A Change Of Fate

Chapter One

"Bye Tristan!" A group of lower class men yelled in her direction as she walked out of the school building.

She smiled at them and kept walking.

Her long blonde hair swayed back and forth as she headed home. There was a hop in her step. Today had been a great day for Tristan. She was in a perfect mood, that was until she stepped foot on her driveway.

This always happened.

Most people hated going to school. They would all countdown the seconds until the bell would ring, racing home to their loved ones.

This wasn't Tristan's case. Home was a dangerous place for her. She was hit or punched every day. She never did anything to deserve it, her mom was just always drinking. It made her lose control of her judgment, which made her angry, which made her hit.

It never helped that Tristan's father was never home, not that he would be able to prevent what happened.

School had always been Tristan's safe zone. She could escape that hard life she lived and no one would ever notice.

Tristan took a deep breath and walked into the hell she called home. "Where have you been?" Her mother slurred from the couch. She was drunk., no surprise.

"School? Like every other day." Tristan shot back, but immediately wished she could take it back.

"Excuse me?" Her mother snarled, standing up from the dirty couch. "Don't you think for one minute that you can get away with your bitchy little attitude here." She spat out before smacking Tristan right across the face.

Her hand shot up to her cheek and held it. She had to clench her teeth together to make sure she wouldn't show the tears that desperately wanted to let loose. Crying would only bring more pain.

"Go to your room. Now!"

Tristan did as told and scurried to her rom. She threw her book bag in the corner of her room and fell on the bed.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed a familiar number, praying there would be an answer. "Hello?"

Tristan couldn't form words at first. She was in shock that he finally answered. She hadn't spoken to him in weeks. "Hayden." She whispered, knowing that if she was caught talking to her brother, she would be hit even more.

"Tristan?" He asked hopefully.

Tears of joy filled her eyes "Yes."

"How are you?" Hayden asked into the phone, thankful he could hear his sisters voice again.

She gulped before responding. "Worse. It happens every day now." Tristan was referring to the abuse.

"Tris, I am so sorry I left you there by yourself. I still can't forgive myself for letting you take all of it alone." He apologized sincerely.

Tristan wiped her stray tears. "Don't worry about it. I'm just happy to hear your voice." It was the truth. Tristan had counted the days since she had seen or talked to her brother. Sure, she had lots of friends at school, but Hayden was her best friend. When their parents' bad habits progressed, they grew closer to each other. They could tell each other anything without having to worry about the other judging them.

"Same here. I miss you, sis. Come see me." Hayden said.

Tristan pondered at the idea at first but figured it wouldn't be a very good idea. "I can't. Do you know how pissed mum would be?"

"Who cares what Kathy thinks?"

"My face does and various other parts of my body." She responded coldly. She didn't like getting hit more than necessary.

"Oh." It hit him what she meant. "Lock your door and sneak out the window. Meet me at the Starbucks on Fifth. I get off work in twenty minutes."

Tristan thought about it for a while but finally agreed, doing as she was told and climbed out the window. Starbucks wasn't too far away, she could walk to it in time to meet Hayden.

She was in a hurry, but not in a big enough one to be running. She kicked at a small stone along the side walk with her grey corduroy toms until she arrived at her destination.

Tristan walked in, the bell ringing when she entered, but Hayden was nowhere to be found.

Sitting down at a nearby table, Tristan scrolled through Tumblr on her white iPhone 4, reblogging cute quotes and cool pictures. After thirty minutes of waiting, her phone vibrated, revealing a text from Hayden.

From: Brutha

Got scheduled for the night shift. Can't make it! :( I'm so sorry, Tris!

Well, that was upsetting.

She typed back something close to 'it's okay' and put away her phone, ready to leave.

"Thank you for coming!" One of the baristas called after her and she waved in response.

Before Tristan could take even a few steps, something hard bumped into her and knocked her onto the ground.

It was a guy who looked to be her age or a little older. His swishy brown hair was partially hidden by a grey beanie and his crystal blue eyes made her feel as if his stare was piercing into him. He offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you there."

Tristan wiped off her bum and looked up at him. "It's fine."

"Dude, come on." A dark-skinned boy said to him before pulling at his arm.

"See you around." The boy winked at Tristan before walking into Starbucks.

He was attractive. Something about him made Tristan want to get to know him more.

Tristan forced herself to go home, worried about what would happen when she sneaked back through her window.

Much to her surprise, all of the lights were off and her mum was passed out on the couch, so she climbed through the window, unlocked her door, and got in her bed to sleep.