Chapter 1

Hi! i wrote this a little while ago a just decided to put it up and see what happened..i am new at this so please no flames!

"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."

Elizabeth Kubler Ross

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Sarah, happy birthday to youuuuuuu!" Sarah's family sang at the top of their lungs.

She couldn't help but smile. Her family, she had to admit, were a bunch of dorks. Loveable dorks that is. It was July 2nd, her birthday and most favorite time of year. It wasn't that she really loved her birthday, it was just the only time of the year when all of her family came from all over to come and see her and celebrate. Her family was a complicated one, with her and her parents and her sister all living in California, and her mom's side of the family living in Maine, and her dad's side of the family living in Europe of all places. The whole family didn't even come out for her younger sister, Katherine's birthday. Only the family who lived in Maine came, and the family in Europe said when she got older they would start coming out for her too. It was just too far. But this year was special. This year she was finally turning 18. She was snapped out of her thoughts when her sister said,

"Come on Sarah, blow out your candles!" Sarah looked at her six year old sister and smiled.

She was a sweetheart. An annoying sweetheart, but adorable none the less. Sarah obeyed and leaned over and blew out all 18 of her candles. Her family cheered and started the process of cutting the cake. Sarah decided to get some fresh air before scarfing down on the cake and made her way outside. She stepped onto the front porch and breathed in a breath of fresh air. She looked across the yard and saw the scene that always cheered her up. The trees were in full bloom, the grass was a beautiful shade of green and the neighbors kids were running around playing their game of tag. Suddenly, something caught her attention on the porch. There, sitting on the last step of her porch, was a beautiful bright red rose with white tag tied to it. She walked down the first three steps and bent over to pick it up. She carefully examined it and saw that the thorns had been carefully trimmed off so that she wouldn't prick her finger. Well, that was considerate, she thought to herself. She turned the tag around and read aloud the words that were neatly scrawled on the back in black ink,

"Just a token of my appreciation and a message that we will be together soon my love." The message sent shivers up her spine. She knew exactly who it was even though they didn't sign it. It was from the man who had been stalking her for the last two years and who was obsessed with her. She had never told anyone about it because she never thought she really needed too. All that her stalker has really done is just send her gifts, notes, and the occasional phone call. She had never actually met the guy. She chose to ignore the situation because she knew if she told anyone, especially the police, it would really piss the guy off and since he never threatened her or anything, that's how she planned to keep handling the situation. Sighing, she turned around and went back inside.

Scott stayed crouched in his hiding place across the street for several more minutes before getting up and walking away. Every time he saw his Sarah it made his stomach clench so hard with need that he wanted to sweep her up and take her away right then and there to his secret place that he had been setting up for them for the last two years. But it wasn't time yet. Almost, but not yet. He had to wait until the perfect moment to take his Sarah away. Forever.

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