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eyes.
    “I’ll try my best. If not, I’ll be there.” She gulps as the naked hostility in my expression tinges my words as I say them. I know it’s not the smartest approach but today has stripped me of the minute amount of patience I possess for the other people who inhabit this planet with me. “I’ve been to every other interview. None of the other teachers have had a problem with it.”
    My intimidation factor is high on a normal day. Most people can’t handle my out-there appearance, thinking that tattoos, piercings and skimpy clothes automatically make me a bad person. However, when I unleash my hatred at the world—the rage and animosity that I usually keep hidden under my ice queen persona—I become someone they fear. Someone unpredictable. Someone who doesn’t give a flying fuck about society’s conventions and faux niceties.
    “O-okay, Gabriella,” Mrs. Scott stammers, lifting her hand to her throat as if to ward off my attack. “I didn’t realize. My apologies.”
    Inclining my head, I hold tighter to Cooper and walk to my vehicle.
    I hope she got the message. Cooper’s home life might not be ideal but he still has someone in his corner. Me...and I’m not about to let anyone forget it.
    ***
    O n the ride home, Zali looks out the window and ignores me while I talk to Cooper about his day at school. After a couple of sidelong gazes her way, I mentally shrug away the hostile vibes she’s sending my way. I have bigger problems to deal with than a temper tantrum by my selfish sister. I need to work out a way to take Cooper with me when I leave, now that I know she’s not going to watch him until I get settled.
    “Is Cathy home, Gabbi?” Cooper asks out of the blue. I feel Zali’s gaze on me so I shoot her a look and shrug. Cooper calling Mom by her Christian name is something new—he only started a few days ago and we aren’t sure why.
    “Mom was home earlier today, Coop.” I look at him in the rear view mirror and he flinches when I say “Mom”.
    “Maybe she’ll be gone when we get home.” He states with hope in his voice, his little hands twisting together on his lap. My hands shake where they grasp the steering wheel and the muted pain that’s been pounding behind my eyes since my run-in with our mother earlier makes its presence known with renewed vigor. 
    “Why’s that, bucko?” I ask.
    “She always smells funny and she doesn’t like me very much.”
    Biting down on my bottom lip, I breathe through my nose, my chest expanding until my lungs are full. Once I let the air out, I answer him, “She likes you. Sometimes, she’s just a bit tired.”
    Ferreting away in his bag for something, he doesn’t respond, leaving my lies to hang in the air.
    “Tired from being an alcoholic whore,” Zali mutters. My lips twitch, wanting to smile, but I’m still too annoyed at her to let my humor break free.
    Every ounce of my being wants to keep driving, to take Cooper away from this life, but I can’t. I need to stick to my plan to bargain with Mom for him once I’m eighteen and have my own house. So instead of giving into my desire to escape, I pull into the driveway of our house.
    It is a big, modern, sprawling single story house that most people would give ten years off their life expectancy to live in. We have a long driveway that leads to a four car garage. The front yard is beautifully landscaped, with gardens surrounding a fountain as the focal point. In the backyard is a pool, a gazebo and a huge cubby house. Our home looks like it belongs to a warm loving family, but in reality Zali and I’ve hated living here since Dad left, and after his comment a moment ago, it looks like Cooper’s developing the same feelings.
    “Grab your school bag and put your lunch box and your drink bottle in the sink.” I tell Cooper as he scrambles out of the car the second I stop in the garage. Our mother’s car is here, although that means nothing since she lost her license three months ago for