All Alone

5

"Alright class meet Taylor Adams," Ms Hindsbury says gesturing to the pretty girl at the front of the class.

She has dark brown eyes, lovely milk chocolate skin, black coily hair in a messy bun and a nervous yet beautiful smile.

Her clothes are casual. A Capri, a pink and white striped tee shirt and pink flats.

"Hi," she says nervously as she sits in the seat next to me. "Hi," I grin.

The bell rings and we all begin packing our books away.

"Would you like me to show you around? " I offer. "Yes please! but don't you have friends?" she says. "Nope," I say calmly. "Then we're best friends, " she says and we laugh.

I give her a tour of the entire school at lunchtime and after she begins to look bored I decide we should probably go and eat lunch.

"So where are you from?" I said biting into my Burger. "New Jersey," Taylor says her mouth full of chips. I giggle. "Mom and Rob just got married and they decided we should move," she continues when her mouth is chip-free.

"Why Miami?" I ask before taking a gulp of orange juice. "No particular reason just a bunch of old horrific memories."

"Sorry if I seem nosy but this Rob guy is your stepdad?" I ask wanting to know if she gets to call her dad Rob. She nods.

"Anyway what about you? What's your life like?" Taylor says. "My life is sad and terrible," I respond staring at my plate.

"Tell me," she coaxes.

"Cow-face found a friend," Jessica says as she passes with her crew snickering behind.

"Does she bully you?" Taylor asks.

I nod slowly.

"tell."

I shake my head. "I don't need teachers snooping around in my life, " I say firmly.

"ok," She says.

"My mom died last year with colon cancer. My dad is constantly drunk and is hardly ever home to take care of me. Jessica and her crew have been bullying me since fifth grade and your the first friend I've had at this middle school," I sigh.

"I'm so sorry," she says.

"Dad used to abuse me and mom. We left and lived in Vegas for awhile. Mom finally got a restraining order on dad and he was put in prison for ten years. After we moved back to Jersey. Mom met Rob at a bar. He came around more and more often and at first I was wary of him but now we're best friends. They got married four months ago and decided to leave the state seeing as dad could harm us when he got out of jail and here I am," Taylor says.

"I would never guess that a girl as pretty and casual as you would ever have such a dense past," I say surprised.

"Yeah well looks can be deceiving," she says smiling.

We walk to chemistry together and are partners for the assignment given to us on chemical reactions.

"Wanna come over to my place?" Taylor asks as we board the school bus. "great! dad won't be home anyway," I say.

It's then that I realise I've met my best friend.

We enter the house and a woman in a baggy grey shirt and pink leggings with similar features to Taylor with her long coily hair in a puff is in the kitchen cooking.

"Hi mom this is my best friend Kimberly, " Taylor says introducing me.

"Hey sweetie nice to meet you Kimberly. I'm Joan Adams-Matthews, Taylor's mom. Are you staying for dinner?" Taylor's mom asks.

"Am I invited?" I ask warily. Mrs Matthews laughs. "Of course you are!" she says giggling.

"In that case, Yes," I say happily. Taylor and I watch television for a bit but get bored after a while so Taylor shows me her room.

It's not the average fourteen year old's bedroom. It has plain white walls with boarded floors and a pink and purple swirl rug.

There's a double sized bed with a black and violet duvet and matching pillows.

She has a small desk for homework with a picture of her, her mom and a man I assume is Rob, A small pot of pens, pencils and highlighters. She also has flash cards.

On either side of her bed there is a bedside table with a floral lamp on each.

"Your room is gorgeous, " I say sitting on her bed.

We spend what feels like hours talking about celebrities, our favourite singers and our dream house and car.

We go downstairs for dinner.

Taylor's mom and a man with black hair, dark, dark brown eyes, broad shoulders and very muscular is sitting at the table.

"Hi Kimberly I'm Robert Matthews, " he says smiling offering a handshake. "Hi, how do you know my name?" I say shaking his hand.

He laughs.

"My wife here told me you we're here," he says.

"Oh. Right." I say sitting at the table.

We talk for ages getting to know each other and even though these people have a rough past they're still very close and are moving on.

Suddenly I feel myself becoming part of their family.

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Kimberly's found a friend! Will things change now?

Sequel in the works.

Read on.