"You heartless... Cad!" The young girl yelled, striding quickly to keep up with the long-legged brunette in front of her. "You used her, you coward!"

The brunette suddenly stopped and turned, the girl nearly smacking into his chest as a result. Luckily, she just about managed to stop herself.

"I did no such thing." The boy told her firmly. He had long, chocolate brown hair that fell to his jaw and eyes that were currently a steely brown with seriousness. "I stated from the very beginning what my terms were. I put them out there, for her to hear." The boy smirked suddenly. "She was the one who put everything else out, completely willingly."

The "her" in question was Chelsea Danes, a sophomore like themselves, who the – currently extremely angry – young blonde had found crying by the library's emergency exit. Chelsea had "done it" with the dark-haired boy and thought them to be exclusive as a result – only to find he'd "done it" with another girl already, a junior named Karen Lotus, in the two days that had passed since the deed.

The blonde let out an angry shriek. Usually, anybody else would have felt worried, at the least, to be on the end of her wrath – she was popular, smart and universally loved. To be her enemy was a dangerous thing.

The brunette lad, however, simply rolled his eyes at her dramatics and begun to go his way once more.

"You're despicable!" She shrieked, causing the brunette to stop, shake his head and turn back around to face her again.

"You know, you sound a little jealous." He told her amusedly. "Too bad I don't go for Republicans, huh?"

Their names were Ares Hawthorne and Rhea Merrick, and they had been taught to detest each other from birth.

They were doing well so far.

"Somebody would have to be blind, deaf, dumb and not to mention stupid to want anything to do with you." Rhea told Ares with a sniff, tossing back her blonde curls.

Ares clapped his hands.

"Well, it's settled then!" Ares cheered. "It's all Chelsea's fault for being, in your words, blind, deaf, dumb and stupid enough to have even liked me in the first place. Case closed." Ares shot Rhea a sarcastic smile. "I'd say it was a pleasure talking to you, Merrick, but I tend to not lie."

"Says the grandson of a Mafia boss." Rhea scoffed. Ares – who had gone to walk away – sighed and faced Rhea for the third time, crossing his arms over his chest. "Because lying isn't at all in your nature, is it, Hawthorne? Your grandfather didn't lie at all for his despicable deeds, and his cancer isn't the beginning of an eternity of suffering at all!"

Ares' expression instantly clouded at the mention of his grandfather's illness. It was no secret that the Hawthornes would be moving to New York within the next few weeks, to support Alexei Ettore's illness, the infamous mob boss that was majorly responsible for the success of the Russian and Italian Mafias in the last century. His mother was Russian, his father Italian, both with historical roots in gang royalty. Alexei had done the impossible; he had united the two, despite his parent's always keeping the family businesses separate. Even now, he was considered the mastermind of half of the international underground, earning him the loving title Don Padre, literally meaning "Don Father", in more secret circles.

"No, actually, but that's how my dad is going to bet your dad's ass into the ground this election." Ares told Rhea, an edge to his smile now. "My dad has wanted to move out of the gangster world since he was a kid. That's why he wants to help people so much." Rhea snorted disbelievingly, as Ares continued to patronize her. "But what about your dad? Oh, right, he's a lying cheat who is being practically forced out of office for being a fraud!"

Upon hearing this, Rhea Merrick felt her cheeks redden with indignation. As far as she was concerned, her father's office as Californian governor had been an entirely peaceful and successful one – and the question of his victory was a silly one, at best.

"My father is-"

"An asshole who bankrupted an entire hospital, because they stopped supporting him, thanks to him cutting down their funding." Ares interrupted, temporarily shutting Rhea up. Rhea's family kept her safe from any unsavoury rumours she may hear – but this allegation, the one of the hospital, was something Rhea hadn't been protected from. It had been everywhere, conspiracy theorists running amok in the local papers. "And what about the way he's been treating Pastor Samuels? Nine different witnesses, Merrick. You telling me that's a lie?" Ares made a sound of disgust, lowering his voice slightly. "Jesus, Merrick. Fight for your family all you want, but at least know what you're fighting for! Open your eyes!"

"Where'd you read that, some dirty tabloid trash?" Rhea finally managed to say, albeit more faintly than before and completely disregarding his last statement. It had sounded much too... Beseeching, personal, for Rhea to acknoweldge. "It's a miracle you can read at all, Hawthorne, but even then, not everything on paper is the truth!" Rhea stood defiantly before Ares, her fists clenching at her sides. "That's why people will be voting Merrick, because they don't believe this – this indoctrination your family is trying to achieve!"

"Oh, right, like your dad isn't trying to eliminate freedom of press." Ares snorted. "Cut the crap! Whether these lovely people's families vote Merrick or not is entirely their prerogative, and I wish them all the best-" Here, Ares nodded at the crowd that had formed around them. Hawthorne vs Merrick spats were legendary. "- but the only reason they won't be voting Hawthorne, is because we won't be here. The only way your precious daddy is going to win, is by default!"

Rhea let out a small scream, accompanied with a stamp of her foot. Ares shook his head at her theatrics.

"You're just a goddamn Communist-"

"Merrick family values, ladies and gentlemen." Ares nodded, motioning to the blonde beside him.

"- who is trying to clamber up the ladder and hide the fact you're still just a gang of thugs!" Rhea screamed, silencing the crowd's titter.

Ares stopped for a moment, glaring at Rhea with such an immense hatred, it was a wonder he didn't strangle her then and there.

"And the way your dad is paying for campaign money isn't thuggery?" Ares seethed. "You know what, Merrick? I'd rather be a mob boss' grandson, than a fucking redneck bitch with her head stuck so far up her ass, it's a miracle she can walk!"

"At least I'm not a lowlife, good for nothing scumbag whose only hope of amounting to anything is by being in prison!"

"Mr Hawthorne, Miss Merrick!"

Ares and Rhea both turned, as Principal James strode towards them with a sigh.

"He started it!" Rhea said accusingly, before she had even reached them.

Ares' eyes narrowed.

"Well, you can be as sure as Hell that I ended it."

"Please." Principal James interrupted, rubbing her temples. Ares and Rhea temporarily stopped, to look at the tired looking woman with disinterest. "How many times am I going have to remind you to both keep your domestics off school property?"

"I'm sorry, Principal, but I can't take responsibility for his actions." Rhea jerked towards Ares with a sniff, causing Ares to wave his arms silently and pretend to be intimidated. "It's in his blood to cause trouble."

"You should be put in a museum." Ares muttered, shaking his head.

"I don't care, either way, just break it up, alright?" Principal James sighed, waving them away. "Go on, move it!"

Shooting each other parting glares as they did, Ares Hawthorne and Rhea Merrick went their separate ways.

That afternoon, on her way to tell her father she was going to the grocery store to pick up some baking ingredients, Rhea felt Ares' previous accusations niggle at the back of her mind. Her father would never hurt anyone and... Well, her beliefs weren't forced upon her. Indoctrination and upbringing were two different things, weren't they?

So, instead of simply knocking on her father's door, Rhea listened as her father discussed "persuasion" strategy, the price he had placed on Troy Hawthorne's head – dead or alive -, and how well Rhea was doing in Bible school.

That was the first time Rhea Merrick realized that Ares Hawthorne may not be entirely stupid.

For the next few weeks, Rhea actively avoided Ares, something that went against the very nature of her usual behaviour. The notion that Ares Hawthorne knew more about her father than she did was something that sickened her. Rhea was questioning her entire belief system, in her faith and her family. She'd been taught to have... To have morals, rules to live by, yet her father had brazenly discussed a man's life (even if it had been Troy Hawthorne's) like it was worth nothing at all. That was where the true problem lay, at least Rhea had thought – was she justified in agreeing with her father's perspective? Was a Hawthorne's life any less than her own?

Rhea never voiced her opinions. As it were, her parents were in too good of a mood to notice her turmoil, or so Rhea thought, what with the Hawthorne's officially announcing their leave for New York to be within the next two weeks. Rhea had told herself that was a good thing – Ares Hawthorne getting inside of her head was nothing but trouble and honestly, she'd be glad to see the back of him in such a normal way. For a moment, she could pretend he hadn't forced her to open his eyes.

Rhea had known since finding out the truth, she had begun to feel a glimmer of gratitude towards Ares, for at least being... Well, something enough to try and show her the truth, rather than laugh at her stupidity. It was dangerous, Rhea knew, to feel anything towards Ares, but she couldn't deny herself that.

Although Ares noticed Rhea's unusual silence, he thought nothing of it. While in New York, he'd be transferring to a new private school, under his grandfather's request – apparently, Ares attending a public school would be opening him up to the very world his father was trying to protect him from.

Rhea, although innocent, was not completely naive. Knowing Ares was moving to New York for his grandfather and the things she'd found out about her father, Rhea knew the Hawthornes were the gangsters she'd always thought them to be; smarter than she may have originally given them credit for, yes, but gangsters nonetheless. With any luck, the Hawthornes would be kept to their East Coast roots, rather than ever return to California – and the Hawthorne Merrick war would be waged from a distance.

The day the Hawthornes were due to leave, Rhea's mother made them a special celebratory dinner. After forcing baked potatoes down her throat, Rhea made an excuse to leave – her friends were taking her to the Dairy Queen in Burbank, to celebrate Ares' departure.

Her parents didn't doubt her and why would they? They hadn't brought Rhea up to lie. Rhea deceiving them was unconceivable.

Rhea's palms had begun to sweat as she approached the Hawthorne residence. She could see them – Troy Hawthorne, Ares' father, and his wife Delilah. Rhea felt a pang of sympathy in her chest as she saw one of their neighbours pack a box filled with pink baby things into the trunk of the car. Rhea had forgotten that Troy and Delilah Hawthorne had once had a daughter. She'd died a year or two ago and with a small intake of horrified breath, Rhea realized that the charm hanging from black thread that she ridiculed Ares for wearing around his neck, was his dead baby sister's.

"What the Hell are you doing here, Merrick?" Lola, a friend of Ares' from the local high school and quite frankly rather petrifying, called from across the street. Rhea had gulped in fear as the Hawthorne's turned to face her, Ares' face in particular showing an expression of surprise. "Get out of here."

"I – I don't want any trouble." Rhea had managed to say meekly. And to think – she was a gangster's daughter!

"You're about to get some, if you don't leave-" Lola had continued, stepping forward threateningly – when lo and behold, Troy Hawthorne himself had stopped her.

"Thank you, Lola, but I think that's enough." Troy had interrupted, walking over to where Rhea was almost shaking. "Rhea, it's nice to see you. You've grown." Rhea said nothing, staring at Troy Hawthorne with brand new eyes. Ares leant against the car, watching with his arms folded over his chest. "I assume your parents don't know you're here?"

"Actually, they do." Rhea had managed to say, mustering up as much courage as she could manage. She glanced at Lola over Troy Hawthorne's shoulder. "So I wouldn't try anything, if I were you, they know exactly where I am."

Troy Hawthorne had chuckled lightly. Hate as she did to admit it, Rhea couldn't remember a time that Troy Hawthorne had ever been anything but kind to her – but then again, her encounters with him had been limited, thanks to her father.

"I admire your courage, Rhea, but we both know you wouldn't be standing here if your father even had a hint that you were thinking of my beloved family." Troy Hawthorne then eyed her with speculation, from behind his sunglasses. "Don't worry, no harm will come to you here, but as you can imagine, we're very busy and about to leave the state. I know your father wouldn't want us delayed, so how can we help you this evening?"

Feeling strangely liberated at Troy Hawthorne's words, Rhea cleared her throat.

"I came here to talk to Ares." Rhea told him confidently. "Privately, please."

Rhea worked hard to ignore the catcalls from Ares' friends.

"Of course." Troy had nodded with an amused smile, before walking back to his son. "Ares-" Rhea heard a flurry of Italian and with an amused smile, Ares walked towards her.

Rhea fidgeted awkwardly as Ares stared down at her expectantly.

"So I'm finally going to be rid of you, that's a relief." Rhea suddenly blurted, cringing slightly as she did.

Ares' eyes narrowed slightly.

"Did you come here specially to insult me?" Ares questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Is that where you've been the past few weeks, thinking up an insult storm?"

"No." Rhea told him indignantly, feeling herself fluster. The sun was beginning to set behind him and Ares' dark brown eyes were even more amused at Rhea's expense than usual. It's like he doesn't even have pupils, Rhea thought to herself irritably. "I, I just-" Rhea let out a frustrated sigh, daring herself to just say it. She never passed up on a dare. "Why – why did you tell me? About – about my dad, all of those things you said?"

"What are you talking about?" Ares asked slowly, thinking back to the many times he'd insulted Christopher Merrick.

"The other week, when we last fought." The intimate use of the word "we" made Rhea blush slightly, though she had no idea why. Perhaps because this was the most uncomfortable conversation of her life. "When you told me to open my eyes."

Ares watched Rhea with a peculiar expression. Honestly, he rarely gave much thought to the blonde before him – but seeing her with her wide, restless blue eyes and confused expression suddenly intrigued him slightly.

"Because seeing somebody either so hypocritical or painfully naive insults my being." Ares retorted calmly, running a hand through his messy long hair. "Why? Are you honestly telling me you were stupid enough to not have seen it before?"

Rhea tried to open her mouth to speak, to defend herself, but nothing came out.

She felt embarrassment hit her in the gut like a brick, as Ares let out a small chuckle.

"Wow, Merrick, you really are something else." Ares laughed freely now, garnering the attention of his previous companions. Rhea shifted uncomfortably, wrapping her cardigan tighter around her. "So what, is this you coming to say thank you?"

That was an excellent question. Why had Rhea come?

She certainly wasn't thankful, Rhea realized with venom. Ares had rocked the very foundations of her being with just a few words, he'd opened a whole world to her that was better kept locked away. She was most certainly not thankful.

"No, I just came here to let you know that just because you're moving to another state, it doesn't mean I'm going to let you off and not get you back for being an utter asshole!" Rhea suddenly snapped.

And just like that, balance was restored to the world.

"Good to know." Ares muttered impatiently. "Maybe I'll hold you to that, Merrick."

"Fine!" Rhea replied childishly.

"Fine." Ares replied with a shrug, before returning to the other side of the road. "Run along to Daddy, now!" Ares shouted over his shoulder, barely glancing at Rhea as he did.

"I hope you crash your car!" Rhea screamed as Ares slammed the car door, his parents already inside. Seeing the looks Lola was casting her, Rhea hastily added – "Not you, Mr and Mrs Hawthorne!"

It was a lie, and they all knew it – but Troy Hawthorne nodded politely at her from his rear view mirror.

"Give our regards to your father for me!" Troy shouted, with a last parting wave.

"And good luck with your father!" Rhea shouted on impulse, watching the car drive away and hoping Mr and Mrs Hawthorne knew she was being sincere.

Rhea stood there for a few more minutes, watching the car become a speck in the distance. As much as she wanted that to be the last of it, Rhea knew it was far from over – her and Ares had just made sure of that, in their parting sentiments.

For now, at least,... She was free.

Rhea felt something hollow settle on her chest as the car disappeared into the horizon, something she didn't quite understand. For the moment, Rhea pretended to not notice it – whatever it was, it was probably some residual relief of some sort, at the Hawthornes finally being on their way.

Rhea avoided eye contact with Lola and walked to her friend Casey's house. They met another group of popular, young blonde girls that idolized Rhea and went to the Dairy Queen.

But it was too late. Rhea had already begun to change.

..

That was... Roughly three years back, now. I got through the rest of high school peacefully and from what little I heard about the Hawthornes, Ares got through high school just fine, too. We hadn't gone to middle school together anyway, what with me going to a Catholic school and Ares going to a public (character building, was what Troy Hawthorne called it) –so I could put our two years in high school together down as a horrible memory.

Of course, that wasn't the end of it. What kind of a story would this be if it was? After all, Ares and I had already sworn to continue the family feud with each other. What kind of gangster's children would we be if we didn't deliver?

Though, I'll admit, I didn't expect it to all go the way it did. Maybe if I'd accumulated some of Ares' street-smarts in his absence, we wouldn't be in this mess.

So let's start at the beginning, shall we? Not the very beginning – I only recently learnt that the Merrick-Hawthorne family feud spans back pretty far – but the middle of the beginning. My beginning.

So here we go.

Hello, everyone!

I know, I know, I need to stop and focus on the stories that I already have. As it happens, I was halfway through the Dare You To Trust Me and Brownie Points updates, but I lost them thanks to the horrific amount of laptop maintenance I've had to do this week. I backed it up and everything, but apparently Scarlottie had other plans...

I'm actually really looking forward to this story. I'm aware that this chapter may be a little boring in terms of the grander picture, but it's some background before we delve into where Ares and Rhea are today.

That's about it, I think. Oh, I finally got around to changing my pen-name back to henbee, so wahey! It's what I use for everything else, so it makes sense.

Also, I have some seriously important exams happening around May time, so I'm (attempting) to start revision ahead of time (it isn't working at all for me so far) – but just know I haven't given up on any of my stories here. If anything, I wish I had more time to write.

I think that's about enough from me, now. I'm off to watch some Glee.

Let me know what you thought!

- henbee