Rowan's POV

"So how did the science lesson go?" Victoria opened her locker next to mine, both of us stacking our school books away, ready for tomorrow. "Did Mrs.Winters let you off with your incomplete essay?"

I poked my head around my locker door and shot my bestfriend a blank look.

"That bad huh?" Victoria read my expression well.

I slammed my locker shut and leant back against it. "She went off at me and Eva in front of the whole class, she may as-well have read out my predicted grades over the tannoy and let the whole fucking school know that I'm failing."

"Damn, Mrs.Winters sounds like a bitch, I'm glad I don't have her for any of my classes." Victoria shut her locker. "You should complain to the school board though, why is she talking about private matters in-front of everyone? Surely that should be just between you and her."

"I know." I sighed, gripping onto the straps of my backpack.

"I'm serious though, maybe get your dad to complain?"

"My dad?" I questioned her with a laugh of disbelief. "My dad will probably be on Mrs. Winter's side. His expectations for me are high and I'm absolutely dreading going home and facing him with that damn report card."

"I'm sure he'll understand, Ro." Victoria leant her shoulder up against her locker, facing me.

"Hm.." I wasn't convinced.

"Wait.." I watched as Victoria's eyes widened at me. "Rowan, turn your head to the side." she got closer, seemingly looking at something on the side of my head.

"What? What is it? Is there a bug in my hair? I swear to god Victoria you need to get it out!"

"No no, it's not that." Victoria starting parting my hair to get to my scalp and I winced as her fingers touched the sensitive area that took most of the blow when Melissa shoved my head into the lockers.

"What? What is it?" Her lack of explanation was making me fall into a slight panic.

"There's blood in your hair. How hard did Melissa shove you into the lockers?"

"Is it really noticeable?" I ignored her last question. "Is there loads of it?" Why did no one in my science lesson point it out to me?

"There's a cut, but the blood isn't gushing or anything, it's dried out a bit. You should maybe get that looked at though, There's a lump forming too." Victoria stepped away from me and I lightly rubbed my hand on the sore spot.

"I must've hit it on the lock that was sticking out. I'm sure it'll be fine." I opened my locker again and grabbed Hunter's red beanie which I had stolen from him. "I'll just wear this, I'd rather not walk around with blood in my hair."

"More like, you don't want your brothers or dad to notice it.." Victoria cocked an eyebrow up at me.

"Vic.." I blinked back at her; She was right but I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of being right.

"Melissa was way out of line doing that to you today." She muttered as I slipped the beanie over my head.

"Can you please drop it, Vic?"

"Rowan, you need to do something about her. You can't go on like this for the next three years. I can only do so much to help you when I'm around. Look at what she did to you today, this could get worse. You should tell an adult." Victoria ranted on.

"I'm not talking about this now, it was only a little shove alright? I can handle it." I checked myself once over in the small mirror attached to the inside of my locker, making sure the blood tinted spot of hair was covered by the hat. "I shouldn't have pushed her away from me in the first place."

I instinctively jumped back when Victoria angrily shut my locker door, a little harder than needed. "Rowan, you're making excuses for her. She's not the victim here, you are."

"I'm not saying it again." I shook my head and started walking away, down the hall.

"Rowan.." Victoria caught up to my pace.

"No Victoria, I've had the shittiest day as it is already and now I'm going to have to go home and try to explain my way out of my shitty predicted grades to my dad. So I don't need all this shit about Melissa to be a worry for me tonight either, okay?" My last few words were a lie, I know for sure that I'm going to be up all night worrying about what Melissa is going to do as the week pans out, whether Victoria goes on and on about this or not.

"Okay.. I'm sorry." She placed a hand on my shoulder and stopped us from walking. "You've got a lot going on, I get it. But you shouldn't push this aside either, because this Melissa situation is no doubt one of the reasons why you're failing in your classes. She's constantly breathing down your neck, insulting you and now physically hurting you that it's stopping you from concentrating on learning, which is what we're at school to do in the first place."

God, she was right. Hell, I admitted that to myself earlier when Mr Blakesley was asking me why I've been spacing out in lessons. My fear towards these bullies is overtaking my thoughts on a daily and effecting me mentally, emotionally and now physically too. And I can't even stand up for myself, because Melissa bites back just as hard. Am I too much of a wuss? Am I too weak? How does Victoria get away with standing up to Melissa? What am I doing wrong?

God, I fucking hate bullies.

"I can handle it, alright?" Even though I just admitted to myself that Victoria was right, once again, I didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"Alright alright.." Victoria sighed as we continued our way down the hall and towards the main doors of the school. "Anyway, how are you getting home?" Victoria's subject and mood change wasn't a surprise. She masks things quite easily; but I know damn well she's still angry about the Melissa situation..

"Finn is picking me up."

"Reckon he would give me a lift home? I used my bus money to buy something at the cafeteria."

I rolled my eyes at my friends typical actions. "Of course you did."

"Hey, it's not my fault, I was extra hungry at lunch today." She defended.

"Hm.." I side-eyed her. "But yeah you can have a lift, I'm sure Finn won't mind."

We exited the school building and continued our walk towards the parking lot. The icy winter air hit my face; the tip of my nose no doubt already turning red. The snow falling from the sky was like someone was dusting the earth with icing sugar.

My hoodie was not enough to keep my body warm but I covered my hands with the long sleeves anyway; I hate being out in this weather, all it made me want to do was get home and have a hot shower.

"You know, the temptation to throw a snowball in Melissa's face right now, is very high." Victoria muttered, pulling her coat closer to her body to keep warm.

I ignored my best friend's statement and I found my eyes wandering towards Dallas; he was spinning a basketball on his index finger and was laughing about something one of his friends said. Despite my shitty day, I suppose the only good thing that came out of it was that I've finally had a conversation with Dallas.

He probably sensed my intense stare on him because his own eyes trailed over towards me and Victoria, the smile from laughing didn't leave his face and he did a little sup head-nod at us before turning back to his friends. My cheeks immediately heated up; God, am I blushing?

I managed to tear my sight away from Dallas but unfortunately they landed upon Melissa and her friends; She was shooting daggers at me whilst her friends stood around comparing each-others manicures.

"Ignore her, I got this.." Victoria muttered; she must've also noticed Melissa's narrowed eyes that were aimed in our direction.

"Hey Melissa!" Victoria shouted for my bully's attention from across the car park.

"What are you doing?" I hissed at her.

Victoria ignored me though, and stuck her middle finger up at Melissa. "No one likes you!"

"Oh my god.." I mentally facepalmed myself and I didn't dare look back at Melissa. It's best if I avoid her evil eye for now.

"Oi! Victoria!" Another voice from across the parking lot echoed towards us.

We both searched for the familiar face to the voice we heard. Mr Blakesley. He shook his head in disapproval at Victoria's actions and words, which she shrugged off with a laugh.

"Hey, why is Mr Blakesley stood with Finn?" Victoria pointed out at the exact same time I noticed my brother stood with our teacher; both were standing outside Finn's car with Finn leaning back against his driver's side door.

"No idea." I frowned in confusion until realisation hit me. Oh god.. he was probably talking to Finn about my report card. This whole day really hasn't been turning out well for me.

Both men were watching Victoria and I walk towards them; arms crossed over their chests. I felt nervous, until a big smile spread across my brother's face as we approached them. "Hey baby-sis, good day at school?"

Was that a trick question?

But before I could reply, Victoria got in there first. "Yeah it was great, thanks Finn."

Finn raised an eyebrow at her; he was no stranger to Victoria's upfront persona. But she ignored his questioning expression and turned to the other man stood beside my brother.

"Yo Mr Blakesley." Victoria lightly punched our teachers bicep. "What're you doing out here with Finn?"

"Uh, we're just having a catch-up." Mr Blakesley replied.

"Catch-up?" Both mine and Victoria's faces screwed up in confusion.

"Adam and I were in the same school year together about ten years ago." Finn stated.

Victoria looked to Mr Blakesley. "Your name is Adam?! Dude, I am so using this." She laughed.

Mr Blakesley, or Adam should I say, rolled his eyes at Victoria; but the amused smile on his face gave way that he enjoyed her humour.

"On that note, I'm leaving." Mr Blakesley took a step away from us.

"We'll catch up another time, maybe go out for a couple pints or something?" Finn suggested to him.

"Sounds good to me." Mr Blakesley waved us off before walking away, back towards the school.

"Pints? Mr Blakesley goes out for pints? He can't do that, he's a teacher!" Victoria exclaimed.

"Teachers do have a life out side of school believe it or not." Finn laughed at Victoria's disbelief.

"It seems so wrong though." She shuddered whilst jumping into the back seat of Finn's car.

"I guess I'm giving Victoria a lift home?" He raised an eyebrow up at me.

"Yup." I sheepishly smiled back at my brother, before scurrying around to the front passenger door and jumping in.

As soon as Finn sat down in the driver's seat and strapped himself in, I turned to him. "Can Victoria come back with us for dinner?" My idea was that if Victoria was with me at home, I wouldn't feel so anxious about facing my dad alone when he asks about my report card.

"Unfortunately not tonight, Ro." There goes my hope.

"Any reason why?" I asked.

Finn revved the engine of the car before setting off out the parking lot. "Dad's called a family meeting. You're more than welcome to come over for dinner tomorrow though, Vic." He glanced at her through his rear-view mirror.

Family meeting? For what? This can't be about my report card and predicted grades, can it? He wouldn't speak about that with all my brother's there, right?

"Family meeting?"

"Don't look so worried, Ro." Finn laughed, before focusing back on the road. "Dad just needs to chat with all of us, that's all."

The word 'us' eased up my anxiety a little. Must be about something else.

"What's got you so nervous, anyway?" I sneaked a side glance at my brother to find a small frown etched up his forehead.

"Nothing, I'm not nervous." Way to sound convincing, Rowan.

"You've had this almost guilty look on your face since I saw you walking out of the school." Finn stated. "Anything I need to know about?"

When I gave Finn the title of 'brother that knows me best' I didn't mean that would always be a good thing. The negative side of it, is that he can read me well; too well.

"It's nothing, Finn." I said firmly, hoping to sound a little more convincing this time.

But the fake cough from Victoria let me down. I whipped my head around to give her a hardened look.

'Tell him about Melissa and your grades.' She mouthed to me.

I mouthed back a 'no' with a shake of my head.

'You want me to tell him?' Victoria gestured.

God this was like a stressful game of charades.

'No! leave it to me.' I mouthed back one last time, hoping she would drop it.

'Fine' she rolled her eyes but quickly relaxed back in the seat innocently once she noticed Finn stealing glances at her through the rear view mirror again.

I turned back to the front of the car, avoiding the suspicious looks that my brother kept side eyeing me with between focusing on his driving.

"Anything to share, Victoria?" He asked her.

"Nope." She shot back cheerfully.

"You sure?" He pushed.

"Yup."

"You girls are so bad at lying.." Finn muttered with a slight shake of his head.

We only endured a few moments of awkward silence until Victoria's house came into view.

"Here you are, Vic." Finn parked up outside for her to get out. "You sure you've got nothing to tell me before you leave?"

"Nope." She leant forward in her seat and patted his shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Rowan." She hopped out the car and loudly whispered a 'good luck' before shutting the door and running up the path to her house.

"Good luck, huh?" Finn turned to me. "Why would you need that?"

I shrugged and turned towards my side window. "I don't know why she said that.."

"Mhm.." Finn pulled off to start the short journey home; Victoria only lived a five minute drive from us. "All of this isn't about your report card then, huh?"

Fuck, I should've known.

He laughed at my silence, knowing he'd caught me out. "Yeah that's right, I know everything baby-sis."

"Mr. Blakesley told you didn't he?"

"Nope! Aaron called me. Your report card arrived in the mail this morning and He asked me to have a chat with Adam-." Finn stopped to correct himself. "I mean, Mr. Blakesley,  when I collect you from school, which I did."

"And what did Mr Blakesley say about it?" I dreadfully asked.

Finn shrugged one of his shoulders. "He just said that he's noticed you spacing out a lot. Or like today, chatting too much, which I was kind of shocked at because you're a quiet person, Ro. It's not like you to get distracted by talking."

"In all fairness, we were supposed to be talking, it was a discussion day in English."

"Yeah but that means discussing your work, not nattering on about random stuff."

"Well either way, I got the work done so it's fine." I muttered, keeping my sight set on the houses passing by my side window.

"Okay, so what about you spacing out all the time? Anything on your mind you need to talk to me about? Talk to dad about?"

"Can we not talk about this right now? Dad's going to be asking me all the same shit-."

"Aye! nuh uh that's a dollar in the swear jar."

I rolled my eyes at my brother's scolding for the swear word that escaped my mouth. Finn was always a little more lenient with me swearing, he doesn't like it, but sometimes he'll let it slide. Maddox, Hunter and Asher couldn't care-less, but they do like to tease me about it. And then there's Aaron and my dad who hate any bad word that comes out my mouth.

"I'm being serious here Finn-."

"Yeah and I'm being serious too, those words should not be coming out of your mouth."

"You swear all the time.."

"I don't care, you shouldn't be using that kind of language at your age."

"Fucking double standards." I muttered under my breath. I leant my elbow on the door and lay the side of my head in the palm of my hand.

"Rowan." Finn must've caught what I said. "You're lucky dad isn't at home right now, that attitude of yours would not get past him."

"Well, you're annoying me! Dad's going to kill me over my stupid report card and now you're stressing me out even more."

We continued the journey home in silence. My mind was overloaded with worried thoughts. I hate all of this; School, Melissa, my grades, my dad's disappointment in me. It's not like I can help any of it though.

Finn pulled up on the drive outside our house and switched the engine off before turning to me. His once stern expression, softened as he looked to me. "Dad's not going to kill you, Ro. He's probably just a bit disappointed is all. You've got so much potential. You're the good kid, you're the one that's supposed to do the best out of all us. Maybe go to university, get an awesome job, You know?"

"Yeah well with my predicted grades, it looks like I ain't going anywhere for a looooong time."

"You shouldn't think like that. You should be thinking of aiming higher than expected."

"Maybe I don't want to aim high.." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You already know that dad won't take that as an excuse, right?"

"Well then, thats too much pressure on me, I don't like it."

"Is that what this is about? You can't work under-pressure? That's life baby!"

"Yeah? Well I hate life."

"Ro.." Finn sighed.

"Okay fine." I sighed. "I genuinely just find it hard to concentrate and understand things, you know? So, instead of me having to aim higher, maybe dad needs to lower his expectations of me. I can't help the fact that I don't understand some things. When am I ever going to need the circumference of a coke can? Or know how many atoms are on this earth. It's stupid."

"You're right, it is stupid. Half the stuff we learn in school we may not even need to know about as we get older, but in some cases, you might, so it's good to be taught that stuff."

Finn took my silence as a signal that I was finished with the conversation. "Anyway, Aaron's waiting for you inside."

"You're not coming in?" I asked him.

"I'm going to head home and get changed, but I'll be back to have Dinner here before the family meeting."

"Oh right.."

"Hey!" Finn placed his hand on my shoulder before I could get out the car. "It'll be fine."

"Yeah, whatever." I heaved a sigh as I bent down to grab my backpack.

I exited the car, but Finn stopped me again before I could slam the door shut. "No using any of that attitude on dad or Aaron. They don't take to it as well as me."

I shut the car door without another word and trudged my way up towards our front door.

Here goes nothing.

I entered the house and slipped my vans off, leaving them by the pile of shoes behind the door.

Comet came bounding towards me with a rope toy in his mouth; Tug of war being his favourite game to play.

"Hey boy! I missed you." I fussed him before grabbing the other end and pulling the Husky along with me as I made my way into the kitchen.

"Hey Ro." Aaron greeted me.

"Hi." I dropped my end of the rope, allowing Comet to run off with it.

"Good day at school?" Aaron was leaning against the kitchen island with a mug in one hand and his other hovering near an envelope.

"It was okay." I