Hey guys! I have so many ideas so I'm udating a lot!

I need you guys to give me some good songs for Max to sing in the reviews. Thank you!

Here you go!

"Angel," I murmured, waking her up.

She sat up, worry clear in her eyes.

A ten year old girl should not have to wake up thinking about whether she'll get beaten today. Honestly, I stopped praying a long time ago, because I knew that nobody was out there looking out for us. Nobody.

"What?" She asked, eyes wide.

"We have to go to school," I answered, handing her an outfit.

Because it was winter here in Massachusetts, we don't look that strange when we wear layers. Try explaining why you have a hoodie on over a long sleeved shirt and jeans in the middle of June.

I slowly crept into the hall, looking around for a sign that would tell me if Valencia or Jeb was up. I refuse to call them mom and dad in my head. It feels strange to call them mom and dad to their face.

I slipped into the bathroom, pulling Angel along with me.

I quickly dressed and put on the needed concealer.

Then I pushed Angel out, me following close behind.

I almost jumped for joy when we got to the kitchen and I saw a box of waffles just sitting there, open, in plain sight on the counter.

If I had jumped for joy, I would have woken up my parents, who would've beaten us, then I wouldn't be that joyful.

I quickly grabbed the whole box of waffles, and stuffed them into my backpack for school.

Then I pulled Angel out of the door, making sure the hinges didn't creak.

Too bad the hinges did creak. And before you could say a bad word that I shouldn't say in front of Angel, Jeb was standing in front of us.

I pushed Angel out of the door, motioning for her to hide, then I stood tall in front of Jeb.

"Maximum, where are you going?" He asked, punching me stomach.

I quickly inhaled, then answered. "To school."

He slapped my face, then said, "Why would you be going to school? You are a stupid, worthless, awful, no-good daughter that would just bring the school down."

I gritted my teeth and said, "I'll be late for school, then my grades will lower," I hissed out the last part, "Dad."

He seemed to consider this for a second, then he said, "Worth it!"

He didn't say anything for the rest of the time, but I ended up on the floor curled up in a ball, while he tried to kick my stomach.

I guess he got bored because he punched me one last time before he walked back to the kitchen.

Then I sprinted out of there real quick, because he was going to figure out that we took the waffles.

The walk to school was silent, besides the sound of my damaged foot scraping against the ground.

I think he might have broken my ankle.

When we arrived at school, I saw Fang Martinez staring at me again.

I glared at him, which I guess was pretty effective, because he looked away, and he looked away fast.

Then I split the box of waffles in half, there was an uneven amount so I gave Angel more, then I patted her head and sent her to the elementary school.

I was stopped again on my way to class, but not by the popular crowd, just part of it.

"Hey, do you go to the park?" Fang asked me, looking around to make sure that nobody saw him talking to a loser.

"No," I answered immediately, why would he ask me this?

He looked at me funnily, then walked away, looking confused.

Why would he ask me if I went to the park? Unless... unless he heard me singing. That would be a no-no. The songs are practically a gateway to our lives saying, "Come! Figure out that we're abused!"

I slowly walked to class, and paid attention, took notes, everything you are supposed to do in class.

Until lunch.

I sat at my usual table, and pulled out the waffles. This was practically a feast for me.

Then I saw them. There were three people sitting at the table next to me, two boys and a girl, but they acted like Angel. As in flinching away from everything that moves, because they're afraid of being... abused.

I slowly picked up my things and walked over.

"Hi. Are you new here?" I asked them, and I noticed that the girl has her fists clenched, and the younger boy had flinched.

The older boy spoke. "Yes, and that's some black eye."

My eyes widened. I had forgotten to put concealer on the bruises Jeb had created this morning.

"Yeah, I walked into a door frame," I lied, grasping at the first thing that came to my head.

He nodded, so I sat down. The older boy had strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. He was wiry and tall. The younger boy had blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and could've been Angel's twin. Why was he at the high school? The girl had mocha skin, untamed caramel locks, and warm brown eyes.

The older boy saw me looking at the younger boy, and said, "He should be at the Elementary school, but he snuck over and ate lunch here instead."

They had no food. It was obvious that they had eaten nothing, so I handed them each a waffle, leaving four for myself.

They looked so surprised that I almost smiled. Then they gobbled them up almost as fast as I can. Almost.

"I'm Iggy, that's Gazzy, and that is Nudge," The older boy said, pointing to himself, then the younger boy, then the girl.

"Max," I announced.

I sat down then asked, "How bad is it?" Then I slammed my hands over my mouth.

"How bad is what?" Iggy asked, looking calm, but his eyes clearly said, "She figured us out."

I decided to trust my gut. "Look, I know an abused kid when I see one, and right now, I see fou- three," I said, crossing my arms.

Iggy looked at me for a second then said, "Guys, we can trust her, she's like us."

"How did you know?" I asked, and he said, "I know an abused kid when I see one, too."

Let's just say I now have three friends, even if one of them is a ten year old.

After school, I did the homework, then took Angel to the park.

She didn't even look at the sandbox, she just followed me to the tree.

I rubbed her back while I sang.

Because of You by Kelly Clarkson

I will not make, the same mistakes that you did

I will not let myself, cause my heart so much misery

I will not break, the way you did, you fell so hard

I've learned the hard way, to never let it get that far

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt

Because of you

I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you

I am afraid

I lose my way, and it's not too long before you point it out

I cannot cry, because I know that's weakness in your eyes

I'm forced to fake a smile, a laugh, every day of my life

My heart can't possibly break, when it wasn't even whole to start with

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt

Because of you

I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me

Because of you

I am afraid

I watched you die I heard you cry every night of your sleep

I was so young you should've known better than to lean on me

You never thought of anyone else, you just saw your pain

And now I cry in the middle of the night for the same damn thing

Because of you

I never stray too far from the sidewalk

Because of you

I learn to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt

Because of you

I try my hardest just to forget everything

Because of you I don't know how to let anyone else in

Because of you I'm ashamed of my life, because it's empty

Because of you

I am afraid

Because of you

oooh

ooo

Because of you

oooo.

oh

With that, I finished and left, hand in hand with Angel.

When we arrived home, I opened the door slightly, and threw a rock the opposite way we were going.

Then I pulled Angel along with me and we scurried upstairs.

I put Angel in her pajamas, then I got in mine. I tucked her in then laid down in my bed.

For the first time in years, I realized, there is always someone that I can talk to. I'm not alone.

I'm not gone.