Christina tugged her brown leather jacket on as the final bell rang throughout the school, and she gathered her books into her arms before exiting the classroom. Pushing her way through the crowd of students gossiping about the fight that had taken place over an hour ago, she eventually made it to her locker and conquered the combination. She took her backpack out and placed her books into it before traveling over to the Science hallway, removing her blonde locks of hair from its braid.

Smoothing out her hair a little, she stood at the edge of the hallway, ducking her head down to avoid the curious gazes of her classmates. She was often very meek around those she didn't know and she chose not to talk to those who would harp on her about her personal life, which was something she definitely wouldn't prefer. Instead, she preferred to be silent unless she were to be around her friends or people she was acquaintances with.

And now was one of those times.

Nobody dared to bother her since they knew that, if they did, there would be hell to pay.

But one person out of the newest crowd actually walked up to her, his face red with embarrassment as he huffed out a breath. "Christina..." he muttered, his shoulders slumping.

"Eugene..." she replied, her head held up a little higher now as she crossed her arms in an attempt to look intimidating despite Flash being taller than her. "Thank you for meeting me here."

"Not like I had much of a choice," Flash grumbled under his breath, sighing heavily before cutting straight to the chase. "Look, Christina... I don't know why you always insist that we have these talks. You say you have faith in me 'improving.'" He formed quotation marks with his hands as he said this. "But would you please give it a rest?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Flash," she said in return, completely unafraid of him and staring right at him. "When we were kids, you were actually cool. You were likable and fun to hang out with. And, out of nowhere... middle school happened and you became an absolute dickhead. And it has got to stop. You need to grow the hell up and stop. Please... just... stop."

Flash just shook his head out of disappointment in her, closing his eyes. "How am I supposed to stop when you always hang around that punk, Parker, huh?" he snapped back, glaring at her now.

"Because Peter is my friend," Christina responded in the same bitter tone, although she hated to admit that she had feelings towards Peter that no normal friend would have. "He was trying to stand up for that kid, and you beat the shit out of him like you always do. He's been through enough, and you have to make it worse."

"I can't help it if he keeps getting in my way," Flash said, rolling his eyes.

Christina then held her hands up in surrender and rolled her own eyes. "Okay, that's it..." she muttered. "I quit. I've tried to help you but you don't listen because you're an immature git. Have a nice life, Flash."

And, with that, she spun around and speed walked down the hallway, her backpack bouncing against her back as she huffed irritatedly. She ran her hand through her messy hair and stared straight ahead at her destination, which was the front doors; she glanced behind her once because she did hear Flash shouting after her. However, she chose to ignore him completely, absolutely done with his horseshit.

Reaching the front doors, she spotted Peter sitting on the front steps of the school and chuckled lightly. Tugging the other strap of the backpack onto her left shoulder, she joined him by walking up to where she was next to him on the top step. "How's it going, Pete?" she greeted him with a pleasant smile, her eyes brightening just from the sight of him.

Peter jumped a bit before lifting his head up to see his best friend standing over him. His face turning pink, he placed his camera into his bag before rising to her level. "Hey, Chris," he replied almost shyly. "How did the talk with Flash go?"

"I'm quitting," she told him, sighing harshly. "I'm done trying. He just won't stop taking the piss out of me and I'm sick of it."

"Aw, you don't want to have your talks with him to stand up for me anymore?" Peter asked as he frowned, pretending to be hurt. "My heart is broken, Chris."

Christina's face turned red as she gently smacked his arm in response. "Oh, shut up!" she said as she laughed to herself. "He isn't worth it, he's just a right foul git, anyway."

"A 'right foul git?'" he repeated with a chuckle. "That's a new one, for sure."

"Fuck off, Parker," the blonde playfully said, shaking her head at him. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," he said, pulling his own backpack on and beginning to walk with her. He suppressed a yawn of absolute sleepiness and tried his best to pay attention to everything Christina was saying, especially since he found all of the topics she brought up to be very interesting. He was always invested in what she told him and it had been this way since they were around twelve, which totally wasn't embarrassing in the slightest. Totally.

"So, do you have a concussion or anything like that?" Christina asked him after a while, turning her head. "Considering what he did to you...?"

"No, nothing like that," Peter assured her, shrugging his shoulders. "Just a bruise or two, nothing new. You don't have to worry."

"Peter, at this point, it's practically my job to worry about you," she said jokingly, giggling softly. "So don't tell me not to, alright?"

Peter reluctantly nodded his head, closing his eyes for a moment. "Alright, fine," he responded. "But at least let me worry about you. I thought Flash was going to hit you today because of how angry he was."

Christina just smirked at him in reply to this, stifling laughter. "Trust me, Flash knows not to hit me," she promised him. "If he did, either Sidney or I would beat his ass so badly that he'd never show his face again. Especially Sidney."

Peter chuckled at this, rolling his eyes jokingly for a moment before deciding to get into another subject. "How is Sidney doing, by the way? And your parents, how are they?"

"Sidney's doing fine," the blonde said truthfully. "She struggled to adjust to middle school at first but she's all right now, thank God. Mom and Dad are doing well, too. Dad works at the office most days but it's nice whenever he's home. Mom often hangs out with her friends whenever she has nothing to do, but she's pretty happy right now."

"That's good," Peter said. "I'm glad they're doing great. I still need to meet your parents. I've met Sidney already but not your mom and dad."

Christina's face lit up at this, a lightbulb going off in her head as she stared at him. "I could arrange that," she told him. "My family and I have plans this weekend, but next weekend? If you're free, you could come over and meet my parents... if you want to, of course."

"Yeah, I'd love to," Peter said. "Just let me know what day I can come over... a-and I can meet your parents and hang out with you."

"Sounds great!"

Christina then pulled out her cell phone and went to her contacts; she scrolled through each one before coming across the contact titled 'Lil Sis' with a heart next to it. She sent a quick text to Sidney that read, "You taking the subway home?" before putting her phone back into her jacket pocket.

"How's Aunt May and Uncle Ben doing?" she asked Peter after she was done texting, her full attention on him once again.

"They're doing well," Peter answered. "I'm not sure what they're having for dinner tonight but I'm looking forward to it."

"I wish I could join," she said sadly. "But I have an exam in Calculus tomorrow and I need to continue studying for it. Sorry about that."

"No, don't apologize," he replied. "It's fine... Uh.... It's fine, really, Chris."

Christina just nodded her head. "Okay..." She then felt her phone buzz and she took it out and chuckled at the reply:

"Yeah, I am. I'll see ya in a bit. Don't flirt with Peter too much! ;)"

Her cheeks tinted pink as she put her phone away again, hoping that Peter didn't see what was sent to her.

"Was that Sidney?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah, it was," she replied, clearing her throat awkwardly. "She's taking the train home and I'm worried for her."

"I thought you never worried about her," Peter said teasingly. "Isn't she the 'most annoying sister in the world?'"

"Yeah, she totally is," Christina retorted with a laugh as the two continued walking to their respective homes.

_____

Found written repeatedly in the diary of Christina Irene Connors, dated May 26th, 2013:

It's all right
Unless you're either lonely or under attack.
That strange effortful
Repositioning of yourself. Laundry, shopping,
Hours, the telephone – unless misinformed –
Only ever ringing for you, if it ever does.
The night – yours to decide,
Among drink, or books, or lying there.
On your back, or curled up.

An embarrassment of poverty.

The poem is titled Night by Michael Hofmann, and is presumed to be written nearly a month after the tragedy the young woman endured on the night of April 29th.

_____

Christina walked through the front door of her house, hanging her backpack on the coat hanger in the entry hall. "Mom, Dad, I'm home!" she called into the living room, shaking her arms from side to side for a moment out of tiredness before walking towards the kitchen when she heard a few dishes clattering around. She entered said room and leaned against the doorway, examining her mother presumably preparing dinner for the family.

"Hey, Chris," Margaret Connors, whose brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun, greeted her eldest daughter. "How was school?" She turned and walked up to her to kiss her on the cheek.

The blonde kissed her mother's cheek in reply before shrugging her shoulders. "It was school," she said. "I learned things, I worked on assignments, I came home."

Margaret couldn't help but laugh as she walked back towards the stove where she had a pot going. "As long as you stayed out of trouble, that's good," she assured her. "Is Sidney taking the subway?"

"Yeah, she is," Christina answered, sitting down at the kitchen island and placing her arms on the marble. "Where's Dad?"

"Right here," came a man's voice from behind her, making the blonde turn around and smile at who she saw.

Curtis Connors was a wealthy man of forty-six and, despite his right arm being missing thanks to it being amputated while he helped soldiers in the U.S. Army, he didn't let that impact the time he spent with his family negatively. He loved his wife and daughters deeply and always supported and encouraged them when they were at their lowest, often lifting their spirits when they needed it. He put them over his work despite his job being extremely important to him as well, and he always made time for his family whenever he could.

"How was school?" Curt asked his daughter, walking over to her and kissing her on the top of her head.

"It was good, I guess," Christina replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "Didn't get stared at that much today, so there's that."

"Well, great," her father said after standing straighter. "I'd suggest you get your homework done if you have any, that way you don't do it last minute."

"Already taken care of," the blonde mumbled with a cheeky smile, making both Curt and Margaret chuckle.

A few seconds later, the front door was opened again and in walked a twelve-year-old girl with black headphones over her ears that emanated heavy metal music. She pulled them off of her head and removed her jean jacket to place it over the chair she was going to sit in. "Hey, guys," she greeted casually.

"The shrew finally rolls in," Christina teased lightly, the insult being completely harmless. It still earned her getting elbowed in response.

"Nice one, Chris," Sidney Connors responded with a little laugh. "You shall deal with my wrath for the rest of the night, dear sister."

"Yeah, totally looking forward to that."

"Alright, enough, girls," Margaret said in a playfully warning tone. "Go put your things away and get ready for dinner. It's chili tonight and I might make some brownies for dessert."

The two sisters stood up and climbed the stairs to their respective bedrooms, lightly throwing back insult after insult like they always did. It was how they bonded and, despite them being insanely close, they chose not to acknowledge that they cared about each other. But they still reached out from time to time if one or the other was going through anything terrible since they did love one another and would die for each other.

Christina reached her bedroom and shut the door behind her, sighing tiredly as she took in the decorations of the room. The walls were covered with different types of posters, ranging from one of the movie, Candyman, to band posters of The Beatles and Queen. There was a huge bookshelf in the corner with tons of books ranging from authors such as Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, and a desk by one of the windows where she either studied for exams, did homework, or wrote her short stories.

The blonde smiled and relaxed, as she had always found her room to be her safe haven whenever she came home. She went over to her bed that had burgundy blankets on it and laid down, snuggling into the comforters and pillows as she yawned.

She figured that she could take a small power nap until Margaret called up to her to say that dinner was ready. So, after rubbing her eyes, Christina dozed off into a semi-deep slumber.

A/N: this is sort of a filler chapter??? i guess???

ANYWAYS, thoughts on this chapter? did you enjoy it?

thoughts on the first scene where christina gave up on helping flash?

what did you think of the british slang lmao?

what about the scene with her and peter walking home?

and, finally, what about the scene where we're introduced to christina's family? do you like them?

do you like how curt (who is TOTALLY not the lizard *cough cough*) is involved in his daughter's lives and truly cares for them?

predictions for the next chapter?

be looking forward to the next chapter!

-denbroughswife