Chapter 1
"Rain"
The air was thin and the ground was moist. Little Payton was outside, lost in the storm. Lonely and cold, Payton stopped, and began to weep. Payton wondered if anyone really cared she was hurt from all the heartbreak, the suffering. Suddenly she felt a hand grab hers. Payton looked up through the rain and tears in her eyes saw a woman. The woman's eyes glared at Payton. "Come on now" She said in a soothing voice. The woman led Payton into a nearby house. "Thank you" said Payton timidly. The women lead Payton into a hallway. "There's a bathroom down the hall where you can take a warm bath and then dry off. Here's some dry clothes you can ware, just leave the wet ones on the bathroom floor." The woman said while handing her some clothes. Payton proceeded to do as instructed by the woman. When Payton came out of the bathroom the woman was in the living room watching television. "How are you feeling?" The woman asked. "I'm much better now," Payton replied, "you've done all of this for me, and I don't even know your name" Payton finished. "My name's Alley. What's yours?" Alley asked."Payton" she replied. "Well Payton, it's quite dark outside, maybe you should stay here for tonight and tomorrow I'll take you home". Alley spoke with a soothing voice that Payton loved to hear. "Okay. Thank you very much." Payton was very nervous speaking around Alley. She didn't exactly know why but, just the sight of her made butterflies in Payton's stomach. "There's only one bedroom with only one bed. I hope that's not a problem." Alley said. "Not at all." Payton replied. They both went into the bedroom and sat there for a while, talking about the things that have been going on, and asking questions about each other. There was something about Alley's blue hair and her bubbly personality that Payton adored. The way Alley looked at Payton was something special. Alley thought Payton was the most wonderful girl she had ever seen. But they didn't know how to tell each other. They stayed up almost all night talking. "Oh my" Payton continued "it's eight in the morning, I should be going, I had a lot of fun though, hope we can do this again sometime." Alley gave Payton a smile, but not just any smile. This smile was special. "I wish you didn't have to go." Alley said honestly. "I wish I didn't have to either but my mother is probably worried to death." Payton replied. "At least give me a hug goodbye" Alley said as she walked over to Payton. Payton hugged Alley tightly, just as a child would hug a mother, hoping she wouldn't let go. They hugged for a long while until they pulled away. Alley looked to Payton longingly hoping she would kiss her but Payton was too scared to make the first move. "Well, I better be going. I'll see you soon, okay?" Payton opened the door and took one last glance at Alley, and then disappeared through the door way.