Chapter 1
It all started when my parents died. I'd had a wonderful life before. As a girl, I mean. I remember that day like it was yesterday.
"Come on out, sweetie." I remember my mother saying. She and my father were in their Flying Grayson outfits, waiting for me to come out. Opening the curtain I felt like such a loser.
"C'mon, guys. I look like a dork." I complained. It was like a traffic light, red, yellow and green. The spandex clung to my body in an awkward way and was tight around my growing chest. It was enough to make my father cringe. I pulled at the collar, which, like everything else, was tight.
"Does it have to be so tight? Why is it so colorful?" My mother smiled and kneeled before me. Her green eyes shown with love and her strawberry blonde hair was tied in a low ponytail. My black hair was short and spiked for the sake of athletics.
"Because, Ricci; when I look at you…you make me think of a little Robin." I smiled as I stared into her eyes.
"Robin? Like the bird. You know, kids at my school get beat up for nicknames like that." I joked.
"How about we call you our flying squirrel?" My father joked, approaching us. I smiled and giggled.
"At least I'm not the only one who looks like a loser."
"What? Loser? Well I'll show you!" He wrapped my mom and I into a bear hug. There were laughs and giggles when the ringleader called our names. My mother and I climbed up on the pedestal as my father climbed on the one across us.
"Introducing…The Flying Graysons! Where they attempt death-defying stunts without a net!" The ringleader announced, drawing gasps and 'oohs' from the crowd. I rolled my eyes.
And we began. My mother jumped off and reached out for my father, who was swinging on the trapeze. My father grabbed her ankles and together they swung back and forth. The crowd exploded and my mother reached for me. I didn't notice the bolts were loose. I didn't notice how they were rattling so loudly. I hadn't noticed until my mother fell. I reached out for her and took one of her hands in mine. But gravity beat me to it. Her soft hand slipped from mine and she fell quickly and bloodcurdlingly screamed:
"RICCI!" My heart dropped. Everything stopped. My breathing stopped, and I stared at the horrible sight below me. My parents were dead. Dead. I watched my parents die. I couldn't hold back my tears.
"NO!" I cried until I had no more left in me. My heart was broken. My parents were my life. And now they were gone. I had no one.
Yes, Richard's name is Ricci. Rachel was what I originally thought of, but it is so cliche. Got to love Google! This is my version from supercasey's A Girl's Problem. I tend to overwrite, though. Review and Favorite. Grammar Nazis and Flamers welcome.