Dancing With Wolves

Safe Haven

I used to spend up to an hour deciding what to wear to school. I'd sit out my clothes the night before, and in the morning I'd spend half an hour or so doing my hair and makeup. I used to care. Now I shrug on the first things I pull out of my closet.

I have become a minimalist. I pull my hair up into a pony tail, and unless I have a zit, I do away with makeup. It's easier that way.

Walking downstairs, I hear my aunt's voice coming from the kitchen.

"Aunt Sue?"

She popped her head into the doorway and held up her index finger, silencing me.

"Yes she's doing just fine! Thank you for your concern Mr. Hart, though it really isn't necessary. Yes I know. It's been over two years, she has coped. Let's leave it at that. Okay, you too, bye now!"

Ah, so she was talking to Mr. Hart. Lucas Hart was one of those police officers that can't leave well enough alone. Constantly nagging my aunt, searching for more evidence on my parents' case. So far he's come to nil.

"Good morning Cassie. I made breakfast, it's sitting in the microwave. Eggs, sausage and toast." She motioned over to the microwave, and wiped her hands off anxiously on the front of her pants.

"Thanks. What did Lucas want?" Yes, I was on a first name basis with the man.

"Same old thing. Always trying to come up with different scenarios as to what happened to your parents. He's trying to tell me that you're mentally unfit and that you shouldn't be going back to school."

"What do you think?" She looked at me, gauging my mood.

"Well I reckon you're almost eighteen, and that regardless of whether or not you're mentally fit, you're going to be off on your own soon. You're going to have to learn how to handle day to day life while managing your own personal circumstances. I also think that Lucas Hart is a pest."

I looked at her, and she looked worn out. She had bags under her eyes, and her gray hair was starting to overtake her brown locks.

"Aren't you going to eat breakfast?" She asked me.

"Yea, but I have to hurry up and get to school."

(At school)

And so it begins. The name calling, the teasing, and the hating. People avoided me at all costs. Whatever side of the hall I was on, they made sure to be on the other.

I made my way down the hall towards my locker, trying to keep my head up. When I opened my locker, a note fell to the ground by my feet. I bent down to grab it, then unfolded it to see what was written. It read:

"Everyone knows what you did. You're a killer. They never should have let you come back to this school. Was killing your parents not enough? Who knows if they're the only ones you've killed?"

I clenched my fist, in turn crumpling the note. I slammed my locker shut and walked briskly down the hall to the main exit.

I stood outside under an awning, debating on whether or not to leave school.

I texted my aunt telling her that I'd be leaving school early. I'll deal with the consequences when I get home.

I started to walk, not entirely sure that I even wanted to go home. I walked slowly, my feet taking me the long way home.

I walked along the sidewalk of a busy road, and turned off onto a lightly trodden path weaving through the woods.

The sunlight made it's way to the ground in splashes. As I got farther into the woods, I was mesmerized by the beauty surrounding me. The rays that reached the ground reflected specks of dust, making the air almost sparkle.

The birds were chatting together happily from their treetop canopies. The wind whistled through the leaves, rustling them to sound like waves.

Ahead of me was a trail that came off from the main path. When I got to it, I stopped and looked around. It won't be dark anytime soon, so if I get lost I'll still be able to see.

I veered off the path and onto the small trail, hoping that it would lead me to something exciting.

Following the trail, I noticed that the greenery was getting thicker and thicker, and soon I was pulling branches apart to get through them.

Pushing through a particularly thick patch, I tripped and fell to the ground. Looking up, I could see beneath the shrubbery. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Just a few feet in front of me, was a small field full of flowers. I scrambled through the bushes and into the field. I stood up, stock still. I was dumbfounded by the utter beauty. Splatters of yellow, blue, red, and purple could be seen throughout the clearing.

I made my way to the middle of the field and laid down. The flowers almost hid my entire body. It felt like I was one with the earth.

I took in a deep breath. I had found my safe haven. This was my place, and mine only.

I was broken from my thoughts by the ringing of my phone.

"Hello? Yea I'm fine. Yea, I decided to go back to school. Sounds good. I'll see you when I get home. Love you too." Another lie. I've been doing that a lot lately.

If I want to be home at a decent time then I need to start heading back now. I lifted myself from the ground and dusted myself off.

By the time I made it out of the woods, it was just after the time school would have been let out. Perfect timing.

(At home)

"So Mr. Hart called again today. He's been very persistent lately."

Great, one foot in the door and my aunt starts a lovely conversation. Note my sarcasm.

"Oh yea? What did he want this time?"

"He thinks there's more going on with your parents' death than we think. I don't understand why he can't just leave this alone. You don't need anymore stress. Hell, none of us do!"

Ain't that the truth.

"Well, no matter what he comes up with, if anything, Mom and Dad aren't coming back. So I wish he would just stop calling." On that note I ran upstairs to my room and slammed the door behind me. I leant against the door and sunk to the ground.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I began to cry. I hadn't cried this hard since my parents funeral. I had buried the pain for so long, and now it's being brought back to the surface.

I need to go to my safe haven.

So this is my first story on Wattpad, and I would really appreciate some *corrective* criticism. Please don't be rude. I'd like to be able to grow along with this story, which might require some help :)