a n o n y m o u s

p r o l o g u e

"I don't like it here. Even my friends aren't my friends. My parents won't speak to me, I haven't seen my brother in years. In fact, he might even be dead. But I don't know because my life is so twisted up and I'm kinda screwed. I have nothing." Lydia said looking frantically around the dark alley. Her curled blonde hair was damp from the light rain above her.

"You have me." Grayson said putting his hand on Lydia's shoulder. "I love you. Yeah, you have flaws. Many, many flaws..."

Lydia pushed Grayson's hand off her shoulder and scowled at him.

"I'm just kidding, Lyd."

"Don't call me that."

"What? Lyd? Isn't that kind of you name?" Grayson asked.

asshole

"You know only Julia can call me that." Lydia said referring to her best friend.

"Okay, okay fine." He put his hand up in surrender. "But you are perfect to me." Grayson put his lips on hers and cuffed his hands around her jaw and then started moving them down her hips.

He moved his hands farther and farther down but Lydia turned away and backed up.

Grayson almost looked hurt, and that's not normal for him. He was the 'cool kid.' The one who always fit in and he never got dumped. He was the dumper. Never the dumpee. And yes, he's sometimes a jerk, but nowadays that doesn't seem to matter anymore. He was the hottest guy in school, so of coarse Lydia would say yes. She's a 17 year old girl and he's about to graduate high school. And girls, they want someone to hold them when they're sad and pick them up when they fall.

"What? Is something wrong?" Grays asked.

"No, it's just... I'm not in the mood tonight."

"Alright. I love you, Lydia." His voiced echoed against the brick walls.

She looked down not wanting to respond. It wasn't that she didn't love Grayson, but she didn't like to use 'love' since she really didn't know what the word truly meant. It's a strong word. And she didn't want to waste it on everyone. She wanted to save it.

Lydia hugged Grayson and said, "I don't want to stay."

"Then let's leave."

2:27 a.m.

Dear mom and dad,

I'm moving away with Grays. I didn't want to wake you guys up, so I wrote this note. You probably wouldn't care either way. But I packed my stuff and I won't be in your way anymore.
(Oh, and you don't have to feed the cat anymore. I'm taking her with me.)

~Lydia