Ashley stared out the window, watching the people in this new town walk around. The town was overly decorated for Christmas, with lights all over, ribbons on lampposts and alighted snowflakes hanging across the street. It was really very picturesque. Very different from Boston, Massachusetts where she was from.

"Now I know you'll love it here," her Aunt Nina said slowly, smiling back at her niece.

Ashley smiled weakly. Her twin brother, Adam patted her shoulder to comfort her. Ashley flinched from the contact. She looked at Adam apologetically. Adam shrugged, giving her a reassuring look. He understood. Jason, her eight-year-old brother smiled at her, showing a gap where his two front teeth usually were.

Ashley sighed. This was not how she wanted to live her life. Scared and unsure. She shrank away from any human touch. She was just glad her aunt Nina understood. Her aunt never pushed her to touch anyone. It was too bad that Sam, her son didn't really understand. But Sam was okay, he was young, incapable of hurt. By then they had arrived at the house, and Nina, a blonde, smiling woman, helped them carry in all their stuff.

"Come on," Adam said, his hand hovering over her shoulder, without touching her, "You can pick rooms first."

Ashley smiled in thanks. Adam had somehow developed a way of communicating with her that when he would've normally touched her, he just put his hand there. This way, it still seemed normal and close, but he never did anything she didn't want. It wasn't her fault she was scared of touch, it was just that she cringed and was scared that it might happen again.

She picked a room that was in the corner of her house, the farthest from the stairs, so that, for sure, she wouldn't be disturbed by strangers who came into the house. Ashley had visited her aunt Nina once before and people from the town just popped into the house throughout the day, which had made Ashley uncomfortable because most of the time, Nina was working at Momma Jo's Diner in town.

Ashley noticed that her room had a window that showed the neighbor's house. She was staring into a messy room, the floor covered in clothes and books. It seemed to belong to a boy. It had a lot of black clothes and with a smile Ashley realized she was living next to a punk. She didn't know there were rebels in this tiny town.

The first thing Ashley did was flop down on the bed. It was pretty comfortable and would be even more so once she had her own comforter on it. She opened up her book, her favorite, which had also been her mother's favorite, Gone With the Wind, and she started reading.

Adam poked his head around the corner into her room. "Someone is downstairs."

Ashley looked up from the page.

"I think they want to meet you."

With a sigh, she put in her bookmark and closed the book, following him downstairs. She came down off the stairs and saw Nina sitting on her white couch with three people. One was a middle-aged man who had a goldeny-brown beard. Next to him was a teenager, who had dark hair, dark eyes, dark clothes and a dark feel about him. Ashley could tell just by looking at him that he had problems. He must have been the rebel from next door.

She did not want any problems, didn't want to deal with them, she had left problems in Boston. Jason was sitting next to Nina and on Nina's other side was a young girl, probably Jason's age, wearing a hat and looking over at Jason shyly. She had big open brown eyes and beautifully straight brown hair. Adam nudged Ashley and she flinched, then smiled. Adam gave her a look that said he was sorry. Ashley shrugged and stepped into the living room.

"Oh, these are my niece and nephew Ashley and Adam," Nina said, interrupting the man.

"Guys, this is Dr. Brown and Ephram and Delia." Ashley and Adam smiled and nodded politely, taking a seat.

Ephram attempted a smile but Ashley could see it was only half-meant. Delia smiled though, genuinely and Dr. Brown was very friendly and ecstatic. Ashley sighed. It was going to take some time to adjust.

Ashley whirled around in the hallway. The door nearest her was number 6. She had to get to room 32. Where in the world was room 32? The late bell had rung so there was no one in the hallway to ask.

Then suddenly she saw someone walking down the hall away from her. He was very tall, very well built and had a head of blonde and brown curls. He was wearing a blue shirt and jeans. Ashley ran up to him and said,

"Excuse me."

He stopped and looked at her. Ashley almost gasped. He was cute! He had beautifully blue eyes and a handsome face.

"Um," she said, now nervous, "Can you please tell me where room 32 is?"

The guy smiled sweetly, "Sure. It's right up the hallway, and you go up three flights of stairs and it's the third room on the right." "

Thanks," She sad quietly.

"Anytime." He flashed her a grin, showing off his white teeth. A

shley practically flew down the hall, and slammed into the doors. She hurtled up the stairs and she ran to the third door on the right of the hall. She burst in and froze. She saw two teachers, one male, one female, sit up and shove each other off, looking at her questioningly. The woman's skirt was twisted and her shirt was untucked. They had obviously been making out. Ashley colored deeply, stammering,

"uh..sorry..." and then she jetted out of the room.

She stopped when she heard someone laughing. She whirled around to see the cute guy. She narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. She never could control her temper.

"Why did you do that?" she asked, advancing towards him.

"I don't know. 'Cause I'm a senior and I get to torture Freshmen." He said with a laugh.

"I'm not a freshman!" She yelled, "I'm a junior! And even if I was a freshman that gives you no right to do that!" She glared up at him menacingly. Ashley was very small for her age. She barely even came up to this guy's shoulder.

"Oh sorry." He said starting to walk away.

"NO! You're not sorry you don't give a shit!" She screamed. He turned and walked back to her.

"Look," he said, taking her arm. A

shley flinched, spazing out. She took a step backwards. Her spirit was gone. Now she was scared. He was so much bigger than her. He could hurt her. Really badly. The guy looked at her funny. He reached for her arm again. Ashley cringed at the touch of his warm hand. She flung her arm away and started to run. The guy laughed hysterically after her as she ran.

"That's it!" he called, "Run away!"

Ashley ran down the hall, tears stinging her eyes. That guy probably didn't mean to hurt her, but he could've. He really could've. She stopped by the water fountain and took a deep breath, trying to stifle her tears.

Next to her she saw her neighbor, Ephram and he stared at her. "Ashley, what's wrong?" Ephram asked, stepping closer to her.

"Nothing," Ashley said, wiping away a tear, "I just have...allergies."

Ephram nodded knowingly, "Oh. Yah they always act up."

Ashley smiled up at him gratefully. Ephram didn't seem satisfied though. "You know you can tell mewhat's wrong," he said kindly. He rested a hand on her shoulder.

Ashley flinched and started backing down the hall. Ephram gave her a weird look.

"I have to go to the library," Ashley said, sprinting down the hall. It was in the library that Ashley spent the rest of her day, skipping class, hiding especially from the curly haired boy.