Paul.

You were at school today, sitting with Jared in the morning. Then, I saw you coming to wards me. You wouldn't meet my eyes, but when then so suddenly did; you turned around a left. I kinda ditched school after that. I had to go and work an extra shift at my job.

Have I done something wrong? I really hope that everything is okay.

Love you, forever and always.
LiLi

You could already tell how mad she was mad by the first line. The 'dear Paul,' seemed harder now, almost curt in how she put it. I have gone back and re-read all of her past letters... I hadn't even noticed when she switched from saying 'Love' to 'Love you forever and Always'. I guess now it meant so much more since she was my imprint, but it gave me hope; just that little that I needed to believe that she hasn't given up on me yet.

And that sliver of hope that I clung to sustained me for a while. It even made me feel better about telling Jared what to inform her, so she didn't come see me for a while. I prayed it didn't come out as harsh as sounded from my mouth.

I honestly could NOT deal with an imprint at a time like this; as much as I wanted to her. I still had trouble reeling in my anger, and even though the wolf part of me wanted nothing more then to be with her every second of everyday; the human part of me said I wasn't ready. I listened to the human part of me, because that seemed like the right choice. Spend a little bit longer away from her to control my furious outbursts.

Boy, was that the retard thing to do.

Of course, I didn't think of how awful that choice was until I got her next letter.

Paul.

Fuck you.

You tell Jared to tell me, "I can't see you anymore. We're just too different." Well you know what? I've been taking it easy on you. I haven't been telling you half of what has been going on. And what I have told you, I softened it up. Shit has gotten real, Paul, and you haven't done crap to help me through it.

I wake up to dirty sheets, and a filthy body. We haven't had water for weeks now, and I don't have time or money to go to the washers. The only time I get food is from pre-planned school lunches that we paid for at the beginning at high school, and water from the fountains in front of the cafeteria. I get bullied like crazy now. Before they kept their distance because you were there; all big, burly and strong. Now they are like vultures. I get called names for my broken glasses, get made fun of because I fall asleep in class from staying up late because I have to do homework achieve even a passing grade in my classes. But the worst is the tripping.

I pray every time someone sticks a leg out that I don't break something when I fall. How do you explain the bruises that cover your body without raising suspicions? I am to weak from hunger and lack of sleep, so I can't fight my Dad back. I'm getting dangerously skinny, so my clothes are all baggy on my thin frame.

I'm hungry, un washed, abused, bullied, friendless and broke.

I suppose our 'Forever Friends' bracelet means nothing to you, because you haven't been there at all.

I'm going to seven eleven to spend my last dollar.

Hopefully I can make it worth it.

Holy showza! Why the f-ing hell hasn't she been telling me about what has been happening?! Dammit! Why was I so absorbed with my own stupid issues to notice that my best friend's life was on a one way street to shitville?

God! Come on, Paul! Where is the nearest seven eleven?! I needed to go and find Lani, sweep her up in my arms, and tell her it was okay. Forget the car. I'm running.

I burst into the seven eleven, and went through each isle, shouting her name. Shiy shit shit! She wasn't here! What if she killed herself? I slapped myself. Don't think that, Paul. Not if you want to stay sane.

"Have you seen Ilani here? She's like, 5' 6'', has glasses, the cutest nose ever, deep brown eyes that you just want to-" Oh bejesuses. "Look, have you seen her?"

The cashier who I had just raged at chuckled and looked me up and down.

"Lil' brunette girl? Dirty skin, ratty hair? Sure. Just came in and bought a scratch off. Won big, too."

"So she was here?" Wait- she won?

"Yup. Left, oh..." She glanced at her watch. "Ten minutes ago. Said she was headin' outta here." WHAT.

"Where did she say where she was going?"

"I dunno. But she headed to the bus station, so my guess is she was literally, ya know, 'Headin' outta here'. But I gu-" I didn't wait for the female cashier to finish what she was saying, I was already out the door and sprinting at full freaking speed to the bus station.

I made it there just in time to see the bus leaving. I could have sworn that I saw my imprint's eyes through the window, watching me as she departed, but I was probably going crazy. I felt crazy.

"Fuck!" I ran my hands through my short dark hair and sat down on the bench. It was then that I noticed Billy sitting by the bus stop sign.

"Watcha doin' here, son?" He asked casually.

"My- LilLi- Uh. Did you see Ilani get on that bus?"

"Ohh. Ilani? Yeah, yeah. Just won 50 thousand. Goin' on a trip to Los Angeles. Cool, huh? Short notice to her parents though; wherever they are. Can't have been close with her lookin' like that."

"What are you saying?" Was this old fart saying that my Li Li wasn't pretty?

"Woah, down boy. Were you lookin' for her?" Billy asked, trying to calm me down.

"Yes. Where is that bus going?" I was getting desperate. My freaking imprint just got a bus to who knows where, which is who knows how far away from me.

The old man just shrugged.

"I have no idea, but I know that where she wants to end up is Los Angeles. I don't think she cares how many buses or cars it takes to get there." Holy mother of-

"But she said she is coming back, right?"

"Well, I would suppose so. She's got school and things that tie her here. She'll be back, eventually." I took comfort in that. Eventually. I would have her back, eventually. I could see her face, eventually. I could hold her hand, eventually.

How long was this 'eventually' going to take?