Stephanie looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked a mess and the worse part was, she didn't care. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, her nose was bright red and her hair was touseled and looking ratty. She opened a drawer and reached for her foundation but stopped herself half way. What was the point? As soon as she went back down there, the snide comments and subtle digs would start again.

It hadn't been as bad as everyone was treating it. It was just your typical party. A bunch of 20 year olds sitting around getting drunk and stoned then heading upstair to make out. Not Stephanie's scene at all. They weren't even her friends! Stephanie's boyfriend Joey Abs had heard about the party from his cousin and had talked Stephanie into going with him. As soon as she'd gotten there, she'd wanted to leave but Joey had turned on the charm and with misgivings, she stayed, only for her man.

It was 15 minutes before Stephanie was regretting it. Some drunks had attempted to convince her to head upstairs to a bed room with them, which Joey - who had already smoked a joint and had 3 beers and was already feeling the effects - took offense at. There was a minor fight, won by Joey, who spent the next half hour bragging about his victory which got more and more exagerated, until instead of fighting two harmless drunks, he made it sound like an armed gang. He then tried to sweet talk Stephanie into going somewhere a little quieter. Relieved, she'd agreed and gone to get her coat, only to discover on her return that Joey had passed out.

She could see it all again so clearly!! She'd reached over and gingerly taken the joint out of his fingers, intending to dispose of it down the toilet, fumbling for her cell phone with her free hand. She was going to call Shane, get him to come and rescue her. Joey could stay there for all she cared. The joint was being held between her thumb and forefinger as she threaded her way to the downstairs bathroom. Then the raid occured.

The cops had originally accused Stephanie of trying to get rid of the evidence and tried to charge her with possession of an illegal substance. But luckily for her, a blood test showed a minor amount of pot in her system, which the cops unwillingly conluded came from inhaling the second hand fumes at the party. She got off.

She looked in depair at the photo of her and Joey on her nightstand. What had happened to him? She knew that he'd been charged, but no more than that. When she'd attempted to call him, his parents had refused to speak to her. But what was worse, was the way her own family had reacted.

Shane, to give him credit, had taken the news fairly calmly. After he'd yelled at her, he hadn't said anything more on the matter. Or to Stephanie at all in fact. This was what worried Stephanie most, the look in Shane's eyes whenever he looked at her. It was a mixture of disgust and concern. It comforted Stephanie some to know that her older brother was concerned about her.

Linda was a different matter. She obliquely reffered to what had happened on a regular basis, insinuating that Stephanie had let the family down and destroyed their good name. It was what she'd expected from her mother, Linda had always taken every chance she could to make her feel inferior. Vince's reaction was the worst. He'd flown home from where ever the hell he'd been and spent the next three days making phone calls and talking to Linda, lawyers and on occasion, Shane. Then he left again. He hadn't spoken one word to Stephanie and that was what hurt her the most.

There was a light knock on the door and a soft voice called "Steph? Can I come in?"

Stephanie turned around in surprise and closed the drawer. "Come on in Pat."

Pat Patterson, her father's old friend & Stephanie's godfather came in nervously. "How are you feeling Stephanie?"

"What are you doing here Pat?" Stephanie turned back to the mirror and started brushing her hair. Just because she'd fallen apart didn't mean she had to look it. Pat looked around the room, avoiding Stephanie's gaze in the mirror. "I don't know what your talking about."

"You're here for a reason." She said, suddenly feeling very calm. Pat looked at the ground. "Your father called me a few days ago. He told me what happened with Joey. I'm not here to lecture or yell at you other than to say I'm extemely disappointed in you."

"I didn't do anything Pat." Stephanie sighed, reaching for a hair tie. "I wish you would believe me."

"I need you to pack your things." He blurted suddenly. Stephanie's head snapped up. "What?"

"Your parents think that some time with your Aunt Sabine will... straighten you out." Pat said replied quickly. Stephanie stared at him in shock. "They're sending me to New Orleans?"

"It's for your own good Steph."

Stephanie stood up, took four steps back from the dresser and threw her hairbrush at it, using everything that Shane had taught her around pitching when they were kids. Pat winced as the fragile glass shattered into millions of tiny pieces.

"Pat, listen to me. I didn't smoke anything, legal or illegal. I didn't drink. The only thing I did was get rid of Joey's joint. I didn't even want go the damned party in the first place, I did it as a favour to my boyfriend - well I'm assuming ex boyfriend now - and they're sending me to France?" Stephanie yelled. She glared at Pat angrily. "What about all the shit Shane pulled when he was 19? Jesus! They never did anything! I can't believe this. This is because I'm a girl right?"

"Steph, you know what the story is. When sons do it, they're letting off steam before settling down. But it's a different matter for girls, it's the way it's always been. As it was in the beginning, as it is now and forever shall be."

Stephanie smiled dryly at the mocking sound of Pat's voice, securing her hair in a pony tail. Her smile faded as Pat began to explain what was going to happen. Stephanie tuned out a little, wondering what she was going to do. She couldn't live with Sabine. No fucking way. She'd rather live on the streets.

That last thought gave her an idea. Aunt Sabine was so out of it, that Stephanie could probably convince her that she was staying with friends, or something. She would never question it, just believe whatever Stephanie told her. In Stephanie's mind, it was the perfect plan. She just had to wait for her chance.

As they pulled out from the front of the house, Pat, thinking that Stephanie's silence was because of her distress about being shipped off to New Orleans, said "Don't worry Steph. You'll be back for Christmas and other special occasions."

~Sorry Pat.~ thought Stephanie as the mansion disappeared behind them. ~But I'm not coming back to this hell hole until I'm good and ready.~