Half Alive prologue/chapter 1

I awoke once again to a new day streaming through my window. When would it ever end? My feet touched the floor and i lifted myself from the bed and walked tiredly to my closet, and slipping from my silk night clothes, i pulled out a pair of faded blue jeans and a T shirt. I yawned, pulling up my black ankle socks, and Then got to my feet and headed down stairs. 1

Upon walking into the kitchen, my aunt staci smiled from the stove she was cooking breakfast on. 2

"Morning Maria." She said, flipping three eggs simultaniously. I smiled and nodded. Staci was in college to be a cheff, and it was a wonder she stayed so small in the waist, with all of her taste testing and such. 3

"Morning aunt staci." I said, holding out a plate. She giggled and flipped the finished eggs onto my plate, and then added the french toast she had already cooked. I set my plate down and went to the fridge and got out the pitcher of hole made orange juice, and poured myself a glass. 4

Breakfast never really was a grand spectacle when i lived with my father. I never ate. He always wanted me nice and thin for him to take advantage of. But not here. Here was a home i could live in without the constant fear of being raped each night by someone that was supposed to love me. I didnt have a mother to protect me from his evilness. She had died when i was three. I had no doubt it was my father that killed her. I never went to school, so no one asked why i had bruises and scars all over my body, or why i was so thin. I was alone. Until a miracle occured one monring and the police showed up at my door step. My father had yelled and cussed at me as he was being led out the door in hand cuffs.5

The memory still haunted me, even after being here with a loving aunt for three months. I still wondered how the police found out about my father abusing me.6

I silently rubbed the scares on my wrists where i had cut myself, attempting to escape my father. Attempting to escape life. I drank down my orange juice as if it was a shot of whiskey, and ate the rest of my food. Aunt staci walked over and kissed my forhead, she loved having me here. She wasnt capable of having children of her own. 7

"See you after school Rio." She said. Rio was her nick name for me. I liked it. It was a pleasent change from being called a cum rag. I shuddered at the memory, and wondered when i would forget my past. But i knew that six teen years of sexual abuse would always be with me. I smiled at staci and took a deep breath.8

"Yeah. Have a nice day at college." I said. School was something i never used to go to. My father wouldnt let me. He homeschooled me on the computer. I was still adjusting to the crowdes of people. 9

The good news was that i was ahead of my grade. 10

I guzzled the last of my juice and put the plate and the cup in the sink, and then slung my pack over my shoulder, then sat down on an armchair to pull on my converse shoes. I tied the plain white laces and then walked out the door, shouting a good bye behind me to staci. 11

I walked to school. It wasnt a very long way away, and i needed the exercize. Walking across the green lawn of the school, dodging footballs thrown by boys and avoiding the eyes of curiouse girls, all wondering who's click i would join. I didnt think i would ever fit in with anyone. 12

"Maria! Maria RoseHart!" Someone shouted my name. I turned warily and looked for the person shouting, but found no one turned toward me. Everyone was engaged in their own conversations or playing sports. 13

I turned back toward the school and resumed walking. I hoped i wasnt going insane, just when things where starting to get good in life. 14

I walked through the doors of the still unfamiliar school and made my way slowly through the crowded hall toward my locker. How could so many kids be in one small town? 15

I opened my locker and put my bag and coat inside it, and listened in in absently to the whispered conversation beside me. And for once i was glad that no one was talking about me. 16

"Can you beleive their twins?" One girl squiled. 17

"They are both so hot! I hope they like blondes." The other laughed. 18

"I heard they come from some place in Illinois." 19

"What do you think they are doing here in michigan?" I turned to them and spoke quietly.20

"Um, excuse my interruption but, who are you talking about?" I asked. The one with curly long blonde hair and blue eyes giggled and got closer to me, she looked around to make sure no one was listening before she spoke. 21

"Two new boys came in this morning, Jordan and Preston BlackBurn. They are beyond hot!" She squeeled enthusiasticly. I looked around the crowded hall, searching through the vaguely familiar faces to find the two new boys. 22

"Where?" I asked. She smiled, grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the hall way toward the office. She stopped by the door and peered into the room, and then giggled.23

"In there!" She said. I looked in, and saw two tall boys with their backs turned to me. They both had dark brown hair and from the looks of it, pale white skin. Their clothing from the back looked average, jeans and a pullover shirt. What was so special about them? Sure, they werent fat or short, but was was so special about them? 24

My eyes widened when the boy on the right turned and looked straight at me with bottomless deep brown eyes. His lips turned up into a small smile, and then he turned back to his brother, and nudged him. He whispered something, and then the other turned and looked to me. 25

And my heart skipped a beat. 26

Starring at me with deep chocolate eyes, was the most beautiful man i had ever laid my hazel eyes on. His perfect pale pink lips smiled at me, saying hello, his eyes shimmered kindly.His hand came up to nervously tangle in his chestnut locks. Beside me, the blonde girl sighed audibly. I tore my eyes away from the man, and looked to make sure she didnt faint. 27

"Audry, dont fall over." I said. I had herd her name many times before, being whispered by jelouse girls and foot ball boys. I was sure it was her name. 28

"I wont fall." She said faintly. I laughed quietly before taking in a shaky breath and slowly turning away from the office and making my way back to my locker to get my books. The first hour bell rang and I rushed toward my classroom. 29

I absently looked out the window while doodling idly on the note book infront of me. The teacher, mr Banner, went on talking about the importants of algebra and calculouse. My least favorite subject was math. Any kind of math. 30

I looked back absently, feeling awkward, and met a pair of curious brown eyes. He was starring at me. Preston BlackBurn.