I collapse against the door and sigh.

It's kind of exhausting being a bad ass, especially when it's like second nature. Truthfully, I like the person I was before. But the divorce of my parents ruined that girl, so here I am. I'm a bad ass bitch from hell, a rebel without a cause, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I sometimes consider whether this is truly the person I am supposed to be. If not, who cares? People give me free food.

I lock the door and throw the keys into the bowl. God, I hate that bowl. Mom insists on keeping it next to the door, even though it is the ugliest piece of shit I've ever seen, because it saves us from losing our keys. To get the record straight, I rarely lose my keys. Not inside this house anyway. I stare at the bowl for an extra moment, considering whether to smash it or not, before shrugging. Better not, otherwise Mom will just replace it with something uglier.

Pulling my boots off, I throw myself on to the sofa and sigh. I feel like I spend half my goddamn life sighing, but it's acceptable because I'm a teenager. I dread turning twenty. I try and rack my brain for an excuse other than "But I'm a teenager!" which has basically become my life motto. Alas, I cannot think of another excuse. Looks like I'll have to start actually owning up to my mistakes when I hit twenty. Mom will love that. She's probably counting down the days already.

I look around the empty sitting room. It's filled with photographs of me and Mom, from the first time she held me to my most recent school photo, but there are none of us with Dad. I can't decide whether this angers me or not. How can she pretend as though he was never a big part of our lives? He is part of the reason I exist. She created me with him. Surely their love meant more than pretending the other doesn't exist. At the same time, I'm glad there are no pictures of him. I don't know if I can handle seeing his face every day when I know he abandoned us. Knowing the photographs were the same, but the people were not. I still can't wrap my head around that bit of knowledge. It's stupid and unfair that people change so easily, that waking up and leaving your loved ones is no more difficult than running to the shop for milk. Fucked up.

It takes me a moment to realise the phone is ringing. It's across the room, balancing on the top of the television. I really can't be bothered getting up, but I know it is probably my mother. If I look at my cell phone, I can guarantee I'll have fifty-seven missed calls on there. What is it with Mom's and their need to leave so many missed calls?

"Hello?"

"Buffy, where have you been? Who are you with? What are you doing?"

I wait to see if she has any other question to tag on, but she doesn't.

"Buffy?"

"One sec, I'm just trying to remember what the first question was."

Mom moans. "Where have you been?"

"Sleeping on the porch," I reply.

"That isn't funny."

"I know it's not, it was freezing."

She pauses, probably trying to decide whether I am lying or not, before saying, "Are you at home now though?"

I roll my eyes. Wow, she is a genius. "Mom, you rang the house phone. Where else would I be?"

She laughs. I haven't heard her laugh in weeks. "Of course. Well, I'm just letting you know that my flight has been delayed. I won't be home for another two days."

I grin. Another two days without parental supervision? I want to cheer, but I'm aware my mom is still waiting for my reply on the phone. I try to sound sad.

"Two days?"

"I know, I'm sorry. Will you be okay? I can-"

"Nope. I'll be fine. Anyway, I've got to go. Love you."

I hang up and release the cheer that has built up in my chest. I love my mom, but I love my freedom more. Mom projects her feelings over the divorce, which isn't easy to live with, and some time away from the house will probably do her good. Too many memories live in this building. No matter how much I hate being here, I want my mom to heal.

But, whilst the house is free of family drama, there is only one thing to do…

"PARTY!"

I squeeze my way through the hordes of people. A few of them give me a thumbs up and offer me bottles of beer. I smile and shake my head, secretly cringing at the thought of drinking something that their mouths have been around. I don't want to know where half of these people's tongues have been. I cringe again. Knowing where my tongue has been is bad enough.

"Buff!"

I spin around to find my friend, Xander, slightly drunk and stumbling towards me. I can't help but grin as Willow appears behind him, looking ready to kill him with her bare hands. These two are the reason I still turn up to school. Kind of. Well, they are why I haven't been expelled yet anyway. I like that they're different from Faith, William and Liam. They are secure in their own skin, which makes me feel secure too. Faith may tease me for hanging around with 'losers', but I don't care.

"Hey Buff Buff," Xander grins, throwing his arm around my shoulder.

Willow and I cringe. "Buff Buff?"

"Cute, right?"

"No," I reply, pushing his arm off me.

He stumbles slightly, but his grin never fades. He uses Willow as an arm rest now, though she doesn't seem to mind. I have a slight feeling that Willow has a crush on Xander, but I'm not entirely sure. She definitely tolerates him better than others do. And they have had many sleepovers together in the past, though Willow has often made it clear that nothing ever happened.

"Great party," Willow comments.

Her tone makes me believe otherwise.

"Beats sitting at home alone," I shrug.

Willow smiles, but I can tell she's exhausted. Knowing Willow, she probably spent last night doing some popular kid's homework. She does that quite often. Not even for money, which confuses me. She could probably make a decent amount of cash if she charged for her services.

"Willow!"

I look over my shoulder to find the Fuckwit Four strutting towards us. I force myself not to gag at their presence. Willow seems to share my annoyance at seeing them. Her eyes lock on William, who is grinning at her. Caleb and Riley nod behind us, their eyes fixating on Cordelia Chase and her cheerleaders. I hear them mumble something about a 'great rack' and, without a word to anyone else, the two of them walk around us and head over. Liam sticks with William though, much to my displeasure, and shoots me a smile. I raise my eyebrow.

"You got my homework, pet?" William asks.

Willow nods. "I have one more question to do."

"Not good enough."

Before Willow can say anything, I jump to her defence. "Excuse me? How about you get off your ass and do your own homework?"

"Yeah, what she said!" adds Xander, waggling his finger at William.

William's arm shoots out to grab Xander's hand, but I quickly intercept it. I twist his wrist back and smirk when I hear him whimper. Liam, like the great friend he is, does nothing. His face remains blank as he watches.

"Don't test my patience, William," I hiss.

William let out a cruel laugh. "Turning more into your father every day, aren't you?"

Liam reaches out to pull William back, but I shoot him a glare. He lets his hand fall. Whatever William is talking about, Liam has clearly heard before. Now I am intrigued.

"Will-"

I cut Liam off. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"We all know why Daddy left you, love." William sneers. "He used to beat you around, didn't he? He didn't want a little brat for a daughter."

His words hit me like a slap. I release his hand and recoil. Liam looks away, refusing to meet my eyes, while William smirks at me. He knows the effect of his words. I mentally count to ten, boxing away my emotions to deal with later, and then smile. Before William can say another word, I punch him in the face.

His nose bursts and sprays us both with blood. He growls and dives for me. Before his body can make contact with mine, Liam grabs him by the arm and pulls him away. Riley and Caleb run over, helping Liam restrain their idiotic friend.

"I'll get you back for that, love," William growls.

I smirk. "And do what? Bleach my hair like yours? Terrified."

He returns my smirk. "You'll see."

Liam allows the other two to drag William out of the house. He hovers for a minute, looking me up and down, before turning on his heel. As soon as the door slams shut, I sigh. I realise everyone is staring at me. My mood to party vanishes.

"What are you waiting for?" I shout, pointing towards the door. "Get the fuck out!"

Thank you for the reviews! I appreciate them so much. I hope to keep seeing them.

Lots of love,

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