"Shit shit shit''

Ruby practically flung herself out of bed, flinching as her hand instinctively went to her side holding her sore stomach. She had received quite the beating last night and really did not want a round two, grabbing her phone from her night stand, she let out a swear because the stupid alarm didn't set off, she could swear that she reset it last night right?

Her father detested lateness, she was scared at the outcome of what would happen if he found out. Groaning in pain, she dragged herself to the bathroom. Ruby was tired of living

like this, every part of her body hurt, she felt the hot tears fall from her eyes cascading down her cheeks.

She turned on the shower putting it to the highest temperature, she let the hot water soothe her sores as it cascaded down her back, it was hot, but she'd rather feel that stinging pain than remember how her father took joy in abusing her every night, she shuddered in disgust and exited the bathroom.

She was met with the motivational quote pasted on her wall beside her bed, "Slow progress my foot" she mumbled under her breath as she tore it down and threw it into the waste bin beside her bed.

She pulled out a black hoodie to hide her scars, summer was approaching so it was extremely hot during this period, but what could she do, her peers would still look at her either way, she was used to it and couldn't give a damn, she had so much more going on in her life than to be bothered about what people thought of her.

Packing her black hair into a high ponytail, she exited her room, groaning when she heard her step mother scream her name.

"Ruby!"

God please I really can't deal with that woman this morning, she thought to herself before grabbing her black converse and dashed downstairs before her stepmom had a reason to pick a fight with her.

"Good morning Kathryn"

She hugged her housemaid from behind, giving her a kiss on the cheek, completely ignoring her stepmother. As far as Ruby was concerned Kathyrn had been like a real mother to her way before the passing of her real mother. She would literally do anything for this woman. Unlike Veronica, her stepmother who was now shooting daggers her way.

"Oh my bad, I didn't see you there-"

She was cut short when she felt a sting across her cheek, holding her cheek with her right hand she glared at the woman standing in front of her, hate evident in her eyes.

Veronica, a woman in her mid thirties who was still in her night wear with her blonde hair packed up into a messy bun, gave Ruby a disgusted look and started going on about how she was a rude and spoiled child, but Ruby really couldn't give a shit about what this woman thought of her.

Her dad may be dumb, but the day he decided to marry her must have been the breaking point to how stupid he can be. She lost all respect for him that day. He married this woman a year after her mom's death which made her question if he had ever truly loved her mother.

Things changed that fateful night of the accident- "Ruby wake up"

She felt someone gently urging me to wake up. She woke up and was met with an anxious Katyrn... She quickly knew something was wrong

"What happened?"

"It's your mom-"

"Did you just slap me?"Ruby asked while trying to put some distance between them. She was back to reality now and was staring furiously at her stepmom.

"Someone needs to teach you some manners" her stepmom says, while dragging her ponytail with so much force that it loosened what Ruby had packed earlier.

"Veronica, stop it!!" Ruby groaned in pain as she tried to free her hair from her grip, at that moment her phone vibrated in her back pocket, eyes interlocked with her step mom, Veronica quickly snatched the phone from her back pocket.

"Don't forget our chemistry project is due today... oh and you owe me for covering up for you last time" Vannesa read out the text in a mocking way as she threw her phone back to her.

Rubu caught the phone just before it hit the ground and turned to her step mom "you are a disgusting person, and I hate the day my father decided to marry you".

Veronica was livid with rage, as she made an attempt to grab her, but Ruby was quick enough to dodge out of the way and quickly exited the house.

When she was a good distance away from the house she took her phone out and looked at the text, blushing slightly, what would she do without Jack.

She and Jack go way back, their mothers were the bestest of friends and practically did everything together. They went to kindergarten, preschool and highschool together. He was like the brother she never had although sometimes she wished it could be more than that-

"Thanks, what would I do without you-''

"Young lady I am talking to you, and you dare walk out on me"

She turned back to look at her stepmom, who was currently standing at the entrance to the house, a good distance apart from them, good! She could have her way just for today and Veronica wouldn't be able to do anything about it, giving her an irritated look before putting her phone back into her back pocket and turning her full attention to Veronica. "Look, as much as I would love to stay and chitchat, I actually have school and a life I have to get to. And I really can't be late again Veronica."

She made sure to emphasize 'a life' in her sentence just to piss her off. She loved being mean to Veronica... It gave her a sense of comfort. She quickly ran to where the car was parked before Veronica had the chance of a comeback, one that would clearly be lame tho. On her way to the car she

realized that she hadn't seen her father this morning, thank the heavens for that.

***********************************

She greeted Oliver, their driver with a warm smile as she entered the vehicle. Her school was pretty far from where she stayed and the next bus station was like ten minutes away so this was basically how she'd commute every day. As they were about exiting the compound, she was stopped by their housemaid Kathyrn.

She was panting by the time she reached the car, for her to run this can't be good. "Your dad is asking for you. He said you must not leave without seeing him''. At that exact moment her whole body suddenly felt cold and her face became pale. It was never a good thing when her father asked of her, it meant trouble or worse, unnecessary abuse.

Veronica gave her a sly look as she watched Ruby enter back into the house. Prick. She ignored her and found her way back upstairs.

Her fathers study was located at the end of the hall. She counted her steps as she made her way near his study, admiring the family portraits on the wall. They were so happy, where had it all gone wrong.

"You got this!'' she mumbles under her breath, talking to herself as usual.

Taking deep reassuring breaths and gathering up all the courage she had she opened the door to his study.