Another update already? What? Well, it's true! XD 

Just an FYI - this chapter goes back quite a few years so don't be confused when you start reading! Also, young Antonia (Toni) goes by Nia. Just clarifying. (: Also, the gif of the guy is a new character this chapter, Ian McLain - played by Drew Van Acker. AKA Jason on Pretty Little Liars!

This chapter isn't my favorite so far, but it's still pretty good and you can see a bit of Toni's personality since Reed isn't there stunting it. So please, enjoy!

***

When Daddy said he would be throwing me a party for my birthday, a bunch of his friends from work showing up was not what I had in mind. Turning fifteen was a big deal and I was supposed to be having a slumber party with only my closest friends. Instead, Daddy told me that slumber parties were childish and I deserved a real party.

The decorations were beautiful, and he put a lot of thought into it, but in the end, everything for him had to do with work. My birthday being no exception. And since my mother was still in Peru for Doctors Without Borders, the voice of reason at our loft wasn't here.

It could be that my dad just felt sorry for me, considering the two friends who were coming were the only ones I had.

Even though my family had enough money to keep my clothing up to date on the latest trends, my hair never had a bad day, and I was generally a nice person, I wasn't too popular with my classmates.

Luckily, I had friends like Sarah-Anne and Christian to keep me above water, but I always kind of felt that they liked each other more than they liked me. So it didn't come as much of a surprise that halfway through the party they suddenly vanished into thin air, leaving me smoking on my bedroom balcony - alone.

Daddy often bought multiple packs of smokes at a time and didn't really keep track of them. When one pack went missing, he had never noticed.

Neither Sarah-Anne nor Chris had ever condoned my habit, but they never were ones to judge and I loved that about them. For someone like me, it was hard to find people who didn't look down on how I lived my life.

I brought the cigarette to my lips and inhaled deeply, first letting the light burn of the smoke run down my throat before the cold air from outside followed. Looking out over the balcony railing, I could see a few stories down onto the roads completely overloaded with cars. It was a Friday night, so multiple people were driving around the city, looking for the right place to go clubbing.

Having lived in Seattle all my life, it was normal to see traffic on a day to day basis, but I had never really gotten used to it. If I had it my way, I'd want to live in a house in the suburbs, or some apartment away from the big city.

The light bass from my party could be heard up in my room. I didn't even care that everyone was down there, probably having a good time, while I was by myself.

"Happy birthday to me," I mumbled while blowing out another puff of smoke.

Realizing I had reached the end of my Marlboro, I reached for the pack on the railing to grab another. The stick was held still between my lips and I breathed in while flicking the switch on the lighter.

"Aren't you a little young for that?" Someone behind me spoke up.

I recognized the voice immediately, and a mischievous smirk sneaked on my lips. Turning to face him, I grabbed the cig from my lips and leaned against the rail.

"Yep," I said, popping the 'p' with a sweet smile.

Ian McLain chuckled and shook his head at my bluntness. "So what are you doing up here all alone when you could be downstairs enjoying your party?" He leaned against the balcony railing, too, but facing towards the view of the city instead of my bedroom.

My body turns so that I'm facing Ian, discreetly pulling down my shirt a little in the process. "I wanted a little time away from all the noise. What about you?"

"Same," he said, taking a sip from his whiskey glass. After downing the rest of the alcohol, he motions for the cigarette in my hand. At first I think he's going to put it out, or toss it, but he takes a large breath of smoke and holds it in for a few seconds before letting it out again. "But, when I saw you here all by yourself, I thought you may have wanted some company."

I looked up at him through my long lashes with a grin. "Well thank you for thinking about my well being."

He stared at me blankly for a moment. "You have an interesting vocabulary for a fifteen year old."

Grabbing the cigarette from his fingers, I said: "Is that a bad thing?"

"Definitely not." He smiled, looking me dead in the eyes - which meant he was trying hard to keep his eyes from straying anywhere else. "Just means you're wise beyond your years, is all."

"I wouldn't consider 'well being' wise word play." I never thought much about the way I constructed my words, but it was surprising that he noticed something so quickly without having spoken with me for long.

"It's not only that. You're smarter than others give you credit for, and it's going to get someone in big trouble someday."

"Okay, and what makes you think you know all of this about me?" I challenged.

This time he diverted his gaze from mine for a second, his eyes rested on my chest before quickly looking back up at me. A small smile brought his dimples to attention. "I can see it in yours eyes."

Our gazes met and it felt like there was some sort of cord connecting us to each other. The look he was giving me made my heart want to stop beating, and my only thought was that I hoped I was having the same effect on him. Everything about him pulled me in, and there was no denying the cloud of want in his eyes.

"Bullshit," I said, purposely breaking the moment.

The want that was in his eyes now was replaced with humor as he laughed with me. "Okay, just shoot me down, why don't you?"

I giggled and shrugged. "I guess I'm not one for flattery."

"Apparently not."

He sent another look my way that made my legs go weak, and I smiled in return. I was so deep in my trance that I didn't notice someone else's presence until they made their presence known with an 'ahem'. Quickly, I put out the cigarette and dropped it over the balcony, but when I turned it was only Sarah-Ann.

A breath of relief left me. If it was Daddy, he would surely be upset with me. He resents even himself for smoking, so I didn't want to find out what he'd do if he knew I did as well.

"Your dad sent me up to get you." She looks hesitantly between Ian and I, which only makes me smile. Clearly this was something to walk in on, and that meant good news for me.

I crossed my arms. "Wow, he noticed I was gone after half an hour? That's like a new record for him."

Seeing Ian smirk at my comment made the sarcasm that much more worth it.

"Yeah, okay, drama queen," Sarah-Ann said. "Can you just come now, because I've been staring at that cake for the past ten minutes and my sugar cravings are reaching new levels."

She dragged me out of the room, letting Ian follow a little ways behind us.

"I hope you know what you're doing," she whispered when Ian was out of hearing distance.

I looked back at the guy I currently had my eye on and smiled. "Oh believe me," I brought my attention back to Sarah-Ann. "I have everything under control."

I tapped my pen repeatedly on my desk. There were only a few more minutes of class and the teacher had already finished his lesson for the day. Nonetheless, we weren't allowed to leave until the bell rang.

Minutes easily dragged into what felt like hours when you wanted so desperately to go home. There wasn't much waiting for me there, but at least there weren't any annoying classmates roaming about. When they weren't doing you a favor or causing drama you could spread, they rendered quite useless.

When the bell finally decided to grace the school with its victorious sound, nothing could stop the stampede of students bolting for the exit. I wasn't quite sure why they were so desperate - it's not like it was a Friday or something.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and went straight for my locker when I got down the stairs to the first floor of the building. The stupid locker jammed for the third time in a row before I was able to open it. 'Freshman year is almost over' is what I always told myself when I strained to open it. After this year, I would be getting a new locker and a newer, better location.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on this fact and took a deep breath. Two months to go, and I will be graduating to Sophomore status.

My mother used to tell me that Sophomore year was the best year of her life, so I obviously was excited to get there and experience it. Even though logic told me it probably wouldn't be much different from this year, a small strike of hope was still there.

All my books were secured and I zipped up my bag, throwing it over my shoulder a moment later. Most of the hallways were already empty when I started to walk to the back exit. My cousin, Allison would be waiting for me when I got to the parking lot. She was a senior and drove me to and from school since she only lived a block away from my family's loft.

I could see the corner of the lot after exiting the back of the building, but I'm pulled back by my wrist before I could make it out into the open.

Paul Radler, a boisterous Junior, was staring down at me with an expectant smile as my back rested against a cold brick wall. "Hey, gorgeous."

Immediately, I felt my eyes roll, but an amused smile rose on my lips. "What do you want, Radler? I'm not in the mood for this right now. I just want to go home and forget school exists."

"Hm, I see," he said, thinking over my statement. "Well, you know for a fact that there ain't no school-related activities waiting for you at my apartment."

His invitation only made me laugh. "You might want to start having some school-related activities there, like homework, because you just used a double negative."

"Oh, you're so sexy when you're trying to outsmart me." Paul chuckled while brushing my hair behind my ear, his hand resting on my left cheek. "Stop trying, let's go. I've missed you these last couple of weeks. Stop torturing me."

"Don't be so dramatic." I tried to leave, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

Paul scoffed, his hold on my arm not dropping. We were friends, in a manner of speaking, so I wasn't scared of him, but he definitely was intimidating. "So Jerome gets a handy, Clark gets the full package, and I get nothing? That's how it's going to be?"

I shrugged, too tired of this overdramatic conversation to take it seriously anymore. "I guess so."

"You're going to pretend like you weren't leading me on for the past month and then completely blow me off?"

"Wow!" I faked enthusiasm, patting his cheek. "Someone's a smart cookie."

His face was bright red, and I couldn't decide whether it was from embarrassment, or holding in an explosion of rage. He most definitely didn't find my attitude amusing. "No, I don't think so. You are coming over tonight."

I didn't even try to hide the laugh that burst from me. "Yeah, I don't think so. Good effort on trying the assertive approach, but the answer is still no."

"Are you sure, because I-"

"She said no, Radler."

An annoyed sigh left me and I rolled my eyes. I recognized that voice from anywhere. Louis Temple, a freshman so small he could almost qualify as a midget and wore glasses that resembled Harry Potter's, was who the voice belonged to. If there was anyone in this school that knew where I was at all times, it would be him - considering he followed me around like a love sick puppy.

"Oh, for fuck sake. You got little nerds defending your honor now?" Paul laughed loudly and turned to the kid who interrupted him. "What you going to do, runt? Fight me for her?"

Louis gave no reply, only deepened his frown.

"Louis," I groaned. "The two of us are just talking. You can leave."

"Nah." Paul dropped my arm and started making his way towards the parking lot. "The mood is gone. Don't even bother showing up, Nia," he said, now acting like I was something that could be so easily thrown away. "I'm sure a better option will come along, you know, anywhere."

When he was gone, I glared aggressively at Louis, who was still holding his breath from the fear he almost had an altercation with Paul Radler. He would have smashed the poor kid's face in, showing no regard to his opponent's disadvantage.

"What did you do that for? I clearly had everything under control." I intensified my glare.

He raised a brow at me, and sarcastically muttered: "Clearly." This earned another grave look from me, and he sighed. "Why do you let guys do that?"

"Do what?" I hissed, still upset that he scared Paul away.

"Say that they've had sex with you when they haven't?" Curiosity mixed with sadness was in his eyes.

I almost laughed. Louis had always been very blunt with his commentary. For a nerd, he had one hell of a backbone. Even though he was terrified as hell, he still stood up to Paul.

"Whelp, because it's true."

"You're lying." He folded his arms across his chest, not having any of it. "You're not a slut, so why let people think you are? More guys like Paul are going to start coming along, looking for something. And you'll deny them, just like with Paul, and next time there might not be someone to interrupt."

Once again, I found myself rolling my eyes. "Look, Lou, you're really sweet thinking about me and everything, but it's unnecessary."

"If you say so," he said, not sounding truly convinced.

"I have to go. Cousin's still waiting on me in the parking lot," I told him, brushing shoulders as I walked by. "And Louis?"

"Yeah?"

After I turned back to face him, I said: "Don't ever get in the way of me and another guy again." I reached for the pack of cigarettes in my jacket pocket and lit it after fishing out my lighter.

Allison's Honda was on the other side of the parking lot, so I had a little time to make a last minute call. I grabbed my flip phone from my back pocket and took a deep breath of smoke before dialing the number.

It only took three rings for him to answer.

"It's Radler," he answered absentmindedly.

"Hey, it's Nia. Looks like I will be able to come tonight after all."

***

Looks like young Antonia Moore was a little rebellious before getting sucked into Reed's world. I hope you liked the sneak peek into Toni's past, where she apparently has a different nickname 'Nia'. There will be plenty more 'flashbacks' to come, so if you liked it, there you go! I had to have a short break from Reed, but don't worry... he's back in the next chapter!

Please tell me what you thought of the chapter, her old life, and the new characters who were introduced! Would be really great to know what you guys think. (: Also, if the chapter was deserving of it, you can click the little voting star in the corner.

Until next time,
TheWriterD