__________Prologue_________
I love him, I love him, I love him.
She stared at her bare feet, pale brown against the green of her mattress. She traced the outline of her toes.
I love him.
She closed her eyes and sculpted him in her mind.
A long nose protruding from soft skin dotted with the occasional freckle and deep blue eyes peeking out from silky, dark brown bangs. Pink lips that spread across his face when he smiled and those adorable crooked teeth.
What I wouldn't give, she thought, her eyes still closed, to be with him forever.
She lifted her head up to the ceiling and grinned. What an amazing thing to be loved. It felt like nothing she'd felt before. But she hadn't exactly felt it. They never really talked, never walked around at recess.
When they saw each other, they smiled nervously and looked away. It was always this way.
But she loved him. And he loved her. And soon, things would change. They would be together like she knew they should have been from the beginning of their lives.
I love him. You. I love you, Jack.
Jack Kenler was awoken that Tuesday night by a terrible headache. There was thunder rolling around his brain as he checked his alarm clock.
11: 38.
He groaned and dragged himself out of bed to the kitchen. His way there was like a treacherous journey in a dark forest. He and his father, John, were far past nightlights so the house was completely dark. Doorways, chairs, and tables seemed to have taken a liking to hitting him that night.
Jack winced as his bruises were hit.
He reached the kitchen and flipped the switch. He was temporarily blinded by the sudden bright light.
When his vision cleared, he took a bottle of aspirin from the cupboard and dunked one of the pills into his mouth. He washed it down with a gulp of sink water.
Returning to his room, he caught a sound on the edge of his ear. Jack slid down the hall on his quiet feet and pressed an ear to his father's bedroom door.
Jack jumped as his foot made a squeaking sound. His head hit the door. The sounds and voices inside the room stopped. Jack scurried into his room and shut the door.
He got into bed and twisted the blankets around himself. Then he sprawled himself out and pretended to snore.
Just as he had expected, someone (who else but his father?) opened his door.
"Jack?" a deep voice whispered. "Are you asleep?"
Jack snored louder.
A hand shook him lightly.
"John? Is he asleep?"
A female voice. Jack knew it was his dad's girlfriend, Barbara. What was she doing her so late?
It hit Jack all at once and he clenched his teeth together to keep from gagging. Anything to do with his father and no clothes made Jack want to vomit.
He held is breath, hoping with all his might that they would go away.
Leave me alone. Leave me alone, please. I didn't do anything.
"Yeah, Barb. It's cool."
"Good," she murmured, giggling. "Let's get back to bed."
Jack's father grunted and the door shut.
Jack sighed in relief and rolled over. He knew what Daddy Dearest would have done if he knew Jack heard.