Scarlet (Louis Tomlinson)

Chapter One

Chapter 1

What is there for a fifteen year old girl?  Everywhere you turn there are voices and people pushing you to go somewhere or turn into something you don’t want to be. 

This is how it was for Ashley Smith.  She is an average girl, blonde hair, and blue eyes.  A couple of friends, homeschooled, sound like a decent life, right?

Imagine having everything taken away from you just because you said something, something that will change Ashley’s life for good.  One Saturday afternoon at her best friend’s house changed her whole life.

“What about you Ashley where was you first date?” Jenna asked.

“Well, actually I’ve never been on a date; I don’t want to be used.” I answered.

“What!  So does that mean you do that whole church thing?” Cassidy asked with scorn in her voice, she hadn’t been around me as long as Jenna had. 

“Yes I go to church and youth group.”  I stated simply, the reaction from both of them was interesting.

“Ashley, please don’t start on the whole church thing, I don’t need religion.” Jenna laughed uncomfortably. “All it is, is a bunch of people telling you to read the bible, come to church, and give your life to Christ, blah blah blah.  I want to live my own life thank you very much.  And if all the bible teaches you are that I can’t date until I'm ‘older’ then forget it, I don’t want to hang around you anymore.”

“I agree with Jenna, I went to church when I was little but now forget it.”  Kelly said tossing her hair in my face. “I thought you might be okay, you know.  But no.  In fact; don’t come near me again.”

“I’ll be praying for you guys.  Jesus saves everyone, not just perfect people.”  I said smiling, if only they knew.

“I think you should go home now.” Jenna said coldly.  Glancing at Kelly and Cassidy “We don’t want to hang out with you EVER again.”

“Ok see you guys.”

On the walk home I had a talk with God in my head. ‘I know you are in control.  It just gets hard at times like this, I mean I don’t have a best friend anymore, I don’t have any friends.  Why is life so hard?  It’s not like I don’t like boys, there are plenty I think are cute.  Why are people so closed off to Christian beliefs?  I think I should start saying I’m not any religion.  I just follow Christ.’

There are times I’m really glad God is listening, he sure can be comforting.  When I got home I picked up my guitar and strummed a few chords then started singing along.

 “And I know that you can give me rest so I cry out with all that I have left.  Let me see redemption win, let me know the struggle ends, that you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn.”

“Nope, I don’t want to sing that one…” I said to myself trying a couple of others

“You can take everything I have; you can break everything I am like I’m made of glass, like I’m made of paper. Go ahead and try to tear me down. I will be rising from the ground, like a skyscraper.” Skyscraper by Demi Lovato, definitely one of my faves.

“Stop singing, I hate you I hate your voice. Just shut up!” my little sister Audrey screamed at me, the tears started coming and wouldn’t stop. 

Basically Audrey can be a big brat but most of the time I think she’s just jealous other times I think she really hates me, it hurts you know but whenever I try to help her she starts not listening and doing her own thing, I tried to teach her guitar, piano, and ukulele.  Multiple times.  She almost broke all of my instruments, and when I told her to listen she almost broke me, that was the end to music lessons for Audrey…

Ooh today is Saturday that means church tomorrow.  I can’t wait.  Being me I love being around people even if I don’t know the people I love being around them.  Besides I need to talk to Kevin my “big brother” aka cousin.  He’s the only person I trust and without him I might fall down so far I can’t get back up again. I hopped off my bed and set my guitar named Josh on his stand.  I walked into my closet and turned on the light.  “What should I wear tomorrow” I said talking to myself like normal.  I opened up my dresser and grabbed my most comfortable pair of jeans, my boots, and an aeropostale tee-shirt.  Done.

I looked at myself in the mirror and frowned, um no wonder people don’t want to be my friend.  I wiped away a stray tear that found its way down my face grabbed my razor and made a few cuts.  Wincing as the razor found its way into my skin.  I mean I’m not attention seeking when I cut in fact no one has ever seen them, I’ve made sure of that, well actually my friend Claire who lives in Puerto Rico has but, I’ve only hung out in person a couple of times.  Mostly we Skype.

“Ashley, dinner time!”  Oh Cheese my parents.  Um there I grabbed my ‘Kevin sweater’ and slipped it on.  There now I just look tired.  The story behind that sweater is my youth group had an ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ contest and I won but Kevin wore this sweater and lost badly… then gave it to me.

I ran down the stairs and pasted a smile to my face.  Just hurry and get through dinner… I can do this… right? 

“Hey Dad, what’s for dinner?” I said waaaay to cheery like, not that anyone would notice…

“Hamburgers.”  He say’s not even looking up.  Inspection passed…

“Oh and you will need to pack for the ranch.” He said frowning….   

Ok so we own a dude ranch where people come and stay and like sleep in a cabin, ride horses and basically get a awesome vacation.  I go and stay there to ‘babysit’ the guests.

“Why?”

“This band called One Direction is coming.”

So hey,  I hope you like it so far and, if you need someone to talk to message me.  I listen.  and I know what it's like to be depressed.... so yeah  oh and YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!  

Song>>>>> Scarlet - Brooke Fraser