RHEA'S POV

After a whole night of twisting and turning when sleep finally reached I heard my alarm go off.

"You've got to be kidding me" I muttered to myself. I normally don't have sleeping issues.

After all that has happened in the past, the one thing that has not changed is the fact that I'm a heavy sleeper. But last night I couldn't sleep at all, maybe it's because of the utter shock of realizing that you used to be an extrovert of a best friend is the brother of the boy that rarely went out and the only person he would socialize with was you or the fact that when you finally moved to a whole new town to start new but a very important part of your past is back in your new life.

I got out of bed and head to the shower.

After, I grabbed some ripped jeans and a tank top along with a black denim jacket.

Going down the stairs I see my mother eating breakfast.

"Not eating breakfast?" she asked not even looking at me.

"um no, I'm not hungry" I grab my car keys and got out of the house.

I got into the car and heard my phone ring.

"Hello?"

"Rhea? i-it's Jared"

"oh my god, Jared how are you?". Jared is the only sibling that was actually close to me. Who respected and loved me as a sister. Jared is not an ordinary thirteen-year-old boy. he is way too mature for his age. he's smart but most of all he's the sweetest human being you could ever meet. I know favoring one sibling is not right but I would choose Jared over anyone any day. But I doubt that he would do the same, after all, what has happened I was more scared of what Jared would think than my own parents.

"I'm all good. What about you... and mom?" How am I? I don't know little brother. Mom hates the fact that I'm still breathing, I haven't eaten from god knows how long and top it all off I've been slashing my wrist. And, mother... she drinks 24/7, comes home way too late, and speaks nothing but how I should be dead.

"Yeah, I'm all good and Mom too," I say.

"Look, Rhea, I know you think that I hate you but No, I don't. Because I'm not Noah or Nini and how on earth could I hate the person who got me my first football. You were the only person that actually believed in me and covered for me when I have to go to practices without dad knowing. You are the best sister anyone could ever ask for. Are you crying?"

"Um no. I'm not. why would I cry to some thirteen-year-olds words" I say with tears in my eyes. And that's why I love him. He never fails me even though I failed him and that's why I don't deserve a brother like him in my life. Jared does not deserve the curse I'm carrying.

"Haha very funny. I miss you Rhe Rhe"

"I miss you too little boy" He has no idea how much I miss him right now.

"Eh don't call me that I'm not that little anymore," he says and I know he's smiling on the other end. God, I wish I could see that smile again and feel the comfort of his hugs.

"Shut up! you are still thirteen and you are still my little brother. And how's ma and pa?" I ask.

"They are doing great and how'd you like the car? FYI I chose it"

"No shit. I love it. thank you so much okay and look at you taking care of your big sister from miles away"

"always. and if you wanna know Nathan came to see us" he said the last bit in a whisper.

"No, I don't wanna know anything about him. He can suck a dick for all I care"

"Yeah, that's all he does actually and language!"

"Wait, I thought you weren't that small anymore," I said in a mocking voice.

"whatever. I actually gotta go but you can call me at this number anytime okay?"

"Okay, Jared. I love you so much"

"I love you too big sissy" and he cuts line when I finally reached Emma's house to pick her up.

I am happy for him. He doesn't need to see mom like this because that thirteen-year-old boy deserves all the happiness in the world even if that means 'me' staying away from him.

"Hello m'lady," Emma says getting into the front seat.

"Hello to you too"

"so, what are you doing after school?" she says eagerly.

"Oh no. Can't do I got plans"

"c'mon Rhea you need more clothes and color in your life" yeah I need more clothes but not color.

"No color. thank you"

"So who got your precious time?" she says wiggling her eyebrows.

"Emma, why would you even think that. It's not even been a month since I moved here"

"Okay, then. what are your plans?" she says sinking into her seat with a pout on her face.

"None of your business"

"RUDE!" she gasps.

"You would've known what to expect by now"

"fuck you!"

"Er- no thanks," I say with a small smile.

***

"Hello ladies," Jason says sitting down at our lunch table.

"No one invited you here," Emma said. yeah, that was kinda rude and yes, I may or may not have told her that Jason is an ass and that's why I'm not friends with him anymore.

"Last time checked it's public property and hey Emily" You gotta be kidding me. Dear, Lord Jesus why are you doing this to me. Damien comes and sits in front of me.

"Its Emma you ass"

"You know him?" I asked Emma.

"He's one of my stepbrother's friends," she said in a whisper.

"was he an ass to you like the others?"

"No, he just hangs around with them" she whispers back.

"You know your friends are dicks right?" I asked Damien loudly.

"Yes, you got a problem with that?" he says leaning in.

"not really but I will have a problem if they dare to touch my friend again"

"Why don't you go and tell them that?"

"Oh, I already did," I say with a forced smile.

"No, shit you were the one who destroyed Shawn's dick" Jason speaks.

"You hit Shawn on his dick?" Damien says widening his eyes. Of course, he would be surprised Old me would've never done that I was a scared little bitch.

"Who's the icon who hit Shawn on his dick?" a female voice called. we all turned in her direction. And everyone was pointing their fingers at me.

"I fucking love you. You are the best and you are my queen". she walks towards us and hugged Damien from the back while planting a kiss on his cheek.

Okay.

am I jealous? maybe a little bit.

"Um, who are you?" I asked sounding a little bit pissed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I am Jennifer... Jennifer Nicholas to be exact" she says pointing her hand for a handshake. Me being me did not shake her hand. Rude? yes. Do I care? No why? I'm not here to get on anyone's nice side or make friends.

"Not a shaker huh?" she says sitting down in between Damien and Jason.

"don't yall have your own friends to hang out or do yall want anything from us to just come and sit with us randomly?" Emma speaks up. Damn Em.

"Exactly! Jason, why aren't you sitting with basketball dudes, and Damien why arent you with the stoners?" Jennifer asks them.

"Why on earth are you here?" I ask her.

"Oh, you got a problem with me?"

"I got a problem with everyone, so piss off" she didn't even give me a good reason to be this mad but why?

"Calm down Rhea" Damien speaks in a comforting tone. Here she snaps.

"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP AND STOP PRETENDING AS YOU CARE AND JASON, I TOLD YOU ONCE AND I DONT WANT TO TELL IT AGAIN, JUST STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME" I scream looking at Damien then to Jason.

"YOU, THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU CALL A MURDERER AN ICON," I say pointing towards Jennifer. All of them widen their eyes and some other people were looking at me too. I take my bag and walk away.

so dramatic huh?

did I snap because she kissed Damien on the cheek?

Or was it because there are way too many people barging back into my life?

I'm scared. so so scared. what if I hurt them too? I won't be able to bear it but what if they hurt me? I'm already hurt and it's killing me.

I was walking fast in the hallway lord knows where but I stopped when someone grabbed my hand and pulled me into an empty classroom. I was gonna fight him off until I saw who it was.

"What do you want?" I asked trying to hide the hurt in my eyes.

"What made you snap Lia?" I don't know you tell me.

"I wish I knew too. so let me go now" I say attempting to get away from his hold.

"You need to talk to someone Rhea. I don't get why people don't see it but I do. You look like you haven't eaten for days" it's because I haven't. I look away from him not wanting to see his beautiful grey eyes.

"...and slashing your wrist. Unexpected outbreaks, uncontrollable anger. You have to talk to someone, please". He knew.

"You think talking would help? if so it would've helped me years back and I don't need help. I cannot be fixed and I don't want to"

"I get what you are going through an-"

"NO! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW A FRACTION OF WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH SO STOP TRYING. AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I'VE CHANGED AND I'M NOT THAT LITTLE HAPPY, BUBBLY GIRL WHO WAS YEARS AGO." I pushed him and got myself out of his hold. And now tears flowing down my cheeks.

"Yeah, I might not know what you are going through but what I do know is that talk to someone, and trust me it helps. I can assure you that because it has for me. And you don't need to be fixed because I don't see you any differently"

"Quit Damien. you wouldn't say this if you knew the whole story" I say and walk out of the classroom.