tank light and watched as the fish swam by.
"Raayne can you come here please," Videl said from a room a few doors down from Pan's room. Raayne ran to the room that stood directly from the end of the top of the stairs where her mom was.
"Yes mom."
"Raayne, this will be your room. You can decorate it however you like. Would you like a computer, or some new clothes?" Raayne nodded yes and Videl went downstairs with Raayne to tell Gohan they were going to go shopping. Gohan gave Videl his credit card and she handed it back to him.
"Honey, you know that dad will give me the money. Especially for his new granddaughter."
"I guess you are right. Well, have fun. You too Raayne."
"Ok, I will daddy." Videl headed out with Raayne to her father's house and from there Hercule paid for all of the new things for his new granddaughter and even bought some things for Pan without Videl knowing about it.
AT SCHOOL
The day was over for Pan and she flew off to her house after she said her goodbyes to her friends. She was listening to Linkin Park on her way home and didn't even notice Videl had been driving under her, but in the opposite direction. She continued to fly home as she was singing to her favorite song.
Memories consumed
like opening the wounds
I'm picking me apart again
You all assume
I'm safe here in my room
Unless I try to start again
I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I know it's not alright
So I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight
Clutching my cure
I tightly lock the door
I try to catch my breath again
I hurt much more
Than anytime before
I had no options left again I don't want to be the one
The battles always choose
'Cause inside I realize
That I'm the one confused
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
I don't know why I instigate
And say what I don't mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight
I'll paint it on the walls
'Cause I'm the one at fault
I'll never fight again
And this is how it ends
I don't know what's worth fighting for
Or why I have to scream
But now I have some clarity
to show you what I mean
I don't know how I got this way
I'll never be alright
So, I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
I'm breaking the habit
Tonight
As the song ended, Pan landed in front of her door and swung it open.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Pan set her keys down and looked around seeing where her parents could be. She didn't care though because of what had happened the previous night. She headed upstairs to her room when she noticed the extra bedroom now had a suitcase in there and the bed was freshly made. She began to grow angry as she knew what her parents had just done. She ran to her room and slammed the door shut. She headed to her computer and looked at her messages.
"James, Nick, Bra, Rin, Ross, Yuki, and... Isaac. Well at least my boyfriend messaged me. And by the looks of it he's still online. Yea!" She messaged her boyfriend and they chatted while passing the time away.
Pan: Hey honey.
Isaac: Hi.
Pan: How are you?
Isaac: Doing good. What about you?
Pan: Not so good.
Isaac: What happened?
Pan: My parents adopted a kid and didn't really ask me if it
was ok. They just went ahead and adopted her. They just piss me off.
I wish they could burn in hell for all the shit they put me through.
Isaac: I'm sorry to hear that. I wish there was something I
could do.
Pan: You don't have to be sorry. You didn't do anything. Only
my parents. This really sucks.
Isaac: I know. Too bad I moved to the U.S. Otherwise I would
be there holding you tight to comfort you.
Pan: I love you Isaac.
Isaac: I love you too Panny.
Pan: Well, I have homework to do. I'll talk to you later, ok
honey?
Isaac: Ok.
Pan: Bye.
Isaac: Bye.
After the conversation with her boyfriend, Pan went downstairs to get a bite to eat. She walked down the stairs with her head low so she cannot see the room which now her new sibling was to live in. Down the stairs she walked and heard the sound of a creaking door when she reached the bottom. She turned her head to the right and saw her parents, and a figure behind Videl. She glared at them and lost her appetite. She walked back up the stairs with a fast pace and ran to her room once again in fury. She slammed the door behind her and punched another hole in the wall.
"Pan! You had better get your ass down here now and come greet your sister!" Gohan said in anger. Pan just ignored him and turned up her music, refusing to listen to their yelling. "Pan!" he yelled again.
"Raayne, honey. Go up to your room and put your things up," Videl told Raayne so that she didn't have to hear the argument of the other two. Raayne ran upstairs with a huge smile and started to unpack her things. Meanwhile, back with Pan and Gohan who are both now in Pan's room arguing.
"Pan, why are you being so stubborn?"
"Oh I don't know dad. Maybe 'cause you got a kid without telling me until the last minute! That could be it."
"Don't give me your bullshit!"
"You want my bullshit?! Then here you go dad. Get rid of her 'cause I won't welcome her into this family! Just like I don't except you or mom! You both tell me to do this and do that! No matter what I do I'm never good enough!"
"That's not true!"
"Yes it is. Don't you deny it."
"Get your ass over to your new sister and talk to her!"
"No! Now get out of my room!"
"Dammit Pan! One of these days you are really gonna get it!"
"GET OUT!" Gohan left Pan's room and Pan pulled out her guitar from the closet and began to play. Her anger had risen to a new level of pissed and she needed to calm down. After playing guitar for an hour she heard a knock at the door. "What do you want?" The door opened slowly and Raayne poked her head inside.
"Dinner is ready."
"Tell them I'm not hungry."
"Are you sure you don't want to eat?"
"Look kid. I don't like you. I don't want you in this family. So don't play sister with me. Just leave me alone. I don't want to see your face again. Got it?" Raayne's eyes started to water as she heard these words of such anger was used towards her. She shut the door and Pan continued to play her guitar.
Down at the dinner table, Videl, Gohan, and Raayne all ate their beef stew quietly. Raayne still had the look like she was going to cry as she ran Pan's words through her head again.
"Raayne, are you ok?" Videl asked.
"Uh-huh," she said as she finished her stew quickly. She thanked Videl and Gohan for the meal and headed upstairs to her room. The light switch was turned on and Raayne went through her things to find her book she always wrote in. She pulled it out and lay on her bed and began to write in her book.
Dear Diary,
Today I was taken home with the Son family. They are so nice. Except for my new older sister. She is kinda mean and she told me she doesn't like me. It hurt my feelings. I hope she gets to like me though, cause I want to play with her and have fun together. Oh, and I got my own room and lots of stuff today. I found out that my grandpa is the great Hercule. He bought me clothes and shoes and toys. I was so happy. I hope that mom could have seen me now. I miss her so much. I also miss daddy. Even though he...
What does the rest of Raayne's diary say? What did her father do? Also, why is Pan being so mean to Raayne? Find out next time in chapter 9. I apologize for waiting so long to post this chapter but I was in the writer's block section of my story. Also, I don't own the song "Breaking the Habit". I just wanted to put that in cause of those who never heard the song. Anyway, chapter 9 should be coming in a lot sooner than this chapter did. Thanks for reading so far. Please review this and tell me what you think. Thanks-.