Erinyes buries herself deeper under her covers, trying to tune out the one-sided yelling match between Zack and Daenerys three doors down. They had been at it for quite a while now; Zack had apparently found out that she had gotten high the previous night, by the way Erinyes had acted about it when he had asked her if she had known anything.

She groans. It was way too early for this. She had been kind of hoping to sleep in on her first day, since god only knows that she wouldn’t be able to do that again once she starts going to school next week. Tomorrow, they would be going down to the school to sign up for classes, which Erinyes was not looking forward to.

Giving up on the idea of getting anymore sleep, she rolls lazily out of bed, reaching first for her phone on her nightstand. Three texts from Payton, two from Josh, and one missed call, also from Josh. Nothing from Mom. Figures. She was probably out with her girlfriends all night, finally getting a taste of what it felt like to be free of all responsibilities. Something told Erinyes that her mother would be having a lot more of these nights in the coming months of Erinyes’ and Daenerys’ absence.

She ignores the texts and calls from Josh, deciding she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him just yet. Ever since they had did it at Brittany Meyer’s party – like Daenerys had reminded her the previous night, as if it was even any of her business – he had been nothing but persistent, expecting her to just be willing to do it again. But Erinyes wasn’t like that. She was one of those people who would only have intercourse with someone she truly loved.

Having sex with Josh had been a mistake.

But no matter how many times she tried explaining this to him, he didn’t seem to get the hint. She had been drunk, he had been drunk. They had been dating for three months. And when you’re drunk, you tend to think having sex with your boyfriend (of only three months) was a good idea, despite your own moral code. The last thing she wanted was for her life to turn out the same way her mother’s did – sixteen and pregnant. They hadn’t even used protection, and that was what scared her most. But so far, nothing seemed abnormal, so she just assumed everything was just that – normal.

Until about two weeks ago, when she was late.

She hadn’t even told Payton, she was so scared. She wanted to think that maybe she had some sort of disease that was affecting her menstrual cycle, but deep down she knew that wasn’t true.

Now, she was turning out just like she had feared – sixteen and pregnant. And she didn’t have the guts to ask for help.

Shaking her head, she decides to put it off for another day, like she had every morning for the last week and a half, and jump in the shower. By the time she got out nearly an hour later, the yelling had stopped, and she could hear Daenerys ranting to herself – rather loudly, might she add – like she often did whenever she was pissed off.

She steps out of her bathroom – her own one that connected only to her room – and begins digging through her suitcase, searching for something to wear, as she had yet to unpack. She finally settled on a hot pink crop-top and gray short-shorts – perfect for the eighty-degree weather outside. She studies herself in the mirror once she’s dressed, biting her lip once the realization hits her that this may be one of the very last times she would be able to wear something like this before she started showing – if she even allowed her pregnancy to get that far.

Her phone buzzes and she picks it up to see another text from Josh just waiting to be opened. Annoyed at how persistent he was being, she opened the text. Like she expected, most of them were mainly him suggesting he fly out to California, or she fly out to Michigan, so they could have a “repeat of Meyer’s party ;)”.

Erinyes bites her lip nervously, knowing he can see that she’s read the message. Unsure of what to reply however, she hastily deletes the conversation, paranoid that Zack may randomly decide to go through her phone one day and see the messages Josh had sent her.

Suddenly, there’s a knock on her door. She jumps, dropping her phone, which, thankfully, lands on the bed. Composing herself, she lets out a small “come in”.

“Breakfast is ready downstairs,” Zack tells her, poking his head through the door. Erinyes nods slowly before following him down and into the kitchen.

Daenerys’ plate is already spotless by the time they arrive. She reaches hungrily for another strip of bacon from the serving platter in front of her, only to have her hand be slapped away angrily by her father. She glares up at him, but he ignores her, hastily placing a plate in front of Erin.

While Zack was a relatively good cook – much better than the girls’ mother that was for sure – the smell of the pancakes make her stomach churn. But, under Zack’s watchful eyes, she forces everything down, silently praying that it all stays that way.

“The girls are going to be here in an hour,” he announces, sitting across from Erin, next to Daenerys.

Daenerys’ head shoots up and her eyes meet with Zack’s; frowning deeply, she asks, “Why?”

“Because,” he replies, unfazed by her snappy tone, “you girls need new clothes for school.”

“Why?” she asks again. “I don’t need new clothes?”

“The clothes you brought from Michigan aren’t for California weather.”

“I don’t care.” Zack sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

“I don’t care that you don’t care; you’re going.” Daenerys groans.

“Do we have to go in such a large group, then?”

“It’s just Val and Michelle. It’ll be fine.” She groans even louder and lays her head dramatically on the table. Zack shakes his head.

Not two hours later, the girls are being dragged – well, Daenerys is being dragged; Erinyes is more or less enjoying herself – around the mall. The grown women seem even more excited than Erin, which is saying quite a lot. Though Erin didn’t particularly like California, she missed spending time with her “aunts”.

Erin wasn’t the only one trying to ignore the shadow following them around; Daenerys’ dark presence brought everyone down just from being around her. Dressed all in black, she looked completely out of place in stores such as “Forever 21” and “Aeropostale”.

“Why don’t you try this on, sweetie?” Val asks her, in an attempt to get her involved. She holds up a light-blue tank top that is Daenery’s size. “This color would look so good on you…”

Daenerys looks up from her iPod so her piercing gray eyes meet with Val’s soft hazel ones. The intense gaze received from the young teenager sends a slight chill down her spine. There was something about the hollowness in her eyes which seemed to have that effect on people.

Realizing she wasn’t going to say anything, Val sighs and sets down the tank-top, only for it to be snatched back up by Erin, who doesn’t hesitate to try it on.

“Aren’t you hot in that?” Michelle asks Daenerys, smiling friendly. She shakes her head, before jacking up the volume on her iPod, so she could no longer hear the horrible pop music playing from the store speakers. Michelle sighs, not getting anywhere with the young girl either – but then again, did anyone?

By noon, Erin had enough clothes for everyone at her old school to have a new outfit, while Daenerys had barely just managed to slip into “Spencer’s” and buy a new lip ring with her own money.

“How’s Payton?” Val asks Erin, as they sit in the cafeteria.

“She’s good,” Erin replies, taking a sip of her milkshake, even though her stomach is still churning rather violently. “I’m going to miss her a lot.” Val places a cool, comforting hand on hers.

“I know, honey. But maybe Zack will let Payton fly out one weekend?” she suggests.

“Or I could go back to Michigan for second semester,” she adds hopefully.

“I don’t think that was part of the deal, hon,” Michelle tells her gently.

“What do you mean…?”

“Your father told us you would be staying for the whole school year,” Val replies. Erin’s eyes begin filling up with tears.

“But… There has to be some way to convince him…?” Val shakes her head sadly and wraps an arm around her, hugging her tightly.

“I’m sorry, Erin; I don’t think there is.”

Suddenly, she pulls away forcefully; leaping to her feet, she runs to the nearest trash cans and releases the contents of her stomach.

She feels Val’s and Michelle’s cool hands on her back as they attempt to comfort her, cooing over her; asking her if she’s okay, or if she’s been feeling sick all day. The truth is, she’s been feeling this way for the last week and a half now, but she had a way of controlling herself – she had simply let her emotions get in the way of it, and now, here she was, being led out of the Huntington Beach mall, so she can go home and spend the day being babied by her father on the couch.

Notes

A/N: Edited: Jan. 8, 2015

I decided to update this on behalf of the holidays so here is part three. I didn't actually go through and look over it, nor did I bother changing the ending, even though I know it's shitty. I usually get lazy whenever I'm on vacation and writing is no exception.

I would also like to just say real quick THANK YOU to all of you who are commenting/subscribing/voting/reading this story it means SO MUCH to me. And I know I probably won't ever say this enough, but THANK YOU (again).

Happy Holidays, guys =)

~WOLFY~