The sixth in a series of one-shots based on lines from Fall Out Boy Songs.

Author's Note: Each main character will have a chapter based on a line. I have chosen to write everything in first person…we'll see how it turns out.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nothing at all. I just like to pretend I do.

Spoilers: Possibly.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Lindsay

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"We're the new face of failure: Prettier and younger, but not any better off."

'I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off'

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Let's get one thing straight: I don't hate my mom.

Really, I don't. Actually, I love her.

I just can't stand her sometimes.

When I was younger, she was my whole world…especially once she and my dad got divorced. But she worked graveyard shift, and it was hard to find time where just the two of us could be together.

So I got used to being by myself, or with my grandma. Or with a babysitter.

I'm not complaining…Mom not being around helped me become more independent. And that's what she always wanted me to be…well, one of the things she always wanted me to be.

Mom told me that she wanted me to be strong, independent, and confident…just like she is.

She wants me to look up to her…well, the 'her' that she is now. Not who she was. I'm supposed to pretend that she's never been anyone but the amazing CSI she is today.

And I guess I'm supposed to ignore certain parts of her past.

Like the fact that she was a stripper. I'm not supposed to know she ever had such a scandalous job.

Uh huh, sure. It's kinda hard to hide that kind of stuff from your kid…

We never talk about her stripping – I mean, 'exotic dancing' – days...unless I use it as fuel against her in one of our fights.

And believe me, there have been plenty of fights.

Mom still likes to pretend I don't know about that nasty little coke habit she used to have…

Whatever.

Oh, and did I mention the abuse? Of course I remember dad hitting her around a few times. But she rarely talks about it. I think she'd rather I remember my father as being a good dad. Too bad I know he was a lying, cheating, abusive bastard.

Know what pisses me off most about her? The fact that she thinks I'm better than her…that I deserve to have a better life than she's had.

I don't want more; I don't deserve more.

Really.

I am my mother's daughter. Catherine Willows Version 2.0.

Ask anyone who knows us. I'm just like her.

Sure, I don't do cocaine, I'm not married to a jackass, and I've never stripped…at least not for money.

But really, I'm already pretty much a carbon copy of who she was in high school. Pretty, party girl, attitude issues…

Yes, I admit I my attitude sucks sometimes. What teenager's doesn't?

Okay…maybe my attitude and problems go beyond normal teenage angst…but once again, my mom's never around, my dad got killed…

Heck, just growing up in this town can seriously screw someone up.

Wanna know the truth? I'm happy being who I am. I don't care that I'm just like my mom. I really don't care if I haven't learned anything from her mistakes.

Know why? Because her mistakes have lead her to where she is now. Even if her life is far from fairytale, she's doing way better than most of the scum in Vegas.

My mom needs to realize I'm nothing special.

She expects so much from me….

I just wish she wouldn't.