Don't smoke, it's bad. I know from family experiences, just don't do it.

I despised that I basked in the feeling of warmth flooding my lungs as I breathe in. Once I blew out, grey flew off into the distance, leaving me on the roof thinking. My bedroom window sat behind me, overlooking the roof of the first floor. I always climbed over whenever I needed to let off some, for lack of a better word, steam. Not necessarily when I was mad, no. More like when I was anxious, stressed.

My mind started to get ahead of itself before I could even think about what I was contemplating. This situation, I found, was just surreal. Like I'm still dreaming and I'm in bed thrashing about. My head shakes solemnly as I gaze back at my bed, I wish. I knew that it wasn't, I knew that Beck had been tricked to play in Elizabeth's hands.

Elizabeth. Such a weird name, I wouldn't have thought for a second that Elizabeth was her name. It seemed too posh, too friendly, too gentle. Though, that might have also played her way as well, since she is a conniving bitch.

I start to cough from breathing in too sharply. My hand angrily smothers out the ash at the end of the cigarette and flicks it away, after making sure that it still wasn't lit. At the very least, it landed in the wet grass down below. My hands run though my hair as I sunk deeper into my thoughts, which very few in general are happy.

"Jade?" I jerk slightly, wincing at the sound of the calm, collected voice behind me. My eyes meet warm, soft rust-brown eyes. Peggy stood their with her slacks and t-shirt, unsmiling yet not really harshly like Tori's was. Grey hair sprouted and glazed over jet black hair, and slight wrinkles worn her face.

"Yeah?" I mutter quietly.

"I thought you stopped smoking five months ago."

"I-I did... At least it isn't weed," I chuckle nervously. She raises her eyebrow at me and gestures me to climb back inside.

"Jade," she breathes, "What is wrong?" Peggy takes my hand as she always does and rubs it as I sit down on my bed. As my answer I say nothing, and she murmurs, "I'm not going to leave until you tell me. And don't say otherwise, I've practically raised you since you were five."

For twelve years I had my maid help me with my problems. Yes, Peggy was a maid for the West manor. But I saw her more than just a maid, while my father was off to do work and my mother reluctant to take care of her only child, Peggy was the only true guardian in the house.

"I don't know," I answer, my voice cracking. The answer continued as she turned her head slightly, confused, "I was talking to Vega-"

"Tori Vega?"

"Yeah, and she just suddenly changed and left me mid conversation. All throughout the day she wasn't herself and I have a feeling this whore had something to do with it."

"What?" Peggy asked curiously.

"Her name's Elizabeth... But I've come up with a better name."

"And what's that," a chuckle escaped from a slight grin. She always knew I had the perfect names for people.

"Elizabitch." For a moment, a short moment, laughter filled the room. Once it died down, I began my explanation again, "So she went to the same school as Vega did and... I don't know. Tori doesn't like her at all. I know I certainly don't but everyone else is confident that she is a good person." My fist slams down on the bed, which muffled the boiling force that it was punched with.

"Sweetie," Peggy brushed some of the hair on the side of my cheek, "Are you sure you're not just jealous. You know you have a problem with that."

"No, I don't like her! It's not like Vega who just waltzed into Hollywood Arts, I have a really bad feeling about her!" I raise my voice.

"So you finally have admitted you're jealous of Tori," she chuckled. After a growl and a glare, Peggy continues, "Look, for now I would just stay on the sidelines and watch what happens. If something does come up that proves your theory, you can beat the living shit out of her for all I care. But until then just do what you do best. Observe."

"But she has already given me enough reason to break her nose. First she comes in and snatches the attention of Beck, Andre, Cat and Robbie, then she had a nice damn conversation with me."

"Words aren't meaningful until an action is put behind them, you of all people should know that. You're a walking example," Peggy spoke wisely. She takes the time to heave a tired sigh, "As I said, until you don't see Elizabeth confirm your accusations, don't do anything."

"Fine, only because I can't stand the sound of her voice." Peggy stands up and strides over towards the door, and advises me to take a nap to relieve some of the stress. Reluctantly, I do just that and slip under the covers, only taking the time to rip off my shoes.

I fell into a deep slumber and wasn't able to wake up for hours.

-o0o-

When I was five, my mother started to neglect me since my dad had taken a job which would really help the family. I love him, but I see him more like a kind man than a generous father. It's not completely his fault, mind you. He had to take this job in order to make enough money to cover all of the costs, since my mother refused to work. Ever since I was born, my mother had always held a small distaste in her eyes whenever blue met green. Her eyes were like the waters of the ocean struck by a heavy bolt of lightening, full of pent up emotion.

I wasn't the first child they had, the second actually. The first they never spoke about, but I always wondered about Jake. He was described as the perfect little angel by my dear mother. Sweet charming Jake who always loved to talk and laugh with people before he fell ill and died of AIDs.

After that, my mother went into hysteria, wanting another boy only to get me, the opposite of Jake. Jade who grew up to be distant of people, to have a small hate towards them. Jade who did the opposite thing my mother wanted. Once my dad took the job, he had to go off to do his work for a week and came back to see me crying. She had not spoken to me once he left.

My dad went absolutely insane and bellowed at my mother who sunk deeper into her crazed thoughts. So Peggy was hired, to help do the neglected chores and to just be another person there for me. In the beginnings, I yelled at Peggy, sending all of my neglected pain shooting at her. All she did was take it in, never once did she yell back or cry. All the maid did was just sit there, discipline me when needed and tried to make conversation at other times. Eventually, I realized I needed someone to talk to and thus I allowed Peggy to come up to me without any distance. Some things I can't talk to Peggy about, just because I like to have multiple people to give pieces of myself. If only one person held that much weight, I think they might spontaneously combust. I have a lot to go around you see, and I only know that because I live in this insane world of my own thoughts.

To this day, I never come up to people. If not, it is extremely rare. I don't have any memory of actually coming up to Peggy to help sort out my problems. Sure I may have drop hits but that isn't exactly coming up to people now is it? It's extremely rare... except when it comes to Vega however.

I didn't like it at all knowing that the only person I physically walked up to for help was Tori Vega, I absolutely hated it. I hated how she didn't question my motives other than 'Why are you at my house?', which in all fairness is an understandable question at 11:45pm. I despised how Vega could just correctly assume what I was struggling with and know how I didn't mind my back scratched.

Another odd thing, I let her touch me. My brows furrow as I slept once that statement sank itself into my attention. I rarely let anyone else do so, especially my stomach. Yet, she begs to hug me all the time, ensuring that our bodies are close together and the warm feeling that carried to my gut.

-o0o-

My eyes open abruptly and I see blue neon numbers flashing me '7:47'. I sit up slowly and blink away the slight water in my eyes, sneering at myself for showing too much emotion while I slept soundlessly. I hoped so anyway, wouldn't like to know I snored.

I struggled to get up, my body still groggy with sleep. Shuffling downstairs, I hear the tinkling of glass and voices. Along the railings, I peer down at the some fifty guests, wondering what the hell was going on. Great, I forgot about her stupid party, I thought savagely. Almost twice a week my mother will spend her money, or rather my dad's money, to put herself on a podium that isn't stable. All in order to impress ignorant bastards who call themselves producers. My head shakes, unimpressed as my mother strolls around with a perfect smile and long elegant dress, shimmering in the light.

I rush quietly over to the front window, only to see Peggy drive off to escape the party downstairs. She always wishes that the separate small house on the side of the property would drown out the noise. I curse mildly as I stride over to my room and change into whatever would piss my mother off the most. Once I pulled on my black leather jacket, vans and beanie, I turned around to close my window all the way. It was chilly outside so I thought it would be nice just to wonder around and see what could entertain me.

Before I could escape, however, I had to make my way through a crowd of tux's and dresses. I slam my bedroom door and stormed down the stairs, pleased to see the blonde who calls herself my 'mom' fidget in annoyance. I reach for the door, ignoring any requests to join conversations, and pull my entry open to timed freedom. A great sigh rushed from my lips as I lean against the white door.

At a semi-jog I made my way towards a less known part of Los Angeles for some stuff to do. It's a bit of a dangerous part of the city, though I have always made my escape from fights. Adrenaline prickled my senses as I smirked a bit cockily to myself as I walked among the shadows, eager for a fight. Normally I wanted to just simply find a place to settle down, not itch for any violence like I did now.

I needed my body to move, letting all of my bottled up confusions run through my veins. So, I had the best idea I ever had that night. I went into a bar looking for trouble, and trouble indeed would come after me. Just not at that night, but soon.

First I ordered a few drinks, not alcohol. God no I wasn't that stupid, I still needed to get home without being run over by a car. So once those had been emptied, I saw a man leaving the area to a parking lot. To be honest, I look back at this moment and really contemplated if I had accidentally drank whiskey or vodka.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I snap at the brunette, who looked a bit angry already. He turned around and smirked, his almost yellow eyes gleaming with excitement. At that moment, my gut took a nasty turn, though I ignored it, wanting to release some stress.

"Hey yourself. What are you doing all the way down here little lady? Though," his surprisingly low raspy voice murmured, "you do look like you have been here before... Tell me hot stuff, have you?"

I shift my stance to appear larger as he stalked towards me, eyes darting between mine. "Yeah, so what if I have?"

"Dunno," he shrugged, "Now why are you here now? Ah, you want to fight..." I grin mischievously as he returned it toothily, "Well we may be able to solve our problems here miss." Before I could respond with anything, the brunette swung at me and knocked me to the ground. Having the wind thumped out of me, I took a few breaths before pushing myself back up.

"So little miss priss her is looking for a fight, I'll tell you, it's not that good if you misinterpret the signs." He lets out a cackle before I then threw a punch at his stomach. He lets out a noise between a cough and a groan before tumbling to the ground.

"Don't ever call me 'miss priss' dumbass," I shot at him, annoyed. He grins at me before we brawl again, sending punch after punch after kick. We seemed to have a silent, mutual respect to not actually send each other to the hospital. It was unspoken, not a written rule, yet it was followed all the same. I heave slightly as my scuffed arm pushes myself off the red bricks of the bar next to us and the other sends a fist hurtling at his shoulder.

The brunette clutches his side as he tripped into a pole and muttered gleefully, "That's gonna leave a mark in th' morning... Say, you kind of remind me of someone."

"And whose that?" I ask with a husk in my voice.

"You wouldn't believe it but the leader of these streets. The 'owner' if you will." The brunette continues once he registered my confusion from my tense stature, "She's not actually the owner of the streets, Los Angeles is. No, the gal is the ruler here. She drove off the main gangs and made new rules."

"One person did that?" I mutter surprised from what he explained with the many hand gestures, "So... how do I remind you of her?" We began to pace around, circling each other while examining our cuts and bruises on our arms.

After a minute or two of his brow furrowing, he answers, "Well, your fighting styles are similar. Both of you have quick reflexes know how to punch." His shoulders shrug as he continues a bit solemnly, "But, you're a bit more lively than her. Like you have emotions. She looked like she had gone through a bunch and I asked her, yeah, and all she said was 'Prison'. Does a lot to you, I'd imagine, some people get better and others just get lost. Emotionless she was, and I still can't believe her age either."

"How'd you mean?"

"With the clothes and scars she wore along with that expression, you couldn't have said that she was 15... Though that was a year or two ago, 17 by now."

"Shit," I curse. To think that someone, my age by the way, can do all of this by herself. "So, did she change stuff 'round here?"

"Hell yeah," he nodded, "She was a lone wolf, you see... And if you bet a million dollars that a lone wolf will allow the newbies or other singles to linger 'round here, you'd get a million plus some. She made it so that people could pass if they pleased, but the gangs that wouldn't kill were allowed to stay. See, in the couple of years she was present, loners like herself were saved by a stone cold guardian." He looked up at the stars, or the few that were seen, and added, "Somewhat."

"What was her name?" I mumbled, still circling him stalking.

"Nobody knows. Some say this and others say that. Though that really lasted for a few months before she got a nickname, 'Maned Wolf'. Fits her too, thin and powerful, fast and quick witted. Though I think it was her bark that really took it home, low and unfeeling. Intimidating that."

"Maned Wolf? The hell is that?"

"Oh, yeah I had to google it myself. Strange creatures, yet they hold a dangerous beauty to them. I dunno, just me I guess," he ended with a chuckle. "Tis funny though, she accepted it, says so on the tattoo on her right shoulder," he nodded, patting the said shoulder with his left hand. I stand there, thinking about the history of this place before quickly catching a flying beer bottle heading towards my face. My knuckles turn white as I whip it towards the wall behind the brunette.

"HEY!" I let out, glaring at the now laughing man.

"What did I say? Quick reflexes," he stammers through giggles. A howl is let out of his mouth and he rubs his scratchy jaw, "Guess should've saw that comin'."

"So where is the 'Maned Wolf' now?" I ask with venom in my voice, enjoying the sensation of watching the man squirm with a hint of intimidation. "Are you going to answer or will I have to punch you again?"

The brunette chuckles before standing up once again, "Nobody knows. She kept a low profile, so when she left not many actually knew until some of the gangs returned. Sure, she would be sighted a few times, but wasn't the exact same as before. She looked at people differently, though bickering and arguments would arise from the drunk asses. She was barely seen anyway, so not many actually seen her before.

"I have, fought her like this myself. Quick, smart and man can she pack a punch." He mumbles the last part before swinging at me and we are brawling once again. While putting out all of my frustrations into them, I dodge his and then finally kick him to the side, deciding I was done as his punches slowed. The brunette's back hits a car's windshield, shattering it and sends yells from it. He jumps off the car, and stares at it, his face stern and pale. "Nice to meet you miss, but you're on your own," he stammers before bolting with a slight limp at the sound of the bar doors opening.

I watch as the smart coward sprints down the alley before the yells are shut off. I jerk and turn around to find huge, burly men standing side by side. Each wore something that you would see in movies, maybe on a lower level however. "You know how long it took me to get this car?" one of them said, obviously the leader. He had flaming red hair that clashed with his brown beard and blue eyes.

"How long?" I squeaked, knowing that these guys were looking for trouble, but not the kind I wanted to get into. I had just gotten myself out of the impulsive fight I wanted.

"An hour, it was easy one the guy was shot... But now you ruined my best prize." He shook his head and mocking 'tisk's sounded. Without thinking, I picked up a pipe scrap that lay on the ground beside me and chucked it at him. He dodged it and glared at me. "Well look what we got here, a girl with an attitude. Why are you all the way out here?" he growled. There were three things I could do at that point; talk my way out, fight my way out or sprint my way out.

At that particular moment, unlike the multiple minutes before, I picked up every single damn detail. The way the men stood, confident and ruthless with fire in their eyes. How the night sky stood innocently over the run down buildings, tattooed with multiple graffiti works, each telling a story. But, I also saw how the men inched their way towards me, green ink and black leather coming closer and closer...

My fist flew at the closest, connecting to his nose. I flee, choosing the third option, as blood painted the brick wall behind me. While I sprint down the street, I hear a yell of rage and quick footsteps following me. My mind tries to catch up, screaming 'Cornered, cornered, run, run, faster Jade, faster!" Sudden heat scraps my arm, though it doesn't stop me even as I hear my ear ringing. The conscious in my brain chants as I see an alleyway, an escape to a better part of town, small crowds littering about. But my feet halts and I skid across, nearly colliding with the figure standing there.

I stand nervously as she watches. The shadows play with me around her, masking her identity. Though I can already tell who it is once my gut dropped instinctively. She stood taller than I did, and even though she didn't look that heavy, I could bet you anything that one punch could send you to the plastic surgeon. Her eyes intrigued me, however I didn't want to step any closer. From this light, they seemed to be lit, though a cold heart held them. While they seethed, her face, I assumed anyway, wouldn't be flushed with boiling anger.

"Now what are you doing down these streets? Why do you run?" the 'Maned Wolf' rasped. Her voice sent tremors down my spine, hurtling fear as her low, minor husk drove me to the brink of anxiety. Yet, there was a protectiveness to it, like she wasn't going to hurt me.

"I-I just want to leave, please let me go. They'll kill me," I squeak. She nods then slinks back into the shadows, allowing me to race past her. As I brush through the crowds of people, the last thing I hear were gunshots behind me, echoing in the alleyway. From the yells, however, I had a small grin on my face knowing who was winning.

-o0o-

I pant, no heave, as I slid down my bedroom door. My legs carried me at blazing speeds all the way home. And to think I got my first tattoo down that street. Once my breathing was close to normal, I shoved off my leather jacket with a slight wince. In my vanity mirror, I gasped as I saw a small gash on my right shoulder.

I stared at my jacket, realizing what must have happened. While I punched the guy to make an opening, he must have cut through my jacket with a really sharp knife, which would explain the small cut beneath the gash. And then the bullet shot at me brushed past me skin.

My heart pumped roughly against my ribs, realizing I could have died that night.

But... I had a savior. The 'Maned Wolf', who supposedly ran those streets for some years. After cleaning the cuts, with many groans, brushing my teeth then climbing into my bed clothes, I decided to search on my phone. Once the screen nearly blinded me, I searched 'maned wolf' and saw multiple pictures of this strange creature. I chuckled wearily as I fell asleep, it did fit her perfectly.

Okay, so... I have finals, will get to this story and update on Tuesday I think. Fun chapter to write. :)

PS- Maned Wolves are awesome.