TW( trigger warning): talks of domestic violence.

Gabe and Shanya's relationship wasn't always superficial. To some people in school, they were the it couple. You loved you some them. But Shanya had no doubt that most people saw their relationship as a joke. That couple you knew were not going to last long because they were together for all the wrong reasons. And for the most part, that was true. Love hadn't brought them together, status elevation did, and maybe attraction. But what the outsiders didn't know was that there was also one sure-to-make-you-bond-like-glue thing that brought them together—and that was their mutual hatred for their dysfunctional homes.

Shanya was reminded of a Monday morning when Gabe came to school looking like the undead. His clothes were rumpled, his eyes were bloodshot like he hadn't had any sleep for over 48 hours, his hair had food particles in them, his once glowing dark skin looked ashened, he walked as though he had no bearings and would likely fall if so much as a fly grazed him, and he reeked of alcohol. Nothing like the gorgeous it guy looking like he just crawled out of a dustbin to have the whole school buzzing.

To say shanya was embarrassed was an understatement. She was so pissed that one side of her face turned numb. He knew his actions reflected on her and vice versa, yet here he was, behaving poorly. She'd practically dragged him by his ear to the girl's restroom, ordering three gossip mongers to get the hell out and let them have the room.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She seethed once the girls were gone.

Gabe staggered and rubbed his hand over his face. "Not now, Shay. Please." His words were slurred and she could barely hear him. Without a word, she walked to the sink, filled her palm with water and threw it squarely at his face.

"What the hell, Shanya?" He shrieked, wiping his face with his sleeves but his motions were so sloppy hardly any part of his shirt came in contact with his face.

"You're a goddamn idiot."

Gabe gave up trying to wipe away the water. "Look, I'm sorry, I had a rough couple of days—"

"I don't give two shits! Did you look in the mirror before you left the house? Everyone's life is shitty, Gabe. But we don't all come to school looking like village rejects. I can't believe—"

Just then, Gabe staggered over to the sink and puked his guts out. The stench was enough to have Shanya almost doing the same as she jumped back two steps and slapped her hand over her nose.

"Oh my gosh! Did you eat some animal's guts?"

"Please, Shay..." Gabe managed to say, sounding like it took all his energy to get those simple words out, " I'm not—"

He puked some more, the sound wretched and painful. Then he turned and she noticed he was crying. Soft, silent tears that shook his whole body. Since Shanya had known Gabe, she had never seen him shed a tear. He'd always been a supercilious charmer with a resting smirk face.

Worry soon overcame anger and she walked over to him, gently patting his back. "It's alright, Gabriel. It's alright. Let's clean you up."

They left school early that day and went to her house. Fortunately, her mother was at work and Chicago was out of the country for law school. Her dad was still admitted at the hospital.

She ordered Gabe to take a shower and found some of Chicago's old clothes, giving it to Gabe to wear when he was done. Then she made noodles, which was about all she could make, and fed him. Then he fell asleep on her bed. They hadn't spoken a word to each other even though Shanya was dying to know exactly what went down at his house. She let him sleep till nightfall, confident that the alcohol would've left his system at that point.

When he woke up, they sat outside on the swing, munching a bag of chips together. On her seventh chew, she finally spoke.

"Was it your dad again?"

Gabe sighed, but another full minute passed before he spoke. "Yup." His eyes grew distant as if they were rehashing a scene in his head. "My mum was lucky enough to survive with a fractured wrist and a few bruises on her stomach from the kicks he gave her. He never touches her face, you know. Gotta keep it pretty."

Shanya shook her head in disgust, but said nothing. What could she say? I'm sorry your dad abuses your mum when he loses his temper? I'm sorry that you have to witness it? I'm sorry that you're scarred for life?

"Funny thing is," Gabe continued with a sad chuckle, "he stops his assaults once he sees me. I've no idea why, but it makes me feel like I have to be around my mom all the time to protect her."

This time, Shanya put her hands on his shoulders and squeezed tight. He didn't look her in the eye, like he was having a monologue with himself.

"I don't know what to do anymore. I've asked her to leave him, but she's scared she can't fend for herself and me alone. It's messed up," he raised his eyes to her then, and Shanya saw what it took for him to hold back the tears threatening to fall, "I need to convince her to get us out of there, Shay. I need to."

Shanya rose from her swing and embraced him, rubbing his back as she did. "We'll find a way. Right now, you just need to be brave for your mom, okay?"

He said nothing, just hugged her back and held on to her like she was the very air he breathed.

That had been the best and saddest memory she had with Gabe. She wondered if he and his mom ever got out. Just like she wondered if the attempted rape incident she experienced would scar her for the rest of her life.

Shanya's throat was still sore from all the ginger tea she'd had to consume. Naomi said she's had been in a similar situation (mistakenly taken birth control pills ) and had told her what she needed to do. Ginger tea was the safest and was very effective. Her nausea and vomiting had ceased but she still wasn't strong enough to work.                                                   

Not that she'll be doing that anytime soon after what had happened with Christian. She clenched her fists tightly at the memory of what he'd done. What he'd tried to do. She'd spent countless hours in the shower, brushing harshly away at her body but no matter how many times she scrubbed, she could still feel his slimy hands on her skin. Still feel the vile sensation of his breath.

She hadn't bothered to tell Dan about what had occurred. Precedents had told her it would be futile. He would have simply used every trick in the book to get her to keep her mouth shut—the promise of more money, threats, a dismissal. After all, she was just one waitress. She could easily be replaced.

The more Shanya spent nurturing her anger at the unfairness of her situation, the more stuck she felt. Because the truth was, Shanya had no idea what to do. Logic dictates she shouldn't keep working at a diner where the head of staff was a despicable pervert and her boss an enabler.

Yet despite earlier statements, quitting wasn't really an option. It would involve seeking employment elsewhere and Shanya couldn't afford to do that. She'd chosen this town for a reason. It was isolated and had no relation to her past life whatsoever. No one would think to trace her here. No one except her brother, that is. There was no escaping him. If he wanted you found, you would be.

Still, the mere thought of returning to work in that diner had her heart racing and a numbing feeling entirely alien to her engulf her. A part of her felt ashamed. She'd believed herself to be brave and daring—capable of handling whatever life threw her way but here she was, cowering in her room. Being exactly what her brother said she was. Thoughtless, ignorant, a child.

Shanya was grateful Lily hadn't said a word about what had occurred in that bathroom with Christian. Naomi and Aja had suspected something was up when the vile rapist came rushing past them, soaked in vomit as he bared his teeth and they soon followed after. But the girls hadn't been curious enough to ask and she and Lily hadn't been eager enough to tell.

She thought of her family, about how this terrible incident would not have happened if she hadn't left. About what had happened with them since she'd left. Shanya hadn't looked at one newspaper or magazine because she suspected it would still be crawling with buzz about her crippling family's wealth and she'd much rather sit that out. Why pile up unnecessary stress? Especially when the gig she'd accepted from the high and mighty Paris Boden was going to turn her whole life around.

But it was not yet within her reach. She hadn't come into some money and until then, until she was absolutely certain the rich white man was not going to bail on her last minute, Shanya couldn't brush her job at the diner aside.

With repressed energy, she buried her initial homesickness in the deep dark recesses of her mind. It was foolish to contemplate the past. Besides, she was better off away from her family's scandal. Away from her family.

Her phone rang beside her then and Shanya sneered as she saw who the caller was. Chicago. Life's endless sense of humor.

The last time she'd heard from her brother, he'd told her he was disappointed in her behavior and had expected more from her. At least he was kind enough to bring her things, the jerk.

She let her phone ring a couple more times before picking it up from where it lay beside her and putting it against her ear.                   

"Three seconds," she said flatly.

"I heard about what happened." Her brother's voice sounded as cool and nonchalant as ever, as if they were merely discussing what they were going to have for breakfast. Or something equally mundane.

Despite her resolve, an old ache echoed within her. They had been close once, when Shanya was younger. But something had changed when he'd returned home after finally completing his law degree in California and she never really knew why. She'd convinced herself for the longest time that her brother was the way he was because he was in the worst, most life-draining parasitic field of study and had therefore forgotten what it was like to feel or whatever.

But she decided long ago that it was no excuse. No excuse to completely shut her off—his only sister—and then have the audacity to dictate her life.

"Good for you," she hissed into the phone even as she briefly wondered how he'd known about her incident with Christian. Was he keeping tabs on her? She wouldn't put it past him.   

There was an awkward pause. "Are you okay?"                                       

"Your brotherly affection is touching."   

"Have you filed a sexual harassment claim?"

Shanya gritted her teeth. "Surely, if you know about the harassment, you'd also know if I had reported it." In that instant, she felt her body sag with exhaustion and her headache return. She couldn't deal with her brother and his unbearable I brood because I'm so wise personality right now—she physically couldn't.

"I'm coming over immediately."

"Please don't."

"Shanya—"                                        

"Your three seconds are up. Say hi to mum for me." She hung up before he could say anything in return, fighting against the overwhelming urge to throw her phone at the wall.

A/n: My dear readers, it looks like our favorite main character is in distress. Please click that vote button to show her your support:-)