Hello all!

I would like to have your opinion on this story as it is just an idea that popped into my head! Lol!! But seriously, please review and tell me if you think I should continue it or not or any suggestions or whatever!!

Thanks a million!!

Chapter One

Goodbye, Mr. Martin

Bradin Westerly crouched in the bushes outside the window of his best, girl, friend's, Candice Martin, bedroom. He'd known Candice since 5th grade. They had been inseparable, always there for each other and always doing something together. When Bradin's parents died, she was right by his side up until the last minute he was in Kansas. She was at the airport and was the last one to hug him goodbye, and when she did that, she kissed him on the cheek. Bradin had thought about that kiss ever since it happened, he knew there was more behind it than just a friendly goodbye kiss and he'd wanted to ask her about it but never found the guts. They had kept in touch and then, 5 months ago, she moved to Playa Linda and they had bonded again and again, were inseparable. Bradin couldn't keep his mind off of her every night when he was going to sleep and now he was certain... He loved her. He knew it was true.. He had tried to deny it for so long, but it was true, he loved her.

He needed to tell her that, he absolutely had to tell her that! He had to talk to her tonight, even though when he called earlier and she had told him not to come over because her father was drunk, he came over any way. He was just about to throw a rock at her window when she sat down on her bed and let her long golden hair out of it's tie. He loved when she let her hair down...

No one was around and it was about as dark as you could get it in southern California, that is, with a full moon out, so no one could really see him. He watched as she sat on her bed brushing her hair... she was beautiful... simply beautiful. There was no other word to describe her. She went to take off her shirt... he didn't exactly want to be a "Peeping Tom" on one of his closest friends but... well... Before she could get it off though she suddenly jumped up and screamed putting her hand to her mouth. He felt sick guessing what was probably to occur next. He crouched lower in the bushes and stared into her bedroom.

A man came into view of the window, he knew it was her father though he'd only met him once back in Kansas, threw her on her bed and started beating her. Though she didn't release any audible screams, he heard them, and with each blow he felt like he was being beaten as well... He didn't move, there was no need to, she had told him repeatedly to never tell anyone about her father beating her...

Her father pulled her to the floor and kicked her in the stomach. He couldn't bare to watch it any longer and no matter what Candice did to him for telling, he knew he had to. He quietly started to crawl out of view of the window, staying very low to the ground, but was stopped dead in his tracks by the Martin's German Shepherd. He slowly stood up and very quietly cooed to the dog as it walked in circles around him growling the whole time...

"Shh... nice doggie... good girl... sit... sit." No use; the darn thing continued to growl and walk around him. He knew if he so much as moved, she would go off like a siren. But if he stayed there, Candice's father would keep beating her... Dang! Why wouldn't Sam leave him alone? She knew him, he came over all the time! "Shh... Sam, be a good girl and go lie down... Please..." he again tried talking the dog down and again to no avail, in fact, she just growled louder. Suddenly, without any warning, she began barking violently. "Shh... Sam, stop that!" he said aloud, but still quietly. The front door flew open and Mr. Martin stepped out onto the porch. "Damn it!" Bradin cursed under his breath.

"Hey out there! Who are you!?" Mr. Martin walked out and grabbed Sam by the collar, "Who are you and what do you want?" He looked Bradin directly in the eyes.

"I- I just- I..." Bradin suddenly found that he couldn't talk, the look on Mr. Martin's face was so... sinister.

"Oh wait a minute! Aren't- aren't you Candy's friend from Kansas!?" The look on his face quickly changed from evilness to a sort of humorousness.

"Yea- yeah..." Bradin was taken aback by him knowing who he was and just stood there without talking.

"Well, why don't you come in?"

"O- okay..." Bradin followed him into the house and he suddenly felt uneasy as the door closed shut behind him and stillness settled over the house.

"Just come on up to her room, she's still awake." Mr. Martin led the way up the darkened stairs, Bradin kept back a little ways, still feeling uneasy.

"Here we are." He stopped in front of Candice's door, turned the knob and without knocking walked into her room. Bradin saw Candice lying on the floor, blood coming from her side. He stifled a gasp and started to turn and run but was grabbed by the arm and dragged into Candy's room. "Stop! Stop it!!" Bradin exclaimed as Mr. Martin beat him to the floor.

"You stop!" he retorted, "In fact, you say another word and I'll beat the hell out of you!" He hit Bradin in the head making him see stars then, leaving him lying on the floor, he went over to Candice and kicked her in the legs, "Get up you bitch! Go get me a beer, and get one for my friend too!" He looked over at Bradin.

Bradin felt sick as he watched this but couldn't do anything on account of his head throbbing too badly.

Candice slowly stood up, she seemed to not even notice Bradin, and walked out her door. She returned a minute later with a beer. "You only had one..." she said meekly.

"What!?" He roared, "What the hell happened to the other one!?"

"I- I don't know..." she seemed to shrink back in fear.

He opened the can and took a drink, "Oh well, I'll have to get more then!" He took another swig, "Now sit down and turn on your TV."

Candice turned on her TV, handed him the remote and walked over to her nightstand.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Her father raged.

Candice didn't answer, instead she turned around and extended her right arm displaying a small pistol in her hand.

Her father began laughing but sobered quickly and said, "Well, well, well! I've been meaning to do away with you any way... So I guess now's as good a time as any!" Bradin watched in horror as her father pulled out an equally sized firearm, "Look here," he sneered, "I'm not only taking you out of this world but I'm taking your little friend out too!" He pointed the gun at Bradin, who froze, cocked it and said, "Him first so you'll have to watch and then... you!"

Candice screamed bloody murder, and before Bradin knew what was happening, a shot was fired.

Mr. Martin fell to the floor the, gun in his right hand flying out of it and landing on her bed, and the beer in his left falling to the floor with him and spilling out in a messy puddle.

Candice slid to the floor, tears streaming down her cheeks and her whole body shaking violently with sobs and fear, she still clutched the gun as Bradin slowly got up and checked her dad; he was dead as a door nail.

Bradin stood for a second then walked over to Candice and took her in his arms. She was bleeding badly in several places and Bradin felt blood drip from his own busted head into his eye. He held her tighter, "Shh..." he whispered, stroking the back of her head. He didn't know what to say or do, so he just sat there holding her as she cried.

Candice could scarcely believe what she'd just done but somehow she felt very relieved that he was dead. She was so thankful Bradin had come over and held her, she clung to him, crying, with her hands around his neck and her fingers dug into his skin. She was shaking so badly that she hurt from it, but she couldn't stop. She was so scared, what was going to happen now?

Well, there it is. Again, please tell me what you think and if I should continue or not! Thanks so much!!! I really appreciate it!

Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15