Chapter One


I was awaken suddenly when I felt the train car make one large surge forward. It was enough to wake me from my slumber and practically fall into the lap of the elderly woman sitting in front of me. She gave me a concerned look and I scowled at her slightly. I hated being woken up, especially if I was having such a wonderful dream.

"MASON! STOP, PLEASEEE!" I whined as his fingers continued to claw playfully at my stomach, which he obviously knew was my most ticklish spot.

"Not until you tell me you love me again." He smirked, revealing his perfectly straight white teeth. They practically illuminated his entire face, and really accentuated his other wonderful features.

"Oh come on! I've only told you that AT LEAST thirty times today. Someone must be in serious dire need for affection." We laughed together for a while, simply just enjoying each other's company.

It was moments like these when I could really be content with my life, despite it's many downfalls.I may look like I have it all together, to anyone who didn't actually know me. I went to high school like any normal seventeen, (soon to be eighteen) year old. I had a small group of friends that stuck around, and a wonderful boyfriend who meant the world to me. But to everyone's surprise (when they found out of course) I didn't have the one thing that many, or should I say most people have, a real family.

My mother and father put me into foster care when I was a little under two years old. Apparently they couldn't take care of me anymore, so they threw me into the arms of the first, desperate, child-hungry foster home they could. I don't remember much since I was so young, but as I got older I was placed into more families than I can count on both hands. And finally after thirteen years, the system finally got it right. Or so I thought.

Don't get me wrong, the Hendricks's family was about ten billion steps up from any other family I've been placed with before. But for some reason they kept finding different excuses to adopt more brats into the household, leaving me to watch them as if they were my own. Ew.

Which is why I held moments like that with Mason so close to my heart. He didn't see me as the rebellious, loner, foster kid always getting into trouble. He saw me for who I really was, and accepted me for it. And I couldn't be more grateful. He had been my savior since I was fifteen, and after spending so much time together, I had no doubt in my mind that he would be the one I would spend the rest of my life with.

That was, until I received a phone call less than three days ago from Palmerton Hospital. Rick and Denise Hendricks had been in a horrible car accident, and their chances of surviving were slim. They informed me that I should come down to the hospital and prepare my goodbyes.

As I sat in the crowded office of the social worker who dealt with my family problems, I couldn't help but overhear all the plans that were being arranged for me. Since I was still a minor, I would have to be shipped off to another family, in another location. A location that was far away from my Mason. I felt the hot tears well up in my eyes, as I finally figured out what I had to do.

I was going to run away. I wasn't sure where I was going yet, but I knew that's what I had to do. I was almost eighteen, so I thought maybe if I could stay away until then, I could come back, enroll myself back into school, and everything would work itself out. I wouldn't tell anyone my plan, not even Mason. My birthday was in less than two weeks, I figured I could avoid everyone at all costs until then.

And that my friends, is how the next chapter of my life has begun.

I snapped out of the trance I was in as I noticed everyone around me exiting the train. I grabbed what little belongs I had, and headed towards the platform. I had been many places in my life time, but I can guarantee with the utmost certainty that this had to be one of the most beautiful buildings I had ever seen. Grand Central Station.

Yep, that's right. I, Rose Hathaway, have run away to the wonderful New York.

I marveled at it's inner beauty. The high ceilings, broad columns and crowds of people were absolutely mesmerizing. I let out a sigh of relief as I continued to take in the rest my surroundings.

"Now that I'm here, what to do now…?" I thought to myself. I figured the most logical decision would be to ask for directions and find some place to stay. After all, that train ride had taken nine hours and nighttime was quickly approaching. I decided on asking a middle-aged woman working behind the ticket counter. She seemed like the safest bet. I had only been in New York five minutes, there was no way I was about to let anyone creep on me and ruin my experience already.

The outside of Grand Central Station was almost just as beautiful as the inside. I couldn't take my eyes off of the building as I stood by the side of the street, attempting to flag down a taxi.

And let me start off by saying, hunting down a taxi in New York is NOTHING like they make it out to be in movies. It took me at least five tries, and almost getting ran over in the process, to get a taxi to pull over. The task was actually quite strenuous. In the movies, a pretty girl can barely wave her hand and ten taxis will magically line up to escort her to her wildest destinations. Damn Hollywood. Always ruining people's perceptions of real life situations.

Approximately ten minutes later I ended up at some place called the Mayor Hotel. It sounded decent, had okay prices, and was in a semi-normal looking area, so I graciously paid the taxi driver with some of the money that I had saved up over the years from mowing old lady Winifred's lawn every week.

As I entered the room I cringed a little inside, and instantly wished I was back at the train station already. I soon pushed away my bitter thoughts and began to look at things more realistically. I was now a runaway, which meant giving up luxury for the time being and embracing my inner grossness.

Okay, so I know that I started off this chapter relatively slow. I wanted to set the stage for the story a little bit and give people some background, as well as what was happening in the story currently. I promise you, it will get better!

I have a tiny idea of where I want this to go, so please review and tell me what you think so far! Any feedback is fine, I won't get mad, I promise :P Try not to be too mean though because I am fairly new at this! xoxo