The horrid sounds of Loud rap music, babies crying, abusive husbands and couples arguing flooded the lower class apartments of downtown New Mexico. There was no such thing as peace and quiet and non violence in that area of the state.

15 year-old Taylor McKessie winced and jumped in her bed trying to sleep in her room due to the noises of her parents throwing everything in sight of their eyes at each other. It was all night every night with her parents. Same arguments over the same conflict. Her mother Janice McKessie accusing Kevin McKessie of cheating on her, neglecting the family and selling drugs. Kevin McKessie threatening to beat her if she didn't shut up.

Taylor felt tears roll down her caramel colored cheeks as she heard her father leave the 2 bedroom apartment with a strong slam of the wooden door. Taylor jumped out of her bed and dashed to her bedroom window watching her father outside kicking trashcans, and cursing out loud throwing a fit as she got in his car and sped off. Taylor cried harder as she remembered a time where non of this havoc was in her family.

It was around her 11th birthday when her mother and father had their first really bad argument because came home drunk and was caught with drugs in his car. Taylor grew immune to their fights but it still cut open that same wound she would mend everytime she heard her two hero like figures try to destroy each other. She wished she could just go back to when she was 6 years old or even never born sometimes.

Taylor closed her window and jumped in her bed putting on an act that she was sleeping when she heard the door knob to her bedroom turn.

"Taylor…..Taylor get up I know your awake" Janice McKessie said walking into her daughters room.

"Sorry Mama" Taylor said sitting up in her bed and turning on her lamp on her nightstand.

"Theres no need for you to apologize to me sweetie" Janice said kissing Taylor on her forhead.

"Mama…..is daddy coming back?" Taylor asked.

Taylor watched as her mom tensed up and forced a small smile on her lips.

"I don't' know honey….he's going to be ok….you don't have to worry yourself with our problems" Janice said.

"Yes I do! You are my parents. The parents who used to love each other and the last thought on ya'll minds were to tear each other apart. What happened to you guys…I-" Taylor started..

"Taylor! Listen to me ! You are not in charge of what goes on with me and your father! I told you have nothing to worry yourself about!" Janice McKessie said standing up stating her authority to her helpless honey-brown eyed daughter.

" I hate you!" Taylor said getting out of her bed and running through the living room to the front door and running into the hallway. Taylor slid down the wall of the ragedy hallways and cried into her hands. She looked to her left side where her bestfriend Gina Moraine used to live. Apartment 412.

Her and Gina were the best of friends. They had the same situation in life. Their parents always argued at night and Taylor and Gina would stay on the phone with each other in their rooms comforting each other as they were scared for their lives. Until one day Gina's mother couldn't take her husbands non sense anymore and moved and herself and Gina out of the apartments and they moved to Seattle with Gina's grandmother.

Taylor remembered how she stood infront of her living room window watching Gina hop into the U-Haul van and drive off to a new beginning. Taylor wished she was Gina. She would give anything to be able to get away from this place called home which was hell in disguise.

Taylor stood up and put her hand on the door knob of the empty apartment of Gina's and was surprised the door was unlocked. She walked in slowly…..it looked the same. Empty. Quiet. Taylor watched flashbacks before her eyes of her and Gina dancing in the living room to the latest cd's Gina would buy from the CD store.

"Hey!! You get out of there!" A deep voice roamed through the halls.

Taylor turned and saw a white-male running towards her angrily. Like a bull who was being taunted cruelly and was taking action in its revenge. Taylor ran to her front door when she saw the door whip open with a confused Janice standing their with her nightgown straps falling off her shoulders and her hair loose and wild but yet tamed.

"Excuse me sir is there a problem?!" Janice asked .

"Well yes there is clearly…is that your daughter?" The man asked huskily.

"Yes….it is" Janice said sternly switching her weight to one hip.

"Well your daughter was in my apartment room….I wouldn't want her to steal anything" The man said.

"Excuse....wait ….are you accusing my daughter of stealing? Janice asked.

"Theres not even anything in there to steal!" Jancie yelled

"I don't care its my property!....Me and My son will be moving in here tomorrow first thing in the morning and I don't want no problems ma'am that's all no need to get testy" The man said.

Janice looked at him for a second and nodded her head as if she was listening closely and agreeing with something he said. She took a small inhale of her cigarette and said…

"Ok…new neighbors huh….I'm Janice McKessie" She extended her hand The man took it and shook her hand.

"Jack…..Jack Bolton" The man said calming down.

"Taylor get inside" Janice demamnded.

"Yes mama" Taylor said.

Taylor walked in the living room and plopped on the couch and sighed. Was their really a new boy moving next door? Was he her age?....Thousands of questions puzzled Taylor as she waited fro her mom to enter the apartment. She then her the door close.

"Damn Taylor! Can't you stay out of trouble once?" Janice asked taking another puff of her cigarette.

"I'm sorry!....I was looking…I miss Gina" Taylor said.

"Well Gina is gone! You know that!" Janice said.

Taylor kept quiet and turned her focus to the window feeling tears on the brink of falling down her cheek.

Janice McKessie sighed and walked over to her daughter and sat next to her on the couch. She engulfed Taylor into a tight hug and rocked her back and forth as she heard Taylor cry louder.

"I'm sorry baby" Janice said calmly.

"I'm sorry Mama! I'm trying to make you proud….I'm trying…..I can't take Daddy not wanting us anymore and Gina not being there anymore….I just want things to be back like old times" Taylor said through sobs.

"Shhhh and I am proud of you babygirl….You make me proud everyday I see you walk to school and come home and get right down to your homework. I'm proud of how you manage to get through our hardships and still make it on the honor roll." Janice said.

Taylor just sniffled and listened to her mothers voice speak to her softly. Reassuring her everyting was going to be alright…..Taylor had to force herself to believe her mothers words and she soon fell asleep in her mothers arms.