I stomped down the stairs pulling my long brown hair into a messy bun. I was having an argument with my Mom and the awful mind reading decided to work just as we were at the peak of our fight.

Mom was thinking that I was a terrible girl and she couldn't stand me. I got these thoughts from her pretty often but it was fine given she isn't even my mom. My step-mother. Or as I like to say: step-monster. I shook my head and went out onto the dock. If anyone ever found out that I could read minds on occasion I would be taken to a mental institute or a science lab. Not that anyone would believe me.

"Ace! What are you doing out here it's freezing!" Someone yelled from. behind me. I turned and there stood my loyal best friend, Dean. I laughed at his face, he had the best mock horror expression on.

"I could ask you the same thing Dean. And it's not that cold, only 40 degrees." I shook my head again and led him inside going straight to the kitchen to give him some hot chocolate. I fixed it quickly; pouring the steaming drink into glass mugs as I glared at him.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work? In another state!?" Dean's job sometime required him to travel. He was an intern for a major business man and his boss had a meeting in Virginia therefore Dean had to go.

He grinned sheepishly before answering, "my boss gave me some time off. A week. He had some personal family stuff up there to handle and said he wouldn't need me for a while. Said that he didn't want to just be sitting up there doing nothing."

I nodded still suspicious about his grin. "Uh huh, and?" I prompted.

"And," he rolled his eyes. "I missed you. And the family, but mostly you."
I blushed. He had had a crush on me for years but he would always just be a friend to me. He had to be.

"Dean!" I groaned.

He shrugged, "I know, I'm sorry. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty." And yet he still gave me a hug with the most restrained longing-ness that I had ever seen from him.

I pushed him away playfully and walked to the sink to dump out my cold drink. I poured it slowly studying how it looked when it poured from the cup thinking about the fight with my mom.

She was mad because I had neglected doing my homework. Apparently she shouldn't have to remind me and she told me to not make her call my father while he was at work.

Dad was a construction worker and busy during the day, but I knew if the step-monster was calling him about me during the day it would upset him. I hated it when he was upset at me. I loved him so much and he knew that I hated her and allowed me to vent to him about her. I didn't want to lose that with him.

I noticed that Dean was giving me on odd look and I realized that the cup was empty and I had just been standing there with it held up over the sink.

"Sorry. I was...thinking." I looked away from Dean so he couldn't see the chagrin in my eyes. He knew me so well. Almost too well.

"Ace, did you and your mom fight again?" He said with slight apprehension.

I cursed myself for not hiding my feelings better and letting him see. He already had so much on his plate. That was when the first tear came. I hastily turned my back on him and wiped my eyes but the tears just kept coming. Dean appeared in front of me, lowering his head so he could see my face. I turned my face away because I hated it when he saw me cry.

"I'm fine Dean. Nothing happened."

"You are a really crappy liar." He quipped.

I still refused to look at him but still answered. "Only to you and Dad."

I heard him chuckle softly and felt a finger under my chin lifting my face up. I tried to get away from him but his other hand snaked around my waist and pulled me against him. Though I knew it was useless I continued to try to get away.

"What happened?" Just those two small words and the emotion in his voice were enough to make me lose it. Tears started to absolutely pour down my face and I had to hold back a sob has I leaned into Dean's chest.

"She called me a stupid witch and said that in a heartbeat she would trade me in for another child. I hate her but those words still hurt! I know she doesn't like me but why does she have to be so mean? Why can't she just ignore me and pretend I don't exist?" I sobbed into his chest.

I felt his body tense against me as I told him what was wrong. This was wrong. I shouldn't play with his emotions like this. He and I could never be together. What if he found out?

"Acelias Green!" A woman's voice screeched from behind me. She hated Dean and didn't want him here, she hated the idea of me actually having friends. Especially a guy friend. I let go of Dean and turned but I felt that his hand never left the small of my back.

"Meredith Green. Now that we've met, how are you?" I said sarcastically.

Meredith looked like she had been slapped. I had never used her first name before. Ever. For the longest time I didn't even know what it was.

While she was still too shocked and angry to reply I grabbed Dean's hand and pulled him to the door begging with my eyes for him to take me anywhere but here. He seemed to understand because he came willingly.

I couldn't do this anymore. She was determined to figure what was wrong with me.

~~~~

When we were in Dean's car I started to relax. I had no idea what that woman would do. She was bat crap crazy in my opinion. Dad said he loved her but I think he married her for her money.

As Dean started the car he asked where to and I told him I didn't care. So Dean peeled out of my driveway and down the street. I nearly screamed when I saw a man running in the trees on the side of the road but when I took a double take he was gone.

Dean was still hungry because we arrived at Waffle House. I raised my eyebrows at him and looked at my yoga pants and ratty shirt that hangs off one shoulder. He just rolled his eyes and got out of the car. We went in and found a booth. As we waited for the waiter Dean glared at me from across the booth.

"What?" I said genuinely shocked.

His frown deepened. "Nothing I'm just worried about you."

I just nodded because the waiter came to take our order. I was able to dodge Dean's glares as we ate. When we were finally finished I walked up to the window as Dean paid.

I was admiring the petunias growing just outside the window when I saw the same man that was running in the woods earlier. He was leaning against Dean's car staring at me. The man had dark brown hair and was at least six foot. Maybe taller. I turned to tell Dean but when I glanced back he was gone.

Officially freaking out, my powers decided to work. The man was still out there somewhere and he was laughing in his mind. 'Hello Acelias.'

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A/N Hey! I'm knew to WattPad! This story, however, is not the first I've ever written. I hope you like it!

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED! I CAME UP WITH EVERYTHING ON MY OWN! IF ANYTHING IS COPIED I WILL REPORT YOU!!!!