Chapter 1

Up and Down

Just a few days ago my house burned to the ground, I wound up getting shot by this kid wanting to be a gangster and I end up killing him. With my own cash I bought my friend Dawn Nisho a solid gold necklace with a real emerald in it. Two days before school starts, Dawn and me show our real feeling for each other and this is wild.

My name is Michael Anson and I live in a peaceful and beautiful valley called Ridgewood my mom disappeared the day the house was burnt down by a kid named Cyrus. My girlfriend Dawn is a hot cheerleader, I got lucky on that one. She's also the hottest girl in the neighborhood. My closest friends are Roy Nideel, Nick "Hops" Johnson, Amanda Keel, and Amanda's little brother Jake "Barrett" Keel.

The morning starts, well… painful. The sun just rose above the valley ridge and through the window of Dawn's room since I live there now I'm in her bed. Still not used to seeing Dawn in my face every morning I feel out of her bed (ouch).

"What the!!" I screamed. So I fall out of her bed while she's yawning.

"Huh?" Dawn said still yawning. When Dawn saw me on the floor it clicked in. "Michael, are you ok?"

"Ya, I'm getting used to the pain of my back breaking. Well good morning Dawn."

"Morning Michael. Want some help up?"

"It would be appreciated if you don't mind."

"Ok, sorry. I'm not used to you in my bed ether."

"Could've fooled me, ha."

Dawn laughed to, it was a sweet laugh form a sweet girl.

"Isn't football day today Michael?" Dawn asked.

"Ya but some of the guys are on vacation remember?"

"Sure, but I wonder how they'll react to your house?"

"Don't know, don't care."

I just kept staring at Dawn she was beautiful with her midnight blue eyes, silk smooth, dark blue hair, and everything else about her. I just wanted to kiss her, but we're too young. Then again that's never stopped me before.

"The guys are getting home today late, so we'll do football tomorrow, k?"

(Point of View of Dawn) I just want to kiss him but he won't feel the same. Maybe when we're older? Forget it, I'll get a chance. "Ok."

"Michael, Dawn, pancakes!" Ms. Nisho (Dawn's mom) yelled from downstairs. Pancakes are Dawn and mine's favorite so we got excited.

After breakfast (which was delicious) we went to what for "Barrett's" call when they get home (He's always the first to call),

at The Cliff. The Cliff is our favorite hangout besides our own football field. It's a place for, you know… first dates. It's a beautiful place that overlooks the valley. The valley's depth is huge, miles down. The cloud view is amazing. The trees on the other side make great picture backgrounds. The forest on this side is also fun to play in.

Dawn and I sat down at the edge and hung our feet over it. We were relaxing peacefully, not even talking to each other when Dawn laid her head in my lap. I hesitated not knowing what to do, but I put my hand on her head and sang a song I heard on TV., it was the first thing to come to mind. It was a beautiful song for a beautiful girl.

"Michael?" Dawn asked.

"Ya Dawn?" I replied.

"I love you more than anything else… Will you kiss me?"

When Dawn said that I started to blush. I got up and so did Dawn. I started to walk away and Dawn hesitantly followed, then I stopped. I'm gonna kiss her now and nothing going to stop me. That thought stayed in my head for a second, then I turned ran to Dawn, embraced her, then kissed her. What she didn't know was that I was going to get advanced with this. My tongue went in her mouth and it was like she knew exactly what to do, she did the same.

(Five paragraphs ago in town) "We're home!" Barrett yelled expecting a welcoming committee. "Hey Amanda where are those two?"

"What? There not here?" Amanda replied.

"There not here!!" Roy and "Hops" popped out of nowhere yelling at the same time.

"Nope." "Barrett" said.

Then it came to Amanda, "Hey Amanda." I said.

"Ya." she replied.

"Dawn and I are getting closer everyday and I love her, can you keep this a secret?"

"Sure. But I got to go now so I'll most likely forget the whole thing, later." Under her breath she said "I knew it I hope it doesn't end bad."

"Guys! I know where they are, follow me!" With that Amanda was of to the races and the guys followed.

They came right and me and Dawn were about to kiss. "Guys get down and don't say anything until I do." Amanda really had the best in mind for me and Dawn since I told her.

I was about three minutes before "Hops" blew it, he just burst out laughing. Then we stopped turned around, screamed, and our faces went bright red. I knew Dawn and I were proud of what we did.

The two of us had some explaining to do and it was a long conversation back into town. There things went down even further… There was a moving truck and even worse, a new kid on the block.