Maggie woke up, hearing her parents fighting. Again. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around herself. The tears fell from her giant blue eyes, just like they always did.

You'd assume the small girl would get used to the fighting, the yelling, and the hate. She wondered why they were still together; her parents that is. She knew the answer, it just broke her heart. They were trying to keep their single child from suffering, but it didn't make a difference.

They didn't always used to be like that. Maggie's childhood was a mostly regular one, with lots of pictures and old home videos to prove it. But everything had changed. She opened her eyes, and reached over to grab a special picture frame.

It was small, and it meant to the world to Maggie. It was Henry. His straight fiery red hair, his tall back slouched over the piano in a peaceful black and white photo. Sometimes, Maggie still heard the keys of the black and white piano being played, but the layers of dust reminded her that the sweet music wasn't there.

Eventually, she couldn't remember what the beautiful music sounded like, as she packed up all her things into boxes for the move, and the piano was still back in New Castle. Probably in the same spot.

She stood, putting the picture back, and braided her hair down her back. She changed, and was silently eating cereal when her mother came in, a lone tear still sitting on her perfectly pale cheek.

Mrs. Joanne Worthy didn't wipe that tear away though, which gave herself away to her daughter. It made Maggie hate her mother even more. She was twisting every argument around, trying to convince her daughter it was all her husband's fault. Maggie was insulted by this more often than not, knowing that her mom thought she was dumb enough to believe.

"Wipe your tear." Maggie said, glaring at the drop of water. Her mom was showing off, almost to say, 'look, honey, I'm crying and hurting. Comfort me.'

"That's no way to talk to your mother," she replied, obviously angered.

"You talk to dad like that all the time," Maggie said, going back to eating her cereal and starring at her spoon.

"What I say is between your father and myself," her mother hissed quietly but angry, "and it in no way involves you."

That set Maggie off, screaming, "Of course it involves me! You guys are my home life! And it's all you guys fighting! You come out here crying, but it's your fault too!"

"Well if you home life is so damn bad, just get out!" Mrs. Worthy said, raising her own voice.

"I will!" Her daughter replied, slamming her hands down on the table, making her mother flinch, and running out of the house, slamming the door behind her. She knew her mom wouldn't come after her.

She pressed her back against the outside of the door, looking at the quaint little neighborhood, and wondering if they looked like a quaint little family.

Of course they didn't. This is barely a family, Maggie though, the tears once again escaping from her eyes. She slammed her fists back against the door, angry at everyone, wishing her dog was here, wishing Henry was here.

She couldn't stop the audible gasps that escaped as her body continued to shake with sadness. Eventually she calmed down enough and stopped crying, but she was out of breath. She stood up, and saw the familiar big doe eyes of Joe, the boy she saw yesterday.

Having caught her like this, she was embarrassed and ashamed at herself. She wiped away the last tears; hoping new ones wouldn't surface up, and ran to her bike. It was where she left it yesterday after first meeting the boys.

Joe stood in his own yard, just to the right of Maggie's house, watching her silently. He was getting ready to go out and meet with Charles when he first saw the crying girl. He didn't know what to do, it was obvious that it was her house, but he didn't know why she was so upset. She had seemed fine yesterday. He was contemplating going and asking what was wrong, when she turned, catching him watching her. She took off towards her bike, hopped off, looking back over her shoulder at the boy, and speeding off.

Joe hung his head, knowing that the kind of pain and hurt that made someone run from their own house was horrifying. He thought about the fact maybe she was just an emotional girl, but she had been so strong and fearless yesterday.

Then again, you'd never expect that Joe had lost his mother upon first meeting. He might have come across strong and fearless, too. He sighed, feeling suddenly bad that he had been so hostile yesterday.

Maggie was blocks away by then, just letting the wind blow her tears away. The sun was out, and the town looked like a perfect little village. The houses with their perfect little families. She wondered how many of those families were as broken as hers was as she pedaled past them.

She saw a small girl, only about three years of age. She was playing with chalk in her driveway with what seemed to be her parents. They were laughing and smiling, and Maggie couldn't that ten years from now, everything could be so different. Everything could change sooo much.

One last tear formed, and she promised herself she was done crying.

She had to find hope, an escape. Maggie didn't know that that escape had just hopped onto his own bike, heading in the opposite direction, with a slightly different scar that would follow him everywhere, reminding him of his own lose.

But a scar was a scar. Everyone had one. And Maggie was doing her best to hide hers. She might have succeeded too, if that one seemingly unfriendly boy had decided to stay home, instead of going out with his friend.

That one seemingly unfriendly boy was going to turn out to be the only person to reach Maggie. They just didn't know it yet.

The Chapter Title is a line from the song, Only One by Alex Band. Whatever song I'm listening to while I write, reflects the mood of which I'm writing. & To say the least, I have been listening to sad-ish music, because I've been reading The Hunger Games series. & They are NOT something you listen to Lil Wayne while reading. Nuh uh. I prefer 'Safe & Sound' by Taylor Swift, & "A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri.

So, lots of Love, & Super 8 Goodness,

~BrennaBerr. :3