Hey guys! So sorry it's late. Our production of The Little Mermaid was great btw.

Recap: The entire class gets detention from Mr. Kramer during last period.

"What about cheer?!"

"I just want to go home!"

"Oh no you didn't."

The outraged protests of my classmates filled the room.

"But we have football practice!" Jackson shouted angrily. I rolled my eyes.

"Boo hoo. You have to run and wrestle on painted grass. Meanwhile, other people have lives!"

My father would kill me if I didn't get home on time.

"Oh please," Jackson scoffed. "I hope you're not talking about yourself. I bet you sit at home all day feeling sorry for yourself because you have no friends."

Aw hell naw boi.

I stomped right up to him and slapped him. It was so dramatic. I literally pictured a soap opera that replays it from ever angle.

"Did you just...?" He asked confusedly, holding his cheek.

His upper cheek, I mean.

I nodded solemnly.

"Damn... that hurt," he whispered.

"So you ain't gonna say that shit anymore, are you?" I asked slowly, because he couldn't comprehend anything properly; he's a lot like a child.

He nodded in agreement.

"Good." #GirlPower

———————Oh no! The lines broke up :( —————--

Detention wasn't bad, as Mr. Kramer kept strict watch over us and I had a book to re read: The Running Dream.

When Mr. Kramer finally dismissed us, I raced home. My father's ratty old car was terribly parked in the driveway. I opened the door and tiptoed quietly through the entrance hall. My father stepped in front of me.

"Where were you?!" He growled.

"S-school," I stuttered. He smacked me across the face.

"Don't play with me, slut! School ended hours ago! I bet you were sleeping with some desperate stoner!" He sneered and punched me in the gut.

———Hey guys!—————

What did I do to deserve him? I was always the perfect daughter, and we were a picturesque family. One drunk driver ruined my life. One death produced a devil, a monster that preyed on the weak: preyed on me.

My thoughts drifted to what Jackson had said. He was right; I had no friends, and I sat around feeling sorry for myself.

I had always been shy, but I had my fair share of friends. After Elementary School, though, my best friend moved to Wisconsin, and Cassie arrived. Her looks and money automatically made her the queen of our school. She wasn't nearly as harsh as she is now, but she was always rude to me. It didn't bother me until my friends decided that they didn't want to be associated with someone as hated as me. All but one left me. Daniel was there for me when no one else was, and he was the only reason I could get through seventh grade. That was the year Mom's death had really hit me hard.

Maybe if my father had had someone like Daniel to help him, he wouldn't have become such a monster.

One day, during the summer after 8th grade, Daniel's father got transferred to another branch of the company he worked at, which was conveniently at the other side of the country. So he left, and I didn't have a phone at the time, so we weren't able to keep in touch.

After Daniel left, the abuse got worse than just a few slaps. I nearly died a few times, at the hands of the man whose sperm created me.

I don't love him anymore. I can't. I would call child services and hand him over to the police right now, if it weren't for his corrupted officer friends on the force. Before mom died, he was a respected captain. He has connections in every emergency service in the state.

Cuz my life is straight out of a horror story. (No silly, it's teen fic/humor)

When I turn 18 in July, I'm going to escape this hell hole and pursue my realistic dream to become an architect with a decent wage in California.

Just a few more months.

-------------------------Kronos Speeds Up Time--------------------------------------

"Okay class, we have a new student today!" Mr. Brown announced the next day.

A boy with cropped, dark brown hair and green/hazel eyes was standing next to him.

Daniel.

"Uh, hey. I'm Josh," the boy said sheepishly.

Not Daniel...?

Mr. Brown directed him to the seat in front of Lucas, diagonal to me.

I sat there in confusion, not comprehending anything around me.

"Jasmine. Jasmine!" Mr. Brown barked. "What's the answer?"

"Ummm... 5?" I guessed, without knowing the question.

He stared at me. "Yes, the 2nd caliph of the Arab Empire was "5". That makes so much sense. Pay attention!"

Damn, someone's feeling salty today.

Oh yeah, this is Social Studies, not Math...

Don't judge me! If your childhood friend walked in after more than three years under a fake name, you'd be just as confused!

When the bell rang, I rushed to catch up with Daniel Josh, who had walked out of the room quickly.

"Hey, Josh, wait up!" I called out. Daniel Josh turned around. When he caught a glimpse of me waving my arm frantically, he sped up.

Either he thought I was a crazy wacko, or he recognized me and freaked.

Imma go with the latter.

I followed him and ran when I realized he was making a bee line to the men's bathroom.

I grabbed his arm.

"Daniel," I panted, catching my breath. "What is going on?"

His eyes widened. "Daniel? Wha-who's Daniel?"

Guess he's a bad liar...

I gave him a dull look.

He sighed. "Look Jasmine, I'd rather not say right now. Just know that I'm back for the rest of the year."

I crossed my arms and pouted. "Since when have you ever kept secrets from me?"

He gave me a small smile, but the look in his eyes showed that he wasn't gonna tell me.

I refrained from trying to beat the truth out of him because I'm just a sweet, non-violent angel.

"Fine," I groaned. "Be that way. I gotta go to class." I turned on my heel and started walking, but Daniel grabbed my arm. I turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow. He immediately pulled his hand away and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Uh, what class do you have next?" he asked.

"English with Miss. Johnson."

He grinned. "OMG same!"

During class, we talked about everything that had happened while he was gone. But not once did he let slip what had happened in California. He made3 me promise to call him Josh.

A part of me wanted to refuse, but he gave me these adorable puppy dog eyes that could sway even the toughest of men.

Except Jackson, probably. That dude's like a brick wall.

Daniel/Josh and I parted ways when I went to French, while he had Spanish, but I told him where my locker was and he agreed to meet me there before lunch.

----------------Barry, I sure hope you aren't messing with the time!---------------

I sat down in my seat in the back row of my last class before lunch. The Boys immediately joined me.

"Where did you go after Social Studies, Flower? I was looking for you!" Noah said, sitting down at his desk next to me.

I glared at him.

"Seriously, stop calling me Flower."

Jackson nodded. "Yeah, she definitely isn't some delicate little rose. Look what she did to me!" He indicated to the bruise that was blooming on his cheek from when I slapped him yesterday.

I crossed my arms and shrugged. "Well maybe if you weren't so rude, you wouldn't have gotten that well deserved blow to your ego!"

He huffed. "I was only telling the truth!"

Noah's eyes widened. "Bro, you're only getting yourself into deeper shit. And I ain't risking pulling you out!"

I ignored the comment and bunched my sleeves at the elbows.

I dunno, people in movies always looked more menacing when they did that.

"You askin' for another slap boy?"

Jackson kept his eyes on me, initiating a silent stare down. Noah wave his arms in front of Jackson's face.

"Mission abort dude! Run for your life!"

The ends of my mouth twitched up, and Jackson flashed a grin. Lucas started laughing from behind me, and Jax and I both started to chuckle.

Noah breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew, now I won't have to bring a sobbing, depressed loser version of Jackson home!"

Jackson's eyes narrowed at him and he stood up.

They ran around the room like Tom and Jerry.

Of course, Jackson ultimately caught Noah.

--------------------------Lilo and Stitch-----------------------------------

"Heyyyy girl!" Daniel/Josh greeted, coming up to meet me at my locker.

"Hi," I replied. "How were your classes?"

He groaned. "Terrible. Some Dolls were bothering me the whole time!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Dolls?"

"Yeah, they were plastic, useless, and had no personality, just like Barbies."

I smiled, but it soon turned into a frown.

Daniel was hot now, no question about it. So the populars were gonna bother him. The girls would go for him and the guys would welcome him into the group of jocks. And he would leave me once again.

I closed my locker door.

"You know, hanging out with me will drag your reputation through the mud. You should probably go sit with the jocks instead of me."

He frowned as I started to walk down the hall.

"Since when have I ever cared about that?"

I turned to look at him.

"I dunno. Maybe you've changed in the years that you left me without a word to fend for myself in this hell hole," I remarked, with hostility biting at my words.

He looked at me sadly. "You know I never meant to do that. It was just a terrible... situation and-"

He was interrupted by Noah, who had walked up to us, Jackson and Lucas behind him.

"Hey girlie! Wassup?" he greeted, putting an arm around me. He eyed Daniel/Josh suspiciously.

"Is this thug bothering you, Honey?" he asked. Noah pulled up his sleeves and tried-keyword being tried-to look menacing. "I'm warning you now, kid, I spent years in da hood."

Face-palm.

Daniel/Jo- you know what? It's Josh. Just Josh.

Josh looked at him, then back at me with a who da eff is this dude? look.

"Calm down, Noah. This is my friend Josh," I explained. Jackson raised an eyebrow.

"Friend? Are you suuuuure?"

I glared at him and held up my hand. He cowered away, obviously remembering what had happened last time he made fun of how much of a loner I am.

"Hey, Jasmine's friend!" Lucas smiled. Is this kid made of sunshine? Why tf is he so happy?

Honestly, what's the point of being a little ray of sunshine when you could be a beam of pitch dark shadows?

Josh waved. "Hey..."

The trio started walking to the cafeteria. I followed with Josh at my side.

"I'm so glad that you made friends," Josh said, looking down at me.

I snorted. "Yeah, like I had a choice. They followed me everywhere and kept asking questions. So annoying. But I guess we're friends now...?"

We sat down at our normal table, me with my apple and Josh with his bagged lunch.

I know right? Who even brings a bagged lunch anymore?

Noah, Lucas, and Jackson were standing in line to buy lunch.

"I can tell that they've changed you," Josh remarked as I bit into my apple.

I rolled my eyes.

"No, really," he said, glancing at me. "You are so much happier now than you were before I left. You smile more often."

I looked at him and sighed. "They're really annoying."

"But they are your friends. They can cheer you up, and for the first time, you actually seem happy to see other humans!"

"I'm not some old cat lady that doesn't talk to other people."
He gave me a look.

Maybe they did change me, I think, looking at the three. Noah, and his ridiculous remarks that always make me smile. Lucas and his kindness, because he's almost always nice to me, and that's always been rare in my life. And Jackson with his sexy face and hard exterior, but he's less hard at heart.

No, not soft. Just less hard. Even when you get to know him, he's a violent, argumentative asshole, but a slightly nicer, more emotional person.

Maybe friends are useful after all.