Chapter 1:   The City at Night

    The wind carelessly blew through my hair as I slowly trudged the smokey, barely –lit streets of downtown.  There was a slight chill in the air making me want to grab my jacket from my waist, where it was so effortlessly tied, and wrap it around my arms, shielding me from all the misery of the night.

    I had no idea where I was going.  Or when I was to get there, I just knew I had to go.  Scanning the old buildings, and dime a day kind of stores in the area I settled on going in one called “The Sock Drawer” an upbeat clothing store with dim lights, and risqué apparel.  So maybe my parents wouldn’t adore it, who cares though.  They were the reason I was here.  Here on a lonely dark street, late night, downtown, in this store checking the pleated plaid minis, and the fish nets. 

    Being that it was almost midnight the store was pretty empty, not really the best for shoplifting, I’d try some other day.  That didn’t stop me from looking at all the things though, nothing ever does, I try for what I want, even if it doesn’t want me.  My parents have always considered it a character flaw, my grandmother however, told me it would help me in the worst of times, when my truest aspirations were in jeopardy and I had nothing left to hold onto.  I always thought she was wise.

    That’s when I saw it, a key chain with a broken heart, and the words “Love is so deep, we often drown.”

     “$2.99.”  I muttered to myself as I pulled a handful of mixed change out of my pocket.  Quickly I counted the quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.

      “$3.00, just enough.”  Walking to the counter I slowly dropped my change, and the key chain on the counter avoiding any eye contact.  Eye contact is the kinda thing that could make a girl like me fall in love.  Especially with the current guy at the counter.  A bit thin, but he looked tall, and strong, most of all he looked loving.  He wore a tired expression, and a metallica t-shirt. 

      “That all?” he asked.  From the sounds in the background it was safe to assume he was holding a bag right now, a loud bag.

      “Yeah.  That’s all.” 

       No more than 5 seconds after I heard the sound of fist against bag he was shoving it to my side of the counter, and handing me a penny.  As he dropped it into my palm he lightly brushed against my finger tips, making me look up.  There he was, looking down on me, his shaggy brown hair almost covering his eyes, but not totally.  They were green, breath-taking and electrifying. 

       Walking into the cold night once again I made my way to my favorite spot in this busy town, the fountain.  It was in the center of downtown, and it was the only pride and joy this city has ever seen.  The water always seem to sparkle above the glare of the headlights of everyday traffic, and shine above the glistening of the frequent smog filling the air from the buildings around.  Many times I had sat on that hard cement edge, looking over into the water, and seeing all the pennies littering it’s bottom, on many nights just like this.  When life ever got unbareable, I always turned to this area.

         Reaching into my bag I pulled out the keychain and looked it over.  “Hmph.  Love hurts.” I muttered as I read the words I had read several minutes past in the store.  Taking my penny I looked it over once, and then effortlessly threw it over my shoulder, and into the water.  Turning around I saw as it gracefully sank to the bottom until it hit, causing the other pennies to vibrate, and then stop, as if everything there had just gone back to normal. 

        Just then my watch alarm went off.  Midnight right on the dot, Valentine’s Day.  Feeling the harsh moon shining down on me like a spotlight I lifted my head in grief, and wrapped my arms around my knees in shame, looking to the sky for the answers.  Yet this time, as I faced all the stars above, I couldn’t seem to decifer anything other than sorrow and misery. 

       After seconds, maybe minutes of deep thought I pushed myself up, and began down the lonely road again.  Some store’s lights were flickering off, less and less cars we’re venturing down the road.  The street was practically empty, not including the group of people every now and then that would walk by, but continue on.  That’s my town, when things get late, they sleep.  A ton of worthless individuals. 

      As I turned another corner completing the four blocks I just walked I saw a small crowd outside “The Mositure Spot.”  Walking through the crowd I decided to see who all was there. 

     Once I came in I was overcome by this blare of loud music and cloud of smoke.  People were shoulder to shoulder kinda close, some kids were moshin it up in the mosh pit, while some were hanging out and drinking coffee.  “Vanilla Carmel Mocha.” I said quietly as I sat on a stool.  Apparently the guy couldn’t hear me, so I had to lean in a little closer and tell him.  His hear was spiked into a tall Mohawk, he had a pierced lip, and smelt of raw marajana, and dijarums.  As he passed the mocha to me I took a sip and turned in my stool to see what band was playing. 

     “Hey El.”  Someone called out from the crowd.  Trying to view who it was I leaned up and put my mocha down.  Then I saw her, jumping up and down waving.  It was Teal.  She was one of my good friends.  Not at all like most of my friends. 

     “Teal, whats up?” I asked as she and two guys walked over.

     “Nothing, this is Brocker, and Weston.”

      “Ellory Davis is here?  What has the world come to?  Last I knew cheerleaders only came out for the Barbie convention.” He laughed as he shot me a glare. Apparently these boys have a problem with a little pink.  We’ll call them The Ken Dolls.  Note to self, remember to bake the ken dolls cookies in an easy bake oven.  Extra sprinkles, Martha stewart style. 

      “Shut up, El isn’t like most of them, she is cool.” Teal yelled as she crossed her arms.

      “Whatever.” Weston and Brocker said walking towards the mosh.

    “Sorry about them.  They think they’re extremely cool kids or something because they just got tickets to the French Frontier Concert.”

    “Seriously?  Gosh, I’ve wanted tickets to that since forever.” I sighed.

      “Yeah, its gonna be hot, I can tell you that.”  Teal laughed as she took a sip of my mocha.

      “Hey get your own.” I joked.

      And suddenly, we just started, cracking up.  Who knows why, I could never tell you.  That was what was so real, and genuine about our friendship.  No matter what, we always had fun.  Even over something small like drinking my mocha. 

    “Well, I gotta go back to the mosh.  Wanna come.” She asked as she stood up.

    “No I think I’m just going to take this to go, and head out.  I gotta get some stuff from home.”
    “Parents kick you out?” she asked as she sat back down.

    “No, they’re just being unbearable.  I just need, some time to think.” I sighed as I ran my fingers through my blonde curls.

    “Okay, if you wanna crash, come to my place.  I’m always here to talk.” Teal Smiled.

    “Thanks, you’re the best.” I giggled as I hugged her lightly.
    “I love you El.” She yelled as I walked out, and began back to my house.  Hopefully my parents wouldn’t be awake.

      Walking onto my front steps I drowned in the sound of my feat against the cold pavement.  The beat was just so hypnotizing.  It made me extremely tired, and almost want to just lay down in my bed, and forget my feelings, but I just can’t forget.  Not this time, or any time, not anymore. 

     As I walked in I could hear the tv blaring from the living room, an old pizza box lay open on the ground, half eaten, as the light in the lamp flickered.  I could hear snoring coming from the old reclining chair as I peaked my head into the livingroom. 

    “Yup, just the way I left it.” I sighed as I began up the stairs.  Walking into the bathroom I lifted my shirt over my head, and pulled my torn and fitted jeans to my knees slipping off my flip-flops and underwear.  I turned on the hot water, and stepped into my shower.  As I poured some maple berry shampoo into my hand I felt the hot water pound onto my back.  I love showers, they’re like a massage, my fifteen minute therapy.

Squeezing my hair between my fingers I stepped out of the shower and wrapped my towel around myself.  Walking into  my room I grabbed a back pack, threw in a few pairs some cloths, and school books.  Then I dropped in my headphones, CD player, and a mix CD.  After that I put some in some personal items and then zipped it shut.  Next I put on lacey underwear, another pair of torn and fitted jeans, a pink cami and navy blue track-jacket.  I was ready to go. 

   I whispered “bye” to my puppy just before I crept down the steps and left my house, trying my best not to look back.  Making my way down the street I checked my watch.

4:50.  Reaching into my pocket, expecting to grab a handful of change, but only grabbing the bottom of my pocket I realized I forgot my money.

  “Damn.”
    “What will I do now?” I asked myself.  Every morning, and I mean every morning I had a Carmel Vanilla Latte at the Moon Shine Café before school.  It was my way of waking up, or staying up, if I had a night of no sleep like this.  Putting my bag down I knelt down and searched through it for anything, be it a penny, quarter, nickel or dime.  As I fished through my bag I came across the keychain from the night before, but no change.  Taking my keychain I hooked it on the loop of my jeans, and then zipped my bag back up.  Maybe, it would bring me some luck.

     As I began walking again I passed the fountain from the night before.  There was a boy sitting on the edge.  I couldn’t tell who it was, because his hair was covering his face, but that hair, it was just, so familiar.  Making my way down the paved road I decided to stop in the book store.  Just for a quick peek. 

     I loved it in there, I loved everything about it.  It was just so, remarkable, and amazing.  Here, you could come in and it didn’t matter who you were, or where you’ve been.  You weren’t looked down upon if you were a cheerleader, or if your hair looked like crap that day, or if your ass wasn’t tight enough, or didn’t look right in those jeans.  It just, didn’t matter here.  It’s just such a real place.

    Putting my bag at my usual table, littered with pamplets about upcoming events, and occasions, I walked to my usual shelf and began searching.  It was the romance section.  I must admit, while I enjoy a good mystery, fantasy, and adventure book, I’ve always held a love affair with romance books.  They were just always so, intriguing.  Anything could happen.  You could meet the one anywhere.  Love at first sight really did happen, and the beauty really could marry the beast.  I’ve always had a thing for fairy tale romances.  Settling on one that said, “Kiss like Wind” I walked back to the table, and pulled out my chair.  Sitting down, I opened it up and began my reading.  The book was about a girl wondering alone in the woods.  Her boyfriend died the night before by commiting suicide.  She had tried to stop him, she stood right next to him on the ledge before he jumped.  With one last kiss she thought she was enough to keep him, but with his back turned to the ledge and his fate, he just leaned back.  He didn’t listen to her screams, he just fell head first to the ground below. 

    “That’s so sad.” I spoke gently as I book-marked the page, and then closed the book.  Walking to the front desk I asked Liz the manager to hold this for me, since I forgot my card.  Graciously she said she would and took it to the back.  It’s great to have connections.  Walking out of there I wished I too, could be part of a magnificent fairy tale romance.  Walking back past the fountain the boy from before was still there, only this time I knew where I saw him.  He was the guy from before in the store, with the electryifiying eyes, mettallica shirt, and amazing touch.  Walking past I tried not to make contact, because if I did, I was afraid I would never look away.

     So far so good, I had made it six steps and I hadn’t looked, if only I could make it six more steps.

    “Hey.” I could hear him calling from behind me.  Desperate not to look into his eyes I quickly turned the corner and sat at the bus stop.  With two more hours until school I was in the mood for a little people watching.

    Soon the bus huffed around the corner and up to the stop.  As I got on another person slowly followed behind me.  She wore a purple dress, a beaded nechlace, and had curly white hair.  She looked pretty old.  As I sat down she sat on one side of me, while the other was occupied by a person very concerned in finding something in a brown paper bag.  What it was I didn’t know, but by the way he was ripping and grasping the bag, I figured it was pretty important.  He wore a blue striped hat, a brown suede jacket, and had a scruffy expression with a dirty, unshaven face, he was a real looker. 

    “Missy.” The elderly women said as she poked her bony finger and irregularly long nail into my ribs.  “Could you spare a dollar?  I need to make a call.”  She asked as she looked into my eyes.   She looked frail, sad, nervous, and worried.  I could smell a lie a mile away, and I knew she wasn’t lying.  “I’m sorry, but I forgot my cash, honest.” I replied with a sorry expression.  “Oh dear, what is a young lady like yourself doing downtown so early in the morning without a penny to spare?  No no just isn’t right, just isn’t right at all, I must say in my time our mamas and papas gave us 10 cents each before we ventured out each day.  It wasn’t a lot, but let me tell you it got us through the hard parts of the day.  It sure did.” The lady said as she began babbling on and on about the ways of the olden days.  Everytime she spoke a word her hand jigled a bit beside her big purple dress.  From now on, I would call her The Jiggler. 

     As the bus turned a little on the next corner it went over a bit of a bump, causing the jiggler to frantically grab at the rail beside her and lose her spot in her story, she soon recovered though while the man next to me, we’ll call him Suede, ended up ripping the entire bag by mistake, and spilling all the contents.  A boy down the isle began laughing at him while his embarrassed mother tried to shut him up.  Suede crawled to the ground picking up what I realized was his lunch while The Jiggler began telling us of back in her day when they didn’t carry lunch in a revolting old bag.  They enjoyed their lunch at their house the way it should be.  She then began a rant on how the American family is declineing and how she misses the old days.  What a character. 

    Finally the bus made a stop, right where I was to get off.  Along with me the mother and her son also got up to get off.  As I stepped off the bus I could hear the boy behind me continue on with a story about feeding pigeons at the park soon.  Great just what I need now, a psychoticly rude little boy, and his oppressed mother feeding pigeons at my park.   I will call them Pigeon Master and the Slave. 

    The sun started shining through, and basking onto the sidewalk as me, pigeon master, and the slave made our way to the park.  It felt wonderful the way the heat from the sun shone onto us, baking at the apples of my cheeks.  I could feel a slight sunburn coming on.   If only I had a camera to remember the beautiful sunrise by, if only, I hadn’t forgotten all the important pieces of my life back at home. 

   Apparently pigeon master forgot something important as well, because he was whining and complaining about some tennis ball, and an old magazine.  That boy made no sense.  I wanted to tape his mouth shut, lucky me, I forgot the tape as well.  Might as well crown me Ms. Forgetful, queen of the jigglers, pigeons, and slaves.  Sometimes life just stank. 

   Finally the park was in view after what seemed like ten minutes of that boy’s endless droning on and on about absoulute nothings.  The sun was really starting to rise now, and it shone in pieces broken up by all the trees inside the park.  Settling my things on my favorite bench I sat down and closed my eyes while pigeon master ran after the pigeons, his mother chasing after him, but seeming to be losing the race.  They made me laugh.  Perhaps someday I would have a pigeon master to chase after.  Or, maybe someone to chase after me.  

   Opening my eyes I could see the sky starting to turn blue, clouds were beginning to form in the sky, and a group of pigeons quickly flew past me, and scattered in the air.  Probably the doings of pigeon master.  I could tell already that it was going to be a pretty day.  As I leaned up to look over the park I saw it all, the bridge over the creek, the flowers, the trees, the children playing, people walking and talking, holding hands. It was so strange that a place so plain, and natural could be enjoyed by people of all ages.  From the young to the elderly and everywhere in between.  People could go there for fun and games, romance, to think, and just to relax.  

    Looking at my watch I realized it was getting late, 6:15 already so I grabbed my stuff, bid a silent farewell to the pigeon master, the slave, the lovers, and the children and made my way to the bus stop.  Otherwise I would never get to school on time, it was way on the other side of town. 

    Once I got to the bus stop I waited a few minutes for the bus.  When I was about to give up all hope and walk it finally huffed and puffed it’s way up to me.  When I got inside I quickly and silently took my seat.  To my surprise I saw the boy from before sitting in the back.  I immediately looked away before he saw me, put my hood over my head, and took my cd player out of my bag along with my headphones ready to listen to music.  I decided to turn on boulevard of broken dreams by green day.  As the music started playing my thoughts began rolling, ideas wildly jumping into my mind.  Ideas about the ken dolls, and their idiocy, the jiggler and her wild stories, Suede and his frantic searching in his lunch, the pigeon master, and his slave, and of course the boy from before.  As the song continued to play I could feel the heat of someone staring at me, you know how it feels, it makes you itch to look up, and see if anyone really is staring, but you can’t for fear that they are. 

    The bus soon stopped and a man with a large grocery bag got on.  It was a funny sight, I chuckled a bit as he dropped the bag onto his seat and an apple jumped out, it rolled right to the back of bus where the boy from before looked at it, and then tossed it back.  Avoiding any unnecessary eye contact I turned away as American Idiot started playing.

    After about six more songs, and some very interesting charectors got on the bus it finally stopped at Edgemont Highschool promptly at 7 o clock.  Gathering my things I stepped off the bus and made my way to the school.