Shattered

Chapter One

Mathew and I were walking around the park near our neighborhood one summer afternoon. The sun was blazing hot against my pale skin, causing me to regret not using sunblock before I left the house. I felt my tank top begin to stick to my back as I began to sweat. My long dark brown hair was tied loosely into a messy bun and a blue Nike headband to tame my baby hairs along my hairline. I glanced over at Mathew to see him already looking over me. He was tall with broad shoulders and toned out muscles. He had dirty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. I smiled revealing my braces, only for him to laugh and show his braces off as well. I playfully shoved him and pretended to be offended. I turned around and pouted as usual, trying to hide my snickering. Mathew stopped laughing when he finally noticed that I was pouting.

"Aw, Melanie. I wasn't laughing at your braces, I promise." Mathew said trying to hug me, but I turned around again and covered my face.

"Then what were you laughing at?" I mumbled after a few minutes. I peeked through my fingers to only find him grinning ear to ear. I slowly removed my hands away from my face and eyed him up and down carefully.

"Oh, nothing that's all." He chuckled lightly with a smirk growing on his lips. I stared at him and began to walk away, but he busted out into laughter.

"What's so funny?" I squealed throwing my arms up while trying to hide my small laugh.

"Alright, fine I'll tell you." He said finally giving in. I smiled and waited for him to respond. "Only under one condition." He said while holding up his pointer finger and smirking.

I sighed dramatically rolling my eyes.
"What could it possibly be now." I replied getting slightly annoyed. He smiled and walked closer to me. His tall lean body was hovering above mine and I just stared him down waiting for an answer.

Mathew nudged my arm and ran off down the sidewalk. "If you can catch me!" He shouted and said in between laughs. I groaned and ran after him. Yes your probably thinking Mathew and I are dating, but we're just best friends. Mathew and I have known each other for a while now, since preschool.

I started to run down the rocky sidewalk after Mathew when I slowly start to remember exactly how he and I met.

It was my first day of preschool and I already was nervous and super scared. My family just moved from California across the United States to South Carolina. My mom was pulling my long brown hair into a tight braid as I was sitting on hardwood floor eating cookies and cream Pop Tarts.

"Ow, mommy, that hurts." I whined as she yanked my head back when she tightened the braid.

"Oops, sorry sweetie." She giggled lightly and loosened her grip of my hair. I continued to sit there and finish my food. My mom patted my shoulders signaling that she was done and moved from the couch and into the kitchen. I soon followed her to thrown away my thin paper plate into the garbage can.

When my mom pulled into the school parking lot I could feel my stomach drop. I felt a lump in my throat and my palms begin to get sweaty. My mom walked around the car and opened the backseat passengers door and unbuckled my seatbelt. Her smile was bright and happy as she reached under my arms and carefully lifted me out of my carseat.

"Ready for you first big day sweetie?" She asked as she took my hand and walked into the school. I nodded and gripped onto her hand and hide close behind her long legs. I peered out from her legs every few minutes while she was talking to the teacher inside the small classroom. My mom was taking a long time talking with her and I noticed a few taller boys picking on this smaller boy. They were all pushing him onto the carpet and saying mean things to him while they all were laughing. I furrowed my eyebrows together and stepped out from behind my mom. I didn't see what was funny about the other boys hurting this one boy that did nothing to them. I left my mom and marched up to the taller boy of the three and pushed him out of the way. The tall boy stumbled back a little bit as the other two looked at me weirdly.

"Leave him alone, what did he ever do to you?" I said raising my voice slightly and shoving the two boys out of the way. The boy on the ground just stared at me. I held my hand out and smiled towards him. He just looked at my hand and slowly reached up and grabbed onto it, as I was helping the boy up I could hear the three boys behind me snickering.

"What? Just go and pick on somebody your own size!" I turned around and snapped at the three boys, I could see all their eyes grow wide surprised by my snappy comeback. I scowled at them and they soon left. I turned my attention to the small boy next to me standing awkwardly.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked in a small squeaky voice. The boy nodded quickly and rubbed his left arm lightly. I smiled at him and held my hand out.

"I'm Melanie Oaks, what's your name?" The boy continued to look at me and after a few minutes he spoke.

"Hi, my name is Mathew Smith." He said giving me a small smile and shaking my hand.

I smiled to myself as I remember the thoughts of Mathew and I. It was pretty funny now that I actually think about it. By now I'm still chasing after Mathew down a rocky path panting out of breath. I was laughing and shouting his name at the top of my lungs begging for him to stop running. He just looked back and smirked, he took a right turn down onto my street. I slowed down to a stop to catch my breath, I was sweating for sure now and my hair into a frizzy mess. I laughed to myself again thinking of much of a dork he is, he must think I don't know where he's going, but I do. He's going to my house, where all of our friends like to hang out at.

I take a right and begin walking down my street towards my house, when I see Mathew waiting at the end of my driveway grinning ear to ear. I slowly start jogging when my phone buzzes in my back right pocket of my shorts. I reach behind me and grab it out of my pocket, I look at it and see I have a message from Mathew.

Matt: God why do you have to be so lazy.. -_-

I laugh and look up to see him waving his arms motioning me to move faster. I smile and purposely walk even slower and text him him back.

Me: Not my fault you ran off without me, I yelled at you to stop. Calm yourself Mr. Impatient. lol

I sent the message and slide my phone back into my back pocket and continued walking slow. I could see Mathew poking his tongue in the inside of his mouth to one side of his cheek and laughing while typing back onto his phone. My phone buzzed again and I knew right away it as him, but I ignored it. I was only a few feet away from him when I saw him running towards me. I stopped walking and waited for him to come near me. He came and picked me up bridal style and walked me back to the house. I laughed as he set me down once we reached my front door.

HEY GUYS!!! It's been awhile since I've written anything! I'm coming back and going to be writing more often now. This is the first chapter of Shattered!