The First Step

Tonight was the night, she reminded herself. She couldn't keep living like this, and she had to be the one to make a change. God, she hated change. It's why she'd stayed in this situation for so long. It was all she knew, and that was better than nothing.

The giant lump in the bed remained motionless; knocked out by the sleeping pills that had been slipped into their drink earlier that evening.

She grabbed her pack, filled with nothing more than a few outfits and her few treasured possessions, and tip-toed out of the bedroom. She stopped in the middle of her soon-to-be former living room, taking a moment to look at it all one last time. Maybe this is a bad idea... She shook her head. She couldn't have second thoughts now; she'd just beat herself up about it the next morning and it would start all over again. It had to be now. Besides, someone was waiting for her.

At the table there was a piece of paper and a pen. She picked the pen up, and contemplated what sort of message to leave behind. She wanted to let it all out; spew out all her years of anger and pain. She wanted to make the reader feel bad about what they had done. But would any of it matter? She sighed. She wouldn't care, probably just rip it up. Besides, to say everything I wanted to would take hours. Don't have the time. She stood for a few more minutes, indecisive. Finally, she touched the pen to paper and scribbled out one word:

Goodbye

She opened the door, and her shoulders slumped as she stared at at the pouring rain. Taking a deep breath, she pulled her hood over her head and practically bolted from the porch. She wasn't too sure if she'd even closed the door all the way, but it didn't matter now.

Once she'd started running she couldn't stop, her legs had taken a mind of their own and kept going faster and faster. They didn't stop until she'd made it out to the highway. Using her sleeve, she wiped the sweat off her forehead. She pulled her hood down and ran a hand through her blue hair. Her lungs burned, and she decided to sit on the side of the road and catch her breath.

Doesn't this feel familiar? She bitterly laughed as the rain continued to wash over her, not that she minded it. She'd always loved the rain. Stemming back to her younger years, she noticed some of the best days of her life had occurred on rainy days. She actually began to see rainy days as her lucky ones. So the fact that it was raining this night of them all made her feel like she was making the right choice.

The honk of a horn and the bright flash a someone's high beams broke her from her thoughts. She shielded her eyes and saw a vehicle approaching. It was too dark, all she could see were the headlights. Immediately, panic began to set in. She shouldn't have woken up so soon! She jumped to her feet and sprinted off. Her legs carried her as fast as they could, but when the car zoomed in front of her she knew it was futile.

"I don't know how you expected to outrun a car." An unfamiliar voice called out from the open window. The person turned on their interior lights, giving her a better look at them. It was a young girl with short black hair and large, yellow hoop earrings. "I was just trying to offer you a ride. Unless you wanna make the several mile hike to the next town."

Her body almost shook with relief, her fists tightening around the strap of her bag. She wasn't too comfortable getting in the car with this stranger, but the idea of a 'several mile hike' wasn't too appealing either. Especially since time was of the essence. She hesitantly nodded, and the stranger opened the passenger door for her.

"My name's Jenny." she introduced as the car started moving. "What's yours?"

"I'm...Lapis." It was only fair to give her name to the person helping her.

"Oh my God, that's such a pretty name!" Jenny gushed. "Where are you headed, Lapis?"

"Beach City."

"No way! You're pulling my leg right?" Lapis shook her head. "That's where I live! I've never seen you before, and believe me, it's a tiny place." Jenny glanced at the girl from the corner of her eye, noticing the bag she was clutching for dear life. She noticed the girl's appearance didn't look too...healthy. She must've been in some sort of trouble; that's why she reached out to her in the first place. It wasn't her place to ask, however. "Visiting or moving?"

"Um," Lapis fumbled. She hadn't given much thought past what would happen once she actually got away. "Both..? I guess."

Jenny had a suspicion of what was going on with the girl, but knew better than to say anything... yet. "That's cool. You've been here before?"

"Once or twice, not for very long though."

"Well, Lapis, you're going to love it here. I promise you that. It's small, and everyone's kinda weird, but... it's home."

Lapis laid her head against the window, watching the scenery pass by. Her stomach was in knots as she started thinking of the future. She had a friend waiting for her in Beach City, but what then? She'd need a job and a place to live. Plus the only person she knew in the city wasn't the most... preferable help when you're trying to get your life together, but a friendly face was better than none.

She hated change; it was always a mess.

"Here we are!" Jenny announced as they passed a sign saying "Welcome to Beach City!"

Lapis sat up, trying to stretch out as much as she could in the small vehicle. She looked out the window to all the small shops that almost littered the boardwalk, and beyond that was a beach and the endless stretch of the ocean. Lapis smiled at the sight.

Jenny pulled up to a pizzeria. "Here's our stop," she said, turning off the car. She and Lapis stepped out. "My family owns this pizza store, so if you ever need to find me I'll be here."

"Thank you so much for the ride."

"No worries. I know if I'd been walking down that highway I sure would've appreciated the lift." Jenny put a hand on her hip. "Do you know where you're going from here?"

"I.. uh.." Lapis hadn't been to Beach City enough to know her way around.

Jenny seemed to pick up on that. She fished her cellphone out of her pocket. "Need to call someone?"

"Thank you." Lapis dialed a number and put the phone to her ear.

"Good morning, Jenny!" A loud, peppy voice proclaimed from the other line. Lapis could imagine the bright smile on the other person's face.

"Actually, no." She started. "Guess again."

There was a loud gasp. "Lapis! You made it! Wait, how'd you get Jenny's phone?"

"I kinda ran into her on the way. She let me use her phone since I don't know my way around yet."

"You're at her family's pizza place, right? I'm on my way!" The line went dead before she could say anything more.

"Thanks again." Lapis said, handing the phone back. "Would you mind if I waited inside?"

"Of course not!"

"Lapis!" The blue haired girl didn't have time to look up and see who called her name before she was tackled by a teenage boy with curly black hair. "It's so good to see you! I can't believe you're really here!"

"Hey, Steven." Lapis greeted with a smile. Her nerves began to settle now that she was in the company of her best friend.

Jenny, who was running the counter, noticed the boy and smiled. "Why am I not surprised Steven had something to do with the new person in town? How're you doing, Steven?"

"I'm great!" Hearing the boy's excitement caused Jenny to laugh. "Thank you so much for helping Lapis get here!"

"It was my pleasure. Just don't go dragging her into trouble."

Steven simply laughed as he grabbed Lapis' hand and dragged her along. "Come on, let's go to my house. Dad's already set up the couch for you."

Lapis smiled as Steven dragged her down the street. She was already beginning to feel better about her decision, now that she was far away and in better hands.

"Dad's out washing the Mayor's car right now, but this is where you'll be sleeping." Steven presented his living room like a game show host displaying the prize. Lapis giggled as she examined the tiny room. There was the pull out couch which had been made for her, a large chair which she assumed was for Steven's dad, both turned toward the small TV that was against the wall.

"Thank you, Steven." Lapis said, sitting down on the couch. "I really appreciate you helping me."

"Anything for a friend." Steven smiled. She's not sure if she'd ever seen that boy without one on his face. "Dad said it's okay for you to stay a little while. In the meantime I'll help you get back on your feet." The way his eyes gaze off to the side let her know he's hiding something.

"Is there something wrong?"

Steven waves his arms. "No! No!" Her eyes narrow; he's not a good liar. "Everything's fine!"

"Steven-"

"Look," he cut her off, scratching the back of his head. "It's nothing you need to worry about. Right now I just wanna focus on making everything better for you, okay?"

Lapis glared at him; if there was one thing she disliked about Steven, it was his habit of being too nice. She sighed. There was clearly something going on, but she knew Steven wouldn't budge on the matter. "If you say so." She muttered, defeated. A yawn escaped her, and she realized how exhausted she felt.

Steven laughed. "You go to bed. Tomorrow we'll start with..." He froze; he wasn't quite sure how to help his friend. He was still a minor with his dad and aunts to take care of him. How was he supposed to help Lapis learn to take care of herself?

"How about finding a job?" Lapis mumbled, laying out on the couch.

He snapped his fingers, of course! "Bingo!" When he turned to his friend again, he saw she'd passed out. A small, sad smile appears on his face. "Goodnight, Lapis." As he made his way outside to his dad, a sense of dread came over him. What am I going to do?