Chapter 1

It was that silent girl that nobody knew about, who held the most secrets. Nobody knew why she didn’t talk or why nobody had snatched her up into their group. She had all she needed to be one of the popular girls, a good body, a pretty face, she is just, quiet. I don’t know, maybe she just doesn’t want to be a part of a group, maybe people ask if she wants to hang out and she just shakes her head and goes back to starring at her phone.

               

 

She is leaning up against the brick wall of the school waiting for her bus to pull in so she can get on and sit in the seat right behind the bus driver. I want to go over and talk to her, she looks like she needs a friend. She smiles for a brief second and goes back to the plain expression she normally has on her face and taps around on her screen. Most likely responding to a message… maybe she does have friends.

 

 

“Malinda!!” someone calls out pulling myself from my thoughts and making me snap my head around to look for who called my name out. I see Max walking my way smiling so I quickly flash one back.

               

 

Max is a good friend of mine, well he is like my best friend and a brother figure who always looks out for me, which is nice because otherwise I might have been in lots of trouble with lots of people. “Hey!!” I yell back before he gets to me

               

 

“What were you starring at? You have been looking that direction for like 10 minutes” he asked curiously with a hint of concern. I turn back around and notice that she’s gone, most likely on her bus. I think about who she was talking to, whoever it was got her to smile. They must be important to her. “HELLO!” someone says which snaps me back to the conversation again, shoot, what did he ask again? Oh right, he asked what I was I starring at.

 

 

“Sorry, I was just thinking” I answer softly.

 

 

He looked at me skeptically as if pondering my answer “what about?”

 

 

I glanced back at the spot she was standing at, then looked back at Max “just things. I better get to my bus before I miss it.” I say hurrying off to my bus waving to Max behind me. He looks at me confused for a second then just sighs and waves back and walks off back to his buddies. I get on my bus and sit down in my seat behind the heater. I take out my headphones and plug them in to my phone and put them in my ears.

 

 

After about half the stops it was my stop next. We started to pull up to my stop when I got a text from Max but I decided not to look at it until I got off the bus, I said thanks to the bus driver and got off. I started walking up to the house but already heard my dad yelling at my mom so I just kept walking, and instead went to the park at the end of my road. It’s where I like escaped to, and sometimes even slept the night there in the summer season. I looked at max’s text finally while sitting on the swing lightly swaying back and forth.

 

Max: ‘what was all that earlier?’

 

Me: ‘like I said, I was just thinking’

 

Max: ‘and starring off into space?’

 

Me: ‘yeah of course’

 

Max: ‘oh, it was just strange, kinda unlike you.. and running off like that’

 

Me: ‘yeah sorry, just didn’t want to miss the bus.’

 

Max: ‘I don’t believe you but I’ll let it slide for now, what you up to?’

 

Me: ‘swinging’

 

I replied simply but truthful. I know he understands this because we talk about everything, and like I said, he is like my big brother.

 

Max: ‘*sigh* they are at it again, I’ll be there in a bit’ he said meaning he is coming to the park.

 

Me: ‘you don’t have to’

 

Max: ‘yes, I do. We don’t need you sleeping in the park again and getting sick.’

 

 

I didn’t respond because I knew it was useless to argue against him, he is coming no matter what I tell him, I’ve tried it before. As I sit swinging a car pulls up and at first I think that it was max but I was wrong. Three teenage boys get out of the car. They go to my school, I’ve seen them around and they hang around Max a bit. There the skaters, but the good ones, by that I mean the ones who don’t do drugs. They go to parties but they only have a cup of beer. I’m not going to lie they are hot and the one with the brown hair who is taller I’ve had a crush on for a while.

 

 

They look over toward me and one of them nudges the brown haired one and smiles, he nudges him back and says something I can’t hear. They look like they are walking towards the outdoor skate park that’s right next to the small playground, but instead one of the other guys with light sandy brown hair stops and calls out to me

 

 

“Malinda! Come hang out with us in the skate park” I look around kind of skeptically then he calls out again, “come on its not like you’re doing anything else.”

 

 

He does have a point, I’m just sitting here wasting away, might as well do it in the company of others. “Alright” I call out as I slowly get up from the swing and make my way over by them. I pick up on their names as they are talking back and forth to each other, tall one I have a crush on is named Owen but I knew that already. Jack is the one who called me over, and the other guy has midnight black hair and his name is Chad.

 

 

Owen sparked up a conversation with me since he realized that I was quiet and not really ‘in’ on their conversation. “Do you know how to skateboard?” he asked curiosity filling his voice completely.

 

 

I looked up at him to only see that he was staring at me and I was then realizing that I had been walking with my head down. “No, I mean I know the basics, but who doesn’t?” I said not really knowing where this was leading up to.

 

 

“Yeah I guess you’re right.” He said kinda chuckling. He walked in silence for a second before he asked another question “do you want to learn, I can teach you, that is if you want.” He rambled on a bit.

 

 

“Sure. It might be fun.” I said smiling at him.

 

 

All of a sudden it looked like he relaxed a lot, I didn’t even notice he was tense. He grinned big at me, while we walked through the fenced in outdoor park. “First you’ll need a skateboard. Follow me” we walked back out of the park to a small building with someone standing in the cut-out window. He went to the window and told they guy I needed a board.

 

 

They talked back and forth a lot, about wheels, brands, types, and a bunch of other stuff. Owen turned around “what’s your favorite color”

 

 

“pucky green” I said

 

 

“What?” he asked laughing “are you serious?”

 

 

I shake my head laughing “no, I’m just kidding, it’s orange.”

 

 

He laughs a little before turning around and going back to talking with the guy. I sat down on the ground because I figured it would be awhile and looked at my phone. I got a text from max saying he couldn’t make it and that he was sorry for not coming, so I told him it was alright and that I was with Owen, Jack, and Chad. But he didn’t reply.

 

 

I look up to see Owen pulling out his wallet “what are you doing?” I ask really confused.

 

 

“Paying… What else would I be doing?” he said as if it was the dumbest question in the world.

 

 

“You don’t have to, I have money.” I said, not wanting him to waist his money on me.

 

 

“Just think of it as a gift. A present for your birthday” he says like no big deal as he passes over the money and the guy hands him the board. I just shake my head not wanting to carry this out.

 

 

Owen sets the skateboard on the ground and hops on. He does a few laps around me before hopping back off and says “well it rides well, that’s a good thing.” He stands in front of me and extends his hand down to mine to help me off the ground. I take it and he pulls me up like I weigh nothing, don’t get me wrong, I’m a skinny girl, medium height with light brown hair. To him it’s like he picked up a feather. He kicked the skateboard up and caught it with his other hand then handed it to me.

 

 

“Thanks, but you really didn’t need to buy it.”

 

 

“My pleasure, and I wanted to buy it, end of subject. Now let’s teach you how to skate.”

Chapter 2

A few hours later and one scraped knee I was finally starting to get the hang of it but of course something always has to happen and a little kid comes running out in front of me. I try to stop but end up falling forward right onto my face. I lay there not wanting to get up as my face is stinging. I hear Owen ride up next to me then ask “are you okay?” concern leaking out with every word.

 

 

“No.” I say a little snippy still not wanting to move. “My face hurts.”

 

 

“Let me see” he demands with worry.

 

 

I roll over onto my back and wince as the fresh air seeps into my open wounds “is it bad?” I ask

 

 

“nah.” He says relaxing a bit “you just scraped up your chin and left temple a bit” he explains like no big deal. “Can you stand? You should probably get that washed up. I’m sorry.” He rambled like it was all his fault.

 

 

“Shhhh!!! You’re going to give me a headache. Help me up, and it’s not your fault.” I explain. He helps me to my feet and I get a bit dizzy so a brace onto him until I can see straight. He helps me over to the bathrooms and sets me down on a bench outside the men’s room. He disappears behind the big wooden door and reappears holding damp paper towels. He sits next to me and twists me so I’m facing him and then gets to work on washing out the small rocks stuck to the red flesh.

 

 

When he’s done he kisses me on the forehead and tells me I need to be more careful. I just laugh and shake my head. He smiles a bit and again he relaxes. I still don’t know how he can hide it so easily, I want to learn how he does it. “Want to head back to the group?” he asks nodding his head towards Jack and Chad. I just shrug in response. He gets up taking it as a ‘yes’ and grabs my hand to pull me up. He pulls me up onto my feet. He doesn’t let go of my hand but instead drags me along behind him while I stare at our hands folded together.

 

 

While I’m being dragged over to the boys I see her walking along the edge of the woods with her head down. I completely stop in my tracks and freeze up wondering where she is going at this late at night. “What’s wrong?” Owen askes from beside me and I jump a little and turn to look at him. He is starring in the direction I was looking so I look back that way but she is gone from sight.

 

 

“Nothing, maybe I’m just seeing things, I hit my head pretty hard” I say not wanting to tell him that I saw her. He would probably think I’m weird for wondering about her.

 

 

“Hmmm” was all he said then turned to walk back to the boys. I realized that he had let go of my hand, or I let go of his, so I ran to catch up to him and walked beside him. When I caught up he just looked down at me and smiled.

 

 

I nudged him a little with a small smile spread across my lips “What?”

 

 

“I don’t know” he teased back

 

 

“I bet you do know, you just don’t want to say it.” I said back.

 

 

“Say what?” asked jack while we were coming up to them. “That he likes you?” that earned him a punch in the arm by Owen while Chad just stood there dyeing of laughter. Owen got really mad and walked away, I wanted to go after him but thought best I didn’t. I watched as he got to his car and got in, sitting in the driver seat. “You know, he really does like you.” Jack said rubbing his arm where Owen punched him. I turned around to look at him and his face looked dead serious. “He’s just scared to admit it. Go talk to him” he said as he pushed me in the direction of the car. I grabbed my skateboard on my way over to the car and once I got to it I knocked on the window.

 

 

The door was locked but he just rolled it down. Being the sneaky person I am I reach my hand in and unlock the door and quickly open it. I got in and sat in the passenger side then closed the door. We just sat there both looking straight forward not saying a word. I don’t know if he was looking at me or not but I wasn’t looking at him. Owen typed a little on his phone then it buzzed. He looked at it then set it down in the middle console, started the car, then put it on reverse. I looked at him a little surprised and all he did was smile. He started to back up so I asked “where are we going?”

 

 

“Somewhere” was all he replied with. I looked down and noticed his hand resting on the middle console so I lightly rested my hand on top of his. He flinched and looked down at his hand then back at the road. He flipped his hand over so our palms where touching then slowly tangled our fingers together. I looked up to him with a light smile and he smiled back. I tried to focus on the road to see where we were going but all my mind could think of, was how warm his hand is.

 

 

We pulled up on this bar-like looking building that I guess is a restaurant. “So I’ve been wanting to ask for a while now but didn’t have the guts, I guess, will you go out with me and be my prom date?”

 

 

I looked at him confused and all I could say was “isn’t prom like, 2 months away?”

 

 

“Yeah, but I wanted to make it a guarantee that you would be my date for it, you’re so pretty I didn’t want someone else snatching you up before me.” He explained with a big grin spread across his face.

 

 

“I’m not that pretty.” I started to explain but Owen started to talk over me.

 

 

“You don’t see yourself the way I do. To me you’re the most beautiful person I have ever seen” he explained with a glow in his eyes. “Now please, come inside and eat some food. It’s the best food out there.”

 

 

“Alright” was all I could say, he was so sweet that he knocked me off my feet and down a few flight of stairs. We went in and sat down and made small talk until a water came along with menus and asked if we wanted anything to drink. “Water please” I said with a smile. The waiter looked me up and down then turned to Owen, "and for you?"

 

 

Owen glared at him for a second, “water” was all he said. The waiter smiled lightly at me then walked off. When the waiter was gone Owen turned back towards me and smiled.

 

 

“What was that about” I asked wanting a good explanation to why he glared at the guy.

 

 

“I don’t like him.”

 

 

“You don’t even know the person.”

 

 

“Yes I do. His name is Danny and he is the top player in the book. A lady pleaser.” And with that ‘Danny’ came back with two waters, set them down, and left without saying anything and not even looking at us.

 

 

I rolled my eyes “whatever”

 

 

After we ate Owen payed the bill and I tipped Danny a 5, he wasn’t that good but I think that was because of Owen, so I gave him another $2.

 

 

“Should I take you home then?” he asked

 

 

“I don’t want to go home yet. Can you take me to the park?” he nodded his head and we made our way back to the park. On our way back we went past my house. My dad came storming out with suitcases in his hands, shouting all different kinds of words to my mother who was shouting back at him. Owen made a comment about people needing to be quieter with personal matters, but I just ignored at him and starred out my window replaying the little movie over and over again.

 

 

I didn’t realize we had stopped until Owen shakes my arm gently. “Thanks for tonight” I say looking over to him. I kiss him on the cheek then get out of the car. “I’ll see you tomorrow” I say before closing the door behind me.

 

 

I feel someone grab my hand and I turn around to see Owen. He leans down and pecks me on the lips surprising me a bit then looks me in the eye. “You don’t think I’m going to abandon you at a park at night? Do you?”

 

 

“Well kind of” I whisper. He chuckles a little.

 

 

“Why don’t you want to go home?” he asked with concern spilling off of him. I don’t say anything and instead I just look down to the ground. “I see.” My head snaps up to him meeting his eyes with confusion written all over my face. “I know that was your house” he says quietly. I look back down ashamed but he just kept on talking “and I know that you sleep out here sometimes because when I come out here late at night to skate and you’re up on the playground sleeping. Look at me” he said softly.

 

 

I look up at him hesitantly with small tears running down my cheek, he noticed I was crying and pulled me tight to his body for a hug. “You can spend tonight at my place in the guest bedroom if you want, it’s kinda chilly out. Too cold for someone to sleep out here” he put on a little smile

 

 

“Homeless people do it.” I say quietly he just laughed at that.

 

 

“Come on let’s go he said, back in the car. We are going to my place.” He said dragging me along by my hand and leading me to the passenger side door. He opened it for me and helped me in then closed it for me again. He walked around the car and hopped in the driver’s side and started the car, put it in gear, and drove off.

 

 

We eventually pulled into a driveway just outside of town and he got out. I opened the door and got out myself. I looked around taking in my surroundings. We are standing on a farm. “Wow” was all I said and he turned around to look at me and noticed me starring at the beautiful horse that stood on the other side of the fence, along with 4 other horses. The farm had lots of animals. Ducks, chickens, pigs, cows, a few goats, and barn cats that wandered around ready to pounce on a mouse.

 

 

Owen smiled a bit “isn’t she a beauty” I turned to look at him as he approached the horse. He came up and put his hand out for the horse and she rested her head right on his hand. He pet the top of her head with his other hand “we can take her for a ride tomorrow if you would like” he said hopeful so I just nodded my head. Him being a skater I would have never thought that he lived on a farm. I start to shiver a bit, I didn’t think he would notice but he did. “We should probably head inside, it’s getting cold.” He pat the horse on the head lightly, grabbed my hand and pulled me to the house.

 

 

It was a big house, all white with red accent trims and shutters. When he pulled me to the door he opened it up and motioned for me to walk through with the other. I smiled and walked through with him trailing behind me.

 

 

“Owen is that you?” some female voice called from down the hallway most likely from the kitchen because I heard and smelled food and pots and pans getting jumbled around.

 

 

“Yeah, and I brought company” he replied as we walked down the small hall with me trailing behind him.

 

 

“You never said anything about company, you should have told me, I would have cleaned up a bit.” Owen’s mom said as she looked around obviously disgusted with how the room looked. We watched her a bit before she finally looked at us. I was still hiding behind Owen with my head peeking out just behind his shoulder. “And who do we have here?” she said with an eyebrow raised looking at her Owen.

 

 

“This is my girlfriend Malinda. Her parents aren’t in good terms with each other and she would have just slept in the park so I said she could take the guest room.” He explained with a pleading face.

 

 

“Alright.” She said looking at Owen, she glanced at me. “Come here honey” she pulled me out from behind Owen and into a big hug. “It’s alright take as long as you need” I hugged her back and we broke apart. “I’m almost finished with dinner, Owen, go show Malinda to her room and I’ll call you down when dinner is ready.”

 

 

“We already ate but if you want we can come sit down at the table if you’d like.” Owen said carefully like he trying hard to make her not get mad.

 

 

“No that’s alright, just don’t stay up too long.” She said letting out a small sigh.

 

 

“Bye, I’ll see you tomorrow then” I said quietly and smiled and she smiled back.

 

 

I followed Owen back down the hallway to the other side that lead up to a set of stairs. We walked up them and told me that his room is right at the end of the hall. My room that I would be sleeping in was on the left next to his and his younger sister Macie’s room is on the right.

 

 

I walked around him and went into my room and there was a queen size bed in the middle with the headboard facing the wall. The wall with the bed was panted a dark brown ant the other tree walls were tan. There were night stands with lamps on each one. The shades of the lamps were tan to accent the dark brown wall. The comforter had a combination of tans and browns to match the room and I could swear there where 20 throw pillows. In one of the corners of the room opposite of the bed there was a dark stained wooden dresser with a TV on it and the other corner was a brown arm chair.

 

 

Owen came up behind and gave me a hug spooking me a little but after a second I let the comport sink in. “we can go get a few clothes from your house tomorrow after school if you want.”

 

 

“Yeah but we have to get some clothes in the morning for me to change into I don’t want to wear the same thing twice in a row” I said thinking about it for a second.

 

 

“Yeah your right you should change” he said chuckling a little. I yawned and looked at him with sleepy eyes and smiled. “You seem tired, how long has it been since you gotten a decent night sleep?”

 

 

“A month or two, I don’t remember, whenever I started falling asleep in class.” I said not really thinking about it before.

 

 

“That was 3 months ago… you need to go to bed.” He said almost demandingly which made me flinch a little. I looked at him for a second then the next thing I knew he was picking me up and putting me in bed, the next thing I knew I was out.

Chapter 3

 

I woke up the next morning to someone knocking on my door. “Who is it?” I called sleepily, instead of a reply Owen’s mom peeks her head in.

               

 

“Good morning, time to get ready for school and eat some breakfast.” She said with a smile on her face. I look around and notice a door that I thought was a closet and get up and go over and open it. “You can take a shower and whatever else you need to do in there while you stay” and with that note she left with a smile.

 

 

I walked into the very nice bathroom with a tub, shower, sink, and toilet. All matching white with tan and dark brown towels, washrags, and shower Kurten. I decided to take a quick shower and brush my teeth with the extra toothbrush in a package for whoever forgotten theirs while there stay.

 

 

I walked back out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around myself to find a shirt and a pair of sweatpants laying on the bed for me. I got changed into them, dried off my hair and walked downstairs to the kitchen. I didn’t really remember the layout of the house but I just followed the smell of bacon, eggs and I think pancakes. I walked into the kitchen and was greeted by Owen’s mom.

 

 

“So I see you found the clothes I set out for you.” She said with a smile as she started flipping another batch of pancakes on the griddle.

 

 

“Yes I did, thank you for the clothes.” All of a sudden I got picked up from behind me by the waist and spun around a bit then set back down facing away from the kitchen. I turned around to see Owen’s face with the brightest smile plastered across it. I looked at him squinting my eyes and ever so gently slapped his face. With that I smiled and walked around him and sat at the table.

 

 

He came over and sat right next to me and looked at me confused so I leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek “is that better?” I asked with a smirk

 

 

“Much” he said and kissed my cheek just as his mom walked over with the food.

 

 

“Keep it in the bedroom” she said with a laugh, “just kidding don’t do that” she said quickly after putting a serious face on as she set the food down in front of us. I took 2 pancakes, a fried egg, and a few pieces of bacon. Owen took a lot of food filling up most of his plate, maybe that’s why she made so much. Owen’s mom sat down across from me and took a pancake and one piece of bacon when this tall guy that looked a lot like own walked rubbing his face.

 

 

When he dropped his hand his eyes locked with mine and I quickly looked down back to my plate.

 

 

“Hi dad” Owen said passively while shoving fork after fork in his mouth. I saw his dad glance at me out of the corner of my eye then sat down.

 

 

He took the rest of the food off the plate and onto his own and started munching away, I guess it runs in the family. I finished my food right before Owen and he took my plate over to the sink.

 

 

“Ready to go?” he asked walking back over to me.

 

 

“Yeah let’s go” I said hopping up out of my seat and walking out of the kitchen with Owen trailing just behind me.

 

 

***

 

 

“You and your dad look alike” I said trying to make conversation in the silent car but he just looked at me and shrugged. Well that worked well.

 

 

After a while he finally spoke up “he’s not much of a morning person”

 

 

“I kind of guessed that” I mumbled looking out at the trees flashing past my view. We already stopped off at my house and Owen finally met my mom. It was really tense and a bad time to be there, let’s just say it wasn’t good between my mom and me and left things between Owen and I a little awkward. So now on our way to the dreaded school in some awkward conversation.

 

 

“What’s your first hour? I’ll walk you there.” He says glancing over in my direction as I turn from the window to look at him.

 

 

“Oh so now you want to make conversation?” I asked putting a hint of sass behind it. We both stay quiet until we pull into the parking lot. Once he puts the car in park I throw open the door and jump out, grabbing my backpack and in one quick motion slung my backpack onto my back and closed the door.

 

 

I started to head towards the door of the school to get to my class but someone grabbed my hand. Before turning around to see who has hold of me I let out a loud grown “Owen! Let go of me I want to get to class!”

 

 

Before I knew it I was whipped around to see a confused Max “Owen?”

 

 

“Sorry max I didn’t realize it was you, I thought you were Owen.” At this point Max looks as if he was lost and let go of me but Owen must have seen because he stocked his way over and put himself between the two of us. He glared at him long and hard before finally turning around and grabbing my hand in the proses and dragging me behind him.

 

 

“I’ll explain it all later.” I called back to Max who was just staring in shock so I gave him a halfhearted sympathetic smile.

 

 

Once we were in the school he pulled me to a corner “who was what” he demanded looking me dead in the eyes

 

 

I looked at him like he was a stranger “Owen, you know who that is.”

 

 

“You know what I mean” he snapped in my face making me back up but I quickly recovered and stepped forward into his face.

 

 

“I have absolutely NO idea what you’re talking about” I said with a big snipe behind my voice getting really irritated with him. With I walked off and headed straight to my first hour class instead of stopping off at my locker.

 

 

I was glad he didn’t know my schedule yet because that made it much easier to avoided him at school. I was going from class to class not talking to anyone and minding my own business and trying my hardest to avoid Owen. That fell through when I walked into my 8th hour class. I took a look around the classroom something I don’t normally do and my eyes instantly lock with Owen’s I quickly look away. I went to go sit at the seat that I normally sit at on the side of the room but a few seconds later a bag dropped down beside me.

 

 

I look up slowly to see Owen drop into the seat next to me. He started to turn towards me so I quickly looked back down at my notebook.

 

 

The notebook was taken from my desk and returned a minute later with the words ‘I’m sorry’ scribbled on it. I looked at it for a second but then ripped it out. I formed it into a ball and threw it back at him. Luckily the teacher was facing the board but that didn’t stop the kids behind and next to us from seeing what happened.

 

 

They all looked a little confused but left it alone thankfully. At the end of the hour the teacher told us that she would be absent for the next three days so in that time she has a project about cities and towns for us to work on.

 

 

We will be paired up with one other class mate that she will be picking. He way of making that u to us is letting us pick which city or town we want to do it on.

 

 

She started to call of names of who would be with what person and when she got to me she called out my name and that my partner will be CJ Miller.

 

 

Owen looked mad after that, I think it was because I got paired up with a jock instead of him. I don’t think those two are on very good terms, and with Owen starting to look like he is the protective type, I don’t really know how this is going to turn out.

 

 

I pack up my things and headed over to the busses not wanting to go to Owen’s right after school. I looked over to the spot that that girl normally stands but she want there.

 

 

She never skips school, now that I think of it I hadn’t seen her at all in the halls that’s not like her. I push it out of my head for now and saw Max heading straight for me.

 

 

My eyes widened when he grabbed my arm and pulled me over by the side of the school. Seriously what’s with dragging me around all the time for?

 

 

“What’s with you and Owen?” he asked as if he wanted to yell it at me all day, like a movie school girl just waiting to get the latest gossip.

 

 

“I guess we are in a relationship but I’m mad at him right now” I spit out with a bit of annoyance showing through, maybe a little too much.

 

 

“What did he do? I swear if he did anything to you he will have a flattened face.” He snipped, glairing over to where Owen stood watching us.

 

 

“He didn’t do anything, he is just being overprotective about me being around other guys” just after I said that Owen came up and hugged me tight, I waited until he was done and stepped back and gave him a small smile. Once I started to walk to the bus he ran in front of me so I couldn’t get on the bus.

 

 

“Where are you going?” he asked referring to why I wasn’t going in the car with him.

 

 

“I wanted to go to the park” I say pretty plainly looking up at him.

 

 

“I can give you a ride” he shot back almost immediately. I just shook my head in response. “Ok well just text me when you want me to come pick you up” he sounded a bit off saying that but I just brushed it off and nodded.

 

 

I climbed onto the bus and walked to the very back and sat down, putting my bag beside me so I wouldn’t have to sit next to anyone.

 

 

I was glad that there went many people riding today, I could get home sooner. I looked out the window to see Max throw up his hands and walk back towards the school and Owen already waking to his car.

 

 

Owen rests his hands on the car and leans on it, but he pulls away slowly his hands in fists but he relaxes again. He jumps in his car and drives off the opposite way of his house. I wonder where he is going.

Chapter 4

I finally got off the bus and walked right past my house, didn’t stop, didn’t look, nothing. I just kept on walking until I made it to the park. My family would come to this park often when I was a lot younger and it gives me peace of mind and comfort just looking back at the memories.

 

Not a lot of younger kids live in this neighborhood anymore so the park is pretty much deserted. People are always using the skate park right next to it though, so when they have to bring a younger sibling along they just boot them to the park.

 

There aren’t any kids here at the park today and only a few skaters, maybe it has to do with the weather, looks like it’s going to rain soon.

 

After sitting on the swing for a few hours I felt a raindrop hit my head, one by one the drops of rain began to fall faster before it turned into a steady fall. I decided I didn’t want to move, that way I could get sick and wouldn’t have to go to school.

 

I was sitting on the swing staring at the ground, my clothes seemed glued to my skin and water drops were dripping down my face when a car pulled up. I didn’t look up, I knew who it was I just didn’t feel like facing him.

 

Owen crouched down in front of me and all he said was “let’s go home” he stood up grabbing my hands and pulling me up with him.

 

He dragged me over to the car and put me in the passenger seat, buckled me in, and closed the door behind me. A few seconds later he opened the door to the driver side and quickly got in closing the door behind him.

 

Owen had the heat cranked on full blast which was nice because I was freezing but I didn’t feel like thanking him.

 

The whole ride was quiet besides the soft music playing quietly in the background so the ride wasn’t completely silent. By the time we got to the house I was asleep. I was getting lifted out of the car and I stirred a bit but soon got hushed back to sleep.

 

 

***

 

I woke up to a shriek and soon following “what happened to her” and Owen shushing the person telling them they will wake me wake up.

 

I opened my eyes slowly and saw that we were at his house and the person shrieking was his mom. I look up at Owen and he must have felt me shifting around because his head snaps down to look at me. He groans and throws his head back “great, you woke her up”

 

He looked back down and kissed me on the forehead and I just closed my eye and snuggled back into his warm chest and fell asleep to them whispering back and forth.

 

 

***

 

I woke up in the morning freezing cold and feeling like crap. I look at the clock on the side table in my room and it reads 11:00 am. My eyes go wide and I try to sit up but something is holding me down.

 

I look down and see an arm wrapped around my waist. I look to see who it belongs to and see Owen there scrolling through his phone with a smirk on his face.

 

“Good morning sleepy-head” he says still looking at his phone but taking a second to glance at me.

 

“I’m late for school.” I say in a panicked rush and try to get up again but I forgot he was holding me down and didn’t make it very far.

 

“You’re not going to school today” he said without any worry in his voice. “You’re sick and have a fever, plus school is canceled because of how much it rained” He explained further and this time putting his phone down and unwrapping his arm from my waist. “Are you hungry” he asked sitting up.

 

I pulled the big blanket up around myself and sat up against the headboard and just nodded my head for response. Suddenly feeling a bit dizzy I closed my eyes and held my head.

 

I slid down the headboard until I didn’t feel dizzy anymore but my neck felt cramped. I guess Owen saw this because he grabbed a few pillows and put them behind my head.

 

“I’ll go make you some toast, what do you want on it?” he asked after finishing moving the pillows.

 

“Doesn’t matter” I mumbled while yawning then snuggled a pillow that was next to me. Owen just chuckled and quietly walked out of the room.

 

My eyes pop open when I smell the chocolaty goodness of Nutella spread on toast. And I look down to see a tray with two slices of toast, a glass of milk, and a rose in a vase. I smile and look around but he is nowhere in sight so I decide to just dig in.

 

After I was about half way done he popped back into my room coming out of the bathroom “I have a nice warm bath ready for you once you are done with your food, and mom and I stopped by your house and picked up a few things we thought you might want.” He nodded his head to the corner of the room where a pile of stuff was sitting then walked out of the room.

 

I quickly finished up my other piece of toast and glass of milk. I move the tray to the side of the bed and slowly get up. I walk to my things in the corner and pick out a pair of sweatpants, sweatshirt, shirt, and some under clothes.

 

I bring the clothes with me to the bathroom and lock the door behind me so nobody can get in, and set them on the floor along with a towel. I crawl out of the clothes I am wearing and put them in a pile next to the door so I don’t get them mixed up and make my way back to the tub.

 

I slowly slipped into the tub letting the warmth engulf my body entirely. The heat of it already relaxing the muscles I never knew ached so much.

 

After a while of soaking I decided to wash up shampooing my hair first then washing down my body. I rinsed off and sat in there for a couple more minutes before slowly standing up and stepping out. I quick grabbed my towel and wrapped if around me and drained the tub.

 

After drying myself off I wrapped my hair in my towel and got dressed into my comfy clothes and walked out of the steamy bathroom and went over towards my bags of things in the corner and searched of my hairdryer and hair straightener.

 

Finally in the fourth bag I looked through I found all my bathroom things and grabbed them and took them in there to finish with my daily routine.

 

A few hours after I was done and decided to sit on the bad and watch tv, I got a text from max.

 

Max: where are you?

 

Me: I’m at Owen’s, why?

 

Max: oh… I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out, I looked at the park but you weren’t there.

 

Me: that would be so much fun but I think I’m on house arrest right now, I’m sick and I don’t think any of his parents will let me leave

 

Max: what?!?! How did you get sick?!?

 

Me: I was out in the rain late last night on the swings

 

Max: of course you were, will you be at school tomorrow?

 

Me: I’m sure I’ll be good enough to go.

 

Max: Ok, I’ll see you at school tomorrow

 

I set my phone down and looked at the clock. 6:00 already? I can’t believe how late it got so I slipped out of bed and went down the hall to the kitchen. I walked in I saw Owens mom finishing up dinner so I decided to sit down at the table and wait for it to be done.

 

“Oh hunny how are you feeling?” asked Owen’s mom not even turning around.

 

“I’m feeling a bit better” I responded quietly as Macie walked in the room.

 

“Hi, I’m Macie, I’m Owen’s sister, and I’m six years old.” She says with a smile and holds out her hand to me. I shake it lightly as she goes on to ask “You must be Malinda, my brother always talks about you, he said you are pretty, and intriguing, and …” she abruptly got cut off with a hand clamping over her mouth and I look up to see Owen with wide eyes.

 

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. I found it hilarious and I just couldn’t hold it in, the innocence of Macie and Owens terrified expression that she was going to let out some terrible secret was just too funny.

 

Owen looks up at me shocked as I continue to laugh so he takes his hand off of Macie’s mouth and walks out. I quiet down after a bit and followed after him to find him sitting in his room playing call of duty on his X-box.

 

I walk in and sit down next to him on the bed and just watch him play his game in silence for a few minutes. Eventually I get off and grab a controller and sit down at the end of the bed and wait for him to finish the end of the round so I can join in. When he finishes he goes to multiplayer on the screen and we each pick our players and weapons.

 

I look back at him and smirk as if to say ‘you’re going down’ and he just smirks in return.

 

 

***

 

 

“YES!!!” I yell, “I WON AGAIN!!!” I smile and peck Owen on the cheek. He ended up scooting down by me as the game got more intense and I kept winning.

 

“I let you win” he states matter in a matter of fact.

 

I just smirk and say “yeah that’s what you said the last three times, you also said you were going to try for real”
He just looks at me and doesn’t say a word and I smile because I know I won. So instead he gets up “come on we should get to school if you’re feeling better.”

 

I just look at him wide eyed, dramatically fake a few coughs and flop down onto his bed and burry my face in his pillows. I heard him chuckle a bit then say “you do know that we dont have school today, so what do you want to do?”

 

I pop my head up from the pillows with my face lit up, “let’s go to the skate park!” and jump out of bed and run to my room to grab a different sweatshirt and change into jeans. I run out of my room grabbing my skateboard along the way and almost knocking down Owen on the way out but he catches me instead.

 

“Slow down.” He chuckles and grabs his skateboard that was leaning up against the wall. He lets go but grabs my hand instead and walks downstairs to the door, takes his keys off the key holder and yells out “MOM, We Are Going To The Skate Park!” as I get dragged out the door I hear her call out his name in an irritated tone but we keep moving.

 

We just made it out of the driveway and are taking off down the road as she opens the door. When she sees it’s too late she just throws her hands up in the air and walks back inside.

Chapter 5

 

(*** authors note *** This is just a partial update due to the end of the school year being over and now I have to turn my computer in which they will then wipe, so I didn't want to loose my work on this chapter. This will not be the complete version of chapter 5. so that's why it ends like that. Hope you guys like this book -the few who are reading- thanks for liking and reading and sorry for the slow updates.)-RLS

 

 

 

 

I jump out of the car right away, I’ve never been to this one before. The only skate park I knew we had was the one by mom and dad’s house. It’s good to know that whenever I want to skate I don’t have to go to the one by my parents place.

 

 

I grab my skateboard out of the car and head over to where a bunch of guys are standing. Conversation with guys always came easy to me so it wasn’t that hard to just jump right in with them and all carry on like its normal. Even if it is random people like these guys and they have no idea who I am but they just keep going.

 

 

This topic I found very interesting and figured I would hold off a bit and here what they got to say. So I join the group and stand and listen for a while.

 

 

 “Yeah she is so weird, never talks to anyone, and just stands there.” Says a guy standing across from me

 

 

Ooooo girl drama this ought to be good

 

 

“she is hot but weird, can’t believe you actually like that chick.” The guy to my right says to the guy to my left.

 

 

“shut up!” the guy to my left instantly shot back.

 

 

“do you even know her name?” another guy in the large group asked with a smirk on his face then glances at me with a little bit of question but ignores it.

 

 

“yeah! I’ve talked to her!” he defends

 

 

“Dude! She doesn’t talk to anybody!” the guy across  from me states loudly.

 

 

I decide to but in and that now was a good time to merge my way into the conversation “I bet she has a lot of reasons why she doesn’t talk to people, and you guys trash talking her is probable one of them.” I decide to say taking the guy to my left side in the conversation. It wasn’t an even fight.

 

 

All the guys stop talking and look at me. Maybe this conversation wasn’t the best to interrupt, a few of them look me up and down before their eyes look up behind me. I turn around to see Owen standing really close behind me almost touching. I hear a few of the guys spudder out a ‘hey Owen’ as he turns me around and wraps his arms around my waist. I just mentally roll my eyes.

 

 

I decide to break the silence by asking “so nobody is going to argue about this anymore?” and again they ignored me and instead asked Owen who I was. Getting annoyed I just pulled myself from Owen and stating to walk to the park with my skateboard.

 

 

I could tell Owen was following me so I jumped on my board. I’ve been practicing more so now I can ride on it without falling off and I think I’m getting pretty good and I’m starting to be able to go up small ramps.

 

 

When I got far enough away from the guys by the bowl to the other side of the park by the ramps I go behind a bigger ramp and practice a few tricks just on the ground.

 

 

“You’ve been practicing?” Owen askes walking around the side of the tall ramp, “when did you do that?” he add quickly after.

 

 

“A few moments here and there.” I answer simply telling the truth. During a few spare moments I would be board to I would work on my balance and when I had a little more time I would take my board outside and just go up and down the sidewalk.

 

 

“Why did you walk away?” he questions.

 

 

“You made me look stupid.” I stated confidently, “I never look stupid around guys.”

 

 

And with that being said I go back to working on the trick, it’s really making me work.

 

 

Owen stood there for a bit watching me looking like he wanted to say something and eventually he stepped up and dropped his board to the ground “that’s not how you do it.”

 

 

He gets on the board and does the trick once and then tells me how to place my feet and tells me to jump up with the other one kicking up the board.

 

 

I tried a few times to get it right with Owen giving me pointers along the way. I got it twice in the end but we decided to call it a day and go get some lunch.

 

 

We ended up stopping for some quick burgers and sit out on a bench to eat.

 

 

The food wasn’t the greatest and the bench was all sticky. I’m pretty sure we were sitting on some homeless person’s bed.

 

 

The silence was loud as we quietly ate our food, although I don’t find silence awkward and weird and sometimes quite enjoyable, a lot of people don’t like to sit in silence. By the looks of how Owen is squirming around in his spot he didn’t like silence.

 

 

I decided to break the quiet for his sake and making quite the bold move on my part for the question I asked.

 

 

“What’s your opinion on that one quiet girl?” Nobody ever really talks about her besides what I heard the boys talking about that one of the guys likes her.

 

 

“Malinda…?” Owen started “nobody really talks about her.” He finishes after thinking it through for a few seconds.

 

 

“I know that’s why I’m now talking about this.” I say getting really curious.

 

 

“I’ve just heard a few roomers and stories of what she does and what she is going through, but not much though.” He states casually. I wonder if he knows more about her that he lets off.

 

 

“Does that guy like her?” I think out loud remembering to the conversation with the boys at the park.

 

 

“Yeah, he has been madly in love with her since 7th grade! He clams they used to hang out and talk but one day she just stopped showing up to hang out, missed a bunch of school and once she finally showed up again, ignored everybody and kept to herself, like her mind was pulled somewhere else but her body stayed here. That’s what he says anyway.” He shakes his head and laughs like it’s the stupidest thing he has ever heard.

 

 

I just sat there quiet for a minute going over everything he said like a detective. But he just looks at me strange, “hey, why do you want to know anyway?”

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 19.01.2016

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