One random Tuesday afternoon, I was at the Blue Pointe Diner, killing time. It was too cold now to go to the tracks. But that didn't stop me from wishing I were there. Francis took my order- french fries and a milkshake. Chocolate. Maybe that would lighten my mood.

When the chocolate milkshake gradually disappeared without any change in my morale, I discovered that nothing, if a chocolate milkshake, would lighten my mood and it was no use sticking around here. So, I left a tip for Francis and left, irritated. My options of places to go were rather limited right now. The only place I could think of right now was… my house. Tada! I didn't know why I was always so reluctant to go back. Things were definitely not bad there. Not compared to Chris, anyway. His home life was horrible. His dad drank and beat Chris and his family on a regular basis. Gordie's home life wasn't that great, either. Both of his parents ignored him on a regular basis. One time I went over to his house to study. His dad answered the door. He wasn't that friendly, and as I walked up the stairs, I thought I heard him mutter to his wife, "They just get worse and worse." Gordie's mom just seemed kinda ditsy, but his dad had an actual problem with him. He hated Gordie. He hated the very sight of his younger son. That, in itself, was horrible. Gordie's older brother, Dennis, was killed in a car accident a year ago. It hit the family hard, and they were still suffering. Especially Gordie. He and Chris were much worse off than me. Why was I complaining?

I had reached my house. I yanked the knob open and huffed, just about to drop all my stuff on the sofa in the front room.

Then…

I saw at least 10 faces. All their eyes were immediately on me. I recognized the guy who had jumped me a few months ago. Ace. And then there was Eyeball, and Billy Tessio, and the other guys I had seen but didn't know the names of.

"Hi sis."

Jenny was standing in the kitchen holding a plate of snacks, smirking at me. I really didn't like the expression on her face. So she was disowning me too?

"Hi," I said. Then, without question, I walked upstairs, still carrying all of my stuff. I should've seen this coming from 10 miles away. Who else would've been responsible for Jenny's abrupt change in character? Why else would she be absent from our house so often? I think I did anticipate this, deep down, because now I was not that surprised. All I could do was sigh and think that I was now sharing my house with at least 10 more people.

I was staring at my History homework for so long that I felt a headache coming on. The questions just made less sense as I stared at them longer and longer. Soon, I found myself heading to the bathroom to rummage around in the cabinet and get an aspirin. As luck would have it, Jenny was leaving the bathroom at that very moment. But she just smirked at me as she walked back downstairs. No words, just… that. But, considering the circumstances, what would she possibly have to say to me? Not much. I shrugged involuntarily.

I could hear voices downstairs. They were still there. Oh well. If I was interrupting anything, they would just have to bear with it, because I hadn't eaten anything since noon and they didn't scare me. They really didn't.

As I walked downstairs, I saw a couple making out passionately on the sofa. My insides twisted. I wasn't going to sit there now for a month.

I walked into the kitchen, my eyes fixed firmly on their destination- the refrigerator. I had absolutely no interest in the Cobras' activities.

When I reached the refrigerator, I dug around for ingredients to make myself a sandwich. After sitting down at the kitchen table and taking my time to enjoy the snack, I returned upstairs.

Suddenly somebody's hand grabbed my arm. I whirled around.

One of the Cobras was holding onto my arm. There was something disgusting in that sneer of his.

"Would you consider letting go of me?" I asked evenly.

"No." That dumb grin just widened.

I shrugged, "Okay," and slapped him across the face. He let go of me, more shocked than angry. I smiled sarcastically at him and trampled upstairs. On the way to my room, I heard some rustling around in my parents' bedroom, and moans that spoke for themselves. I was so disgusted that I nearly retched outside the door. I retreated to my room after what seemed like hours.