Lexi groaned as she walked down the hallway at school on Monday. After spending most of the weekend confined to her apartment, she was actually glad to be at school. In retrospect the weekend could have been worse. At least she had had her laptop, phone and sketchpad to entertain her. But even so, being kept in lockdown still wasn't fun.

She turned the corner and walked past a row of lockers before approaching Cassidy, who was taking books out of hers. "Hey Cass."

"Hey," she said softly.

"I know I texted you already, but I am sorry for talking you into getting drunk on Friday."

"I know," Cassidy sighed as she closed her locker. "I can't be that mad though, since it wasn't all your fault anyway. I could have said no instead of going along with it."

"Are your parents still mad at me?" Lexi asked tentatively.

"They were upset. But luckily they like you. I think they were madder at me for letting you talk me into taking the stuff anyway. I'm still grounded until next Monday."

"Jeeze, I was only grounded for this weekend. You can't go out this coming weekend either?"

"Yup," she responded shortly.

"Wow, that's harsh."

"Well, they said next time I think about doing something like that, to remember the consequences of my actions."

They walked down the hallway to homeroom when they saw Stacy Cumberdale and her group of worker bees standing by the trophy case, pointing at Stacy's phone while they laughed about something. As soon as they saw her Lexi's huffed in anger as she remembered what the girl had posted over the weekend.

"Hold my bag Cass," she said as she handed her backpack to her friend.

"Lexi, don't—" Cassidy implored as her friend walked right up to the school queen bee.

"Stacy."

The girl and her group all looked over at Lexi, regarding her in an unpleasant manner. "What do you want?"

"Where the hell do you get off calling me an 'Orphan in waiting'?"

Stacy shrugged as the other girls snickered at Lexi's discomfort. "I don't remember doing that."

"Really? Because I clearly remember reading it on FaceBook on Friday."

"Huh? Well then, I'm sorry," she said in a way that clearly showed she couldn't care less. "Is that all?"

"No, that's not all. That's a horrible thing to say to someone."

"Oh please ginger, I wasn't saying anything that isn't true. I'm sure your new dad is just loving a teenager being dropped on his doorstep."

Lexi's eyes blazed with anger as she looked at her smug adversary. "Shut the fuck up, you vapid whore!"

"What?" Stacy said in shock as her cronies looked on apprehensively. "What did you say to me?"

"You heard me."

"Oh, you little sack of-"

"OKAY!" Cassidy exclaimed loudly as she literally moved between the two girls. "Let's just calm down-"

"Get the hell out of my way!" Stacy yelled. "I'm gonna tear her apart."

Just then the bell rang, followed by a teacher telling students to get to class. Stacy glared at Lexi and Cassidy, hatred almost oozing from her pores. "This isn't over." With that she stormed away, her clique right at her heels.

"Are you okay?" Cassidy asked her friend.

"Do I look like I'm okay," Lexi snapped as she breathed in anger.

"Hey, don't bite my head off over this. I'm on your side."

Before she could respond both girls looked over as their homeroom teacher stuck his head out from a couple doors down. "Girls, get in here. Class has already started."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Lexi paced around the living room after school on Friday, hating how the rest of her week had gone. Making good on her promise, Stacy had taken it upon herself to launch a whole new on-line assault on her, calling her everything from a big dumb giant to saying her mom got sick and died just to get away from her. Just the thought of Stacy laughing as she posted all those terrible things made Lexi want to strangle the girl.

She thinks she's so great, Lexi thought. Just because her parents are loaded and got her a corvette, and she's had boobs since the beginning of middle school, she thinks everyone is beneath her and she can do whatever she wants. Well, I am going to get her back for all of this.

She looked to the front door as it swung open and Jeff walked in. "Hi dad."

"Hey Lexi," he said warily.

"Is everything all right?"

"It's just been a stressful week at work. The firm I work for is in the process of absorbing another firm based out of Boston. We've spend months working out all the details and drawing up contracts. And now all of a sudden they're coming up with all these demands and stipulations that were never originally agreed on. I'm just glad it's Friday and I get a two day reprieve." He sighed as he took off his tie and unbuttoned his collar button. "If this keeps up I'll probably have to go to Boston to help get this whole thing sorted out. This is just what I need less than two months before the wedding." He looked over at her, a little surprised that she didn't say anything regarding the wedding (since most times Lexi groaned in annoyance whenever it was brought up.) "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah…I'm just…this girl at school keeps bullying me. Saying stuff about me behind my back and writing mean things about me on-line."

"Like what?"

Lexi fidgeted, not wanting to her dad to know the exact extent of what was being said about her. "Just stuff, like making fun of my hair and height."

"Guess some things never change. I was always the tallest kid in my class and kids made fun of me about my height until high school. Though by then they'd moved onto making fun of my nose and forehead. The point is, you can't let bullies intimidate you. You have to stand up for yourself and show them they can't walk all over you."

Lexi nodded her head as Jeff smiled at her. "And anyway, you don't have to worry about bullies this weekend. The three of us are going to Greendale so you can meet your grandmother. And if we have time I want to introduce you to the rest of the family. Abed, and Britta, and Shirley, and Troy and Pierce."

"I thought you said those guys were your study group friends?" Lexi questioned.

"Yeah, but they're also family. Eventually you'll learn that your family isn't just who's related to you by blood. How close are you to your friend Cassie?"

"I've known her since she moved here in second grade. She's like a sister to me."

"See. Just because you're not related to her by blood, doesn't mean she isn't part of your family."

Lexi nodded her head, wondering if this was her dad's oh so subtle way of trying to convince her that Annie was supposed to mean something to her.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"Lexi, wake up. We're almost there," Jeff called out from the front seat.

Lexi slowly opened her eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The trip hadn't been bad at all. She pretty much listened to her i-pod and napped the whole time. She sat up and looked at the passing streets, wondering if her father ever walked around here drunk when he was her age. She doubted he'd ever truthfully tell her if he did, but she was guessing the answer was probably yes.

"Here we are," Jeff said as he pulled into the driveway of a modest sized white house with yellow shutters. The three of them got out of the car and walked up the pathway as an older woman with medium length greying hair came out of the house. "Jeffrey."

"Hi mom," Jeff warmly replied as he hugged his mother and kissed her on the cheek. "How are you?"

"I'm great, couldn't be better. Hello Annie."

"Hi Doreen," Annie said as she hugged her future mother in law. "It's been too long. We haven't seen you since we had lunch just before New Years."

"I know. But I know you kids are busy, planning a wedding and everything. Plus you've had other things to occupy your time." She smiled as she looked over at Lexi. "And is this my granddaughter?"

"Yes she is," Jeff proudly said as Lexi walked over. "Mom, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Lexi."

Doreen Winger barely kept an emotional sob from breaking out as she hugged her granddaughter. Lexi briefly stiffened before she returned the hug. "It's nice to meet you, um, Gran."

"The pleasure is all mine dear," Doreen said. "And I like that, Gran." She pulled back, unable to help running her fingers down Lexi's long red hair. "Wow, you look just like I remember your mother looking. For a moment I thought…" She shook her head, wanting to change the subject after noticing the look on Lexi's face. "Okay everyone, I made sandwiches and fruit salad. Let's head inside and I'll set up lunch."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"I got the brooch you mailed me last week Doreen. Thank you," Annie told her.

"You're welcome dear," Doreen said as she refilled the three adult's wine glasses. "Every bride needs to wear something borrowed. Though if I had known you were coming over I would have just given it to you today."

"It was kind of a quickly planned trip Mom," Jeff told her.

Doreen nodded her head before turning her attention to her granddaughter. "So, how do you like school Lexi?"

"It's okay. I really like my art classes. I want to do something in animation after I graduate. Probably go to art school and then hopefully find work in an animation studio."

"That's wonderful. Though I hope you don't take after your father and skip your education before applying for your dream job."

"Mom," Jeff said sternly.

"What's this?" Lexi asked, clearly amused at her dad's discomfort.

"Oh Jeffrey, it's not exactly a secret. She's going to hear about it eventually." Doreen ignored the looks Jeff shot her as she turned towards Lexi. "When your father was nineteen, he dropped out of college. And apparently he thought it would be fool proof if he applied to law school and just told everyone he'd completed his undergraduate degree."

"It worked for a while," he meekly said.

"Yes it did. But eventually you got caught and had to-"

"So he dropped out of school around the time I was born?" Lexi interrupted with.

"Um," Doreen said. "I guess he did."

"It seems like that's common for my dad, missing out on lost opportunities." She glanced at Annie before asking Doreen, "Obviously you knew my mother. What do you remember about her?"

"Um, well, she was a lovely girl. Very driven and focused. And I know I said this already, but she looked just like you."

"So she was a good fit then, for my dad."

"Yes," Doreen said uncertainly, not missing how uncomfortable Annie was looking at this line of questioning. "You know, I'm sure you could tell us some nice stories about growing up with your mom Lexi."

"So you liked my mom, didn't you Gran?" Lexi asked, ignoring Doreen's question.

"Lexi," Jeff said. "I think it's a good idea if you stopped-"

"I'm just asking a question."

"Yes, I did," Doreen said evenly.

"So would you have rather she had stayed and been the one that was with my dad?"

"Lexi, stop this!" Jeff yelled at her.

"Oh, we're almost out of wine," Annie suddenly said in a high voice. She quickly got up from her seat and grabbed her jacket from the hall closet. "I'll just run to the store and get some."

"Annie, wait," Jeff said. "You don't-"

"Jeff, we need wine and we're almost out," Annie said, trying to hide how upset she was. "You stay with your mom and I'll just get some more." Before he could say anything else she quickly walked out of the door and drove off.

"What the hell was that?" Jeff asked his daughter.

"I was just asking my grandma a few questions."

"I know exactly what you were doing, and I'm getting sick of-"

"Lexi," Doreen interrupted. "Why don't you go down to the den and watch TV while your father and I clean up here."

"Okay," she said in a small voice before going downstairs.

Neither Winger said anything at first as they wrapped up the sandwiches and got a container for the fruit salad. After a few minutes Doreen said. "Lexi is certainly a bright and spirited young woman."

"Yes she is," Jeff said shortly.

"And she knows how to manipulate a response out of people."

"She wasn't manipulating you, Mom."

"I wasn't talking about myself Jeffrey, I'm talking about Annie. She was clearly uncomfortable with what Lexi was trying to instigate. Though as someone who's well versed in working to get a certain response out of someone, I would have figured you'd have noticed it sooner."

"I did see…" He groaned in annoyance, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's not like something like this hasn't happened before."

"That sadly doesn't surprise me. Jeff, I'm sure it must be difficult for that girl. Having her mother die and then suddenly going to live with a father who's about to marry another woman. But I'm a bit disturbed by how good she is at making Annie uncomfortable. And I'm surprised that you're not doing more to stop this bullying."

"I am…" Jeff meekly responded. "And I wouldn't call it bullying."

"Really Jeff, because that's sure what it looked like to me. I know she's your daughter and you need to be there for her, but you also have a future wife to think about. I have no hesitation in saying that Annie coming into your life was the best thing that ever happened to you. And it would be devastating if she ended up not feeling wanted because of all this."

"Mom!" he sternly said. "What, you think Annie's going to leave because of this?"

His eyes widened as his mom gave him a look that showed that was a very real concern. "I just know that the only way this is ever going to work is if those two can see that they're now family. I don't know how Annie's doing-"

"Annie's great," Jeff begrudgingly said. "She's constantly trying to be there for Lexi."

"Then you need to make sure your daughter treats her stepmother with the respect she deserves."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Once Annie came back it was decided it would be for the best to cut the trip short. The car ride back was tense, with no one saying much of anything. Lexi sat in the back, playing her i-pod so loud that the music could be heard through her ear buds.

Once they arrived back home Jeff told Lexi he wanted to talk to her. He waited until they got in her room before letting out some of the anger he had kept in check. "This has to stop now. Right now!"

"What are you—?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been treating Annie terribly ever since you arrived here, and I'm sick of it. That stunt at my mother's was beyond over the line. I want to know, right now, why do you have such a problem with her?"

Lexi shifted uncomfortably before she finally yelled, "I don't want a replacement mother, alright!"

Jeff looked at his daughter, trying to calm down somewhat. "Lexi, I know it's been hard losing your mother. But I promise you Annie is not trying to take her place. She just wants to be there for you and be someone you can turn to and bond with. If you gave her a chance you'll see that you two actually have a lot in common."

"Oh please," she snidely responded with. "Like I have anything in common with a pocket princess who's never had anything bad happen to her in her life. Honestly, you can do better than a daddy issues girl who-"

"SHUT UP!" Jeff roared, shocking Lexi into silence. "You think you have my fiancée all figured out? Well I can tell you you're completely wrong about her. She's dealt with and survived more crap then anyone has a right to. Did you know she's battled and overcome a pill addiction in high school? Or that she was kicked out of her house for going to rehab instead of ignoring her problem? Or that she once lived in a dangerous neighborhood where stabbings were a common occurrence? And that this all happened before her ninetieth birthday? But I'm guessing you didn't know any of that, and just assumed whatever you wanted to. Well I'm sick of you acting like she's the enemy. I want you to come out when you're ready and apologize to Annie for how you treated her today. Do you understand me?

"But Dad-"

Do you understand me," Jeff sternly repeated.

"Yes," she said shortly.

"Good." With that Jeff left, hoping she would come out soon, and instead being severely disappointed when Lexi never left her room all night.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The tension in the house escalated all through Sunday, and by Monday Annie was at her wits end. She barely paid attention to anything at work and actually got lost on the way home because she was so out of it. When Annie got home she looked down the hallway, seeing Lexi's rag doll drawing hanging on her bedroom door. She hissed in anger, having asked the girl several times to take it down and instead was ignored each time. Fine, if she won't take it down herself, Annie thought as she marched over. Carefully she unpinned the poster from the door and laid it down gently on the girl's unmade bed.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Annie was on her laptop out on the terrace when she heard Lexi come home. She had a few more moments of peace before she heard a loud shriek, followed by the sound of Lexi stomping through the apartment and storming out onto the terrace. "What the hell did you do?"

"I took down that poster," Annie calmly stated. "I asked you several times to take it down and you didn't, so I took it down for you."

Annie involuntarily flinched as Lexi slammed the lid of her laptop shut. "Don't you EVER touch my artwork again? Do you understand me!"

"I will not have you speaking to me like that!" Annie yelled as she got up from her chair. "And I wouldn't have touched your drawing if you had listened to me and just taken it down."

"It's MY room!" Lexi yelled stubbornly.

"Well it's MY apartment. And I say I don't want any drawings on any outside doors of MY apartment. And as long as you're living under my roof you'll do what I say and start respecting me."

"Well maybe I won't live under your roof anymore."

"And what are you going to do, run away? It's not like you have any place else to go, that's why you're here!"

Instantly Annie deeply regretted saying that, especially after seeing the hurt look on Lexi's face. "Lexi, I'm sorry-"

But before she could come close to apologizing Lexi ran out the front door and raced out of the apartment, wanting to get as far away from Annie as possible.