SCARRED HEART

*Megan's POV*

"Open the door Amber, I need to get inside." I banged the door. I just came back from school to find myself locked out of the house and I know my annoying best friend Amber is inside the house doing god knows what.

"Stick your ass out for a few more seconds girl, I'm almost done" she yelled from inside the house.

I grit my teeth in annoyance, I will soak her head in the bathtub filled with cold water once I get inside my house.

After a while, she opened the door. I immediately rushed in and as I was running to my room, a delicious aroma stopped me and I made my way into the kitchen.

Getting there, I saw that the dining table has been set, on it lies three plates of spaghetti, a tray full of blueberry muffins and a chocolate cake with lit candles on top of it.

"Am, did you cook?"

"Happy birthday Meg and yea I did cooked" she went to the dining and pulled a chair out for me to sit.

I sat on it and she pushed a plate of spaghetti towards me.

"why would you do all these for my birthday? I was planning to sleep through it" I said with my mouth full of crushed spaghetti.

"You are 19 so yea it needs to be celebrated and you better not ruin my hardwork with you stupid comments" she glared at me

"i wanted to throw a party but I didn't want what happened last year to repeat itself so I decided to make these", she grimaced and I laughed.

Last year, on my birthday, I came home to find a party in my house and she shouted "happy birthday Megan, you are finally 18."

I didn't talk to her for weeks until she promised not to throw parties for my birthday again.

I don't see the fact why birthdays should be treated special, I mean...

birthdays should be treated special, I mean they are like other normal days. "Make a wish", I rolled my eyes and blow out the candles making no wishes. She packed the dishes and went to drop the dishes in the sink. I carried the tray of muffins and ran to my room.

"Hey come back here with those muffins" Amber shouted, "never! thanks for the meal it was delicious" I shouted back. I locked my room door after I got inside and sat on my bed devouring the little delicious commodities that are sitting on my tray. Amber deserve an award for her cooking. I could finish a bowl of meal and still be craving for more, okay I was kidding. The only reason I consume alot of food is that I love food alot, probably more than I love myself. After I finished eating, I went to take a shower. Jumping on my bed, getting ready to take a nap, a knock was made on my door.

"Megan get ready, we are hitting the club in fifteen minutes" Amber said through the door. "You know I would prefer strangling you right now seeing as you destroyed my chances of taking a well deserved nap. I don't want to go" I tell her.

"If I come back in fifteen minutes and meet you still on your bed, I will make sure you don't taste food in this house for the next two weeks" I heard her footsteps leaving. I got up from my bed and went to my closet. I grabbed a grey t-shirt, a black short sleeved shirt, a pair of grey jeans and white sneakers. Yea i'm a stud and I don't toy with my dressing style.

I wore the clothes and styled the front of my hair into a quiff and pulled the remaining into a low ponytail, wore my sneakers, grabbed

my phone and went out of my room to meet Amber in hers applying red lipstick on her lips.

I let out a whistle "damn Am, If I were a guy I would totally have a hard on right now. You are smoking and I wouldn't mind switching to the lesbian lane." She was wearing a one strapped black dress which stopped mid thigh, had her dirty blonde hair in a ponytail and wore grey heels with a grey clutch to match, her eye lashes coated in mascara making her blue eyes pop. "Guess we are a matching couple then let's make our move to the club and makeout with hot guys" she said with her British accent. I laughed and walked behind her to her lamborghini. Yea a lambo, her parents were pretty much loaded and she's an only child hence she gets spoiled alot. We got in and drove to the club. After getting into the club, she nudged me and pointed to a guy sitting on a chair at a corner with other guys and girls, he was a hot shot. She left me and made her way to the guy. I chuckled, typical Amber. I made my way to the bar. I told the barman to pour me a glass of vodka, while I was drinking, a guy came and ordered for whisky and I started checking him out. He's hot with his brown curly hair. I saw tattoos peaking out his white shirt. Did I mention I have tattoos myself? yea I have tattoos covering my entire back and have both my arms.

He caught me caught me checking him out and said "like what you see?", wow his eyes are emerald green which makes him more hotter. "Well you're not bad looking and did you just speak with a British accent?" He laughed and said "yea I did cause I'm British. Do you want to dance?"

"Sure, why not" I finished the remaining of

my drink and we went to the dancefloor to dance to 'You make me feel' by Cobra Starship. "I'm Harry" he says and I tell him "I'm Megan". We got pushed by a dancing couple, I turned to swear at them then I saw that the dancing couple is actually a drunk Amber and that hot guy she went to meet earlier. I told Harry "excuse me, I need to get my drunk friend home now" and pointed to the dancing Amber. He nodded and I went to drag her from the guy and told him to find a new partner.

Amber started whining and I told her to shut her mouth. I went to the car and put her in the passenger's seat and hooked her seat belt. I walked to the driver side, got in and drove to the house. I carried her into the house to her room and removed her shoes and then covered her with her blanket and then went to my room. Feeling tired, I pulled off my shoes, released my hair from its ponytail and quiff bondage, I went to the fridge in the kitchen and took frozen pizzas in the fridge. I took them and microwaved the pizzas and went to the sitting room to watch a movie seeing as its only 11pm. I put in a movie in the dvd and started watching it while eating my pizzas. After a while, I got tired and switched off the tv, went to drop the plate in the sink and proceeded to my room to sleep.

I woke up to screaming the next morning. Groaning, I went outside in my pyjamas to check what was happening. I found Amber outside with a furious expression on her face.

"Jeez Amber, it's 11 in the morning and you are already waking up the neighbourhood with your screaming as an alarm. What crawled up your ass this beautiful morning", I yawned.

"My car is ruined. You destroyed my lovely baby." She looked at my wrist "you are not even wearing a watch so how did you know that the time is 11am?" she cried.

I looked at the car's headlight and I saw that the left one is smashed and the side of the car has a dent. "Babe it's just a dent and a broken headlight so don't sweat it much. Okay if I fix it, will it make you happy?"

"You know that fixing it will cost you a lot right? It doesn't come cheap" she raised one of her eyebrows.

"Oh puh-lease, how much is it gonna cost that I can't afford. It's just a tiny dent on a lamborghini."

***************

"What?!!!! For the car repairs??? eighteen hundred??? Are you shitting me right now?" I asked the mechanic with a bewildered look on my face.

"Working on your Lamborghini is expensive. You have an expensive car and you don't want to work on it," the man said.

"It's not mine, look just reduce the price ok?" I pleaded. "It can't be reduced, young lady."

"Fine. So when do I come back for the car?" I asked.

"Come by four to pick it up," he answered.

I left and went back home by bus. I met Amber all dressed up, ready to go out.

"Where are you going?"

I asked her:

"my parents wanted to see me." She replied.

"Any problem?"

"Nah. I don't think so. My car's location is?" I frowned at her.

"The mechanic's workshop. The repairs cost me eighteen hundred."

She laughed, picked up her purse and went out the door.

"Look at her, she didn't even show any concern for the money I spent." I muttered.

I went to my room to change and take a nap.

*****************

When I woke up, I saw that the time was fifteen minutes past four.

I grabbed my phone and rushed to the bus stop.

I boarded the bus to the workshop, paid the mechanic and drove the car back home.

Seeing as Amber wasn't back home yet, I ordered some pizza.

Few minutes after the pizza arrived, she came home looking gloomy.

"Hey what's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it." She replied.

"Okay, I won't push you but when you are ready to talk, I will be waiting."

I gave her a smile. She nodded and went to her room.

I ate some pizzas and kept the remaining in the fridge and then went to my room to sleep.

***********************

I rushed to class trying to get there early. I looked at my watch

"Ah shit, I have five fucking minutes to get to class. Thanks Amber." I muttered.

I picked up on my pace and started running. Bumping into people in the hallways and saying sorry's to them.

By the time I got to my class entrance, I was sweating slightly and panting really hard. I looked at my watch and saw that I was on time.

I walked into the lecture hall and went to sit in the middle of the front row. Few minutes later, Professor Stewart walked in.

"Good afternoon students, hope you all have your assignments done. Submit it now."

I got up to submit my assignment and went back to my seat.

"Okay today, we will be working on Pride and Prejudice."

I put my ear plugs into my ear and played *Hello* by Adele, putting it on high volume thereby blocking out whatever the prof was saying.

I was always ahead of the class in literature. I ain't that bright but I still manage to stand among the best students in class. My parents wanted me to study Business so that I would have knowledge on how to handle stuff when I take over the company from them.

My parents who were the CEOs of Grey Group wanted me to be perfect because I was the heiress. They had subsidiaries located in every state in the country producing electronics, automobiles, mobiles, food products, you name it. They also had a kindergarten, elementary, high school and also a university built and they are schools that only the wealthy can afford to register their kids in.

Throughout my years of schooling from kindergarten to high school, I was treated with care and respect. Was always surrounded by rich snobby kids who wanted to befriend me. The press were always following my every movement and activity, teachers dare not cross me for fear of losing their jobs.

I hated it all. I wanted to live an invisible life. A life which people would ignore me like I don't exist. So I applied to NYU and when my letter of admission to study literature came, I showed it to My parents. They became furious with my decision. I still remember my father's words back then. "How could you betray us like this? Because of you, we built schools and employed the finest teachers in the world so that you can learn from the best and yet you applied to New York to study literature?!!" he yelled. "I do not want to set my eyes on you again, get out!!!"

So I packed my things and left for New York. Adopted the American accent, changed my last name and my looks.

Four years. I haven't heard or seen my parents in four years. Heard they made my younger brother the heir a year after I left. His name is Karl and he was eight when I left.

People wondered where Megan Grey was and what had happened to her. But that was in the past now. The former blonde haired, pale skin and blue eyed Megan Grey is now tanned skinned Megan Stone with blue eyes and dark brown hair with red highlights working three jobs to survive, a waitress at an Italian restaurant, evening shifts at a cafe and sometimes a babysitter for Mrs Iginio, who is the wife of the owner of the restaurant I worked in.

Amber doesn't know who I used to be. I told her that my parents died in a car accident when I was fifteen. I am happy with who I am now. I finally got to live the invisible life I've always wanted.

"Hey, class is over. Hey" I felt a nudge on my shoulder so I looked over to my left and saw a guy looking at me with amusement. I removed my earplugs from my ear and looked at him again. "You zoned out immediately you had those things in your ear." He said, pointing to the earplugs in my hand. "I'm Andrew." He stretched out his hand for a handshake. I shook his hand and rose up to leave. "Hey, you didn't tell me your name." I ignored him and left the hall.

I made a stop at Starbucks to order a cup of cappuccino. After getting it, I walked home while taking sips from my drink since the distance from there to my home is a twenty minute walk.

When I got home, I went to take a shower. Afterwards, I went to the kitchen to prepare noodles to eat. My phone started ringing so I went to the sitting room to pick it up. Looking at the caller ID, I saw that it was Mrs Iginio calling.

"Good afternoon Stella. How are you?" I asked. "I'm fine my dear and you?"

"I'm doing great over here."

"I called to ask if you are free this evening to babysit the children. There's this dinner party that an old friend of my husband organised and we have to attend."

"Yeah I am not busy this evening. What time should I blast your house with my presence?" I asked.

"Seven thirty my dear and please don't blast my house with your presence" she laughed.

I chuckled "Okay Signora, I won't be late" she laughed and ended the call. I went back to the kitchen to check if my noodles were cooked. Seeing that it was done getting cooked, I served it on a plate and took it along with me to the sitting room. I switched in the TV and saw that a fashion show was being shown so I settled down on the couch and started eating my noodles while watching the fashion show.

I rang the doorbell and the door opened to reveal Camile.

"Meggy!" She exclaimed. "I missed you!" She threw herself at me. I caught her, laughing as I hugged her. "I missed you too, my love." I replied.

I closed the door behind me and carried her into the house, chatting and giggling. "Not even a minute and Camile's become a parrot. How do you do it?" Mr Iginio asked.

"Because she's my lil'baby. Like mother like daughter, right Mili?" I said. She nodded in agreement.

"Ohh very good. Since she's your daughter, then what does that make me?" Stella asked, coming into the living room.

"The original mother. I'm the artificial mom." I replied.

"Wow, you look stunning, ma'am." I wiggled my eyebrows at her. Mr and Mrs Iginio are a good looking couple and they passed the genes to their kids, Camile and Carlos.

Speaking of Carlos, I haven't seen him around. "Where Cally?"

"He's with his brother upstairs." Mr Iginio replied.

"Brother, which brother?" I asked, confusion coating my face.

"Andy is back. Our big brother." Camile answered.

My confused self looked at both husband and wife. "You haven't met our eldest son because he was staying in Italy." Stella explained.

"Andrew! Come down, someone wants to meet you. Carlos! Meganer's here." She called out.

"So, we'll be back later by 11pm or so?" She turned to Mr Iginio for an affirmation.

"Yeah, sure." Mr Iginio answered.

"Okayyyy, so we're gonna have a blast then." I highfived Camile, grinning widely. Quick footsteps came down the steps.

"Megan!" Carlos shouted excitedly while running down the stairs. I put Camile down and turned to face him fully while spreading out my hands, with a full blown smile on my face. I hugged him.

" How's it going, young lad?" I asked. "All good. We haven't seen you around for a while." He said. Carlos is Camile's twin brother, the older of the two.

"Yeah, been a little busy." I answered.

"Oh, Andrew, meet Megan, our babysitter/ employee." Mr Iginio said. I looked up to see a boy looking like he's in his teens. I waved at him with a slight smile on my face.

"It's you." He said. "Me?" I pointed at myself.

"You don't remember my face, do you?"

"Uh, no, sorry. I have a weak signal for picking up facial records. Do you know me?" I asked.

"Yes and no. I was the one who talked to you about zoning out in class but you ignored me and walked out of class like I was invisible." He said.

I smiled sheepishly "Sorry. I'm not really keen on befriending people."

"You know each other?" Stella asked. "We are in the same literature class." He said.

"Oh good. There's no need for introductions then. We need to get going." Mr Iginio said.

We all said our byes and they left. "So how is it that you're just coming into the picture now?" I asked Andrew.

"I don't understand." He said. "I mean, what made you come back to stay now?"

"I decided that I've stayed in Italy enough and I need to come back to my family, bond with my siblings."

"That's good. So what's your major?" I asked.

"Studio art. Focusing more on painting and photography. You?"

"Cool! Well mine's kinda boring. Journalism. Nothing exciting to see here." I answered.

He laughed and said journalism will put me out there. I hummed in agreement.

"So what do you do for fun, dear Andy?" He raised his eyebrows at me.

"Uhh, alot but I don't think the kids will find as much fun as I would." He responded.

"We could watch movies." Camile suggested.

"No, I want to play games in the game room." Carlos objected.

"Alright, no worries my dear. We adults will just split ourselves to spend time with you two. How about I watch movies with Mili and you play games with Cally." I suggested, looking at Andrew.

"Milli and Cally?? What sorta nicknames are those?" Andrew asked in bewilderment.

"Cool nicknames wonderfully crafted by me." I declared with pride.

"Cool? Those nicknames are weird!" He exclaimed.

"No they're not! And besides, they like it. Don't you?" I turned to Carlos and Camile in question.

"Of course!" "I love it." They chorused their responses. I turned to Andrew and stuck out my tongue at him.

"What!! You can't actually like those ridiculous names." He said.

"We do like it." Camile replied. I stuck out my tongue at him and he laughed at my childish behavior.

I learnt that they've had dinner so Camile and I consumed a large tub of chocolate ice cream and popcorn while watching through movies in the movie room.

The movie room is like a mini living room with sofas in it and a table at the middle to place drinks or snacks on, with a very large flat screen to watch whatsoever movie you wanted.

At some point, Camile fell asleep and I cleaned up the mess we made in the movie room, carried her to her room and laid her to sleep. I went to go check on Carlos and Andrew in the game room.

The game room was also sized like a mini living room, with sofas for relaxing and then filled with various games. It's just like a mini arcade.

I couldn't find them there so I went to Carlo's room to see if he's there. I saw him sleeping in bed so I left to go to the living room and scrolled through my phone to keep me busy until Mr and Mrs Iginio came back home.

"Camile's asleep?" I looked away from my phone and saw Andrew coming towards me.

"Yeah," I put away my phone. He sat beside me. "How long have you known my parents?" He asked.

"Two years. I thought you'd be asleep." I said to him.

"If you've got a stranger in your house, would you fall asleep?" He retorted.

"Hmmm." I nodded in agreement. We started chatting and a while after, we heard his parents arrive.

"We're back." Stella announced in a sing-song manner.

"Mamma e papà" Andrew said.

"Benvenuti" I greeted. Andrew sharply looked at me, "you speak Italian?"

"Err, a little bit. I'm still learning though." I replied.

"Wow." "The kids are asleep in their room and now I'll be on my way." I said to them.

"La ringrazio." Mr Iginio said. I smiled in response, said my byes and left.