Who Needs Saving?

Chapter One: The Return

        I stare blankly at the pages in my book as the train slows down. Did I really have to come back? Anxiety had already begun to fill me, but I couldn't run forever. Mom was right about that.

         My name is Samantha Anders, and for the past summer I have been staying with my Grandparents in London. It was decided by my mother, who realized I was on the verge of suicide due to school. Most would say that I was a coward, but you didn't go to my school.

          The train came to a stop, I slowly get up taking my time gathering my things. At least this will be the last year. That, for some odd reason didn't cheer me up. It's like my subconscious had a sense of foreboding.

          When I got off the train, my mother is waiting with a slightly annoyed look. I guess I would be pissed too if the person I was waiting for was the last one off. When she sees me she smiles almost like she doesn't recognize me, I think that's going to happen a lot. Let me explain. Before i went out of country, I was very big. I mean gargantuan, I literally weighed almost three hundred pounds. But now I was a solid one fifty. I have a short pixie cut that shapes my heart-shaped face. My eyes are a vibrant green. Which works since I dyed my hair black.

           " Samantha?" My mother asks. She looks shocked to see me. Like she didn't believe I was coming home. I nod, then hug her tightly. " What happened to you?"

            " Oh mom, your subtlety will be the death of you." I answer sarcastically. " Lets just say, Grandma got some sense in me."

          We left without saying anything else. The car ride was even silent. Which worried me. A lot. It's bad enough I had to return to this hell, but for some reason I felt like it was going to get a lot freaking worse. Little did I know.

     When we got home I noticed my mom hesitate before getting out of the car. I couldn't take it anymore.

      " What the hell is going on? You have been eerily quiet the whole damn ride, which is making me nervous." I glare at her so she knows I am serious. Though at the same time hoping she doesn't slap the shut out of me. Then she lets out a heavy sigh.

         " Your father and I are living together. Seliena died from a car accident this summer. You step father thought it would be nice to let him and Ariana stay here until they can get back on there feet." She looked at me, knowing she had more to say. " I know Ariana was one of the people who hurt you, but she is your step sister, and the only thing your father has left of Seliena."

        I stare blankly for a few seconds, then the hyperventilating begins. Slowly a sit on the ground trying to control my breath. This cannot be happening. This seriously cannot be happening. Does God hate me this much? Next she is going to tell me Mitchell Redding was living here too!

        " Sweety it's ok. You are a new person now. You can handle this."

       " I am not a new person! I am the same damn girl who left mid term last year! The only difference is what I look like! Does that qualify as a new person to you? Are you that shallow?" I am beyond hysterical now.  I can't do this, I can't come back to this town, and relieve the torture of my high school years. I get up without thinking a run as fast as I can. My safe place calling for me, welcoming me back home.

  

          I stop running when I reach the park. I was kind of amazed I actually made it this far. If it's one thing I used to hate it was running, obviously. I search for the swings, glad no one else is at the park. Finding my swing I sit down. Ahhh, this swing has comforted me a many of time. I even wrote my name on it. I was too busy reminiscing about the swing I didn't hear someone come and sit down next to me.

      " Now, how did I know the first place I would find my Sammy, would be at our swing sets?" I jump from the voice the a smile breaks out on my face. I squeal as I hug my one and only best friend. Elaine Sorensen. My best friend since preschool.

        " I so sorry. I just kind of went where my feet took me." I smile sheepishly. She hugged me tight then gave me the look about. I was wearing my white KISS halter top dress, with black leggings, and white converse. She whistled, then winked at me.

          " Girl, what happened to you? I mean you still got the same style, my awesome nerd. But you cut your hair, and someone squeezed you thin. And solid."  I giggled, and for some reason couldn't stop, which had Elaine giggling, until finally we need air.

          " Did I mention my grandmother is strict. " I will not have a fat depressing granddaughter. God knows your mother went through her fat stage, you will get past this too". Elaine looked at me shocked. " Very serious. She worked me to the bone. But she was right, I got past it. Though my living situation might bring me back."

          " Damn, tough granny. So you heard huh?" I nodded. " Well it gets worse. Mitchell just got back to town too. His parents sent him to juvenile detention, like right after you left. Rumor is your mom threatened to sue if they didn't."

           " She did. I knew he went, didn't know he was back. Grrrrr. Life hates me. It really does."

         " Come on, we have a week before school starts, let's get this show on the road."