I just want all of you AMAZING readers (who have given me the most AMAZING feedback! THANK YOU!) to know that I do not own anything, that the ages are a little jacked up because of the timeline I have started things at, and that I love you all for clicking the link that lead you to this crazy story. Thank all of you that reviewed and/or favorite-ed and/or followed my story.

Important-ish: Sorry about the wait, soccer was the issue this time. I got a concussion because some girl twice my size decided that shoving me into the goal post was a good idea. Just got cleared to use electronics. Sorry guys.

Chapter 38: Flashing Back.

Nicolette stared at the girl in front of her in shock.

"Um, sweetheart, I'm gonna tell you this as nicely as I can put it... I was raised on a farm, this class is farm skills and landscaping... I'm gonna know more than you because I have done it." Nicolette explained calmly, unlike the bitchy girl in front of her, Nicolette had not gotten out of her seat, or even moved an inch.

"Listen, I don't care who you are. Or who your daddy is. Get the hell out of my school." The girl hissed.

"Ms. Lambart, please get back in your seat." Max asked, as Ms. Jessica Lambart made her way back to her seat, Max successfully made eye contact and silently asked Nicolette if she was alright.

Nicolette obviously told him she was.

But in her mind she was in another place

FLASHBACK: NICOLETTE'S POV

I watch as he comes back home from work again. Dread instantly comes over me, because of my beating last night I woke up late this morning- and my chores aren't done yet. I haven't even changed from the whoreish looking sheer, baby blue nightie and matching thong.

He walks right into the kitchen where I am finishing up dinner, his happy face instantly contorts to anger.

"Bitch! Why isn't the damn house cleaned, or dinner on the fucking table?!" He shouts.

I know what answer he wants, but after the beating I got last night, and the one I know I was going to get... I decide to push my luck.

"I woke up late because you are a fucked up psychopath!" I shout back. In three seconds flat, I'm naked and my back is being burnt by the hot burner and he is shoving himself inside of me. Pushing madly in and out.

A fist lands on my stomach and I am gasping for breath.

"What was that you dumb bitch? I know you didn't say what I think you just did." He hisses through clenched teeth.

The pain is maddening, him forcing himself inside me while raining punches and slaps onto my worn body.

I just want it to stop.

I want to go home.

"I'm sorry. I was lazy. You deserve better." I finally force the words through my lips. He explodes, his liquids instantly running down my bare thighs.

"Turn around. On your stomach." He orders. I do as I'm told, wincing as my stomach now is being exposed by the white-hot heat of the burner.

"You'll get twenty lashes for your stupidity, and ten more for your laziness. I expect you to be on your best behavior this evening." He hisses. Before I know it, I'm being belted.

"Count you dumb whore!" He shouts.

And I do.

By ten, my butt is on fire.

By twenty, I'm in tears.

When we finally reach thirty I am sobbing.

He is ready for another round, however.

And I comply, mouthing the word 'stop' over and over again. Knowing that he never will.

Knowing that I'll probably never get home.

When he is done with me, and done eating dinner. He tosses me heartlessly in the direction of the hall.

"Get out of my sight you dumb bitch."

And I do, I retreat to the pink abyss of my bedroom- treating my wounds when I do get there.

END OF FLASH BACK- NO POV

The rest of the day passes by in a hurry, Strong and Ryan walked closely to Nicolette between every class and sat well within eyesight at during her classes and lunch.

Nicolette made a couple friends in mathematics, art, and even Rock Class 1. Shelly, Terrance and Rockie- all of which were female and thoroughly impressed when Nicolette had been asked to sing in Rock Class 1.

The girls quickly formed a tight friendship within the first twenty minutes of meeting. They weren't even fazed when they figured out that Nicolette was "Mr. Hartsville's" girlfriend, in fact, Terrance remembered seeing a picture of Nicolette as Max's computer screensaver during first semester.

By the time lunch was over, Terrance had booked a slumber party at her house for the four of them.

"I'll have to talk to my dad in person, he won't exactly like not knowing what is going on... it drives him insane. I bet Ryan's had to call in fifty times now." Nicolette had muttered to the girls after the other three had simply typed a text message to their parents.

"What would your mom say?" Shelly asked.

"Go for it." Nicolette snorted.

"My parents come from two different worlds, my dad is from the world where you constantly need protection from idiots wanting a quick buck, and my mom from the world where you give those idiots a ride to the airport in the spirit of giving." Nicolette shook her head.

"Miss Grey, your father wishes to speak to you." Ryan spoke, interrupting the girls. Nicolette had rolled her eyes, but took the phone anyway.

When their last class (which all four of them had together) was over, the girls walked out of the building together. Waiting only when Ryan had asked Nicolette to wait with Ryan until he brought the Audi up to the curb.

Nicolette laughed at something Terrance had said when a woman who looked exactly like Terrance walked up to them, she had deep mocha colored skin with bright brown eyes and long black hair, neatly tied back in a braid. She wore the usual stay-at-home-mom clothes, consisting of designer jeans and top.

"Mom, this is Nicolette Grey. The girl I was talking to you about." Terrance smiled, when Terrance's mom extended her arm to shake Nicolette did the same.

"Nice to meet you Mrs. Gordon." Nicolette smiled.

"Likewise, Ms. Grey. And call me Beth or mom, alright? I have a feeling we will be close by the time all of you graduate." Beth grinned, Nicolette nodded as Ryan and Strong walked closer, seeing an unknown adult near their charge and two more men coming closer.

"Ms. Grey." Ryan called out.

"Oh, um, these are my security guards, Ryan and Strong. Guy, this is Terrance's mom, Beth Gordon." Nicolette smiled, the two men nodded and shook her hand.

"Nikk, this is my dad, Landon Greer." Shelly introduced.

"And my dad, Caleb Smith." Rockie nodded.

Ryan and Strong walked in at this point.

"Nicolette Grey, I am Ryan and that's Strong." Ryan nodded at the two men, shaking their hands.

"What's wrong, did we do anything? " Caleb asked, Nicolette shrugged.

"They probably got an order from my dad that no unknown men were allowed to approach me." Nicolette rolled her eyes.

"Miss Grey, your father is awaiting your arrival at GEH headquarters." Strong spoke. Nicolette hugged her three friends again.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Shelly asked.

"Meeting with the Dean." Nicolette shrugged again, goodbyes were said again and the three girls watched as their friend disappeared inside the Audi.

Not twenty minutes later Christian had scheduled a meeting with the parents of all three girls Nicolette described to him, glad that his daughter had made friends on her first day- he was never able to, but silently brooding about the girl from her first hour that Nicolette hadn't spoken of yet.