DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING, ALL CHARACTERS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE TALENTED BECCA FITZPATRICK AND THE HUSH HUSH SAGA

WARNING: THIS STORY IS VERY, VERY OUT OF CHARACTER. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN IN CHARACTER STORY STOP AND GO BACK, THIS IS NOT THE STORY FOR YOU. EVERYONE IS HUMAN, NORA IS A TROUBLE MAKER, SHE HAS A LITTLE BROTHER, VEE ISN'T REALLY IN THE STORY, RIXON WILL BE PATCH'S LITTLE BROTHER, SCOTT IS HIS FRIEND, KIND OF AND DABRIA IS SCOTT'S LITTLE SISTER PATCH USED TO DATE. MARCIE WILL BE IN THIS ONE, DANTE IS IN THIS ONE AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REFERENCE LATER TO HER PARENT SITUATION THAT WILL RESEMBLE THE BOOKS TO AN EXTENT.

**LANGUAGE**LATER LEMONS**REFERENCES LIGHT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND MARIJUANA USE FOR STORY PURPOSE ONLY** THIS STORY IS ABOUT TEENAGERS, SOME ARE MATURE, OTHERS ARE NOT AS WE ALL KNOW SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ADULT CHARACTERS TRY MY STORY 'FOLLOW YOUR HEART' OR SOMEONE ELSE STORY. :)

DAMAGED

CHAPTER 1

NORA'S POV:

"You know it's unbelievable that the two of you are already in my office on the second day of school," Principal Davis said, eyeing Patch and I suspiciously, "Just what do you have to say for yourselves?"

"He deserved it." Patch said smirking and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Look, Mr. Cipriano, regardless of your feelings towards Dante, vandalizing his car in the school parking lot was wrong and you're lucky he isn't pressing charges," he said sternly, "You and Ms. Grey are in this office way more than you should be. It's only the second day of your junior year and I had hoped the two of you would make an effort to stop getting sent into my office every week. I still haven't forgotten about the incident with the blue dye in the swimming pool last May. This is worth at least a month of detention.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes, trying to bite back a grin.

"You know your attitude needs adjusting Ms. Grey," Davis glared at me, "Believe me when I say your parents will be notified."

"Well gee, what about my parents?" Patch chuckled, "I mean, you'll need a quiji board to talk to them, but considering what a serious matter this is I think we'll have to resort to desperate measures."

"That's enough Mr. Cipriano!" he said angrily, "Both of you must report to after school detention for the rest of the month. I'd appreciate it if I didn't see either of you in my office again anytime soon. Now get to class!"

Patch and I got up and walked down the familiar hallway through the office and back to the main part of the school. We're no strangers to being sent to the principles office, at this point they should have plaques up on the wall with our pictures for our outstanding commitment to delinquency. The problem is that there's nothing to do in Coldwater Creek except fuck with people who deserve it. Dante Matterazzi is this towns golden boy, he's been trying to get in my pants since I was a freshman. He's a perverted ego-maniac and I absolutely hate him, but in this town hating his family is almost against the law because they basically own Coldwater Creek.

"God I hate Davis. He's been on our asses since freshman year. If it wasn't Dante's car he wouldn't be giving us an entire month."

"Yeah, the guy needs some sort of hobby," Patch agreed, "He get's way too much enjoyment out of yelling at us. We'll just do our time like we always do."

"I still think messing with Dante's Beemer was legendary," I laughed, "Totally worth a month's detention."

"Grey, all of our stunts are legendary," Patch smirked, putting his arm over my shoulder, "You going to class?"

"I wasn't planning on it," I looked up at him and smiled, "Although my parents are going to lose their mind as it is so maybe I should. They already took my car away for coming home drunk last week, I don't want to lose my credit card too."

"Yeah, then you might have to repeat an outfit, oh the horror!" he made a face, "I have to say it's moments like these that I'm happy to be an orphan."

"Oh please, Cipriano." I snickered "You're the best dressed guy I know, don't be a hypocrite. I would kill to be on my own and have an apartment, you know how difficult my parents can be." It was true, Patch was always impeccably dressed, granted his wardrobe was basically the same every day, but he had the option to wear whatever he wanted. What he wanted just happened to be dark jeans, usually black, dark colored Henley's he liked to push up to his elbows giving the girls a fabulous view of his muscular forearms, and a pair of black motorcycle boots and matching black leather jacket. I happened to know though that his wardrobe closet consisted of designer suits and all other designer label pieces, he just didn't wear any of them.

"If you're going to class I might as well tag along," We walked towards our physics class, "I'm not in the mood to get stoned with Scott right now anyways and Bo's is closed today, some dude got stabbed last night there."

"You're too kind." I said sarcastically. I looked up at Patch and smiled though because truthfully, I don't know what I'd do without him, he's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. His dad died when he was seven and his mom was a raging, violent alcoholic. He was emancipated from her when he turned sixteen and she died in a car accident a few months later, not that Patch cared. I think he was probably relieved by her death more than anything. We've gotten in trouble more times than I can count, we've earned ourselves a pretty vast reputation as the town bad asses, not that I really give a shit what anyone else thinks.

"Ahh, Mr. Cipriano and Ms. Grey, it's so nice of you to join us." Our physics teacher Mr. Holiday said as we walked in late to class.

"Well we're happy to grace you with our presence." Patch smirked before we went to take our seats in the back of the class. Most of the teachers here are used to Patch's attitude so Mr. Holiday just brushed it off and went back to lecturing. The rest of the day was going to drag on and now I have an hours worth of detention to enjoy too.

"Look who's here," Coach laughed when Patch and I walked into the detention room, "You two just don't quit. What did you do this time?"

Coach is my aunt Dorothea's boyfriend and he's the only cool teacher in this place. He loves me and Patch, plus he's at my house all the time with my aunt so Patch and I see him outside of school a lot. My aunt Dorothea is the only family member I really get along with, she's nothing like either of my parents.

"We screwed up Dante's BMW yesterday during 6th period." I explained as we took our seats.

"That kid's a douche bag." Coach chuckled.

"You should've seen him yesterday," Patch rolled his eyes, stretching his long legs out in front of him. Patch is tall, well over 6'2 with a really muscular build. He's not bulky, but he's well cut and defined, chiseled and perfectly proportioned. His washboard abs are the envy of every guy and his ass makes all the girls swoon. The guy is art in motion, "He was hitting on Nora again and when she told him to fuck off he acted like a total maniac."

"He's a senior so he'll be gone next year, that's a good thing." Coach shrugged.

"What are you doing running detention?" Patch asked, "This isn't exactly an enjoyable way to spend your after school hours."

"I need the extra money. Not all of us have trust funds from our rich dead parents, Patch." Patch's parents left him tons of cash, but he also wins a lot of money and things playing pool and cards at Bo's. He's a gambling man, he even won the new black jeep he's driving now. He's a high-stakes player and likes taking risks, it's kinda his thing.

"Alright, alright I get it." Patch put his hands up in mock defeat.

We spent the rest of detention hanging out and chatting with Coach before Patch gave me a ride home since my car keys were confiscated. As we pulled up to the large farmhouse I unfortunately call home my stomach started to churn. The Grey's may be one of the wealthiest and most well-known founding families in Coldwater Creek, but that's all we have going for us. Our family is more messed up than people think. My mother is just good at playing perfect and has perfected the art of public performance. I like to think of Patch and I as damaged thanks to good old-fashioned family dysfunction.

"If it gets to be too much you can call me," Patch gave me a small smile, "You know my door is always open."

"I know," I smiled back, "I might take you up on that. Thanks for the ride."

I shut the door on the jeep and walked slowly up the long path towards the front door before sprinting up the oak stairs and down the long hallway to my bedroom. I sat down on my large plush bed and took a deep breath. It's not that I'm ungrateful for having a nice life or money, but my parents don't really understand me. I have a little brother, Travis, who is perfect, I'm the family screw up; the black sheep. I don't get straight A's, I hate town events, I get in trouble constantly, and my best friend is Patch Cipriano.

In a small town like this there's no such thing as privacy so it's common knowledge how screwed up Patch's mother was and everyone knows his reputation. The Cipriano's are another wealthy founding family of Coldwater Creek, after Patch's dad died and his mom went crazy people stopped respecting them. His family had once been considered angels, now he was the fallen angel.

"Nora?" my mom's stern knock sounded against my door, "Are you in there?"

"I'm here." I sighed, preparing myself for the inevitable lecture I knew I was about to receive.

"Good, we need to talk," she walked in, her face etched with anger, "I got a call from your principal today."

"Kinda figured that," I rolled my eyes dramatically, "Please. Enlighten me once again on what I need to do to lead a better life." I dipped my voice in sarcasm.

"Nora Lee Grey! You need to drop your attitude right now! You're out of line and out of control." She snapped.

"Look, I'm sorry about getting in trouble again." I tried sounding sincere.

"Nora, sorry doesn't cut it," she straightened her diamond necklace. "I can't believe you damaged someone's car, that's completely ludicrous, Nora. I can't believe you would do something so cruel to Dante, he's the Mayors son, he's also the son of one of my closest friends. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is? Not to mention the fact that he likes you, Nora. He's a good-looking boy from a respectable family and you would be smart to accept a date with him. I just don't get it, he's nothing but nice to you and then you pull a stunt like this? It's like your purposely trying to ruin your chances with him!"

"Dante Matterazzi is nothing but an arrogant asshole and I would never date him, not even if he was the last man on earth," I said disgusted, "The whole reason Patch and I pulled that stunt was to get him to lay off me. He's snobby, creepy, overbearing, and controlling, not to mention he sexually harasses me every chance he gets!"

"I have a feeling this is Patch Cipriano's fault. He's a bad influence on you, Nora. These dramatic accusations about Dante are totally ridiculous. I think the only reason you spend so much time with Patch and let him talk you into these things is to get back at me." She huffed.

"Patch isn't the problem, mom," I defended my best friend, "You're totally overreacting. He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember; God, not everything is about you. It was my idea to vandalize Dante's car. I don't see what the big deal is, I mean they can afford to fix it with the change they find in the sofa cushions."

"Nora, it's the principal of things. Not to mention Dante's mother is a judge in the Coldwater Creek pageant and you've practically ruined your chances of winning."

"Who said I was entering? I told you already I don't want to do it!" I shouted angrily.

"You're a member of a founding family, Nora, you have to be in the pageant and that's final."

"Well I'm not doing it," I said defiantly, "It's just another excuse for the idiot girls in this town like Marcie Miller to parade around in dresses and do some stupid fucking dance and I want no part in it. They're all pretentious bitches."

"You better watch that mouth of yours right now young lady," my mom glared at me, "Women don't swear, as for the pageant, you don't have a choice. If you don't do it I'm taking your credit cards. No shopping, no spending money."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"No, that's the deal." I could tell by the look on her face I was fighting a losing battle and I was in no mood to be broke. My piggy bank was permanently anorexic without my credit cards.

"Fine. I'll do the damn thing." I sighed defeated.

"Good. Now I expect you to apologize to Dante right away. I know Patch pressured you into this mess, he's a waste of breath, Nora, you need to stay away from him. One look at that boy and any mother would be changing the locks on her house, you need to stay away from him."

"I have no intention of apologizing to Dante," I said dryly, "And Patch didn't pressure me to do anything, I already told you this whole thing was MY idea. He just went along with it."

"I find that very hard to believe. I'll talk to Dante's mom myself and try to explain your actions and work out your issues with her son. Maybe he will forgive you and you two can make amends."

"Mom, please don't do this! I can't stand him!" I practically begged.

"Nora, you just don't want to be with him because I think it's a good idea." She sighed.

"That's not true," a tear escaped my eye, "Mom, please, he's not a good guy."

"Not a good guy?! That's an interesting thing to say considering the company you keep. Patch Cipriano is the problem here, not Dante."

"Patch's the only person who's always been there for me," I was crying now, "He's my best friend, why can't you understand that?"

"That's a damn shame." She said coldly before leaving my room. I got up and slammed the door behind her before throwing myself on my bed and screaming into my pillow. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

PATCH'S POV:

After I dropped Nora off at her house I drove the short way over to my apartment lost in thought. I know how hard it is for her to be in that house, it's big and cold, the fog even hangs around outside like some creepy horror flick and her family treats her like total shit. I pulled up to my usual parking spot and walked to my apartment, unlocking the door.

"Hey!" A familiar voice said, causing me to jump.

"Scott, you scared the shit out of me," I punched him in the arm as he sat on the couch, "How did you get in here? Nora's the only person with a spare key."

"I picked the lock." He shrugged, taking a sip of the beer he stole out of my fridge.

"That's comforting," I muttered. "Why are you here anyways?"

"I was bored. Plus, Dabria was being annoying again. How you ever dated her I will never understand."

"We weren't exactly dating if you know what I mean." I flashed him a lewd smirk.

"That's disgusting," he cringed. "God, my sister's such a whore. It's an embarrassment."

"Give her a break," I laughed. "You're not so squeaky clean yourself. I can't think of any girl in this town you haven't fucked."

"Touche'!" Scott chuckled before focusing back on whatever stupid reality show he had playing on the flat screen hanging on my wall. I think it was called 'Living With The Band', who knows it was about music which wasn't much of a shocker since Scott played bass in a band.

I looked down at my phone and noticed the time, I had dropped Nora off about a half hour ago and I figured her mom was already going at her. Nora was always there for me when I had issues with my mom, I try to return the favor. She used to sneak me into her room at night when I was afraid to stay at home, she brought two lunches to school everyday knowing my mom didn't pack one. I wish I could do more to help her with her home situation, there's not much I can do besides be here when she needs me. I figured I'd send her a text to see how it was going.

How's everything with mommy dearest?

"Texting one of your many booty calls?" Scott teased me.

"Nah, just Nora," I shrugged.

"Oh, dear sweet Nora Grey," he smiled. "Actually, not so sweet. Hell of a good time in the sack though."

"Whoah! What?!" My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How would you know that?"

"I thought you knew about that," he looked puzzled. "We fucked this past summer when we were wasted that night at the creek."

"She didn't mention it." Why would Nora fuck Scott? I thought she had standards. I'm fully aware that she has a sex life, I mean anyone with eyes can see how perfect she is, she is around 5'5, slim with curves in all the right places, long soft cascading brown curls with natural red highlights and big dove-gray eyes that can melt you like butter or turn cold as ice cold steel when she was pissed, but for some reason this piece of information really gets to me. I guess I never pegged her as the type to be on Scott's list of conquests.

"You okay, dude?" Scott asked a few minutes later.

"Yes, just zoned out." I answered before my phone beeped.

Mommy dearest is fucking insane. I can't be in this house anymore.

I figured her mom was pissed, Blythe Grey is one of the scariest women I've ever met, she doesn't even get physical, all she needs is her words.

I'll come get you, it'll give me a reason to kick Scott out. He's annoying me.

Thanks Patch :)

Don't mention it ;)

"I'm going to pick up Nora so you should go." I looked pointedly at Scott.

"Why can't I just hang out here?" He complained.

"This isn't a rec center." I pulled him off my black couch. "Plus, Nora's having a hard time and you're not exactly good company when girls get emotional."

"Good point." He grabbed his stuff. "See you tomorrow. Deuces."

I followed Scott out the door and locked up before heading back to my black jeep to pick Nora up. This has become a fairly normal routine since I got my own place, it used to be her letting me stay at her place, now I'm making up for it. I pulled up in front of her house and sent her a text saying I was there and watched her walk out the front door a few minutes later with her bag. Nora sneaks out and stays with me all the time and her parents hardly ever notice she's gone, all they care about is what the town sees.

"Hey," I smile when she gets in the car. "How'd you get past the warden?"

"She left after our fight. I doubt she'll go back up and check on me."

I nodded and we drove the rest of the way to my place in silence. When we got in the door she took a seat on the couch, she looked exhausted. I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the kitchen and brought it over to the living room to hand it to her before sitting in the leather armchair.

"Thanks." She gave me a grateful smile before taking a swig.

"What exactly happened?"

"Well, first she was pissed at me for targeting the Mayors son because it's just so embarrassing," Nora rolled her eyes. "Then she told me how terrible I am for treating Dante so bad when he just wants to be with me."

"Wait, what? Why the hell would she say that?"

"He's Dante," she shrugged, "Even though he's a pompous asshole he's the mayors son. The people of this God forsaken town think he sneezes gold and shits diamonds. My mom thinks we'd make a good couple, I can't think of anything more disgusting, I mean you know how horrible he is." She made a face and shivered.

"I don't get why everyone is so obsessed with that family," I said bitterly, "They're all pieces of shit. His dad is easily the biggest ass ever, his mom is like those bitches on the Real Housewives show and Dante is the perfect example of everything that's wrong with the world."

"That about sums it up," she laughed, "Things are about to get a lot worse, you'll never guess what else we fought about."

"What?" I asked, puzzled. What more could there be?

"She's making me enter the Coldwater Creek pageant."

"Ouch," I cringed, "She's really making you do that fucking pageant?"

"Yup," Nora popped the P before frowning, "Then she went after me for being friends with you. She said a ton of horrible things."

I watched her take another swig before wiping her mouth and frowning again. Nora and her mom get in a lot of fights, she seems worse than usual though. I got up from the chair and went to sit next to her on the couch, pulling her into my side for a hug.

"Are you going to be okay?" I was getting concerned, "You seem more upset than usual."

"I feel so hopeless, you know?" Her voice was shaky as she leaned her head on my shoulder, "My mom's single-handedly ruining my life one step at a time. I can't believe she had the nerve to go after you. I don't know how much more I can take from her."

"I know," I absent-mindedly ran my hand up and down the side of her are, "You will get through this Nora, you're the biggest bad ass I know."

"I don't know about that." She gave me a small smile.

"Then it's a good thing I do," I reassured her, "Let's just hang out and forget all about that bitch. I'll even watch Full House if you want me to."

"Wow, you must feel really bad for me." She laughed as I turned on the TV. Full House is Nora's favorite show, up until recently I never understood why someone like her would like a lame cheesy ass sitcom like that one, now I realize it's because watching a show about a loving family fills a void for her. Her family is anything but loving, I know how hard it is for her to be in her house. Nora is the only person I act this way with. I'm not the type of guy who acts tender and watch's sitcoms while holding a sad crying girl in my arms, but this is Nora. She's the only person I've ever truly been able to depend on and I wouldn't have made it through anything I have without her. In our own ways we're both damaged.

THERE IT IS...CHAPTER ONE OF MY STORY 'DAMAGED', I REALLY JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO PATCH AND NORA AND GIVE YOU A BRIEF OF THEIR LIVES, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHAPTERS IN THIS STORY WITH DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON SO NOT EVERY CHAPTER WILL BE YOUR FAVORITE. THESE ARE THE FIRST STORIES I'VE WRITTEN, THIS ONE IS COMPLETELY DRAFTED SO IT IS A MATTER OF EDIT/POST AFTER REVISIONS IF I HAVE THEM. 'FOLLOW YOUR HEART' IS THE FIRST STORY I'VE EVER WRITTEN AND IT IS ENTIRELY ROUGH DRAFTED SO I UPDATE IT FREQUENTLY, 'INEVITABLE' IS MY SECOND STORY EVER AND I AM WRITING IT AS I POST IT SO IT TAKES LONGER FOR ME TO UPDATE. IF YOU LIKE ANY OF THEM, MINE OR OTHER AUTHORS DON'T FORGET TO CLICK FOLLOW BUTTON SO YOU RECEIVE AN ALERT WHEN NEW CHAPTERS ARE POSTED OR STORIES. THANK YOU! :)

If you don't like the characters or story, don't read, it's that simple. Not every story is for every person and that's okay. I pick up books I don't like all the time and I just stop reading and move on to something I do like. I don't write every author and tear the characters or story apart. If you don't like what you're reading for Hush Hush fanfic then write your own or move on to something you do like. If you have a positive critique let me hear it *please note I do NOT have a beta and I openly and readily admit I am NOT punctuation fluent many times. It's a thorn in my side so I apologize apologize apologize*. If you like it let me know! More reviews usually means faster updates, feed my muse, brighten my day, it's all good karma. If you like what you read follow the story and you'll know as soon as new chapters are added and thank the people who review, their the one's encouraging me to keep plugging away at this. I have a lot of story ideas, long and one shots, plus there are a LOT of other very talented authors on here so check them out and review review review that's how this site grows and gets better it's by readers like you! :)