Chapter 1: The Beginning
AN: I don't own Supernatural or any characters from the show.. just the ones you haven't heard of before :]
March 15, 2001
She'd never left before. Sure, she'd threaten them saying she was leaving and never coming back. She had never left her family behind before. It's a new concept, living on her own. Being alone will be new, but she'll just have to take it head on.
"No looking back now." She whispers to herself as she walks on the side of a highway.
Nothing matters anymore, except getting into college and making it as an artist. No, not a painter, or a sculptor. No, nothing like that. She dreams of being a singer. All her life, it's been 'no, Ashley, we have to hunt'. Everything's been about hunting down the son of a bitch who killed her mother. Don't get her wrong, she wants to kill it. She wants it dead more than anything. Cars pass for hours. She doesn't know how long it takes for someone to walk up to her, yet she doesn't care.
"So. Where're you heading?"
She looks to her right, then to her left. She jumps when she sees a boy, at least 6 foot 2, looking at her with intense, yet sad, hazel eyes. She swallows her fear.
"Just.. leaving." She replies, and then adds, "What about you?"
The boy smiles at her while adjusting his backpack on his shoulder.
"I guess you could say I'm leaving, too."
For some reason, she smiles. An awkward silence passes, and then she decides to hell with it.
"I'm Ashley." She says with a smile.
The boy looks at her strangely for a minute before smiling.
"I'm Sam."
They both shake hands and immediately feel the spark before pulling away reluctantly.
----- Far away.. ----
She's been sitting on the same stool for the past three hours. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. She's been hoping that her sister will just run back inside the bar, apologizing about how stupid she is… or something like that.
"Hit me." She says to the bartender.
The bartender looks suspicious and nervous.
"Miss, I think you've had enough.." he says while cleaning a glass with a dish towel.
She slams the glass on the bar and stands up.
"I think I'll tell you when I've had enough. I'm the paying customer and I say.. hit me!" She whispers dangerously, leaving no room for argument.
The bartender, whose nametag reads 'Daniel', gulps with eyes wide. Daniel just nods obediently and starts to fill her drink.. again. She smiles at her success and starts to sit back down on the barstool. She falls off the stool and immediately starts laughing like it's the funniest thing in the world. She rolls onto her side, laughing when she meets a pair of cowboy boots. She stands up immediately, although the liquor in her makes her sway a little.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" he says with disgust.
She smiles a drunken smile and says, "Drinkin' my sorrows away.." then she adds, "Dad."
The man in the cowboy boots sighs and runs a hand over his tired face. He's getting too old for this mess.
"Come on Taylor, let's get you home."
She pushes his helping hand away and looks at him angrily.
"Home? A sleazy motel room is our home?" She snaps.
He looks at her and says, "Watch your mouth, girl. I'm your only dad so you-"
"-better treat me right. Yeah, yeah. I know." Taylor mutters.
The man angrily pushes her against the bar.
"Taylor, you watch your damned mouth or I swear-"
Taylor smirks and says, "you swear what? You've already lost your youngest, wanna go for the second one?"
The man's jaw clenches and Taylor knows that was the wrong button to push. She pales as she watches her father storm across the bar and out the door. Taylor shakily sits down on the stool. She's never spoken to her father like that. In fact, it's usually her sister, Kelly, to cause all the commotion. Taylor turns to the stunned people in the bar.
"What're you lookin' at?" She snaps angrily as she picks up her drink.
Taylor puts the glass down after taking a huge gulp. She feels something in her jacket pocket and she pulls it out. She wants to cry when she realizes what it is. The letter Ashley left. She wipes away the fallen tears before she opens the letter, already having it memorized from reading it several times over the past few hours.
Taylor,
I'll be gone by the time you read this, but just know that it's for the best. I know you'll think I'm selfish and whatever, but I don't care anymore. I've wanted to be normal for so long, and now I have the chance. I got a full ride to Stanford, not like that matters to you (or to dad). All my life, it's been this life (and I know you know what I'm talking about). Maybe there's more to life than finding what took mom. You think she wanted this for us? I didn't think so. Although I hope you understand why I'm doing this.. I know you won't.
Goodbye..
Ashley
Taylor's anger gets the best of her and she angrily wipes her tears away. How could Ashley just up and leave them? They're the only family they have. Taylor practically raised Ashley, since she was 8. Taylor picks up the glass and crushes it in her hand. She stuffs the note into her pocket, quickly when she hears the door open quickly. She looks up and realizes it was one of Ashley friends with her mother. Taylor hides her face behind her hand, attempting to not get seen.
"Jo, they're here, get your butt out here." Ellen, who replaced the bartender a few minutes ago, shouts.
Annoyed by her daughter, Ellen goes into the back to get her daughter.
Taylor looks up and realizes Ashley's friend, Becca, is sitting on a bar stool. Next to Taylor.
Awkward much?
"Um.. hey, Becca." Taylor says with a slight smile.
Becca looks at Taylor and then back down at the bar top.
"How's school?"
No reply. Taylor sighs. She notices Becca's appearance. Her curly red hair is up in a sloppy ponytail and her clothes don't even match.
Not like I'm one to give fashion advice..Taylor thinks to herself as she glances at her own cowboy like clothing.
"Becca, why don't you go pick a song on the jukebox?" her mother suggests.
Becca walks off slowly, looking at the ground.
What crawled up her butt and died?
"Taylor! Oh my goodness, I didn't know that was you trying to talk to Becca, otherwise I would have come over sooner!" Her mom says with a slight smile.
Taylor and Becca's mother, Amy, share an awkward hug.
"So.. What's up with Becca? Something happened to Jason?" Taylor asks, while leaning on the bar.
Amy sits down on the stool and looks away for a minute.
"No, nothing to do with Jason. I'm afraid it's Emily." Amy says after a minute.
Taylor begins to get confused. She went on a date with Jason, Becca's brother, a few nights ago. Taylor never returned his phone calls, hence the awkwardness.
"Emily? She got hurt?" Taylor asks, concerned.
Taylor watches Amy's eyes fill with unshed tears as she replies, "Yes, well. sort of. I'm afraid she's caught some kind of mysterious illness. The doctors say she hasn't got much time left."
Taylor's mouth literally drops as she says, "Oh. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to pry-"
Amy laughs a little and shakes her head, "No dear, it's not your fault. She's paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors say it won't take much time until.. she.."
Amy trails off with a small sob.
"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Bennett." Taylor says with a sad smile.
"Thank you, dear. I guess I better go grab our dinner from Ellen." Amy gets up then adds, "the woman's a lifesaver. Don't know what I'd do without her these past few days."
Taylor nods understandingly and watches the older woman disappear behind the door Ellen, moments ago, disappeared behind herself. Taylor sighs and
Amy just nods as she walks over to her youngest child. Becca stares at the wall with no emotion until her mother helps her walk out the door.
Taylor turns her head back to the bar. Suddenly feeling very sleepy, she lays her head on the bar.
Becca runs toward Taylor and lifts her head up and whispers in her ear, "You're next."
Becca lets go of Taylor's head. Taylor's head slammed into the bar with a thud, knocking her unconscious. Becca smiles an evil-like smile as she disappears out of thin air.
---
AN: I know, no dean.. yet. :] please please review! Reviews make me happy.