The Willow

Chapter 1

*THE MAIN CHARACTERS NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO HADLEY*

 Me and my Mother in a car for three days, not a good idea for me. She absolutely loathes me and I could never figure out why, I stopped trying to understand when I was thirteen. "Hadley, I expect your grades not to drop lower than an A- or we will have a problem. You will act with grace and maturity, being the image of perfection in every ones world." my Mother stated with her usual icy voice. I never disobeyed her, scared at what the result would be." Yes Mother" I murmured " Speak up Hadley, and make eye contact." she demanded. I met her glare and tried not to flinch under her harsh gaze " Yes Mother." I spoke with perfect pronunciation and articulation, which in return made her look away, satisfied with my answer. I let my gaze wander out the window wondering what my new school would be like.

THE NEXT DAY

I sheepishly made my way to the front of the school, instantly attracting the attention of many people. My Mother hadn't let me go to school until every piece of my blonde hair was in place and perfect, my makeup flawless and clean, and my outfit proper. The males stared at me lustfully and the girls stared at me with hatred and jealousy. I winced and quickly made my way to the office with my head down. I couldn't get over the fact that the first bell hadn't even started yet and I was already receiving stares. I just wanted to cry, hating all the attention on me, but I know I deserve this. The constant attention reminds me that the whole world is watching, and as hard as I try not to, weakness is plastered on my face like wallpaper. The worst th-

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! 

I woke with a start and turned my alarm off. It was a dream, all a dream. As I took a look around my room, seeing all the unpacked boxes, I am reminded that not all of it was a dream. My father really did beat me until I was dead, making the paramedics resuscitate me twice from heart failure. That really hurt, but what was worse was the fact that I thought of my Mother in that way. She had never been anything but kind to me, keeping me from being severly hurt by taking the beatings herself if she could. I wouldn't let him keep doing that to us, so I convinced my Mom to let us move to a far away place, away from him. I shuddered when I heard a gentle knock from my door. My Mom stuck her head timidly inside and softly said " Time to get up dear.". I gave her a tiny smile and thanked her.

When I looked in the mirror I raked my eyes over my reflection. On the outside you could see a girl with chestnut brown hair, soft, flawless tanned skin, and naturally reddish lips that would make any girl jealous. The eyes are the most shocking, a navy blue with flecks of gold in them. They were guarded. Behind the bad ass facade there was a little girl that wished for a better life.

I shook my head and frowned turning to the shower. When I was done I walked to my closet and chose a black leather jacket, dark wash blue jeans, and a white muscle shirt with my red vans. I walked down stairs and looked at my Mother with a small smile which she immediately returned, and sat down eating the breakfast that she prepared. I looked up when she cleared her throat awkwardly, I started in horror. " Mom you're not going to give me the sex talk are you?"

She immediately blushed and said "No! I was just going to wish you good luck on your first day of school." she said embarrassed. I blushed then laughed at myself and her. Myself for jumping to conclusions, her for being embarrassed. She laughed with me. I got up, hugged her, then wished her good luck at her new job on my way out the door. As I got on my motorcycle, all the fear and anxiety was coming back to me at a rapid pace. I took a deep breath and hopped on my bike, hoping like hell that the world would swallow me whole.