Hey, this is Ruby! I've finally decided to use my page for what it was intended for: stories. So, this is a story I've had bouncing around in my head for at least a year and after seeing Genie post her stories ( and having her kick me in the butt hard enough), I've now started 'What a Girl Wants'.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

Ugh… my head. Oh why do I feel like I was hit by a bus? Why can't I remember? Wait . . .

Little snippets of memories started flashing through my mind. Slamming the front door, Mom screaming at me for being an ungrateful bitch, going to see Ellie, a Hummer careening out of control . . .

I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts, immediately regretting it when a stabbing pain lances through my head. The last thing I want to think about is my mom. As far as I'm concerned, if I never see her again I'll be all too happy! But first things first. I need to find out where I am and how bad my injuries are.

I opened my eyes, only to immediately snap them shut again. The sun was shining directly into my eyes. Wait, SUN? My eyes shot open again. I was just hit by a car, I should be in a hospital recovering. Come to think of it I should be in terrible agony, but instead I feel like I just got a great night's sleep. Well, minus the throbbing headache.

But instead of waking up in a hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines, I'm lying on my back on a dirt road in a forest. What the hell? I look around to try to make sense of some of this. The dirt path I was on stretched on for miles in front and behind me with tall, dark trees on either side. The bright sun filtered between the leaves creating a pretty light display on the forest floor.

I shook my head again, completely dumbfounded. How is this possible? I got hit by a freakin' Hummer. I should be in a coma. Or dead. Not in the woods in the middle of nowhere, miles from any civilization wearing a hooded cloak.

Wait a minute!

I looked down at my clothes again. The tank top and shorts I had been wearing were nowhere in sight. Instead I had on what looked like a long shirt— a tunic, I think— which was a light green, a pair of brown leggings, the previously mentioned darker green cloak, and a nice pair of soft-skinned boots. Surprisingly comfortable, too.

Ok I'm officially crazy. I fight to control my breathing to keep from hyperventilating. Hey, don't judge me. I dare you to get hit by a car and wake up in the middle of the woods, wearing something completely different from what you were wearing before and see how you react. No takers? Ok then.

Ok, Andrea, let's take a minute to think things through. Well, I'm definitely not gonna get any answers sitting here. And I've gotta find some form of shelter before it gets dark. So I guess there's only one choice. I gotta find a town somewhere.

I get up and stretch my arms out. No time like the present, I guess. I take a step . . .only to trip and fall flat on my face. After taking the time to spit my hair out of my mouth, I look over my shoulder to see what caused my fall. It was a long stick— a walking stick, I corrected myself— and a very beautiful one. It was tall, about as tall as me, so a little over five feet. And a nice light color, probably oak. Hey, I don't know where this came from, but I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. Any help is great help. So with my staff in hand, I set off down the road wondering where I'd go from here.

Several hours later

Ok, walking to find a town in the middle of nowhere. WORST. DECISION. EVER! My feet are killing me, my head still feels like it was used as a football, and my stomach feels like it's gonna eat itself if I don't eat something soon. I swear, if I don't find a town soon, I'm gonna kill something.

Oh look, a town! Not a moment too soon, either. Rain began pounding down on the dirt road. I sprinted towards the town, desperate to get somewhere dry.

By the time I reached the town's gates, I was soaked! I felt a little intimidated by the large wall that surrounded the town and by the looming gate in front of me.

Unsure of what to do, I knocked loudly on the gate. A grizzly looking gatekeeper with matted silver hair opened up a panel that allowed him to see whomever knocked. His beady eyes settled on me. With the way he looked, you would've thought that he would have the voice of a chain-smoker or maybe a wrestler, but what his sounded like, shocked the crap out of me.

"What do ya want?" He asked. His voice reminded me of a squeak toy that was trying to function correctly, but failing miserably.

"I...uh...need a place to stay for the night." I said, still distracted by his bizarre voice.

"No strangers allowed." He squeaked.

Okay, that didn't work. Let's try the desperate approach.

I willed my eyes to tear up and looked pleadingly at the gatekeeper. "Please, sir. I've...I've been separated from...from my family a-a-and I've been walking all day. C-can I please come in?" I "cried".

"Alrigh', alright'. I'm not heartless. Go on in." The gatekeeper swugn the door open just enough for me to walk through.

"Th-thank you, sir!" Once I was out of earshot, I started chuckling. And my mom said I wasn't a good actress.

There were only a handfull of people outside at this point and only two of them paid me any mind. I searched the buildings, hoping one would lok even remotely familiar. No such luck.

I could clearly make out a stable, and a blacksmith, and... an inn! I surged forward, new energy filling me, propelling me towards the shelter.

I burst through the inn's door, a bit too loudly, and caused most of the patrons (that weren't drunk off their feet) to turn towards me. I ducked my head and tried to call as little attention to myself as possible. My auburn hair was plastered to my face from the rain and my clothes were soaked completely.

I walked quietly up to what I assumed to be the front desk and cleared my throat politely. The man behind the counter looked down at me.

"I'd...I'd like a room." I said.

"Payment upfront, then you get the room." He said, staring me down. I felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze.

Money. Damn! Maybe I could bluff my way through lke I did earlier.

"I haven't got any money, but could I just stay for one night? That's all I ask." I pleaded, giving him my best pout.

"Payment first." He repeated. "No money, no room." He turned away from me.

I opened my mouth to protest, to plead, to get him to agree to let me stay just one night, when a handful of small coins clattered onto the counter.

"Will this be enough for the lady's room?" A cloaked stranger asked from beneath his grey hood.

"Y-yes sir. This will be plenty." The innkeeper stammered, scooping up the coins. He stammered something else, but my attention was still on the mysterious stranger. Who was he? And why did he pay for my room?

I watched him as he settled into a plain wooden chair in a dark corner of the room. If I hadn't been watching him, I might not have seen him at all.

Feeling a bit bold, I began walking towards him. Little did I know that this simple action would start my journey to find what I've always wanted. A family.