It's really weird living in the same house as Reece, I do understand that he was just being nice because I was alone in the streets with a suitcase. However, I dont expect him to be nice to me or anything.

I feel a gaze burning into my face as I settle into my seat. Ms Lopez, the Latin teacher, stands tall as she scribbles some words on the black board.

I turn to my left. Reece's eyes burn deep into my face. He seems lost in thought. However he is snapped back into reality when I cock my head to the right.

His eyes are questionning, as if he is asking me 'what?'

You're not in the position to be asking me that Blackwell.

"Students, settle down. We need to get started." Ms Lopez says.

The fucking idiots behind me settle down.

I can't help but feel fear settle at the pit of my gut. I havent heard shit from Evelyn or Elliot. 

Not a text, not a call.

I'd be a stupid fuck to assume that they haven't noticed but why haven't the reached out?

The real question is why do I expect them to miss me so much?

I know very well how little I matter in that house.

Its days like this when I miss my father. He would never go a night in silence knowimg that I'm somewhere out there.

And I miss my mother, the Evelyn that I grew up with.

It sucks to have to carry so much baggage at such a young age. Everyone around me has petty teenage problems.

From when and if they'd get that new pair of sneakers, to finding a good nail tech to do their nails.

Even issues such as fucking social hierachies and attending the best parties.

But instead I have to deal with the baggage of being a victim ,a fucking victim for crying out loud.

I feel filthy. Knowing that an old man has touched me.

Knowing that the virtue that girls my age eagerly give to boys their age was snatched away from me.

I've always asked myself how I'd feel about sex had I not been molested.

Would I be interested in it if it were not forced on me the way it is?

Is it even pleasurable?

I doubt it. But I cant even imagine myself letting any man get close to me ever again.

Not after –

"Mars." A voice gently says. My body tenses as I feel a hand on my chin, forcing me to look up.

I meet his stormy eyes.

His eyes are calculating. As if he is trying to read me. I grimace as I pull away from his touch.

His face is at first questioning, but he straightens his back and looks me directly in the eyes, a façade going up in his eyes.

"Class is over. You've been sitting here for about ten minutes since the bell rang. I'm gonna go, I'm late for Economics." He says calmly.

"Thanks?" I say, more questioning than telling him.

For the first time, I look around to spot the empty class. Oh fuck me.

I rush to my history class. I quickly shuffle into my seat.

Class flies by so quickly, I find myself shuffling into the cafeteria for recess in the blink of an eye.

I must say, it fucking sucks that Courtney isnt here anymore. Who the stinking shit am I going to sit with now?

I grabbed a slice of pizza, a cookie and milk as I headed towards an empty bench at the far end of the crowded cafeteria.

I barely make contact with any of these bitch as I walk to the bench. As soon as I'm settled, my phone vibrates in my back pocket.

The name 'Courts Fucking Palmer' appears. A small smile plays at my lips.

"Already thinking of crawling back to me?" I say as soon as I answer.

Her voice sounds as sweet as a Friday afternoon nap.

"Yes, you know me so well." If I were with her, I know she'd be fake wiping a tear. This bitch.

"Well it's too late Courts, I already have a whole friend group and all." I say, shoving the tip of the pizza in my mouth and taking a bite.

"You and the word group dont sound natural together in one sentence Marcy, you aren't fooling no one." She chuckles.

"Fuck off dipshit." I respond, unable to stop the large smile now on my face.

"I miss you Marcy." She says suddenly.

I stay quiet, I miss her too. But its just extremely hard for me to say it to her. I've never been one for that. Not since dad died.

But I miss Courtney, I just wish I could tell her. She's my best friend, I love her , I just dont understand why I'm physically unable to say my feelings.

"Yea." I say, bowing my head.

"I love you too." She says, seemingly reading my mind.

"I have to go, I've been in the bathroom for too long." She says.

"Tell them you were taking a shit, damn Courts have I taught you nothing?" I ask.

She laughs, a genuine guffaw.

"Dont be banging that large head on the wall now. Bye!" I tell her. She laughs even louder.

Making a large smile spread on my lips.

"Bye." The line goes dead.

"You look different when you smile." A new voice says.

I look up to find grey eyes staring at me, amused.

"We were wondering if we could sit here." He says.

"We?" I ask.

Before he can respond, Colt appears behind him with two other guys and they settle on the bench.

"Sure, its not like the bench is mine or anything." I respond, going back to eating.

"Sup dickhead." Colt greets .

"Aye thong face." I respond ,nodding my head at him.

Blackwell's face contours to this weird emotion before he masks it.

"Where's the friend?" He finally speaks.

"Which friend?" I ask.

"The one who was crying the other day." He points out.

"She moved." Is all I say.

He nods, he looks like he wants to say something else but he settles back into the silence he found me in.

Thank fucking Jesus.

Hours later, its time to go home and I can't find Blackwell or Shitface anywhere. I'm stuck here at school because you know, I dont have anywhere to go.

I dont remember the direction to his house because I was higher than Michelle's nose when he drove there. And I sure as hell cant go back to that shithole back at Fourth.

So I sit on the highest stair near the entrance of the school.

I cant fucking believe those two left me. I dont even have their numbers. Now I'm going to have to go back to the shithole.

A heavy sigh leaves me as I carry my body out of the school. An hour was long enough for me to wait for them, I just have to go somewhere.

As I'm walking down Gibson road, a black car slows down near the pavement. I try to speed up my steps but the car follows me until the window rolls down.

"Mars, its me." He says, and I recognize that nickname.

My stone gaze meet his stormy eyes.

He flinches, but it was so unobtrusive that I could just easily claim I imagined it.

"Get in." He says.

I dont say anything, instead I continue walking.

I'd rather stay in that shithole that feel like a burden.

"Mars, please stop being stubborn. Get in." He gently says, following me with the car.

My shithole house comes into view. The driveway is empty. The house looks exactly the way I left it.

They're not home.

I walk into the yard and towards the house. Under the dirty rug, I fish for the key.

Opening the door, I walk in and settle on the worn out blue couch.

"Cooper please. Let's go." He says, walking into the house.

I suddenly feel so self aware that he's walked into this dump of a house.

"Is this where you lived?" He asked.

I nod.

His grey eyes scan the house. In his eyes, I find an emotion that doesnt settle well with me.

Pity.