Title: Hot Tempered Is Only The Beginning

Rating: T

Summary: Pretending to be a boy is only the half of what Lara Haven aka Jack has to put up with.

Lady Venya of the isle: Thanks very much! I'm glad you liked it! Also, major thanks for adding my story as a favourite! I feel very honoured. :P

Scary-Girl: Here is the next instalment, thanks so much for the reviews!

Mercuryband: Lara is around the age of 18, early stages. I'm not really sure how long it takes to be a judge, maybe around 8-9 years? Lara and the judge didn't have to be in the same grade or anything if that's what your wondering. Lara could have been in first grade of high school or something and the judge in his last. Would that make it anymore plausible? Anyways, thanks so much for all the reviews you keep me thinking of all the possibilities :D

A/N: Before I go to the story I must say this…homework is truly the work of the devil. I don't care if it prepares me for later life. Screw that! Lol.

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I didn't hesitate as I was marched along the hard pavement that lead the way to the old officers break room. In fact I felt like grinning as I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my baggy blue jump suit.

'I'm comin' Mam, just you wait.' I kept thinking, it was motivation to get me through the lonely nights when the air turned my breath to crystals. It was strengthening words when I ate breakfast with 'the gang' and choked down my sausages trying to cool my hot temper as crude jokes were made.

After all, I had gotten into a fight but many still saw me as the slender red head with the mesmerizing green eyes and the delicate feminine features.

…Maybe I should break my nose on purpose…Maybe that'll discourage them.

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One of the guards reached forward and pulled open the sturdy blue iron door, and in I was lead, hardly able to contain the mirth that now danced triumphantly in my eyes. "Another one for your numbers Abruzzi. P.I. seems popular." Said the badge. I wasn't sure of his name…I think it was Lewis, but I contented myself with calling him Louiy.

The door closed shut behind me with a bang and I stood alone, all of sudden feeling a little less sure of myself as all eyes were on me. I could see the look of surprise on T-Bag's face and that, once again, started the mischief twinkling in my bottle green eyes. I wasn't as expendable and fragile as I seemed!

C-Note looked from me to T-Bag and then scoffed loudly, turning the attention to him.

"Should have known you'd want to include your puppy. Maybe I should bring in one of my boys, just to even things out."

Did he just say-? What did- Oh no. He did not just say I was-

Already I could feel my cheeks getting hot, as my short temper was set alight. I said it the first day I got here and I was still holding true to it, I was NOT going to be anyone's little piece of fluff, no matter what. I'd die first and I'd die happily cause I wasn't gonna give in!

"Hey, I may be small but I can still wipe the floor with you." I replied hotly, but my quip didn't have as good an effect as I had hoped because C-Note just began to laugh.

"Your 'friends' seem to have only one thing in mind Cletus." The man said with a sneer, causing my cheeks to grow even more read if that was at all possible. I could hear the ringing in my ears and I knew that if I tried to talk I'd just stutter and make a fool out of myself. No, now was not the time for words, now was the time to kick his ass!

"Just step off boy." There was a hand on my shoulder and a deep voice startled me. I looked to find an older gentleman holding me back; a man who I'd found out was called Charles Westmoreland.

By now I knew my whole body would be turning red, burning with embarrassment and against the blue it would be a great contrast. My eyes were like balls of fire, fury in their depths as I glared at C-Note and then averted my gaze back to Westmoreland.

"I'm not-I don't belong to- I'm nobody's lapdog!" I muttered furiously, my clenched fists shaking with rage.

"So I've heard." Westmoreland commented dryly and I could only think that he was referring to the time when I had screamed it after the little scuffle out in the yard. I smiled slightly at that and it was only then that Westmoreland removed his hand, I guess sensing that I wasn't going to suddenly fly at C-Note. "Here, grab a piece of sand paper and start sanding." I did as I was told and soon everyone was back to work, my short temper quickly dieing down. That's the thing, I get heated pretty fast but I cool down afterwards.

"He probably thinks I'm like them." I muttered to Westmoreland.

"Who?"

"C-Note." I replied and there was a brief pause.

"I know you have more to say kid, who are you meant to be like?"

"You know," I paused and nodded my head over to T-Bag who thankfully wasn't looking. "His gang." In a way I had been taken under T-Bag's wing, as freaky as it might seem. But nobody dared touch me and so long as I stayed on the gang's good side I was all right. But I hated people thinking that I was just a boytoy, cause like I said before, I'd die before I ever- Anyways, the point is, I meant it when I said I'll fight my own battles and I proved it that day when I tackled Geraldi…maybe that's why I hadn't been reduced to just being a pocket warmer.

"Are you?" Westmoreland asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No!" I hissed back, rubbing the paper hard against the wall.

"Take it easy or you'll go right through." Westmoreland said with a small smile. "So why do you sit with them?"

"Because…it's complicated." I evaded and scowled at the wall, which was now bumping free.

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Westmoreland frowned slightly at the young kid beside him, working so diligently; the young kid who had somehow gotten into a dangerous group and not suffered for it. Had even earned a name like Scraps. This kid had a secret, everyone had secrets but Jack had a big one.

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I stopped at a tall fence, my hands in handcuffs but I didn't care, because right through the gate, right on the other side was my sister. Louiy unlocked the gate and then freed my hands, I immediately went over to my sister and enveloped her in a hug-I was quickly reprimanded but it didn't matter.
We sat down and were silent for a moment, just staring. She looked just like I had, before I had had my hair chopped. Same dancing green eyes, same fiery red hair and same delicate features. My sister and I were twins you see.

"It's good to see you again Ri." I said softly, Ri's eyes shown brightly as I knew mine were. My sister's real name was Rowan and my Mam had said it meant 'little red one'; though Ri had never liked it and so we just shortened and through in an 'I'.
"You too L-"
"No." I hissed suddenly and leaned close. "Call me Jack." My twin looked shocked for a moment, her green eyes going wide before she to leant in ever so slightly.
"Why?"
"Cause I can't be found out." I said, speaking through tight lips before I leaned back and gave a shaky smile, trying to fake an air of normality. Thing is I was always bad at acting.
"Oh." Ri gave a small smile and sat back also.
"How are you?" I asked after a long pause. Ri shrugged carelessly and then gave me a small crooked smile – one that was not unlike my own.
"I'm holding up, Aunt Fiona is giving me grief again but I'm sure it's nothing compared to here." I grinned back rather roguishly as we both stared at the other inmates on visiting time, the stonewalls and then eventually at each other. I couldn't help but chuckle then, Aunt Fiona had always been a bit…demanding but I knew Ri could handle her, she was strong.

A degree of sadness entered my twin's eyes, though she tried to hide it and that tore at my little heart. She was hurting, just like I was, and I hated not being able to at least be with her when Mam was laid to rest.

I couldn't take it anymore! I had to tell her. I had to tell her she wouldn't have to do this alone. I leant in and discreetly signalled her to do the same.
"You'll see me soon Ri. Really soon. I don't know when, but I'LL find YOU." My lips were set in a grim line, my face sombre. Ri looked even more surprised and then her lips tightened in worry.
"What are you talking about Lara?" She whispered.
"Visiting times over!" One of the guards said suddenly. I lent back and grinned at my twin, my eyes dancing once again with mischief.
"Jack! Promise me! Promise me you'll be careful!" Ri said then, grabbing my hand.
"I'll be careful." I said, a small sad smile on my lips as I gently detached my hand from hers, standing up then as Louiy came over to cuff me again. Ri leapt to her feet but watched helplessly as I was led away, though I did catch her last softly uttered words.
"Goodbye…Lara."

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I was back in my cell, tossing and turning on my hard mattress as my mind buzzed with the thoughts of the visit. Slowly, very slowly mind, I felt my eyes grow heavy with sleep and I knew that soon I would once again be plagued with dreams.

The silence stretched between us, my sister and I, soon becoming unbearable. I knew what she was thinking, her thoughts probably weren't that different from mine and oh we were so alike but…I had been thrown in prison. I blamed myself for not being with Mam, I blamed myself for her death. Maybe it sounds irrational but…if I had been there then maybe I could have helped! I knew Ri didn't blame me for Mam's death, but I also was aware of the wall between us now.
I had always been the slightly wilder one; we had always done everything together, no matter what…but Ri had always been the voice of reason and I- well I had always been the impulse. But we looked out for each other, when Mam left my…Father… we had made a blood pact; that no matter what happened we would put Mam before ourselves. Sometimes we would go for hours on end without eating, and I know there's worse but to our young minds it was a walk through Hell.
But when we made that secret pact, we also made a silent one. To look out for each other, no matter what. And now I was in a male prison where you never knew if you'd wake up the next morning. My sister was on the outside, handling Mam's funeral, contacting the relatives and doing everything on her own. I felt like I was a failure. I'd broken my silent word, and I knew the same thought was running through Ri's mind except she would be envisioning herself as the betrayer.
I felt like I was on the inside…looking out.