We pulled up to the rickety old house, and I felt a twinge of excitement that echoed within the sea of melancholy I had been feeling lately.The house was by no means new or luxurious, but it was much more than I had anticipated.We moved from California, where we had a two bedroom apartment in the worst part of town. Walking to work each day had become a constant nightmare. While I was thankful to move, I couldn't help but expect the worst.I've lived with my mother and her husband for three years now, and to say I hate it is an understatement. I was raised by my amazing grandmother for most of my life, but unfortunately she died a few years back. The only other relative able to take me in was my mother.'Melissa', she insists I call her. As though I'm just some child she found on the street.Melissa and I have a non-existent relationship, which means she pretends I don't exist and I stay out of the way. The issue lies in her husband. Frank likes

"And you're sure you don't mind?" I sighed, looking at Tori with shameful eyes.Tori scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Of course not. We work the same days anyway, I'd just have to come in thirty minutes early." Tori shrugged.When Tori found out I planned to walk thirty minutes to and from work, she insisted to giving me a ride everyday. I wasn't used to people wanting to help me, so the gesture made me feel like crap."Let me at least give you gas money every week." I frowned, fidgeting with the tight uniform we were forced to wear.While my Saturday was spent completing the project Alec and Kade refused to do, today was Sunday and my first day of work.The first half of the day was rather slow, but the people in this town seemed to tip well. I seemed to fare well, only spilling things on myself rather than everyone else.I was thankful the uniforms consisted of a black t-shirt with the restaurants logo and a pair of tight black slacks. All of

My next class featured Alec, Tori, and Grace.I was beginning to have a love hate relationship with this particular class.It wasn't all bad because I got to sit next to Tori, which kept Alec from tormenting me. The downside was Grace and her friends would constantly throw insults my way. For someone who acts like their bulletproof, her insults sure hurt a lot.I had been dreading Gym class all day. We were split between Volleyball and Basketball for the next month or so.Sports have always been challenging for me. And as funny as it sounds, the ball always seemed attracted to my face.I chose the option that didn't include Alec or Kade, which was Volleyball. Much to my dismay Grace happened to choose Volleyball as well.My options weren't looking too great. Pick Basketball and suffer the intruding touches of the twins, or Volleyball and suffer mean comments from Grace.I'd choose mean comments any day.While the medium sized g

"What the fuck is this?" Kade snarled, his rough hand wrapped around my wrist.I leaned over the table uncomfortably while Kade and Alec glowered at the fading yellow bruise that stained my pale skin."It's a bruise." I snapped, trying to yank my arm away from the two of them.Kade's eyes hardened at my defiance and a yelp escaped my lips as Kade roughly pulled me onto his lap."What are you doing?" I hissed, feeling my face flush under the glances of the other customers. "I'm at work!"I'm at work? Was that really the best I could come up with. I pushed my embarrassing comment to the side, knowing it would keep me up at night."Our family owns this place, no one cares doll." Alec's full lips turned up in a smirk but his eyes remained hard."Get off of me, Kade." I hissed, trying to squirm out of his ironclad grip."You might want to stop doing that, sweetheart." Kade chuckled lowly in my heart.A deep rumble emerged fro

Gym class was last, and I was completely dreading it. The Volleyball and Basketball lesson was still going at full force.Luckily, I was placed on Autumn's team."Just stay close to me, and when the ball comes run the other way." Autumn chuckled, slamming her locker shut as we walked out into the gym."I appreciate that." I nodded gratefully."And keep away from Grace, not that I think she'll be a problem anymore." Autumn shrugged.My brows furrowed in response, "What do you mean?""You didn't hear?" Autumn smirked, her eyes flickering over to Alec and Kade.The two of them were in the middle of playing basketball, outrunning the other guys on the team with ease."Um, no." I stared at Autumn impatiently."Apparently Alec flipped out on Grace." Autumn shrugged, "And she went to Kade all upset."I ignored the strange pang that went through me. It felt oddly similar to jealousy. What was there to be jealous of? I did