Nice Cut

Chapter One

Octavia

"O... O? Octavia!?" Bethany calls from the other side of the phone.

"Oops. Sorry, what did you say?" I know I should have been listening but today marks the anniversary of the last time I ever saw my mother, and like every year that last memory of her played on repeat throughout the night. No matter how long she's been gone the damage she inflicted on me follows me everywhere.

"I said. Bentley wanted to know if you were planning on coming to tonight's barbecue. There are going to be a few extra people there because he wants his friends to join, and technically the night is about you coming into the family. Please come tonight. You haven't been to a family dinner since forever!" She's rambling.

"I haven't been to a family dinner because they are FAMILY DINNERS." I get an invite to these dinners at least once a week but I decided that when I moved out I would give them time again to just be a family. Without me. I took enough of their time after leaving my mother's house, and staying until after I finished my courses at university. "Listen I've gotta go. I have to get to Nice Cut before they close or I won't be eating meat for a week!"

"You're coming this time!" She quickly yells into the phone. "I already texted Bentley that you'll be attending. I think he's going to be the most excited out of everyone! Tell him I say hi went you see him at the shop."

"You're literally texting him why do I have to tell him you said hi? I'm not going. I still have a bunch of research to do for my new book and I just don't have the time.." pinching the bridge of my nose to try and focus on my breathing. I know they have a big family- including friends, and I am not a very people-ly person. How many people are going to be there?

"See you later, love you! Bye!" Bethany hangs up the phone before I get the chance to say anything more. I don't know why today of all days she is insisting I attend this dinner. Usually she takes no as an answer and will change the subject to ask for little details about the book I'm working on. If she would have asked today she would have known I was just starting to formulate a new idea surrounding the New York Grimm killings. Well at least he is the inspiration. Sometimes I get it in my head that he is the reason Bentley was able to sneak me out. I'm not sure if my mom is dead but I know she is still technically a missing person.

I don't know what the story is going to be exactly... my writing style is more it comes to me while I'm writing.  So, I never really know what is going to happen next until it's happening. But that's what's so exciting about writing! Learning of all these different worlds that are just waiting for me to sit down and start typing so that they can show themselves.

I'm thinking the main male lead is going to be living this double life where one version of him is a completely normal 9-5 job type of guy. Then, when the sun goes down he is a ruthless killer that weeds out the bad people in the city.

I want to write it in a duel point-of-view that leads the reader to believe the that one character is the killer and the other killer is possibly one of the victims. Until one day when a childhood friend- or possibly a detective connects the dots and figures out that there were never two suspects only one man playing the game to well.

Thinking about stories always puts me in a better mood. If life would provide me more time I swear I would have more books on the shelf than most authors! My brain is constantly writing.

Looking at the time I decide that it's better if I go to 'Nice Cut' the butcher shop just down the street now. If I want time to mentally prepare myself for a dinner surrounded by people who have been briefed that this dinner is in celebration of me joining their family all those years ago...

God, help me.