Dagger sat staring at the cake. It was chocol his father knew he hated chocolate. But the man still bought it every year so Dagger's younger siblings wouldn't complain. Running a hand threw his hair, Dagger put on a fake smile and blew out the candles. He glanced around the table as people began to clap. His father stood with his arm around a womans shoulder. The woman was Dagger's step mom. Alison Carved-Cain. Long ass name for a tall ass woman. She was only a inch shorter then Rick. Her hair was a short brown color. There was nothing beautiful about the woman. She was nothing was an older version of her daughters. Dagger had three siblings, all of the younger cains had the same mother. They all had Alisons brown hair and Ricks eyes. They were all painfully girls. The oldest girl was Jasmine. She was three years younger than Dagger, and a whole foot shorter then him. Which was no surprise, considering Dagger was the tallest in the family. The second pldest girl was Kelly. And the youngest was Amma. All three of the girls hated Dagger. Dagger glanced up as a plate was slid to him, along with a bottle of Southern style whiskey. Dagger smiled as a pair of hands covered his eyes.

"Guess who!" Said a voice.

"I'm guessing its my favorite loser," Dagger replied. The hands moved from his face. Dagger felt something kick his chair. Dagger heard a scoff, as Brok sat down next to him. Brok was a short boy, with his native skin tone and hair color. Brok was easily one of the most handsome guys in school. Except for he wore all black most days and had like thirty piercings. Including snake bites. Dagger reached for the bottle that had been slid to him.

"Your to young to be drinking," Rick said, reaching over and taking the bottle. Dagger glared down at his cake. 

"Asshole," Dagger mumbled. He glanced up as Alison gasped. 

"Sorry." Dagger glanced back down at the cake. His stomach began to churn at the thought of eating it.  He tried not to pay attention to the growing ache in his chest as Alison started to talk with the girls about the big party that was coming up. Every year the girls had a big conjoined party since their birthdays were so close. Dagger sighed and stood up; backing out of the dining room, Dagger began to walk up the big stair case. Why? Why couldn't Alison treat him more like a son? Why did she hate him? Dagger held back the growing thought to go back for the bottle of alcohol. Bad idea, Dagger told himself. But good way to help cope with the pain, replied a voice. Walking down the hall, and to his room. Dagger felt the ache grow more. Brok was still down stairs with the girls and Alison. Damn traitor even liked the girls more then he liked Dagger. Passing by a mirror, Dagger glanced at his reflection. His skin had tanned. No surprise considering he has been on trash duty since the 'fag' incident. Ah trash duty. Dagger groaned at the memory. After the whole ' you beat this poor child and broke like all his ribs and his spine' Dagger had been forced to do community service. Every day for the past three months he had had to go down to the Northern beach and pick up garbage. A knock sounded at the door. 

"Come in!" Dagger said. The door opened and Rick shuffled in. The older man smiled and closed the door. Glancing down, Dagger noticed a box? With rapping paper? And a bow? What in the living hell possessed the man to get Dagger a gift? He's never done it in the past. So what changed?

"Here," Rick said, handing the gift to Dagger. Dagger took it and looked at Rick.

"Is this a joke?" Dagger asked. Rick looked took back.

"What?" Rick gasped.

"You've never gotten me anything for my birthday before..... So why?" Dagger asked. Rick smiled and sat down on Dagger's bed. The old man patted next to him. Shrugging, Dagger joined him on the bed. Rick made a hand gesture to show that he wanted Dagger to open it. Dagger ripped off the rapping paper. What was inside? Had Rick gotten him a car or something useful like that? Excitement started to fill Dagger's heart. Dagger opened the box. Confusion took over. What the hell? He thought. The box contained a ring? Not just any ring. The ring that ever heir got. There were plenty of photos of his dad wearing it. Of Dagger's grandpa wearing it. Oh wait, Dagger's hands started to shake. The ring that all heirs inherited. 

"Well?" Rick asked, "I know it's a lot to take in but..." Dagger stood up and hurled the box across the room.

"What the fuck dad!" He screamed. "You forget about me for 18 years! 18 fucking years! Then when it seems like you actually care about me, it's just to pass your burden onto me!" Hot tears started to burn Dagger's eyes. Rick stood up.

"Don't use that tone on me boy!" Rick yelled back. 

"Fuck you!" Dagger hissed. A hand came fly towards Dagger's face. Dagger backed away from his father and clutched at his injured cheek. Rick gasped and went to put a hand on his sons shoulder. Dagger shoved past his father, grabbing his Leather coat on the way out. He ran down the stairs, douging Jasmine and Kelly. He ran past Alison and Amma. His father had hit him. Damn, why did this always happen? The Cain family's imperfect child, the heir. What kind of sick joke was this?

"Dagger wait!" Rick yelled. Dagger took one more look back at his father. Alison and the girls went to stand by him. Shaking his head, Dagger slammed the front door as hard as he could. They could all go to hell! Dagger thought running to the nearest car. He slammed the door and searched around for the keys. No fucking keys! Just great! Dagger slammed his head on the steering wheel. Well the car did belong to his family so... No harm in jumping it. Dagger pulled the underside of the car off. He took out a pocket knife and sliced two wires. Rubbing them together, Dagger sighed as the car began to run. Thank you Brok for the car jumping lessons! Dagger put the car in drive. His mind went blank... Damn he needed a drink. One place came to mind. No need for his fake ide card.