Chapter 1

It was winter when my parents died. It was a house fire. I was asleep when they were burned, and even then I didn't hear. I was only 3 but my mom let me listen to her I-pod, since music helped me sleep. I woke up to my back being caught on fire. It was my shirt that touched the flame but it burned through and scarred my shoulder. I ripped my shirt off and grabbed my blanket, then I ran down the stairs and out the door. My feet were burned and my shoulder was bleeding. My Aunt was supposed to come over for brunch that day, but she never came. I blamed her for my parents deaths, but she said that it was mine, that I should've known there was a fire and gotten them out. She took me in but all we did was fight. When I was four she finally just had enough of me and stabbed me with a fork. I ran to my friend's house, bleeding everywhere. He called the police and disinfected the gash in my side.

When the police handcuffed her I was taken to the hospital. They said that I was lucky for living through something like that. They took blood tests and titled me "clean" of anything, STD's, Cancer, Heart Disese, anything. My friend let me stay at his house for a week before the social services dragged me away to some foster family in England. I don't know why they would send me from Vermont to England.

When I got there, there were already four kids. Three girls, one boy. The boy was excited to have another boy living with them. But I just wanted to go back to Vermont, to my friend, James 'Jamie' Dalton. I stayed there until I was eight. Then I was brought to a foster family in Italy.

I learned Italian while I was there. I stayed at this big house, but I was the only child. When I turned ten they flew me to France, where I lived in a house with three boys. I learned French and stayed there for a year, I was flown back to Vermont. It was the most excited I had been in seven years.

When I got there I ran through the streets looking for his house. When I finally found his umber brown house I ran up to the porch and sat on the swing they had, panting and gasping for air. After a minute or two I got up and wobbled over to the door. I rang the doorbell and it was a while but then he opened the door.

He was dressed in black and his dirty blond hair that was ear length and handsome was now golden brown and long. His left eye was covered by his hair. His wrists were scarred and his eyes were no longer the bright, full-of-life green. They were dull and lifeless. I felt like crying like I did every night in the foster homes. He asked who I was and I felt tears fill my eyes, but I couldn't blame him.

I was kind of short, but my hair was still the same two toned colors. I was wearing a black t-shirt and a black leather jacket. My jeans were dark blue and I had on white converse. I was slightly paler than before and my lips were rose color. People would tease me, saying I'm wearing makeup or something. I gulped and asked his name.

"James," was what he answered with.

I physically held back tears and told him who I was. He said he didn't know me. I whispered okay and climbed down the steps, when his mother came out. She looked the same and it only took her a second to recognize me. She called after me and I stopped. Then she asked Jamie why he didn't recognize me. He said that he doesn't remember being friends with anybody. I let a few tears fall at that.

She asked me to come into her house, but I said no. I told her that it'll only hurt me more if I have to try, and then I started walking away.

I stayed in Vermont until I was done with middle school. Then they sent me to the countryside of Minnesota. I stayed away from James when we were in middle school. It hurt less to watch him from afar. On the last day of school I told him who I was and that we were best friends when we were little, but I didn't tell him about my parents and aunt. He said sorry and walked away. I sighed and went to the foster home I was living at. They told me that I was leaving.

I stayed silent and went to pack my belongings. But while I was packing my foster 'rents told me I had a visitor, I thought they meant the doctor they made me go to. I trudged downstairs and there stood Jamie, looking at me with shocked eyes. I realized that I changed into my white t-shirt and blue jeans, my usual packing/cleaning clothes.

My feet didn't even reach the floor when Jamie hugged me. He had a really tight grip on me. I squirmed and asked why he was hugging me. He said he was sorry. Sorry for forgetting me and sorry for not listening to me. He said that my house wasn't completely burnt and that he wanted to take me there, see what we could salvage.

I didn't even realize I was crying until he let go and brushed them away. He hugged me again and then I told him. I told him I was leaving to go to Minnesota. He let go and looked at me. I saw hurt and betrayal, but no life. I cried more but I didn't move. All I told was that he needs to have life in his eyes, and I'll come back. I told him where I was going, what school I'd be at, that I was going to be living alone, and my address. All he did was hug me and kiss my forehead. I hated the sadness and abandonment that I felt that day. But I didn't say anything, I just cried as I watched him walk out the door.

I ran up to the guest room and cried. I held my blanket close to my chest, it was the only thing of my past I had left. It was a faded yellow with blue, green, and pink poke-a-dots. It was the only thing I could get from that house, I don't even remember what my parents look like anymore.

The next day I was heading to the airport. It was close by so I decided to walk. I walked by Jamie's house and looked at the house. It was exactly the same as it did so many years ago. I went up to the porch and grabbed a small box from my bag. Inside was every letter I wanted to send to Jamie, but never did. Over one hundred letters was in that box.

I set it in front of the door. I paused and looked at the box, "From: Jaden Yuki To: Jamie Dalton" was written on it in sharpie. I choked back tears and knocked. Then I ran from the house and towards the airport. I never got to see if he opened the door.

How's that? Review please. But be nice, that's my only request. And I know that this might be a little sad, sorry about that. Jaden and Jesse will meet I promise, let me know if I should continue. Thanks for reading…