Annie was 15 years old, and hardly the innocent five-year-old girl in pig tails who sang into magic microphone. After Red Rocket was transformed back into a spinning mobile the other three had started treating like a baby. Even Quincy! The two had been best buds, but then it all ended and he barely glanced her way when he was at their house. June was even worse. The day she turned 13 they(Leo and herself) were suddenly a couple. Leo wasn't exactly the best brother in the world. When she started at Broomfield High School(Go Eagles!) he didn't take glance her way. Ever. And of course that was also the year she started being bullied.

Most of the time it was just verbal, you know, the whole 'weirdo' thing, but sometimes she would come home with bruises. A black eye from a punch, a slap across the face. Not that Mom cared. All she cared about was her little angel, AKA, Leo. It was always 'Leo this,' and 'Leo that.'

Annie pretended it didn't matter, but deep down she hurt. In all honesty, she still though about the old days. The days when they would compliment her, think she was awesome, trust her with secrets. She still remembered some of those tidbits, even though she never told them to anyone. June like Leo. Leo liked June. She had laughed at them both in her head. Quincy thought she was pretty. Yeah, she still remembered that. Sometimes she wished that he still thought that.

They used to be friends, BFFs, but that was before. It would never be the same. They might become friends again and that would be great, but it would never be the same.

Sometimes, on her better days, June would smile at her instead of scoffing. Leo might give a brotherly pat on the back. Quincy might even acknowledge her existence with a nod. It was in those moments that the our struggling heroine would mentally jump for joy.

Besides, they never saw the bumps and bruises. Annie would sometimes wonder what they would do if they saw her battles. In her bouts of optimism, she would imagine them standing up for her, protecting her, asking her if she was okay. Then she would go back to reality and, no, they would probably laugh and move on, but still, a girl could dream, right?