After I was dressed, I grabbed my bat and began walking down the stairs which is when I collided with someone making me lose balance but before I could fall they grabbed me. "Watch it," Andrew complained after straightening me up. I kept looking at my feet not wanting to talk to anyone, let alone him. I waited for him to walk away when he didn't I became rather annoyed by his presence.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" He said after a while. I just wanted him to go and leave me alone and not pretend he gave a shit about me. Frustrated, I arrived at the bottom of the stair before walking into the living where I saw everyone enjoying breakfast.

"We need to talk to you," Recee said so I looked at him not without rolling my eyes. 

I put on a sarcastic smile, "Good morning to you too,"

"Recee maybe she needs a while," Zuri whispered but as the room was silent I still magically heard.

He on the other hand wasn't so subtle. "No, she needs it now or else she'll run wild," 

Swinging the bat in a circular motion I began looking around the house wondering how many smashable items there were. "Arya you are going to spend the day shopping with your brothers, you start school tomorrow. You will be on your best behaviour,"

I could feel my chest becoming tighter, "Recee I'm not ready for school it hasn't even been a week, can I start next week instead, please," 

"Arya, we all miss your mother but life goes on," He walking towards me.

I looked up at him and glared at him, "You don't get it!" I yelled gaining everyone's attention. Why were they always here watching me?

I stood up and put my back to them, "It's not the same, she may have been a part of your lives at some point but she was the biggest part of mine. I don't even get to go to her funeral because you guys took me."

"We are bringing her here, to have the funeral," He replied as if it was nothing.

I balled my hand into a fist opening it and closing it, trying to remain calm, "This wasn't her home, it was at some point but England was her happy place not here." 

"Arya this isn't for discussion, just for a minute don't be self-centred." Recee snapped at me.

Angrily, I swung my bat accidentally breaking the lamp next to me.

"For fucks sake," I muttered more at myself than anyone else, I was losing it. I closed my eyes counted to five, held my head up high and strutted out of there with my head held high just like my mother had taught me to do.

 The garden was massive, it had a pool, tennis court, basketball court and football you could lose someone there. I took one of the balls from the tennis court throw it in the air and hit it with all the anger inside of me. I watched as it shot high into the sky and went into the basketball court. For however long that's all I focused on. Not my shitty situation or my shitty family but how hard I could hit a ball.

"Hey Princess," Lucas said while approaching me with the rest a little further behind. I got another ball and hit it angrily. "You have a good swing," He said with a smile.

All good things come to an end, you would think I would know by now

"Dad said to get ready to go," Andrew said annoyed.

"Fuck," I said grabbing another ball and hitting it. I threw my bat on the floor, and I realised I was still incredibly pissed, it hadn't worked. I began walking away when Fabian jogged up to me and gave me my bat, I nodded at him and took it.

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Before I knew it we were in a limo on the way to the mall. Kyle then spoke to me, "Sorry about the other day, we didn't know pictures were in there"

I ignored him not even wanting to think about it. Instead, I plugged in my earphones and lifted my knees to my head, this had always been a position that made me feel safe. I closed my eyes and just felt the music. 

Once the car stopped I opened my eyes and saw too many eyes staring at us more specifically the idiot I was in a car with.

"Let's go," Lucas said taking my hand.

I didn't snatch it away but I complained with a sigh, "Why do you like touching me?"

"So, I can carry but not hold your hand," He chuckled as if my constant discomfort was amusing.

"Are those all your fans?" I asked sarcastically and Lucas nodded, "Imagine idolizing people like you," I sighed.

"Who is that slut," One girl whispered but I still heard and I immediately let go of Lucas' hand.

"Where's the mirror bitch, I wanna see my reflection too," I yelled back at her. Before continuing to walk ahead of my brothers so I didn't end up with a lawsuit.

I got inside and after a while so did my brothers, "How would you be such a bitch to our fans." Andrew said angrily.

"So, I was meant to be attacked by you so-called fans silently, allow them to break me down. Wow, your fans reflect you."

"We don't know you maybe you are a slut, we don't know you. " Andrew said shrugging my shoulders. "Are you even a virgin?"

"Bitch, are you? Don't be letting your fans call me out of my name Andrew then I'll stay quiet. Now go enjoy shopping, I'm going to sit here." I said sitting on the bench next to me.

"Dad said not to let you out of our sight," Kyle said trying to grab my hand.

"Fuck off, don't," I said before he had even touched me. "I'm already tired of all of you," I 

"Want me to carry you?" Lucas asked me softly.

"No, do we have to go, what do I need?" I asked him angry seething in my voice.

"We want to get you clothes, school supplies... art supplies." He said the last part quietly.

"You went into my room?" I asked realising the spray paint on my wall and some paintings of flowers I had done on the wall. The painting was one of the things keeping me sane.

"Yeah I carried you there, do you not remember, you are a talented artist," He said and I stood up and nodded in response to his praise.

I looked at my brothers trying not to make direct eye contact with anyone of them. "I have everything I need, that's the reason I shipped my things here," 

Lucas sighed and looked at me with a shrug, "Come on guys, guess we'll go into every store," 

"Don't be dramatic, Lucas let's just go into a few that we want," Fabian said and I breathed a sigh of relief.

We walked into a clothing store and Lucas and I sat on the sofa inside while the others went browsing. "Wanna play a game?" He asked me. I don't think he realises I'm 16, not 6.

"No," I replied not being in the mood.

"Why don't you sleep for a while this is their favourite shop," He chuckled gently but I could feel his discomfort, I knew he didn't know how to deal with me. 

I looked at him he had some of Dad's features but Mom's essence. When he smiled it felt like hers maybe that's why I had taken a liking to him."I don't sleep in silence and I don't want to waste my phone battery, it's already on 30%," 

He unlocked his phone and handed it to me putting it on Spotify, "Here, I'm realizing you love listening to music, play whatever you want."

I hesitantly took his phone and took out my headphones, I whispered. "Thank you, Lucas,"

"Don't worry about it princess," He smiled his smile reminded me of Mom's bright and somewhat pure.

I saw that bts song DNA was in his history I smiled knowing he was Army. I closed my eyes and felt the music I was listening to. After a while, I felt i gentle pat on my back and looked to see Lucas in front of me with the boys they all had at least two bags each.

I stood up and followed them silently not even a second after Lucas trailed behind as was with me. "You want your phone back?" 

He smiled at me, "No it's fine Carry on, it's yours for the day," 

"Let's go into Forever 21," Kyle said looking at me then shop then me again.

"No, I'm okay," I replied, I wanted to be anywhere else.

"Come on Arya at least check out the store and if you don't want anything we'll go," Lucas pleased and I nodded.

As we entered a lady saw me and scowled at me, "Welcome Heart's who is that?" She said looking down at me. 

"That" I whispered to myself. Imagine being degraded by everyone associated with your family. "I've seen enough I don't want anything," I said walking out.

"Arya that was rude, do you ever think about anyone but yourself," Andrew complained, he never took my side he let people treat me like shit.

"Yeah all the time, when I defended myself earlier it made you mad so this time, I walked away and you're mad. I'm at a loss, it's hard being hated everywhere you turn," My hands were shaking so I cupped them together so they couldn't see and began walking away.

I needed to get away from them before I lost my cool. My body collided with someone causing me to lose balance before I could fall he grabbed my hand steadying me. 

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I slowly looked up to meet his gaze. I was looking into the beautiful eyes of a handsome stranger, our fingers intertwined our bodies inches apart, yet all I wanted was for my heart to stop beating so I could listen to my head.

I think he knew his effect on me, he smiled "I'm Brandon,"

"Arya," I was trying to keep my cool. Then my hand was snatched away by Xiever. 

He glared at Brandon with hatred to which Brandon chuckled, "See you soon Arya," 

"Let go," I said through gritted teeth as I was dragged towards my brothers. He ignored me he didn't let go, I think he held my hand tighter. Only when I was reunited with my brothers did he let go I wiggled my wrist debating if I should punch him?

Andrew muttered under his breathe, "So much for not being a slut,"

"A stranger can hold her hand but not us," Xiever added.

I rolled my eyes they were pathetic, "You are a stranger to me."

Fabian then glared at us all, "All of you stop it now, "Fabian had this ice to him something in me was genuinely scared of him.

"You want to do into Primark?" Kyle said and I nodded.

I walked into Primark and the lady smiled at me, "Hello, here's your basket,"

"Thank you," I beamed at her, she wasn't a bitch look at how the Hearts had lowered my expectations.

I wanted one thing from Primark and that was dungarees the moment I saw them I grabbed them after checking the size. I walked over to the till and saw a scrapbook, cap and paint on the way so I grabbed it and some flashcards. Lucas ran towards the line after me.

"Hey, how were you going to pay without us," He asked.

"With my credit cards, I used to have a few part-time jobs then another card with my allowance on it," I shrugged.

"We are paying, okay," Lucas sighed.

"Lucas doesn't fight me on this, no way are strangers paying for me," I said without thinking, I felt terrible the moment it escaped my mouth but the damage was done and honestly I didn't lie.

"Do you give strangers your phone," He replied hurt flashing in his eyes. I handed him back his phone and watched as he walked to the others his stance not as happy as before.

I paid and got my bag and as I was leaving the lady smiled at me, "Never seen someone leave so fast, guess you knew what you wanted,"

"Yeah I did, thank you," I said with a smile, "Have a nice day,"

I walked out and saw none of my brothers around. Guess they left me I was not surprised at all.

I started walking towards the exit just then Andrew grabbed my wrist. "Lucas is on the brink of tears what did you do? God, why does your existence bring so much pain to everyone you make Mom live like this too?." He yelled and my brothers all popped out of nowhere.

As I said, strangers

I don't know why I brought so much pain to everyone maybe I was a pain to my mom too. I couldn't reply my throat was dry if I had replied I would've cried. Hurt, I stood still looking into space trying not to cry. I refused to cry I wouldn't cry I kept saying this over and over in my mind trying to make it a reality. I looked at my hand he was twisting my wrist, I was ignoring the pain.

Fabian took Andrews's hand off my wrist. "Arya," He then said looking into my eyes. My eyes were watering, I immediately looked down and started walking away wiping away my tears praying they hadn't seen it, praying I wasn't weak. 

As I was closer to the exit, I put the cap over my head and wore it so no one could see my eyes and as I did I saw the limo we were in earlier parked, running towards it before I jumped in the back. I noticed there was a main area and a back behind I needed to be alone so I put my headphones in a pretended I was listening to music, with my eyes closed.

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Thank you for reading please vote and comment with your opinions -Lbxx