A/N: Finally... It's the weekend. I get to do whatever I want. Yeah...no. I have to go to a car wash tomorrow, and I have an extra credit project to work on. Well, besides that I'm going to be reading Nevermore and posting on my fanfictions. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's the longest so far.

Bree's POV

On the way back to my house, the tension in the car was so thick you could cut it with a knife. He pulled into my driveway and killed the engine. I was afraid to move. He didn't say anything and I had to look over at him to make sure he was still breathing.

"So...bye." I said and reached for the door handle. I'll admit; I hesitated to see if he would stop me and it hurt like heck when he didn't. As soon as I got out he started the car, but didn't drive away until I was in the house. I instantly wish that he'd come in with me.

"Where. Have. You. Been?" My blood froze in my veins. Fan-freaking-tastic. The one day I'm out is the day he decides to come home early, and apparently the day he decides to start caring. What the heck do you care anyway? I felt like saying but bit my tongue.

"Out." I said instead and it only fueled his rage. "With who?" I bit my lip and shrugged, looking at the floor. "No one."

"Don't lie to me Bree. Your car was in the driveway when I got home." Dang it... I didn't even get the chance to answer because he continued. "I can't believe after all I've done to raise you, you don't even have the decency to tell me where you are." Woah...hold up. Did I miss something here? Suddenly my confusion turned to boiling anger.

"You have no right to criticize me." I said, suprising us both. "I don't see you for months at a time. Now you're back and you think you can tell me what to do." Something inside me was screaming at me to stop and just leave, but there was a fire inside me. It was getting brighter every second and I couldn't control. All my anger and hatred at everything suddenly burst out of me in waves. I could literally feel waves of heat radiating from me.

"You were supposed to be there for me. I was alone when mom died. Adam was the only one that cared, and now he's gone too." I was screaming as hot tears fell down my cheeks. "How could you just leave me like that? I needed you."

He stayed silent for a moment and I felt a sudden burst of hope. Maybe I had finally gotten through to him. Would I finally get my father back? But then he looked up at me.

"It was your fault she died. You weren't worth her life and you're not worth my time. You are not my daughter." My breath escaped me. I'd always assumed he blamed me for my mother's death, but to hear him actually say it was something completely different. Something I wasn't prepared for.

Just when I thought everything was okay again, it all went down the drain. How could he say I wasn't his daughter... I mean, it doesn't matter what happens; there's always some place in your heart for your only child, right? But what if he was being literal. What would I do if he really wasn't my father?

I was so sick of crying. It seems like the only thing I'd been doing lately. My "dad" had left... I don't know when. I don't even remember going into my room and curling up in a ball on my bed. My heart was aching and I just wanted to sleep. But every time I closed my eyes I thought of my mother and it brought on a new round of fresh tears.

After a while of hopelessly trying to fall asleep I looked over at my alarm clock. 12:00 AM. I frowned and sat up. My pain had subsided and was replaced by red-hot anger again.

I hated my father for deserting me, for telling me it was my fault, for saying he wasn't my father. I hated Adam for deserting me and treating my like I was never his best friend. I hated everyone who ever made fun of me because of my eyes or because of how smart I was.

Eventually I worked myself up so much I saw red. Out of nowhere, all of my books flew off my shelf and hit the wall with a very loud crash. I gasped and sat, paralyzed. I did not do that... I kept thinking over and over. I didn't need anything else that was going to me make me more of a freak than I already was.

I picked all the books up and slowly placed them back on the shelves with shaking hands. Its strange. For a moment I believed that I had moved the books. As soon as the thought crossed my mind I felt oddly... comforted. Like I belonged to something. Like someone was out there... looking for me.

I shook my head, and laid down, now overcome with exhaustion. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

Adam's POV

I had taken Melissa home not long after Bree and Jason left. I didn't want to hang around with her for no reason. The only thing she'd been talking about since we got here was her clothes and how some other girl was trying to take her place as cheer captain.

I shook my head and killed the engine when I got home. I just sat in the car for a moment, trying to contain my mixed emotions before I went inside. Finally I sighed and got out of the car.

The house was silent when I walked in. Then I heard the clatter of a dish against the dining room floor. I walked in to see Allison, my 13-year-old sister about to clean up a puddle of paint water off the hard wood floor.

She paled significantly when she heard my foot steps. But then sighed in relief when she saw that it was just me.

"Adam. I didn't expect you home so early." She said and I glanced at the clock. I sighed and grabbed a towel from the drawer, handing to her. "Thanks." she mumbled as she cleaned up her mess.

"Allie." I said, calling her the nickname I've called her since she was born. I'm the only one who calls her that. I guess it's an older brother thing. "What are you doing?" She laughed nervously.

"Um... an art project?" she said, but it sounded more like a question. I had to keep myself from groaning. She always did this. "When is it due?" I asked and she bit her lip, not looking at me. "It was due today but my teacher said she would be cleaning up her class tomorrow." She whispered and this time I groaned, even though I was expecting that answer.

"Allie-" I started but she cut me off. "I know, I know. But I swear it wasn't my fault this time Adam. I was working on a history project all this week and I totally forgot. Please don't tell mom and dad." I stared at her for a moment and then sighed.

Here's the thing. Are parents are not chill about anything that has to do with school. If we don't get straight A's then we're basically banned from everything until we get our grade back up.

"You know you're going to be in high school next year." She didn't even try to argue with me, just nodded. Which surprised me because she was always the outgoing one. "What do you need help with?" I asked and her face lite up. "Really?" I nodded and she bulldozed me with a hug.

"Thank you Adam." I smiled, glad she wasn't a diva teenager that locked herself in her room all day. "Um...Allie?" She looked up at me. "How were you planning on getting to school tomorrow?" I asked and she blushed. Ah, surprise surprise. A flaw in her plan. I laughed and she frowned. "Don't worry. I'll take you."

So there we were, sitting at the dining room table, making a picture. It was one of those pictures where you take a whole bunch of pieces of paper in different shades of black, grey, and white and placing them together to re-create a photo.

After a while it started to look familiar. "Hey, what picture are we making anyway?" She didn't say anything, just handed me a photo. My heart froze. It was one of me, Allie, and Bree on the beach. Our mom had put the picture in black and white.

Allie was sitting criss-cross in the sand. There was a heart drawn in the sand in front of her with all our names in it. I had my arm around Bree's shoulders and she was smiling. She was so happy.

She seemed to notice I was tense and looked at me. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the picture. "Where did you get this?" She fidgeted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable. "I was looking around in the attic for a picture to use. It was in a box marked junk so..." She paused.

"Why doesn't Bree come over anymore Adam?" The words cut me to the bone and I realized how much I missed her. "Its- complicated Allie." I put the picture down and stood up. "You okay to finish by yourself. She glanced at our work and nodded.

"Yeah, I'm good. Thanks Adam." I nodded numbly and walked up the stairs to my room. I felt so numb that the only thing I could do was lay down on my bed. I pulled my phone out with the sudden urge to call Bree and apologize.

But then I realized: She isn't going to forgive me for this. Why would she? But I just... I needed her to know I was sorry. Was I already too deep? Their prank was already set into motion. No...my prank. The thought made me sick to my stomach.

I could tell her about the prank now and save her from the whole thing. Quite possibly save our friendship. But some part of me wasn't willing to let go of my popularity. I just couldn't let go of my new "friends" and save my best friend.

A/N: Alright. Don't hate me too much. I know the thing with the books might be a little confusing now but trust me, it will make sense. If you have an idea of why this is happen, don't post it in a review. Let it be a surprise for other people. You can message me if you like.

Anyway, hopefully I'll hear from you guys.

Littleelizabethhenshaw~ Thank you so much for your continued support. Glad you like it.

The rest of you who are reading~ Please review. I'm dying to know what you think.

- muzic-wolf 3