My eyes shot open when I could no longer breathe, water blocked my airways and I flailed around trying to understand how I could possibly be drowning. The water was still warm, which meant I hadn't been asleep for long. I tried to sit up, which was when I noticed there was a hand on my head and a hand on my shoulder. pushing me down into the water.

I started struggling more, I made my nails bite into whoever's skin and I let out a scream that only resulted in bubbles rising to the surface. It was stupid of me to let go of my much needed air but I was scared, and I didn't really care. I felt the hand on my shoulder release and then something hit my hurt knee, hard. I broke through the surface of the bathwater with a cry of pain. The hands released me and I watched as my own sister stepped away from me.

Footsteps pounded on the stairs, probably from hearing me scream. I was breathing hard and trying to regulate my breathing so I would calm down. Mabel sneered darkly, "Don't say anything Kodi," she spat.

I was confused, why would she try to drown me? What did I do to her? I got her mom killed. That's what.

There was a bit of murmuring and then the door opened, Chester looked in, his eyes working their way through the room, trying to see what had happened at just a glance, he paused when he saw me in the tub and pushed someone away who was trying to look in, before slipping inside and shutting the door behind me.

"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" he crossed his arms and leaned against the door.

I sunk a little lower in my water and made sure the bubbles were still covered. My knee was once again bleeding and the water had made the bandage sag, I sniffed, and unwrapped the bandage from it, sucking in a breath at the sight. It was red and angry looking, not to mention it had a little bit of puss on it now.

It was infected, and I'm assuming Mabel had hit it, so now it was also irritated.

I looked away, not willing to lie for my sister but I wasn't willing to say something that might get her kicked out either. She may not like it but she was my sister, and my last bit of family. I would ensure that she was safe.

"She was having a nightmare," Mabel spoke up finally, "I came in because I heard the splashing and that's when she clawed me and hit her knee on the tub."

I glanced over and was amazed at how Mabel's face could transform from absolute hatred, into one of worry and compassion- two things of which I had never seen Mabel express. Chester glanced at Mabel's arm that she held out, it has five small scratches that were bleeding very faintly, if bleeding at all anymore. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, though maybe I should have.

Maybe I should just tell him. Perfect opportunity, I could just tell him what Mabel had done and be done with it. I don't know what they would do, but I had just gotten out of an abusive home. I don't want this new one to be an abusive one as well, though I would never walk on broken glass for Mabel, I would never plank for hours at a time, and I would never do wall sits for however long, holding whatever random heavy object she found.

It made me shudder to think of what ways she could hurt me here. What would she do? It was already clear she didn't mind drowning me while I tried to take a relaxing bath. I looked at Chester and opened my mouth to disagree with Mabel. to tell him what a monster she's becoming.. or had become.. or maybe she always was one?

The uncertainty made me pause and my mouth closed, the words being caught in my throat.

Chester looked at me and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if this was really what had happened. I bit my lip and saw that Mabel was staring at me. I nodded.

Chester frowned, noticing something that I couldn't point out, and he shook his head, blowing out a sigh, "Right then, Mabel why don't you get out, and you can unpack your stuff in the room. We'll be going to the main part of town for a little bit of a welcome dinner. We do this every time new people come, and today we got three new people. You two, and one other person, who I haven't met yet!"

He looked a little impatient and I couldn't help but laugh a little, he sure did know how to lighten the mood. Mabel shot me a glare while Chester wasn't looking and walked out, "Will I be able to visit the dr?" she asked, making her voice little and.. wounded?

I shook my head and Chester rolled his eyes, still facing me while talking to Mabel who was in the room, "I think you'll live," he looked at me and I self consciously crossed my arms over my chest even though I knew they weren't visible, "Relax, Cupcake, I can't see anything, and even if I could, it wouldn't do anything for me, remember?"

I sighed and didn't relax one bit, "Well yeah, I know but like, you're a guy and.." I trailed off, not wanting my cheeks to get any redder than they already were.

He gave a small nod of understanding, and leaned against the counter, "It's all good. I get it," he paused, his eyes seeming to search mine, "you weren't having a bad dream," I opened my mouth to protest but he continued, "it's okay. I won't tell the guys just yet. I will tell them something happened that was unacceptable. You don't have to tell me, or them what it was but just know we have a three strike rule. And if she does anything to hurt you or anyone else, she will be out of here."

I swallowed, "Look, Debs, I know she may be your last bit of family you have left, but sometimes that doesn't mean anything. She looks at you like you're nothing but a pest. I know because it's the same way my family looked at me when they found out that I was gay."

"I'm sorry," I murmured, feeling bad that his family took the news poorly.

He nodded, "It's not something you need to apologize for. I told you and you're still my friend, right?"

I nodded and he rewarded me with a smile.

"My point is, family isn't always something invaluable. It's... it's not something you have to live with, especially if the reason you have little scars all over, and a bruise the size of Texas on your back, is because of your family."

I nodded my understanding, "I understand," I said softly.

He smiled softly and stood up, stretching his arms above his head, "how about I grab you some clothes, and you get dressed and I take you down to the dr's so your knee doesn't start to rot," he joked.

I grinned and nodded, "That'd be helpful."

He smiled and shook his head while walking into my shared room with Mabel, I pulled myself out of the bath and sat on the edge of the tub while pulling the plug on the drain and covering up in a dark blue towel that was hung up on a hook. Chester walked back in and paused, eyeballing the towel.

"Was this not the towel I was supposed to use?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Huh?" he looked at me and shook his head, "no, hush, here's your clothes," he set them on the counter, and then walked out again, I was just about to stand and grab my clothes when he popped his head back in again, "Oh right, if you see a really tall guy with dirty blonde hair and a grumpy expression, that's Cody, just say hello, he knows you're here."

He left and shut the door, I was nervous to run into this Cody person. We shared names and I was worried I might get mixed up, also, how long could I keep up the whole "Debby" thing, with Mabel not knowing? Not that I would tell her of course.

I pulled on my underwear and bra before carefully pulling up a soft grey skater skirt, making sure not to touch my knee. It fell to a few inches above the knee and I grabbed the baby blue button up with quarter sleeves, and pulled that on as well.

When I finished I quickly used the towel to mop up the water from the floor and I pulled on my socks and shoes. It hurt to put weight on my knee but I managed, limping for the most part. When I entered my room, Mabel was gone but her stuff was strewn out all over the bed. My bags had been thrown in the corner along with the smallest blanket and I figured that would be where I was to sleep.

Chester knocked on my bedroom door and I turned to look over when it opened, he smiled, "Ready?"

I nodded, "I just need to brush my hair out," I said.

He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed and looked at my stuff in the corner with a frown, I made sure not to say anything and he looked like he wanted too but I shook my head no. When I had finished brushing out the tangles, I let it hang down to dry and I looked at Chester.

He stood up and walked over to me, before I could protest he had lifted me up bridal style and was tromping down the stairs.

"Chester,"

"Don't Chester me, you can't walk."

"I know but, Chester," I said.

"UH uh, shush, I can carry you."

I didn't get the chance to try again because Sam came into view at the bottom of the stairs and yelled at Chester for me, "You can't carry her like that!" he said, his cheeks turning pink.

He had a bottle of water in his hand and his shirt was off, tucked into his pants so he wouldn't lose track of it, and he was sweating from moving so much wood from the bed of the truck I assume.

"And why the hell not? I'm strong enough, you know?!" Chester said looking unhappy.

Sam rolled his eyes and looked at the floor, "Chester man, she's in a skirt," he mumbled.

I knew my cheeks were beet red and Chester was quiet for a moment, "What does that have anything to.. oh."

He set me on my feet, but made sure to keep an arm around my waist for support, "Well what the hell else am I to do? She can't very well walk, look at her damn knee!"

Sam glanced at Chester, "I don't know, just, you can't go around like that. Her underwear show," he dared a glance at me, and blushed looking away, "Can she walk to the car?"

I answered for myself this time, "Yeah," I cleared my throat, "I uh, I can." I nodded and Sam nodded.

Sam looked at Chester, "Mind if I come as well?"

Chester shook his head and they both helped me out into the car.