CHAPTER ONE- FINDING SHELTER

I grabbed my bag I had brought just two days earlier. I hadn't even had time to unpack it before I left my parent's house. It wasn't like they could actually stop me. I was just glad I'd stayed in touch with my friends while I'd been away at college.

College. Ugh. At first I'd been ecstatic when I'd graduated early. My parents had been as well, but for different reasons. They were glad they had a 'genius' to brag about.

I was glad to get away.

I felt the breeze on my back as I walked down the sidewalk. Despite it being summer, it was still cold at night. I told my parent's I'd be leaving for a while, to stay at a friend's house.

To bad all my friends were out of town. That's what I get for deciding to spend the summer with my parents. Great. To imagine I could be in someplace amazing, and I'd decided to spend the summer with them. Way to pay me back. In fact, my mom was the reason I had chosen a college with so far away.

Wait, I think that Jackie just back. I needed to hear her voice, a familiar voice.

I dialed her number. No answer. I tried texting her. She replied.

'sory cant talk now grandparents waz up?' I replied.

'parents getin divorce I need a hug…or chocolate'

'o. me sry! I kno wat ur goin thru. It happened 2 me 2.'

I know. Her parents were separated too. I sighed.

'this sucs'

'wat does'

'life'

It was a while before she responded.

'I realy am sry 2 bad im not hom u cud com spend da nite'

'were r u? I thot u got hom alredy'

'I did. we r visitin my grandparents'

'o. I was gona ask if u knew a place I cud stay'

'y?'

'I dunt want 2 go hom now'

'hold on'

It seemed like I waited forever. Then I felt my phone ringing in my hands. I answered it immediately.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Cher. It's me."

The smile in Jackie's voice was evident.

"Who?"

"You know who I am, moron. Now listen. I might have a solution to your problem."

"What?"

"Well, a friend of the family is taking his family on vacation and they wanted me to house sit…but obviously I can't because I'm not in town. So…"

"Are you asking me to go over to some strangers house to live while they're OUT OF TOWN? How can you even begin to think that's a good idea?"

"It is! I already called Mr. Lennox and he said he's cool with it. He left already, right after I told him I'd found him a house sitter. He and his wife are already at the airport, along with their daughter. They were expecting me over there, but when I explained the situation, he said it'd be fine."

"How do you even know these people?"

"Long time family friends. Mr. Lennox is in the military, I think. I babysit Annabelle sometimes. All you got to do is go and stay there. No family problems, just you and a house…"

"Yah, until Jason comes and kills me."

I could see her rolling her eyes. The annoyance was evident in her voice.

"You've watched way too many horror movies. I should have never given you that blockbuster gift card…"

"Your problem, not mine. Anyways, if I did accept this offer, you're sure it'd be ok with the neighbors? I don't need a police knocking at the door because they saw a kid breaking into their neighbor's house."

"Don't worry about that. The Lennox house is pretty far away from anyone else. They like their privacy. They have a huge plot of land that extends into a forest. I think they might use it as a paintball course or something…"

"Ok."

"Huh? Does that mean you agree?"

"Yah, fine. So how am I supposed to get in this house without breaking in?"

"Um… There should be a key under the third stepping stone. That's my key and that's how I normally get in."

"Ok. So how am I supposed to get there?"

"Um, don't you have a car?"

"At my house."

"Oh yah. Um… I could ask Mr. Lennox if he knew of somebody who could give you a ride."

"How far away is this place?"

"Um… it's a pretty good ways away. I don't think it'd be a good idea to walk." She knew me too well.

"Fine. I'll find a way. Call me back if you get an answer from this Lennox guy."

"Kay. I'll text you the address."

" Listen, sorry for my attitude earlier. It's just so… hectic right now. "

"I know, Cher. I hope it gets better for you."

"Me too. Thanks, Jackie. You're a better friend than I deserve."

"Don't I know it."

I laughed. "Shut up!"

"Hey, I gotta go. I think my Grandma made brownies."

"Lucky. Hey, grab one from me, will ya?"

"Will do! Adios."

"Bye."

We both hung up. I sighed. How the heck was I gonna get at this place? Ugh. Maybe I should just walk. My phone rang, signaling a txt.

'Here's the address…and DON'T WALK!' A familiar street name was listed.

I rolled my eyes. What was the big deal? I could walk to this place. It was on my bus route during school. It wasn't that big of deal.

I made up my mind. I'd already grabbed my bag with the necessities. After all, my parents did think I was at a friend's house. I started walking down the sidewalk again. I heard a voice call my name.

"HEY CHERISH, WHAT'S UP?"

I looked up at one of the houses to see my neighbor Sam waving at me from his window.

"Hey, Sam. What's up?"

"Hold on. I'll be right down."

I was nervous. It was getting dark soon and I needed to get on my way as soon as possible.

Finally he appeared and rushed over to me.

"Hey!"

"Hi…"

"Man. I haven't seen you in forever! You haven't even been in school. Are you Ok?"

Sam and me have been neighbors forever. We'd hung out a lot, but I'd never considered him one of my closer friends. I knew he was dating that Mikaela Banes… but not much else.

"Yah. I'm fine."

"Whatcha been doin? You aren't in rehab, are you?"

I laughed, but sobered at his serious expression.

"No. Just college."

"Dude. College? Aren't you like, a freshman?"

I rolled my eyes. "Knock it off. You know I've been in the same grade as you since I skipped kindergarten."

"Yah, but my popsicle house was better than yours."

"Which is why the teacher awarded me first prize…"

"She was just being nice…so are you really in college now?"

I nodded.

"Woah. I'm starting next semester. You know I wondered where you went after you didn't come to school at the beginning of the school year. I thought you'd just moved schools."

"Sam, chill it's just College. No big deal."

"Yah, It's a big deal! You skipped senior year!"

"Ugh, Sam, I don't want to talk about that."

"Fine. So, where're you goin with that bag? I thought you were staying with your parents."

"I was. I'm not anymore."

He seemed to get the idea. "Oh. So where're you going?"

"I was gonna stay with Jackie, but she's not here. I called her and she said she knew a place. So, here I am. I gotta housesit for a week while some guy called Lennox goes on vacation to who knows where."

"Did you say Lennox?"

I nodded. "Why, you know him?"

He shook his head vigorously. "What? No! O-of course not. I don't think I know anybody by that name."

"And I don't think you're telling the truth, but who am I to be a moral guideline?"

He looked embarrassed to have been found out. "Aha… Um… wait. Are you WALKING?"

I rolled my eyes. "What is with everybody? It's not like it's freezing!"

"But it's really far! And it's night!"

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

"No need to be rude."

"Sorry, but I've had a bad day. I really just wanna get settled."

Sam's face lit up. "I have an idea!"

"Well, spit it out. We don't want it to die of loneliness."

He ignored me. "I can drive ya."

"Do you know how to get there?"

"Be- I mean but of course!"

I sighed. It had gotten dark. "Fine. Whatever. Just so long as I get there in one piece."

"Don't worry me and Bumblebee will have you there in a jiffy."

"Bumblebee?"

Sam looked embarrassed. "My car."

A memory sprung to mind and I couldn't help double over laughing. Sam scowled. "What's the matter? You don't like his name?"

I shook my head. "His name is perfect…haha. I just noticed a pattern is all."

Sam looked at me to explain. I stood up and looked at him.

"When were kids, you remember you had a tricycle?"

He nodded.

"What was it's name?"

Sam turned a deep shade of red. "That's not funny."

"It is! You named your tricycle Ladybug! Your dad was so confused! Then your bike. You remember your bike, don'tcha?" Sam nodded.

"What did you name it?"

Sam mumbled something.

"What? I can't hear you."

Sam spoke a little louder. "Spider… but that's different! That was because of Spider Man!"

That's when I started laughing again. "Ladybug, Spider, and now Bumblebee…wow."

"You know, if you really want, you can just walk."

"Really? You'd let me? Thanks!"

I started walking down the sidewalk. Sam grabbed my arm.

"Of course not! Ratchet would kill me…"

"Who?"

"Jeez, nobody. Now, come on."

He practically dragged me back to his car, which was a camaro. He tossed my bag inside and motioned for me to get inside.

"You coulda just asked… no need to kidnap me…"

Sam chuckled. "You're such a drama queen."

I just smirked at him and climbed in the car. As we drove down the winding road, music blared through the speakers. I clutched my bag protectively.

Ha… as if that would make everything go away.

I was thinking about everything that had happened. It all seems so unreal. Without meaning to, I let a single tear roll down my cheek.

Sam saw it before I could wipe it away.

Funny, it didn't even look like he was really driving.

"Cher, are you ok? What happened with your parents? They're not hurt, are they?"

I laughed bitterly. "No, they're great… since they decided to split."

Sam sat back. "That's awful."

"No, that's bad. The awful part is my mom says it's my fault."

"That's not true! While you were away, they argued even more…oh, sorry."

"Thanks for trying to help, and failing miserably. Can we not talk about it? I just need some rest."

"You sure?"

I nodded. He smiled as we pulled into what I supposed was the Lennox's driveway.

He helped me out. "Uh, can you get in?"

I nodded. "Jackie told me where she keeps the spare key."

I grabbed it from the place she'd told me about. "Tada…" Sam looked concerned again.

"Cher, are you sure you're gonna be ok here… by yourself?"

"I'll be fine, Sam."

"Atta girl." He punched my arm playfully. Crap.

I crumpled to the ground with a yelp of pain and fresh tears sprung to my eyes.

That afternoon, I'd got my arm sliced by some barbed wire. Why the heck did we even HAVE barbed wire in our back yard?

I was coming inside to fix it up when… well me and my mom had a "confrontation".

"Holy- are you ok? What'd I do? Oh my gosh-"

"Shut up Sam. You didn't do anything. Recent injury."

He helped me to my feet. "How recent?"

I mumbled. "What?"

"Like, this afternoon… about a half hour before you saw me."

"Lemme see. I was wondering why you had that stupid jacket on."

"No! It's nothing…"

"Let. Me. See."

I growled at him. "What are you going to do? Rip it off me? Now let go of me Sam. My parents didn't care, and neither should you."

"No! I'm not-"

"Go home!"

Then Sam did something I didn't think he'd do. He grabbed my arm. I let out a yelp of pain.

"Ow! What the crap do you think you're doing? That hurts!"

Sam grabbed tighter. "I thought it was 'nothing'."

"Fine! Whatever! Just let go!" He did. I clutched my arm to my chest protectively.

"Let me see it, Cher."

Begrudgingly, I shed my jacket, revealing a deep laceration oozing blood. Dang. It hadn't been that bad earlier.

Sam was furious. "What the- YOU CALL THAT NOTHING!"

He turned to his car. "Bee, call Ratchet, quick."

I was already feeling light headed from the blood loss. "Who are you talking to?"

I swayed on my feet. The world was spinning and I felt extremely dizzy. Sam steadied me.

My eyes widened as Sam's camaro transformed into a humongous… something.

Sam's grip on me tightened. "Bee? What are you doing? You wanna scare her to death? Ironhide is gonna kill us both…"

That was my last memory before the world went dark.