Page 1 of Careless

PROLOGUE

HER

Tears leave streaks on my dirty face as I stare down at the scarlet lines of blood peeking out from underneath the mud caking my knees. The mud makes the cuts sting, adding to the tears that I’d normally hold back until I’m alone in my room. However, today the kids were super mean and actually pushed me.

They must have not been from around here otherwise they wouldn’t have laid hands on me. I'm the only daughter of the ruthless Nigel O'Reilly, they would've run in fear if they knew that. People are scared of my daddy, but they shouldn't be. My daddy is super sweet. He watches my favorite shows with me and goes to all of my ballet practices. He keeps everyone from laughing at me. But he isn’t with me today.

“Sorcha?”

The sound of my name has me turning my head. My brother's best friend is thundering toward me.

“What happened?” he asks with worry evident in his eyes.

I can’t remember a time when Rian wasn’t my brother’s friend. I also can’t remember a time when he cared about what I was doing. The only reason I even see Rian is because he tags along with Finn when he is watching me.

“Leave me alone,” I cry as I use the pink, scratchy material of my sweater to wipe away the mud from my knees, causing more pain.

“Who did this to you?” he demands, not taking the hint.

I don't want him here. I don't want anyone to see me like this.

I'm an O'Reilly. I'm supposed to be tough, like my daddy and Finn. I'm not supposed to cry like a baby.

I’m the only girl in my family of all boys, who surround themselves with even more boys. The only time I get to play with a girl is when my babysitter, Mrs. Judy, watches me.“You don't care about me.”

Only my brother and daddy love me and care about me. Only those two. My mommy doesn’t even love me. She left when I was a baby, so I don’t have any memories of her.

“What do you mean? We all care about you,” Rian says as he kneels and examines my scraped knees.

“You do?” I ask in disbelief, tears still flowing down my face.

His dark blue eyes shoot up to gaze at me, and he flashes me a smile.

Rian surprises me again. He always looks so sad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile. I know his mommy has a hard time, so he has to take care of her. That’s all I really know about Rian.

Although I see him often, he and Finn have their group of friends separate from me.

“Of course, I do. We all do, kid,” he answers as he pulls a water bottle out of his back pocket. He twists off the cap, then pours some on the cuts on my knees. The sting is slight and I watch as the liquid turns pink as it mixes with the dirt.

“We’re the same age. Don't call me kid,” I pout.

He chuckles and shrugs his shoulders as he wipes away the mud with his bare fingers. “You're my best friend's little sister. I'll always call youkid, kid.”

I glower at him. I hate that he always calls me that. I may be a little kid, but so is he and all of his friends. Finn is the big kid inThe Familiesas my daddy calls us.

“Now,” he pauses to catch my eyes, "are you going to tell me what happened, or do I have to beat it out of you?” he jokes.

I know he'd never hit me. But if he did, my brother and my daddy would have his hide for it.

“Some kids were being mean to me,” I shrug like it’s not a big deal. He frowns. “They said I'm fat and ugly, then they pushed me down,” My tears begin to subside as I recall the event. I hate crying in front of people. I have to be strong, always, like my daddy and my brother.

I’m a little chubbier than the other girls my age, so it makes me a target sometimes when kids are feeling mean.

My daddy says I have an illness, and that's why I'm bigger than the other girls. It's not my fault.

I go to doctors all the time, and Dr. Harper says it would be impossible for me to be small like the girls in my class.

My body doesn't work like theirs.

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