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Chapter 1

"Leave me alone mom! You'll never understand! " I regret those words after I said them. But it was too late.

"Understand? I'm the one who busts my ass everyday trying to scramble enough money to keep you happy, and this is how you treat me? Some daughter I have!"

"Some screw up for a mother I have." I almost gasped at my own hurtful words. My mother and I exchange pain-filled looks. I see a single tear, blackened from mascara, drip down her face. Her hair is a mess from the office. My mother's blouse is torn from previous brawls. I can't bear it, I turn and dash to the closet I call a room.

Forty minutes later I hear the porch door screech open and slam shut.

'Now's my chance.' I thought. I grab my phone and punch in a number. It rings twice before he picks up.

'Travis would know what to do.'

"Hello Tia, how can I assist you today? Need a bed again?"

"How'd you guess? " I say exhausted.

"This is around the time you call for mommy- problems. What time you want me to pick you up?" He always knows just what to say.

"Right now would be great."

"Kk, be right there Ti. " I don't know what I'd do without him. Having a guy best friend is awesome. Weird sometimes, but awesome.

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I see his blue pick-up rumble up the driveway. I grab a few things I might need, phone, clothes, my notebook and keys to the house. I hop in and greet Travis with a one armed hug.

"My place or yours?" He smirks.

"Don't be a smart ass, not exactly in the mood."

"Ah-kay, gotcha." He's says with a twinge of disappointment.

"I just wanna go to sleep. And not where I know my mother's gonna be." We sped off to his house. I doze off and his humming in the background sounds a mile away. I flashback to the moment my mom kicked my dad out of the house. I saw his Toyota speed away with such swiftness. When reality comes back Travis is offering his hand to help me out. I smile and lazily put my arms out. He smiles back and carries me with my arms around his neck to the living room of his petite home.

"I'll fetch you a blanket, and you know how to work the TV right?" He turns to get the blanket.

"Yeah, I'm good. And Travis? Thanks for everything. " I smile despite the guilt inside.

"It's no big deal, oh I have to run to the shop in a bit. You wanna come or will you be good here? "

"I'll be good. I'll probably be asleep when you get back."

"Haha, probably. "

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Later that night, I was in fact asleep on the couch and Travis was still at the car shop. All was well until I feel a sharp, burning pain on my calf. I get up and freeze.

A huge, luminous creature was leaning over me. Even though it hurt so much, I couldn't utter a word.
It saw me and I stared into its green eyes. In the distance I heard a throaty howl and the creature howled in unison.

That was my cue to run while it was occupied.
I crawled as fast as I could towards the door, but before I knew it, the creature had me on my back and he was staring at me again. I was pinned.
He started to speak, "I'm sorry Tia, I'm so sorry."