Chapter 1
I should be with Katie, supporting her at her physio appointment with Mum where she was learning to walk again after being in a severe car accident seven weeks ago. Her idiotic ex-boyfriend was the one who caused the accident. He had been speeding and thanks to him, Katie had broken both of her legs. I chose not to attend the appointment because I didn't want to see the pain she might go through at trying to stand on her two feet again for the first time after seven weeks.
So rather than being with her, I'm sitting on a bench in Macarthur Park in Los Angeles, reading a book and enjoying the sunny day. My family and I have been living here for a year now. We used to live in Sydney, Australia, but Dad's job transferred him here. One thing I love about living here is that it's always sunny. It reminds me of the hot sunny summer days we have back home in Australia.
I glance down at my watch. It was almost twelve o'clock. Mum should be calling me soon. She said she would give me a call to let me know when they are done. So we could meet up for lunch. I check my phone just to see if Mum or Katie hasn't text me. I have received a text from my twin brother Lucas. He asks me to tell Mum that he was spending the rest of the day with his friends rather than meeting up with us for lunch. He had a soccer game this morning. One thing I hate is when he always texts me to tell Mum something rather than texting her himself.
I don't think Mum is going to be too happy about him ditching lunch with us.
I text him back and promise him that I will.
I put my book away in my bag. I glance around at everyone who was at the park. The sunny weather was having an effect on everyone and I couldn't see one person who didn't have a smile on their face.
I eye a man wheeling an ice cream cart. My stomach grumbles a little even though I knew it wouldn't fill me up properly. I was tempted to go over there to grab myself one. Mum has always been strict with my siblings and me when snacking before meals.
My phone began ringing and I quickly answer it. I didn't check the caller ID because I knew it was Mum.
"Hey, Riley, we're heading down your way now," Mum says.
"Okay, great," I smile into the phone.
"We will meet you on the corner of Sixth Street and Alvarado Street."
"Okay. I will head towards there now. So how did the physio go?"
"It went good... Your sister wants to speak with you."
There was a pause before I hear my sister's voice on the phone. "Hey, sis."
"Hey, how did the physio go?" I ask.
"It went good like Mum said. I was a little nervous and a bit scared of standing on my feet again, but I actually went well. I was also given some exercises that I can do while I'm at home."
I smile. "That's great. You will be able to walk in no time."
"Well the good part is I get to walk around the house now. They gave me those forearm crutches to help me walk."
"That's good. Well, I better let you go. I will see you in a little while."
I hang up the phone, slipping it in the pocket of my jeans. I stand up and just as I step forward, a football came whizzing pass me, almost hitting me. I look in the direction the ball came from and see these four teenage boys that look to be about fourteen. They yell out sorry and I smile at them to show I wasn't mad. There was no reason to be mad unless they did it on purpose and I knew they didn't.
I glance over to where the ball landed. Luckily it stops right in front of this family having a picnic and didn't hit them. One of the teenagers ran pass me, apologising to me again, and runs to get the ball.
