Chapter 4: Semester 1

Harleen's first day of University was spent mostly dodging her taller classmates and being stared at with curiosity. Almost everyone went up to her and asked if she was lost, she combated this by showing them her student card which she had attached to a lanyard around her neck.

John met up with Harleen for an hour that afternoon. "So how has your first day been so far?" He asked her as he pulled out his lunch.

"Pretty uneventful," Harleen answered with a shrug.

"The first week usually is as it's just introductory lessons. Come week three or four though, that's when all the interesting stuff starts," John explained to Harleen as he began to eat his sandwich.

"I kind a figured as much, as they have to show us all the techniques and such before we can try them ourselves," Harleen responded as she pulled out her own lunch.

"I imagine most of your classes are more hands on than mine," John mused then took the first bite of his sandwich.

"Now to sure honestly. Though most of mine have practical tests as well as written ones," Harleen pointed out as she began to peel a clementine.

"Hmmm, well I'm sure you of all people will have no problem either way," John put forward then chugged half of his water.

"Here's hoping," Harleen replied then began to separate the sections of the citrus fruit she had.

As Harleen was about to head home for the day she was stopped by a tall, athletic looking woman with bright red hair. "Are you lost?" She asked Harleen sounding concerned.

Harleen resisted the urge to roll her eyes as this was the fourteenth time she had been asked this that day. She showed the women her I.D and was about to keep walking when she said, "Oh if you're a student could I have a moment of your time?"

Harleen glanced over at the display the women had been standing in front of. It had pictures of trees and tropical plants she didn't recognize. One picture was of the ravine behind her old place.

Harleen decided to listen just in case, after all she couldn't have people finding any of the stuff she left there, though most of it would be decomposed by now.

"Sure," Harleen said as the women looked at her with a small smile.

"That's the spirit, my name is Pamela," she told Harleen as she led the younger girl over to the table. "And you are?" The woman asked as she grabbed some pamphlets off the table.

"I'm Harleen," the girl answered as she took the pamphlet and began to examine it.

Pamela told Harleen that she was an Eco Warrior and was trying to get people at the University to help her with her campaign to save a rainforest in South America. The reason the pictures of the ravine where there was because it was being given protected status as a permanent green space for the community. Pamela wanted the same status bestowed upon the whole rainforest. Harleen listened politely as she held in a sigh of relief. At the end of her speech Pamela handed Harleen a business card with her information on it.

"I'll look it up when I get the chance," Harleen told Pamela as she pocketed the card.

Pamela gave Harleen a friendly nod before running over to a few other students who had just entered the hallway.

It turned out Harleen and Pamela shared an electoral class. Pamela waved at her as she entered the room and indicated the seat next to her. Harleen took it then opened her bag to take out her books.

"Fancy seeing you again," Pamela said to Harleen as she opened her laptop.

Harleen merely nodded as she began setting things on the desk. She then straightened up and opened her own laptop.

"What's your major here?" Pamela asked Harleen as she opened up the web browser on her computer.

"Advanced Medical Sciences," Harleen answered as she opened her word processor program. She thought it only polite to ask Pamela the same question, "how about you?'

"Environmental Sciences," Pamela replied as she gave Harleen a curious look. "How old are you?" She asked the younger girl.

"I turned thirteen in July," Harleen informed Pamela as she opened her own web browser in order to load up any online material for the lesson.

Pamela stared at Harleen blankly for a moment before saying, "you're thirteen and you're already in the advanced course." The woman sounded both stunned and impressed by this information.

Harleen shrugged as though it was nothing as she downloaded the information from the school website she needed. "I'm only that far along because the University doesn't allow field experience for those under eighteen. I'd only be at the beginning level otherwise," the girl explained to Pamela as she glanced over at her.

"That's still really impressive, I just started here from high school and this isn't an easy university to get into," Pamela said as she to began to open the required lecture material.

"Well if you ever need a tutor, I'm taking students at $18-$22 an hour as an introductory rate for most subjects," Harleen informed Pamela as a few other students entered the classroom.

Pamela laughed a little at this information before replying, "I'll keep that in mind."

Harleen was about to head home after her second week of university when both Pamela and John spotted her from opposite ends of the library.

Once they were close enough they both said "Hi Harleen." After hearing each other's voice's speaking simultaneously they looked up at each other.

Harleen was still packing away her things but didn't miss a beat, "Pamela, John. John, Pamela," the girl introduced as she reached for another book on the table.

"Hi, nice to meet you," Pamela stated with a friendly smile as she extended her hand.

John shook her hand in greeting then replied, "nice to meet you as well."

The two then sat on either side of Harleen as she finished putting her last book in her bag.

"Are you heading home?" Pamela questioned as she rested her elbows on the table.

"Yep, my ride should be here soon," Harleen answered as she hoisted her bag into her lap.

"Do they always pick you up?" John inquired as he traced a pen mark with his finger.

"Depends, most Thursday's I have to take the bus cause my foster father works late that day," Harleen explained as she pushed herself away from the desk.

"Eh, it's always good to know how to use city transit," Pamela pointed out as she glanced over at John.

"True, there's been a lot more issues with them lately though I hear," John put forward in an advising tone.

"Isn't that cause of those super criminals. Didn't they hijack, I think it was four city buses and a school bus in the last four months," Pamela brought up as Harleen glanced at her watch.

"Ya something like that. The one guy even made a point of robbing everyone on board," John remembered as he had read a few of the articles.

"Didn't he also give the kids on board candy?" Pamela questioned as she leaned forward to better look at john around Harleen.

"He gave them to the teenagers as well," Harleen interjected as she did her best not to smile at her memory of reading the article.

"Ya I remember the article I read saying that it was really bizarre as all the candy was perfectly normal. They tested it all for poisons and such and it all came back normal," John expanded as Harleen moved to get up finally.

"Sorry guys I gotta get going," Harleen told them as she stood up and began to shift away from the desk.

"Oh, ya, sorry to keep you," Pamela stated sounding a little apologetic.

"That's alright, see you later," Harleen answered then turned to walk away.

"See you Monday," John replied then leaned back in his chair.

"Bye," Pamela said as she finally started up the computer in front of her.

It was almost a month before Harleen got a call saying she had her first client as a tutor. The lesson went well and the girl was just about to leave when she turned to look at Harleen and stated, "I just realized I don't remember your name."

"It's Harleen," she said as she began to get things set up for her next client as she had several back to back session that day.

The girl stood there staring at her with curiosity. "Is your last name Quinzel?" She asked as Harleen looked up at her.

"Yes it is," she answered and wondered slightly where this was going.

"Do you have a sister named Kathrynn?" She questioned further her face looking all the more interested.

"Yep," Harleen replied simply as she realized how the rest of this conversation was going to go.

"Oh, okay," was all the girl said though before leaving.

Harleen knew this would probably lead nowhere good. Her suspicions were confirmed the following Monday as she made her way to class with John walking beside her. His lesson that afternoon was a few doors down the same hallway.

Harleen saw Kathrynn leaning up against the wall surrounded by a small group of other females her age.

"Well if it isn't my prodigy sister back from god knows were," Kathrynn said teasingly as Harleen approached.

Harleen chose to ignore Kathrynn as she walked down the hallway. John did the same as he walked the girl to her classroom.

"Please tell me you aren't dating that," Kathrynn stated sounding patronizing.

John laughed at this and retorted, "if you're trying to provoke her, you're going to have to come up with something vastly more creative than that."

Kathrynn looked highly off put by John speaking to her and even glared at him angrily as they walked past.

They had walked a ways farther down the hallway before they reached Harleen's classroom.

"Let me know if they continue bothering you. I can't stop them the same way I did Edward but I can sure as hell prevent things from going physical," John reassured Harleen as they paused outside the door.

"I'll keep that in mind," Harleen answered automatically as she peered up at the boy.

"Mmm, anyway, I'll see you later," John stated as he glanced down the hallway they had just come to see if Kathrynn was still there.

"Yep, see ya," Harleen responded then turned to enter her classroom.

It only took two days for Kathrynn to gather enough of her friends together for Harleen to hear a near constant diatribe directed at her in the hallways.

Harleen ignored this as she was used to being ostracized and treated with hostility due to her elementary school days.

When ever Harleen was on her own the next week she would hear someone close by muttering about her along with the occasional rude name.

Harleen was able to ignore this until she found them purposely blocking her path to her classrooms. Once they started this tactic the girl decided she was no longer going to put up with things as they were directly hindering her now.

Harleen asked all her teachers to meet her as soon as they were able to in order to discuss what was going on.

Harleen knew they were quite likely to help her given the circumstances and her own status within the school Though she also prepared several things just in case the meeting did not go her way or if anyone needed some gentle persuasion.

The five professors were very surprised by Harleen telling them about the harassment. She explained some of what had led her into being in the care of CAS. She also informed them of the fact that her whole family had the same view about these matters. So the bullying Harleen was experiencing was not only expected but would not be easily solved by her just talking to Kathrynn.

They sat in stunned silence for a few seconds before Harleen's Advanced Medicines professor spoke from across the room, "well that is quite the unfortunate story young lady. Of course we will do what we can to end this harassment."

"Thank you, Professor Paulson," Harleen responded sounding a little relieved that everything seemed to have gone smoothly

It was not till Harleen's gaze swept the room that she realized at least one of her Professor's was uninterested in helping her.

Harleen's Ethics professor was looking at her with slightly accusatory eyes. "May I ask Ms. Quinzel, what you yourself have done to counter what has been going on?" He asked her as he tried and failed to keep the skepticism out of his voice.

By now Harleen knew what type of person this man was. He himself was not only from the older generation but he was also very old fashioned and covertly sexist.

Harleen decided her best defense was to counter with her own question, "May I ask what you mean by that professor?"

The older man looked a little thrown off by this tactic. "What I mean is, have you tried anything yourself, like talking to your sister or these friends of hers. Usually something like this," he stated gesturing towards his fellow professors, "would be enacted only if things were really out of hand or had been going on for a while," the man finished as he leaned back in his chair.

"As I have already explained, my sister has the same views as my parents, which are not only old fashioned but wildly damaging to others. As for her friends they are all going along with what she is saying and while my words may have a small effect, she is around them far more often than I am," Harleen explained directing her words at her Ethics professor as everyone else sat with baited breath.

"Well it appears to me as though you are wasting our time," he stated as he moved to stand up.

"Excuse me, but isn't it part of your jobs mandate to protect students from dangerous situations and prevent conflicts between pupils from escalating," Harleen stated sounding rather forceful.

"It is yes, but only if said students do their own work as well. After all you can't really expect us to solve such trivial matters," he retorted sounding as though he thought this would end the discussion.

Harleen made herself look both confused and upset by her professor's lack of concern. "That's not correct Professor. A student's job is to study, learn and apply their knowledge to their chosen field. Also last I checked dealing with on campus harassment by myself was not included in what I need to learn from here. As for the trivialness of it, how it being bullied by a small brigade of my sister's friends a minor matter, I clearly explained how there's at least a good fifteen of them at it," the girl finished as she prepared to kill two birds with one stone.

"Well it's not like you're actively doing anything to prevent it, you could try making up with your family and go back to being a good girl so that all this nonsense can end," he stated quickly sounding very agitated.

"And how is being in an environment where I have to fear for my well being going to be a good thing exactly?" Harleen asked him sounding somewhat outraged.

"As I said make up with them. There are plenty of ways for someone like you to do that. Just like all the rest of them," the professor retorted then mumbled out the last sentence.

He had fallen into Harleen's trap as he finished his sentence, she fished out a voice recorder as well as a small cassette tape from her bag. The girl stuck it in and fast forwarded the tape to no particular point.

Harleen knew all the things she had stuck on the tape would be damaging to her professor. The only reason she had done this was because she had heard that his sexual harassment would sometimes turn physical and she did not want to be a victim of it.

The point Harleen had stopped on started with a female student who had gone up to the professor to ask about something, "I mean euthanasia as a whole is," she was about to finish her sentence when professor Landry cut her short.

"Yes while that's all well and good for someone of the gender that is dictated by emotions to say that, those of us who are far more logical thinking see things in a vastly different manner. Now please return to your seat before I permanently remove you from my class," Professor Landry said to her sounding highly annoyed.

Harleen then paused the tape and looked up at her teachers who were all sitting there looking flabbergasted. She turned to Professor Landry and asked, "so professor tell me, have I really not done enough, or is your reluctance to help me stem from my being female?" The girl had to hold back a smile as she asked this.

The other four professors were staring at Landry with disapproval and anger.

Professor Landry sat stunned for a moment then seemed to come to his senses and looked livid. "When did you record that?" The older man asked Harleen sounding accusatory.

"A tape recorder is one of the many tools we students are encouraged to use for our benefit. I simply keep mine on record for the whole time I'm in the classroom just in case something relating to my studies is mentioned and I don't have the opportunity to write it down," Harleen explained sounding innocent.

"But we, I, how could," Professor Landry seemed to be at a loss for words.

At his last statement though her other male professor stood up and said loudly, "how could she what? Not use the resources we encourage all students who attend here to use." He was glaring at Landry in disgust.

Harleen's Bio Chemistry teacher looked over at her and said, "I think that is quite enough for now. Harleen you may leave."

Harleen exited the room before things got out of hand.

As soon as Harleen got far enough away from the school she burst out in hysterical laughter, that had felt good. Almost as good as when she had beaten that boy with the hammer, almost as good as when she killed the animals.

Harleen realized then just how long it had been since she had gone out and killed anything. She had also not been able to set any fires as a there were similar no dangerous object rules in her current foster home.

Harleen felt restless as she came to the realization and wondered how long till she would be able to carry out such acts again. Eventually she would be unable to resist her urges and the girl knew she would have to solve this issue sooner rather than later.

Harleen decided to research what she could about her current status as a foster child and ways to become independent. She knew it would take work but if it got her where she needed to be sooner she was more than willing to do it.

When Monday came Harleen noticed an email asking for her to come to the administrative area as they needed to get the information she had about Professor Landry.

Harleen headed to the office named in the email and was glad she had already thought up how to explain the entire tape of Professor Landry being discriminatory.

"Well thanks for compiling it all for us," the HR Manager said to Harleen as she was handed the tape.

"Like I said I only did it because of the rumours," Harleen said somewhat truthfully as she leaned back in her chair.

"Ya we've been trying to pin something on him for awhile now. I'm glad someone as studious as you came along," the woman responded as she dropped the cassette tape into a small plastic bag.

"I'm glad I could be of assistance," Harleen replied with a cheerful smile.

"Yes, well. Hopefully this will be the end of things and if we meet again it will be under better circumstances," the woman put forward as she set the bag on the table and peered back over at Harleen.

"I hear ya there. Can I get going now?" Harleen questioned as it was almost time for her last lesson of the day.

The HR Manager glanced over at the clock on the wall at Harleen's inquiry. "Ya we should be good. Can I email you if we need to speak with you again?" The woman asked in an interested manner.

"That's fine with me," Harleen replied as he pushed her chair away from the table.

"Alright, bye, and thanks again," the woman said giving Harleen a grateful smile.

"You're welcome, bye" Harleen responded then stood up to leave.

Much to Harleen's delight Professor Landry had been replaced with a substitute and she also heard that he had been fired. The girl made a secret pact with herself that as soon as she could she would end the man's underserved life.

John came up to Harleen the following week to ask her how things were going.

"It's all settled. She gave up after I ignored her enough," Harleen lied sounding bored.

The truth was though Kathrynn had completely stopped some of her friends still muttered things as Harleen passed. Harleen was able to ignore this though and knew they would not step things up again.

John looked somewhat skeptical of Harleen's response. "If you say so," the boy replied in a slightly concerned tone.

"How bout this, if she starts up again I'll let you know," Harleen reassured John in attempt to dissuade his suspicions.

John seemed to relax a little at this suggestion. "Thank you," the boy answered then he let out a long sigh. "Why always you?" John pondered sounding highly perturbed.

Harleen let out an even longer sigh in exasperation. "I couldn't tell ya, but it sucks," the girl responded in a wary manner. "I'd say maybe it's cause of my intelligence but then you'd be just as enamoured with problems as I am," Harleen pointed out as she rubbed the back of her neck.

"Hmm, well we all have our own issues. Though I will say mine seem like small cookies compared to yours," John admitted in a wary sounding way.

At this point Harleen knew it was only polite to ask about things with John. "What's been happening with you anyway?" Harleen inquired as Pamela joined them at the table they were occupying.

"Hi guys," Pamela greeted them with a happy smile.

"Hey Pam," Harleen responded as she looked over at the woman with a friendly expression.

"Hello Pamela," John responded as he glanced between the two friends. "Not much has been happening. Though one of my butlers has been getting really sick lately," John stated as he leaned back in his chair.

"That sucks, hope it's nothing serious," Harleen responded in a concerned tone.

"Me too. He keeps having to leave early or just calls in right before his shift," John told them as he crossed his arms.

"Is he seeing a good doctor?" Pamela questioned as she rested her chin in her hand.

"From what I know, yes. He's seeing him again tomorrow actually," John replied then shifted in his seat.

"Well then, you'll probably hear something soon depending on what it is and how long it's been going on for," Harleen put forward as she glanced at her watch. "Shoot, sorry guys my next class is in ten minutes," the girl blurted out sounding apologetic.

"Oh, well see ya later then," Pamela responded in a somewhat off put manner.

"See ya," Harleen said then began to walk away.

It was getting nearer to exam time and Pamela was sitting at their usual table scanning her notes.

"Are you not done yet?" Harleen questioned sounding alarmed.

The paper Pamela had in front of her was due tomorrow by twelve. From what Harleen could tell the woman's paper was only half done.

"I'm just finishing. Give me fifteen minutes," Pamela replied as she began to type again.

"Okay, while you do that, I'm going to look at apartments," Harleen stated as she sat down at the computer next to Pamela.

"Wait, what? Apartments? Since when can you get an apartment? Aren't you only thirteen?" Pamela questioned sounding highly perplexed.

"Well it may be true that it's been thirteen years since I was born, I'm not exactly a thirteen-year-old in the traditional sense," Harleen reminded Pamela in a slightly teasing manner.

"Ya, ya, ya genius. So how can you do that anyway?" Pamela inquired as she turned back to her essay.

"I found out due to my intelligence and circumstances I can take my case to court and argue to be made legally an adult," Harleen began to explain then noticed Pamela had stopped typing once again to stare at her disbelievingly.

Pamela blinked several times then seemed to return to her senses. "Okay, but what does that have to do with apartment's?" The woman questioned in a confused tone.

"Umm, you see, one of the ways for me to be legally be declared an adult is to prove I can live responsibly. In these cases CAS will help the person find a permanent residence where they can stay even after they are declared an adult," Harleen expanded as she began to start up one of the computers.

"Why do they do that?" Pamela inquired in an interested manner.

"So that there's no time limit on when you need to move out," Harleen answered then typed her name into the login screen.

"Ah, that makes sense. Do you have enough to afford an apartment?" Pamela asked as she glanced at her notes.

"I have for awhile, but I want to be six months ahead just in case," Harleen informed Pamela as she began to type into the search engine bar.

"Wow. Why are you saving that far ahead though?" Pamela responded sounding quite impressed.

"Well think about it. I may have plenty of clients now, as well as next semester, but that probably won't happen over the summer. I either need to find a summer job, or have enough saved up for the gap to keep me a float, and that includes back up money for any emergencies," Harleen put forward as she clicked on several of the links.

"Guess I know who to ask for advice when I go to move out," Pamela stated then began to type again.

"Eh, just make sure you finish your part of the group project by tomorrow," Harleen reminded Pamela then she began to read one of the apartment descriptions.

"Oh that, I finished it just before this. I can send it when I'm done here," Pamela answered with a dismissive wave.

"Cool, then I can finish the rest tomorrow," Harleen responded as she clicked on another listing.

"When do you plan on looking at these places?" Pamela questioned as she glanced over at Harleen's screen.

"Not to sure yet. I just want to research the market conditions first and see what may be available by the university," Harleen told Pamela as she made an annoyed face and closed one of the links.

"Sounds like a good idea. Are you looking for anything specific?" Pamela inquired then wrote the last line of her essay.

"I just want to make sure it's in a nice neighbourhood. I also want a two-bedroom apartment as I need an office," Harleen answered as she leaned down to grab her bag.

"Ya I hear ya there. There's this one section at the opposite end of my street that everyone refuses to go near anymore. After it was abandoned a bunch of homeless people moved in. They never bothered us really, just sat near the end of the street with signs asking for change and charity. The last few years though gangsters and drug dealers have taken up the space. My mom refuses to go anywhere near there," Pamela put forward as she scrolled back to the top of her essay.

"Can't say I blame her," Harleen responded then let out an exasperated sigh and hung her head in disappointment.

"Find anything good?" Pamela questioned Harleen as she fixed two spelling mistakes.

"Some look promising. Not sure they'll still be available when I officially start looking. Mainly I want to research neighbourhoods," Harleen answered as she glanced over at Pamela who was halfway done editing her essay.

"You're always so thorough," Pamela stated sounding slightly strained.

"Eh, as they say, better safe than sorry," Harleen responded with a small shrug.

"This it true," Pamela mused as she turned two sentences into one sentence.

"Hey Pamela, why don't I edit that for you?" Harleen suggested as she read a little of her friends' paper.

Pamela paused for a moment then fixed another spelling error. "Okay," the woman replied in a skeptical manner.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything funny to it," Harleen reassured Pamela as she leaned over to look at Pamela's screen.

"Alright, just give me a moment. I'm almost done," Pamela informed Harleen as she nudged her friend with her shoulder.

It was the beginning of finals week and the campus was packed. Harleen had just finished her first exam and was sitting at a far computer in the library.

John walked into the upper part of the library and recognized Harleen from above. He walked down to the girl and took the seat next to her.

"Hey," John said to her as he started the computer in front of him.

"Hello," Harleen greeted as she read over her notes for the fifth time that day.

"Is it true your getting an apartment?" John questioned as he typed in his login then waited for the computer to load.

"I'm not getting one yet. I'm still researching things," Harleen answered then glanced down at her notes.

"When do you think you'll be able to," John inquired sounding interested,

"Probably sometime next semester. I have to confirm a few things over the winter break," Harleen put forward as she scrolled down a ways on the web page.

"You know I'm surprised you'd want to do that given how much the cost is and the state of the city currently," John put forward as he began to open several programs on the computer.

"That's why I'm researching the different neighbourhoods and have so much saved up. I'm already in talks with my CAS worker about getting a cell phone and vault to be safe," Harleen reassured John as she knew he often worried about these things.

"Sounds like you've got everything covered. Can you give the cell phone number out?" John questioned as he read through his notes on the computer.

"Yep, it'll be in my name. CAS just has to co-sign for it," Harleen answered then began to pack away her things.

"Do you have another exam today?" John inquired as he glanced over at Harleen.

"Nope, my rides just gunna be here soon," Harleen replied as she began to close the programs she had been using.

"Guess, I'll see you tomorrow then," John said as he passed Harleen her pencil which had rolled closer to him.

"Thanks, yep see you then," Harleen responded then finished putting her things away before leaving.

On the last exam day Harleen was about to exit the front door when she noticed her brother standing outside the front entrance. The girl almost did not recognize him, he had grown a large beard, was wearing glasses and had much shorter hair compared to when she last saw him.

He looked up and noticed Harleen about to leave the building, he waved at her and smiled. The girl exited the building into the blistering cold December weather as her brother walked up to her.

"Hey, how ya been sis?" he asked Harleen sounding cheery as he stuffed his gloved hands in his pockets.

Harleen thought it a little odd that he was addressing her that way as he had only ever called their other sister that. "Fine, and you?" she answered feigning politeness.

Harleen wanted to catch her bus so she could get home and add the papers she had printed off to her scrapbook.

"I'm good, I'm good, just hoping to have a little chat with you," he told Harleen as he nodded back towards the university building.

"Alright," Harleen replied as she turned back towards the entrance. The girl couldn't think of what this could be about as her sister seemed the same as ever when they passed in the halls.

Harleen's brother stopped in front of an empty classroom and held open the door for her to enter. The girl did so and sat at the first available seat. After waiting for him to be seated she asked, "what did you want to talk about Dustin?"

Dustin looked at Harleen and sighed before answering, "mom and dad are getting divorced."

This did surprise Harleen slightly she was otherwise not concerned as she did not care what her parents did.

"And, that has to do with me how exactly?" Harleen questioned unsure of where this was going.

"Well you see, after you left, mom and dad were always fighting. Now I'm still not really sure what went on as neither mom, nor Kathrynn were in the room. Also, dad's version seems more than a little absurd," Dustin admitted sounding sheepish as he glanced over at Harleen who was trying not to look bored.

"What does dad say happened?" Harleen questioned as she tried to figure out how to end the conversation.

"He said you threw some sort of fit after calling him out on being racist. He admitted to slapping you, as he should have. But then immediately after you made it seem like he was attacking you or something. Said you threw yourself around the living room then smeared your blood all over him. Not exactly sure where he thought he'd get telling such an obviously made up story," Dustin explained in a skeptical manner.

"Are you saying he should have slapped me? Or that it was good he admitted to it?" Harleen questioned sounding off put by Dustin's wording.

"More of the second then the first," Dustin answered with a thoughtful expression.

"So, you're saying I deserved it," Harleen put forward in a hurt manner.

"Well no, it's just, god Harleen. You can't talk to people like that," Dustin tried to explain as Harleen's expression became increasingly angry.

"Like what? Like they do to people they see as being below them. I'm sorry Dustin but last I checked being discriminatory was never okay. And I don't care who it is, if they want to act like that in front of me, I will throw it right back in their faces," Harleen informed her brother as she crossed her arms in irritation.

Dustin let out an exasperated sigh at Harleen's words. "That's the thing Harleen. That's all well and good when you're an adult, kids really should keep these things to themselves," her older brother responded in a reluctant tone.

Harleen's expression changed from anger to puzzlement at what Dustin had said. "That doesn't make sense. Children need to be taught to advocate for themselves so they don't get bullied or taken advantage of. Do you have any idea how man children get sexually assaulted cause they're never taught how to say no, cause I do and it ain't pretty," the girl brought up in a tone that clearly showed she thought her brother was being ridiculous.

"I just, Harleen look. I'm not here to argue the ins and outs of children's psychology. I only brought all this up because I want you to come home," Dustin blurted out sounding frustrated.

Harleen let her surprise show on her face this time but then rapidly shifted it to one of dismay. "Why in the hell, would you want me to do that?" The girl exclaimed in a slightly alarmed way.

"Because mom's really worried about you, that's the only reason she's doing this," Dustin explained as he looked a little relieved to get back on topic. "She went absolutely nuts and tried to get the truth out of dad. She even went so far as to threaten to have him fully charged if she could. That tactic didn't work though and she seemed to give up after awhile so the fighting died down," Dustin put forward as he rested his arms on the desk in front of him.

"So why is this coming up now?" Harleen questioned as this had obviously happened a while ago.

"Well they started up again when mom found out about your transfer. You see CAS never gave much of an explanation to her so she panicked and came to all sorts of horrible conclusions," Dustin brought up then let out a wary sigh.

"Like?" Harleen questioned sounding worried.

"Like someone had attacked you, or you were being mistreated by the parents. She pretty much begged dad to get you back but he kept ignoring her whenever she did this. Eventually she confronted him and accused him of not caring about you," Dustin expanded as he rested his chin in his hand.

"What did our father say?" Harleen inquired though she had a hunch as to where this was going.

Dustin flinched a little at the memory of what he had heard. "Basically, he said he didn't care. He also said you deserved it as you clearly didn't care about any of them. He also said something along the lines of you being no child of his as you clearly didn't respect him," Dustin answered truthfully while feeling a little guilty.

Harleen had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at this news but instead faked a look of suspicion. "So, what do you want me to do about this exactly?" The girl asked with an uncertain look.

"I want you to come home. I want you to show them that you do care. That we can go back to being a family," Dustin responded in a somewhat pleading tone.

Harleen gave Dustin an offended look at the suggestion. "How in the. Why in the hell do you think that would do anything to help," the girl blurted out in an outraged manner.

"Cause it would show dad that you want to be there, and it would make mom stop worrying," Dustin brought forward as he leaned in closer.

"And why in the hell would I want to be in an environment where I have to fear for my well being?" Harleen questioned Dustin in an affronted manner. "The fact is Dustin, our father beat me. Beat me, at ten years old. And you know why he beat me. For doing the right thing and standing up to him. That's not a parent, that's a god damn person with antisocial personality disorder, and in case you don't know what that mean's, our father's a fucking psychopath," the girl explained in an agitated way.

Dustin looked very upset by what Harleen had said about their father. "You almost sound like you don't care about dad," Dustin mildly accused as he crossed his arms with a dismayed expression on his face.

"Why should I care about someone who not only blatantly insulted my friend, but also beat me for doing what was right?" Harleen inquired looking cross.

"Cause he's your father, he raised you," Dustin brought up as though this settled the matter.

"Raised me, how could he raise me when he was always working? When he so often left me in the care of our grandparents, or you yourself. He no more raised me then that desk over there," Harleen retorted sounding scandalized then she nodded at one of the desks beside them.

Dustin jumped up from his chair with an infuriated look on his face. "How dare you, don't you even care about the man that helped bring you into this world," the young man pointed out in an irritated manner.

"Why should I care about him when he so clearly doesn't care about me," Harleen put forward in a voice full of hurt as she began to fake crying.

"I umm, sis I," Dustin tried to say in an apologetic tone.

Harleen rose up from her seat with her head pointed at the ground as she continued to sob. "That's the worst god damn part, and you want me to go back there," the girl stated in a trembling voice as she looked up at Dustin. The girl then pulled in her lips and shook her head. She backed up several paces then dashed towards the door just as her brother was about to speak.

Harleen had only taken two steps when she began running full tilt away from the classroom. The girl dodged several people as she carved a haphazard path to the back of the school.

Harleen had decided to take an alternate route home rather then risk running into her brother. So, the girl walked down a small forest path that ran alongside the University and led to another bus stop.

This made it take longer for Harleen to get home but she did not mind as it gave her more time to read over the articles she had found.

The first few days of winter break Harleen filled with checking over her scrapbooks and journals. The girl was also following up on several summer job opportunities. She knew if she could secure a few more things she would be able to cover her living expenses.

Harleen was working on things to do with her becoming legally declared an adult as well. This would also mark the beginning of her drafting letters to the university to give her an age exemption for field work.

Harleen had decided to do this now as she was beginning to notice the effects of her inability to kill things. The girl knew once she was on her own she could do these things infrequently again once she had the proper equipment. She had realized though that this probably would become less satisfying after a while and thus decided to see if she could push things forward a little.

During the break Harleen spent almost no time out of her room as she did not want to be bothered in her current state.

By this time Harleen's foster parents and siblings had been conditioned by the girl to mostly leave her alone. The girl had used her psychiatry knowledge to her advantage in order to get what she wanted out of them.

Even Harleen's CAS worker had been won over by the girl's tactics.

Harleen was glad she had thought to use these simple mind games to control those she had to put up with seeing the most.

Hello Readers,

Well here it is, the next revamped instalment. Thanks again for reading and I hope you all find the updates intriguing enough to contemplate.

I also want to take this opportunity to let you all know I am writing an actual book that I plan on having published, it is going to be the first part of a series. If any of you are interested please follow me on twitter and Instagram as I will be posting info on this as well as the fanfic.

I wish all of you the best till next time.

Sincerely,

RJ Meijers