I head up the stairs and go to the bathroom. I enter and strip out of my clothes. I turn on the shower head and step in. My muscles instantly relax under the warm water.

I grab my rag and lather soap on it to wash my body. I scrub my skin till it feels raw and red. I can still feel that guy's grimy hand on my skin. I shiver in disgust. No matter how much I scrub, I still feel dirty.

I silently start crying again. What have I done to deserve this? I look down at myself and still see the giants scars from my brother. I slowly run my hand over the giant healing scar and shiver at the thought of that day. I look at my other scars and I remember the first time I cut. You never forget the first time you cut.

'It's all your fault she is dead!'

'You're a murderer!'

'You killed her!'

'It's your fault!'

It is my fault she is dead. It was my idea to leave early, my idea to go to the stupid party. My mother left, no one is here for me. My father and brother are hitting me more often and their words really hurt me.

They are supposed to be the ones protecting me, not hurting me. What did it do?

I go to my father's office and grab what I'm looking for. It will help, right? Only once and I'll feel better. Only time and that is it. No more after this. I go to the bathroom and look at the razor shine from the bathroom light. This is the only light for me in the darkness of my mind.

I'm startled out of my thoughts when I hear a knock on the door.

"Hey Emilia? Are you alright?" Xander asks from the other side of the door.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine, almost done," I say trying to sound like I haven't been crying.

"O-Okay, just making sure, I'll be downstairs." He says. I listen for his retreating footsteps, once I hear he is gone. I turn off the water and grab my towel, wrapping it around me. I open the door and look out before heading to my room.

I dry myself off and put on my undergarments. I pick out a brown sweater and blue jeans. I grab my converse putting them on. I brush my hair and put it in a messy bun before heading down the stairs. I get to the bottom of the stairs and see Xander on his phone. He hasn't seen me yet.

Does he actually care? Does he actually like me? Do I like him? I mean he is attractive and he hasn't shown me any reason to not trust him. But isn't that what they all do? They care and soon leave?

I pull out of my thought when he looks me up and down. I blush and shuffle my feet slightly.

"O-Oh hey, s-sorry, ready to leave?" He says to me getting up from the chair.

"Y-Yeah let's go," I say and follow him out the door to his car. We get in and he starts the car driving back to his house.

"S-So, w-who is this neighbor I'm g-gonna meet?" I ask nervously.

"Oh, right. Her name is Mrs. Harrison. She is a super nice, kind, and caring lady. She is like a grandmother to me. I have known her ever since I was little. She is a really good cook also. There's nothing to worry about she will like you." He says a smile forming on his face.

"Okay," I say and look out the window. I'm still nervous, I always get nervous meeting new people or even just talking to people. I look back out the window and watch as houses and trees fly by.

I feel the car stop and notice we are in front of his house.

"We don't have to go over yet, because we are going over a little later, so we can just hang out," He says as he exits the car. I get out and follow him to the door. He opens the door and we enters. I hear little footsteps echo through the house and then see Izzy appear in the doorway.

"Hey Emilia!" She says running and giving me a hug.

"Hi, Izzy," I say and pat her head.

"I missed you!" she says still holding on. I laugh lightly.

"Izzy, you just saw her a little bit ago," Xander says behind her.

"Yeah, I know but I still missed her," she says finally letting go. I see Xander smile at us causing me to smile too.

"We can watch TV, play video games, or board game or whatever," Xander says.

"Let's Play Sorry!" Izzy, says jumping on her feet while tugging on Xander's shirt.

"Sounds good," I say.

"Alright, I'll go get the game," Xander says. Heading towards the hall. Moments later he comes back with the game. We set up the game at the dining table.

"I call green!" Izzy says.

"I'll take blue," I say.

"And I'll be red," Xander says.

"I go first because I'm the youngest!" Izzy says. We laugh at her and begin the game.

----

"Aww Sorry big brother, you gotta go back to start!" Izzy says laughing. She's getting excited because she only needs 1 more in home to win.

"Well, I'm still gonna get you, little sis," Xander says leaning over to tickling Izzy. She starts laughing and tries to push his hands and almost falls over out of the chair but he catches her before she falls. It kinda makes me upset but it's adorable. I envy them. I know I won't ever have something like that. A loving, caring older brother. One to protect you from the bullies or scare away the boys. I'm pulled out of my thoughts when a hand waves in front of my face.

"Earth to Emilia," Xander says chuckling.

"Oh, Ah, sorry," I say laughing and looking down.

"It's your turn," He says. I pick up the card and I get a 5, I move my piece and I win.

"haha, Sorry," I say shrugging my shoulder and giggle as they start to banter.

"Looks like neither of us won you little twerp," Xander says. Izzy sticks her tongue out and Xander did the same.

"Looser picks up the game!" Izzy says and runs down the hall.

"You lost too Izzy!" Xander yells back. He starts to clean it up and I help him. He tries to stop me because he says quote 'I'm the looser' but I continue helping anyway.

After we finished picking up the game Amanda walks in from the hall.

"Alright, its time to go you guys," Amanda says. Izzy comes running from the hall in a cute yellow dress with flowers flowing down from the waist and cute little flats with bows on the ends.

"Izzy you look so pretty," I say to her.

"Thank you! I picked it out myself," She says beaming at me.

"Good job, you got great taste," I praise her. I look toward the door to see Amanda and Xander staring at me.

"What?" I say nervously fiddling with my fingers.

"Nothing," They say and head out the door. What was that about? I push it to the back of my mind and follow Izzy out the door. We walk down the sidewalk to their neighbor's house. They knock on the door and a few moments later the door opens.

"Hello Carol, how are you?" Amanda asks.

"I'm doing wonderful, oh, this must be the famous Emilia? Welcome to my home dear!" She says and gives me a hug. I didn't expect that.

"T-Thank you," I say back, hugging her then letting go.

"You're welcome, hope you guys like homemade lasagna!" She says to us.

"Sound wonderful Carol," Amanda says.

"Oh, where are my manners? Come in!" Mrs. Harrison says ushering us in. I look around nervously. Xander leans down to my ear, grabbing my shoulder lightly.

"Hey, you okay?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say. He nods his head in understanding and starts walking to the kitchen.

It's a beautiful home. Creme colored walls, flower couches, and family pictures hanging on the walls. I look over and notice a shelf with antique little doll and pictures. I go to take a look but get interrupted.

"Dinner is ready!" Mrs. Harrison yells from the kitchen. They start walking and I just follow them to the dining room.

"I want to sit next to Emilia!" Izzy says getting between me and Xander. I laugh and take a seat with Izzy by me. Xander makes a face, then goes to the other side to sit across from me. I give him a small smile. Mrs. Harrison walks in and set the dinner on the table.

"Dig in everyone!" She says. We grab our serving and start eating.

"This is delicious Mrs. Harrison," I say looking at her.

"Thank you dear, but please call me Carol," She says giving me a warm smile.

"Okay," I say looking back at my food. We make small talk about school and me moving here. After we finished our food, Carol told us she had made Cheese Cake with strawberries. Strawberries are my favorite, said they are her favorite also.

She brings out the cake and passes out the plates. I grab a slice and dig in. I silently moan at how amazing it is. Well, I thought it was.

I see Xander, Carol and Amanda look at me while laughing. Izzy doesn't seem to notice though.

"Is it good sweety?" Carol says still laughing again. I didn't think they heard me.

"Y-Yeah, I-I have never had anything like t-this before, s-sorry," I say feeling my cheeks heat up.

"It's alright, as long as your enojoying it." She says I think this is my new favorite thing and we continue eating.

----

After we finished eating, we all cleaned up the dinner mess and put all the dishes away. We head to the living room and take a seat together.

"Thank you guys for helping me," Carol says. Sitting in the chair while me, Xander, and Amanda sit on the couch. Izzy sits on the floor playing with her dolls she brought over.

"It's the least we could do for you making us delicious food," Amanda says. We sit and chat for a while. I found out Carol's husband died a few years ago, and has a daughter, but she rarely visits, so she enjoys when Amanda, Xander, and Izzy come over.

"So, Emilia, tell me about yourself, if you don't mind," Carol says. I couldn't really think of much to say.

"I-I uh, like to draw and read books. I have a small bookshelf full of them," I say. That's really the only thing I do with my free time.

"Oh really? Anything specific you like to read?" She asks.

"I really enjoy just about anything," I say to her.

"Oh, if you want you can have some of my books on the shelf over there. I have read them a few times and wouldn't mind sharing them with someone else." She says pointing to the shelf on the side of the room.

"Thank you Mrs. Har-, I mean Carol. I really appreciate that" I say getting up and walking to the shelf. I look at the books grabbing a couple that I haven't read before. I hold the books in my hand and glance at the photos on the shelf.

I look at it closely and gasp in shock dropping the books in the process. Everyone turns their attention towards me.

"Honey? Whats wrong?" Amanda says with concern and confusion.

I can't speak right now. I feel a hand on my shoulder and look over to see Amanda looking at me intently. I pick up the frame and turn around looking at it again to see if it's real or not. So many thoughts are running through my head. The one sticking out the most is, Is this real?

"I-I, u-uh..." I can't form any words.

"Honey, what's got you so spooked?" Carol says walking over to us with Xander in tow. She looks at the picture.

"Oh, that's my daughter," She says giving me a confused look. My eyes widen.

"What is it dear?" she says with concern.

"Th-That's my mother..."

Got another chapter up! I think I will update next week maybe. If you didn't see it last chapter I will be going to the beach next week. But...

I will try to update next week.