The Darkest Direction

Chapter 1

I wake up to the sound of Ed's snoring in my ear. I examine his strawberry locks and my eyes trace the outline of his jaw to his thin lips. He turns and buries his head into the covers.

He's so sexy, he's like a brother to me. He's my best friend. Why does he like me? I'm so ugly. I get out of bed and slip into some skinny jeans and a tribal print sweater. The time is 9:30. I sprint to the bathroom and lay on some light makeup. I look good. I'm so ugly, I hate myself. I take a hair band and pull my golden locks up into a messy bun.

Just before I leave I look in the mirror and stare into my blue orbs. I have such a good life at 18. I smile and turn from the mirror, leaving the bathroom. Suddenly the doorbell rings.

"Coming!" I yell. I open the door and find my great friend, Greg Horan, waiting for me at the porch.

"Greg!" I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him tight.

"Hey Alice!" He says, releasing me. I notice he brought my good friend Josh Devine along with him.

"Hey josh!" I call to him, resulting in a hug.

"Is your uncle home?" Greg asks.

"He's living with his girlfriend now." I reply.

"I forgot that you're 18 now!" Greg says playfully, giving me a light punch to the shoulder. Ow. Why would he punch me? He's such a great friend, I would never expect this. Anger builds up inside of me and my blood begins to boil.

"You can just leave!" I scream, feeling the stream of tears and mascara racing down my cheeks. I slam the door and fall to the floor. Why did he have to be such a jerk? I'm so sick and tired of him.

"Just let him go," I softly say to myself, rising from the floor and wiping the tears from my soft cheeks.

"Ed babe?" I call.

"Yeah?"

"Can we go to Starbucks now? I need a break." Starbucks is literally the only coffee shop of existence. I have never heard of any other place that sells physical food other than Nando's.

"Sure, love." Ed comes out of the bedroom, fully dressed and groomed.

"Ready!" He says, smiling at me.

I smile back grabbing his hand. Just before I turn the doorknob I feel a strong grasp across my shoulders, shoving me violently into the rock hard wall. Suddenly lips are brutally smashed against mine and sparks fly. Fireworks. That's what I feel as he kisses me. He soon lets go and our orbs connect.

"I love you, Alice." I smile at Ed. He's so sweet. We're such good friends. He's like the father I never had. Both of my parents were stabbed, after all. And from the age of three until last month, I've been living with my mother's brother and my uncle, Paul Higgins. And occasionally my uncle from my father's side, Simon Cowell.

"Let's go," I say to Ed, opening the door and heading for the car. I open the door to the drivers seat and slide in.

"Pass the keys, would ya?" I say to Ed, shutting my car doors.

"Oh. I thought I was gonna drive," Ed says walking towards the car.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I scream at the top of my lungs. I feel the tears coming. I can't. Not now. But I can't stop myself from letting it all go.

"I'm an independent woman, Ed!" I yell.

"I do my dishes, I do my laundry, I pay my bills. What makes you think I can't drive a decent car?" I get out of the car and run across the street. Crap, there's nowhere for me to go now. That's awkward. Why did i have to run across the street? I decide to break down then and there. I fall to my knees and have a fit. Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm here for you, babe," Ed's raspy voice whispers in my ear.

"I knew I could count on you," I say, standing up. He's so sweet. He always knows the right things to say. I'll never have a friend like him.

Ed takes my hand and begins to lead me across the street when suddenly I hear a rush of sounds pound into my right ear. Ed pushes me into the pavement and stays in the street, still. Just then a blur of white slams into his side, coming to a halt nearly immediately after the hit.

That nasty jerk, he pushed me straight into the concrete, i'll never forgive him. He deserved to be hit by that truck. He's the meanest person I know. I feel the heat in my cheeks and the tears begin to stream. I sprint across the street and into the house and leap into my bed. I have to cry, I have to let go. And I do, soon drifting off to sleep.