Before Dawn

Chapter One

Dawn used to be my favorite time of day. The moon would fall and the sun would rise. Light bleeding into the multicolored sky. It was calming, quiet, mysterious even.

Dusk became my favorite after I met him. Those couple hours of adventure and passion. What I didn't know was that passion was harming and adventure was dangerous.

He was harming and dangerous.

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I was sitting on my roof and staring up at the sky as the sun fell. "Dahlia!" I heard my drunken mother call out. The sound of glass breaking echoing throughout the house. Climbing back into my open window and rushing down the steps.

My eyes immediately land on my mom, who was lying on the floor. Mumbling inaudible words, an empty broken bottle of red wine scattered on the wood floor. My instincts kicking in I did what I always do.

Wrapping my arms around my mothers waist and carrying her limp body to the couch. She came crashing down onto the old cigarette fragranced cushions. I picked up the mustard colored crotchet blanket draping it over my moms limp body.

This was routine. Or at least this was my routine. Next part of the routine was to clean up whatever she broke. Tonight it was a bottle of wine. The dark burgundy liquid seeping into the light carpet placed under the coffee table.

Glass shards cutting into my palms as I try to clean the carpet. Eventually I gave up. Throwing away the bloodied shards of glass and washing my hands.

It was currently 11 pm. I had 7 hours before my first day back to school. So not wanting to waste any time I grabbed my bag and walked out the front door. Quickly I sprinted down the streets. Lights lit up the streets of Tampa Bay Florida.

After 10 minutes of walking, I arrived at the beach. The water brushing against the sand. Waves crashing down on eachother loudly. This was my happy place.

Bringing myself down I sat comfortably on the sand. Digging through my bag I found my stolen pack of Marlboro cigarettes and a lighter. Placing the end on my plump lips I lit the other end. The flame reflecting in my eyes. As the fire died down the smoke entered my lungs. Inhaling it was refreshing. Then with an exhale the smoke surrounded me.

"Dahlia Sutton." Whipping my head back quickly I searched the scenery for the voice. After a couple silence filled seconds a boy walked out of the darkness.

It was Riley Blanchard.

He was my neighbor and my highschools golden boy. Guys wanted to be him, Girls wanted to be with him, and I wanted him to leave me alone. "What do you want Blanchard?" I turned back around trying my best to ignore the boy in the shadows.

"Some time consuming conversation would be amazing." Before I knew it he was sitting beside me. Looking at me in disgust. His freckle stained nose scrunched up and bushy eyebrows slightly arched.

"Whats with the face?" I finally asked after a couple awkward seconds. "Smokings bad for you ya know." He mentioned, his emerald green eyes landing on the cigarette hanging off my chapped bottom lip.

"What no really? I had no idea." Letting out a dramatic gasp before taking another puff. "It stinks can you put it out?" Of course how could I forget the perfect neighbor hated the stench of cigarettes.

"You could always just leave." I suggested with an eye roll. "Your mom make it inside alright?" The question infuriated me. It wasn't any of his business.

"Did your mom tuck you in tonight?" I'll admit it was a low blow considering his mother died years ago but I hated Riley Blanchard. "Is your dad enjoying the prison food?" He shot back. "Fuck you Blanchard!" It was still a touchy subject for me.

My father was put in prison a month ago for beating the shit out of my mother. Almost killing her to be precise. Little did everyone know my mother wasn't his only victim. I had a scar on my spine to prove it.

"Oh no did I push a button?" He placed his hand on his heart, if he even had one. "You have no effect on me whatsoever Blanchard." I was lying. He got on my nerves more then anyone ever has.

"Not even on your panties?" The question caught me by surprise. Sure Riley Blanchard was extremely good looking. Dark brown hair that framed his face perfectly. Tan skin from being in the sun for hours a day. Light freckles that seemed to be perfectly placed on his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. But I would never even consider liking him.

"I'm not sure Bryce would appreciate you asking me about my panties." Bryce was my boyfriend. We've been together for almost five months. "Ah yes Bryce, the boyfriend on the swim team." I could hear the annoyance in his voice as he said his name.

Riley hated Bryce, Bryce hated Riley.

"For the second time since you obviously didn't listen the first time. What do you want Blanchard?" I put the cigarette out in the sand. Throwing the bud in the pack I got it from. Littering the world we lived in disgusted me.

"I already told you Sutton, conversation." Riley Blanchard never just had conversations with me. We've had arguments but never just conversations. "What's the real reason?" He chuckled, flashing his pearly whites as he did.

"Is it so hard to believe that I just want to talk to you?" I nodded my head. "Seems like you have trust issues." He observed like he was my therapist. "I do not have trust issues." I argued. The nerve he had to try and diagnose me with trust issues.

"Well do you trust me?" His emerald eyes looking into my crystal blue orbs. "Of course I don't. Your Riley Blanchard, schools very own golden boy and douchebag." With that I stood from my seat in the sand. Wiping off my pants. He stood up, towering over me as I avoided eye contact.

"Where are you going?" He wondered, looking around the beach. "Home." I clarified to him. "Let me walk you." He insisted, but why? "Why?" My face scrunched up in disgust.

"Because it's late and I'm not letting you walk down the streets alone." Riley clarified taking my hand and dragging me away. It was a quiet walk. Neither of us bothering to break the comfortable silence.

After 10 minutes we were home. He walked me to my door staying at the bottom of the steps. "See you at school Blanchard." I saluted him while backing away to my front door. "Can't wait Sutton." With one last smirk he turned and walked into his house.

So I did the same. Looking down at my passed out mother and sighing. Slowly I walked up the steps to my bedroom. It was lit by the lamp in the corner of my room.

My bedroom window facing Riley's bedroom window. It looked like he still wasn't in his room. Choosing not to think about it I turned to the mirror placed next to my dresser.

I removed my T shirt throwing it on the floor of my bedroom. Turning around and hesitantly looking back in the mirror. And just like always it was still there. The reminder of what my father had done to this family still evident on my back.

If only Riley knew. Would he have said what he did earlier if he knew what my father had done to me? Of course he would, he's a Blanchard after all. And all Blanchards are the same.