By the time Monday rolls around, I'm already tired. Normally when I'm like this Gene has me take a nap by the lake in the park, but I can't do that today. I promised Laurance I would attend a full day of school, and even if I'm a bad girl, I hate breaking promises. Too many promises have been broken for me, and I hate breaking other peoples promises I give them.

Laurance told me he'd pick me up, but to look for a different car because it's Cadenza's, his older sister, turn to drive the three of them to school. Well, make it four of us now. At least for today.

When I told Gene on Friday night about me almost getting raped, rage burned within him. I haven't truly seen him that angry in quite a while. While I hung out with the Shadow Knights on Saturday, which Laurance joined us, I was babied more than normal. I think Laurance saw a different side of the Shadow Knights on Saturday that he's never seen before. He was even thanked for saving me.

I decided since I'm hanging out with the 'populars' today I may as well look remotely decent. Though, my version of remotely decent is putting my hair up in a messy bun. I'm lazy, and my hair is down.

My mirror is still cracked, and I don't expect my father to buy me a new one anytime soon. Just like how he doesn't expect me to call him 'dad' anytime soon. It's sad, but this is what my life has come to. Too much has happened for him to be considered my 'dad.' He May have helped bring me into this world, but he doesn't deserve to be called my dad.

My cue that my ride to school is here once I hear the sound of a car horn.

Father isn't home, so I'm safe to walk out the front door. I'm not afraid of him, hell no, I just can't stand to look at who he has become. I slip on my shoes and surprisingly I had time to eat breakfast this morning so I can't steal any candy bars from Zenix today. In fact, I don't think I'll seeing them that often today.

I hop into the backseat next to Laurance, and he gives me a warm smile. I return it with my normal weak smile.

He leans over into my ear and begans to whisper,m. "Garroth said he won't tell anyone about what happened Friday," he tells me.

I nod my head once he pulls away.

"Is anybody excited for school today?" Cadenza had an English accent when she talked. It reminded me of Garroth.

I simply shrug as I look out the window. I wave as Gene, Sasha, and Zenix once we drive passed them.

I can hear the three siblings talking with one another, and I decide to keep my mouth shut. I don't need to be thrown off the car before we even reach the school. So instead of talking, I decide to listen to my music.

I'm lucky if I can remember what class goes before which class. I don't go to my morning classes, and only sometimes I go to my afternoon classes, but that's seldom.

Laurance begins to tap on my shoulder, and I finally look over in his direction. I take one of my ear buds out.

"What class do you have first?"

"Um. . . math with Mrs. Frank I think. . . ?" It sounded more like a question than an answer, but I didn't care.

"Oh, I don't have that class. Alex will go with you then."

I rip my ear buds out from my ears, letting them fall against my lap. My music comes out as weird sounds and recognizing what the lyrics were was probable if you tried hard enough. "I don't need babysitting by a-how old are you?" I turn to Alex and she peaks her head from the side of the passenger seat.

"Thirteen."

"Thirteen? How the hell are you in high school?!"

She slowly begins to go back to sitting normal. "I was moved up a grade. . ."

I turn to Laurance, "No."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

And I have to do it anyway. It feels weird walking down the hallways now. I mean, I'm used to walking down them to get to my locker and get rid of all my junk, but this feels different. I'm not ditching my morning classes like I normally do. Hell, I don't even think my teachers know about me being in their classes.

With each step I take I can hear gossip and wolf whistles. I don't know if the wolf whistles are meant for me, but I know for sure the gossiping is about me.

Alex is walking down the hallway with me. She's in front, and I can't help but feel like a following, lost, dog. I decide to try and make up a conversation. "So is the tiny Ro'meave boy your boyfriend or something?"

"Well that was blunt," she says, glancing back at me for spilt second. "But no, he isn't my boyfriend. He's my best friend."

Well, I was wrong, and I thought I knew her. I did one of the things I hate must about people when they do it to me.

Aphmau walks over and slings her arm over Alex's shoulder. Man, she's even shorter in person.

"Excited for Friday's football game?" Aphmau's high pitched enthusiastic voice makes me want to put myself out of misery in one way. You know, by putting duck tape over her mouth and around her head a few times so she can't lick it off.

Alex laughs, "Extremely. Nothing like freezing your ass off in a crop top and short skirt."

Aphmau and Alex are cheerleaders, so that adds onto why I call them Ms. Perfect, or princess, or any of my other nicknames I've already laid on them.

"Oh come on!" Aphmau giggles. "You know the quarterback is cute!"

"That's my brother Aph." There's blatant disgust in Alex's voice as she rolls her eyes while we walk. I feel invisible, but I'm fine with it. As long as Aphmau leaves, and her squeaky voice follows her on the way out.

"I meant the running back!"

"That's Garroth."

"I'm going to go now. . ."

"You go do that Aphmau."

I watch as she leaves, and I feel like my ears are bleeding. As you can tell, I don't like people. Blondie over here is just lucky I'm doing a project with her brother.

The rest of the walk to math class remains silent. I don't understand this chick. I have to start off a conversation, but when Aphmau comes, she talks to Aphmau and forgets about me. I don't care, but I'm not being babysat by a damn thirteen year old.

I sit down in a empty desk once we reach the class, and there is still a minute to spare before passing period is over. The room goes dead silent as all eyes go directly to me. I don't know what to do. The teacher isn't in here, but I don't need a fist fight first day in because of my mouth. I may not care much about my grades, but Laurance cares about his.

What's going on with me? What happened to my carefree attitude? Now I suddenly care? I must be sick or something. I look around sending death glares and most back away slowly with their gazes. Some people decide to be gusty and continue to stare at me. The room remains silent, and the tension in here starts to become thick. All I need is a knife to cut it.

"Yo, leave her the hell alone and finish the homework I know none of y'all did."

Princess over there has sass to her. She looks over at me and smiles smugly. I nod my head a single time.

She's got some respect from me now.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Lauarance is making me watch him during practice, and it's boring as all hell. But I must admit, he is pretty good at it. I haven't watched a majority of his practice because I've been too busy on my phone, but what I've seen shows me he works hard.

That's another thing to add to my paper. Laurance Zvahl cares and is hard working.

I hear movement from under the bleachers. And if it was a couple making out, I wanted to embarrass them. So I place my phone inside of my backpack and sneakily make my way back down to the hard ground.

I turn around the corner of the bleachers to see the one, and the only, group of Shadow Knights.

"Hey guys!"

Zenix nearly drops the spray paint in his hands, and I stifle a laugh. Gene begins to smirk as Sasha smiles softly.

"Back so soon Y/N? Did you miss us?" Gene's stupid tone in his voice makes me want to punch him in the face, but I hold back.

Man, I have gone soft. Screw you Zvahl.

"Dumbass, I thought there was a couple underneath here. I wanted to embarrass their asses."

Zenix places his arm around Sasha and brings her closer to his chest. Sasha clearly doesn't like this from the expression she has plastered on her face. "How'd you know?" He asks with a stupid grin on his face

"Don't touch me Zenix."

I watch as Sasha punches Zenix, and Gene nearly falls on the floor from laughing too hard. However Gene quickly regains his posture and tells Zenix he had that coming.

Zenix looks at me. "Up for a round of graffiti?"

"As fun as that sounds, can't. I have to stay with Laurance." I frown as I look down at my feet. "Damn, I miss hanging out with you guys."

Gene smiles at me, "Then we'll graffiti later. I'll text you about it. Besides, Sasha wants to tell you 'bout something anyway."

I'm confused by what Gene says, and he knows this as he replaces his smile with a sly grin. Well that smile didn't last long.

Sasha walks over to me and takes me by the hands to lead me to the bleachers. The guys follow as she takes me up the bleachers to my remaining supplies. I look at the football field to see all the guys huddling together. I have a feeling that practice is over, but Laurance can wait. No matter what, the Shadow Knights will always come before him and his fellow perfects.

Zenix begins to snicker as Gene crosses his arms over his chest with a sly smirk. They know something I don't, but I know Sasha's going to tell me what it is.

Sasha sits down next to me and begins to talk in her calm manner. "So, I talked to may parents, and we want to adopt you."

I choke on my own spit and begin to cough. Once my coughing fit is over I stare at her wide eyed. "I'm not even an orphan, Sash."

"Doesn't matter, Y/N. All your father needs to do is sign the papers. My parents already did their share of the papers."

"Are you serious?" She nods her head yes to answer my question. "Where are the papers?"

She smiles as she snaps at Gene. Gene grunts as he goes into his bag and grabs the said papers and hands them over to Sasha.

Sasha gives me the papers, and I clutch them to my chest like my life depends in it. My life could depend on them, and I wouldn't even know.

"I'm speechless. . . Thank you guys."

Gene puts his hands up in surrender. "Zenix and I have nothing to do about it, it's all Sasha. But if you wanna give me all the credit, I'm perfectly fine with that."

I trap Sasha into a hug, "Thanks Sash."

"Anytime N/N."

Laurance walks over to us as water drips off the ends of his hair. He twirls his keys around his finger.

I stand up slinging my backpack over my shoulder and grip tightly to the papers. "See you guys later," I say and walk with Laurance to his car.