Chapter 1

Chapter 1… The Beginning is a Good Place to Start

Melissa's POV

Present Day

My arms and legs were just as sore after my shower as they were before. Normally the steamy hot water helps to release the pain in my muscles, but no relief for me today. I just finished up at the gym and began dressing for work. I was a writer for Women's Health magazine. I helped develop exercise routines and diet plans for women. I had went to school for health and fitness to be a trainer, but after a little incident I decided to stop being to hands on.

My dream, however, was to be reunited with my nearest and dearest best friends. It had been years since we had gotten a chance to meet up and hang out. Phone calls every so often kept each other barely up to date on the major details.

I was about to change all that. I needed the crew back together. More than anything I needed him back.

Let me start at the beginning….

December 1993

It was December 18th. I was fourteen years old. My parents and I were on the way to the airport to visit my Grams; my father's mother, for the holiday. Since my Grams moved to Cameron I had only saw her during one summer vacation a few years back. My father's job didn't leave much travel time for us. We kept in touch over the phone, but I missed her. This year my mother and I had convinced him we all needed a well overdue vacation.

We scheduled a flight from Boston, Massachusetts to Raleigh, North Carolina. This left us with a half hour or so drive to Grams' house. After my Papa died in 1986 of a heart attack Grams was never the same. She couldn't stand to be in her old house any longer and a few years later she moved to Cameron where she had grown up.

As we hit the road heading towards the airport the snow started. Quickly the roads became slick. I don't remember the crash, better off that way I suppose. My parents were pronounced dead at the scene. We had swerved and hit a tree. I was the only one in the car wearing a safety belt; they were both ejected from the car. I was bruised up pretty bad, but there was no permanent damage.

On December 21st we held the funeral service for my parents. I cried so much my eyes could barely open the next morning. Grams' was staying with me in my parents' house; this was no longer my home, just another building. It felt cold and empty.

Per my parents' request; the house, all other possessions and money belonged to me now. But where did I belong.

My eyes looked wide at the lawyer, "I'll be here all alone?"

"Don't be silly my child I will stay with you," Grams said trying to comfort me.

"This is not where you belong Grams, you hate it here," I began to cry.

"I belong where ever you are, I will never leave you alone," Grams held me close and wiped away my tears.

"This is not my home, I can't stay here! I want to leave!"

This was one of the few times I spoke since the accident. I couldn't believe any of this was real. Why hadn't I died along with my parents?

"You can come home with me if you'd rather; I have plenty of room to spare."

I nodded my head in agreement. She understood I could not have reminders of them all around daily. It would torture me. Just like her house had done years ago.

"Can I have some privacy with my grand daughter," Grams asked calmly.

The old man bid his good byes to me and Grams; saying he would be in touch shortly with more paperwork.

Grams and I talked for hours about what I wanted to do and how we would handle everything. I chose to sell the house, furniture and all. My parents' second car would be sold as well. I took some of my parents' things; everything else was to be sold any way possible. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I packed a few bags of clothes and necessities; anything else I wanted to keep was boxed up to be shipped to me in North Carolina.

We managed to get a flight out on Christmas Eve. I wanted to be rid of my old home and memories as soon as possible.

The snow on the night of the accident was no longer visible on the ground. Maybe this all was just a dream.

I stared out the car window, silently saying goodbye to the house that had been my home for the last 14 years. My parents' lawyer drove with us to the airport so Grams and I could finish the last of the paperwork.

As we boarded the flight I closed my eyes wishing the past few days were just a dream. Hoping the next time I opened my eyes I would still be in the car with my parents on the way to the airport.

Author's Note Hey guys, I would love some reviews on this. I have about 9 chapters written so far. I have not written a story in a very long time I mainly to poetry now. Let me know if i should continue this story or not. Thanks!