y that had engulfed me lately, I felt a twinge of excitement. The house
the worst part of town. Walking to work each day had become a constant nightm
was raised by my amazing grandmother for most of my life until she passed away a few years ago. My mother, who in
her way. The real issue is her husband, Darren, who drinks far too much and becomes a complete
hold a job, so Lauren pays most of the bills. Typically, I work part-t
ont. The only thing I looked forward to in this cross-country move was finally having my own bedroom. In California, my "
ren and Darren already arguing, but I had learned to tune them out successfully. The front porch creaked under my feet, but I
wed her inside behind Darren. Without wasti
Don't forget it," Lauren re
Darren's room and saw they had their own connected bathroom, which meant Darren would leave me alone for a
presentable. I had saved up a small fund since I was old enough to work. While I was a straight-A student, I needed a
sat against the far wall, along with a dusty oak dresser. I ran downstairs and grabbed my large suitcase from the trunk of Lauren's car,
my suitcase. I didn't have many clothe
at the local public school, anything to get me out of the house and out of Darren's thinning hair. I stuffed my debit card in
ng to face me as I opened the front door. I resisted the
nd Darren long ago. Since the court made Lauren my legal guardian until I turned eighteen, I r
rrowing at the TV. I gritted my teeth. "I'm seventeen," I retorted, turn
I was going. After a moment, I decided to go right, hoping to
corner store came into view. That was one thing I'd miss about California. Th
rl not much older than me. I grabbed a bag of chips, a couple of
t card. The girl, with jet-black hair streaked with green, nodded. "Just follo
smiled, takin
here?" she as
vious?" I
retty small. Most people li
in town?" I asked,
re like their priv
l tomorrow. If this town was as small as she implied, I wouldn't go unnoticed. With only one mor
lk to school. Lauren would already be at work, and Darren typically slept in until 11 a.m. or later. I crept out of my
one eye an incredibly light blue and the other a deep chocolate brown. My grandma rarely spoke of my father, but when she did, she mentioned he had the same
erself and Darren. I looked in the mirror and frowned, feeling like a walking abnormality. At my old school, I had friend
ar, I left the house and walked to school, following the girl's instructions. By the time I arrived, the parking
office, easily identifiable by a large sign hanging from the ceiling. A p
her a small smil
, rifling through papers.
and turning to leave. As I looked down at
on the floor with a thud, and the hallway quickly quieted. Looking up, I saw two very large, ve