***CHRISTINE'S POV***

"Christine!!!!" My mother's voice calls from the living room.

"Coming mom!" I yell back as I stuff my black trenchcoat in my travel bag.

"It's getting late!" She yells back and I roll my eyes.

That's what my mom and I do best. We bicker to and fro all day long.

"Just a minute!" I yell right back and I smile to myself, knowing that she's probably rolling her eyes.

"You have a minute. And your one minute starts now!"

Before she's done with her statement, I walk into the living room dragging my bags behind me. She looks at them and her eyes widen.

"All that? Are you moving out for good darling?"

"Just stop it mom. I have like a few pieces of clothing in there."

"Then why all those bags? Oh, let me guess..books."

I shrug and stay quiet. She got me there. She looks at me over the rim of her glasses.

"I know you are crazy about reading and all that but you need to know that they have malls in college where you can buy books. You don't need all this junk."

"Seriously mom, are you going to give me one of your lectures right now? About books?"

She shrugs. "I can but I won't. I'm just lucky that I'm not dropping you there." She almost cringes as she looks over the pile of bags one more time.

"Mom, it's my first day in college. The least you can do is take me to school."

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry baby but I have a lot of work to do. Your father is taking you. He'll be here any minute from now."

"He's not my father!" I snap between my teeth.

"Your real father left you darling so the least you can do is appreciate Webb. He might not be your father but he provides for us."

"I still don't like him."

"Whatever child. Either way, he's taking you to school."

She turns her attention back to her computer and I know when I'm being dismissed. I swallow dryly and fight the lump that is forming in my throat.

I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

Only if she truly knew the monster of a dad I have.

I tug my heavy bags to the porch just as Webb pulls up in the driveway.

He smiles when he notices me.

"Hey kid." He says cheerfully. I have no idea why I just can't Kill him.

There's something about him that puts me off. I want to rip out his heart and pull out his soul to the dens of demons,where he belong to.

"Hi Webb." I answer quietly.

"Oh, come on Christine. You can call me dad, you know?"

"You're not my dad." I say a bit too harshly and he grins.

"Some day you're going to consider me as your father.''

Father my ass,it's the Audacity to say such words before me.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes at him as he dumps my bags in the boot.

I sit on the co-driver's seat and focus on my phone as Webb drives to campus. I'm totally uncomfortable around him and he knows that all too well. I'm not too good at hiding my dislike for him.

I miss my father...I have no idea why my Dad had to die,Mom said that dad was a jerk and a good for nothing moron and that got him killed.

I haven't set my eyes on him since I turned thirteen and even though my mom has painted am image of a monster in my head, I somehow miss him.

Some memories can't just be forgotten.

"Here we are." Webb says as he pulls up outside the hostel, snapping me from my little reverie.

I look at the magnificent building and I can't holds back my smile. This is going to be my new home for quite sometime.

Students are loitering the sidewalks and I feel excitement bubbling through me. This is what I always wanted...what I've always dreamt of. Going to college is every kid's dream.

"I'll help you bring your stuff upstairs." He says again and I murmur a thank you as I strap my back pack over my shoulders.

We walk in uncomfortable silence and I fumble in my pouch for the key.

The room is big enough and both bed's are unoccupied.

Perfect; my roommate isn't in yet so I have the privilege of choosing whichever bed I like.

"I like this one better." Webb says as he sits on one of the beds and I turn to look at him.

He is giving me an irritating stare. Well, I'm choosing the other bed, just to spite him.

"I like the other one better. Thanks for driving me here but don't you think it's about time you left?" I asked in the most clipped tone I can master.

A frown overtakes his visage. "Not so fast little girl."

It's a low growl rumbling from his chest and it immediately offsets me. I look at him and his eyes are dilating as they move up and down my body.

Fear creeps through me and for a moment there, I'm totally motionless.

"What do you want?" My voice is panicky and I'm scared shitless.

He takes a step towards me.

"I just want to instill some manners into you. You've been a real pain in the ass these last few years and it's about time you paid for that; don't you think so."

"You've had your own share of the cake!!! What do now want to do you monster huh?Having your friends ripped me of isn't enough right?"

I say in panic and move backwards until my back hits the dresser.

"You can run but you can't hide." He tells me while closing in on me. I am numb. I can't scream; I doubt whether anyone is on the floor anyway. I have nowhere to run to and obviously fighting him is not an option

***

The harder I fight, the more excited he becomes. I kick and claw at him but it's like hitting a solid wall. I bite and slap, hit and struggle but I can't overpower him.

He throws me on the bed and pulls at my cotton Shirt, tearing it.

I bite back the salty tears when he slaps me. Watching him succeed in his plans isn't the right thing to do, so I had to take action before things gets out of hand.

He tried pulling me to himself but I lifted my leg and kicked his manhood. He groaned in pain as he staggered out of my side. I loved that action... Seeing him that way gave me an exact joy.

He cursed me, calling me a rude bitch and a good for nothing idiot. He says that he's going to kill me and my mom if I tell the the police and from his expression, he is not kidding.

*******

I sigh in relief the moment I jot the last word on the answer sheet.

I'm officially done with college.

I place the pen on top of the sheet then look around the room. Everyone is scribbling furiously.

That's basically the nature in final exams; everyone wants to give their all.

I glance at Diana and she's beaming at me. I give her a tiny grin just as the bell goes and the professor glares at the students who are still writing.

Time is up.

I walk down the row and hand in my answer sheet before I stalk out of the room.

Diana catches up with me outside the hall."Can you believe it? We are so done with college!" She yells then pulls me into a bone breaking hug.

"Aren't you excited?" She asks while furrowing her brows and I shrug.

"I am. I just have a different way of showing excitement."

She lifts her eyebrows. "And which is that 'different way?' Pray tell, my pretty different friend."

"That I will be going he to face my sweet loving mum and a horrible monster who just got a job as a manager at Hudson Chemical technologies"

She snort at the sarcasm.

"That should be a great news!! Wow!! The biggest company in Jersey and my everytime crush is his son"

"Are we going to start talking about your obsession" I ask while cocking my head to one side and she bursts out laughing.

"I my just addicted dear"

"This is not my best friend. That's my main bitch."

I point at a random girl in the crowd but She chants and drags me away from the prying crowd.

*****

I'm not exactly what you'd call an extrovert. Though I'm totally outgoing and social, something holds be back.

I feel a bit insecure around men and I have outright trust issues. I'm fiery as hell and I have very little tolerance to bull crap.

I don't date. I'd rather hook up casually and go on my way. No commitments, no harm done.

And another thing, I'm afraid of darkness. Totally, absolutely scared. You can never tell who is lurking in the dark; can you now?

And yeah, I hate it when the nightmares of my stepfather taking my virginity forcibly haunt me at night.

When I remember the horrible times his friends have their way with me after paying a huge bulk.

I totally hate them, but what can a woman do?

My Mum is in looooove.

Diana, my best friend, however steals the show anytime we are together.

She is a total freak and her mouth is sharper than razor. Whereas I prefer getting all talkative and sassy in private, she talks whatever shit she wants to wherever she wants, whenever she feels like.

We are not what you'd call party animals, but we let ourselves loose on particular occasions.

Tonight is one of them.

We are done with school.

We're going to rock and roll.

****