Half Hearted

Chapter One

{Dedicated to everyone who has been hopelessly in love.}

| Teresa |

The day after I turned twenty-two became a dramatically hectic day; it all started when I met him.

I went to my parents' house for the weekend because they wanted to have a birthday party that included family and close friends only. Although the drive from the city to the small town was only a couple of hours, I packed two days worth of clothes, and enough of my favourite snack to last the trip.

I had to get away from the city for a while since school had started getting on my nerves. Not much of the learning itself, but the people.

It was always the people.

When I got there the town hadn't changed much. Aside from the neon signs newly hung on the old stores, as well as the steady growing number of tourists, everyone else stayed the same.

I entered the house and was welcomed warmly by my parents. The smell of lavender burned my nose as I navigated my way to my old room, posters of my favourite childhood cartoons and animes plastered all over the walls. Sighing, I unpacked my clothes quickly and later went back downstairs to join them for the party preparations.

Although my parents were never big on throwing parties for themselves, my birthday was a different case. Since I was an only child, they felt the need to shower me with unconditional love every now and then. Sometimes it would be on Skype, and other times it would be a surprise visit while I was just laying on my couch at the apartment.

I didn't mind. As a matter of fact, I secretly loved it. It was nice to have a reminder that you were loved, every now and then.

Wiping down the cupcake holder, the doorbell rung and my mom dropped her rolling pin to get it. I didn't see who came through the door, but I heard the familiar voices of my aunts and uncles. They came to help set up as well.

Soon the house became filled with people. Some were relatives I adored, while others were people I wouldn't have minded dying without. Even the neighbourhood cop came to give me a greeting, and I thanked him with a smile. Back at the city, everyone hated cops. No matter if they were doing good or not. I, too, had my fair share of good and bad experiences.

I walked here and there, obeying my parents' orders of thanking everyone who came. And then I saw Tyler.

Tyler was my childhood friend, who grew into nothing more but an acquaintance. I would admit, a part of me still wanted some magical relationship to bud out of what we had, but I gave it a rest knowing nothing would ever happen.

"Hey, Reese!" He greeted, still using my childhood nickname - and spilling over some of his champagne as he made his way over to me. I cringed at the liquid splashing down on the floor. Something more to clean up after the party, I internally cringed. "Happy birthday! What's the big number now?"

"Twenty-two," I replied, clinking my glass with him. His eyes were still the same as they were back then - green, and full of life.

"I completely forgot," he stated, bringing a hand to his forehead. "You're only one month older than me."

I gave a forced chuckle and hoped that he didn't notice my mood whenever I was around him. Being who he was, he never did, so we carried on with conversation about our pasts, presents, and our futures.

When time ran out, and people had to leave, my parents bid me a happy birthday. I cleaned up a little bit, and then brought my presents to my room. The presents consisted mostly of gift cards, cash, and ceramic mugs - there was also the occasional sweater that fit either too loose or too tight.

After unwrapping every present I yawned, signaling that my body needed rest, and then crashed on my old twin bed - which was, sadly, still big enough to fit me. I was an adult, but a miniature sized one.

| Ash |

Ash woke up with a blundering headache that day, along with a bruise that seemed to cover the size of Alaska. But that wasn't the odd part. The odd part was that he woke up on cement in front of the motel doors.

Recalling last night's events, he remembered that he was pleading the motel owners to let him sleep in a room for free. He would even work there to pay, he remembered saying, but the answer that came out was always 'no.' Rubbish, he thought, Canada was supposed to be nicer than any country in the world.

Sighing, he got up and rubbed his left cheek - dented by the rough pavement. It would be another day of trying to find a roof to live under, without the use of money.

"Fuck," he swore under his breath, seeing that someone had stolen the sunglasses from his pockets.

For a week he'd been living like this, walking as a means of transportation, and not knowing where he'd end up next. Although he didn't enjoy it, he considered it better than his circumstances before - a topic he was not too enlightened to think about.

Getting up from the ground, he didn't bother wiping down the dirt that found itself comfortable on his leather jacket over night, and started heading towards... well, he didn't know yet. He didn't believe in destiny, but yet again the things he did believe in often came to be his reasons for agony.

Turning the corner, he put his hands in his pockets and exhaled. The only thing he relied on now was that it wasn't winter yet. Winter was delayed in Canada, and he was grateful that he still had some time to find a job and a building to house himself in. As well as save up money for his smokes. His addiction was slowly finding its way back to him, and he didn't know how much longer he could stop it from completely taking over.

Deciding to head down the main street, he brought his hood over his head and started looking around.

And that was when she came along.