Lacey stepped off the large yellow school bus and onto the sidewalk, hiking her bag up higher on her shoulder. Another day of prison was finally over. Athena still hadn't been at school and Lacey couldn't seem to get a hold of her.

Lacey walked the short distance from the bus stop to her house. When she arrived at her house, she heard shouting coming from inside and her brother sitting outside on the front step.

"Um... What are you doing out here?" Lacey asked as she approached her brother.

"Mom and Dad are fighting."

Lacey's parents have never fought before. They always seemed so happy.

"I don't understand... What are they fighting about?" Lacey looked at the house and back at her brother.

"Dad wants to get married and Mom claims she's not ready. I don't get it though. They've been together for almost twenty years and Mom still doesn't want to get married."

"Wait... What the fuck did you just say?"

"They've been together for almost twenty years?"

"No, the next part."

"Mom still doesn't want to get married?"

"Yeah, that..."

"You mean you didn't know?"

"No... Oh my god. I need to get out of here." Lacey turned and began to walk down the sidewalk away from the house.

It was a lot for her to handle. Her best friend wasn't answering her and now she finds out that her parents aren't even married.

"Hey girls, look who it is." Someone said and the voice brought Lacey out of her thoughts.

"Oh, no..." Lacey mumbled.

Walking towards her were the three toughest girls in school and the biggest bullies in town, even worse than the guys.

"Where you running off to, little freak? Going to cut yourself somewhere with your other little emo friends? Oh, wait. That's right, you don't have any friends except that slut, Athena." One said and pushed the books in Lacey's hands to the ground.

"Freshman are so stupid." Another said.

They all began to surround her and Lacey truly thought this was the end for her. She thought they would beat her to death.

"Hey!" A deep, familiar voice sounded.

All the girls turned to look in the direction of the voice and Lacey saw Andy running over to her rescue.

"Who are you?" One of the girls said, trying to sound tough but everyone knew they were scared of the very tall man clad in leather standing in front of them.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that you all fuck off and leave Lacey alone or else." Andy said.

All three girls nodded and scurried off, away from Andy and Lacey. Lacey immediately dropped to her knees and started gathering her books off the ground.

"Here, let me help you with that." Andy knelt down next to her and helped her gather her things.

"Um, wow, thanks, Andy." Lacey said as they stood up.

"It was no problem."

"No one's ever stood up for me like that."

"Well, I'm here for you." Andy wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. "You wanna come back to my place? Tell me what happened?"

Lacey nodded and Andy gripped her tighter as they made their way back to his house. Andy led her through the front door and sat her down on the couch in the living room. He sat down next to her and took both her hands in his.

"Okay. Tell me what's wrong."

She looked up at him through misty eyes. "My parents aren't married and they've been together for twenty fucking years and now they're fighting and they never fight and Athena hasn't been answering my calls and I just feel so alone, Andy..."

A tear escaped and trailed down her cheek. Andy reached over and wiped it away with his thumb before pulling her into a hug.

"I don't want to go back there, Andy. I just can't. I'll be alone again." Lacey mumbled into Andy's shoulder.

Andy ran his fingers through Lacey's hair. "Stay here with me tonight. You don't have to go back there just yet. Just tell your parents that you're staying over Athena's if they ask."

"They probably won't ask. They won't even notice I'm not there."

"You're staying with me tonight. I'll take care of you."

"Promise?" Lacey looked up into his ice blue eyes.

He smiled down at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Promise."