I Care 4 U

Prologue

001
January 7, 1995
Manhattan, New York
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Brandy had been staring at her wall all night. She stayed up, losing sleep before her first day at her new school. Although she didn't sleep, she wasn't tired at all. This wasn't her first time switching schools, so she wasn't nervous. Considering that her mother moved often due to things she did in previous states, she was used to it. She was just thinking about things, about life.

"Hey BranBran," Brandy's sister, Kelly said intruding in her thoughts. In response, Brandy just looked up at the other woman. Brandy's eyes could tell whatever emotion she was feeling; she didn't even need to use words.

Kelly walked over to her younger sister's bed and sat next to her. "I can tell you still haven't slept," Kelly sighed, shaking her head in frustration. "I'll be fine," Brandy replied with a fake smile before moving off of the bed.

Brandy has always had a rocky relationship with her sister. She felt that Kelly was a terrible sibling because she never cared about her. But truthfully, it was just jealousy. You see, their mother has always treated Brandy poorly because she says that she ruined her life. Mary never forgot to tell Brandy how ugly and useless she was everyday.

But on the other hand, there's Kelly. She would never lay a hand on her like she would on Brandy. In her eyes, Kelly was perfect and Brandy wasn't. Ever since they were babies, she always treated Kelly better than she did Brandy. She brought her anything she wanted, but would buy Brandy nothing.

She didn't care to try and build a relationship with her sister. Regardless of how hard Kelly tried, Brandy always pushed her away.

"I can help you find an outfit, trust me you'll get all the boys." Kelly stood up and walked towards her sister, who was in her closet. "Look, I don't need your help. Just leave me alone, gosh," Brandy rolled her eyes, letting annoyance seep through her voice.

"Why do you always push me away?" I try everything to have a relationship with you and this is how you treat me." Kelly shook her head once more. "You know exactly why I act this way; I don't have to explain myself to you!" The younger woman spat back, turning her sister's way.

This was a daily thing. They argued all the time because of this. Although Kelly cared about her little sister, Brandy never saw it that way. Kelly never did anything to Brandy that made her feel that way. Because Kelly was so close to their mother, she felt the need to take all her anger out on her instead.

"You know what, bye whatever." The older woman raised her hands in surrender while exiting the bedroom.

Brandy let out a deep sigh as she continued to find an outfit. Sometimes she felt bad about some of the things she said to her sister. She did love her, but it's complicated.

Not even ten minutes later, Mary came stomping towards the door. You could hear her from a mile away. That's how loud she was.

"Why are you getting loud with my daughter?" the woman shouted, swinging the door open. "Am I not your daughter too?" Brandy furrowed her eyebrows, looking up at her mother.

Mary stepped closer to the child. "Not in my eyes," she sternly replied. "Like I just asked, why were you yelling at my daughter?"

Brandy knew she didn't have a reason. But if she said that, she would've gotten her mother upset. But she had no other option.

"Well, I was just grumpy y-you kn-" She couldn't even get her words out when she felt a slight burning sensation on her cheek. She had been hit.

"I told your ugly ass to stop talking to my daughter in that way, and you keep testin' me!" Mary angrily shouted, striking the younger woman in the head.

In response, Brandy just held her cheek and rubbed her forehead where it hurt. That's all she could do, or if she was to say anything else, it would be worse.

"Now get ready for school so I can drop you off. I can't wait to get you out of here" Mary stated before leaving the room.

Meanwhile, at North Valley High School, Aaliyah was patiently waiting in her classroom for her friends to arrive. She had always been the first to arrive at school out of the group because she was a perfectionist. She always had to be on time.

Another reason as to why she always came to school early was so that she could speak to her homeroom teacher Mrs. Houston. She was almost everyone's favorite teacher.

She was that kind of teacher that you could talk to when you're going through things. All of her students were important to her, and she never failed to express that.

"I just can't hit this note. I've tried everything."  Aaliyah groaned, palming her face. " I did everything you told me to and it's not working." She continued.

"Obviously you aren't trying hard enough," Mrs. Houston replied, while typing on her computer. "But I am" the younger woman whined dramatically.

"Show me then. Right now," the teacher demanded, pointing her student to the front of the room. "It's too early," Aaliyah sighed, scratching her head. "Look at you making excuses. Go sing," Mrs. Houston chuckled.

Aaliyah rolled her eyes as she walked to the front of the classroom. She had been trying to master the song "All By Myself"  for the past few weeks before her upcoming performance at the school talent show.

"I don't want to live by myself, by myself anymore. By mys-" Aaliyah sang before the teacher cut her off. Mrs. Houston shook her head, "Unt unt, nope."

"First of all, your note is flat when Céline obviously has a vibrato. And you need to tilt your larynx if you want to hit that note." The older woman instructed, handing her student a bottle of water.

"Good morning, Mrs. Houston!" Usher shouted, walking into the classroom with the other students following behind him. "I told you to stop yelling in my classroom." The teacher shook her head again.

All of the students sat in their seats as the teacher took attendance. "I see we have a new student. Where's Brandy?" Mrs. Houston asked, looking around the classroom.

"Right here," Brandy softly replied, raising her hand. "Would you like to introduce yourself?" The teacher asked, and she nodded.

"Well, um, obviously, my name is Brandy. I'm 15, I like to sing, and um, that's about it," The new student said while looking around the class. "Welcome Brandy, feel free to get comfortable" Mrs. Houston smiled.

Aaliyah found herself staring at the woman as she sat down. Their eyes somehow parted for a few seconds, and Brandy rolled her eyes.

Out of embarrassment, Aaliyah turned away and let out a deep breath. She had completely forgotten that class was still going on for several minutes.

She didn't know what to do besides sit there and think about why she rolled her eyes. What did she do wrong?

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I'm sorry if this is terrible,
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