"Where were you last night?" Aster questioned "You weren't home before I left." It was the next morning, and due to Aster working night shifts I wasn't home by the time he left.

"Decided to walk around, get a feel for the area because I missed the bus." I lied, partly. I grabbed my toast from the toaster before spreading butter across the tops and Aster came up to the side of me and took a sip of his coffee "Missed or Skipped?"

Rolling my eyes, I placed the dirty knife in the sink "Yeah well it's not exactly thrilling being a senior and still taking the bus."

"We're working on it, ok?" He reassured "Make any new friends? Talk to anyone?"

"No." I muttered, moving over to the table to start eating my breakfast as Aster followed and sat in the chair across from me.

"So you talked to nobody at all the entire day?" He narrowed his towards me, and I shrugged taking a bite of my toast. "Sorry Aspen, don't believe that you of all people kept your mouth shut for 7 hour straight."

"Well I talked to Juniper Gunner." I sighed, knowing I would have to answer his questions no matter what and it seemed that may be the best answer. It was like living with my dad, and the basic 'How was your day at school? What did you learn' conversation I had gotten everyday.

"Gunner?" Aster's tone changed "As in the twin sister of Pierce Gunner? The one part of the gang?"

"Yeah." I answered nonchalantly like it hadn't been a big deal. "I thought I told you to stay away from them." He demanded "I'm serious Aspen, you can't get yourself involved with them they are nothing but bad news. And they just want to-"

He stopped in his tracks and I raised an eyebrow at him in response "Want to what?"

"Nothing." He muttered "Now get going or you're gonna miss the bus. I can't drive you I have to go pick up Evangeline."

Not trying to push it, I got up and placed my plate and glass in the sink "What's up with her? Is she like your girlfriend?"

"I don't really know right now." He looked straight ahead at the table "She's beautiful and she's incredibly sweet but I'm only twenty I don't want to really commit right now. She's more of just...a fuck."

"Wow Aster." I looked at him in a disapproving manner "Real nice of you to lead a girl on and have her be nothing but a fuck to you. Way to play with her feelings."

"Didn't know you were some feminist Nazi-" He joked but stopped when he saw the look on my face "This is about Cayde isn't it? I'm sorry I forgot about everything that happened with him-"

"Just stop." I interrupted not wanting to think about him or hear that name. Cayde had been my ex boyfriend who was just toxic and had red flags all over but I was young and he smelt nice and was the first boy to give me attention so I ignored them.

"Well I got to go." I threw my backpack over my shoulder and left without saying anything else as Aster shouted "Love you!" after me, but I slammed the door shut behind me. I walked towards the mailbox to get on the bus, but a black Mercedes Benz pulled up to me.

As I was about to dart back into the house and scream, not wanting to repeat yesterday. The black tinted windows rolled down to reveal Juniper driving and Triston in the passenger seat.

"Hey Aspen." Juniper grinned, followed by triston with a big welcoming smile.

"Uh hi?"

"Come on get in. I'll give you a ride to school." Juniper offered, nodding towards her back seats. "If you guys are just trying to get me to join your gang or something, please just leave me alone. Plus you guys were in on the kidnapping yesterday. So what were you faking being nice to me in school yesterday too?"

"No Aspen, I swear I had nothing to do with the kidnapping. Xander and Archer make all the decisions." She shook her head "And no I was not faking it, you're new and just thought you needed a friend."

"Right.." I trailed off, and Triston had spoken up "It's true. We have no say in anything that happens. The guys pretty much run the show, we're just in it."

"Well why don't you do something about it? Show them women's opinions and actions are just as important and they can't tell you what to do and when to do it." I stated, and Juniper gave me a small smile "How about we talk about it on the way to school."

Biting my lip, I looked back at the house to see if Aster had been there but he hadn't been. "I promise, I mean no harm. I'll pull over if you want to get out at any time." Juniper promised, making me sigh and get in the back seat of the car.

She had taken off, as it had been about a 15 minute drive to school. I just stared at the window as Juniper and Triston had talked among each other but I could tell Juniper kept looking back at me in the rear view mirror.

"So Aspen." She spoke up, making me break my gaze from the mirror "How you liking New York so far? A lot different from Washington, huh?"

I shrugged my shoulders "Haven't really been around, it's only my third day here and especially after yesterday, didn't really get much chance to do anything.."

"Look, I'm so sorry about that. I really am, the Crestmont gang really isn't suppose to be about that stuff. It's really just a big family, we've just lost a lot of morals the past couple of years after our last leader had been killed and then Archer took over, and well, -it's a shit show now." Juniper reassured "Most of us really don't mean much harm at all-"

"What's the deal with Pierce?" I interrupted her and she seemed caught of guard. Triston scoffed at my question and looked at Juniper as if she was just waiting for a response.

"Pierce?" Juniper sighed "He's just a little rough around the edges."

"A little? Around the edges?" Triston laughed "Try the whole damn boy. Pierce Gunner is the biggest dick to walk this earth, and his doesn't match his personality. Trust me when I say do yourself a favor and stay away from him as much as possible, do not get yourself stuck in his trap. He's the king of mind games, I swear he is actually a psychopath."

"I can't believe you're still on him. It was a year ago and you agreed to it Triston which makes you just as bad." Juniper declared to her, seeming aggravated. I was just as confused as anybody, I had no idea who these people were and what they want. They just kept me wanting to ask questions, but I decided to keep my mouth shut in order to show I wasn't interested.

Triston turned around in her seat, looking at me. "Pierce was dating Mercury, for like a year. They had the most toxic relationship, constantly beating on each other and fighting. They're both way too headstrong for their own good. So during this, Pierce came to me and convinced me to start sleeping with him. He was so convincing and played mind games with me, telling me he was going to leave her and I'm the one he wanted but I was just a fuck."

I was taken back, but honestly not surprise. Pierce and all the guys seemed to all have that cliche bad boy persona where they think they could get any girl they want. Triston took a deep breathe before continuing "Then Mercury found out, walking in on us once and then we later found out him and Greyson were sleeping together on the regular as friends with benefits. So of course Mercury broke up with him, but he didn't show much reaction..almost like there was no meaning to him. He went out a fucked another girl the next day. So I wouldn't get yourself trapped in his mind games."

"Not shocked." I looked at her amused "Seem's like that type of guy who will stick his dick in everything that has a hole."

Soon enough we had arrived at the school, and I got out of the car as soon as I could. Placing my ear buds in, and turning on my music which had blasted a little to loud in my ears. I headed towards the school, not even turning around to thank juniper for the ride.

* * * * * *

The day had gone by, moderately fast but then my nightmare was being approached. The cafeteria, after not finding any friends from any of my classes I was still all alone. Sighing, I scanned the cafeteria for an empty seat, soon find one table all the way at the end. I had taken a seat, pulling out an apple which had been the only thing I packed not wanting to do actual effort.

Scrolling mindlessly through my phone, I watched all my old friends from Washington post Instagram photos and snapchat videos. It was already November, and starting a school halfway through the semester was hard enough. Taking a bite of my apple, a hand grabbed the back of my jean jacket tightly.

Before I could even turn around, I looked to see Tucker, Cypress, and Mars all sit down around the table, all facing me. The hold let go of my jacket, when Pierce had sat down right next to me with a pissed off expression.

"So Aspen." Mars's smirk grew across his lips "Figured we'd give you some company. Can't let the new kid be by themselves, won't that give Northeast a bad reputation."

"I'm fine." I gave him a smug smile back "Really. I am."

"What class do you have next?" Tucker questioned, and I took another bite of my apple. Shrugging in response, not wanting them to exactly know my schedule. Pierce then grabbed the apple out of my hand, taking a bite out of the side and chewing it.

"Red delicious, I'm more of a Granny smith type of guy." He stared down at it before looking up at me "Now what do you have next, Ambrosia?"

"Why would I tell you." I snapped back, wanting nothing more but to tell him to fuck off and slap him but not wanting to make a scene.

With that Pierce immediately spit the apple pieces out directly into my face and my jaw dropped as I was filled with disgust.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I shouted at him in disbelief as to what just had happened and standing up from my seat. I wiped off the apple pieces from my face and everyone's heads seemed to turn towards us at my yell. The cafeteria was silent, and I looked over to see Juniper with Triston and Mercury. Juniper and Triston with frowns and Mercury with the evilest grin across her face.

Pierce smirked up at me before standing up, grabbing my wrist and pulling me out the near exit doors which lead out to the back of the school followed by Cypress, Mars and Tucker. My anger erased as I was in fear of what would now happen, not wanting to be alone with them.

I was pressed up against a wall and Pierce paced back in forth, clenching his jaw before facing me and clenching his fist and raising it before going at me. I closed my eyes shut and turned my head waiting for the pain to inflict but it didn't. I opened my eyes to see Pierce inches away from me with his fist clenched and raised, before he lowered it and his face was something I couldn't explain.

He looked at me with an expression that had no name, it was almost like he couldn't hurt me. Could only threaten it. Pierce was someone who was not very easy to read, I knew there was much more though that he was hiding. But I decided I couldn't show him my fear, and I couldn't let him no how much he scared me and got my blood boiling.

"You're not going to make my job harder. Got it?" He gritted from his teeth, his face so close I could feel his breath hit my skin "I'm suppose to watch you, and you are not going to be the reason Archer and Xander kick my ass, got it Ambrosia?"

"Wouldn't that be something fun to watch." I stood up straight "I mean you getting your ass beat. Something I bet people would pay for."

"Don't fucking get cocky with me Ambrosia or I'll have you begging on your knees." He backed away from me a bit but his eyes didn't leave me. As much as his threats did scare me, I knew I couldn't show it.

"You know what Gunner?" I tested, walking up to me and pointing a finger into his chest before looking up at him "Maybe I'll have you begging on your knees for me."

"Oh think again sweetheart." He tsked "I don't beg."

"Get away from me Gunner." I started to walk away, dismissing Pierce and anything that came out of his smug lips.

"Oh come on, Ambrosia don't make me beg." He teased, his intentions being nothing but cruel and to piss me off. His hand soon grabbed my arm, the grip tightening so hard that I had been scared it would start to go blue.

Pierce wanted one thing and that was for me to fear him, and I wasn't giving it to him. Everyone walked around terrified to even been in his sight, and I refused to bow down to the almighty Pierce Gunner.

Slowly turning around to face him, m y eyes bored into his as I pursed my lips before I swallowed a lump in my throat "I'm not scared of you."

"Oh really?" He tested, his grip tightening and eyes becoming so cold they looked black as his pupils widened into his iris "Then why do you look like you're about to piss yourself?"

Ripping my arm out of his grip, "You know if your dick was half the size your personality is, you might actually be able to get some girls."

With that he pushed me back upon the wall and pinned me back so I was restricted in every way. "Watch it Ambrosia, no wonder your dad passed you off to your brother."

I immediately spit in his face, and he turned his head for a minute, clenching his jaw and wiping it off before turning his head to me and wrapping his hands around my neck and placing pressure on my wind pipes.

I began to struggle to breathe, as I grasped and clawed at his hands to release.

"Now Ambrosia, it's gonna go my way. Now I'll release you if you agree but if not I'll fucking ruin you." He pressed harder "Now what's it gonna be? Ride or Die."

"P-Pierce p-please." I gasped for air, and he soon released his hands from my neck, and I immediately dropped to the ground as I coughed and coughed while holding my neck.

The exit door from the cafeteria soon opened to show Juniper, Mercury, and Triston all standing there. Juniper looked horrified and soon went off on Pierce about what the hell he was doing but Mercury walked up to me as I laid on the gravel ground still regaining my breath.

She still wore that smug look, and place her louis vuitton black heels on top of me and pushed my body a bit before completely kicking me in my stomach and I yelped in pain, grabbing a hold of my neck. She bent down to me, her face was so cold and she gritted her teeth together "You will not replace me. And you will not take Pierce away from me."

What? Replace her? Take Pierce away? I had no idea what she had been talking about but I felt myself become sick and I turned my head the other way before I began to vomit from whatever my toast and apple were in my stomach.

I heard Juniper and Triston shouting at Pierce and Mercury for hurting me and the boys for not doing anything at all. I zoned them out as I profusely threw up my guts, but Juniper came over to me and pulled my hair back and rubbed my back.

I felt all eyes on me, and Juniper had helped me up once I was done, and I limped onto her as I looked directly at Pierce with my eyes narrowed at him "Fuck you."

"Come let's get you fixed up." Juniper said gently, as Triston went to get my backpack and we walked away from school and to find her car, before she helped me get into the passenger seat.

* * * * *

We arrived at the house that I was yesterday held hostage in. It was a white and red old style Victorian house that stood tall. I started to shake my head, and Juniper parked the car and began "Aspen I know you don't want to go in, but what are we going to do? Tell your brother what happened?"

"Go to the cops!" I exclaimed, and Triston sighed "We can't do that. We're already wanted by the cops, they've been on us nonstop. Pierce will just get arrested again, same with Mercury."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was just assaulted and they won't turn them in.

"I promise nothing is going to happen to you." Juniper placed a hand on my shoulder "We're just gonna get you fixed up and take some pain killers. The rest of the gang won't be here till after school which means no Pierce, no mercury."

I knew I couldn't fight this and my stomach had been killing me. Juniper and Triston got out of the car and helped me up to the house. "What even is this place?" I asked and Triston answered "It's like our meeting place. It's where the whole gang gets together, has meetings, just hangs out, ya know?"

We entered the house, and I had each of my arms wrapped around Juniper and Triston's shoulders and my body was hunched over from the pain in my abdomen. We walked into the living room and I saw all the rest of the Gunner siblings. Xander, Harley, and Sawyer, were all sitting around but eyes shot up to me the minute I walked in.

"What the hell happened?!" Xander yelled, standing up and walking over towards us. Juniper and Triston helped lay me down on the couch and I groaned in pain. "Pierce spit in her face in the cafeteria so she yelled and then he dragged her out to the back of the school and choked her. Then Mercury came out and kicked her right to the stomach." Juniper explained, running a hand through her hair.

The door immediately opened, and I looked to see Pierce run through and his face fell when he saw his brother Xander, who looked livid.

"Are you fucking kidding me Pierce?" Xander shouted at him, and Pierce just muttered "God fucking damn it" under his breath.

It was obvious he tried to beat us here, so it looked liked he didn't do it but we beat him here. Told you I'll have you begging Gunner and I wasn't wrong.

"You were suppose to watch over her because we needed her! Now how the hell are we going to get past the RPS or Westwood!" Xander shouted, and Pierce just stood their with jaw clenched and a pissed off expression like everything was going in one ear and out the other.

Harley and Sawyer came over to me, and began asking me questions. Basically making sure I wasn't going to go to the cops or tell any type of authority figure. "Help me take her shirt off." Harley said, and I immediately pushed them away and started to freak out.

"We need to get your blood pressure and check out if there was any damage done to anything above the abdomen like your sternum." Harley stated then turning towards Sawyer "Sis go get the blood pressure pump."

With that Sawyer ran off into another room, and Harley had helped me take my jean jacket off, and then my hoodie which was the only thing I had on besides a bra underneath. I felt extremely uncomfortable sitting half naked, but Xander and Pierce seemed to be fighting too much to even notice.

Sawyer came back and they wrapped the Velcro around and pumped it harder till it was squeezing my arm, and I saw the numbers on the machine go down and Harley stared intently before unwrapping it from my arm "120/80, perfect actually."

She started to examine my stomach and touch around. I furrowed my eyebrows together, and she must of noticed my confusion before looking up at me and chuckling a bit "I use to be a nursing student."

"You just got out of jail Pierce!" Xander shouted at him "How fucking dumb do you need to be?! You'll be 18 in two weeks and can't stay out of trouble! When she goes to the police for assault, I'm not bailing you out again and you know damn well mom and dad don't give a shit!"

"Enough you three!" Sawyer shouted at them before saying in a calmer tone "Pierce go get her an ice pack."

Pierce looked at me directly and gritted "You're fucking dead, Ambrosia."

* * * * * * *

A://N Almost the weekend! Hope you guys liked this chapter, a lot more happened and the story will start to pick up soon!

What do you guys think about..

Pierce?

Juniper?

Aspen? 

Aster?

Mercury?

Triston? 

I'm going to start doing dedications each chapter! To earn one I'm just going to be doing whoever comments the most (not spam though)

Don't forget to vote and comment!

~Ash