Chapter 1
* * *
"There is a new girl living next to me," Vern said one late evening. We all sat in our tree house talking about nothing.
"Yeah what she like," Chris asked.
"Well she has a brother and a dad, who aren't very nice to her, I hear them yelling at her all the time. Most of the time she sits on her front steps and cries," he explained.
"Girls like that are looking for attention," Teddy said, Teddy always thought everyone was looking for attention. I looked out towards the sky the sun was going down
"I have to go," I said getting up.
"Yeah me to, wait up Gordie," Chris yelled as I jumped down from the tree house, he jumped down to and we both made our way to our houses.
* * *
I was told never to walk around at night by myself…I should of listen to the person who had told me that. The sun had gone down and the only light was given from the street lights.
"Hey there…" someone said, I turned around to face four boys all older and bigger then me. I recognized one as Eye Ball one of my brother Sky's friends.
"What do you want," I yelled backing away from them.
"To have some fun…' Eye Ball alighted.
"Not with me you won't, I am not afraid of you guys," I yelled.
"You will soon," he laughed taking out his knife. I looked at him horror in my eyes, and then I took off running along the dirt road. Eye Ball and his friends behind me.
"You won't get away," I heard Eye Ball yell. Then suddenly I ran into someone, I would of fell to the ground but they caught me.
"Hey what are you doing," I heard a boy yell.
"Well if it isn't my brother Chris," Eye Ball said laughing, "And Gordie, how is your brother…wait he is dead."
"Leave my brother out of this," Gordie yelled.
"Get out of here Eye Ball," Chris yelled as he pushed me behind him.
"This isn't over Kat," Eye Ball yelled and left with his three friends laughing behind him.
The two boys turned to face me. They stepped into the light from the street lights, and I got a better look at them. Chris the one Eye Ball had said was his brother was much better looking than Eye Ball, he had baby blue eyes and blonde hair, and he looked strong. Gordie wasn't bad either, he had brown hair and brown eyes.
"Are you ok," Chris asked.
"Yes I am fine," I said backing up, I still couldn't trust them.
"We won't hurt you," Gordie said.
"You must be the new girl Vern was talking about," Chris said putting his hands in his jean pockets.
"Yes, I really have to get home," I said backing up more.
"We will walk you home," Gordie suggested.
"Yeah," Chris added.
"No that's really alright," I said.
"I think we should, Eye Ball might still around," Chris said walking with me.
"Yeah," Gordie said. I stopped to look at them both; I knew they wouldn't give up.
"Fine," I said.
"I am Chris by the way and this is Gordie," Chris said as we walked the dirt path to my house.
"I am Katrina but everyone calls me Kat," I said.
"Where are you from," Gordie asked.
"I am from Texas," I said stopping at my house.
"This is my house, thank you both, I don't know what I would do if I didn't run into you to," I said as I walked to my front door.
"No problem," Chris said walking away.
"If you ever want to hang out tell Vern he hangs with us to..." and with that the two strangers where gone….
Days passed and weeks rushed on. Summer was coming to an end and school would be starting. A new school with the same people in it. My brother Sky came in my room one night.
"Kat did you clean the bathroom yet," Sky yelled.
"No it is your turn," I said reading a magazine.
"Kat clean up the mess," he yelled grabbing my arm and pulling me up.
"No," I yelled. Then he hit me across the face. I grabbed the pocket knife off of my dresser and held it up to him.
"Do that again and I swear I will use this," I yelled.
"Forget you," he yelled and slammed the door shut. I looked towards my window then decided to get out. My house was one story so I climbed out of the window and started down the street. The street lights where starting to come on. I walked by Vern's house, he talked to me once in a while. Vern and his three friends sat on his front porch laughing and smoking, they watched me walk by, staring at my every move. I walked towards the woods not stopping, not caring. Then I heard something behind me, I turned around…but no one. I began to walk faster and faster, until someone touched my arm. I spun around holding up my knife.
"Wow Kat it is me," someone said, then I noticed it was Vern.
"Shit Vern you scared the hell out of me," I yelled smacking him in the arm.
"Where you going," he asked.
"Anywhere except Castle rock," I yelled, turning around and started walking the other way, but someone else blocked my way. I never saw this boy before.
"Get the hell out of my way," I screamed.
"No,"
"No…who are you to be telling me what to do," I asked.
"Teddy knock it off," someone else said the voice belong to Gordie. Gordie and Chris walked up next to me.
"What is this shit leave me alone," I yelled.
"Kat…" Chris stated to say as he grabbed my arm.
"Don't fuck with me Chris leave me alone, you don't live the life I do," I yelled holding my knife up.
"Kat come back to Vern's house with us," Gordie said.
"We want to help you," Teddy said walking closer. I looked at all of them.
"Fine…"