Chapter 1: 'Starting a new life'

Authors note: So this is the prologue of my first fanfic, I'll write a couple more chapters and if I get and good reviews I'll carry it on. It really felt like I wrote loads here but there isn't actually that much anyways, I'm open to constructive criticism so please let me know how I'm doing, thanks!

OH! Disclaimer, i'll copy and paste this onto every chapter: I don't own shit.

"Jadelyn! Grab your bags! We're leaving!" My Dad's emotionless voice bellowed from downstairs. He hadn't been the same since my Mom passed away, neither had I. It really had impacted our family in the worst way possible, as you'd expect.

My Dad was making me to move to L.A, to, 'start a new life' and all that crap. I guess I didn't really have a reason to be upset about the situation, I mean, it's not like I had any friends to miss or anything like that. Plus this meant I had a chance of getting into Hollywood Arts high school, and achieving my dreams.

I hastily grabbed my suitcase and headed off to leave my bedroom door for the last time, catching a glimpse of my 9 – year old self in the mirror as I passed, I looked broken even then. I had scruffy, brown, unkempt hair that was always all over my face, dirty, old torn hand-me-downs that were supposedly clothing and a glazed look in my icy - blue eyes.

A look that no 9 – year old should have. A look that said I see no joy in life, like everything in life was out to betray me. I trusted no – one which was almost definitely caused by the countless promises my Dad had broken to me. The biggest one being that we'd go to visit my mom in the hospital, we'll go to visit her tomorrow, my Dad told me. Of course, there was no tomorrow for my mom. Now, at the age of 9, I was an empty shell of a human.

"Jade! Get down here!" the shout snapped me out of my reminiscing. I trudged down the stairs to find my Dad stood at the front door.

"Hurry up, we've got to pick your Mother up from her last day at work."

"She's not my mom, Dad." My stepmother, ugh. I honestly couldn't stand the woman, to think she was supposed to replace my Mother. She was definitely doing a totally lousy job, she had never even made an effort with me, she just called me 'that kid'. It makes me wonder as to whether she actually even learned my name. She was a total bitch, and she was the one I learned that and many other curse words from.

I was in the car with my dad by now,

"Can we visit Grandma before we go Dad?" She was the last person in the world that could actually make me smile at something other than other people's misfortune.

"Of course Jade" I didn't say please, or thank you, I never did. My dad had obviously noticed that I was a little down, and unusually he had actually done something nice for me that didn't involve throwing money or material possessions at me, my Dad was very wealthy, which was fortunate.

I soon fell asleep in the car and must have been out an hour or two, because when I awoke, we were in a total alien place,

"You said we could go to Grandma's Dad!" I said at the top of my voice, clearly showing that I was upset.

"Oh, uh, sorry Jade, I forgot, it's too late now anyway." He said, not showing any sign of remorse.

"But I thought-"

"Well you thought wrong!" 'Mommy' snapped at me, I just scowled at her, I was too tired and upset to argue, but I wouldn't let her see that.

"We're going to the store Jade, you can wait in the car, do you want some candy to make up for it?"

"Sure" I mumbled, clearly trying to get my Dad's attention that I was annoyed. It was to no avail as my Dad and stepmom got out of the car hastily and went into the shop. While I waited I noticed a little girl gleefully hopping and skipping around, without a care in the world. She looked about my age, but we were absolutely worlds apart.

She had adorable chocolate coloured curls, and huge beautiful brown eyes, the reason I noticed the latter is because she had clearly noticed me too and was staring straight at me through the window with a lovely smile, but I didn't smile back, I'm Jade West. The girl giggled and skipped away as I heard a soft, caring voice call out,

"C'mon Cat, let's get you home to bed." The person I assumed to be her birth Mother. Usually I hate happy people with happy lives, but there was something about her, Cat, I hope I'll see her again. I was soon forced back to my own reality at the sound of the front car doors slamming, My Dad and his wife had got back in the car with a bag that contained a multitude of different alcoholic drinks, mainly whisky, my Dad loved that.

"What candy did you get me Dad?" I pleaded, genuinely quite happy in this moment for some reason. In that moment.

"Oh, uh, sorry Jade I forgot and now I don't have enough cash on me." Oh, what a surprise.

A/N: Chapter 2 is already under way, I think it's the last chapter I'm gonna have them in as kids. Please let me know how I did or I won't want to keep writing this story, thanks again guys. Also, i'm from the UK, but the characters are from the US obviously and i want the story to be legit, so i'm using Americanised phrases which is quite difficult. I typed Mum so many times in this and had to replace it with Mom, oh well i'll get used to it :D