Chapter One: Halley

I could feel my back being pulled down by the large guitar. I was bummed because the music department was shut again, and on the second day where he said it would be open and so I brought my guitar into school again. I would of put it into my locker, but I was given the bottom one at the beginning of the semester so it doesn't particularly fit very well...

I got the guitar for my fourteenth birthday from my uncle Raj, as I am definitely gifted with music, as my dad says, but I just do it as a hobby. I've been with my dad around the town briefly but we haven't done anything major. It's just small gigs at the comic-book store and we did one small appearance at my brother's Bar Mitzvha last year, but I did kind of have to go anyway... Cause he's my brother.

"Hey, Halley," Louis called as I turned around to face him.

"Hey, Louis." I answered back, waiting for him to catch up.

I walked down the hall with him and I watched him go into his homeroom, which was right next to mine. I slid past Michelle Iwloy and Holly Worchester and tried not to notice them, but I could see in the corner of my eye they were giggling.

"Halley... Lost all your confidence with you and boys, you've started dating your brother.?" Michelle mocked as Holly almost collapsed with laughter.

"Even if I was, which I'm not, because Eww. At least I could actually get a boy." I snapped back as Michelle placed her hand, which was covered in way to much nail polish and was still so obvious they were fake nails, over her chest.

"Excuse me?" She asked, taking a step away from the lockers.

"You heard what I said." I stammered, "Pigeons mate better that you."

I felt my heart beating in the tip of my toes as Michelle got closer and closer. Holly wimped out and was still leaning against the lockers.

I quickly sighed with pure relief when the bell for Homeroom.

"Saved by the bell." She mumbled, walking away slightly.

I cautiously walked out of the school gate, and slowly picked up the pace as I saw the bus waiting.

I had already put my headphones in, and I was looking out for Louis, so he would have someone to sit with. I had also blown off Alexa, who by the way hates her name, only because of the Home Echo that was released just after I was born, just to make sure that I could get to Louis before Toby Carner could.

Knowing Michelle, she would most likely take advantage of me when I could hear her, as that's what she enjoys most.

I was looking forward to September, as that is when Lucas is coming up to the High School, as he is currently in the eighth grade. I'm sure Louis is excited about it too. Exactly like their dad's, both Louis and Lucas have inherited their father's 'defects' if that's what you could call it. Louis has dad's large nose and bug-eyes. Lucas has asthma and horrific eyesight.

Louis greeted me as I caught up with him although I could hardly hear him because I had my headphones in.

Kiera, another girl I am friends with, spun me around, much to my surprise. I pulled out one headphone as she began talking to me.

"Halley, you're the only one that's stupid enough to break it up." She said, thinking I had understood what she meant.

"To break what up?" I asked, pulling myself and Louis out of the line for the bus.

"Michelle and Holly are picking on these roughly aged middle school students just outside the school." She explained, before edging me forward.

"Oh, damn you're right." I sighed, knowing that I was stupid enough to bother a junior student just to help younger grades. "Louis, you coming?"

Louis didn't answer, but he did shake his head more times that I had ever seen.

"Okay, if the bus leaves before I get back, tell mom and dad I had an after school detention or something." I explained, edging further away.

"Detentions are an hour!" He pointed out, slightly raising his voice so I could hear him.

"Just say I missed the bus then." I yelled back, now too far away for him to hear me if I spoke in my usual tone. "Just say anything!" I added.

I turned around completely and followed Kiera to the spot where she said that Michelle was picking on younger kids.

I immediately stopped after I noticed who exactly she was messing with. I could feel myself filling with rage, which didn't happen too often, as I saw her push the older one to the floor.

I charged forward, feeling that it was my duty. Michelle spun around to face me. She bent backwards, laughing sarcastically.

"Oh, if it isn't Halley Wolowitz.." She sneered, piercing me a glaring look with her eyes.

"Back off, Michelle. Or we're gonna have a problem." I threatened, giving her a chance.

"What you gunna do about it, Bitch?" She asked, shooting me a second look.

I persuaded the victims by my side. They wasted no time and quickly scooted over to me.

Michelle glared over at me for the third time, as I squinted my eyes over at her.

"I can do damage, Michelle. You know I can. It might be over a long period of time, or it could be quick and painless. But I will get you. Just because I'm the grade below you, doesn't mean I'm not any different. You haven't met my mom's ex-boyfriend, Glenn." I mentioned, before leaning in. "He can snap you like a stick." I added, in a whispery voice.

I grabbed Grace's shoulder and pulled her away, being sure not to take hold of Richard, so I wouldn't hear the lecture about physical contact.

I walked up to the bus stop again, before cursing at the top of my lungs, "Son of a Bitch!"

The bus had already left, with everyone on it. I was officially stranded, with Kiera, Grace and Richard, who was no doubtingly thinking about all the possible outcomes of me placing my hand if Grace's shoulder.

Richard looked up at me the same way his father would look at my aunt Penny whenever she said anything stupid.

"Sorry." I apologized for my previous language, knowing Richard wasn't a fan of cursing.

After a moment of a silent panic attack, I remembered I had one option left. Grace and Richard's mom, also known as my aunt Amy, would of come to pick both of them up, after Richard got forbidden to ride the bus for the remainder of the school year.

"Hey, where you going?" I called over to Kiera, who was slowly making her way out of the extra school gate.

"I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow." She said, before turning her back on us.

I sighed quietly, before turning to the two Cooper kids. "Okay, lets go find your mom, and hopefully she might give me a ride home. If your father hasn't pissed her off during the day, then we should be okay."

I saw Richard glare at me again after my second cursing in front of him. "Oh, get used to it!" I snapped, knowing that he was going up to Middle School that year, and that some of the older kids always cursed.

I quickly lead them toward the school gate, and began a race to see who could win to the outside of the Elementary School, which was luckily just a block down from the High School. Richard refused to take place in the race, no surprise there, and I let Grace win, knowing that she was a sore loser.

"Oh, there you are!" Amy sighed with relief, placing her phone down in the cup holder between the two front seats. "Where have you been?"

"We got attacked by a girl in the High School." Richard mentioned without thinking, whilst getting into his seat in the back of the car.

"I wouldn't say 'attacked'." I mentioned, trying to make it so their wouldn't be so many questions for Grace on the way home. "It was only a girl in her Junior Year." I added.

"Yeah, Halley took her down." Grace smiled, obviously still hung up on it.

"Metaphorically." Richard added in, slightly cutting her off. "But Halley didn't use some harsh words that made the girl flee with fear!" Richard added, his voice changing to his, most commonly heard, 'video-game voice'.

"Yeah, I took her down." I smiled, feeling incredibly proud of myself.

Amy smiled over and thanked me for protecting them both. I mentioned that it was not big deal.

"Mom, Halley missed her bus. Can you drop her off?" Grace asked, interrupting her mother.

"I'd love to drop her off." She smiled.

I jumped into the front seat of the car, before Amy turned to me and asked, "So, how did the amazingly bad-ass of Halley, miss her bus anyway?"

"Oh, I was about to get in when my friend pulled me out of the line and said that Michelle was bothering these kids at the front of the school. I was curious, and she said I was the only one stupid enough to real it off." I mentioned before hearing my phone buzz.

Hey, mom and dad are wondering were u r.

"Who ya texting?" Grace asked, peering her head over the front seat, as I heard the Texan in her voice.

"It's Louis." I mentioned, before texting him back.

Say I'm on my way. Hitched a ride with Amy.

K. Who was the kids that kiera took you away 2 c?

Grace and Richard. They're okay thankfully! I'll tell u what I said to michelle when i get home :)

K it better be good!

Oh it is!

I remained silent the remainder of the drive. I find myself always doing that.

I thanked Amy for the ride, before watching her drive off. As they turned to corner, I saw Richard start talking to everyone else in the car, as I suspected.

I opened the door quickly, and within two seconds, both my mom and dad where at my feet, like a news reporter to a famous actor.

"Where the hell were you?" My mom yelled, no change of voice whatsoever.

"I missed the bus, okay." I briefly said, trying to get through the hall.

My father pulled me aside for what I suspected to be another one of his 'protective father mode' talks.

"Halley, you can't disappear like that. Anything could of happened." He said.

"Dad, I'm fifteen. I know what I'm doing." I replied, making straight eye contact with him, as I'm the same height.