“Ookay.” I frown, and turn to my things, making quick work of tossing my clothes into the dresser labeled with my name and walk back out front.

I toss my social worker – who popped out of fucking nowhere - her bag and she frowns.

“I told you to keep this.”

“I don’t want your pity shit.”

“I have no pity.”

“Then I don’t want your shit.”

“Get in the car, Raven,” she tells me with an exasperated sigh.

Maybell walks toward me with a smile. “Ms. Vega was nice enough to send over everything I needed yesterday, so I was able to pre-register you. Go straight to the office when you get there, it’s the first door on the left when you walk in. They’ll give you your schedule.”

With a nod, I walk away, but Maybell calls out again before I step into the car.

“There’ll be a group of kids walking this way after school. A good lot are headed here if you’d like to join ‘em. It’s a little over a mile down the road, city bus works just fine too if you can pay for it. Stops right here.” She points to the stop sitting at the edge of the sidewalk just in front of what she pointed out as the boys’ home.

I don’t respond and slam the door behind me.

Ms. Vega gets behind the wheel with a huff. “Look, Raven—”

“It’s Rae.”

“You need to make this work. I’ve talked to a few girls here. Maybell lets them do what they want if they follow the rules. At least here, you can still pretty much do as you please, be your bitchy little self and get away with it.” She half laughs as she says it and my eyes cut her way. “You might think I’m just the lady to deposit you, but I’d like to think it will be better for you here. I don’t expect you to be happy, but maybe you can move past the anger your mom left you in.”

“What, do you double as a shrink or something?”

She grins and pulls away from the curb, driving the several blocks down to the high school. “No, but someone helped me once, and I’d like to help you the same.”

“Don’t waste your time, focus on the little ones that don’t understand the lives they’re living.” I turn to look out the windshield. “I’m already ruined.”

“Hey!” she snaps and I turn to glare at her. “You’re not ruined. Believe it or not, it only takes one person to make you see that. Give it time, you’ll heal.”

“Not interested. All I want is a life away from anyone who has ever heard my name, fucked my mom, or read my file.” With that, I exit the car and I stare at my new reality – a giant brick building with a cement sign dead in the center.

With a shake of my head, I make my way up the steps, stopping when Ms. Vega shouts from behind me.

“This place isn’t like most high schools, Raven. Things are a bit different here then they are where you come from.”

Tension lines my stomach. “What are you trying to say?”

She eyes me a moment. “Girls like you aren’t exactly welcomed at a place like this, so ... keep your head down and look the other way.”

A chuckle bubbles out of me. “Have you met me?”

“I’m serious,” she stresses, unease lining her forehead.

“So am I.”

“Do you want me to come in with you?”

“Goodbye, Ms. Vega.”

With her eyes on the building behind me, she nods, gets back in her car and drives away.

I pause where I stand for a moment.

I could just take off now, but it’ll do no good. I can’t get a job on my own unless I follow in my mother’s footsteps and at least staying here helps pass the time. Eighteen isn’t too far off.

“Fuck it,” I mumble and go to push through the door, but it bursts open before I can, and three guys strut out ... three girls following close behind.

The guys don’t see me as I shifted to the side to avoid being hit by the metal door, but when the girls shuffle out, one of them makes it a point to bump me and she really shouldn’t have done that.

I guess right off the bat is the best time to show her I’m not the one.

After she shoulder checks me, I spin and dart forward, grabbing a good full grip of hair in my hand. I go to pull her back, but the moment I do, a large hand wraps around my wrist.

“Now now,” a deep, teasing voice warns and my glare snaps over my shoulder to find a brown-haired guy who’s about to catch an elbow to the jaw. “No need to act out. We make time for all those ready and willing.”

“Get your hand off me unless you’re ready and willing to get kicked in the dick.”

“Ooh, sounds like a good time.” He steps closer. “Now, let go, and show me what else that grip could do.”

I tighten my fist and the girl cries out more.

The guy’s smirk deepens, and before I can maneuver away, his hand is gripping my ass. “You wanna come? I can pull your hair too...” he whispers.

My body grows stiff against his and he barks out a mocking laugh as he lazily steps back.

My hand falls from the girl’s hair and she grunts before storming back into the school. Probably to fix herself up, superficial as shit.

“Not as hard as you want to be, are you the new girl?” the guy speaks, a hard edge to his tone as he falls in line with his boys, forming a tight arrow.

But he’s not the one in the center.

I offer a shitty smile when really I want to ram a pipe down his throat. “Guess not.”

“Don’t worry, baby, you’re forgiven. I’ve got it on good word she’s got no gag reflex.”

I nod lightly. “So she was perfect for you then?”

The guy tips his chin at my snide tone, but his friends make no move.

They’re wearing sunglasses, so when I do glance from one to the next – purposefully avoiding looking them over any further – I can’t read the look in their eyes, something I’ve taught myself to do when it comes to the male species.

I stand there until one of them, the tallest of the three, turns and heads for the parking lot, noting the asshole who put his hands on me is the one to get behind the wheel of a big ass, black, chromed-out SUV, not unlike the other flashy cars in the parking lot but by far the most alluring. There’s something to be said about a sleek SUV with blackout windows. It demands your attention – likely why this dumbass drives it.

In my neighborhood, though, such a ride tells you where to score or which way to run in – always the opposite direction is the answer. Unless you’re my mother, of course. To her and her friends it’s looking a lion in the eyes hoping it takes the bait – the fancier the ride, the bigger the payout.

I shake off the thought but catalog the vehicle in my mind.

Lifting my backpack over one shoulder, I prepare to step through the door for the first time, glancing up at the cement sign above before I do.

Welcome to Brayshaw High.

The school officials didn’t allow me into my normal classes today, making me sit through some mandatory behavior and ‘how to avoid confrontation’ videos instead. They even arranged for a cafeteria plate to be brought in – guess they read my file, too. I did, however, manage to sneak off for a couple minutes, pretending to be using the bathroom when really I had to make a point.