Chapter 1

It was graduation day for Agatha, what was supposed to be a special day, how can a special and casual day go horribly wrong you may ask?

It's been a year since her mother, Marina, passed away after being found dead along with an intoxicated driver in a car crash. It was hard for Agatha and her father, William. Before Sapphire came into the equation, Agatha spent two weeks regaining her father's spirit by taking time off from her schoolwork to hang out with him after Marina's funeral.

After getting his spirits back, William found himself another lover named Sapphire Stuart, a pretty classy name for a little lady like her. William spent two years together with Sapphire, even after knowing about her having a kid.

A pretty quick rebound, yes.

She may be beautiful and elegant on the outside but leave her alone with a person who is "a threat" to endanger her relationship, best to believe that the gloves come off. Sapphire would blame Agatha for not cleaning up the messes she makes, victimised herself for attention and to top it all off she takes every possible chance she gets to redirect William's attention away from his own daughter whether she's in Agatha's presence or not. From time and time again, Agatha seems to be in the wrong.

Everything Sapphire has done to Agatha doesn't compare to what her daughter, Helena, does.

Helena's actions resemble her mother's wrongdoings but somehow worse from framing her for stealing to planting dangerous items in her step sister's bag for her father to find, she's like a walking death trap to Agatha.

Any time Agatha would defend herself, Sapphire would twist her words so every problem would be pinned on her, making her the culprit of the matter. William's face of disappointment hurts Agatha to see, so she just takes the punishment feeling guilty about it. With her being the verbal punching bag, she had no confidence and had low self esteem when it came to her father's relationship with Sapphire.

As the faculty was calling students names one by one, as soon as Agatha walked up the stage steps, she looked over to the audience to find her father smiling and waved at her while Sapphire was holding a camera, smiling. Agatha walked up on stage and smiled a little as she accepted her diploma and shook the principal's hand. As Agatha was getting off the stage, she heard a cheerful shout from the crowd.

"THAT'S MY GIRL!" William shouts as he stands from his seat, clapping his hands. Agatha snickered in embarrassment but was happy that her father managed to make it to the graduation ceremony as he sat back down.

With Helena, William gave out the same energy he gave out to Agatha as Sapphire cheered right next to him.

Towards the end of the graduation ceremony, the students and parents made their way outside of the school and stood in the shade as the sun was shining down on their soon to be ex-principal, Trisha Esperanza.

"I'd like to be the first to say congratulations on graduating from middle school. I wish you guys and gals the very best in the near future. And one final time for old time sake, Seniors of 2XXX, You are dismissed!" screamed Trisha as the students threw their hats in the air, cheering.

William and Sapphire went up to Agatha and Helena, smiling at them. "We're so proud of you Helena, you too Agatha." said Sapphire, hugging her daughter and glancing at Agatha. William embraced Agatha and planted a kiss on her head "How does it feel to be a fresh graduate sweetie?" he asked, "It feels great. I thought I'd never get out of there in one piece." She said, lightly chuckling.

"You're exaggerating. You did great in your classes, B's and C's, I'm sure you'll do great in high school too." Said Helena, smiling sweetly.

'Easy for you to say. You didn't get treated like trash.' Agatha thought as she looked away from Helena. "How was it Helena?" William asked.

"It was a breeze for me. My friends and I were thinking about how we're going to enjoy our summer with beaches and shopping." Helena said as she looked at her mother, "That's a great idea. Willy~ Can we please go to the beach next week? It'll be fun and after the day the girls had, they deserve it." Sapphire said as she held William's arm.

"Sure we can. I'm off work next week anyway." Said William. "But dad, I thought you're going to help me get a job this summer?" Agatha asked, William looked at Agatha shocked "Oh that's right! I'll help you with that this week." He said as he tussled her hair.

"Job? Agatha is working this summer?" Asked Sapphire.

"Oh I promised Agatha that I would help her get a summer job. Parental consent and what not. And she'll learn how hard I work to provide for us." William explained.

"That sounds-" Helena stated before Sapphire interrupted her. "That's amazing. Maybe Helena should sign up for a summer job too. It'll be good practice~" Said Sapphire.

"What? I'm not working. It's summer and it'll be hot and grody." said Helena, crossing her arms as she glared at Sapphire. "Helena honey, getting a summer job sounds fun. Wouldn't you like to try it?" Asked Sapphire. "No way. I'm not working on my summer vacation. Summer is about having fun and relaxing, not doing more work until you burn out. I'm out of here!" Helena said as she stormed off in disgust.

"Helena, wait, come back! Let's talk about this!" Sapphire said as she chased after Helena, leaving William and Agatha behind.

William and Agatha looked at each other dumbfounded. Trisha went up to William "Mr. Gray, I'm glad you were able to make it to a school event... for once." She said with a smile. William smiled as he ruffled Agatha's hair "I wouldn't miss it for the world. She's going to high school and I couldn't be more proud of her." He said with a smile, Agatha on the other hand was silent.

"That's good to hear." Said Trisha. "So uh... is there something you need?" He asked. "Oh. I'd like to talk to Agatha for a few minutes if that's okay with you?" She asked. "Sure, go ahead. I'll wait for you in the car, Agatha." Said William, walking away from Trisha and Agatha.

"Come, follow me. I have something to give you, I don't want to keep you for long so I'll try to make things brief." Trisha said as she walked inside the school building. Agatha walked behind Trisha nervously and calmly tried to keep herself together as Trisha took Agatha to her office, "Was there... a mistake in the school system and I didn't really graduate?" She asked as she stood outside of the office.

"Agatha, please, you're not in trouble. It's a surprise for you. Well it's more like a present from someone and I'm giving their present to you." Said Trisha as she walked inside her office. Agatha went inside after Trisha.

"Take a seat. Relax. Help yourself with some donuts while I look for that present. Now where'd I put that thing?" Trisha asked herself as she looked through the file cabinet.

Agatha looked at the box of donuts and took one. As she took a bite, her mind began to race.

'Why did I have to be here?'

'I know Principal Esperanza said "It's a surprise" but what if she said that just to calm me down for the bad news?'

'What is it she wants to give me?'

'Maybe she wants to show me a fake video of me doing horrible things.'

'Dammit I can't think of anything. I just have to wait and see what it is... She's taking too long... what happened to "make things brief"?' She thought as she fidgeted on her seat anxiously, waiting for Trisha.