Disclaimer: I do not own the show or characters, all rights go to Dick Wolf

Chapter 1

Amanda Rollins never had it easy. Her father did nothing but gamble, drink, and do drugs. He never cared about her or her sister. They basically didn't exist. Her mother cared at one time, but being the sole responsible parent became too much to handle. She began drinking heavily and pretty soon Amanda became the devil, while her sister Kim became the angel. The sisters who were once so close because they depended on each other so much became enemies. Amanda was always the good girl. She always tried to please everyone and made good grades in school because she wanted something different from life. She didn't want to be like the rest of her family. Kim on the other hand was the exact opposite and their mother always chose her no matter what.

When Amanda was a junior in high school, her mother packed her and Kim's things and told Amanda and her father that they were moving to New York and they were on their own. Amanda didn't want to go, she wanted to stay in Georgia and finish high school, but it did hurt to hear she wasn't asked if she wanted to leave with them. After her mom and Kim split, Amanda did okay. She always had a job since she was 15. She had to have her own money to take care of herself. She worked at the local Starbucks and made tons of tips because she had a great personality and all the regulars loved her. She worked at the Starbucks, went to school, and pretty much had the house to herself. The only problem was having the house to herself meant having the bills to herself. She made it through her junior year and when summer came she picked up another job at the pool. So she went to Starbucks from 5am-11am, then headed to the pool from 12pm-8pm everyday. The summer was great, because her dad showed back up after winning a big amount gambling and was at least dealing with the bills, but Amanda knew the easy times wouldn't last. Her dad did this all the time, disappear, show up, and disappear again. After a month he was gone again. At the start of her senior year Amanda cut her losses and left her childhood home to stay with friends. She hadn't seen her father in weeks and when she finally did see him he was drunk and beaten. Amanda was sure the gambling had finally caught up with him. She just couldn't afford to blow her savings knowing she wasn't going to be around after high school.

Things were okay for a while but bouncing from one friend's house to another every few weeks was getting old fast. She just couldn't couldn't keep up. While studying at the library she saw an ad that someone was looking for a roommate. She grabbed the ad and gave the girl a call. Kat had the apartment in her name and her last roommate ditched her, so she told Amanda if they split the bill it would be 400 a month. The place wasn't good but it wasn't bad. With her savings and the jobs she had now, Amanda could swing it, but she needed to figure out what to do. Kat was 19 and in college. She partied hard and brought home guys a lot. Amanda quit school in January it was all too much. So she just worked at Starbucks in the morning and a diner in the afternoon. She was always looking for work that would give her tips for cash right away. Quitting school was not the plan and now she had to turn and beg the one person she never wanted to beg, her mom. She called her mom's cell hoping she hadn't changed the number and she left a message telling her mom what was going on and begging her to please call her. So now she could only keep working and wait for her call.

She did just that. She watched her friends graduate and get ready to move on to college. That should have been her. It was almost the end of summer and her mom still hadn't called her back. Amanda hated asking her for help so she quit calling her, until one night all hell broke loose at her apartment. Now Amanda found herself hiding in the corner of her closet, with her lip bleeding, bruises showing on her wrist, thighs, and all over her body, shirt ripped open, and no other clothing. She called her mom one more time.

Amanda- "Mom?"

Amanda's mom- "What do you want Amanda?"

Amanda-"I need to come stay with you. Dad's a mess, I have nowhere to go, and I couldn't even finish high school. Please mom. I've never asked you for anything. I won't be in the way I just need to get back in school."

Amanda's mom- "Amanda how the hell did you let that happen you're going to be 19 and still in high school." (Amanda already had a earlier birthday, so she started school at a later age than most of her friends)

Amanda- "Mom it's not like I did it on purpose. I mean I was alone. Y'all are my parents. Where is your blame."

Amanda's mom- "Nice you call me for a favor and you think your smart ass attitude is going to get my attention. Maybe you should call me back when you get that attitude in check."

Amanda- "Mom I'm sorry! Please! I won't cause you any problems."

Amanda's mom- "You're damn right you won't and if you expect to come up here with me you better be ready to work and go to school. You will pay bills. Are we clear?"

Amanda- "Yes."

Amanda asked her mom for the address and information about what airport to come to, but her mom cut her off and said she would text her the address but she needed to figure out the rest.

Amanda got up from the closet and heard Kat crying. She went in to check on her roommate. They weren't exactly friends, but they both were getting to know one another and respected each other. Amanda found Kat completely naked on the bed. She was bleeding and crying from pain. Amanda could see Kat got it the worse that night. She told Kat they should get to the hospital. Kat refused and wouldn't be pushed. The next morning she went to check on Kat. She was better but still traumatized. Amanda told her she was leaving, but felt bad leaving her hurt. Kat told her to get out and become something. They promised to keep in touch. Amanda closed her account at the bank and packed the few things she had, then was on a flight to New York that day.