Author's Note : This is the chapter that basically explains Mariah's life since she has been given up for adoption.

Chapter 2 Hey I'm Mariah!

Mariah's POV

As I could hear my alarm blaring, I knew that could only mean one thing, summer is officially over, sophomore year has begun, I shrugged as I got out of the bed, it's a new year and a new school again this time it's Degrassi Community School. Hi my name is Mariah Danielle Stevens, I'm fifteen I have black hair, pale white skin and green eyes. I was adopted at birth by Ava and Carl Stevens they were by far the best parents I could ever possibly have.

My adoptive mom was practically my best friend; she couldn't have any kids so I was basically treated like royalty, she would always snacks ready for me when I got home from school when I was a kid. We would talk about everything, share secrets; we even had our own language that nobody else understood. My adoptive dad was the same way; everyone knew I was a daddy's girl. We would play basketball together, and go surfing, rollerblading he was the best.

But nothing stayed perfect forever; I remember the night that changed my life forever, when I was eight years old my mom was late on her way home from work, and it was storming I was worried about her, me and dad both were and then dad got that phone call I remember it, just like it happened yesterday.

The phone rang and my dad answered it.

"Hello?"

"Yes is this Carl Stevens?, your wife Ava Stevens got hit by a drunk driver, the car was totaled, she didn't make it."

I remember how my dad's eyes went wide and he looked over at me, he didn't have the heart to say the words. He took a breath and asked me to sit down, then he told me, the only mother I had was dead. Days went by, then month, and then it was a year my dad was depressed, and so was I. I would look at her picture every night and tell her I loved her, and cry myself to sleep. My dad he couldn't go on for the longest time until he went back to work and met…her.

Her name was Krista, she was young beautiful, could steel any man's heart, including my fathers. She had a daughter Ashley, who was 3 years older than me. I could tell Krista nor Ashley liked me, they wouldn't attempt to get along with me, they would ignore me as if I wasn't there, dad changed too, it was now all about Krista instead of me. We stopped having father daughter time because every night Krista would be demanded to be taken out, and he followed her every command.

I remember we all went out one night, and when we returned the house was on fire, Krista freaked out because she had expensive stuff, my dad trying to be the hero try to go and get them. I wanted to run after him, but Krista held me back, I never saw my father again, since that day he died in the fire. Now here I am a sophomore in high school, fifteen and going to my fifth school. I live with Krista and Ashley now, since my foster parents didn't have anyone in the will for me. Today was Ashley's first day of college, so I knew today Krista would be extra demanding. As I walked downstairs in my black shirt with a black and silver scarf, my hair straightened and jeans, I got my backpack and started out the door when Krista stopped me.

"Excuse me young lady, the house hasn't had its morning cleaning, and you can't go to school till it's done."

I rolled my eyes, "sorry I woke up late, I don't have time to clean before school. "

She then slapped me across the face, as it began to burn she spoke "my needs come before yours..Clean NOW, "she demanded.

I dropped my stuff on the floor and did my morning chores, it wasn't fair Ashley is in college and she don't have a job, or do chores, I work full time, and have to clean, I never have time for me or to have a social life. My life right now is dedicated to doing stuff for them, and Krista has access to my account so she takes out 80% of my money every pay check I get.

As I walked into the class I could feel every eye looking up at me, the teacher then looked at me and spoke "so you must be the new student?..she then paused and looked at me more closely "you look familure did you have any family who went to Degrassi?"

I shook my head "I just moved here from New York."

"Well because you are new, I'm going to let this slide" she then turned to the class "everyone this is our new student Mariah Stevens, Mariah is there anything you want to say about yourself?"

I shook my head, and she looked at me "okay, by the way I am , if you need anything feel free to ask, please take a seat next to Derek Jones in the 2nd row."

I walked over and a guy with shaggy blonde hair and brown eyes smiled and motioned for me to sit down.

The day went by pretty slow, but now it was lunch time and I wasn't hungry so I sat in the library to read when I noticed a bunch of guys looking at old Degrassi yearbook's and laughing at them. I was curious so I walked over to them.

"Hey guys what's so funny?" I said sitting next to one of the guys.

"The students back in 2003 looked like freaks", he replied.

"But it's so not fair, the girls back then got to wear pretty much whatever they wanted," a girl replied.

"Do you care if I look at the book," I asked.

The girl then looked at me "forgive me but..you look like someone who's a famous actress now..Manny Santos, are you related to her?"

That name, it struck me like a lightning hitting a tree, because my mom and I were so close she told her the truth that her biological mother was Manuela Santos, in fact before she gave Mariah up for adoption Ava actually met her and insisted that she pick out the first name, I guess in a way that was a way to let my real mother have one right in my life by choosing my name.

The same voice then interrupted my thoughts "you just look so much like her, did u know Manny actually went here to school, and she's in this very yearbook." She then held out her hand "I'm Alice by the way and this is my friend Doug, he looked up and nodded.

I took a breath and stuttered "c..can I look at the yearbook?"

Alice smiled and handed it to me "sure."

I looked in the freshman pages, where I saw Manny Santos, my real mother tears then started falling down my face. Truth is I had been thinking about her a lot lately since my other parents died, all I have left is her along with my real father, I then flipped a few pages and saw him Craig Manning, I knew that name very well he is a famous musician I actually have a few of his songs on my ipad that I got for Christmas before mom passed away. Craig was my father, I then looked at a recent magazine a picture from Craig's concert and Manny smiling In a movie roll.. I guess they both got what they wanted Manny became an actress, Craig became a musician, they were happy without me.

I walked in from school that day and put my stuff down; I was greeted by Krista, just like every day "good glad your home, I want dinner and I want it made now."

I rolled my eyes "Krista, I have homework I can't just.."

She then got in my face "what did you say to me bitch, I was kind enough to let you live here, I could have dropped you off at a homeless shelter, but I didn't, you know your nothing but a pathetic piece of shit, why do you think your mother gave you up, you were a mistake and look at her now, shes famous because she didn't have a kid slowing her down, same with your father, hate to tell you nobody loves you, and nobody ever will, Krista snarled.

"She may have been my biological mother, but the one I consider my mother Ava Gene McAlister Stevens, she loved me more than life itself, she treated me like her own and one thing she did tell me,Manny gave me up, because she loved me, she didn't want me to suffer being raised by a fourteen year old mother", I screamed as I grabbed my bag and ran out the door.

I couldn't take this anymore, I was tired of the abuse, verbal and physical, I didn't deserve this, I'm better than this, but all of my mom and dad's family were back in New York, I had nowhere to go I then went to Alice's house, she was really the only friend I had.

The door opened as Alice saw me standing outside on her porch "oh hey Mariah, come on in, I was finishing my geometry homework," as she sat back down next to the kitchen table.

I smiled "thanks sorry to show up out of nowhere, I just had some problems at home."

Alice then motioned her to sit down "what's going on?"

I then explained the entire life story to Alice, by the time I was done her mouth was hanging open "wow I knew you had to be related to her and your related to the Craig Manning the daughter of Craig Manning, she replied.

I nodded "but I'm sure they are both in better places in their lives, but every since my other parents died I can't help but wonder about them, now that they are in good places, would they want me back? Would they want to at least meet me, don't get me wrong Ava and Carl are my mom and dad, and I love them more than anything, but I would just like to meet them, just once you know? They will never be my parents I know this but that doesn't mean they can't be in my life."

"But what if they don't want anything to do with you, I mean they are used to their lives now," said Alice.

"I'm willing to take that chance, I'd rather know, then wonder for the rest of my life."

"Then let's find your parent's" said Alice.

CLIFFHANGER! For those of you who don't know, I do like to do cliffhangers :D But what do you guys think so far Review's are appreciated and thanks for the support. Love Countrygirl19