Chapter 3

Nate sat in my apartment when I got there, with Jason and Frankie. "Why are you guys here?" I asked, they were the last thing I needed.

"Well, when your brother calls you, says he hates you, then hangs up, you get worried," Nate said without looking up from his text conversation.

"Nate I—" was cut off as Lizzie popped her head in the door that I had stupidly left open. "Lizzie?" I raise an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"

That smile I loved so much graced her pink lips. "My brother lives in the apartment across the hall and he told me to come say hi to the new neighbor."

"Oh, well come in," I said with a soft smile. She came in all the way (I was surprised to see her wearing a white tank-top and blue boot cut jeans instead of her regular cheer uniform) and handed me a small box.

"Sarah baked them for you," she said at my confused expression.

"Who's Sarah?" I asked. She laughed slightly.

"My older sister and twin of my brother Mathew," she said with a small laugh.

"Oh, well thank her," I said as I set the cookies and cakes on the counter. "By the way these are my brothers, except John here, he's my cousin." We had agreed that it would be best to change at lest one of our names and have all of us be brothers, so John was our cousin whose parents died in a car crash so he came to live with us, and his name would be John. "This is Nate," I said clasping Nate on the shoulder.

"Hello," she said with a smile.

"Hey."

"This is John, my cousin."

"Hi."

"Hello."

"And this here's Frankie."

"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you," Frankie said getting up and shaking her hand. I felt jealousy twist in my stomach again. Frankie was 13 years old, same age as Lizzie.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," she said with a soft smile. A blush crept onto her pale cheeks as she shuck his hand.

Nate's POV

I looked at my brother as he watched Frankie talk to Lizzie. He had a look I'd seen many times, jealousy. I shuck my head; I would have to talk to him about this. He couldn't like a girl half his age.

Lizzie's POV

I blushed as I shuck Frankie's hand. He was cute. He also, from the few minutes I knew him, seemed so much more down to earth then the boys in my school. I adored his smile, he looked so handsome, but I had to look away from him and turned to Shane, Nate, and John.

"Shane, Mathew wanted to know if you'd go with us to the pool," I asked with a soft smile. He seemed like he was in a daydream but quickly snapped out of it.

"Sure, can—" I cut him off.

"You, Frankie," I blushed lightly as I said his name, "Nate, and John can come."

"Alright, when?" he asked.

"Now?" I said with question in my voice.

"Oh, alright, I'll meet you there," he said. I smiled and turned around.

"Thanks see you then," I called as I walked down the hall.

I frowned as I walked into the apartment. Shane had this look in his eye when he agreed to go. It was something between pain and anger.

I walked into my room and pulled out my purple one-piece bathing suit and a pink skirt. I slipped out of my cloths and into my swim cloths. I decided to walk down bare-foot so I grabbed my blue beach bag and walked into the living-room. Mathew was no where to be found but Sarah was in the kitchen making our dinner since she had a date that night. She looked up at me.

"Are staying over tonight?" Sarah asked me. I nodded; I don't like spending time at home so I was over here as much as possible.

"Actually, I think you should stay at mom and dad's tonight," Mathew said walking out of his room in a grey wife-beater and swim trunks. Sarah and I turned to look at him strangely.

"Why? You never want me at mom and dad's," I said in confusion.

"Because I got a call from dad and he's going to cut off your college account if you don't," Mathew said sadly.

"That sounds so like him," I said glaring down at the napkin I don't recall picking up.

"Yeah, and you know Sarah and I can get you a lot of things but we can't pay for your college," he said putting his cell phone away.

"But remember to call us if anything happens, we're here for you," Sarah said putting an arm around my shoulders. I walked out of her embrace and out the door.

"I'm going to the pool," I muttered.

"We'll join you soon," Sarah called.

College, the one thing that stopped my brother and sister from adopting me, they couldn't pay for college. My mom and dad fight like cats and dogs and being home while they fought was like walking into your death. They would fight and throw things and I just always, somehow managed to get in the way. I cringed as I remembered the first time they fought, I was ten years old.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CHEATED ON ME!" my mother yelled. I was standing by one of the bookshelf looking for a book when she stormed in. My dad looked up from his desk and smirked.

"You just don't satisfy me anymore honey," he said calmly. I wanted to run, but the only way out of our library was the door my mother was blocking.

Before I knew it, it was a throwing match. I didn't move from my spot because I was afraid of something hitting me. I saw a small break of a few seconds and made a dash for the door. I don't know who threw it, but a vase collided with my head.

I woke up in the hospital. Both my mother and father were crying and saying they were so sorry.

It went like that ever since, they'd fight then one of them would comfort me and apologize and promises they'd never fight again. My parent's love me, they really do, but their hate for each other took them over. That same day Sarah and Mathew got an apartment and moved in. They were 15 at the time but who cared. They said I was welcome any time, day or night.

I finally made it to the pool. Only a few people were there, Shane and his family were not among them. I walked over to a Chaise Lounge Chair and a table set. I put down my things and slipped off my skirt.

I climbed up the ladder to the diving bored. I jumped on the board to dive into the water.

"LIZZIE!" Frankie yelled in excitement. He didn't mean to but only that second of me being distracted was needed. I fell onto the water. I felt like my bones were on fire as I sank into the water. I closed my eyes, as darkness consumed me.

A/n "Lilly" I will have more interaction in class but that doesn't come for a few chapters. And I'm glad you liked my video.