-All things, big and small, start off with a small spark that soon grows-

"The guest" (2 months earlier)

The sound of keys being quickly tapped filled the stale air, with a poor posture, the black-haired girl slouched at her wooden desk and typed away at her laptop. Her fingers were stiff, sore and aching, shakily protesting in pain after enduring constant labor for hours on end. Beats of perspiration formed on her ghostly pale forehead, some slid down the side of her face and into her sweat soaked shirt, courtesy of staying indoors since the beginning of time.

The girl gave her full attention to the screen, especially her coding for a website that she was working on for a client, it wasn't the most paying job out there but a job nonetheless. Heck, who was she to complain? she could've gotten a better salary and a better job but it was too much for her mind to handle interviews and worst of all-interact with strangers-uh people in general.

A breath of cool air flowed into her room through the only window that would display the fluorescing tall trees that tower over the nearby houses as well as hers, a small stream of sunlight would make the occasional visit into her bedroom, bringing in a comforting warmth.

There was only one light bulb dangling from the greyish moldy ceiling, there was a single bed right beside a wooden closet t It was cold, shivers crawled up and down her spine, the girl wasn't even wearing a sweater for God sakes but it didn't matter as long as she finished this last site...then she'd get a deserving break for the next few days.

"Ah-finally" she let out a loud sigh and stretched her arms over her head, she pulled at her fingers to crack them and got up. *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

her phone vibrated loudly, crying for her attention, on her working desk. As soon as she grabbed it she checked her messages as she walked to her closet, which wasn't far considering her small, yet comfy, bedroom.

|MADDY| sent a message:

-Maddy: Hey hoe! you free right now?- seen

-ClaudyPotty: Depends, why?- Immediately a text arrived as she pulled the closet door open, revealing the collection of second-hand clothing from the nearby thrift shop she bought recently.

-Maddy: My mom invited some guy over and I dun wanna be alone, :/ also don't lie, I know for a fact your mom's not gonna care so hurry up. I'll leave the door open. P.s wear something nice for once!-

Nice? something nice? the girl scoffed and went back to browsing through a litter of clothes, it took a while but finally, her cloudy hues landed on a particular white laced shirt. It looked decent at least, compared to the attires that she'd usually wear, she swiftly changed into the blouse and ran a hand through her chaotic black hair, struggling to tame its puffy nature at warm temperatures.

Shutting the closet with the back of her hand, she wiggled into a pair of khakis and paced out of her bedroom without closing the door. She jostled to the kitchen and opened a cupboard above the sink, in hopes to find some food to soothe her stomach's complaints, thank the gods that there was a box of pop tarts.

She munched on one as she went out the front door, not bothering to say anything to her dozing mother on the couch, that woman probably had too much to drink as always. And she didn't want to stay any longer at home, mother was ever cranky in the morning and hung over, the girl couldn't deal with the stench of booze in the air along with her frustrating mother.

The two never got on the right foot in the first place, so she was a little grateful for Madeline's invitation of escape but...it also came with a risk.

The sun glared down on the girl's pale complexion, making beads of sweat form on her forehead as she continued on along the pavement. All the while lowering her head whenever a passerby was in her vicinity of sight.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

She muttered under her breath as she took a turn around a familiar corner towards her best friends house, instinctively as she walks towards the door, her grey orbs stayed fixed on her moving feet. She let out a soft sigh and took a quick breath before straining to bring her hand up to knock on the door.

Knock.Knock.Knock.Knock.

"I'll get it!" a muffled voice shouted from behind the door, followed by a set of wild footsteps resonating from afar, the sound got louder as whoever ran towards the door stopped. "Are there any cats in the yard?" asked a chirpy voice. The door slowly creaked open little by little, just so enough for someone's eye to be seen from the small opening, brown iris to be specific.

Claudia lifted her head and blinked at the eye, "I haven't got any snacks" she said bleakly. The eye narrowed at her for a few seconds without blinking, then rolled before the door was pushed wide open, presenting a tall brown-eyed girl with very straight brown hair that stopped past her shoulders. The girl wore a flowery headband pushing her front hair back, other than that small accessory, she had on a yellow sundress which suited the 'mature look' she was going for.

"Snacks-really? that's what you come up with this time?" she chuckled "what does that have to do with cats?" the girl cocked an eyebrow in a 'humor me' manner, before turning around, whipping her hair in Claudia's face in the process. Leaving the black-haired girl there at the door awkwardly, obviously waiting.

"Ugh-Claud just come on in already!" the girl's voice boomed from the living room, another voice soon hushed her with a scold. Claud? now that was rich, thought Claudia as she walked in unannounced and shut the door behind her carefully. "Ma!" the girl called out to the woman stirring a steaming pot in the kitchen, "Can I bring Claudia to my room? we still got some time before Charles arrive."

The woman sighed and turned to her, placing a hand on her hip, while Claudia stood by the girl, "I've already told you not to call him by his first name, Madeline, it's rude. Now if you're not going to help prepare the meal for our guest, then just go-...oh welcome back Claudette, how's Lauren doing these days?" The coppery haired woman asked with a motherly tenderness in her brown eyes.

Claudia shrugged, biting the inside of her cheek, "Mhmm-the usual-" she softly said before getting interrupted by Madeline. "-By the usual, Claud here means to say that- that bitch hasn't done shit and is still hungover...your welcome for the translation, bye Ma!" Maddy went up to the woman and pecked her cheek while she stood gaping at her daughter but didn't say a word as Madeline proceeds to drag Claudia upstairs to her bedroom.

"Phew...I swear I was so close to blowing up the whole shitty thing about your mo-Claud? you uh...okay?" Maddy asked, her brown orbs filled with worry. "Mmhmm" she nodded and hummed a small yes, following behind Maddy's form bouncing into her fortress-bedroom-in a giddy bundle of nerves.

The faint scent of lemon wafted in the air and hit Claudia's nervous system in a comforting way, Maddy's bedroom was her second home and would always be, from the pale yellow ceiling and walls to the white tiled floor, the whole room had this calm atmosphere that'd bring Claudia to ease.

Maddy flopped onto her flowery print bed face-first, disregarding the white furry plump residing at the top of her bed, with a meowing protest, it jumped down and curled into a fluffy ball near the bedstand. Claudia gave a soft chuckle at Kat, kneeled down and tapped it on its perky elvish ears, earning an annoyed purr from it.

"So...um who's coming over? you said something about this 'Charles' guy" she asked timidly, her grey hues moved to the movement at the corner of her eye, "Hmm? oh right, I forgot to tell ya my mom invited some Charles dude over for dinner. Because she was taking this goofball" she pointed to the hissing ball "for a walk and then somehow ended up losing him but the knight in shining khakis-Charles helped her catch him" Maddy gave a narrowed glare to Kat, who seemed unfazed and gave back a snappy meow in return.

"Sounds like a nice guy" Claudia shrugged, her bundle of nerves was soon unraveling in Maddy's presence, she wasn't always a talkative person but sometimes on occasions, she'd say a whole sentence. Times have changed her. Maddy propped her chin on her hand, rolled her eyes scoffing at her "Nice? maybe...I just don't get how easy she was able to invite a random stranger home." The words that came out of Maddy's mouth made Claudia stiffen slightly before straightening her back to appear composed.

It was-and is easy to bring anybody home, regardless of who they were, it just depends on who is the one doing the inviting...maybe.

"-anyway, I guess I shouldn't be too worried, I mean we are talking about my mom after all" she then laughed, making Claudia join the giggle fest agreeing with her. It was moments like this when she felt comfortable, distracted from the poison brewing back at home, feeling like she had no worries at all and...she knew she felt like she belonged here. It was home.

But happiness would always be a temporary thing, at least it was for Claudia because as the two continued to laugh their guts out-from downstairs, the doorbell shrieked and shrilled for attention.

"Welp-there goes our quality girl time" Maddy frowned, getting off of the bed and straightened her almost wrinkled sundress. She quickly combed her brown hair with her fingers and turned to Claudia, giving a hmph of approval, tugging at the hem of her white blouse, revealing her collarbone.

"No no, I am not going to look like a-"

"Come on! just loosen up a bit, you're acting like you've never shown some skin before. Geez sis"

"I don't even know this person!"

"Then get to know him just like any other ordinary human being"

"...I really hate you"

"And I really love you too sis, now let's get out of here before the she-devil comes barging in" Maddy pulls her by the arm down the stairs, eagerly, towards the living room where Claudia could see the back of a tall man leaning his arms against the kitchen counters. The light sounds of laughter filled the air as the two got closer towards the kitchen, where Madeline's mother was bashfully having a little chit-chat with the well-built man.

"...and now I've got to wait a day or so for the truck to get my things off at my house, it's really been a long day" the raspiness of the man's deep voice vibrated in Claudia's chest as she stood closely with Madeli-Maddy awkwardly waiting for someone to notice their existence in the room. Maddy was eyeballing the two-especially the handsome stranger, a scowl tugging at her lips, Claudia could practically hear her best friend's distraught quiet whispers in her head.

"Ach-hem" Maddy coughed loudly into a fist, quite rudely thought Claudia, making the two heads turn to her. The man, cracked a captivating smile and pointed in the girls' direction "Are they your daughters?" he asked, his noticeable almond eyes swept over the features of the two, lingering a second longer at the fidgeting girl.

"They are counted as my daughters in my household at least, but sadly no-well the one in the sundress is my daughter. The oddball there beside her is the one I've been looking after since young so she might as well change her last name to Jones" teased Maddy's mother, the sides of her eyes crinkle as she beamed.

Oh, how she wished to be a part of the Jones family, an actual family, but she literally had no other choice than to stay with her mother. The man's chuckle made a rumble in Claudia's ears, it had a husky edge to it but sounded gentle, "Ah-I see, yes, she's definitely a sight for sore eyes, she most definitely inherited those stunning features from you Sharon", The man made a move, shamelessly complimenting Madeline's mother.

"Enough with the flattery Charles, dinner isn't going to serve itself you know," retorted Madeline's mother, her plain cheeks were tinged with a light pink. Sharon? when did Maddy's mom ever let a person call her by her first name...other than her ex-husband, it felt weird to both girls to hear the name coming out of a stranger's mouth.

"Oh-almost forgot," Sharon tipped her head towards the man beside her to Maddy, "Go on, introduce yourself." Maddy rolled her eyes at her before exhaling, "Alright alright...I'm Madeline Jo-Maddy, just call me Maddy or whatever" she slightly grumbled at the end but somehow made up for it with her usual radiant smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Maddy" the man-Charles, went up to her and shook her hand firmly in a casual style. He then turned his head towards the black-haired girl, she could clearly see his smoldering almonds as they landed on her, "-And you are?" he asked with a husky undertone.

She hesitated for a full second before giving in, "I'm Claudia," she answered plainly. He stood and waited, obviously waiting for her to go on but she didn't say anything else.

He then flashes a winning grin and took her small hand in his, "Well Claudia-it is certainly a pleasure to meet you. My name is Charles. Charles Bergstein."

                                                                                 *********

 A/N: Charles Bergstein casted as Jeffrey Dean Morgan or as whoever you wanna imagine, I ain't judging ^.^