Even though she hadn't experienced much high school in her life, she knew exactly what to look for. It was just a matter of keeping your eyes and ears open and then wait for the right moment. People like him didn't care about her hostility. They only cared about doing busines. People like him she understood.

"What's it worth to you?" he asked.

Alisson snorted. "What do you take me for? I know you have a pricelist. You tell me your fee and I'll see if I'm gonna pay it."

He raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "I like your attitude. Tell me what exactly you need and I'll ask my contact."

It was Alisson's turn to chuckle. "You have contacts?" He must think himself some big shot that ruled an entire organization instead of selling reports to high school kids.

"You didn't think I write all those papers myself, did you? I get them from different schools. That's why mine are good. Untraceable. Not reused."

"And that's why they're expensive, I'm sure," Alisson replied dryly.

"Hey," he said casually, "you get what you pay for. So, what can I do for you?"

"Book report," Alisson answered, "1984. C plus worth."

He blinked surprised. "C plus? You don't want a B or up?"

Alisson snorted. "They ain't never gonna believe I can get anything higher than a B minus. I don' wan' 'em to get suspicious. Just wanna maintain my average." There was no point in creating expectations she couldn't live up to. It would only come back to bite her in the ass.

He shrugged. "C plus it is. I'll have one ready for you in three days. That work for you?"

"We haven't talked price," Alisson said. She wasn't going to make a deal without knowing if it was worth the effort.

"Thirty bucks."

Alisson narrowed her eyes. He must think she was an idiot. "Yeah, I don' think so. Fifteen. Thirty is A plus material."

"Hey," he protested, "my contact needs his cut too. There will be nothing left for me for fifteen."

Alisson scoffed. "I doubt that. If you're as good as you say you are, you have a clientelist as thick as that stupid book we gotta read. Your share is high enough."

He gritted his teeth. "Twenty. Take it or leave it."

"Twenty it is," Alisson nodded. She would probably have paid thirty too, she was that much in need of a decent grade, but he didn't need to know that. "Pleasure doin' business with you. Depending on the results, I'll be back."

"I'm sure you will," he smirked.

Alisson watched him leave and turned to get to class only to stumble on Eric a little further down the hall. He looked at her with worry. "What did Lucas want with you?" he asked.

Alisson scoffed. "We were just talking."

Eric sighed. "Tell me you didn't buy an essay from him or anything."

"Don't worry," Alisson said sweetly, "I won't tell you. Why were you waiting for me anyway? I don' need no escort."

He rolled his eyes. "Actually I wasn't waiting for you. This is my locker. But since we both have Math right now, why don't we just walk there together?" He flinched. "I mean..."

It was Alisson's turn to roll her eyes. "Just get movin'." She started down the hallway with Eric closely behind her.

He cleared his throat and Alisson resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Here came the lecture. "I really think you should write your own reports, you know. What will you learn from someone's copy? You'll get this material on finals anyway. How are you gonna handle things then?"

Alisson shrugged. "I'll care about that later. It's just a stupid book report on a book I ain't gonna read anyway. It's a waste of time. I've got enough goin' on already." It was how she lived her life. Deal with one problem at the time and wing what came after.

"But..." Eric protested.

Alisson narrowed her eyes. "Drop it, Vermeer. I ain't no perfect little girl. I do things my way. I always have. Deal with it or get lost. I'm sure your Debate Club friends wonder where you are."

"I'm just trying to help," Eric said, "I thought we were past all that. But do what you want. And I am meeting up with my Debate Club friends after school. We have a tournament to prepare for."

Alisson snorted. "Tournament? You hold a contest for arguing with people?"

Eric frowned. "It's not arguing. Debate is an art. You need to learn to defend your point of view with logical arguments."

Alisson smirked. "So it is arguing. You just said so yourself."

Eric glared at her. "That is not what it means."

"Really?" Alisson said amused, "I thought arguing meant defending your point of view. So what's the difference?"

Eric opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it again, making Alisson smirk. He chuckled. "You're not so bad at this, you know. Don't you want to join our club?"

Alisson scrunched her nose. "No," she scoffed.

"Why?" Eric asked, "don't say it's because there are other people in it. I know they can act like dorks sometimes, but they're actually pretty cool. And you already know Zeke."

"Hardly," Alisson growled. They had like, what, one encounter? And not even a voluntarily one. Since when did that count as 'knowing someone'?

Eric sighed. "Then why?"

"I don' need no reason," Alisson said stubbornly. In truth it was because it reminded her too much of court. She'd had her fill of courtrooms. She didn't want to spend any of her free time reenacting one.

Eric sighed again. "Will you at least come watch us? It's held at our school this time. If we win, we'll go through to regionals."

Alisson raised an eyebrow. "Me? Come to a high school thing on the weekend? People will start to think I'm a normal human being."

Eric rolled his eyes. "Imagine that." He tilted his head and looked at her. "Come on, show some school spirit."

Alisson sighed. "When is it?" She might as well say yes. He wouldn't leave her alone otherwise.

He smirked, as if he had won. "The twenty forth."

At his answer, Alisson halted her wheelchair. "Of this month?"

Eric nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

"I can't," she answered briskly, "I already have a thing."

"How convenient," Eric scowled, "you know, if you don't want to come, you can just say so. No need to make up excuses."

Alisson narrowed her eyes. "It ain't no excuse. You think just because I have no friends I have nothing to do?" She was many things, but not a liar. Well, maybe she was, but not about stupid things like this.

"Whatever, Alisson," Eric said annoyed, "you go do your thing. And for the record, I thought we were friends, but apparently I'm the only one that feels that way." He shifted his bag on his shoulder and walked into the classroom without giving her another look.

...

Kai studied the girl carefully while trying not to be too obvious about it. She was unusually quiet today. Not that she spoke much otherwise, but today she was especially with drawn. There hadn't been one sarcastic comment the entire time she'd been here. "Cat got your tongue?" he asked.

Alisson glanced at him. "Radio's playin'. That ain't sound enough?"

Kai sighed and turned the radio off. If she was going to be childish, then he could too. "There," he said, "talk." When she just kept staring at him, he sighed again. "Something is obviously bothering you."

"And why would I talk about it with you?" Alisson scoffed.

He tilted his head. "Why wouldn't you?" he retorted.

"Cuz my life ain't your business," she said coldly.

Kai placed her leg back down on the table and lifted the other one. He gave a slight shrug. "True, but at least you'll have it off your chest. And I'm a good listener."

Alisson rolled her eyes. "'And this is a safe place'," she chimed sarcastically. She couldn't even count the times the psychologist in the hospital and later at Dandelion had told her that. She had paid them both back with silence.

"I'm not a psychiatrist," Kai said, "just a listening ear, but yes, nothing you say will leave this room if you don't want it too."

Alisson snorted. "And now I'm supposed to spill my guts?"

"No," Kai said seriously, "now you are supposed to touch my hands."

She looked at him oddly. This guy was crazy. "Say what now?"

He placed her leg down and walked closer to her head. He held up his hands with his palms facing her. "Upper body strength. Try to reach for my hands."

Alisson lifted her arms, but he was just out of reach. "You're too far away," she complained annoyed.

"That's why it's called exercise," Kai said dryly, "put in some effort."

She glared at him. "People ever tell you you're annoying?"

"All the time," Kai answered calmly, "now, try again. Reach for my hands. Just one time and I'll get of your case."

"Promise?" Alisson growled.

"I promise."

Alisson gritted her teeth and tried again. Again, she failed. Was he doing this on purpose? Standing just out of her reach? All the time, he was telling her to try harder. It made her angry. Who the hell did he think he was?! She balled a fist and thrusted it at him with all her might.

It punched right into his hand.

Instead of getting angry, he smirked at her. "I knew you could do it."

She huffed. "You're still annoying."

His grin turned wider. "Who else is annoying?" he asked.

"Everyone!" she barked, "why can't people just leave me alone?!" The torrent she had been holding back until now, broke free from its restraints. No one understood anything!

Kai shrugged. It seemed his question had finally drawn out the desired reaction he'd been after. Getting her to talk. Or shout. In any case, it was a start. "Maybe people just know what you are capable of if you set your mind to it." He replied calmly.

"How would they know?!" Alisson retorted, "they don' even know me."

"Well, maybe you should let them get to know you," Kai suggested.

She snorted. Such a textbook thing to say. "Why? What's so great about me?"

Kai smiled at her sadly. He knew all that hostility was just an act. It had been the same with Chase. Deep down the kid just wanted to be accepted. He had wanted someone to care and not give up. "Why don't you give me a chance to find out?" Kai asked, "and I'll let you know in a couple of weeks."

Alisson watched him suspiciously and wondered what he was really up to. No one was ever nice without reason. "Why?" she asked, "what's in it for you?"

Kai shook his head. "Maybe nothing. Maybe a new friend. Who knows?" He sighed. "Look. I get you're not a trusting person. You have no reason to trust me. You don't know me. But what's the harm in trying?"

Alisson looked away. What was the harm? The harm was getting hurt. It was being left behind once he figured out she wasn't worth the effort. It had always been like that. Her entire life there had been only one person she had trusted and even he hadn't stayed around. Why would she expose herself to that again? What was the use? "No one ever stays," she finally answered him, "I don't see the point. In the end we're all on our own."

Kai sighed sadly. He wasn't sure what to say to that. He could hardly promise he'd always be there. She was right. People moved in and out of each other's lives. There was no guarantee. And they were practically strangers. She was just one of his clients. He didn't even know that much about her, though he could tell she'd lived a hard life. Even if her address hadn't clued him in on that, her eyes would have given it away.

He offered her a smile. "That doesn't mean we should stop trying. Even people that leave, can leave an impact. They help us grow."

She snorted. "Cut the psychological crap. It ain't working on me."

"Duly noted," Kai said with a straight face.

Alisson narrowed her eyes. "You're making fun of me."

"Yes," Kai nodded, "yes I am. Come. I'll help you in your chair."

Alisson gritted her teeth and reluctantly let him assist her. She didn't like to admit it, but these sessions wore her out. She was tired.

"You talked to Chase yet?" Kai asked, "I haven't seen you in the gym."

Alisson sighed. "Yeah, yeah. We'll spar sometime. Are we done for the day?"

He decided not to press the matter and nodded. "I'll see when I can schedule you in again." He walked to his planner. "Tuesday good for you? Four thirty?"

"Whatever," Alisson growled and left the room. The gym was empty at this hour. Archer was somewhere in the far end of the building, checking his equipment before locking off. He briefly looked up as she crossed the room and lifted his hand in greeting.

She turned away and made for the door.

Only to find it was pouring outside.

"Great," Alisson cursed annoyed. It was dark and cold and raining, and she had several blocks to go before she'd be home. On moments like these she wished she had a phone, though right now it wouldn't do her much good. There was no way Valerie would be able to pick her up. The woman already announced this morning that she had to drop off Lola at her councilor's office for her weekly visits to her mother. After that, both Kayla and Andrew had an appointment in the hospital. And since Mitchell and Jamie couldn't be left unsupervised, Valerie would have to bring them along.

Which unfortunately meant she'd be home very late.

"Need a ride?"

Alisson glanced up at Kai annoyed. "With you?"

"See anyone else around here?" Kai asked, "well, aside from Archer, but this is his place, so yeah. With me." He smiled slightly. "I already know where you live."

Alisson pulled a face. "Should have known you were a creepy stalker."

He rolled his eyes and leaned towards her. "You do know it's in your file, right?"

She glared at him. Smartass.

"So," Kai said, "you still need that ride? Because I'm about to head home."

Alisson gritted her teeth and stared outside again. It didn't look like it would stop raining anytime soon. She was hungry and cold and wanted to go home. "What about this thing then?" she asked and pointed towards her chair.

Kai shrugged. "It's a fold up, isn't it? I'm sure it will fit in my trunk. Just wait here while I pick up the car so you won't have to wait in the rain. Wouldn't want you to catch a cold." He pulled up his collar and stepped into the rain.

Alisson stared after him and sighed. She wasn't too happy with him driving her to Dandelion Cove. It always made her uncomfortable if people knew where she lived. Even if it really was in her medical file. It was embarrassing.

Headlights appeared in the driveway and a moment later Kai came running back. "I'll carry you," he said, "it will be faster that way." Too baffled to protest, she allowed him to pick her up. "Don't worry," he said, "I won't let you fall." He walked to the car and gently placed her into the passenger seat before putting her wheelchair in the trunk. By the time he was back behind the wheel, he was soaked to the bone.

She couldn't help herself. He looked like a sodden kitten. It was funny. She started laughing.

Kai huffed and shook the water from his hair while wiping his face with his soaked through sleeve. "Glad to see you're having fun."

It only made her laugh harder. She hadn't laughed like that in ages and one glance in his direction only set her off again.

Her laughter worked contagious. First Kai watched her amused, but then he chuckled and laughed with her.

When they had both caught their breath, he smiled at her. "You should laugh more often."

His comment seemed to sober her up. Immediately the smile disappeared from her eyes and she looked outside. "Just drive."

Kai looked at her sadly and regretted that she pulled up her walls again. For a moment he had seen the real Alisson, the girl behind the mask. But that girl wasn't ready to come out yet.

He turned the key and drove off.

...

Tim sat in the windowsill of his room watching the rain impassively. The window was slightly cracked open to mask the scent of weed in his room. It was the first time since forever that he had the house to himself and he was going to make good use of it. He had been an only child before with loving parents. The day the news had come that they had both died on impact in a car accident was branded in his mind. All the anger and hurt he had felt when he realized he was left behind still followed him to this day. His grandparents from either side had already passed away and there were no other living relatives to take him in. He had been placed in emergency foster care. After that in another foster family. He supposed they hadn't been bad people, but he didn't want replacement parents, so he had fought them all the way and in the end he had gotten in trouble with the law.

The judge had ordered him here and he had been here ever since, the last one to come live at Dandelion Cove, just shortly after Alisson.

Living here wasn't so bad most of the time. Valerie was on his case a lot lately, mostly about school, but he ignored that. She barely even noticed that he just ignored her rules. The other children demanded a lot of attention. Especially Andrew and Mitchell.

He had copied the art of deception from Allison, who seemed to get away with a lot. Sarcastic Alisson who went to private school while he was sent to public school.

It wasn't fair.

When headlights appeared in the driveway, Tim flinched. Was Valerie back so soon? Quickly he pushed out his joint and flushed it down the toilet. He sprayed air freshener allover his room and then waved away any possibly remaining smoke towards the window.

But it wasn't Valerie.

After sitting in the driveway for a minute, some guy got out. He looked like he was in his twenties. He hurried through the rain to the passenger door and opened it. A moment later he had Alisson in is arms and he carried her towards the front porch.

Tim leaned further out the window to have a better look. Having a room next to Alisson's on the ground floor gave him a clear view on the front door.

The guy carefully placed Alisson in one of the chairs and rushed back through the rain to get her wheelchair. The two were talking briefly, but Tim couldn't hear what was being said over the sound of the rain.

He watched the guy leave in his car and pulled back into his room when he heard the front door open.

Tim leaned in his doorway and scoffed. "You're not inviting your boyfriend in? Val's not home."

Alisson snorted. "He ain't my boyfriend. Toss me a towel will you?" Despite Kai carrying her, she was still dripping wet.

"Get your own," Tim snorted, "I'm not your servant."

Alisson rolled her eyes. "You ain't very good at erasing your tracks either."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tim said.

Alisson scoffed. Amateur. "Oh please. The air freshener, open window while Niagara Falls is coming down outside. If your eyes hadn't given you away, all that would have."

Tim narrowed his eyes and took a step closer to her. "Yeah?" he asked threateningly, "what are you gonna do about it?"

She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his tough act. Did he really think he was in any way intimidating? The people she used to live with ate kids like him for breakfast. "I didn't rat you out with Val last time, did I? Now move so I can change into somethin' dry." She wheeled by him, forcing him to jump out of the way. She slammed the door behind her and grabbed a towel from the rack. She was just changing her shirt when the door opened again and Tim barged into her room

She glared at him. "Get the hell out of here. I'm changing!"

Tim scoffed. "Don't worry, Alisson, I'm not into you."

"Then why are you here?" she growled annoyed.

"I don't need Val on my case," Tim said, "you're going to keep quiet."

Alisson snorted. "I told you already, I don't give a crap about what you do as long as you don't bother me with it. Next time just go get high at your friend's place."

Tim narrowed his eyes. "You think you're all that, don't you? Going to an expensive private school, having your rich friends drive you around, playing the wheelchair card to get your way."

Alisson narrowed her eyes as well. Who did this punk think he was? She didn't ask to be sent to private school. She didn't ask for any of this. She hadn't picked Hillview High. Any school would have sucked just the same. She didn't know why the court had sent her there. "You don' know what you're talking about," she hissed, "now get out. Smoke some more of that shit. You need to relax."

Tim scoffed at he. "Don't act like you're so much better than me."

The sound of an engine made them both look up. A moment later several voices were heard. Valerie had arrived home with the rest of the children.

Tim glared at Alisson. "Keep your mouth shut."

She rolled her eyes. His attempts of being threatening were laughable. She had dealt with much worse. "Run along now," she said in a low voice, "before you need to explain to Val why you're in my room while I'm changing."

With one last glare, Tim walked out of the room, only seconds before Valerie entered. "Oh honey," she said while looking at a soaked Alisson, "I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up. Did you come through the rain all by yourself?"

Alisson sighed. "I got a ride. It's fine." She pulled the dry shirt over her head.

"Was that Tim I just saw coming out of your room?"

Alisson shrugged. "He just handed me a towel," she lied.

Valerie smiled. "It's so nice to see the two of you getting along. Go change into something dry. I'll start on dinner. Something warm will do you good. How about a nice cup of tea first?"

Alisson sighed. "Sure." She was suddenly dead tired. Wrestling out of her pants, she gritted her teeth. Things she had always taken for granted were suddenly a lot harder to do. It was moments like this that reality hit her hard. This was her life now. And she had herself to blame. That was why she couldn't accept it, why she was so angry all the time. One moment of bad judgement had destroyed her life. And no matter how had she tried, she would never get it back.

A/N So I guess Alisson is making some progress, right? >.> Or maybe not ^^"