Chapter 1
I take a deep breath of the crisp early autumn air as I pull a cigarette out of my pack. I sit down on a large boulder that is conveniently next to the trail I am hiking.
I haven't been to sleep yet. My insomnia has been bad lately, and I've only been catching a couple of hours here and there.
I don't mind being awake still so early, though. It was peaceful, and no one else was around to bother me and my thoughts.
I take my phone out and look at the time. I have just enough time to run home, shower, and change before getting to school.
I slowly take the last drag of my cigarette and put the cherry out on the boulder before putting the butt back in my pack to throw away later.
Getting up, I started walking back down the trail to my car, which I had left in the parking lot on the other side of the park.
The sun is still working on making its way into the sky, so it's light enough to see where I'm going but isn't bright enough that I don't trip over a branch or two.
There is a break in the trees, and I see the park ahead of me. As I walk through all of the playground equipment, I notice I am not the only one here, and I just about jump out of my skin.
There was a guy wearing a black hoodie sitting on one of the swings. He didn't seem to notice me yet, so I continued walking. Unless he looks behind him, he probably won't see me.
I keep my head down, so my hood and dark hair cover my pale face, and I continue walking.
Once I get close to my car, I pull my keys out and unlock it, sliding in and putting the key in the ignition.
--
I get out of the shower and go into my room to look through my clothes, thinking about what I want to wear for today.
I decided on a pair of black distressed skinny jeans and a black crop top with an old black and red windbreaker over the top.
My phone goes off on my bed, and I grab it seeing a message from my best friend, Roxy.
R: Bitch, you picking me up this morning or what?
DM: Ya, I'm on my way
I quickly grab my black sneakers and baseball cap before grabbing my keys and opening my bedroom door.
When I get to the living room, I make sure to step lightly. I glance around the corner to see the booze bottles spread across the coffee table.
Passed out on the couch is my mom, still holding onto the neck of a bottle.
I roll my eyes and make my way for the front door, slowly pulling it open and locking it behind me.
I climb into my old beater of a car and start the engine. Then, pulling away from the curb, I make my way to Roxy's house.
When I pull up, she is waiting outside. As soon as she sees my car, she charges for the passenger door.
"Bitch, what took you so long? It's fucking cold out." My best friend said as she climbed inside.
Roxy has piercing blue eyes and long auburn hair that rolls down in waves. She wore skinny blue jeans over her long legs and a knitted sweater.
"It literally only took me five minutes to drive here," I tell her, holding up my hand. "Why were you standing outside anyway?"
"Roger and this month's toy were fighting. I preferred the cold over getting hit by whatever would go flying." She explains. Roger is Roxy's dad, or sperm donor as she likes to call him. Her mom died during delivery, and she grew up with her aunt until she got a work offer that would result in her having to move.
Roxy didn't want to leave, so she ended up moving in with her sorry excuse of a father a few years ago and his forever-changing flings.
I nod my head at her in understanding as I put the car in drive and make my way to the school.
I park in my usual parking spot that is right on the road. I don't like parking in the parking lot, and it takes way too long to get out of at the end of the day. Granted, that does mean we have to walk a little farther.
"You know, I really hate you for making me walk all this way, in the cold, might I add, just so that you don't have to deal with a little bit of traffic. It's inhumane." Again I roll my eyes at her overly dramatic self.
"A little walking will do you some good, you lazy ass." She shoots me a glare, but I just smile back and ignore her as she goes on her usual little rant.
She is still going on when we get to the school doors. I pull a door open and hold it for Roxy to walk through.
She finally shuts up when we walk up to Jackson sitting on the stairs. He greets us with a smile when he sees us and Roxy jumps into his lap before attaching her lips to his.
Roxy and Jax have been 'unofficially' together for a while. However, they've never really put any kind of label on it. Jax was a lanky kid with shaggy brown hair. His skin was pale, but you could see the slightest hint of freckles across his cheeks.
"Get a room, you two!" I yell at them and roll my eyes as I turn to a laughing Wyatt and Kelsy.
"What are your guys' plans for this weekend?" I ask Kelsy as she plays with the knot of light brown hair on top of her head.
She shrugs her shoulders. "Not sure. I heard Dillon Hunt was throwing a party, though."
"Dude, his parties are always awesome!" Wyatt exclaims.
"I'm down!" I say with a shrug. I finally have the weekend off after working the past three weekends. "You hear that guys?" I yell at the two making out.
"Hear what?" Roxy asks, detaching her mouth from Jackson's.
"Tonight, Dillon's having a party. We're going." Kelsy tells them.
"Sweet. I'm in." Jax says.
"Me too," Roxy replies.
Suddenly the bell rings making me jump slightly.
