Ormond, Alberta

1993

Frank Morrison was 16 and had little to show for it. A few weeks prior, he had just been transferred to his newest home. He was taken away at six years old. He had gone through many, many foster homes. This one wouldn't be any different, he thought. He'd be out of this town just like he'd gotten out of many others. Frank was always a fighter, an angry young man. His anger usually led to fights, which usually led to him being sent back to the orphanage, where the next round of foster parents would come to take him right back out. His anger grew worse and worse every move. A rage deep within him was stirring.

And yet, he found himself at a party. It was his third one since he'd moved. All of them were thrown by some popular girl, richest folks in town. He figured if he was stuck here for the moment, he'd might as well try to have some fun. Nobody knew who he was. He was an outsider. But there was something particular about this outsider. The way he talked, the way he moved, he lit up the room. Right now, he was the center of attention. For an outsider, he was pretty cool.

Julie saw the outsider again. he was never invited. How'd he know where to come? His presence annoyed her. "He's gathering an awful lot of attention…" She told Susie.

"Yea…" Susie said.

"He's an outsider…a total nobody! How is it that he always shows up to these parties, knowing nobody, but always draws up a crowd?"

"Maybe people just like him," Susie said.

"I don't even know his name." Julie spat.

"Why don't you go find out?" Susie said. Good idea, Julie thought.

Julie marched over to the crowd of kids surrounding the outsider. She cleared her throat, puffed out her chest, and sturdied her expression. "Excuse me!"

Frank leaned against the railing of the girl's porch, hands in his pocket, smirking an insufferable smirk.

"Are you gonna tell me what you're doing here?" The girl spat.

Frank exhaled a soft laugh through his nose, the smirk never leaving his face. "Looked like a fun time," he spoke, "thought you needed one too."

The girl lifted one eyebrow. "I am having a fun time!" she said with venom creeping through her voice.

"Really? Doesn't it get a little bit boring?" Frank chuckled. "I've been to these parties three times…every week it's the same thing. I don't know how long you've been doing this for, but it's already starting to lose its charm."

The girl's eyebrows furrowed. "Hey! I-"

"Don't you wish you had more?" Frank's smirk fell.

The girl stopped. Now she was thinking. "I-"

"I mean, I think you deserve far better than a life stuck doing the same thing over and over again, with no reward…" he chuckled. "You deserve better than a life in Ormond…" The girl's fury was now replaced with confusion. Frank resumed his smirk. "What's your name?"

"Julie…Julie Collins." She responded.

"That's a pretty name." He smiled at her. "I like it. I'm Frank. Frank Morrison. It's a pleasure to meet you." He started walking back inside her house. "Are you coming?"