"Did I not just ask you a question? Where are you coming from?" Stacey's mom barked taking steps to her.

"From school, mom," Stacey flinched, lowering her gaze and avoiding her mom's icy glare.

Stacey had the conviction that Jane must have told her mom that she had detention and was going to be back home late. If her mom was reacting this way it only meant that Chelsey told her something else.

"Why are you late?" Her mom's frosty voice filled the room making Stacey snap out of her thoughts.

Stacey was about to give her mom a reply when Jane interfered as she walked into the living room.

"Ma'am, I told you she had detention," Jane muttered.

Stacey's mom peered at Jane with narrowed eyes and curled up her lip, " I wasn't talking to you. I was speaking to Stacey. I believe she's not dumb, let her speak for herself."

Jane opened her mouth to say something, but Stacey shook her head in discussion; she didn't want the issue to result in anything else. If Jane interfered her mom was going to make it a huge deal and lash out at Jane.

"Get out of my sight, I can't remember inviting you." Stacey's mom snapped rolling her eyes at Jane.

Concern etched Jane's face as she glanced at Stacey.

Stacey mustered a smile and shook her head, Jane sighed and then walked away. Jane hated the way her boss was always treating Stacey as if she wasn't her daughter.

"I had detention, so I couldn't come back home along with Chelsey. I'm sorry." Stacey apologised.

Her mom huffed, and she folded her arms across her chest, "What's your problem, Stacey? You resumed a new school today and you are already causing havoc. Or did you do something bad so you could get detention and avoid coming home on time?"

"No Mom, I didn't do anything wrong," Stacey shook her head. She could feel her eyes welling up with tears as usual her mom was blaming her without caring to know what the truth was.

Her mom's face contorted in anger, "Really? Is that the best lie you can come up with?"

"I'm not lying. The teacher thought I was the one who stuck gum to his chair but I didn't. It was Chelsey who did." Stacey let out, glancing at Chelsey, whose face fell immediately as she feigned surprise.

"Me! And now you are trying to blame me like you always do, " Chelsey mumbled pretending to be hurt by Stacey's words.

"Chelsey why.." Stacey tried to say something in her defense but her mom cut her off.

"Shut your mouth, Stacey! You have no right to accuse Chelsey falsely. You followed a guy you just met today to his house. I'm disappointed in you; well, I'm not so surprised you've always disappointed me."

"Mom, that's not true. I didn't....." Stacey started trying to explain things, but her mom raised her hands in the air, and she went shut. Stacey wondered who the guy her mom was talking about was.

"Leave my presence before I do something we both will regret." Her mom yelled.

Now Stacey could no longer hold back the tears that had filled her eyes as they rolled down her cheeks.

Stacey had taken a few steps away, she was almost at the stairs when her mom's voice made her stop in her tracks.

"Make sure you stay away from that guy. What's his name?" Her mom asked turning to Chelsey.

"Mason," Chelsey muttered.

Stacey nodded before veering around; when she walked past Stacey, she smirked at her.

Stacey ignored her and continued walking to her room.

Getting to her room, she shut the door and plopped on her bed. She took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled before wiping her tears, crying because her mom's words were only going to hurt her; her mom didn't care.

Stacey's phone started to ring, she took off the backpack and took the phone out. A smile grew on her lips when she saw the caller ID.

"Hello, Dad."

"How are you doing my Princess?"

"I'm fine Dad."

"You don't sound fine, are you okay?" He asked his voice tinged with concern.

"Yes Dad, I'm just tired." She didn't want to tell him about her mom's attitude. It was going to make him upset and worried; the one thing she didn't want was to be the cause of a fight between her parents.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes Dad, " she nodded even if he couldn't see her.

"How are you, Dad?" She inquired, she didn't want him to go on with the talk about her.

"I'm good Stacey."

"Dad, will you be coming back anytime soon?" Stacey asked. She missed him a lot; things were just so different without him in the house, and it was getting very hard for her to keep up with it.

"I don't know yet, Princess but once I'm done with my work over here, I'll be back. I've missed you a lot."

"I miss you so much Dad," Stacey smiled.

"How is your New school? Do you like it?"

"Yes, the school is great, I even made a new friend."

"Congratulations!" He exclaimed. She could feel the excitement in his voice.

"Dad, you sound so excited." Stacey chuckled.

"Of course, I am excited. My daughter just got a new friend, Finally. Do you know how long I've waited for this? So tell me, is it a guy?"

From his inquisitive tone, she knew he was teasing her.

But her Dad's question made her think about Mason, she didn't even know if she was to consider him as a friend.

"Are you still there," Dad asked drifting her out of her thoughts.

"Dad, it's not a guy, it's a girl and her name is Adriel."

"I'm a bit disappointed, though, but I'm still glad. I can't wait to meet your friend when I get back, What will you want me to get for you when I'm coming back?"

"I'll be fine with anything you get for me, Dad."

"I love you, Princess. Take care of yourself."

"I love you, Dad, Bye." She said before hanging up.

She felt a lot better after speaking with her dad; he was the sweetest, and his words always came with a comforting presence.

Shortly afterwards, they heard a knock on her door. Straightening herself up she sauntered to the door and pulled it open before walking back to the bed and sitting on it.

Jane ambled into the room and sat beside Stacey.

"I'm sorry about all your mom said. Are you okay?"

Stacey forced a smile on her face, " You don't have to worry about me, Aunt. I'm fine."

"Stacey, you can't fool me with that smile. And why didn't you let me speak?" Jane frowned.

"It will be of no use, Jane. Besides, it's nothing new. I don't want her to talk to you rudely because of me." Stacey sighed.

"Stacey, it hurts me seeing you this way. I want you to be happy."

Jane stroked Stacey's shoulder comfortingly

"So tell me, how was your first day at your new school?" She asked.

"It was good. I made a new friend, her name is Adriel, she's so nice," Stacey smiled.

"Really! That's good, I'm happy you got a friend. Was she the only person you spoke to?"

"Kayla, Chelsey's best friend, was there and..." Stacey started but paused. She didn't want to talk about Mason because she knew Jane was going to tease her.

"And Mason?" A mischievous smile grew on Jane's lips and she peeked at Stacey with raised brows.

"Aunt! I thought you weren't there when Mom was talking." Stacey sputtered chuckling.

"I didn't go very far away. They could do anything to you." Jane's face contorted in a frown.

"They can only talk, they won't harm me, " Stacey shrugged.

"About Mason..."

"Did you believe that I went to his house?"

"Of course not; even if you did, there must have been a good reason." Jane mouthed.

"I didn't go to his house. We were in detention together. When the teacher asked who had stuck the gum to his chair, Chelsey said it was me, then Mason told the teacher that he did." Stacey explained.

"That's so sweet of him, sounds like a gentleman to me, " Jane winked.

Stacey scoffed shaking her head, " Gentleman? He is nowhere near that, he is kind of complicated." Stacey paused before she continued.

"How?" Jane's brows knitted together in confusion.

"Sometimes, he is nice, and the next minute, he becomes annoying."

"Are you sure he is annoying? From the smile on your face. I don't think he is." Jane teased.

"He was nice to me and helpful too but.." Stacey puffed a breath and said nothing else.

"But what?"

"Chelsey seems to like Mason and my mom has warned me to stay away from him," Stacey muttered.

"You said he was nice to you, right? I don't think there's anything wrong with being friends with him. You know how Chelsey is sometimes, you shouldn't let her get into your head." Aunt Jane smiled.

Next Day

Stacey got ready for school; after having her breakfast, she got into the car and waited for her Mom and Chelsey, who were still having their breakfast. She had to get ready early enough so her mother wouldn't leave her behind like yesterday.

Stacey was seated in the front seat.

"Go to the back seat I want to sit at the front," Chelsey ordered when she and her mom got to the car.

"But I'm seated here already, why don't you just sit at the back?" Stacey sighed.

"I'm not going to sit at the back, I want to sit here." Chelsey barked, staring at Stacey's eyes filled with hatred.

"Do you need Chelsey to repeat herself? It doesn't matter if you are already seated just get up and go to the back or walk to school. Make your choice," Her mom chipped in giving Stacey a once over.

Chelsey smiled with satisfaction, "Come on do as mom said."

Stacey heaved a breath and then reached for the car's door handle and opened it, she got down and sauntered to the back seat. Chelsey and her mom got into the car and they hit the road afterwards.

"Bye Mom." Chelsey waved when they as they alighted the car after they got to the school.

"Bye darling, have a nice day." Her mom smiled waving at her.

"Bye, mom," Stacey mumbled. Her mom gave her a dirty look, her nose crinkled with disgust.

"Come here, Stacey." Her mom gestured.

Stacey nodded, taking steps toward her. Stacey was shocked to see a smile on her mom's face when she reached where she was.

"Remember my warning, stay far away from Mason, if Chelsey brings any report to me, you will be done for." Her mother harshed before driving away.

Stacey sighed, here she was hoping for a change but as usual everything was still the