"Uhm, hey Tanya," I hugged her reluctantly, watching the confusion on both Dad and Rydel.

I couldn't blame them....I was shocked myself.

"You guys know each other?"

"We go to the same school."

"What a small world," even during family meetings she acted the slutty way she does.

How can an angel give birth to the devil?

*************

"Okay Lia," Tanya sighed, plopping down on my bed, making her blonde curls bounce. "Now that we're step sisters and all..."

"We're not officially that," I sucked in a harsh breath, making her roll her eyes.

"Look, Lia. I love my mother. I'm more than happy that she's finally found your father...and I'm kind of glad that she found a man who has a daughter like you. I don't want to ruin it for her...I know I'm a literal bitch.."

You don't say!

"But I have my reasons. I know I hurt Ted, but I also have my reasons. And I'm happy that he found Andrea...Im not going to cause anymore harm. So can we please start over?"

Imagine your bully of thirteen years asking for a do over...

That's mental.

I honestly wasn't up for bullshit...I wasn't ready for weird stares at school.

I wasn't up for getting closer to Tanya for her to meet up with Jackson behind my back.

"Alright," I sighed, watching her squeal lightly. "But no hanging out at school."

"Deal," she smiled, bringing her hands out for me to shake, "sisters?"

I could only agree...besides, she does have a point. If we're both seeking our parent's happiness, then perhaps getting along wouldn't be so hard...

I hope not.

"Deal."

"Awesome! So... I gotta admit. I love your glow up. Where've you been hiding?"

Her question made me smile, knowing too well half of the school was wondering why I've been in a shell.

My appearance never changed... neither did my style. I was just a lot more confident.

I'm scared I'm going to have trouble keeping up with it after what happened between Ross and I.

I need him the way my lungs need air.

"It's not really that I've been hiding," I shrugged, lightly as she took a good look at my room, "it's that I've been noticed now."

"Teach me your ways."

"What is there to teach you? People call you the queen."

"That was before the king was over reigned," her words came out too quickly, almost as if she never even did a double take before talking.

Honestly girl, you can have him. I'd rather live peacefully than have a hot athlete who carries drama and drags around hot chicks' drooling.

"The school is a kingdom, Lia. There's a king, and based on that king comes the queen. If the king loses his reign, the queen comes down along with him. And sometimes, it's all she owns...meaning losing it, would cause her to lose everything."

"That never meant you had to make him fall for you to be shattered later on," I squared my arms, shaking my head as she rolled her eyes popping her bubblegum.

"Look, I'm sorry. But we all have to admit he's a lot happier with Andrea now."

Attacking her would definitely quench my revenge desire...though I had to hold it all for my father.

"So...I never really experienced having a sister. Is it like ... friends?"

"No. I'm not going to be your minion, Tanya," It was my turn to roll my eyes.

No wonder she does it a lot.

"Sisterhood is equality. I treat you the way I want to be treated. And you do too. I don't accept on you what I wouldn't accept on myself. It's sharing, really."

"Sounds fun," she grimaced, twirling her fallen hair strands. "But I can't really treat you like a...you know...me."

It's going to be hard to cope with this family.

*********************

"Too philosophical," I muttered, erasing the entire paragraph.

I've been working on my assignment for three hours now...it's getting way too hard, ignoring the fact that even my writing seems a lot like Ross' now. It's hard to deny that he affected my own senses, that he overtook them and I simply allowed him in with complete submission.

Why do I only now realize how much he means to me?

"Lia! Jackson is here!"

Jackson? Oh god no. What do I do?

I quickly put my books along with my diary away in the drawer, too nervous to settle down calmly.

I heard a soft knock, making me close my drawer before allowing him to come in.

"Hey," He smiles, hugging me tightly. "How've you been? I missed you."

"Alright," I smiled, blushing lightly as we sat by each other, "I've missed you too. You've been practicing well?"

"Uhm, Yeah."

I knew he wasn't. I was pretty sure he was cheating...

He's an opened diary right in front of me ... his body language is seeping out the way his drool does for other girls.

Perhaps my obliviousness showed I never had strong feelings for him.

"You said you needed to talk to me," he said, his eyebrows raising in encouragement, "What's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong," I smiled, biting my lip lightly as my eyes withdrew to the floor, "I take therapy."

My confession has two possibilities...

Being his girlfriend, me taking therapy should make him a little more aware, at least take better care.

Being a girl at his school whom he dates to brag about his popularity, he'd be scared to stay with me.

How can a king date a mentally ill girl? Would roam his thoughts.

Either way, I gave zero fucks.

"Therapy?!" His eyebrows furrowed, as I nodded in response, smiling. "Why?"

"I have anxiety and I'm trying to overcome it," I shrugged watching his puzzled face grow in more confusion.

"You seem happy about it...?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I chuckled lightly, feeling his tense smile.

"You know what kind of impact that could have on us..."

"What?"

"Dating me and all...it'd make me look bad."

What the fuck?

I expected a bad reaction...but I never expected a straight forward bad choice of reply.

"Get out," I calmly pointed to the my door, making him sigh heavily.

"Lia..."

"Get the fuck out of my house, Jackson."

I could tell how my calm voice grew fear in him...he knew I was furious. Keeping it all in showed I was on the verge of exploding.

"Lia just listen to me," he tried to reach for my hand, making me stand up, already calling out for my father.

He sighed again, standing up as I opened my door. "Out. Now."

I watched him step out of my room, making me immediately slam the door behind him.

God, did that feel good.

It took me a minute to calm my speeding heart, trying my best to stay collected despite having done what I just did.

I rushed to my window, opening it, to find him slowly walking to his car.

"Hey, Jackson!" I called out, making him turn to look towards me, "we're through!"

I slammed my window shut before collapsing onto the bed.

I just did that.

I, Lia Marie Johnson, broke up with the fuckboy I've been dating.

"Lia," I heard my father knock, making me sit up slowly.

"Come in."

I saw the doorknob tilt slowly, stared at the door following it, revealing him.

How is he going to act to his daughter's first breakup?

How will he handle my anxiety?

"What happened?"

"Do you know how it feels like to convince yourself that you love someone? Knowing too well you don't...because they never try for you and you wish they did but at the same time you're glad they don't because you know they're bad news meaning they're going to hurt you and you expect it though when it does happen if ends up being harsher than ever?"

After I was able to collect my breath he walked to me, embracing me in a hug. I felt my tears silently stream across my cheeks, making me wipe them.

I'm going to show him hell.

I'm going to ruin the only thing he cares about.

"Imagine someone tell you taking therapy is a bad idea because it would affect their popularity. Dickhead!"

"Lia," he pulled away, holding my shaking body as he looked me in the eyes. "There's no reason to be mad about it all. We all saw it coming. He doesn't deserve you. And I know too well you like Ross anyways."

Even my father knew so before I did.

"You don't think that's wrong?"

"I can't stop you...it's crystal clear you love him too much for me to prohibit you. And he does too. Open your eyes, Lia," he ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head as my eyes lowered to the floor. "I'd rather you date a man than date a boy. I'm not talking about age...I'm talking about the fact that you've only felt safe with him. Seven years is a lot, yes...but I can't say no when Rydel and I are five years apart. Plus, being blonde makes him looks 19ish so that's a good start."

I chuckled lightly as he smiled, bringing his hand to my cheek lightly, "I don't want my precious princess hurt over some fuckboy, and I don't want her naïve over love."

"Okay," I nodded, wiping my tears away, "I need to get to him."

"Alright. Let's leave, then."