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Lex is in the car waiting at the entrance of Hannah’s school, before the bell rings Lex decided to light up a cigarette and smoke it like she would normally do.

Her driver’s seat window open to blow the smoke outside the car when all of a sudden she’s frightened by someone tapping on the car’s door.

- He-eey, Lex!! - Tom Houston says.

- Shit!! You scared the shit out of me! -Lex complains.

- Hey!! Language young lady!! - He frowns.

- C’mon, whatever. -Lex rolls her eyes not caring.

- Smoking??!! C’mon Lex I thought you were done with that crap! - He says with a worried voice.

- Yeah well… It’s not like my mom cares anyway, she lets it slide ‘cause I score her weed - She chuckles a bit with a non-caring voice

- We- Weed?! -He asked genuinely worried about her but she just interrupted him and changed the subject.

- Look, there’s just so many shit going on, ‘kay? I gotta go to work in like 20 minutes and I still haven’t eaten shit. - She says annoyed.

- Well if ya need anything, you know you-

- I know Mr. Houston - She gives him a slight smile putting out the cigarette and tossing it out the street.

- Good. But next time try to throw it on the trash, huh?

- Mhm… - She hums and nods but they both know next time will go the same way and she’ll still toss it on the ground.

- So you’re here to pick up Hannah?

- Yeah, what you think I’m here for to steal another kid? As if it wasn’t already enough fuckers at home - She teases him joking in a non-friendly manner way.

- Well… I’m sure she’ll be here in no time.

- I hope so.

They both give each other slights nods and Mr. Houston leaves, letting Lex wait patiently alone inside the car, soon after Hannah comes and gets in the car.

- Hey Banana!! - Lex says trying to look happier than she really was. - Was today a good day or a bad day? -

- Good day!! - Hannah smiles and soon enough she starts telling her about her day, her friends, Webby, a new kid that came to class…

When they arrive home, Hannah gets out excitedly still talking about her day at school, Lex just listens carefully as they get in.

- Wait! Are you staying?! - Hannah asks with full happiness on her face.

-Oh… no Banana… I’m sorry… I’m- I’m late to work - She tries to explain feeling guilt all over her. - But hey Ethan is gonna be around if you need him!! - She says trying to lighten up the mood.

- M’kay…

Lex then grabs her food which she will then have to eat quickly at the car if she doesn’t want to be late.

- Call me if you need anything, ‘kay?

Hannah nods and Lex gives her a quick little kiss on the cheek before leaving the house, letting Hannah’s emotion of loneliness finally sink in.

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After leaving the house, Lex quickly drove her way to work, not even being able to eat her whole lunch.

The store was mostly empty all day which made her wonder why she was even working there, only the usual customers would show up, especially an specific almost bald haired man, Sherman.

Only in Christmas there would be more customers, although with Amazon and Shein being all over the place, there was barely anyone shopping in person, Lex had tried to explain that to her boss for a while but, he wouldn’t get it.

The day was pretty much a normal, boring and tiring day for Lex, but for Hannah, it was kinda cool.

Since Lex had left, Hannah had done nothing but sit on the sofa or walk around the house desperately waiting for Lex to come back home and praying that neither her mom or step dad come home when she’s all alone.

Sometimes she would have dreams about being in California with Lex and Ethan just having fun and not worrying about adults, because those… were a nightmare, especially the ones she was living with.

All of a sudden, there’s a knock in the door, Hannah tip-toes to the front door wondering who it may be, she looked at the little hole in the door that was too tall for her to reach in perfectly. Then she saw him.

-Ethan!!! - She yelled out happily and excited quickly opening the door and hugging him.

- Hey Banana!!! - He gave her a soft smile - How was your day, huh?

- Boring!! - She quickly replied giving a frowning and childish expression.

Ethan chuckled at her reaction and made his way inside the house closing the door behind him then Hannah quickly ran up to her room coming down back with a bunch of games to play with, he couldn’t help but smile at her cute face holding all those games.

They played for hours all types of games, Ethan let Hannah win a few of them although he knew she really didn’t care if she didn’t win but he couldn’t help but feel bad at winning, they talked and laughed for the whole evening until Lex came back home.

- Hey… - She sighed entering the house and letting her jacket fall to the floor when taking it off.

- Lex!! - Hannah runs towards her sister and hugs her tight as if she hadn’t seen her for years, Lex yelps not expecting the sudden touch then gently hugs her back and smiles softly.

While they’re still hugging, Ethan comes out of the living room and smiles at the scene, then Lex sees him.

- Ethan!! - She smiles at the sight of him as he approaches her, both of them smiling and feeling a bit of tension between them, good tension.

-Heyy… - He smirks a bit.

- What are you doing here?! You didn’t tell me you were gonna be here!! - Lex says with an exciting tone on her voice as she gives him slight bumps as a joke.

He chuckles - Well, I wanted it to be a surprise… - Then he gives her his soft and sweet smile with a little bit of flirtness on it that would always make her smile back, she approaches him carefully their lips almost touching each others when all of a sudden Hannah interrupts.

- Oh!! We played games for hours!! - She almost yells out smiling and excitedly.

Lex then tries to go back to her sister’s conversation but her face drops when she sees all the mess in the living room, cards all over the place, dice… somehow even water spilled on the table cloth?

- Oh, uh… we dropped a glass and well…water… - Ethan says realizing her focus on the spilled water.

Lex can’t help but feel anxious at the scene, realizing she has to pick up all this mess or else…
But both Ethan and Hannah realize what they did and start cleaning it up without having the need for her to say.

- Thanks… - Lex whispers almost to herself as she sits down for a bit on the sofa feeling extremely tired and hoping the day is over soon.

Suddenly they can hear someone trying to enter their house, keys jingling and lots of stumbling; their mom.

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Her mom. Lex knew it was her mom and she knew it in an instant, she had heard those stumbles before, those little groans she would do when she drank quite too much.
Knowing the problem it could cause, she quickly tried to get Ethan out of the house, but obviously it was too late, it’s always too late. She saw him.

- Oouuh!! Who’s this handsome young man? - She said in a flirty but clearly drunken tone.

Lex tried to stop her mom.

- Uh…mom you should go to sleep, ok? You’re not well.

She didn’t know why she still tried to reason with her but she did. Every goddamn time.

- Oh c’mon, Lex!! Are you bringing cute boys home?? - She teased.

Lex was so embarrassed, all she wanted was for her mother to shut up.

- Oh, it’s okay my little Lexie, I would always sneak in boys… - She winked at her as if Lex had been doing something bad and she was saving her life by not saying it.

- Mom!! I wasn’t doing anything!!

The mom didn’t care, instead she just went upstairs in her stumbling walk, Lex was mad but she had to be strong.

- Hey, are you okay? - Ethan gently asks.

- I’m fine. - Lex replies in a harsh and straightforward tone. - Please, just leave…

Ethan looks at Lex with his cute puppy eyes hoping he could help her but he knew he couldn’t, not if they wanted to keep Hannah save, he knew how bad life at home was but he never knew exactly how much worse it could get at night, and Lex made sure he wouldn’t find out, neither him or her sister.

As the seconds flew by and the uncomfiness grew, Ethan decided to finally go home, giving Lex a quick kiss as goodbye and a big hug to Hannah whispering to her ear.

- Call me if you need anything, ‘cause I know she won’t.

Hannah gave him a quick nod, Lex was too much in her head to even notice anything else was said.

The moment she closed the door behind him, she felt the same all old feeling she would get, the unknown, not knowing what’s exactly gonna happen to her but knowing that whatever it is, she can take, for Hannah.

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A few hours after their encounter with her mom pass by, Ethan is long gone by now and Hannah is upstairs doing her homework, as always with her door closed as her sister tells her.

Lex knows she has to clean up the house, make dinner, help her sister, take care of her mom… She always had that same routine day after day. But sometimes and only sometimes she’d have to put up with him.
Her mother’s boyfriend.

It wasn’t always he was home, they’d fight a lot which was good for her at some point, even if she had to comfort her mom the whole week.

Lex went upstairs to check on her sister but before coming into her room she saw the main bedroom slightly open and her mom lying on the bed, again passed out. Lex couldn’t help but feel sorry for her no matter how bad she treated her.

She came in the room and she covered her with a soft blanket, the one her mom would put Lex to sleep. The one she had to lead with the nightmares when she was a little kid and needed her mommy.

Lex felt her teary eyes thinking about the sweet mom that would take her to the park, help her with her problems, buy her toys… but that mother was long gone.

- Lex…? - Hannah asked her peeking through the bedroom door knowing her sister’s wishes to never go in, no matter what.

- Hannah? - Lex quickly removed her tears - Are you okay? Did something happen?

- N- no… I just- I’m hungry… - Hannah said trying not to sound too annoying.

- Oh yeah, shit. I’ll go downstairs in a second ‘kay, banana? Get the table ready.

- ‘Kay - Hannah gave her sister a reassuring smile and went downstairs.

Lex gave her mom a little rub on the cheek of sympathy not being able to be as affectionate as she was with her.
She gave herself a quick fresh face wash and went downstairs with Hannah.

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Lex was in the kitchen preparing any kind of meal she could have, they didn’t have much since her mom wasn’t working. They only had Lex’s money and her job barely covers for one person, thank god she had Ethan, she always thought.

He was the one providing for them, his family isn’t rich but compared to hers, they had plenty of things.

Lex managed to find a potato and an egg, only one egg though, looks like she wasn’t eating much today. She’d starve herself only if it meant her sister would be okay.

Hannah had already put up the table when Lex started cooking, she was watching some cartoon show on the old TV their grandma bought them last time she was around. It was old but it worked so it was enough for all of them.

- Hannah!! Dinner’s ready!!

Hannah quickly turned off the TV and sat down at the chair next to the dinner table, she smiled happily looking at her yummy food. Until she realized Lex only had a few french fries.

- You’re only eating that…? - Hannah asked her sister with puppy eyes.

- I’m not really hungry, you eat them all! - Lex said with an optimistic tone trying not to worry her sister.

- You sure? - Hannah insisted.

- Yes, Hannah, c’mon you know I’ve never been much of an eater - Lex chuckled a bit trying to stop the worries of her sister.

- ‘Kay - Hannah smiled a bit and started eating.

They both quickly finished their meals since there wasn’t much on their plate, Hannah helped her sister clean off the table and when it was all off she went upstairs.

- You gon’ sleep already? - Lex asked.

- Yeah! I’m tired… - Hannah explained.

- ‘Kay… - Lex chuckled - Go get your bed ready and I’ll go tuck you in, in just a bit, ‘kay banana? - She asked

- ‘Kay!! - Hannah smiled and quickly ran off up the stairs.

Lex was washing the dishes, she knew it wouldn’t take her too long and that she’d be upstairs tucking in her sister in bed in no time. That’s until the door was burst open.

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Lex was cleaning the dishes, she didn’t realize the door had busted open, the kitchen door was closed and she was in her head. She couldn’t have heard him even if she tried. But oh god how she wishes she had heard him.

He closed the door after coming in, he heard the water flow and came into the kitchen cautiously.
He approached her from the back placing a hand on her ass as he groan on her ear.

Lex jumped and gasped at his sudden touch not expecting anyone else to be downstairs.

- Shh shh shh… - He grabbed her face gently rubbing himself on her.

- Get off me!! - She managed to get him off of her, she turned around and saw his face.
Doyle. Her mother’s boyfriend.

- You fucking bitch!! - He kicked her in the stomach making Lex fall.

- Wait, wait pl- please my- my mom’s upstairs… - She gasped out.

- I don’t care about your fucking mom, I want you. - He smirked which gave her shivers down her spine. - Oh c’mon babe don’t tell me you hadn’t thought about me…

She really hadn’t and if she thought about him was just for praying he wouldn’t ever get here again. But yet there he was in front of her. She knew she was stronger now. Yet she had no strength to get up, he always knew how and where to hit her, he knew her weaknesses even if she could seem like she didn’t have any. She did.

She tried to get up but was soon shut down by another kick which led to another and another…

She was broken, she didn’t know how many kicks he had given her, how many punches… all she managed to see before passing out was his belt on the floor and his huge body on top of her.

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He had her on the floor, both her hands were being held by that monster who dated her mom. She had no way to get out and even if she had, she didn’t have enough strength, she was tired, beaten and hurt.

As he kept taking off her pants and underwear the only thing she could think about was: Don’t. Scream. No matter how bad he was hurting her. Do. Not. Scream.
She knew her sister would be able to hear everything and she already had too much going on, seeing her sister sell drugs, seeing her own mother take some of those drugs, the fights they would have, even the bullying Hannah was suffering almost every day at school, even if she had good friends.

She couldn’t do this to her sister, take away her innocence the same way it was taken away from her, another trauma to the list? Heck no.

-Shh… We’re gonna have so much fun… - He kept smirking as he pushed inside of her without even a little warning.

She couldn’t help but whimper a bit at the sudden pain and burn she felt on her insides. She winced as she managed to clench her teeth trying not to give away any more possible noise.

-Oh… c’mon baby… - He kept pushing, holding her hands against the cold and hard concrete floor of the kitchen.

She didn’t even wanna see his face, she didn’t want to give him the pleasure of seeing the pain he was putting her in. Instead she turned her face to see the side of the kitchen and just let her mind go somewhere else.

She looked at the table over at the side of the kitchen and thought how many good moments had happened there… Hannah and her studying together when they were younger… playing dolls with her… the dinner with Ethan… her and her mom actually being happy…

She couldn’t help but tear up a bit remembering all those moments that finally led up to bad moments…

The first argument she had with her mom… the first slap on the ass that Doyle had given her… crying on her own not being able to pass the grade… checking the bills and not being able to make the ends meet…

Even if it seemed like there were more bad moments than good… she would always remember the good ones better and just think of her sister. That’s what kept her going.

By the time she had realized he had already been done, letting a final groan into her and letting himself out in her which made her gasp a bit not expecting it

She felt it burn her insides as if it was on fire, she felt like she was bleeding inside and out, yet she was unable to move as he started to dress up again.

- That was good… Next time I’ll warn you sooner that way you can dress up good for me, huh? - He smirked as he spit on her as if she were nothing and then he was gone. Leaving her there on the floor like he hadn’t just violated her inside and out.

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She stayed there on the floor in silence for what feels like hours, but was actually just a couple minutes, trying to get the strength to get up and go upstairs.

Her eyes were red and teary and she had a couple of bruises along her thighs and stomach, as well as a bruised lip and the ripped clothes. She managed to sit down on the floor and fix her clothes the best way she could, then she winced as she stood up.

She walked slowly around the house, leaving the two last dishes that she didn’t have time to clean in the sink, and heading upstairs. Walking through the stairs was hard. She had to hold herself and her whole body with her two arms on the railing.

Just as she was right in front of her sister’s room, she fall on her knees, not being able to hold herself up anymore, she hissed when her knees hit the floor and tried to shush herself up just in case her mother was awake, all of a sudden the door in front of her opens.

It’s Hannah, she was still awake, “probably because i told her that i’d tuck her in bed” Lex thought to herself.

- Han- Lex tried to speak but her voice came out very sore and quiet.

- Lexie!! - Hannah said in shock looking at the state of her older sister. - Wha-?

Lex interrupted her singing for her to not make such noise, then with the help of her sister she managed to get up and enter the room, then they closed the door.

Hannah’s eyes were starting to water just by seeing how hurt her sister was, how was she so happy and smiling with her eating dinner and how broken she looked now… she wonder what had happened, she hadn’t seen her like that in a couple years and even if she wasn’t sure who did this to her, she had an idea in her mind.

- Ha- Hannah…- Lex tried to talk with her still sore and raspy voice -can y- you take my f- first aid kit?? It’s-

- Under your bed right??

Lex nodded, she had a feeling her sister knew what used to happened, but she always refused giving any more information. Sometimes it’s better not knowing all the shit that goes under this house, plus she’s the older one, she’s the savior, the one who can take anything just for her sister’s safety.

Hannah gave Lex the kit and even if it were mostly bruises, the one of the lip and a few on her stomach had bits of blood, she cleaned it up and gave herself antibiotics, so she wouldn’t feel the hard pain she was feeling right now. Then she lied down in her own bed, right next to Hannah’s and tried to calm herself down, as well as calm Hannah, who was now crying on her lap feeling sorry for not hearing anything.

As the night advanced and their energy went down, they fell asleep together in Lex’s bed, Lex sitting down resting her head on the wall behind her bed and Hannah resting her head on her sister’s lap, just like they used to sleep when Lex would tell fairy tales to Hannah, happy and together.

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Hannah and Lex had stayed together the whole night holding each other. Hannah was too worried to let her sister sleep alone, she couldn't help but feel like she could've done something to help her, like it's all her fault her sister has to put up with all this. She couldn't help but think that maybe, if she never existed, her sister could be already in California with Ethan, living her best life and happy. Instead, she was here suffering because of her little sister. Hannah aways had nightmares about it, what if Lex just left one day? What if she had to stay alone in this crazy house? What if Lex hated her because she's trapped in here with her, waiting for Hannah to be 18? What if she decides to stop waiting one day? Or worse, what if she can't handle what she's been put through anymore?

All these thoughts were always hurting Hannah, melting her mind, making her believe that if only she disappeared her sister would be okay. Webby always knew that wouldn't be that easy, and at this point she was the only thing keeping Hannah away from all the madness of her mind, because Webby knew Lex wouldn't last much longer if it wasn't because of Hannah, because she had been in Lex's mind, she had read of all her thoughts, all her wishes, her nightmares... And she knows that the only way these two sisters are sane is them being together.

While Hannah's mind was all over the place, Lex couldn't feel a thing, she was tired, she was exhausted, but she couldn't fall asleep, not without seeing his face, his horrible face. That kept her awake all night. She stared at the ceiling for ages, carefully caressing her sisters hair, holding her tight reminding her that she was there, and that she wasn’t going anywhere. Because even if she was the one hurting, she would never show her sister how much pain she had to endure, seeing Lex like this, all bruised up and hurt, was already too much for Hannah, and she knew she would start blaming herself. And so she couldn’t let that happen, so there she was, sat down all night resting her back on the wall holding Hannah the way she used to hold her when she was little and happy, when everything was fine, when they actually considered this house a home, and had a family. And after a few hours of nothingness, she felt her eyes close from exhaustion.

The morning after, the sun entered by the open window they had forgotten to close the night before, neither of them woke up 'til the shine of the sun was hitting their face, Lex was the first one to open her eyes, she felt sore, her mouth was dried up and her body was hurting way worse than the day before, she looked down at Hannah's little face, and stroke her cheek carefully trying to wake her up.
- Heey... Banana... wake up - She said in a bit of a raspy but gentle voice.
Hannah opened her eyes slowly, feeling the warm light of the sun on her face, she sat down letting Lex move comfortably.
- Mmm... - She groaned a bit - Sorry I slept on your lap... - She rubbed her eyes gently. - I just didn't want you to go...
Lex smiled a bit at her sister. - It's okay, Hannah... I slept better than ever- She lied, but she didn't want to make Hannah feel worse that she already felt, plus she always loved hugging and holding her sister, maybe it just wasn't the best day to do so.
- Let's go downstairs, kay? Dress up - Lex said trying to make it another normal day.
And so that’s what Hannah did, meanwhile Lex went to the bathroom, she needed to be alone.

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She entered the bathroom and locked the door behind her, she needed to be alone, she needed to be breathe, to let herself feel what had happened, to think.
She didn't want to see herself in the mirror, she truly didn't. But she knew she had to, she couldn't walk like this to work, even if no one cared for her, her boss would ask her, or at least just tease her with awful and narcissitic jokes like he always did. She knew people wouldn't even glance at her on the streets. People in Hatchetfield all have their crazy lifes, no one ever notices the bad of someone else unless it's for making fun of it, that how Hatchetfield works. However, everyone always tries to hide that bad part of their life they had to endure, so that's what she does, that's what she always had to do. But, Ethan, Ethan saw through that, he knew how bad shit was at home, yet he couldn't do anything but wait, just like Lex had to do, wait til Hannah was old enough and soon enough they could live their dream; Cali-fucking-fornia.

She finally looked at herself in the mirror, she looked pale, her lip was swollen, her eyes looked like they were gonna fall off her face, her stomach and back had plenty of bruises she could barely even stand herself up, and her insides were burning like hell, she couldn't help but cry standing and seeing such a broken figure of what used to be herself, how everything had changed. It wasn't the fist time she had been through this kind of pain. The first time it happened she was 13, it was Christmas dinner, she was already asleep in bed but Doyle had another surprise for her... She didn't know what was going on until she felt a sharp pain, she cried, she kicked, but nobody came in for her. That was the last day of what used to be her 'normal life', The last day Webby had been in her mind, she woke up feeling like a totally different person, she had to grow up sooner than any other kid just to survive at home, and yet when she tried telling her mom, she didn't believe her, and if she had believed her, she never cared. So even if it didn't happen everyday, she knew the time it happened, she would lose herself all over again. Yet she still believed when she got older, she would be able to fight back, to tell the whole world what he did, to protect her sister and to see him rotting in jail. But that never came true.

Having enough thoughts on her head, she decided to have a shower, clean herself up and fix herself for a bit, hide under that mask. So that's what she did.

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Hannah had heard her sister put on the water in the shower, meaning she would have to wait at least 20 minutes til she’s back, so as a good sister would do, she dressed up and headed downstairs.

She knew Lex was gonna be tired and she knew she still had to go to work, so she decided to make breakfast for her sister, really anything would be enough for Lex. Yet she decided to try and make some coffee, something she’s never done before and definitely doesn’t know how. She knew it was some kind of powder, and… hot water? Either way, she started boiling tap water. She knew it was supposed to make bubbles because she had learned about it in class, but that was really enough knowledge she had about this kind of thing. So when the bubbles started, she put the powder directly into the hot boiled water.

When all of a sudden, she can hear footsteps coming down the stairs, thinking it was Lex, she heads out to the living room and greet her. Turns out it wasn’t Lex.
It was her mother. Pamela. She looked tired, her make up smudged and she walked kinda funny, thought Hannah.

- Hey! - She yelled seeing Hannah. - You made coffee? Smells like coffee in here.

Hannah looked at her a bit shocked not really knowing what to say, she had made that coffee for Lex, for her sister. She didn’t make it for her.

- Uh- yeah… I made coffee. - said Hannah not really sure what else to say.

- Serve me a cup of roasted coffee, hey? I’m your mother, and I’ve been working hard. - Lie, she hadn’t work in months, thought Hannah. Then put the coffee in one of the mugs they had, the one Lex had bought Pamela a few years back, it said “best mom ever”

Pamela then took a sip of the coffee, her face immediately frowning, she threw the mug on the floor, breaking it into a million little sharp pieces, making Hannah flinch.

Upstairs Lex heard the loud noise, and went down half dressed, jeans and her bra and with her still wet hair.

- Fucking kid!! This tastes like shit!! Do you even know how to make fucking coffee?! You’re useless!! - Pamela started screaming with no remorse at Hannah, who couldn’t do anything else but to stare at her in shock and teary eyes. Then Lex put herself in front of her.

- Hey!! What the fuck?!! Why are you yelling?!! - Lex interrupted her mother

- This piece of shit wanted to kill me!!

- What the fuck are you even saying?!

- I’m gonna teach that young girl!! - She yelled starting to get pushy with Lex, trying to reach Hannah. Lex held like a brick wall.

- Hey! Hey! HEEEY!! - She finally yelled, making Pamela back up a bit. - I’ll make you another coffee, ok?

Pamela gave her an obnoxious face, then nodded heading back upstairs. - Uh! Fucking kids… - She said as she was walking. Lex then turned around to reach Hannah.

- Hey, you ok?? - Lex asked worried, kneeling down to reach her little sister better.

- Ye- yes… I- I just wanted to make you coffee… because I knew you were tired…

- Ohh… Hannah, it’s okay… you didn’t have to do that… Did you eat already?

Hannah shook her head as she looked up at her sister.

- Kay, then let’s make breakfast for both of us together, huh? - She smiled at Hannah, then looked down at the broken mug on the floor. - And we’ll clean that up too, kay? Also remind me to teach you how to make coffee, huh? - Lex smiled a bit teasing her little sister, then looked at the mug, knowing exactly when she had gifted that to her mom, who now just seemed like some random lady living with them.

Happy mother’s day, Pamela.

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While Hannah put up the table, her sister Lex was
preparing actual regular coffee, she let the water boil and she went upstairs to put on her t-shirt, since she was still wearing just jeans and a bra.

Upstairs, she saw herself in the mirror for a bit, glancing at the image of her torso full of bruises, an image her younger sister had to see.

She quickly put on her work t-shirt from Toy Zone and she went back downstairs hearing the coffee squeaking.

Hannah was already sat down at the table with a glass of milk on one hand and a bowl of poor old cereals she had found in the kitchen cabinet.

- Hey, coffee’s ready, huh? - Lex said seeing Hannah.
- Mm… - Hannah nodded quietly eating her cereal.

Lex grabbed her coffee and poured it into two different mugs, one for herself, the other one for her mom. She tried to put them both equally but ended up pouring a bit more to her mom, knowing she would need it for the hangover, even if Lex herself felt tired enough.

She sat down at the table next to Hannah, both of them were quiet. Lex held her head with her left hand, the other one holding the warm mug, she sighed.

- Do you have to go to work today…? - Hannah asked with puppy eyes not wanting her to leave.

Lex looked at her. - Yeah… Banana… it’s Thursday… You gotta go to school too! - She said in a somewhat animated voice to try to cheer up her little sister.

- But I don’t wanna! I wanna be with you!! - Hannah complained.

- Well, we can be together after work, kay? I’ll ask Ethan if he can pick you up and you’ll see, I’m gonna be back in no time!

- No! You’re lying!! You’re never with me after school!! You’re always working!! - Hannah kept complaining getting a bit loud.

- I- Hannah. - Lex said getting serious not expecting her to yell. - Hannah… I- I’m sorry-
- No!! - Hannah cut her off and quickly ran off upstairs with no warning, leaving Lex all alone at the table.

Lex saw her sister ran off, she sighed. - Uhh… fuck!! - She punched the table out of frustration, then finished her coffee and went outside to the porch, where she sat down in the stairs and light a cigarette.

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Lex was sitting outside her porch at the stairs, smoking, trying to keep her tears in, not only because of what she had to endure last night, but because Hannah got mad. And she couldn't bear the feeling of her little sister being angry at her. She couldn't. Lex tried not to think about it too much, tried.
She put out her cigarette on the floor of the stairs like she always did, staining them a bit, and went inside. She headed upstairs to the bathroom, didn't even check on Hannah first, she knows her sister and knows if she tries to talk to her again before her mood gets better it all just makes things harder.

So, in the bathroom she got ready for work, she didn't usually do make up but since she barely slept and a bruise seems to be forming around her eye and jaw, she thought the best thing for all would be to just put concealer all over her face, not that anyone cared. Her mother wouldn't even look at her, her boss wouldn't act surprised and Hannah... she had seen it before... Even if Lex tried to hide out, they both knew what happened inside the house. Although Hannah probably thinks it's just a beating.

And Ethan... he couldn't know.

They promised each other that soon enough when Hannah is older they would go to California, and that's what was planned, that's what they'll do. If he found out about it...

Lex doesn't know how he would react, he would either convince her to leave and stay in his house which would eventually lead to Hannah being taken from them, or take a car and drive to California the three of them which would also end up the same way but worse because they're travelling to another state, or... he'd try to kill him, which would feel good, until it'd all go sideways, either they all end up dead or he dies and they end up apart and in jail.

Any solution to this problem would be even a bigger problem. So no, Ethan couldn't know.

While Lex was in the bathroom, Hannah was sitting holding her legs up to her chest rocking back and forth, she felt bad for yelling at Lex but she just wanted her to be okay, she just wanted to stay with her and be happy, like she was when she was with Ethan, but Lex wasn't happy, she was never happy, she always had to look behind her shoulder, she was always on alert, preparing for the next hit.
And Hannah just wanted it to stop.

A few minutes passed by and Lex got out of the bathroom, she looked better, less pale and less bruised, but she still had that saddened look in her eyes. She walked past her sister's room and saw her door half closed, in the corner of the door she could see her sister sitting in the bed. She knocked a few times not too loud and came into the room. Without saying anything, Lex approached Hannah and sat down right next to her, then Hannah hugged her. And the two sisters laid there in silence, just the sound of their own breathing, hugging in peace.