I helped Charlie get comfortable on the bed, making sure his back was propped up just right before handing him his iPad and Nintendo. His bedroom was bigger than I imagined it would be which actually helped with his wheelchair. It was just a plain white room with a double bed with bedside drawers, a study table, walk in closet and a bathroom.

"Charlie, will you be okay for a while. I have to unpack and clean my room."I asked.

All I got was a nod and a thumbs up. It was better than what I got most times when he was engrossed in his games so I took it as a definite yes. I walked into the bathroom which to my surprise had been renovated to accommodate Charlie's disability. The sinks, hooks, bars and mirrors had been lowered to his level which I liked. None of our previous residences had been so accommodating. It didn't make Robert perfect but it was an added bonus to him. Maybe I would try to be nicer to him. There was both a shower and a separate bath tub which I especially liked considering I loved baths. I had to because of dealing with my mom all day, everyday. Taking baths was my thing, my safe place to unwind, relax and just let the world revolve without me for a few minutes.

The bathroom had two doors, on both sides so I used the other one to get into what I assumed was my new room. It was the same size as Charlie's just with a queen size bed instead, two bedside drawers, a study table, walk in closet and a vanity space. There were no curtains on the windows, no sheets on the bed or rug on the floor so I assumed that's what Robert meant by the room not being ready for me. I had lots to do because I was unpacking for two so I untucked my yellow T-shirt and tied it off with a knot just under my boobs. My white shorts weren't made for moving as I'd dirty them too much but I didn't have the time to change.

Walking back to the living room I found my mom drinking wine as she watched a reality show. A few maids were helping with the boxes and Robert was nowhere in sight. I didn't know the house had help but it had to have some as it was too big for my mom to maintain on her own. My mom hated house chores so she never marry a man who would make her do the dishes or laundry.

"Which ones are mine and Charlie's?"I asked standing in front her.

I was blocking her view which gave me some level of satisfaction.

"Outside, now get out of my way before I blind you with my louboutin."She screeched.

She had hit me with her heels before as proven by a scar I had on my shoulder so I didn't put it past her to actually deliver on her threat.

"Really? You had our stuff left outside."I asked surprised.

I should not have been, mom was petty like that.

"You should be thanking me, I almost had them left behind in Kansas."She grinned with a sinister look on her face.

I resisted the urge to chuck my sneakers at her, that would not end well. I didn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me riled up so I gave her a fake smile, mumbled a fake thank you under my breath before turning on my heel leaving the house.

I'd forgotten to close the truck and grab my phone in my hurry to get Charlie relieved so that was the first thing I did when I made it to the driveway. I drove a burgundy Toyota Hillux double cabin. It had been a gift for my sixteenth birthday from my mom's ex-husband. He had actually bought me a Lamborghini which I traded in for a truck so as to accommodate Charlie. It was a big car for a girl my size but when I'd asked five year old Charlie who was obsessed with monster trucks at the time what to trade it in for he had immediately picked that. He had been so elated the first time I gave him a ride which made up for all the mocking remarks I got for driving a truck at sixteen years old standing at 5'5. I would have happily sold the car to pay for Charlie's surgery but my dearest mother, note the sarcasm made sure the registration was in her name so I ran out of luck on that side.

Locking my truck, I pocketed my keys and phone before moving towards the heap of boxes waiting for me for carry them inside. Some were very heavy as they contained Charlie's gaming console setup but I would manage. No one would be helping me out so I immediately got to work.

I was down to the last three boxes after working non stop for about an hour when a blue Mercedes Benz convertible pulled up in front the house next door. It was just a group of four rowdy teenage boys so I ignored them and went on with my work.

When I came back outside for my last two boxes they were all standing in our driveway. Three were leaning on my truck and the fourth was closer to my boxes than I would have liked him to be. They all looked like stupid jocks who thought it would be funny to mess with me so I tried to ignore them. I was too tired to be dealing with idiotic boys who found it fun to mess with girls and laugh at other people's demise. I was about to pick up my box when the leader, as I presumed him to be put his foot on it.

I had no option but to straighten up and look at him.

"Please get your foot off my stuff."I requested calmly trying to maintain my cool.

I was outnumbered but rule of the prison yard was beat up the leader and the rest of the mice would scurry off. We weren't in prison but I assumed the same rule would apply. He was taller than me, standing at 6'0, heavily built like a football player with dark hair and blue eyes. He would be considered handsome, except by me as I didn't date white boys or boys in general plus he already had a negative personality which made me dislike him more. He seemed to be one of those spoilt rich kids who got whatever they wanted, never got reprimanded for doing wrong, always had their way and had no trouble with the ladies.

If he didn't behave he would be finding out that I wasn't so easy to mess with.

"I thought you could use a little help."He grinned showcasing perfectly aligned white teeth that tycoon daddy dearest probably paid a pretty penny for.

"You call that helping?"I asked pointing at his foot.

"Damn it, you're right. Here let me help."He offered.

He retrieved his foot, grabbed the box before and held it out for me. I had no idea what he was up to but I didn't have time for his jokes so I reached for it intending to grab it and get away from him. Just as I was about to take the box, he let it go and it dropped to the ground. It burst open and my clothes poured out. He chuckled proud of himself and the rest of his minions burst out in laughter. He wanted a reaction from me but he would not be getting one. I was so good at hiding my emotions, so I would not allow him to get to me.

"Oops must have slipped."He apologized with a fake smile.

"It's okay you must be the water boy of the football team, they are the clumsy ones."I replied with my own fake smile, fluttering my eyes lashes innocently at him.

He had not expected the come back so his mouth fell open in shock. His friends laughed at my jab too which irked him more. The poor boy was already popping veins on his forehead. Oh how the tables had turned.

"I'll have you know that I am the captain of the football team."He spat out defensively.

"Of course you are butter fingers. You certainly look the part, too bad looks can be deceiving. Does your team play along to make you believe you are captain, like one of those make a wish foundation situations?"I teased even further.

His friends continued snickering behind his back which he was not too happy about. He was almost at breaking point, just one more and he would definitely loose it.

"Why you little.." He spluttered pointing an accusing finger at me.

"It's okay big boy, don't worry. The men in white won't come for you. Just keep taking your meds and it will all be okay."I consoled faking sympathy as I patted his arm comfortingly.

It was the last straw for him as his friends burst out laughing at his expense. He looked so embarrassed I almost felt sorry for him until I remembered he attacked first by trying to mess with me.

I bent over and put all my clothes back in the box before picking it up.

"Who the hell are you?"He asked with what I assumed to be awe in his voice.

"Willow, your new neighbor. Not so nice to meet you."I replied turning around to leave.

I felt proud of myself for standing up to him but still pissed at myself for allowing him to affect me enough to react. I didn't like confrontations but sometimes they were unavoidable.

"Yoh Willy, is this yours?"He called out.

It angered me when he called me that, not only was it a boy's name but it was also Charlie's nickname for me when he was younger. It still slipped out from time to time so it was still special to me.

I turned around to find him holding up a lacy red thong that I had missed. He was grasping at straws trying to find a way to save his image from my attack but I would not allow it. Any other girl would have been embarrassed to have a boy messing with their undies but I was no normal girl.

"Yeah but you can keep it, probably the only girls panties you will ever see that isn't your mom's."I replied with a smirk.

Winking at him for good measure I walked into the house leaving the gobsmacked jock and his stupid friends behind.

I'd had my fun with a fair share of spoilt rich boys so I knew how to handle the likes of him. I'd even had sex with a football captain once just like the one I'd schooled in the driveway and as much as they bragged to be blessed in all areas they were clueless in bed. I didn't date, moved around too much for that to happen but I didn't say no to casual sex as long as it was good. I didn't just have sex with just anyone though, my body was a temple to be worshipped so I picked my sexual partners carefully enough to get what I deserved.

The football captain in question with the terrible sex had been a senior in my previous school. One of the good ones actually with a good personality and had been asking me out for months. A few days before summer vacation, knowing I'd never see him again, I'd given in. The guy was sweet and caring but the sex had been bland so I'd definitely dodged a bullet there. Dating was for people who had stability and I didn't have that so I didn't even bother with it. I liked part of my life actually as it saved me from heartbreak and meaningless relationships. It didn't mean that I would never date, I would someday when I found the right person and the timing was right. When that time came I would welcome love with open arms. At the moment I didn't have time for that so I reserved all my love for Charlie.

Speaking of the little devil, I checked up check on him only to find him passed out on the bed. I took his electronics from his grasp, situated him better on the bed before covering him properly and resuming my work.

When I went back out to get the last box, my thong was nowhere in sight. The prick had actually taken it with him. Well he better burn it because if he ever jerked off to it and I found it, he would be a dead jock.

Grabbing the last box, I took it to my room then started unpacking. I had two rooms to cover but I didn't like procrastinating so I immediately got to work. It also gave me time to think about what to do the coming year. I was starting senior year which meant I had to start thinking colleges, what to do with Charlie if I got accepted to any college and a lot of stuff in between that.

His eighth birthday was less than four months away which meant I had to finish saving up for his big birthday present. Charlie didn't say it but I knew he always desired to be able to walk normally like everyone else. I always assured him that he was normal and there was nothing wrong with him but as long as he couldn't do everything that other abled kids could then he would never truly believe me.

I had to find a job as soon as possible so I could save up the rest of the money needed. My mom would never offer to help and I didn't know Robert well enough to ask for his assistance. Besides I would never let him view us as charity so I would do everything myself.

Senior year was going to suck but as long as Charlie and I were together and okay then we would both be fine. Everything else would sort itself out with the right time and according to God's will.

Four hours later I was beyond tired but had managed to unpack everything and make both our rooms look habitable. As a way of thanking my body for it's service I treated myself to a thirty minute bubble bath. Would have been longer but I needed to help Charlie shower then make sure we both ate. He could go back to sleep after that.

He was tired when I shook him awake but even he hated being dirty so upon hearing the word shower he was all up for it.

After helping him shower I changed him into a pair of blue pajamas with dolphins on them before wheeling him to the kitchen to find us something to eat. It was nine pm and no one had even bothered to call us for dinner. I didn't care though, I was more than capable of taking care of the both of us. I had been doing it my whole life so why would it change just because my mom had married another rich guy.

I made us grilled sandwiches which I was very good at making after years of practice. For dessert we raided the fridge and found ice cream which we ate while watching Peter Rabbit on the big screen in the living room. By the time the movie was done, it was midnight and I was already dozing off so I decided to call it a night.

"Goodnight bud. I'll leave the door open so call out to me incase of anything."I instructed my brother while saying goodnight.

"I will but I'm a big boy now."He declared making me smile.

"Yes you are buddy and I'm so proud of you." I concurred kissing his cheek.

"Goodnight Willow. I love you."He said with a yawn.

"I love you too."I replied.

After making sure he was properly covered I turned off the light and walked back to my room. Charlie's sleepy voice stopped me at the door.

"Willy?"He called out in a sleepy voice.

"Yes bud."I whispered back.

"Thank you for everything."He mumbled voice muffled by his pillow.

"You're welcome."I answered with a smile.

I stood there for a few minutes listening to him slowly drift off to sleep. His breath evened out assuring me that he was fast asleep so I found my way to my room.

Charlie was my guardian angel in disguise. When he was born with his deformity, my mother was in between marriages so she wanted nothing to do with him. That coupled with the rejection from our dad led her to become unbearable to live with. The minute I'd laid my eyes on Charlie I had fallen in love immediately. To me he was not disabled, he was just an angel who had fallen from heaven and broke his wings thus why he couldn't walk properly.

My mom treated us so badly Social services almost took us away but when I realized that meant us being separated I had lied to those officers. We had to stay with our abusive mom but I got to keep my little angel. My mom's abuse didn't matter as long as I had Charlie. I had survived ten years on my own with her and seven with Charlie. One more year would be a piece of cake then we would be out of her claws.

I couldn't wait for my eighteenth birthday. Eleven months couldn't fly by fast enough.