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She smiled "I was your neighbor"

"What?" He asked in disbelief

"My God, how could I miss that? Well, I was seven…"

"How could you be my neighbor? You're rich"

"It wasn't always like that. It takes time to make honest money Jack"

"So, you're saying that you're that little girl who woke me up while screaming happily, asking Ma to make chocolate cookies for you?"

Erika laughed at the memory, now things were passing through her head like in a movie flashback "Yes! And you're Cracker Jack!"

Now it was Jack's turn to laugh "Holy shit!"

None of them really remembered of much, they were little, most things that were shared there were due Jack's memories.

"You never let me play with your toy guitar!" Erika said half hurt

"That's because I was afraid you'd break it! Like you did with the house's vases!" She laughed "I remember Bobby used to call you Little Thunder"

"Yeah!" She squealed, that was a good year in her life. "How's everybody anyway?"

"Ma is just the same, Bobby lives in Chicago, but always visit, like now. Angel is trying to get into the Marines and Jerry just got married"

"God, I feel so bad, I didn't remember their names"

"It's ok. After all, it was ten years ago"

"Yeah… It's good to see you talking, actually" Erika smiled referring to Jack's monosyllable talks when he was young.

Jack cracked a laugh "I've been working on that"

"Are you Erika Dellrance?" Erika jumped by the sound of the voice, she turned to see a security guard by her side. Oh shit! Someone had probably found out about she and Alexis being underage.

"Yes…" She answered cautiously "Is there a problem?"

"Your step father is here for you"

Her eyes grew "What?!"

"And he wants you to leave right now"

"Well, tell him that I'm going to my friend's house tonight and it's still five minutes to midnight!"

"ERIKA!" The voice she least wanted to hear yelled and she soon stood up as her whole body tensed

"Is everything alright?" Jack asked genuinely worried. Erika's expression changed from happy to shocked at the mention of her step father.

"Yeah" She answered quickly and it didn't convince him for a second.

"Come on let's go!" Dracon grabbed her arm "You know you shouldn't be here" He whispered to her as he tightened his hold and Erika tried to, unsuccessfully, escape from hurting strength. Jack also stood up.

"Let go of me!"

Dracon smiled to the security "Thank you for your services. We're leaving now"

"No" Erika finally got rid of his hand around her arm and massaged the area "YOU are leaving"

"Erika don't make me-"

"Isn't it obvious that she doesn't wanna go with you? I think she's made it pretty clear for everybody" Jack cut him off. After years of abuse, he had became somewhat defensive not only over himself but other people who suffered the same, and apparently, Erika was one of them.

Dracon eyed him suspiciously "Who's this young man?" He asked to Erika, but Jack answered for himself

"Jack Mercer"

"Mercer, huh?"

"Yeah. But my name isn't the issue here. The thing is that Erika wants to stay and wants you to leave"

Dracon seemed rather amused "And what business is that of yours? I'm responsible for her"

"You can't-"

"Yes I can" He cut Jack off "Now, it wasn't a pleasure to meet you Mr. Mercer and we have to go"

Jack was shocked at how this man was such a jerk. He made attempt to reply but Erika quietly shook her head 'no' before walking away from him with no goodbye and with the asshole right behind her. He didn't know anything about her life now, but of one thing he was sure: she'd have a lot to handle.

"Jack, what just happened here?" Alexis asked worriedly while she fixed her hair, Dan was behind her, looking confused.

"Her step father came to pick her up"

"Oh shit!" Her eyes grew, almost as much as Erika's.

"Is she gonna be alright?"

"I don't know… but I really hope so" She turned to Dan "I gotta go home"

"Alright, I'll call you later"

"Bye" She kissed him quickly "Bye Jack"

"Bye"

Alexis took off in hurry. Erika really had called home and asked Loren to let them know where she was. Damn, this was going to stink.

"I need to take my stuff at Alex's" Erika emotionless said as they were about to get into Dracon's car.

"You have hundreds of clothes, I'm sure you won't miss those" He answered in the same tone

"My school's books are there, I have homework for the weekend"

"Maybe detention would do you some good"

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Watch your language"

"Why are you here anyway? I called, you know where I was, I'm sure Loren gave you the message!"

"You have the right to remain silent until tomorrow Erika, don't say another word"

"Or what?!" She challenged him. Sure that wasn't a good idea and she knew it.

He laughed sarcastically "Or what? There's no 'or what', you're going to do what I'm telling you"

Erika didn't say another word, not sure why though. Ok, she was scared, she had no idea what this psychopath could do to her and she didn't want to take her chances, she was alone with him after all.

"No wonder why your father gave up on you" She opened her mouth to protest but didn't say a thing, and he continued "He said he did that because he didn't want you to suffer, right? Great excuse! He didn't want to carry the burden! And now I have to"

Everything he said hurt the very deep piece of her heart, she loved her father, and as much as she tried to not think on his words, he was getting what he wanted: take her father's love away from her, after all, now he was in Germany and couldn't prove Dracon wrong. But she refused to say another word, she refused to even look at him. He knew this hurt her, that's why he kept it going.

"This problem is gonna be over though, you're mom is gonna have my baby. A real baby because let's face it, you were an accident, you broke your parents apart. My son is gonna be much smarter than you, not that this is a difficult task anyway! Anyone can be better than a mistake! Look what you do to your mother, she has been waiting for you all the time"

"Erika!" Her mom called as soon as Dracon parked the car on the garage, she was standing there, waiting for them. "Where have you been? Are you hurt?"

Erika furrowed her eyebrows "What you mean where have I been? I was at Alexis', I left a message tellin' you that!"

"You didn't honey, I've been worried sick about you!"

"Erika, I know you're scared but you must not lie to your mother." Dracon said resting a hand on Erika's shoulder, she soon flinched away. He was disgusting. "She was in a club, forbid to underage people"

"What? Honey, I know you are upset about the baby but-"

"I'm fine" Erika answered, cutting her mother off. Her eyes were red, they were tired of the fight against the tears "Go back to sleep, I'm sure you and your baby need rest. You too Dracon, go mind your own business" She said before deciding not to wait the elevator and take the stairs.

She ran up, like if some angry dog was chasing her, all she wanted was to be in her room. Erika understood exactly what happened: Loren, in her innocent ignorance, told Dracon what Erika had told her. To be the 'hero' of the story and to make her the 'uncontrolled troublemaker bastard daughter', he lied to her mother, saying he didn't know where she was and after finding her, he'd be considered the rescuer by Helen. How pathetic!

Erika reached her apartment door with no problems and hurried inside, directly to her room.

"Erika, sweetheart, are you alright?" Loren asked before knocking softly on her door.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I'll just take a shower and sleep. Thanks" She said quickly and Loren closed the door with no further questions.

Erika walked in the shower, the hot water running down on her body as tears fell from her defeated eyes.

"Jackie, you're up early! Is everything alright?"

He ran his fingers through his already messy blonde hair "Yeah" The sleep was evident on his voice.

"How was last night, with the band?"

"Good… great, actually. We made a good amount of money" He answered less excited than he should actually be.

"Honey, you sure nothing happened last night? You got home earlier than I expected you to"

"Did I wake you up?"

Evelyn smiled, she never really slept when her youngest was out "No, I'm just a light sleeper"

Jack started chewing down the pancakes she had just placed in front of him. After a while, he finally spoke

"Ma, do you remember of some neighbors we had about ten years ago?"

"Ten years? That's a long time…"

"The little girl, Erika… she had two different colored eyes"

Evelyn smiled "Yes, I remember now! Little Thunder, as Bobby used to call her" She gave a small laugh "Always breaking things around! I'm surprised you remember. What about her?"

"I met her last night"

"Really?" She looked surprised

"Yeah"

"My God, she must be all grown up now! How did you meet?"

"Her friend's dating Dan"

"Seems like the world is not that big after all, huh?"

"Yeah. But Ma …I'm… worried about her"

"Why Jackie?"

"Her step father showed up to take her home. And when he did, she got all pale and tensed up. He got a tight hold of her arm and she flinched away. The man is an asshole, Ma!"

"Jackie, you don't even know him"

"He's smug! Really, I bet the man doesn't worth the shoes he wears"

"And why are you worried about her? After all, underage teens can't go there, can they?"

"That's not the point. When I tried to help her, she just shook her head no and went away with him like a lost dog"

"You think he beats her, is that it Jackie?"

"I don't know…Maybe"

After about five minutes of silence, Evelyn spoke up "I just had an idea. Why don't you call and invite her to have dinner with us tonight?"

"I don't have her number Ma"

She smiled "I'm sure you can manage that if you really want to"

"Morning Lo" Erika said as she walked into the kitchen and sat on the balcony

"Hello Ka" Loren filled Erika's favorite mug with coffee and handed it to her with a smile "How are you feeling?" She looked directly to the purple bruise on the girl's arm.

Erika pulled her pajama's sleeve all the way down "Ok" She shrugged

"Just last night I realized what I did, I should have given the message to your mother. I'm sorry"

"It's ok Lo…"

"No kid, it's not. I wish I could do something to help you, I'm not blind, I see the way he threats you"

"Thanks Lo, but don't get yourself into it. As much as I appreciate your concern, it's not your call to make. You need this job, I know it pays well, so just let it go" Erika answered with a small smile "Besides, I need someone here who believes me. If you get fired, how am I gonna deal with this?"

"Aaaww child" Loren hugged Erika "You're good. You're gonna find the right help to walk out of this" Erika smiled "Now, tell me, how was your night?"

"It was good! Better than I expected, to be honest!"

"Oh, I'm glad to hear that"

"You know I lived here a long time ago, right?"

"Yes"

"Well, I met the guy who used to be my neighbor back there!"

"Really? Wow! Looks like fate just played a trick with you"

"Aaahh Lo, don't come with this fate bullshit to me, you know I don't buy that" She said laughing as she started looking between the stuff on the balcony where she was sat.

"What you looking for?"

"Chocolate cookies"

"You already ate them all"

"Crap…"

"But here, have those"

"What's this?"

"Chocolate sticks"

"Sounds good!"

"Anyway, it's not bullshit young lady. Detroit is a big city! I'm surprised you remembered him though"

"I didn't… he asked about my eyes and then said he had met a girl with the same condition when he was little… I just asked a couple of questions and put the pieces together"

"Clever"

"That's what he said" She answered with her mouth full of chocolate.

"And does this neighbor have a name?"

"Jack. Jack Mercer"

"Mercer? As in Evelyn Mercer?"

"Yeah, that's his mother's name, if I remember well. You know her?"

Loren smiled "She's the sweetest creature alive! I used to work on a grocery store near her house. I've met two of her sons, Bobby and Jerry"

"Bobby used to call me Little Thunder because I'd always break something, vases mostly"

Loren laughed "Some things never change"

"Hey!"

"Evelyn told me when she took Jack in, I think I saw him once or so. Is he skinny and blonde?"

"He's blonde and really tall, but definitely not skinny, I mean, he's got muscles"

"And you checked on him!"

"Well, that's my job as a girl, right?" She laughed. Her cell phone started ringing. She moaned as she got down from the balcony and went to her room.

"Hello?"

"Hey. Erika?"

"Yeah. Who's this?" She was already back to the kitchen

"I'm really touched to know that you recognize my voice after all the childhood memories we shared"

She smiled "How you doin' Cracker Jack?"

Erika missed this, but Loren smiled to herself as she heard who Erika was talking to.

"I'm fine, you?"

"Good"

"Really?"

She laughed "Yeah, why?"

"Are you sure?" Jack knew that she would tell him if anything had happened, they weren't that close.

"Ok, maybe you're high now" She heard Jack laughing

"I can assure you that I'm not"

"If you say so…"

"Anyway, I told Ma I met you and well, she invited you for dinner tonight"

"Your mother invited me to have dinner there tonight?" She asked rhetorically while trying to hide a smile. Too late, Loren had already seen it and chuckled.

"You're rich but can't buy yourself a hearing equipment or something?" Jack asked amused

"At least this problem is much easier to be fixed than stupidity" Erika answered with acid humor, what made Jack to laugh

"Ouch! Alright… you comin'?"

"I need to talk to my mom first. Can I call you back when I have my answer?"

"Sure, ask mommy and call me later"

"Fuck you Jack" She said laughing and he laughed back. None waited for good bye to hang up.

Loren turned and smiled at her

"What? Ah no! Don't start making things up!" She jumped back on the balcony.

"I didn't say a thing!"

"But you thought! I KNOW you did!" Erika accused while pointing at Loren playfully

"If you know what I thought, it's because you thought it as well!"

"What? That's- ugh! Whatever… How am I gonna do this?"