Pieces of Me (The Foundation Series, Book One) *SAMPLE*

(2) Are You Trying To Get In A Fight With The Vending Machine?

"Killing Me"
Hit me harder-I'm already on the ground-Give me your best shot-Throw me around

Kick me while I'm down-Curse my name in vain-I won't make a sound-As I slowly slip away

You don't understand that what you do affects me-You think you're so tough, but you're nothing-I die a little more with everything you do-Can't you see? You're killing me.

Sticks and stones-break my bones-words will always-hurt me

I wear my heart-right on my sleeve-I need to stop-being so naïve

You don't understand that what you do affects me-You think you're so tough, but you're nothing-I die a little more with everything you do-Can't you see? You're killing me.

Throw a punch-straight in my face-hold me back-As I try to run away

Chase after me-with fire in your eyes-try to show me-how you live your life

You don't understand that what you do affects me-You think you're so tough, but you're nothing-I die a little more with everything you do-Can't you see? You're killing me.

Stab me right in the back-when I'm least expecting it-lay me down so gently to die-and then drown yourself in your sorrows and regrets

You don't understand that what you do affects me-You think you're so tough, but you're nothing-I die a little more with everything you do-Can't you see? You're killing me.

You've killed me.

It was Thursday, and talk of Cooper's party was running rampant. My sister had been attempting to finish her conversation with me for two days, but I was avoiding her like the plague. I didn't have it in me to let her make me feel lower than low. I had even been waking up an entire hour earlier just so I could sneak out before she woke up. Luckily, I had the two most incredible best friends in the world who would meet me early at school so I wouldn't have to be so bored. It was 7 am, and school started in an hour.

Normally, I would meet the girls at my locker and we would gossip for a good half hour before finding some trouble to get ourselves into...but this morning no one was waiting for me at my locker. In fact, the halls were pretty bare, minus a few peers, here and there. I opened my locker and put my backpack inside, then headed to the vending machines. I had forgotten to eat breakfast this morning and my big stomach was making me pay for it; growling nonstop. I made it to the vending machine, and after a few minutes of mulling over the contents inside, I decided I would simply get a rice krispie treat. I put my dollar in and hit the number for it, but as it was about to fall, it got stuck, dangling from its original position. "Shit," I whispered to myself; that was the only dollar I had. But I was not giving up without a fight. I began pushing and kicking the machine, to no avail, when suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I was too embarrassed to keep trying so I guess I would have to starve until lunch.

"Are you trying to get in a fight with the vending machine?" It was Jax. How in the world he was here, at school, as early as I was, was beyond me. "Hey you, we never got to finish our conversation the other day."

He remembered! I felt more giddy then a teeny-bopper getting to see the Biebs in concert for the first time. My heart was racing and I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. "Yeah, sorry about that."

He walked right up to the vending machine and swiftly unplugged it. "A little trick I found out," He whispered. The rice krispie treat fell immediately after the machine was unplugged.

"Wow. Thank you," I could feel my face turning bright red. I was embarrassed beyond belief as he handed me the treat. I turned to walk away, but realized Jax was in tow with me. I looked up slowly at him, wondering why suddenly, after all these years, he was finally giving me the time of day.

"So, Cooper's party..." Jax trailed off, as we walked along in awkward silence.

"Yeah?"

"You should come. I don't really feel like hanging out with a bunch of dumb jocks and douchebags. Come on, you can keep me company," He stopped walking suddenly, and just looked down at me, awaiting a response.