When I walked into my room that night, I found a note lying on my vanity. It was neatly folded, and when I opened the rose-red paper, I found a familiar handwriting littering the page. It read: I'm sorry Rich and I haven't been around much, but I see that Carson and Vienna have been taking a liking to you. If you'd like, we can go shopping this weekend, or whatever you want to do. I know I'm not your mother, but I want to at least bond with you.

-Melanie

I smiled slightly. Unlike my actual mom, she was trying. Setting the note back on my vanity, I let out a sigh and glanced in the mirror. Mascara had smeared under my eyes and something in my eyes looked dull and tired. Not physically, but rather tired of certain people and the headaches that came with them. Like Cara and Lexus and their friend, Amara. Like Chris. My heart dropped to my stomach yet again. Chris, the boy who I drunkenly kissed. The guy who I thought would make a good friend. Man, I didn't have the best luck with boys. But, there was Asher. A guy was my friend for who I really was, and didn't flinch away when I revealed a sensitive part of myself, or the whole fake it 'til you make it thing. But, I didn't need to fake it with him. The only thing I really needed to fake was being strong. Strong enough to deal with whatever crap people were about to throw my way. I sure had a way with making enemies. But I couldn't forget my friends.

I took my time preparing for bed. The sun hadn't set. In fact, I had just returned from school. Nonetheless, I threw on a comfortable top and pajama pants, scrubbed off my makeup, and flopped into my bed. Then, I pulled the covers tighter around me, flicking on my television and proceeding to watch a random show. South Park was on, so I watched it. I allowed myself to sigh. Allowed myself to worry a little. Worry about Amelia, my parents, even my friends. Allowed myself to crack a bit, ever so slightly. Yet, I wouldn't let anyone get to me. Not again, not after all of that drinking to impress. Amara and her cronies could throw whatever the hell they wanted at me.

My eyes began to droop shut. I had planned to just relax, not actually sleep. Yet, my body wanted to sleep, so that's what I started to do, pulling the warm covers tighter around me. Then, someone just had to fling open my door.

I lazily opened an eye, kind of used to people barging into my room unannounced. Of course, it had to be Lydia of all people. Her dress was not appropriate for someone of her age, and her makeup made me cringe. I wasn't one to say someone was wearing too much makeup because I enjoyed makeup myself. But, I guess there was a fat line between wearing makeup confidently and looking like you just pounded your face with any makeup you could find. Besides, she was, what, a year or two younger than me, and I was sixteen. For a moment, I wondered what made her the way she was; what made her come across as mean and shallow and someone who grew up way too fast.

"Well, the adults in this town finally decided to give a damn and found out I was driving by myself with a learner's permit. So, guess who needs a ride."

What surprised me the most was the fact that the adults decided to give a damn, to be perfectly honest. "Why should I give you a ride? Ask Carson or Vienna."

"They're not home yet," she childishly whined. She was right. Asher had given me a ride home because Carson needed to stay after school and Vienna was doing- well I didn't know.

"Start walking," I smirked, turning back to South Park.

"Do you want money? Anything? Trust me, you're not someone I like. But, I need a ride somewhere and it's important. I'd drive anyways but I was warned that if I was caught one more time instead of a one month suspension, which I was told I was lucky to get, I wouldn't be able to get my actual license until eighteen. So, you're my half-sister. Please help a sister out."

I'd help her. Maybe I was a good person, or maybe I wanted to gain something. However, I wasn't going to readily agree to the brat. "Where are you going?"

Her face paled. "Nowhere important."

"Look, if you're a stripper or something- just let me in on the profits. I won't tell." I laughed as her face turned beet red.

"No! You- ugh! You're impossible."

"So are you. I'm just returning the favor."

She let out a breath. "I'm going on a date with someone you might not like."

I was intrigued by this. "Tell me who."

"Will you drive me then?"

"Fine." I sat up on the bed, yanking my fingers through my tangled hair.

"His name is Drew."

I felt a hundred emotions at once and had no idea how to respond. So, I kind of just gaped and stared at the younger girl. She was going on a date with a cheater and a rapist. Even if I didn't like her- I couldn't. I couldn't let her risk herself.

"I know you must think I'm crazy. That I'm a slut. I hate him. For what he did to Vienna, because I do care about my sister. And, he went out with me while he was with her. I didn't know they were dating. I'm going to tell him I forgive him and that I want to date. But, I'm going to destroy him. For every girl out there. And, by the way, what you and the guys did was pretty awesome."

I blinked. "Wow. You're actually- not as horrible as I thought you were. You'd actually do something like this for Vienna? For others?"

She sighed, then nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Come again?" Did Lydia just- apologize? To me?

"I know I'm a brat. And, I'm sorry, okay? I should've been nicer to you. Doesn't mean I like you, it means I respect you and your guts to stand up to people, and also how you help people. So, please help me and drive me there."

I wasn't all that sure on how to respond to her. She was a brat, and I didn't know how to feel about her, or her apology. Was it just to get me to give her a ride? If she wasn't lying about her plan, then I respected her. In a way. "Fine. But- be careful. He's-"

"I have two knifes and pepper spray."

My lips curved upward at that. "Wow, you're prepared."

She shrugged. "You should know that I don't trust easily, that I'm ready if anything happens."

That kind of explained- everything. It wasn't an excuse to be a huge jerk, but I had an understanding of her.

Wordlessly, Lydia headed towards my door. I followed her down the hallway, the stairs, and out of the door. As I opened my mouth to ask what, exactly, I was supposed to drive, the blonde tossed her keys to me. I catched them with ease, unlocked her vehicle, and hopped into the driver's seat. My half-sister wordlessly climbed into the passenger seat and shut the door as I started up and vehicle.

"How'd you know I had a license?"

"Carson."

I nodded, backing out of the long, winding driveway and onto the road. It wasn't something I was used to, but it also wasn't very hard. Before I knew it, Lydia told me she was meeting him at Patty's Patties and my brain took me there. It was a small town, and I had been to the burger place quite a few times. So, I smirked at Lydia's shocked expression as we pulled up right in front of the glass windows some minutes later.

"Ah, so you're getting to know Richbrooke." Well, that was the first time I'd heard that. Usually, people were telling me how much I didn't know about Richbrooke.

I nodded, yanked out the keys, and pocketed them. Lydia frowned at that, but I shut the door in her face. I had to drive her back. Well, actually, myself back.

We stopped in front of the door. Lydia shook her head. "Don't come in. I don't think you seeing him would be the best idea."

"It wouldn't," I agreed, letting out a breath. "Will he give you a ride home?" A nod in response. "Call me if you need a ride, or if that dirtbag tries anything you can't handle."

She smiled slightly, then nodded. I noticed that she fiddled with her arms, grasping one with one hand and vice versa. Then, she glanced inside the glass doors and most likely spotted him, because she pushed open the door and spread her crimson lips into a wide smile. I watched her walk in, watched the door close in my face. She could handle herself. I didn't need to save everyone from Drew. I didn't have the usual uneasy feeling. She was ready for him. This was Lydia we were talking about. Young or not, she wasn't stupid, and she'd take him down with her if it came to that.

Shaking my head, I walked back to Lydia's car, got in, and started it up. There we so many people I needed to figure out. First, Lexus and Cara were jerks to me. Then, I found out Chris's true colors. And, now, I found out I might have been wrong about Lydia. All this time, she was just a presence in the house, and one ready to erupt at that. But, there I sat, on the leather seat of her car, watching two teens exit the restaurant and jump in the back of a truck. Before that could get ugly, I backed out of the parking lot and prepared to drive myself home. Home. Was it really that? Home or a house (or, rather, mansion)? I couldn't decide, so I guess that spoke volumes.

Instead of going straight back to the mansion, I found myself driving around. I took note of the streets. There were a few major ones overrun with traffic at that time of day, which was around five in the evening. I saw chain restaurants and shops there. There was even a mall. For a small town, the mall was huge. Cars were scattered all around it, and huge posters and signs advertising a variety of shops. Next, I came across huge mansions on the residential streets near it, probably housing the richest in the city. As I got further away from the mall, I even saw some almost middle-class houses. They were still kept quite nicely, especially the beach houses near the water. I arrived on a road that was pretty much straight, where I could look to my left and at the water gleaming under the sun. At the sandy spot where Carson, Vienna, Carl, Shell, and I had been swimming less than twenty-four hours ago.

Finally, after looking at bright-colored houses and different places scattered around the town, I found my way to the mansion I lived in. I drove past the gate, up the long driveway, and parked Lydia's car. Then, I made my way inside. I wasn't very hungry, so I just went up to my room, sliding Lydia's keys under her door as I went. Then, I went into my room and made sure I actually locked the door, lest anyone else decide to shove it open at random. One of those days, that wouldn't end well.

Then, I flopped back onto my bed, realizing the TV was still blaring and I was still in my pajamas. Smiling slightly to myself, I snuggled into the covers and finally let sleep overtake me.

_____

Well, I had to include Lydia again eventually. I also let her show me her true colors. I couldn't just let her be a stereotypical bitch through and through. So, thoughts on her now?

13.6k reads? 815 votes? THANK YOU GUYS SO SO MUCH! That's over 1k reads from last update! Thank you guys for supporting this story! I probably wouldn't be so keen to write it if it weren't if you guys' constant support. So, thank you. Really. I love reading your comments. They make my day, knowing other people are interested in this world of Richbrooke I have created and the characters I have fallen in love with writing. Also, please feel free to point out any mistakes because I'm not perfect and I'd love to make this book as error-free as possible.

-Sarah