Author's Note- I feel like I haven't updated in forever! I've been really busy playing softball and stuff, and haven't been home a lot.( Plus, I didn't really have any good ideas for either of my stories for awhile!) But I finally figured out where this story is going, so I'll be updating more. It's definitely going to get really intense later in the story, even if it starts off a little slow. So please Read and Review and give me your opinion, and check out my other stories! Thanks
Roxie pulled out the last of her t-shirts and hurled them into her dresser. She glanced around at her old room, and couldn't help but sigh. Never thought I'd be back in this hell- hole, she reflected absentmindedly as she hung up a skirt in her closet. If I hadn't heard that Mom and her boyfriend had moved back here, I'd probably still be living with Aunt Tammy. Roxie smirked when she remembered her mother's phony reaction to seeing Roxie- she had hugged her and told her how much she loved her. Roxie had played along, knowing that her mother was only trying to show off for her boyfriend.
After unpacking most of her things, Roxie decided to go down to the kitchen and get something to drink. When she entered the kitchen, she spotted Jake, her mother's boyfriend, putting some spaghetti into a boiling pot on the stove. When he saw her enter, Jake smiled.
"Hey, Roxie. Happy to be back home with your mother?" he asked, stirring the pasta with a spoon. Roxie walked over to the fridge and shrugged. Happy isn't exactly the word I would use, she thought sarcastically.
"Oh, I'm absolutely thrilled," she said sarcastically. Jake nodded, obviously not picking up on the sarcasm in her voice.
"You're mother's a wonderful lady," he said.
Roxie pulled out a carton of milk and smirked. Let me guess- Mom conveniently forgot to tell Jake about her drug problem. Roxie probably figured Jake didn't know the real Jana at all- she was obviously putting on this holy-saint act shit that was really beginning to piss Roxie off. Roxie took a sip of milk. Yep, she's one hell of a lady. She's a fucking drug-addict who abandons her kids to move in with her boyfriend. You picked a real winner, Jake.
"Yeah, I guess. You look awfully young for my Mom," Roxie blurted out. She figured she might as well be blunt about it- Jake looked like he hadn't even gotten his drivers license yet. Where does my mom pick up guys- the local daycare center? She wondered. Jake just shrugged and chuckled.
"I'm twenty-two. I know how old your mother is, and I don't really think thirty-one is too old for me," he said. Roxie nodded. Well, she didn't lie about her age, even if she did lie about pretty much everything else.
"Can I ask you something?" Jake said after a minute, turning from the stove and setting down the spoon. Roxie shrugged and nodded. "That day in the hospital….why did you say you were her niece and not her daughter?"
Roxie bit her lip. She could just blurt out the whole story. Tell the poor boy the truth. Instead, Roxie just shrugged and smiled sheepishly.
"I didn't know who the hell you were, honestly," she said with a casual shrug. "How did I know you weren't some serial killer stalking my mother or something? After all, my mother never really mentioned that she was sleeping with some teenager, since, you know, she was married." Roxie said a bit angrily, giving him a cold stare. Jake shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm not a teenager," he muttered, looking away.
"Whatever. The point is, what did you expect me to do? Go up and introduce myself to the man who was having an affair with my mother? Talk about awkward," she said, tossing her cup in the sink. "Look, I know you're only being nice to me because of my mother. You're twenty-one- I'm sure you're not really prepared to have a sixteen year-old "daughter". You probably still spend every night chugging beers with your fraternity brothers or something. So I'll stay out of your way, and you can stay out of mine, alright?"
Jake stared at her for a minute, and then smirked a little. "You're something, aren't you? You're a lot like your mother, you know."
Roxie rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the insult," she muttered, and then she turned and walked out of the room.
Manny sniffled quietly as she glanced up at the large mansion that was looming in front of her. She sighed sadly and walked up the long pathway to the front door. After Craig's blatant rejection that afternoon, Manny had felt alone and depressed. In some irrational part of Manny's fucked up mind, she actually thought that Craig would still be in love with her, and would be waiting around for her when she got home. What is that matter with you? Manny wondered angrily. Of course he was going to go running back to Ashley- he always does.
Manny was emotionally drained from the events of the past week, not to mention horribly confused. The fact that she had just snorted cocaine twenty minutes before didn't help anything at all. Manny bit her lip as she stepped up to the large wooden door. She couldn't believe she had ended up here- at Carter's mansion. She wasn't even sure she wanted to be with him anymore. She knocked loudly and waited for the door to be pulled open.
"Manny!" Carter said as soon as he opened the door. He looked surprised, and pleased. Well, at least someone's happy to see me, she thought bitterly. "What are you doing here?"
"I got out of rehab. I'm back for good," she said, smiling at him. He grinned and nodded. Carter then took her hand and led her inside, all the way up to his room on the second floor.
A minute later, Manny stepped into Carter's large room, and as usual, it smelled like men's cologne and weed. Loud rock music was blaring on the stereo, and Carter walked over and turned it down. Manny settled herself onto his bed, and glanced around. God, it feels like I haven't been here in forever, she thought.
"So, did you bust out or something? Am I conversing with an escaped convict??" Carter teased, turning around and grinning at her. Manny shook her head and shrugged modestly.
"It would be cool if I was on the run or something, but my parent's actually had me released," she explained. She still felt a little light-headed, so she leaned back on the bed to steady herself. "God, I hated it in there, Carter." Without any warning, Manny felt hot tears fill her eyes. All the emotional shit she had been dealing with burst inside of her, and she couldn't control it anymore. She buried her face in her hands and began crying. A second later, she felt Carter sit down next to her, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"It's alright, Manny. You're out of there. You can start over. You never have to go back there," Carter said gently, stroking her back. A minute later, Manny took a deep breath and wiped away the tears. She looked up at her ex-boyfriend, and smiled appreciatively. I don't want to be alone anymore, she thought suddenly. Even if Craig doesn't want me, Carter still does.
Manny unsteadily threw her arms around Carter's neck, and kissed him firmly on the mouth. The sudden movement caused her to become dizzy, and she stumbled off the bed, practically taking Carter with her. A minute later, Manny was sitting on the floor, and Carter was standing over her, staring down at her in confusion.
"What's the matter with you, Manny?" he asked. Manny smiled and stood up unsteadily and wrapped her arms around him again.
"I thought this is what you wanted," she purred. "I want you, Carter. Don't you want me?"
Carter stared at her for a long minute, then took her arms, unwrapped them from around his neck, and pushed her away gently. "Manny, are you on something?"
Manny smiled and waved a hand flippantly. "So what if I took a little Coke? I…I think I deserve it after that month in hell."
Carter frowned and shook his head. "What is the matter with you?" he said angrily. "You just got out of fucking rehab! Do you want to go back there?"
Manny frowned. "Look, stop acting like my parents. I didn't think you of all people would jump all over me like this. You do pot all the time. Don't deny it."
"Yeah, and I'm probably fucking stupid for doing it! But cocaine is completely different, Manny. You have to stop doing this shit! You're going to end up in rehab or dead or something!" Carter explained, looking frustrated. "I don't want you doing anything anymore. You need to clean up your act."
Manny suddenly found herself growing furious. Carter was beginning to sound like every stupid nurse in that rehabilitation center! She was young- she was just trying to have a little fun! Manny shook her head angrily. "You can't tell me what to do! Look at yourself, Carter! You're practically a fucking alcoholic, just like your drunk parents! You never do anything at school, and you basically have no future! You're a loser, Carter. I don't even want you anymore. The only reason I'm here is because Craig completely rejected me this afternoon for Ashley! And who gives a fuck if I go back to rehab! At least my parents care enough about me to get me help. You're parents are too damn drunk to give a fuck about you!"
There was a long moment of tense silence. In the back of her head, she knew that was completely unfair and harsh. But she was to damn angry to listen to herself, so she just stood there. Carter was staring at the ground, and finally, he looked up at Manny.
"Get out," he said quietly, his voice angry, but mostly just sad.
"Carter, wait. I-" Manny began, but Carter simply walked over and pulled open his bedroom door and cut her off.
"Just get out, Manny," he said.
Manny was silent, and finally realized that she there was nothing she could say to save her ass. So she simply walked out the door, down the staircase, and out the front door. And for the second time that day, Manny hurried away from her ex-boyfriends house with hot tears streaming down her face.
The wind whipped Emma's hair as she clutched her Math book to her chest and hurried up to Sean's house that same evening. She shivered as she stepped onto Sean's front doorstop, and raised her hand to knock on the door. Then she stopped, and smiled. Sean had been living alone ever since his brother moved away, and he had always told Emma that she could just come in whenever she wanted. Emma reached out and opened the front door, and stepped inside.
"Sean!" she called out, closing the door and turning around. When she did, she jumped slightly.
Jay was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and eating a sandwich. He smirked when he saw Emma, and took another bite of his sandwich. "Scared you, huh?"
Emma made a face and set her book down on the kitchen table. "Yeah…guess you did. I wasn't really expecting to find you in Sean's kitchen. Where is he?"
"He's not home," Jay said simply. Emma frowned.
"Oh. Well, we were supposed to study at his place tonight." Jay just stared at her and chewed on his sandwich. Emma sighed. "Would you happen to know where he is?"
"Yeah. He told me to give you a message," Jay said, setting down his sandwich. He tipped his head to the side and pretended to be thinking. "Let me see…oh, that's right. He said he'd be a little late. I think he said he was on a date with another girl," he said, with a clueless shrug. Emma sighed and rolled her eyes.
"You're really hilarious," Emma said sarcastically. "Could you stop being a complete jerk and please tell me where my boyfriend is?"
"Well….he is with another girl," Jay finally said. "He got stuck doing some "special" project with Ellie in detention this afternoon. Jealous?"
"No," Emma lied testily. 'I guess I'll just wait for him, then."
"Whatever," Jay said with a shrug. Emma nodded and took a seat at the kitchen table and opened up her textbook. She began reading the book, trying to study, simply because she didn't feel like talking to Jay.
"You're not actually studying, are you?" Jay asked after a few minutes.
"Yeah. I actually care about my grades," she said, subtly insulting him. Jay just smirked.
"So, let me get this straight. You and Sean actually get together, and just study?"
"Yes."
"That's pretty gay."
Emma closed her book with a snap and sighed. "I guess I wouldn't expect you to understand that concept. If I don't study with Sean, he probably wouldn't study, period. It's not like you're a wonderful influence or anything," she muttered the last part. Jay took the last bite of his sandwich and studied her for a minute.
"You don't like me much, do you?" Jay asked, wiping his hands off on his jeans. Emma just shrugged and stared him straight in the face.
"Honestly, no, I don't. I think you get Sean into trouble, and he'd be better off if you weren't friends with him. You're rude, and you steal," she said blatantly. Might as well be honest, she thought. Jay chuckled quietly, and Emma frowned. "What?"
"You're so naïve. You think I'm the only one that causes the trouble? You think I'm the only one that steals?' Jay asked, gesturing to himself. He smirked again. "News flash, Emma, Sean has a serious case of sticky fingers himself."
Emma frowned. She had always sort-of suspected Sean stole, but she had always told herself that Sean was too good for that. But something about the way that Jay said it made Emma believe that Sean really did steal. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, ready to fire an icy comeback at Jay, when suddenly, the front door flew open and Sean walked in.
"Emma. Sorry I'm late. I had to do this thing in detention…" Sean said, tossing his book bag on the couch. Emma smiled and shrugged.
"It's fine. He told me," she said, nodding at Jay. Sean walked into the kitchen and rolled his eyes at his friend.
"Oh. I didn't invite him," Sean said, nudging Jay in the stomach as he passed him on the way to the refrigerator. "He only comes over for the free food," Sean joked. "Alright, are you ready to study, Em? I know nothing about this chapter.'
"Yeah, well, it sounds like Emma doesn't know a lot of things, either," Jay said, glancing at Emma.
Emma just opened her book back up and looked away.
Craig opened his locker the following morning, and tossed his jean jacket inside. He glanced into his locker, and frowned. Alright, definitely time that I clean this locker out, Craig decided. He spotted a moldy, half-eaten banana on the top self, and made a disgusted face. You're truly disgusting, Craig. He picked up the banana, and shrugged. Oh, well. Spinner will probably eat it.
Suddenly, two hands clamped over his eyes, and everything went back. He smirked.
"Guess who?" someone whispered from behind him. Craig smiled and sighed loudly.
"'Have I ever told how old this little game is getting, Ashley?" he teased. He felt the two hands drop from his face, and he could see again. "Do we have to have this discussion again, because I-" he began, turning around to face who he thought was his girlfriend. Instead, he got a bit of a surprise.
"Roxie?' he squeaked out, sounding like a mouse on helium or something. He could believe it. But it was true- she was standing in front of him, wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of worn-looking jeans.
"Well, I guess you didn't like my Guess-Who game very much," she said, with a casual shrug. "Is it because you suck at them?"
He smiled and shrugged. "What are you doing back?" he asked, still slightly surprised by her sudden presence. "I thought you were living with your Aunt."
Roxie shrugged and looked away. "Yeah…well…things didn't work out."
"Why not?" Craig asked. She looked back at him and suddenly smiled brightly.
"Well, if you want the truth, I missed you horribly, Craig Manning. I couldn't sleep at night. I couldn't eat. I had no choice but come back," she joked dramatically. "You're my everything, Craig.'
He laughed and then nodded solemnly. "Yes. I do tend to have that lasting affect on everyone." Then, a thought occurred to him, and he frowned. "Have you talked to…Ashley?" He wanted to know if Roxie knew that Ash and Craig were dating. She was acting pretty normal, but Roxie was a pretty good actress. She could be furious right now, but still managing to have a pleasant conversation with him. Oh, please, Craig. Get over yourself. She's probably not even interested in you anymore.
Roxie shrugged. "Yeah. I saw her this morning. We only talked for like, a minute, since she had some environmental meeting before school or something. Why?"
Craig just smiled. "Oh…you know. She's probably excited to see you, that's all."
A few minutes later, Roxie and Craig walked into English class, and Craig walked over to sit next to Marco, and Roxie headed over and sat down next to Ashley, who had saved her a seat. She set her bag down on the floor, and smiled at her friend. Paige, who was on the other side of Ashley, glanced over, and smiled.
"Well, it is true. Roxie's back. Did you really miss me that much that you just had to come back?" Paige joked. Roxie rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself, Paige."
Mrs. Kwan walked in then, and she asked everyone to open their new books to page one. Roxie opened the copy she had gotten from the school secretary. She had gone up this morning to the front desk to get back her old schedule and any new books, and the secretary had looked less than thrilled to see her. The first thing she had asked was if her sister had come back. Roxie had heard the two had had a few unpleasant encounters before Angel had moved away.
A few pages into the book, Ashley leaned over and nudged Roxie. "Hey. I'm really happy your back," she whispered.
Roxie smiled and nodded. "I'm happy to be back. It's been fun. I nearly gave Craig a heart attack when he saw me in the hall."
Ashley's smile faded a little, and she looked down at her book, as if she wanted to say something. She finally looked back up at Roxie, a questioning look in her clear blue eyes. "Um…do you still like Craig?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well…I was just wondering if you still….have feelings for him. Because…we've kind of…been going out for awhile now. I thought that things might be weird…if you still like him," she said slowly, trailing off and glancing over her shoulder at Craig, who was sitting in his seat and staring at them. Roxie looked back at him, too, and he quickly glanced down at his book.
Roxie turned back around and shrugged. "It's not like it matters. We couldn't be together anyway," she muttered under her breath.
"What?" Ashley asked quietly. Roxie looked at her and smiled casually.
"Um…I said…no, not really. That was just a little crush," Roxie said flippantly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Actually, I was kind of seeing this guy back in my Aunt's city," she lied. "Craig and I are just friends."
"That's good," Ashley said with a smile. She glanced around, and leaned in closer. "Because I really like him. A lot."
That's fantastic, Roxie thought sarcastically, smiling at Ashley as if it were the most exciting news she had ever heard. Well, this has been a wonderful homecoming, she thought sarcastically. I'm going to have to sit around and watch Craig and Ashley cuddle and whisper sweet nothings in each others ear and I have to watch my mother and her boyfriend make out. Things are only going to get worse, she reminded herself.
"So…tell me about this guy you were dating. What's he like?" Ashley whispered.
Roxie bit her lip, trying to figure out how to dodge that question. She quickly put a finger to her lips. "Sssh. I really think we should pay attention," she said, pointing at Mrs. Kwan. Roxie then opened her book and pretended to be concentrating on the story. Ashley frowned in confusion, but went back to her book, too.
Why did you tell that stupid lie? Roxie wondered. You are an idiot.
Ellie walked into her bedroom late that evening, coming home from Marco's house, and she tossed her black leather jacket onto her bed. She had definitely had a horrible day. She had gotten a D on another math quiz, which couldn't help her overall grades much. Then, Roxie had suddenly reappeared, and Ashley had been talking about it all day. Ellie sighed. Roxie was cool girl, and the two were technically "friends", but Ellie always felt a little jealous when Roxie was around Ashley. It was like Ash had a new best friend or something, instead of Ellie.
Ellie flopped down onto her bed. She had been secretly happy when Roxie had moved away. Ellie ran a hand over her face. Things were not going well. She had that stupid documentary to work on, and she could tell that Sean wasn't going to be a tremendous help. Just as she reflecting on all the stresses in her life, the phone rang. Ellie rolled over and picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello. Is this Eleanor Nash?" a formal voice asked. Ellie stared up at the ceiling. "Yes, this is she."
"Eleanor, I'm Victoria Blaine, from St. Mary's Hospital. I have some bad news for you. Your mother has been in a car accident this evening, and she was brought into the ER."
Ellie felt her blood run cold. She sat up. "Is she alright?"
"She's currently stable, although it was a pretty severe accident."
"I'll be at the hospital in a bit," Ellie told the doctor. She said good-bye, and hung up.
Ellie was stunned. She just sat there for a minute, processing the news. After a long minute, she reached over and called Marco, asking him if he could come pick her up and take her to see her mother. He told her he'd be there in fifteen minutes.
As soon as she hung up, she reached under her bed and pulled out something that she hadn't seen in awhile- a pair of scissors. Ellie took a deep breath, suddenly feeling as if she was sitting in a box, and as if she couldn't breathe. She hadn't needed this. She hadn't needed this at all.
She opened the scissors and quickly put one blade to her wrist. She closed her eyes and sliced the skin, and when she opened them, she saw a neat line of blood on her arm. It gave her a sick satisfaction.
You're a freak, she told herself, staring at the blood. But even as she told herself this again and again, she couldn't stop from cutting her own skin….