"Here are the documents you wanted." Daniel said as he put out the paper in front of her.

"Thanks, bro." Shaira smiled.

Daniel and Shaira were enjoying their lunch in the cafeteria.

Shaira day was going well. After last night's conversation with her brother. Fortunately, she has not had any interaction with her brother this morning as she sneakily went outside way too before school time just to not face them.

"So, after you get the signature what are you going to do?" Daniel asked sipping his coke.

"Honestly, I don't know! I have part-time jobs, but they are not enough for me to get a rented apartment and it would be more difficult to find it till I am officially 18" She sighed. She really would be on her own after he signed the paper.

"You could stay with us; you know that very well, but your damn ego would not let you anyways it does not matter because I would force convince you to live with us."

He passed a sickly sweetened smile to her.

Shaira smacked his head from behind.
"We will see that." She said

The playfulness she had is always with and for Daniel because she knew he would never hurt her.

"I have class now, so bye!" Shaira said collecting her stuff.

"Disadvantages of being in AP class for every subject." He chided.

"You should be happy that even if you are stupid at least your friend is smart" She smirked

"I know why Dad love you more than me" Daniel pout.

She laughed at him and went towards her class with a smile. These moments are the only precious things in her life. She thought.

"See weird fucking nerd has lost her mind too. Smiling like a freak." Costella, the bitch of the school.laughed at her with her minions along.

Shaira had her fair share of bullying. Bullying is mild word for what she had faced. Its was physical abuse. This started three years ago when she was new to this highschool. Now from the single punch here and there. She and her bullies had came to the kicks punching and bruising her all over.

"Leave me alone, Costella." Shaira said. Her eyes clearly shown nervousness.

"Now the bitch speaks. Let's tell her girls what she would get to order us around." Costella sneered at her. She held Shaira by her neck giving her scratches here and there with her acrylic nails.

Shaira eyes turned with the lack of oxygen in her system.

"Next time don't speak or else." Costella sneered at her and left her neck. Shaira gasped taking in all the air she could and fall on her knees.

Just this year. After that she would be safe.

.....................
Shaira had come to home now. She has washed and cleaned as well as put her largest hoodie that Daniel gave her. She often stole his hoodies from his house because she felt safe in them

She was pacing around in her room. Today Dexton was at home. She could take his signature today or she will have to wait for another week as he will go to business trip this night only.

"It's now or never. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. So, let's do this." She thought.

She had already covered the bruises on her neck with make up. Just some scratches were visible which has been covered by her long hairs.

He will not notice it and even he did he would clearly ignore that. I am damn sure of it. She thought
She opened the door and went to his study.

In her 17 years of life she had never had the nerve to enter her eldest brother room. Although he never said anything outrageous to her but neither he stop his brothers to do that. So that make it more complicated.

For my freedom

She thought before knocking her eldest brother office.

"Come in." said the cold voice from other side of the door.

Shaira peeked her head from the door and saw her two eldest brothers working.

Dexton was sitting on the chair where as Alkov was standing beside him handing him papers.

When she opened the door. She noticed her brothers eyes widen as they her first time in their offices.

"Umm I ha-ve some-" Shaira was rudely interrupted by Alkov.

" Just say what you want to do. We don't have time for this." Alkov said rudely.

Shaira sighed. This is the last thing she wanted from them.She went near to the desk and gave the documents to Dexton.

Dexton eyes furrowed. He had never had a single complaint letter about her from the school. He was confused.

"What is these?" Alkov asked.

"Umm these are my custody annulment papers." Shaira explained. Both brother's head snapped towards her with their wide eyes. Demanding an explanation.

"So maybe you don't know I would be turning 18 in exactly 9 months from now. So I wanna move out earlier then that." She explained to them

"What the hell is this? Is this some kind of prank. I have never heard of this type of paper." Alkov voice held more than anger but she could not decipher that emotion.

"I just want you sign this documents. After signing this. My custody would no longer be yours and you would not have to be my guardian anymore." She said with determination.

They had never seen her spoke this much. She was always quiet taking in everything they had said to her.
But looking at her both the brothers realised she had changed. She had become more mature.

"Where did you get this?" Dexton asked.

"That's not important." Shaira said abruptly.

"You have to tell me now. Where did you get it?" Dexton snapped.

"From my friend's father. He is an advocate." she said unconsciously rubbing her neck getting a hiss out of her mouth. She abruptly put her hand down. Shaira saw her brothers' eyes instantly snapped towards her neck.

Way to go Shaira now you have to explain this.

"What happened to your neck?"

"Nothing at all."

Alkov eyes furrowed he went to the other side of table towards Shaira. Shaira eyes widen when her second older brother put his hands in her hair and put it back to see multiple bruising her neck.

"Who did this to you?" Dexton immediately got up from the chair to examine closely.

"No-one, you don't have to worry about me." Shaira said nervously. She was clearly intimidated by her two eldest brothers.

"It's severe, you had to go to doctor for this." Alkov said in soft voice.

Shaira eyes snapped towards him. He never used this tone on her.

"I will, but please Dexton sign this before you go to the trip so I could move out in 3 days." Shaira said. Her eyes seeping with helplessness.

She had at least 9 months for her finals. So, if she moved out this month there would be at least 7 months for her scholarship exam.

"Ok, I will have to read it first so it would take some time and then I will get back to you." Dexton said.

Does he think I would do some fraud with him. I think he surely did.

"Ok sure! Then I will take my leave." Shaira said freedom clearly shone in her eyes when she smiled. As She was heading towards the door.

"Wait, let me call Ezra, he will treat you." Alkov ordered her with stern eyes.

She sighed as she knew she could not say to them, so she nodded in affirmative. When Alkov went to call him, only the youngest and the oldest were left in the office. They both sat on the couch while the eldest was constantly looking at her.

Being an awkward person, Shaira just hugged her body to make it small making her look like the lost puppy.

"Is it from the school? Or-" Dexton asked.

"No! It was just an accident." Shaira said without even letting her complete his question.

"I was talking about your wrist band."

Shit

He was pointing towards the president band. Yes, their school has clubs and she was the president of music club and loved to play violin. And they have bands for each clubs.

Everyone in the school does not knew that Costella was bullying her. She had never given any clues to them and with Shaira's reserved but responsible personality, no-one had any suspicion about it. Not even Daniel for that matter. Even the club members are happy with her duties so they do not disturb her.

"Oh this! This is the band of the president of the Music club." she chuckled nervously.

"You are the president?" Dexton arched his eyebrow.

"Yes." She said.

"Impressive." Dexton said

"Now I just want a name. Who hurt you? It would be easier but if you did not tell me, I will just have to look for a person myself." Dexton fist clenched.

"Its ok Dexton. I am just a guest here for few days now. You don't have to meddle in these things when you have so much on your plate. As for me, I knew very well I am the sole reason to hurt this family and twisted it like it is today. I am sorry to this day that I lived and Mrs Vanedestine does not. So you don't have to force yourself in anything. I have accepted the fact long ago that you could not accept me as a family member and I really don't blame you or any other Vanedestine for that." Shaira rubbed her eyes to stop them for tearing up.

Dexton eyes widen for the second time in one day. He never expected this girl to grow into such a mature personality.

Shaira got nervous when she felt the presence of other two brothers in the office. She really wanted to say all the things to him one day but she never had the courage to do that.
Did they hear it too?

The eerie silence gave her the answer. Ezra went near the couch and pulled Shaira hair gently into the hair tie so he could see it clearly. When he bend towards her neck to see. His face turned cold and his eyes were blazing fire.

"Had this person tried to choke you to death?" He enquired. This question just made the atmosphere more dreadful.

Shaira sighed she could not hide the fact that they were given by a person because if the obvious hand marks which was now clearly visible after removing the makeup.

"I don't know why are you all looking so angry. I am sorry for causing you trouble. I will just do it myself in my room you don't have to do it for me." As Shaira had never seen his brothers care for her so their concerns just look liability to her.

"Sit down!" Ezra commanded

Shaira sighed but did as she was told.

After Ezra cleaned her wounds and bandaged it. She was relieved as at least it was not paining now. Now everyone was silent.

" Can you give the papers today at dinner to me, Dexton? " Shaira said before standing to leave the room.

"I will try."

Shaira eyes furrowed why he was taking this long to just sign the papers.

"Ok then!"

She went to her room completely unaware of havoc she has created. She stood in front of the mirror and smile to herself.

"The first step is done."