Chapter 1.

My brother Aiden and I have been runaways for as long as I could remember. It was never by choice but of forced situation, leading us to the life we now know.

We've moved to more places than I can count, and I've never bothered to get to know a place enough to consider it home.

But here we are, in the small town of Rivermead, a sought out refuge till we initially were here, with intention of settling down for at least more than 2 years.

I never fully understood why we ran until an incident happened, which jolted all blocked memories awake and I was facing my worst nightmare.

A time I don't long to remember and want no repeat of. I'm pretty sure my brother would agree with me on this. My brother Aiden has been the only family I know and have, since mom passed away when I was just 8 years old. He basically raised me and I love him so much. As for my father, well, that's a story for another day.

It's quite a complicated situation.

Like right now, as Aiden is totally complicating my life, wanting me to actually go out and start having fun. This must mean he is confident in our stay here being much longer, and the safety secured.

" Why do I need to go out again?" I ask , resting my cheek against my palm.

I watch him turn away from the dishes and look at me. " Because you need a breather, to actually go out like a normal teen. " He wipes his hands dry, folding his arms.

" Did Callie put you up to this?" Callie is a friend, who I'd met in one of the old towns I'd been at. She moved before I did and years later, we met again in this town.

" No she did not, but even if she would have spoken to me or not, I would still stand by what I'm saying."

She spoke to him.

" So you want to bring someone over? Because if that's the case I can --------- "

" What? No!" His eyes widen, taken a back by my question.

" Then I don't see why I should go out, I have a book to finish anyway." I tell him, getting off the stool.

" I don't want you living in hiding  anymore." I stand still for a second, looking at him.

" We're trying to be careful." I remind him.

" You are almost 18 and soon you'll be going to college, you need to go out and socialize. Look." He sighs, coming over to lean close, standing on the opposite side. " I promised mom I'd protect you with my life, but not to the point of standing in the way of you actually living."

A tinge of guilt weighs on me, thinking of how much he's sacrificed for me. Now here I am, shoving his efforts of creating normalcy for me, in his face.

" I understand, and you know what? You're right, we've been careful till now and this time, it looks like this is it." I say, loosening up on my worries.

With a shaky smile, I add, to me convincing him, that I'm taking in his words. I don't want him stressing about me.

" So are you going then?" He asks.

" Yes I'm going out." I say with fake enthusiasm. " To a party." I laugh an awkward laugh, making him chuckle.

My first highschool party.

" I'm proud of you."

" You're proud that I'm going to a party, where there'll be drunk people, loud music, strangers making out, fights, guys feeling up every girl." I say in almost a singsong tone.

His demeanor changes in milli-seconds, a frown playing at his features.

" Maybe you shouldn't go."

" Nope, I'm going. "

" No, those parties can get out of hand and ----------- "

" It was your idea," I remind him.

" Yeah, but I change my mind, I don't think you should go." He shakes his head.

" Well I want to go now. " I shrug, slowly retreating.

" Well I say no, as the adult here, my word stands." He stands up straight, squaring his shoulders, shooting me a challenging glare.

" Ah yes, the same adult who gave me permission to go out, thanks by the way, and I'd better call Callie. Oh my gosh, maybe I'll meet a special someone." I say in a high pitched tone.

" Cloe Ann James, get back here!" He calls after me, while I laugh, rushing up stairs just in case he chases after me.

A high pitched scream almost blasts my ear drums off, if I didn't move the phone away from my ear.

Damn, this girl can scream.

" I can't believe it, I'm on my way." I don't even get the chance to say anything, when she hangs up on me.

I shake my head in amusement, getting off the bed and walking over to the window, to see her already peeking out of her room window.

Oh I forgot to mention, Callie and I are neighbours.

" I'm so excited. Okay, we only have about 30 minutes, so chop chop." She says with a big smile on her face.

" Wait, I don't have anything to wear." I mention.

Her face lits up at that.

" Oh I've got you covered girl, I'll be right over." She disappears from view, another squeal coming from her room.

I laugh at that, walking away to the bathroom to take a quick shower, before she storms in my room. While in the shower, I take the time to really think and ask myself if I'm really doing this.

I'm actually going out, to a highschool party. Make no mistake, it's not the excitement speaking but the disbelief.

I've never gone out and I've been totally fine, from a very young age I learnt to keep myself occupied while alone, until I got used to it. Now it comes off easy on me to not be bored, to be settled by just a book, ice cream , music or Netflix.

Now here I am, about to go to a party.

Shaking my head, I get out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my body and my hair, before heading back to my room.

Right when I'd just finished applying lotion on my body, and had my undergarments on, a knock comes.

" Come in." I say, quickly covering myself with my robe.

As promised, Callie comes in, hanged clothes in hand.

" Oh my gosh, it's really happening." She says in excitement, throwing the clothes on the bed.

" You sound way more excited than I am." I mutter, taking a seat on the bed and looking up at her.

Her smile slips off her face.

" You've changed your mind?"

" Oh I'm going, I'm just not as convinced that I'll have the same amount of fun, you usually have. "

" Of course you'd expect this, when your brother has kept you cooped up here for so long, but tonight we are about to change that thinking." She claps her hands together. " Now let's get you dressed. "

One by one, each option I turn down, not feeling it.

" Okay, you need to pick something," she huffs.

I glance at the options again, sighing then and randomly picking out a simple, black, long sleeved dress.

I hold it up for her to take a look.

" Okay, I think we can work with this, but put it on and let's see." I nod, disappearing to the bathroom to put it on.

Coming out a few minutes later, before I can ask , her eyes meet my frame and I frown a little, when her brows go up.

" Wish, you look hot!"

" Thanks?.....Isn't it a bit too short though?" I ask, looking myself over.

" Not at all, besides, when we get there and see all the other girls, you'll be thanking me. Okay, now I need to get dressed." She hurriedly gets into the bathroom to change, and I tidy up in the meantime.

She soon comes out in gold shorts and a black tank top, black heels, make-up done and hairdo on point.

Damn she's fast.

" So, ready to go?" I ask, taking my black and red sling bag.

" Well, let me fix you up a bit and then --------- "

" Nope, let's go." I tell her, already opening the door.

" But Chloe --------- "

" Callie." I warn.

She sighs in defeat and walks out, past me.  I follow behind, a triumphant smile coming onto my face, only for it to slip off when I see Aiden, waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs, with arms crossed and a blank face on.

This can't be good.

I uneasily make my way down the stairs, standing just a step above him. I wait for just about anything to happen.

" Could you give us a minute, Callie." He says without even looking at her, his eyes on me.

" Sure. I'll be in the car." Callie says, before leaving us alone.

All he does is stare at me for a while before he sighs, his demeanor falling and concern filling his eyes.

" Please be careful."

" I will."

" Don't take any drinks from strangers or let anyone touch you inappropriately. "

" Got it."

" If anything happens or you feel that you can't handle it, just call me and I'll be right there."

" Okay."

He sighs." Okay good. Well have fun, but not too much fun." He really doesn't like the idea of me going out.

" I promise to not try pull my hair out when I see a drunk idiot, doing something stupid." A grin lits his face and I smile at him.

A car horn reminds me that I need to get going.

" I should go, bye." I peck his cheek and head out.

Getting into the car, the music is already blasting and attention seeking. Callie glances at me, her smile of excitement is contagious and I smile at her.

" You are so not going to regret this."

" I hope so." I close my eyes.

                          ********

I regret it.

I couldn't wait any longer, I had to get out of there.

So Callie and I went to the party and I couldn't believe how cramped it was, there just wasn't room. Like I'd predicted, there were couples messily making out, drunk dudes trying to feel me up, girls wearing none existent clothing and of course, obnoxious people who decided to play pranks on people.

Some were just mean, pushing even fully clothed people in the pool. I even felt sorry for anyone who spent more than an hour to prepare.

So I had to get out, because that was just not my scene, unfortunately.

Anyway, I ended up walking alone in the dark, because....

1) Callie just disappeared on me and I got tired looking for her.

2) I had no ride.

3)My battery died and I couldn't call Aiden.

I can't believe how my night just turned out, me walking alone in the night, on a deserted road. The party isn't very far from my house, from what I could tell. All I just need, is to keep on walking till I find something, anything to guide me back to my home street.

I've walked quite a distance, that's for sure, the loud blaring music has since disappeared and now I'm coated by silence. I do quick glances around every now and then, just to make sure I'm still alone, you never know what could jump at you from the dark.

What if I'm lost?

The thought alone pulls my feet to a stop.

Oh, no wonder my feet are killing me and it feels as if I've been walking in circles. Okay I'm lost.

What do I do now?

As if I'm given an answer, a scream or yell sounds from a distance.

I can't really tell the difference.

I frown when it sounds again and again. Without even thinking, I follow the sound. Crazy I know, but I'm doing it.

I find myself taking a side road from the main, which if I'm correct, it may take me to the old bridge. Many don't use it anymore while others can't resist the short cut.

Thank God for the street lights that I actually make it close to it. I stop before stepping my foot on it, there's no more sound and I feel stupid.

Shaking my head, I turn around to walk off, when I hear it again.

"Aah!!!!!" Okay, it's definitely a person and it sounds like a male.

Biting on my nail nervously, I turn back around and walk on, just to feed my curiosity on the person, screaming their lungs off. I make sure to walk carefully over a fallen branch, walking a distance, I notice a car left unattended and its lights on a certain figure,who with no doubt is standing leaned against the rails. Except on the other side.

Not only am I stunned, by the fact that I'm practically a witness to a suicide attempt, but that the guy, no doubt, is in his school basketball jacket. My school to be exact.

Number 14 is the number.

It belongs to none other than him. Wesley Adams.

Oh my gosh, Wesley Adams, the ex captain of the basketball team is attempting to commit suicide.