Secret Lovers(HOLD)

Prologue

I wake up with a start, thunder sounding through my open window. I scramble up to close it. Luckily, I didn't scream. Waking up my parents would've brought on a whole 'nother level of hell that I just didn't want.

I shut my window and sit back down on my bed, sweat trailing over and down my brow. I wipe it away. I know I wont be able to go back to sleep so I take my sketchbook and pencil out of my drawer and begin to draw the dream that had been interrupted by the raging storm outside.

I start with the eyes just like I always have. Lids, circle, pupil, eyelashes, color. I connect the bottom of the eyebrow with the length of the nose. I stop and sigh, losing motivation. Just like always. I lose motivation. If you happened to get a hold of my sketchbook, you'd find, all throughout, unfinished drawings. Maybe just a nose. Maybe a pair of eyes or a well-dressed body lacking a head.

That's just me, Harley Carlstone. I never finish what I start.

~~~~Somewhere across town.~~~~~

I probably shouldn't be awake. But, here I am pacing my bedroom floor during this crazy storm. I never was one to sleep during a storm. I stop in front of my window to stretch and yawn. I'm feeling the effects of fatigue and I really want to go to sleep but I know I wont be able to. Instead, I stare out of my window and watch the rain slide off of the roof of my neighbors roof.

I decide to write. I take my journal and pencil out of my bedside drawers and write, continuing a story I'd been writing for a few years now. I started the same night my mom was murdered. It was storming that night too.

I write a few paragraphs of sweet nothings in my journal, too tired to write any more than that. I restore my journal to its original place and fall back on my bed, shutting my eyes. I hope I dream, again, of the day the world is reading my book. A novel I've written myself. I can almost imagine my name across the cover.

Jasmine Stokely. New York Times #1 Bestselling Author.

Yeah, that could be me,  I think before I fall into a deep slumber.

HARLEY :

By now, it's 6 am and my eyes are starting to droop. I really should get back to bed. It isn't like I have anything to do. I can get sleep whenever I choose to..

Ha. I make my life sound so free, don't I? Well, it's the exact opposite.

"Harley?" A voice calls from on the other side of my closed door.

"Honey, are you awake?" Mom calls again.

"Yes, mom, I am." I reply, getting up to open my door and greet her.

"Oh, honey, you look terrible. Have you even attempted to shut your eyes and rest, yet?" She asks.

"The storm woke me up. I can't go back to sleep now." I watch as she runs her fingers through her short, curly red hair. This was one of the things I'd inherited from her. That blood red hair of hers.

I'd actually inherited a lot more than that. My hair was longer and even curlier than hers, reaching down to the middle of my back. My nose is the same small and upturned one as hers. The long eyelashes, slender fingers. Not to mention my tiny figure. Being short just runs in the family, I guess.

"Yes, that storm is really going out there. You might as well get ready for work, then. That's, right! I'm taking you to work today. Your father is feeling a little under the weather."

"Okay" I inch away from the door, trying to signal to her that I didn't want to talk anymore.

"Well, that's it. You should get in the shower now if you want your breakfast to be warm." She continues.

"I'm not hungry." I say. Suddenly, her cheery look falters and an ugly frown slips across her pretty face.

"Sorry, you must have misunderstood me. Let me rephrase. Get in the shower now, so you can eat breakfast." She says, coolly.

I swallow hard and nod.

"Good. I'm glad we understand each other." With that, she walks away, the floor creaking under her slippered feet.

I shut my door and walk over to my vanity mirror. I lift up my shirt and stare at the bruises and burns that nearly cover my stomach. Some old and some from a week ago.

That's right. I'd been on my parents' good side for a week...

~~~~~

*AN* Thank you so much for reading. The next part will be up soon. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!! Vote and comment what you think?

Questions or requests? Email me! cnikole98@yahoo.com

'Till next time!