CHAPTER 1

KAHLAN AND TINA

The trees in Florida were opposite the trees in Ohio. Their stems were tall and skinny and they didn't offer much shade. I didn't like it. I didn't like how the sun was always so bright and shining on you, practically boiling your skin. I didn't like how the houses all seemed to have some sort of glamour to them. Nor how crowded areas could become.

"You know, I'm not sure about this," I thought aloud as I stared out the passenger side window, allowing what little breeze there was to hit my face. I was trying to prevent the sweat from occurring, but it seemed to only get worse. My bangs felt like they were sticking to the light moisture of my forehead. I felt disgusting.

"Don't start," a voice answered back, over the low music that played from the stereo. I don't know why I bothered to say anything out loud; I already knew what words were going to be enforced back on to me. At this point, I just wished the radio was louder; the bass and words could drown out what was coming.

"You said you wanted a change, and that's what I am giving you." I looked over at the woman. Her golden curly hair moved with her head, which bobbed with the beat of the music, and her long scrawny finger tapped the steering wheel. She wore dark sunglasses to hide her beautiful baby blues and the dark bags underneath her eyes. My step mother used to tell me she worked so hard to make sure everyone else was safe and happy, that she never did the same for herself. Over the last few months, through the trial, and news reports, I had slept more than she did and it was my life that was in jeopardy, not hers. I did all the worrying while she actually got the work done. It wasn't a fair trade, but I was grateful. Sometimes, I had trouble showing it but I believed she knew. She was old in the face, maybe around sixty or seventy. I never bothered to ask. Her age didn't matter though, nor did the dark circles under her eyes, she was still beautiful, and I still loved her as much as my heart would allow me to love. Her name was Ernistina, Tina for short. She was my social worker, my friend and my family. She was the only one I had. Everyone else has either went on to a better place, or left my side.

"Tina this is more than just a change," I started lowly, "I have a different last name, I'm moving to Florida, away from Ohio, away from my home to live on my own, in this...protective custody." I saw her glance over at me. She took a deep breath and looked for the words that she wanted to say.

"This is good Kahlan. You agreed to this. You wanted to be gone, just in case Ryan got out. This is a precaution." Just in case Ryan got out. After Ryan admitted to all the terrible things he had done, the trial was over almost quickly. It surprised me that he told the truth. Even though I knew he was miles away, in a cell all alone, with no way out, I continued to have nightmares about him. Every night I dreamed that I would be waking up from a deep sleep only to see him standing at the foot of my bed, covered in blood. Then he would repeat those words that he said to me that night.

I will be seeing you.

After awhile, I just stopped sleeping. It isn't healthy. So Tina and I began to think of ways that could possibly ease my mind. In the end it was to leave Ohio and start over. I'm not sure how I feel about the choice we made at this point.

"Yeah, I know," I said under my breath.

"Florida is a great place to start over," she continued, "You got the sun. You got the beaches. You got the boys." She grinned as if those are all the things that I'd love. Maybe if I were a normal teenage girl than I'd be more excited about the move than I am, but I'm not. Every positive thing she tried to say about Florida, gave me a negative thought. I didn't like the sun. In Ohio it was all about the rain. The rain was cool and when it hit my skin it made me feel like it was washing away all the pain I was feeling. And beaches? I don't like to swim in the ocean because there is too much of the unknown in the water and I hate sand because it sticks to you, and gets in between your toes. And as for the whole boy situation, the last boy I was involved with turned out to define who I was and take everything in the world that made me happy. So no, I don't really care for boys. "And the house is great. You're gonna love it." As soon as she finished her sentence, we squeezed into a small driveway. "I already had the furniture moved in and everything." I smiled at her. I wanted her to know I was thankful. She had thought of everything.

"I guess I could work on my tan," I started, hearing her chuckle. "Thank you Tina, I'm just a little nervous I guess." She turned the car off, raised her sunglasses to the top of her head and looked over at me. Her face softened as she had seen my face. She must've seen my sadness. It was the only thing I could think of that would make her eyes water almost instantly. "I get it. It's aright, everyone gets nervous." She was right. However I was more than nervous. I was hurting. But everyone gets hurt, right? This pain was different than everyone else's pain. I wondered if she understood that. I know I wasn't the only person in the world feeling this way; I was one of the few. Tina couldn't possibly understand my pain, because she had never experienced what I've been through. "Just know that I am here for you Kahlan, and that your parents are looking over you and that they're proud of you. You have all the strength you'll ever need to get you through this. Don't worry." I stared at her for a moment, before looking down towards my lap. I played with my fingers, in thought. She knew that what she said didn't offer me much comfort.

"I'll tell you what, six months. If you feel the same way in six months, we will pack up and go back, or start over somewhere else. Its your choice. But you have to at least give the place a chance." I looked over at her. In some way I was happy with that plan. Six months could go by fast, and I might not have to stay in this dry state. However, there was something else bothering me.

"I'm scared." She reached out and grabbed my hands, pulling them to her thin lips, kissing them. I took a deep breath, gulping right after, trying to keep the tears away.

"I know." That was all she could say. At this point there was no comforting me. Sometimes I felt like I was too far gone to even try and fix. I wanted a hug. A tight hug like the one the fireman gave me that night. I wanted to feel safe again. And at this point safe wasn't what I was feeling.I felt alone. If I asked for a hug, would Tina give it to me? Sure she would, but it would then just cause the never ending water works and that was something that I just couldn't deal with. So instead, I said nothing. I didn't ask for anything. "Everything is going to be alright." I stared in her eyes, seeing if she really believed that. I saw that she did and I hoped she was right.

ASHLEY AND JUSTIN

Ashley stared into the mirrors that plastered the four walls of an empty dance studio. A grin was on her pale, round face as she realized she finally got the job that she wanted. She had her very own dance class, kids ages ten to sixteen. This was only the start, maybe one day she'd have her very own dance studio. In her mind her dance studio was well known, on some fancy street in Los Angeles. The rich and famous would attend, making her one of them. Rich and famous. Her father had owned this building once. He invested all of his life savings in turning this into her dream, which told her that her parents had a lot of confidence in her. Then she had an accident in cheerleading practice last year trying to do a fancy trick she never should have done. She broke her wrist and sprained her ankle. That's when the family discovered the crappy insurance that they had. The money that was left over went to paying her medical bills and the dance studio project ended just as quick as it did. Just a few months ago, the family sold it. Ashley didn't expect it to be opened as fast as it did under new ownership but it was, today being the first day. She stretched, feeling nervous. She looked up at the wall clock, and suddenly excitement washed over her. Something great was happening today. She looked at herself in the mirror once more, imagining how her the first day would go. Her green eyes sparkling, her belly  showing from the loose, one shoulder, black shirt she wore and tight leggings in the same color. She took a deep breath as she heard the main entrance door squeaking to an open. She rushed out of the room and into the studio lobby. Pictures of dancers hung on the walls, as well other entertainers. It offered inspiration to others, young and old. Hoping that it was a person who signed up for her class, Ashley's eyes searched around only to find someone she really didn't want to speak to. She immediately crossed her scrawny arms, and her guard went up.

"Justin, what the hell are you doing here?" She asked. His hazel colored eyes stared at her, a large, charming, yet dangerous smile came upon his face. She knew him well. After fourteen months of an on and off relationship she learned to recognize that smile. He wanted to make up.

"I just wanted to stop by and see you," said the 5 foot 9 young man.

"I don't know why," she replied, "I don't want to see you." It was silent for awhile and still even with her cold shoulder, his smile never vanished. He stuck his hands into his dark colored skinny jeans, walking a little closer to her.

"Do you really expect me to believe that?" In her mind she was being honest with herself. She wasn't sure if she was ready to have Justin out of her life forever. He was her first and only love, why would she want him to go? Then she thought of all the reasons that they fought. There was only one. Carly Woods. It may have been his ex, but it was also her best friend. So the relationship was doomed from the beginning right? When she looked at Justin before, she had gotten butterflies, and when she looked at him now, she felt upset. Things had changed drastically from the first moment they had gotten together. If she allowed herself to keep getting pulled back in, she knew it would only get worse.

"Yes," she said as confidently as she could. Justin felt as if she were trying to convince herself, more than convince him. He took a deep breath, taking off the leather jacket that he was wearing, and throwing it over his shoulder. It was his favorite jacket and he always carried it with him, no matter the temperature outside. Today, it was in the high 90's. She almost wanted to smile at how predictable he was.

"Do you really want me to walk out that door and never talk to you again?" She nodded her head without even thinking twice about it.

"Yes," she said, "I would absolutely love that. Justin, you and I are over. The sooner you accept that, the better." He looked.

"Do you know how often you say those words to me?" He asked her. "Every time we fight. Haha Our break ups never last."

"Trust me, this one will." His smile was gone now. Another silent moment. Ashley looked at him as if she were seeing him for the first time, or maybe it was the last. His perfectly toned skin, his hazel colored eyes, his semi long hair, two shades of brown, with a few strands hanging over his eyes. Under that thin white T shirt were the light outline of abs that were only going to get more defined over time. He was a sexy bad boy, apparently the type of choice for young high school girls. He had nothing else to say at this point. It was obvious that they weren't going to be making up today, but he was confident that the day would come. He sighed.

"Alright. If that's what you want," he began, shrugging his shoulders as if he were giving up. "I have no choice but to believe you. So, I'm going to walk out that door and I'm not going to look back. You and I are over." He saw her stance loosen up as if she were having an argument with herself to change her mind, but as he shuffled to the door, she never said a word. He glanced back. "See ya Ash." The bell rang again as the door opened and shut. The blond quickly walked up to the window and peered out, watching the man she still loved disappear behind the cars in the parking lot.

JAMES AND CARLY

It was moments like these that Carly Woods appreciated the fact that she had James. The moments where he could be compassionate and open to conversations on ways to improve their relationship. She giggled softly as James's big lips kissed her sweetly on the nape of her neck. She had been sleeping on her side but the moment she felt his big hands caress her, she'd awaken almost instantly. She rolled over to look him in his dark eyes, his bushy eyebrows hovering over them. He had this sensual look in his eye, which told her that he expected to be in bed all day.

"I thought you said that you had to work," She whispered as she rubbed his bare back. He climbed on top of her, burying his face in her neck once more.

"I'd rather be here with you," he mumbled against her skin, not coming up for air. Carly knew just how important money was for him. He had three younger siblings in a one parent household. He was the much needed second income.

"I don't want to be the cause of you being late." He quickly lifted his head up and stared his girlfriend in the face, and then scoffed. He rolled off of her, on to his back. A dramatic sigh escaping his lips, just before he sat up straight. She looked at him wide eyed, as he glanced over his shoulder at her. Was it fear or confusion she stared at him with? His feet found the floor. He reached down and began picking up his clothing, putting on every piece as he went. "Oh baby, don't be mad," she whined, forcing a smile. If she played innocent then maybe she could save her own skin. Now these were the moments that paralyzed her; where she held her breath in fear. She watched him quickly get dressed. Her lover had large arms, and a firm chest as well as abs. Being the captain of the football team did him justice. She pulled her white bed sheet up to her chin, like a child who was afraid of the monster who hid in the dark. He stared at her once more, looking for words. There was no reason to get heated; he just needed to remind her.

"I'm not mad," he answered. "You'd rather have me at work all day, then be here, spending time with you."

"That's not it at all," she said softly. She stared up at the ceiling, gripping her bed sheets tightly, preparing for the worse. He appeared over her, speeding up her heart beat. She felt fear.

"How does your eye feel?" James asked. She looked up at him, a little confused.

"Its fine. Its healing." He watched as she put her hand up to her right eye, feeling it out as gently as she could. She winced, still experiencing discomfort. He tilted his head to the side, as if fascinated by her pain.

"Good. How about we keep it that way," he warned before heading towards the bedroom door. "You need to cover that up. You look horrible." James slammed the door behind him. Carly wrapped the sheet around her naked body, finding her way over to a large circular mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door. She stared at herself. Her blond hair cut in a short bob, lay messily over her head. She could still see old marks and bruises on her arms and around her throat. It was getting harder and harder to convince people that all of these marks occurred by her own doing, by accidents. Who was this girl? That's a question she asked herself all the time lately. This girl she found herself looking at the last few months wasn't her. She was lively and outgoing before and now, since she had gotten with James, she was quiet and hurting. She didn't want to be this girl anymore. Something had to change. She took a deep breath. Once again, she had to struggle with picking herself up both physically and emotionally. Lately, it was getting harder and harder to do.