NO MERCY.

PROLOGUE

"Happy birthday!" The voices of both her parents and older brother, Corhan shouted instantly waking her up from her sleep.

The sudden outburst startled her, which explained why her body reacted the wrong way and she found herself laying face first on the tile floor. Avery couldn't help but to groan and mentally roll her eyes as soon as the coldness started to kick in.

What a way to start my morning! She thought to herself. It didn't take long for her mother to turn into the overprotective mom she hated and helped her up from the floor as she bombarded her with questions.

"Are you okay, no bones broken, right?" She questioned, worried and it showed on her face.

"I'm doing fine."

Avery looked past her mother where her brother, Corahn stood laughing with his face turning beat red. His hand was pressed against his stomach while the other rested on the desk that she owned.

That was his failed attempt at calming down. Although it took some time, he eventually calmed down as he took a few breaths.

Avery shook her head, rubbing her eyes as she turned to look at her calendar that hung on her bedroom wall. Sure enough, it was Feburary fourteen.

Avery couldn't believe that she'd forgotten about her own birthday. With the year not starting off so well for her, she didn't have the time to actually think about the special day.

"I didn't know that today would be my birthday." She mumbled. "Time flew by and I-I don't know what to say....thank you."

Avery didn't understand. Usually, she'll be the happiest person in the world during the month of February but for some odd reason she wasn't.

She didn't know whether it was her falling to floor or what because something felt different. It didn't feel the same and that's what bothered her.

"How can you forget your own birthday?" Corahn inquired with a puzzled facial expression.

"You don't understand, school is stressful and it's not easy trying to fit in with the others. I hate being the baby of the school."

She was part of the magnet program at MainView High. They have a program that gives above average students a chance to get done with school faster.

Avery's been in that program since she first started school, so even though she was thirteen, she's already taking freshman classes. Being smart in her opinion has it's ups and downs.

Your freshman year of high school is supposed to be fun and exciting, but so far hers has been nothing but hectic. She now knows why Corahn decided to drop out last year.

Of course, she didn't plan on doing the same because she knew what would happen. Their parents were tough on them.

Avery can recall the one time they'd kicked him out when finding out from the guidance counselor. They were no doubt furious about the situation but most of all hurt.

It was hard for them knowing that he threw his education away like that, not thinking twice about it. It was their way of teaching him a lesson and honestly the longest weeks of Avery's life.

"Aves, your like three, you shouldn't even know what it means to be stressed about something." Her mother said, a small smile on her face.

"Don't mind her but how does it feel to be a double digit number, your thirteen!" Corahn chuckled.

"The same exact way it felt to be ten, eleven, and twelve." Avery retorted.