When Mia woke up, her head was pounding and her mouth was dry. She was alone in her bathroom, laying next to the toilet where the smell of her own vomit nauseated her further. She checked her phone and saw that it was the next day, the time was 8:30 meaning she was probably going to be late for school again. What the fuck happened last night?

The last thing she remembered was taking some lines of coke and getting drunk after her parents yelled at her. She spotted an empty bottle of vodka next to where she had been sleeping. That explains the vomiting.

After jumping in the shower, Mia pulled on an oversized black hoodie along with a pair of Nike spandex shorts. Slipping on her air forces she caught her reflection in the bathroom mirror and flinched. I look like shit.

Mia pulled on a pair of dark sunglasses to cover up her sunken, tired eyes. Pulling out her bottle of anti depressants, she popped 2 and looked in her medicine cabinet for her mom's Xanax. After stealing a few from the bottle she grabbed her bag, and made her way to school.

Surprisingly, Mia made it to class only 5 minutes late which her teacher gave her shit for but she was too hungover to care. After class she saw Rue approach her, with Jules by her side.

"Um, hey.." Rue greeted the girl, awkwardly. They had never really conversed with each other without Fez being there.

"Hey" Mia forced a smile, Rue took in the girls disheveled appearance and frowned slightly.

"We're just a wondering if your alright, you know you can hang with us whenever." Jules chatted, Mia returned a small smile.

"Did Fez put you up to this?" The girl asked warily, it had been a long time since she had had real friends. And Fez was aware that he was her only real friend along with Kat.

Rue frowned, "No you just look like you need a friend, also you seem pretty cool." Mia gave a genuine smile at her response, cheering the other two girls up.

"Ok sure, gets kinda lonely being a loner all the time."

Rue chuckled, "Your not a complete loner, you spend enough time with Fez." Mia blushed slightly, then frowned remembering how he had ignored her calls last night.

"Yeah I think he might be getting sick of me though." Mia joked, though there was a slight concern to her tone. Like she believed her words.

"Yeah right, that boys totally in love with you." Jules snorted, making Rue laugh. Mia shook her head, wanting to believe the girls words so badly.

Why would he ever be interested in you? Your just some kid that hangs around him.

The voice inside Mia's head taunted her, hurting her own feelings. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the negative thoughts.

"Nah, it's not like that." Mia explained, the two girls did not look convinced.

"For real though, I really think he likes you. And it definitely seemed like there was something going on with you two at Nates." Rue concluded, smirking at the blushing girl.

"He just thinks of me as a little sister." Mia explained, not very convincingly.

"Look I'm not gonna bug you about this anymore, but I just gotta tell you something. If your just with him to get drugs I don't think it's a good idea." Rue's comment stung Mia, although she could see where she had gotten that idea.

"I'm not interested in him because he's a dealer, he doesn't even sell me shit." Mia snapped trying not to get too worked up.

Rue observed the girl, and feeling bold she leaned forewords, removing her sunglasses. Revealing her bloodshot eyes, and extremely dilated pupils. Rue could tell that the girl wasn't sober from first hand experience, she could also tell that the girl was most likely suffering from a substance abuse problem. Maybe not as bad as her own, but her mannerisms suggested so.

"I mean, your obviously getting your shit somewhere. Look I'm not judging you, I'd be a fucking hypocrite. But if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here." Rue explained softly to the girl, not wanting to set her off. Mia appreciated the gesture but knew she was already too far gone to stop now. So she just nodded and smiled what she hoped looked like a sincere smile.

-

Mia was shocked to find a familiar car parked outside of her school as she exited the building. She bit her lip as she took in his familiar buzzed hair and big sweater paired with his signature gold chain. Mia hadn't even realised how much she had missed Fezco until she spotted him, leaning against his car. He was looking at his phone as she approached him, her somber mood from earlier lifting slightly.

"Hey." Fezco heard Mia's quiet voice and he immediately placed his phone in his pocket.

"Did you come to pick me up?" Mia asked, touched by the gesture. "Yeah, I didn't know if you were coming to the store today and I didn't want you walking home alone." He explained as he took in the girls appearance. He thought she looked cute in her oversized hoodie and glasses, he couldn't help but let his eyes wander towards her exposed legs. He gulped as he eyed her long, tanned legs which were on display. Doesn't this school have a fuckin dress code?

"What's with the glasses, you hiding from paparazzi?" He joked and Mia rolled her eyes, pulling the hood of her sweater down.

"Hey, thanks for picking me up." She said, feeling her heart clench at the boys sweetness.

Fezco just brushed her off as they made their way to his store. "Yo, sorry I missed your call last night. I was dealing with some shit. It wasn't anything important right?" He asked, remembering the missed calls he had gotten from the girl and how he had felt uneasy when she never called him back.

"Yeah it was nothing." She whispered, resting her head against the cool glass of the passenger seat window. Fezco observed the girl from his peripheral vision and frowned. There was something slightly off about Mia today. She was more quiet and her body language was more reserved than usual. Fezco had known Mia for a few months, but when he thought about it he really didn't know anything about her. He didn't know anything about her home life, why she moved to LA. He gripped the steering wheel tighter in frustration. All he wanted was for Mia to break down some of her walls and let him in. Deciding not to push her on the matter, in fear of pushing her away, he changed the subject instead. The two began talking about aimless topics, laughing with one another. Mia began to cheer up slightly, being with Fezco always lifted her mood. Even when they weren't doing anything, she was the most happy when they were just talking about dumb shit together.

The two were sat outside of the store, sharing a joint when Nate Jacobs expensive car pulled up.

"Not this dick.." Mia muttered which made Fez chuckle. The rich boy swaggered out of his car and made his way towards them with a smirk on his face.

"Mia McKenzie." He stated simply, eyeing the girl up and down. Mia shifted uncomfortably in her spot between Fezco's legs.

"Jacobs." She acknowledged, looking him in the eye. There was something about Nate Jacobs that unnerved Mia and she wasn't sure what it was. She had encountered many boys like him before in her lifetime. Boy's who think they can get away with doing anything because their daddy is rich. Boy's who don't give a shit about women and think they are some kind of alpha male. Mia had learned to never fuck about with boys like that.

"What you needing?" Fezco asked grabbing Nate's attention. The Jacob's boy noticed how Fezco had placed his arms protectively around her waist as if he was marking his territory. Nate found this amusing, he wasn't intimidated by the drug dealer like many others were. Still, Nate told him what drugs he required.

"Ashray's inside he'll get you." Fezco said with a slight hardness to his tone, his usual chilled aura changing slightly.

"Alright, so what are you guys like a couple now?" Nate asked laughing slightly. Mia stood up, however Nate still towered over her short frame.

"Why don't you just mind your own fucking business Jacobs?" She asked in a calm yet slightly irritated voice.

Nate held his hands up in defence, "Alright, alright. I'm just saying now I know why you haven't tried to sleep with me yet." Mia laughed at this, finding his comment genuinely funny.

"Oh my god, you are such a fucking cliche Jacobs. News flash not every girl wants to sleep with you." Nate's smirk became more menacing as her words got under his skin.

"You really are a bitch, no wonder you don't have any friends." He chuckled, Fezco quickly stood in front of Mia. Stopping her from doing or saying anything stupid.

"Yo, you cant be talkin to her like that man." Fez stated calmly, angered by the boy's disrespect towards his friend.

"Alright man, I don't want any trouble." Nate answered with a smirk.

"Apologise to her." He stated calmly. Nate turned towards the petite girl who was stood behind the older boy.

"You can't be serious."

"If you want me to keep selling shit to you, you will. Now fucking apologise."

"Fine fine! I'm sorry I called you a loner bitch Mia." Nate said insincerely, Mia gave the boy a sarcastic smile.

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes and made his way inside to get his drugs.

"Cunt." She muttered after he left. Fezco turned towards the younger girl.

"Mia.. what the fuck am I gon' do with you?" He sighed.

"Sorry he just gets under my skin." She huffed as they sat down again.

"I know he does, I don't like the way he was talking to you any more than you did. But I don't want you making enemies with dudes like that. He's got too much power." He explained, playing with her hair as she leaned back into his chest.

"I know, I'm just tired of being a fucking doormat. Okay? Like I'm not fucking stupid I hear what people say about me." Fez frowned as he noticed the girl looked visibly upset. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.

"Listen to me, high school kids are assholes. Kids like Nate Jacobs are the worst of them all. Just don't listen to them, you're like.. fuck. Your fuckin' amazing, and they see that. That's why they talk, okay? But you need to promise me that you won't let it get to you. Can you promise me that, baby?" He murmured, his face brushing her dark hair. Fezco felt his stomach clench, he had never seen Mia express any emotion other than her usual sarcastic teasing. He didn't like seeing her upset.

"Yeah." She promised, turning on his lap to hug him properly. Thinking about how his words could apply to other aspects of her life as well.

"C'mon, you wanna come back to mines?" He asked, running his fingers through her soft hair.

"Oh so it's like that, huh?" She leaned back smirking at him. He chuckled, glad that she was back to teasing him instead of being upset. "Aight' cmon ma, before I change my mind."