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DAISY

When Mavis and Penny left the dorm, I was left with a silent Micheal standing idly in the doorway. He sent me an awkward look.

I let out a small huff of laughter when he joined in a few seconds later.

"I wonder what crawled up Grayson's ass today." I commented, still hurt by the way he judged my feelings for Jason. I understand that he was looking out for me, and that he and the whole town must probably viewed Jason as this cold-hearted monster, but he was so different with me. "He was always the kind of person who never judged other people's opinions or decisions."

"You can't blame him. Before you showed up to this town, Jason and his gang was literally the reason why people closed there doors at half past nine at night. Before you came he did so many bad things and left no evidence behind. It was so obvious he was supposed to be put away for life but there's just not enough evidence. Everyone knows what a cold hearted scumbag he is, you just don't see it." I felt an unbearable ache in my chest, before trying my hardest not to openly death stare a Micheal. Was I the only one who saw how much of a good guy Jason could be? I haven't really witnessed the bad layers to him. He was rude to me at first, but that didn't mean he was this evil person that Michael claimed he was. Maybe I was being oblivious.

"Please don't. You don't understand either, he is not so bad as you think. Everyone just makes these rumours because they have nothing better to do with there miserable lives." I spat out.

"Daisy-"

"Don't. Nothing you say would change my view on him. Do you have any idea what happened to him when he was just a young boy?" I asked, although not believing how I could act so defensive of Jason. What the hell was happening to me? Before last night, Jason was nothing but rude to me and he even kicked me out of my own dorm. How could I be defending him so much again my own friends and brother?

"Well, we shouldn't let our past define us, Daisy. I thought you knew that more than anyone else."

"And yet here I am; a scared, sensitive and confused little girl because I never had a father to teach me to be strong or a mother to teach me how to be confident. Don't you see, our past does have a big affect on us. Whether we want to realize it or not. Jason came from a troubled family, it's only natural for him to follow in his father's footsteps." I said.

"Alright, fine." He held his hands up in surrender, looking quite surprised at my outburst. If anything, I was surprised too. "We all have terrible pasts, some much worst than others. Whatever, when he does hurt you though, I wouldn't mind if you came running to me for a shoulder to cry on."

"Ugh," I groaned in exasperation and slumped down onto my bed.

"Do you have classes today?" He asked randomly.

"Yeah, a two hour environmental science one. You?"

"Nope."

"Lucky for you. Will it be okay if I stay this one in? I need sleep." I whined, feeling envious that none of the guys had classes today; I was left alone to suffer on my own. And now I had no distraction to stop me from thinking too much about what happened last night and how much it changed the way I saw Jason now. Before all of this a small part of me still thought wearily of Jason. I was nervous around him and always on edge. But one night had changed it all.

It was like I was some stray and dumb princess that got kidnapped and was saved by a knight in shining armour. And now that idiot princess - being me - was obsessed with the knight.

Ugh, this story was going nowhere.

"Nope, get up lazy town. I need you after classes anyway." He stated, resting casually against the wall.

"Whatever reason?" I asked, tilting my head to look up at him properly.

"Remember? To give you reasons about your past. Why mom and dad left you... at an orphanage." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"You can say it without being weird about it." I rolled my eyes. "It's in the past. I try not to think about that anymore."

"Right, but you're old enough to know. I don't want to let the truth hurt you, Daisy, but you need to know."

"I know." I sighed, feeling pressure weigh me down. I mean, learning about the reasons why your parents abandoned you and your sister at an orphanage was a big deal.

"Where can we meet?"

"The grill downtown?" I suggested, suddenly feeling my stomach grumbling with the need to eat something fulfilling. I had no idea when last I had a real meal. I have been eating small things every now and then and only then did I realize how hungry I really was.

"Perfect. As soon as you're done call me."

"Okay." I agreed.

"I'll see you then."

The day passed by quickly, but before I knew it my class was over and I was headed towards the entrance of the campus. Michael stood there, propped up ever so elegantly against the wall.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I mumbled.

"Such a cliché response." He commented.

"Well, it's the truest response you will ever get from me."

"Truest?"

"Shut up weirdo, it's a word."

He chuckled. "Are you hungry?"

"I am starved right now. I could eat a horse."

"That's what they always say, then they barely finish one slice of pizza."

"Hey! Just because I don't appear to eat like a cow doesn't mean I don't." I joked.

"Whatever you say, Daisy."

I followed him to his car, before hopping into the passenger seat. We arrived at the grill after a short and comfortable car ride. Honestly, I was expecting it to be tense and weird, seeing as I was alone in a car with someone other than Jason. But seeing as Micheal always managed to lighten the tense atmosphere, it wasn't any different from the past.

I hugged my knitted jersey tightly to my chest, feeling a icy cold wind drift past me the moment I opened the car door. Both Micheal and I entered the grill side by side; I suddenly felt awkward realizing that this was the first time I've been out alone with my brother since he abandoned my sister and I. And that was just putting it nicely.

"You look tense." Michael commented, giving me a once over.

"I do?" I asked, not realizing it myself. I felt pretty comfortable.

"Relax, Daisy. I'm really not gonna kill you or whatever the hell you're thinking." He chuckled, sending me a light smirk.

"It's not that, it's just..." I sighed feeling my shoulders loosen up. I guess I was tense. The whole concept of reconnecting with Micheal was very new to me and the fact that I was about to learn about my past scared me. Micheal was the only person who knew the truth. No one, not even Penny or Jason knew about where I came from and my childhood as an orphan. But not a single person knew that I lived with Lucien. I was basically keeping it to myself and myself only. I felt horrible.

"Come on, take a seat." Micheal instructed, leading us over to an empty section that consisted of couches and a coffee table in the middle.

"How long of a walk is this place? It's so comfortable we should come here often." I stated, the aroma of coffee beans mixed with grilled steak getting to me.

"About twenty minutes. You should really get yourself a car, don't always rely on walking and public transport."

"I don't. Mavis gives me lifts all the time." I shrugged, suddenly realizing that he was right. I should probably invest in a car. But I had no income whatsoever. I didn't have a job or parents who sent me money whenever I needed. I should seriously get a job. My savings were eventually going to run up.

"Not the point, Daisy." He sent me a look.

"How do you have such an expensive car anyway? Do you have a job?" I wondered.

"I do, but that's not how I got the car..." he trailed off suddenly looking guilty.

"Micheal, are you a thief?" I asked calmly, my nerves spiking ten folds over. My goody two shoes brother from my past hadn't turned into a thief, has he? There was no way he could have pulled off stealing a car anyway. And such an expensive one for that matter.

"Of course not!" he exclaimed, looking bewildered. "I just might not have gotten the money legally... but don't worry! It's totally mine." He rushed out.

"Micheal McKenway! Have you been dealing drugs?" I asked, a scowl on my face. He had always been the most kindhearted, selfless and caring person I knew. That characteristics usually weren't that of a drug dealer.

Micheal looked away awkwardly, his eyes trained anywhere besides my face.

"It wasn't intended. I was just really desperate for money, Daisy. And Jason gave me a job at the time."

"Jason?" My eyes widened. "You associated yourself with Jason in the past and now you're so against him? I really don't understand you, do you know that?"

"It's way more complicated than it seems." He sighed. "And it's also a story for another day. For now all you need to know is about your past."

"So you won't tell me about your past?" I raised a challenging brow.

"Not yet, it's complicated-"

"I can handle complicated. Tell me what business you had with Jason in the past, I'm your sister I have a right to know since we're about to reveal our secrets now." I said, growing impatient.

"Well, what about you? Where have you been the past three years? It wasn't at the orphanage. And it definitely wasn't in London, or are you gonna lie to me like you lied to everyone else?" He blurted out.

I sucked in a sharp breath, taking in his words. He was absolutely right. If I wasn't gonna tell him about my past why should he tell me about his? I was being unfair, so I decided to tell him. Everything from the day I ran away from the orphanage.

"Fine, I'll tell you everything. From the day I ran away from the orphanage when I was fourteen, right up until now. But only if you promise not to tell the guys, especially Penny and Mavis. I have lied to them which I feel extremely guilty about and I want to tell them when I'm ready. You also have to promise me you will tell me what you have been up to in the past few years. I want to know everything since mom and dad died." I ended, feeling my throat clog up. I wasn't ready to spill my past, especially to one of the people that was the reason of my distress and struggle all these years.

I was alone for so long, having no one by my side. I relied on asking strangers for help; sort of like a homeless person but I wasn't very far from being one at the time. If Cassandra hadn't found me when she had, I would have been a certified hobo. The orphanage was my last option and since no one was willing to have me as a foster kid I had no option but to leave that miserable place where I was bullied and picked on by older girls and even boys.

It was practically the worst experience living in that orphanage. The living conditions were poor, given the minimum state funding for the orphanage. I sometimes slept on the hard wooden floor with a single blanket and pillow that did absolutely nothing to stop me from shivering and possibly catching pneumonia. The girls were extremely nasty and always said hurtful things, but I guess that was inevitable. They all grew up in the orphanage, then suddenly I came barging in. The rich little girl whose parents dumped her because of whatever reason I was still unaware of. It was only normal for them to hate on me, especially since they were a very stereotypical group of kids that grew up being rough and disrespectful because they had no parents. I honestly held no grudges for my tormentors, because their train of thought were apparently based on the place they grew up in, which was that sadly funded orphanage.

"I promise to tell you everything, Daisy. Even about my connection with Jason."

"I still can't believe you had any sort of connection to him. But I am guessing that's why he hates you so much, right?"

"Right." He shrugged carelessly, but I could sense the slight nervousness in his tone.

Obviously he was nervous. I wouldn't want to get on Jason's bad side either.

"Where do I start," I rubbed my palms against my jeans.

"You start by getting yourself something to eat. I don't mean to be rude, but you look like someone who hasn't eaten in years."

"Gee, thanks?" I said, actually feeling very offended. I mean, I ate well my whole life. Sure there was a period of time after I ran away from the orphanage where I would not eat for days, but that was only that short period of time.

"Don't take it the wrong way, but you look really thin." He said sheepishly. "Not like an 'unhealthy' thin but like a person who doesn't enjoy eating and eats a very little just because they want to-"

"I know what you mean."

"Like a fragile thin... I'm sorry, that's not helping is it?" He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Not really." I smiled, actually finding him amusing.

"Well go on then, the service here is really friendly." He pointed towards the cashier.

"Want anything?" I questioned.

"No thanks."

After devouring an entire steak sub and two glasses of coke, I tried to contain the large burb that was threatening to come out. Michael noticed and laughed to himself. Having not eaten properly for the last month, I think I really needed that. I was afraid of looking malnourished, that wouldn't be good. My body has gotten smaller over the past few months, I have noticed it myself. My arms were lankier and my usually toned legs were thin. I couldn't understand why Jason found me appealing at all.

"When last have you eaten something nourishing?" Micheal piped up.

"A month I think." I answered hesitantly. "I usually just get small snacks out of the vending machine for dinner and lunch. The campus cafeteria food is expensive."

"Why didn't you tell someone?"

"Who exactly would I tell?" I asked in confusion.

"Penny, Mavis or the rest of the guys? They wouldn't judge you, you know that." He said softly, almost as if he was dealing with an injured kitten. Although I hated feeling week, the feeling of care coming from Michael actually felt really good.

"It's embarrassing." I admitted.

"Well, if you're so embarrassed why don't you get a job?" He suggested.

"I still have some savings in my savings account. I'll find one when we're on our month semester break."

"That's good."

"So tell me how you were connected to Jason."

"He gave me a job, I told you."

I scoffed. "Oh please, what kind of job?"

"Daisy, do we really have to-"

"Yes we do. If you want me to be honest with you, you have to be honest with me." I said pointedly.

"I became his friend when I had no one else. After graduating, mom and dad died unexpectedly. I moved here to this town when I was eighteen and met Jason and the rest of his gang. At the time I hadn't yet met Jaxon and the rest of the group, so Jason was the only person I had as a friend. He wasn't a nice person at first. He sort of mocked me in a way and tormented me because I had no money.

When things got really bad to the point where I had nothing to eat, he offered me a job. I had to deal drugs for him in which I gladly accepted." He looked down ashamed.

"You had no other choice but to accept." I stated. The fact that Jason was so mean was a real blow to the stomach.

"The thing is, he really influenced me. I couldn't help it, I saw him as this really cool and awesome guy. I was stupid." He muttered. "I didn't realize what a big asshole he was when I became his friend. He used me like a puppet to do his dirty work and I was too dumb to see it. When I started making thousands, I was able to get myself in college and rent out a dorm room. When I was financially stable I left him and his gang. That angered him but for some reason he left me unharmed. Up until today he hates me, he still doesn't accept the fact that I left his gang."

"Wow, so he had changed a lot since then."

"That's what you think, Daisy. Everyone still sees the same mean and horrible person. You are just too blinded by the fact that you like him."

I sighed loudly. "This again?"

"I'm not telling you to do anything, it's completely your choice. I'm just giving you some advice."

"I will keep that in mind." I murmured.

"Good. By the way, Jason doesn't know that you're my sister. Let him grovel in his own misery thinking that I'm courting you."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Don't we look similar? And we share the same surname. How can he not know?"

"Well, he has known me for about three years now. And not once has he seen me with you. I figured he don't realize it yet."

"I should tell him."

"Do whatever you want, but I can't wait to see the the look on his face when you tell him that we're related."

I shook my head in laughter. I couldn't wait to see his expression either. We were going off topic by talking about Jason; we were supposed to be discussing my past and why my parents left me but to be honest I was afraid to find out the truth. Instead, we swayed and started a conversation about Jason. I suddenly began wondering what he was doing at the moment. He said he would be back in about two days, but why? Was it gang related? Of course it was.

"So... why did mom and dad leave me at an orphanage?" I asked, cutting straight to the point. It wasn't too long ago I have seen my parents. The orphanage informed me that there was a large accident on the free way: many people were injured and some died. Unfortunately my parents were part of the few people who had passed on. That day, I couldn't even feel anything. My thoughts were contradicting with eachother. I had initially thought they deserved it, because they left me. But then I thought about all the times we went on family outings, we had family nights and my parents read me a story to bed, I couldn't help but sob my heart out that night, and the days after. I was still really young and the situation was too intense for someone of my age.

Micheal let out a long- what seemed to be- tired sigh. "It's more complicated than you think. Our parents weren't who you thought they were, Daisy."

"That tells me absolutely nothing."

"Well, didn't you ever wonder how they recieved their income? Why they stayed out late some nights and other times never came back at all?"

"I was young. Mom told me she had late nights at the hospital and dad came to visit her when he was done at work." I said in confusion. My mom was a doctor and my dad was a book editor and author. They were bound to get good incomes, what else was I supposed to believe?

"That was all lies," He said softly. "They gambled late nights to get their money, and they were good at it and that's why we always got gifts from them and we were able to live in luxury. But one day they lost almost all of their money and wasn't able to pay the people they lost it too. They made loans by dangerous people. I was able to understand at the time but you and Sara was still young. People threatened our family all the time and mom and dad had no close relatives or any family that really cared about us. Sending you and Sara to extra care was inevitable."

"You mean to the orphanage." I stated, it coming out more of a mumble. The wound that was slowly rebuilding itself has just been ripped open once again. The pain of my past life came back to haunt me. I couldn't believe my parents were that kind of people. We were always such a religious family, went to church on Sundays and read and loved the Bible. What would make them gamble?

"After that, they-"

"I don't need to know anymore." I said sharply. "This explains everything."

"They did it to protect you and Sara."

"What about you?"

"I was old enough to understand and maybe try to help them."

"Whatever. Why ever they thought they could jeopodize our family is beyond me."

"You have to understand. Don't hate on our dead parents."

"I'm not hating on them," I hissed, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I was about to cry. And I wasn't looking forward to it. "I just don't understand why I had to have such a horrible childhood. I was alone for so long. Sara was separated from me and probably had a hard time too. Why me?" My throat clogged up, giving me a hard time to breathe. My chest was aching painfully at the thought of my broken family.

"Shh don't cry." Michael said quietly, placing a soothing hand on my back.

Without warning, I hugged him.

I hugged my brother for the first time in years, and it was truly good to feel the feeling of home once again.

"So... where have you been all these years? Why did you run away from the orphanage?" Michael asked after I finally let him go.

"I was bullied." I whispered, feeling vulnerable all of a sudden.

"I'm so sorry." He said, hanging his head in shame.

"I'm alright now, that's way back in the past. When I ran away, a girl named Cassandra found me hungry and shivering in the cold one day. I didn't look the part of a homeless person but I was, so she took me in and introduced me to her friends, who gave me a place to stay."

"Wow, that's really amazing what she did."

"It was, until I found out who her friends were. I didn't know at first, but it became more clearer by the day that I was living under the roof of the towns resident gang leader; Lucien Santiago." I explained, my voice small and hollow.

"Lucien Santiago? Holy crap, Daisy. What the everlasting hell have you gotten yourself into?" He asked, shock lining his face. He was surprised, I would have been too.

"I didn't have a choice. Either that or starve and freeze to death in the cold."

"My god, Daisy. Do you still keep in touch with them?"

"Sort of. Lucien was the one who drenched me in petrol for Jason to find. He purposely did that, kind of killing two birds with one stone. Mocking not just Jason but me too."

"So Jason wasn't the only reason you were in trouble last night?"

"No."

"Holy crap what the actual hell have you gotten yourself into?" Micheal suddenly shot out of his seat and began pacing the floor.

I wanted to answer him, but truthfully I couldn't. Messing with not only one, but two fierce gang leaders was a dangerous game to be playing.

It was a death wish.

One I wasn't looking forward to.

A/n. Everytime you vote and comment, a kitten smiles ;)