Angel is a very happy yet shy girl. She has it all; or so it seems. On the outside, she has the best. Hottest guy in school, scholarship, best friends, respect she needs, etc. The best. But no one ever said she wanted the best. On the inside, her boyfriend is abusive, controlling, and jealous of any guy who tries to hit on Angel. She never really loved him. She was forced to be with him. He threatened to hurt her family. One day, Nate, her "lover", gets sick and is rushed to the hospital. Angel goes through days without him, which she is happy about. But Nate's relative, Andrew suddenly comes in her life. He promises to help her through the abuse, but...is Andrew even human? They become tight friends, and it's getting noticed. Angel is forced to leave Andrew, and never found out his secret he wanted to tell her so badly. That changes when Angel is literally almost killed...by—

***If it says Ivy instead of Angel, just pretend it says Angel.***

-Prologue-

Even though he was far from me, I was still scared. He could kill me if he wanted, anytime, anywhere.

"Stop following me!" I yelled, trying to keep from crying. My body hurt from the scratches caused by the trees. I couldn't keep running. Nate just stared at me with his evil red eyes. I felt Andrew behind me and knew I was going to be alright...for a while.

"No. You belong with me. Not that thing." He yelled from where he was. I got angry. Don't call Andrew a thing. He's still human to me.

"I never loved you. And I never will!" I shouted. It's true. He forced me to be with him. He's eighteen and got held back. I'm only sixteen.

I felt Andrew put a hand on my shoulder. He's seventeen, older than me by five months.

"Come with me. Now." Nate pointed to the cold ground. The rain and thunder made this the perfect life-or-death moment. Lightning lit up the area for split seconds.

"No." I said with strength.

"Angel..." Andrew whispered in my ear.

"Come with me right now!" He yelled.

"I'd rather die!" I shouted. I saw Nate's smirk. He pulled out a thick black object from his jacket pocket; a gun.

"Then so be it." And he pulled the trigger.

*x*x*

"Angel, wake up," I heard my older brother call from the hallway. "You'll be late for school."

"Zander, calm down. I'm already up," I yelled down the hall from my door. I rushed to my closet and put on faded and slightly ripped jeans with a loose black shirt, then put on my black hoodie. I grabbed my brush and brushed my hair which people always call long or silky. Sometimes Night Sky. (Well, they call me that because of my hair.) I never believed them. Nate always said it was frizzy or looked bad. It was down to my lower back, and my brother said I should cut it. I don't want to.

I saw my computer screen light up showing a dark blue sky with a wolf howling at a full moon. I walked over and sat in the rolly chair. I got two new E-mails.

"Angel," Zander called again, this time impatient.

"I'm coming!" I said loudly. I turned off my computer screen and grabbed my phone, bookbag and ran downstairs.

"Jeez, man, be any louder the neighbors will hear." Zander teased. I walked in the kitchen and saw Zander eating cereal.

"You're telling me to get ready and you're still eating." I put a hand on my hip. He put a hand up as if to say 'hold on'. He raised the bowl to his face and drank the leftover milk. I sighed.

"Any day now..." I joked.

"Ok, ok. Look, I'm done." Zander held up the now empty bowl. He got up and put the bowl in the sink.

"Get outside and wait," He said. "I'll be there soon."

I nodded and did as he said. I waited for maybe five seconds. No humor.

"Ok," Zander called, appearing in the doorway. "Let's go." He closed the door, took out the keys and locked it. I went ahead and stood next to his pitch black Camaro. He finally came and unlocked the doors with a touch of a button (he had a remote thing that could lock, unlock, alarm, etc.). I opened the passenger side door and slid in. Zander got in and started the engine. Did I tell you anything about him? No, I guess not. Well, on a list of 1 to 10 for The Hottest Guys In School, he was number one. My boyfriend, Nate, was number two. Zander was eighteen, older than Nate by two months. Zander didn't get held back, but his birthday was early.

He had dark hair, dark eyes and tan skin. We looked something alike. We both had black hair, dark brown eyes and tan skin. He had tan. I had light tan. He was maybe 5' 8'' or somewhere around that. I was up to his shoulder.

I had long side-bangs and front bangs that covered my eyes. They're not the curved ones, they're the long straight ones. They grow fast; these days it's down to my lower cheek.

We arrived at the school, Skillson High, (weird name, I know), and I felt my stomach twist. Just another day at school...nothing big. But I have to go through ten hours of torture with Nate.

My boyfriend.

I never wanted a boyfriend in the first place. One good thing is that he didn't steel my virginity. If he did...I'd run away and just vanish. Making me be with you is one thing, but to take away my innocence is another. Nate is nice, but if you say something to offend him, he ticks off. He abuses me all the time, even if I say something wrong.

Zander doesn't know about the abuse. I can't tell him. Of I do, he's going to make me break up with Nate, and if I do, he'll kill me. He has his own crew of street gangs. One time he raised a gun to me.

"Angel, time to get out." Zander chanted. I snapped to reality and saw the school starting to fill up with lively kids.

I got out and saw Nate walking up.

"Hey Zander!" He exclaimed, slapping his back. Zander grinned and greeted him with a playful headlock.

Nate managed to slip away and accidentally bumped into me. In ways, it was a little cute when he did that. No, I don't love him. I like him as a friend or something but not...

"Hey, Angel," He flashed his 'sexy' smile and gave me a huge bear hug. (I say 'sexy' because the other girls call it that.) "I missed you," he murmured in my ear. I forcefully wrapped my hands around him and smiled. "I missed you too,"

I felt the death glares from females as they watched us.

"Hm, well I missed you more," He purred. After a full year of this guy, I still don't understand him.

I realized I was dazed out and quickly tried to come back to Earth.

"Ok, no lovey-dovey here." Zander interrupted. Love. Right.

"Awe, come on, Zander," Nate whined.

"Just get inside." He sighed with a grin. I waved to him before we left. Zander usually waits until the bell rings to step on the school's premises. Don't ask me why.

"So how was your weekend?" Nate asked me as we walked, keeping an arm around my shoulders.

"Fine," I said casually. "Zander and I went to the movies," Why would he care?

"What movie did you see?" He asked.

This is weird. He's acting nice. Keyword: Acting. "We saw Fang's Blood," I responded.

"That new vampire movie?" He scoffed. I tried to avoid the other people crashing into me.

I nodded. "It was pretty good," What's with the small talk?

"Well," He suddenly stopped and trapped me on the wall. His hands were next to my head and he was close. "It sounds like you didn't have fun…" I know this tone. He was in his lustful mood. He leaned closer so I could feel his breath.

"It was fun," I didn't want him to kiss me. But of course, I can't say anything.

"Tell me if this is fun." He leaned forward and forcefully crashed his lips on my own so hard I felt my bottom lip sting from his tooth, I'm guessing I now have a cut.

But this bastard was smart. He didn't just suck on my lip; he entered his tongue in my mouth and ran it along mine.

I didn't feel anything. Just a forced kiss. No sparks. And this bastard also took my first kiss a year back. Not a gentle one, a forced one.

He released with a smug look. It was nice when he was on a good mood, as long as he's not mad at me. "So?" He grinned.

Oh, that's right. "It was definitely a special one." I forced a smile. This one did feel different, and by that I mean, to me, he felt eager. Why was he so eager to kiss me?

"Good," He smiled and kissed my forehead. Okay, that's it. Is he high? He never kisses me so gently like on the forehead or cheek! What is he on?

I heard the bell ring, so I looked back and saw Zander finally walking on school grounds.

"Why does he…" I mumbled to myself, not finishing the sentence.

"We have to go to class now." His voice became harsh. Great, back to the asshole.

We went to our lockers first, and unlucky me his locker was two away from mine. I grabbed my binders and pushed them in my black carry-on bag. It had some swirly design on it that grew from the bottom left corner.

When I got everything, I closed my locker and turned the lock.

"Ready?" Nate said in a low voice, walking to me. I nodded and walked with him to our soon-to-be-started class, biology.

We walked in the chaotic room and saw every kid throwing paper airplanes or play-fighting. I mean, sheets of paper were flying everywhere. This is why I hate this period. All the kids act like they have no potential at all. The teacher hates this class, so he manages to slip out and sneak in the teacher's lounge. The only person who can calm this class down is—

"Nathaniel!" His crew called. They walked over and greeted each other with the man-shake, greeting me with a smile. Hard to believe; Nate, a crazy teen, can calm down a class of crazy teens. And since I'm his girlfriend, I apparently am the only who can calm him down. That's what people say who don't know what really goes on.

"Hey, Angel," One of his friends in particular greeted, about to hug me.

"Andrew." Nate warned, blocking him by pulling me closer into him. Even I noticed how he said Danny's full name and not his nickname. That means he's pissed.

"Just kidding," Danny put his hands up is surrender. His well-cut and lightly-spiked black hair hung just over his almost-black eyes and he looked right at me. For a second my brain shut down. In case you're wondering; Yes, I found Danny insanely hot. Way better than Nate, that's a damn fact. He didn't hit his girlfriends, he didn't yell at them, didn't snap when they made the slightest mistake. No, he just smiled and said it's alright. How did I get stuck with his complete opposite brother?

Oh, I forgot to tell you: Andrew and Nathaniel are brothers.

Same father, same mother as far as I know. Yet they act soooo different. Danny is incredibly nice, meanwhile his brother is an abusive, careless monster.

"Don't forget she's mine." Nate out both arms around me and leaned down, kissing me again. Do you really have to prove I'm your property in front of everyone? They already know. So stop torturing me.

I felt Nate's hand rest under my chin so I couldn't break the kiss. All I could do was wait. He finally released and glared at Danny. His arm was around my waist, holding me close.

I'm just surprised Danny's here. He left for a month because his Mom had to go on a business trip, and he had to tag along.

"So, you're back from your vacation," I said, trying to break the deep tension in the air.

Danny shrugged. "It wasn't really that fun. I had to go with Mom every time she had a client to interview. There were some cute chicks, though," He smirked and eyed me. He should know better than to do that in front of Nate. "But I missed one that stayed behind…"

"I wonder who that could be." Nate said through gritted teeth. His grip on my waist tightened and his nails dug through my shirt. It hurt, but I hid the pain.

"Eh. She's too young for me." He shoved his hands in his pockets. He likes someone else? Wow, I guess even the hot guys like girls. They just never talk about it, so you never know…

"Hope so." Nate grunted.

"Mr. James isn't here yet?" I asked, again trying to break the hidden fury.

"Nope." He responded. "He actually left a little while ago. I saw him leave, but of course I'm not going to say anything. It's not necessary to learn about biology when it's not even your goal in life,"

"I understand your point," I laughed. Now I was at my limit. I should probably stop talking to him like this before Nate gets angry. Actually, he already is. I can feel his heartbeat.

I'm dead.

"Andrew, you should really find yourself a girlfriend if you're so lonely to hit on my girlfriend."

"I'm not hitting on her." He defended. "I'm just talking to her as a friend."

"Oh yeah?" Nate growled. "What kind? Friends with benefits?"

"Dude, you're taking it too far. Just relax." Andrew took a step forward. Oh shit.

Nate let go from my waist.

"You're here, flirting with Angelica!" Angelica? That's not the long version of my name. I don't even have a long version! It's just—

"Angel!" Andrew cried. "It's Angel. Not Angelica. Her name is a stand-alone name."

"Her name is whatever I call her!" Nate yelled.

"Her name is Angel!" Andrew yelled louder. "ANGEL! FUCKING ANGEL!"

"So you want to fuck her?" Nate hollered. What the fuck? Is he crazy? Yes, Andrew is cute, but to have sex with him? That's too fast! And I'm still a virgin… It's embarrassing to say.

"I bet I'd fuck her better than you would." He took another step and got in Nate's face. I saw his face turn red with anger. I blushed at what Andrew just said.

"Heh. You're too late to find out." Nate spat. What? Is he trying to make it sound like we had sex? Is he that screwed up?

Andrew drew back with a shocked look. "You didn't." He growled.

"I did." Nate smirked. "She screamed in pleasure…" Nate said this in a dreamy voice. Is he explaining what he thinks I would do if we had sex? DUDE, STOP! I WOULD NEVER LOSE MY VIRGINITY TO YOU!

"No she didn't…" Andrew whispered, trembling.

"Wait, we never—" Nate slapped a hand over my mouth before I could finish.

"Awe, she's shy," He said. "Yeah, she begged for more. So I did. Harder and faster…"

"Shut up." Andrew's hands balled into fists, and he kept his head low. "She would never allow you." I could tell he said it through gritted teeth.

"She did. And she loved it," The urge to bite this guy's finger for shutting my mouth and lying was overwhelming. But I know I'd get a beat down if I did.

"I SAID SHUT UP!" In a flash, Andrew leaped forward and punched Nate right in the jaw. He let go of my mouth and fell back, letting out a groan. While he was on the ground, Andrew walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to his face. "You fucking perverted rapist!" Andrew threw him down and kicked him in the stomach. Whoa, was this the Andrew I knew? He never fought…

"Andrew, stop!" I cried, holding him back. He tried to fight it, wanting to beat the hell out of Nate. Hey, if he wasn't my boyfriend, go nuts. But since he'd beat me if I didn't defend him, I had no choice.

What I don't get is why Andrew cares so much if Nate had sex—or as he said, raped—me or not. I mean, I don't want to have it with him, but I again don't get why he should care.

"No! This bastard…" He managed to get me off, but he grabbed my forearms and pulled me close to him. "Did he touch you…?" He asked me softly. I felt myself melt at his touch.

"He…" I got lost in his eyes.

"He didn't, did he?" He cooed.

"Why do you care so much…?" I said in a near whisper.

Andrew suddenly blinked and stood straight. "I…uh…Well—"

"Asshole!" A voice yelled as a fist flew into Andrew's stomach. He howled in pain and clutched his area of pain, letting me go. "I told you SHE'S MINE!" Nate put his arms around me and held me close, so close I felt his groin.

"Ah, I can't…" I couldn't breathe because of how tight he was holding me.

"You're hurting her." Andrew spat, still in pain.

"So?" Nate said. Of course he wouldn't care.

"Are you that heartless?" He cried out.

"If I was, I wouldn't kiss her the way I do." He stood proudly. Are your kisses supposed to be special? Boy, the only special thing about you is how you manage to keep me.

"I don't get how she chooses you." He said with anger. You don't—what? But I never had a choice…

"Then just watch." Nate smirked at him then kissed me again, but longer. His tongue explored my mouth, invading my privacy. I forced my tongue to move in response to his actions. He tasted like cigarettes, and I had to fight with myself from pulling away. He pulled me so close even more, my chest began to hurt. He didn't care, of course, and kept kissing me. I opened my eyes for a peek and saw his eyes closed, but more importantly Andrew glaring at Nate. I mean a friggin' death glare. He was serious.

"Okay, I get it. She's purely yours." He murmured. Nate pulled away and I sucked in a breath to breathe.

"You better understand that." Nate threatened. "Come on." He pulled me with him to the back of the class, only then did I notice all stares of shock and amazement at us; Andrew, Nate and I.

"Don't you ever let him touch you again. Or else." He growled in my ear. I gulped, but nodded.

We sat in our usual seats; Nate sat in the very last seat on the chair, and he wanted me to sit on his lap. But now Danny can't sit with us because of that incident. What did he mean by 'I don't get how she chooses you."?

Choose. That word echoed in my head. An actual choice. Something I never get to have and some girls take for granted with their boyfriends. They get to choose where to go for dinner. They get to choose where to go. They choose who they can hang out with. They get to choose what boyfriend they want. I can't.

"Angel," Nate said in my ear. "Do you like Andrew?" Uh oh he said his full name again.

I had to say no. "No, of course not." I smiled at him. "I'm with you," I tapped his nose and he smiled back, pecking me on the lips. It's always the lips. It gets annoying, or just tiring.

"Okay, I believe you," He slid a hand across my face; no matter how soft it was I was still scared he'd hit me. "I just don't want to lose you,"

Ha. Keep up with the abuse and you might lose me by your own hand.

"I'll always be here," If I'm not dead. Of all the girls in the world, I had to be the one who caught his eye.

Nate grinned and closed his eyes, leaning his head on my shoulder after adjusting himself. By the corner of my eye, I saw Danny staring at me. He just sat in his seat casually, his head on his hand. But his eyes were like lasers not wanting to leave my company. After a minute or two, he looked away to the guy next to him. He said something to him but I couldn't hear or read his lips. The guy nodded and went to Danny's other crew. Yeah, Nate and Andrew have different groups. They rarely hang out with each other's crew, but Danny has a bigger crowd. He keeps it secret from Nate, because he would challenge him and try to make a bigger crew. It sucks how the younger brother is better than the older brother. Did I tell you? No? Well, Andrew is older than me but younger than Nathaniel.

"Yo, Nate," I heard a voice call. We both perked up and saw Travis, Nate's best friend walking to us. "They want you in the main office."

Nate sighed and pushed me off him. "I'll be back." He said to me. I don't have to go with him? Yes! But he suddenly grabbed me. "And don't talk with Andrew." He growled in my ear.

"Okay," I said, hiding my fear. It's not like a can help it if he does come over.

Nate walked out, but winked at me just before he left. I sat in his seat and just closed my eyes, resting my head on the desk.

"You bitch!" And he whacked her with the belt.

…

"Did you fuck him?" He punched her in the stomach and slapped her face.

…

"You worthless piece of crap!" He picked her up and threw her hard on the floor. Her bleeding face wasn't enough to make him stop. She begged him, bribed him. But it didn't work. He beat her unconscious.

I opened my eyes when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Andrew with an "I'm sorry" type of face.

"Yes?" I said. He sighed and sat in the desk in front of me.

"I'm sorry about the fight." He responded, staring at the ground.

"It wasn't completely your fault…" I remembered what he said: "I bet I'd fuck her better than you would."

"I guess I shouldn't have been that forward with you," He smiled.

I laughed softly. "You should know how strict Nate is about me talking to other guys." I warned. I'm not even supposed to be talking to him right now.

"I'm his brother. I know he'll get mad, but we were friends longer than he's been your boyfriend." He spat out the last word.

"I remember…" I miss those days. I met Nate through Andrew.

"I wish I never introduced you to him." He roared out, his hands in fists again.

"It's okay," I told him, trying to relax him.

"He treats you like crap." He stared at me, and I felt myself beginning to burn.

"But he still loves me." I had that lie in my mind for two years. I used to believe it. Until he actually told me he doesn't.

"You really think he loves you?" Andrew snapped.

"No one else does." I shot back.

"That's not true." Andrew immediately shut his mouth.

"Huh?" I asked softly. Andrew leaned forward and moved a strand of hair from my face.

"I'll explain later." He whispered.

"Why not now?" Wow, I actually whined. Andrew smirked and removed his hand.

"I need my privacy." He said. "And it's my turn to have alone time with you." He leaned back and stared in m eyes.

"But Nate won't let you." I stated.

"I don't give a—"

"Andrew." I warned. He smiled and corrected himself.

"I don't care what the hell he does or doesn't tell me to do."

"And you're the younger brother." I shook my head. "Shocking."

"You should know I don't like taking orders." He leaned in.

"I know. I still remember." I smiled.

"Good." He leaned back again. What do you mean 'Good.'? It's not that important if I forget…

"You're so confusing," I muttered.

"Right." He said. My head snapped up. "Yeah, I heard you." He snickered.

"You should go before Nate comes back," I said. Andrew's smile faded and was replaced by an agitated look.

"Fine." He got up and walked back to his crew with no other words of goodbye.

Not long after, Nate came back with an envelope. Jeez, I'm glad Andrew left when he did. Nate walked over and I got up so he could sit down. I sat where Danny just did, in front of Nate. "What's that?" I asked, hoping not to sound nosy.

"Some note about how I always cause trouble," He answered. "If I get into another fight, I'll get expelled."

Get into another fight soon! I screamed in my head. That's my demonic side. Andrew calls it the Common Sense side. Be nice, Angel. My other side told me. That's my Angel-like side, the one Nate adores and Andrew hates.

"Hopefully you stay out of trouble," I said with a weak smile. Nate grinned and ripped the paper.

"Me too, but that's gonna be hard."

"Why?" I asked sweetly.

"Because if I do find some asshole around here trying to hit on you, I'll go crazy." He stared at me. Fear and weakness ran through my body.

"Well, I'll just blow them off," I said. He looked at me. "I would never betray you like that." I said truthfully. I really would never. He loves me, and I return the favor.

"I know you wouldn't," He smiled and rubbed my arm from where he sat. Please don't when we get home…

"Nathaniel," Someone called. I knew whose voice it was. Nate reacted fast by getting up and standing in front of me.

"What do you want," Nate said in an irritated tone. Andrew looked at him, glanced at me then back to Nate.

"I just wanted to say…" Danny was never good at apologizing. He rarely did it, anyway. Why practice something you never do?

"Say what," Nate snapped. Danny tensed with anger that only I could sense, but he tried to calm down.

"I wanted to say I'm…s-sorry." He mumbled.

"What?" Nate mocked.

Danny sighed. "I'm sorry." He said louder. The guys in his crew looked shocked; they neverheard him say sorry to anyone he didn't like that much. Before Nate and I were together, Danny's crew only heard him say sorry to me.

"Tch. Sure, whatever." Nate murmured and sat back down.

"You suck at being a big brother." I heard Danny mutter. Nate didn't notice. Why does that happen? Every time Danny mutters something, I'm the only one who can hear it. Surely Nate can hear it…? I can't ask him.

But if you do, he'll get into another fight and get expelled.

That sounds tempting, but you forget: He has his boys out watching me. It's not like I'm free just because he's gone. Andrew would try to talk to me, and Nate's guys would tell. I get beat half to death, and Danny gets a couple hits.

The usual.

How was it for a first chapter? I'm even excited about this new release! Which character do you like so far despite it being the first chapter?