Eight Years Ago
"Mom.." I say with a small smile on my face.
My sister had passed her first music lesson and we're all so proud of her.
"What is it Layla!? can't you see I'm busy?!" She snaps.
"Oh.." I say, my smile faltering slightly, as I watch mom cuddle Heidi and give her lots of sweets as reward.
"C-can I have a sweetie too?" I ask.
Mom laughs coldly.
"Why should you? You've never achieved anything, have you?! Lazy little brat."
Heidi giggles and I look at her to see a smirk on her face, making my face fall. I watch mom whisper things to Heidi, making her giggle even more.
The door swings open, and my dad walks in.
I smile again, running to him and hug his knees but he just brushes me off with an annoyed expression, walking towards my mom hugging her and ruffling Heidi's hair.
What's going on?
"Dad..ruffle my hair too?" I ask hesitantly.
All three of them burst out laughing and I sink down in embarassment.
"Layla, we always knew you weren't the brightest kid here." He laughs "I just knew you'd be a screw up, right Luise?" He says and she nods.
"And I was right. You're a failure" He grabs my maths sheet, crumples it up and throws it at me.
"You spend way too much time with your 'friends' never on your education, you ungrateful little brat. We should've got rid of you as soon as we found out you were on the way." He spits out spitefully as my mum nods, still smirking.
"Dad I'll do better, I promise!"
I sob, tears streaming down my face, but he shakes his head, smirking. I look at my sister and walk towards her giving her a watery smile.
"H-Heidi... we're still friends right?" I ask, desperately.
Her smirk slowly vanishes. she leans forward and I thought she'd hug me, but instead she pulls my hair and pushes me onto the floor making me scream.
She laughs, my parents joining her.
"Stupid" she hisses, kicking me, before going to my parents, all of them walking out, leaving me on the floor, crying my eyes out.
What have I done to deserve this?
"What do you think it feels like to die, Clay?" I whispered.
"Don't you dare, Juliette," he said, grabbing my arms. "Don't you dare think like that. Ever."
I didn't say anything.
"Why won't you tell anyone? Why won't you tell anyone, we can help you, why don't you understand that?"
Silence.
"You think no one cares, Juliette," Clay whispered. "But you forget that I'm here. I'm here for you."
I kept my eyes down.
"Juliette," Clay took my hands and scooted in front of me, bending down to try and catch my eyes. "I'm here. And I'm never, ever gonna leave you. We were supposed to meet at some point. And we were never made to separate. Where's that pretty smile? Where's that gorgeous, raspy voice?" he asked. "Huh?"
I slowly looked at him.
"My favorite eyes," he said.
"Just stop." I whispered, sniffling. "Please."
"No," He held my face and brought me to him. "I love you. And I'm never gonna stop."
******
Juliette Harris was depressed. She had been for a long time, but no one ever knew. Her parents died when she was younger, her grandmother who was her favorite person of all after her parents' death died, and her foster mother and foster brother hated her. She has many friends and tries to put on a happy face, but inside she was gone. Her happiness was gone. Until someone new came along.