"Baby, I want you to go over next door, right now okay?" Leigh's mother said urgently. Seven-year-old Leigh heard her father's car drive up and the door slam hard as soon as the engine died away. He was home. He was mad.
She was sitting alone at the edge of the beach away from everyone else. Sitting. Waiting. Praying for help to come, she wanted off this island. It's sort of funny how she finally wasn't running away yet she still wasn't home.
Home was back in the states, home was in Tennessee, home was where—"Hey sweet-cheeks, what a pretty girl like you doin' this far away from our quaint little community." Said a man plopping down on the sandy ground next to her.
"Crowds bore me." She drawled.
"Wow, a southerner just like myself, didn't think I'd find one of them out here on Mystery Island." He smiled cheekily.
"I didn't think I would be on Mystery Island." She smiled back at him, "Where you from down south?"
"All over," he muttered.
"Originally from?
"Tennessee."
"Seriously?" She grinned, he nodded, "That's where I live…or used to live, I sort of move around a lot."
"Yeah I know how that feels."
"So what's your name?" Leigh asked, a pleasant smile now sincerely planted on her face, all of her attention was based on this blonde haired southerner.
"Sawyer." Her smile immediately dropped, he noticed, "You ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I got to go." She stood up abruptly and brushed the sand off of her clothes.
"Did I say something?" he asked, she looked at him in surprise, she had seen him with the other passengers, and he didn't care if upset them.
"No I…it's…" She stuttered, gaining confusing glances from Sawyer. She sighed, "Your name."
"My name?" he asked confusedly, yet sparks of anger flicked in his blue eyes. She had seen those eyes before.
"When I was a kid this guy named Mr. Sawyer…he ruined my life and just the name it sort of freaked me out…sorry." She whispered.
Sawyer stared at her for a minute, sort of like her was trying to figure her out, he exhaled heavily and smiled, "Sorry, sweet-cheeks, next time I'll say it's Alfred."
Leigh laughed, "That's ok, I'd rather call you Sawyer."
"Good, because Alfred is a horrible name" Sawyer laughed along with her, "what's your name?"
"Anne" Leigh smiled.
"Nice to meet you Anne."
"Likewise Sawyer
XXXXXXXXX
"Mommy? A man named Mr. Sawyer is at the door." Leigh said timidly. Her mother got up and went to the door.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Lydia. It's Greg, I have it."
"Leigh, go next door." Her mother demanded, "I have to go out." Leigh huffed and grabbed her jacket. It was three in the morning. Leigh had answered the door because her mom was sitting at the table, letting the doorbell ring and ring.
Leigh walked out of the house and ran next door to the back window of the house. She pried it open carefully and climbed inside. She closed the window behind her and looked around. It was a boy's room and a boy was sleeping in the bed.
"Jamey, wake up!" she whispered shaking him, once the boy opened his eyes, she took off her jacket, "Mom told me to come over." He shifted over on his bed and gave her room, "Thanks Jamey."
"Welcome Leigh." The boy yawned as she climbed into the bed.
