Hello, my lovelies! Sorry to leave you waiting for a chapter for almost a week (it would be a week if I updated tomorrow on schedule, but I'm too stubborn to let it reach that point). My internet did go out... for a day. It was much less of a deal than my mama made it out to be. And then I was going through a minor bout of writer's block/ hating everything that I wrote. So that was a thing. But I think I've got my groove back. Hopefully. I may have just jinxed myself. Anyway, I hope you lovely people enjoy this chapter! I should honestly write as Darcy more because I love her. ~Shaymie

Darcy's POV

"Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days, when our mama sang us to sleep but now we're stressed out." I paused my music and tugged at my hair. I had laughed at this song years ago, but now it described my life perfectly. God, I'd do anything to be able to go back in time to the days when I had a decent relationship with my father. What we'd had wasn't perfect, but it was something. Everything had been going fine until I came out. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea. I should have known he wouldn't approve.

When I was younger, he said he would love me no matter what. No matter what I decided to do with my life, he said he would support me. What had happened to that? We used to have such a good relationship. If he could just see that I was the same old me and that nothing had changed, things would be normal. Happy. I would be able to apply to college without worrying about how I could afford it. Would I have to get another job on top of my modeling? Would that even be enough?

"Hey, Darcy." I looked up as Alexander walked into the living room, raising an eyebrow at the papers I had scattered across the coffee table. I printed out a bunch of scholarships. I was eligible for most of them, but I still hadn't even picked a college to apply to. When I had graduated, my mailbox had been stuffed with envelopes from colleges. That was three years ago, but maybe one of them would still want me. I had a few offers from colleges in New York. I didn't want to leave Lori again. Especially not when she was recovering.

"Hey, Alex. How's Lori?" I hadn't visited her for a few days. I was too busy trying to find a college program that I actually liked so I could prove to my father that I didn't need his help. I frowned, realizing that once again I was neglecting my own sister. I had come so close to losing her and yet I still hadn't learned my lesson. I should spend more time with her. What was the point of me coming to New York to be a better sister if I just ignored Lori?

"She's doing better than she was a week ago. She can almost walk on her own now." Alex frowned, his eyebrows scrunching together as he sat next to me and set his mug down gently. "She's been spending a lot of time with her old foster sister, Mandy Jackson. Things seem a bit tense between them."

"Never thought I'd hear that name again. She was Lori's first crush, you know." I chuckled at the expression on Alexander's face and started gathering my papers. I wouldn't have taken him to be the jealous type. Lori's been cheated on before. There's no way she would do that to anyone else. She understands just how much it hurt. Besides, she only has eyes for him. Anyone could see that. It was fun to watch him squirm, though.

"Lorin's first kiss was from Amanda, you know. She was thirteen and Mandy was seventeen. I obviously wasn't there, but Lori said it was nice and sweet and-"

"I don't want to hear the details!" Alex's face was flushed as he took a sip of coffee. I smirked and stood up, holding my papers close to my chest. As fun as it was messing with Alexander, I had to work something out for college. I was already getting paid double what I normally got from work as "compensation" for what had happened at the New Year's party, but I knew that there was no way that would be enough to pay for tuition and maybe even dorm fees.

"If you need me, I'll be upstairs working on my essays." I gingerly stepped over Alex and sighed. Essays had definitely been my least favorite part of school. I hated how the essays would be shoved towards the end of nearly every test, leaving us only about an hour to write them. And the topics for them would always be complete bullshit. At least with these college essays, I could write something more interesting. But I definitely wasn't looking forward to writing these. There was too much pressure. If I didn't write everything exactly how the college board wanted, I wouldn't get the scholarship.

"Darcy, you look stressed. You should relax."

"Relax? What do you mean? I'm relaxed," I scoffed. I turned to look at Alex and saw that he wasn't convinced. I shook my head at the expression on his face. I didn't need him to worry about me. I wasn't the one we should be worrying about. "Why did you leave Lori so early? You normally spend all day with her. Are you jealous of Mandy?"

"Of course not! Why would I be jealous? I trust Lo." He took a sip of coffee and sighed. "She had a migraine and kicked us out when she threw up her lunch."

"Oh yes, one of the famous Lorin Haywood Migraines," I hummed, tracing a finger over the edges of my papers. She didn't get migraines frequently, but when she did get them, it was bad news for everyone. She got anxious and cranky, and if the migraine was particularly bad, she would get nauseous. I wish there was more we could do for her. The best thing we could do was give her some time alone in a dark room and some painkillers. Easy enough, considering she was in the hospital.

I left the living room before I could get roped into more conversation. I had to get something worked out. The application deadline for most schools was May 1, and it was already March. I didn't want to put this off any longer. I wanted to prove to my father that I didn't need his money or his influence. I'd find a way to work through this somehow. And maybe I'd even figure out what I want to major in while I do.