Nicotine

Chapter 2-The Town Of Bellemore

Artemis' P.O.V

I walk out of my bathroom, and down the hallway back to my room. I make my way into the closet picking out a grey and lime green baseball shirt, dark jean shorts, with shoes and a beanie to match. I lay the outfit on my bed, heading to my vanity. I take the towel off my head, grabbing my brush and running it through my hair. I decide that I should moisturize and do the little makeup I know how to do. I quickly wiz past my morning routine throwing on my clothes, and heading down stairs to grab something to eat. I am going to hate these stairs, I think as I walk down the stairs for the second time today. I get to the bottom of the final staircase, and realize I have no idea where anything is in this house, I need a tour of my own house. I chuckle as I yell out to my mom.

"Mom? Where is the kitchen?"

"Where are you sweetheart?"

"Bottom of the stairs, which way should I turn? My left or My right?"

"Turn to your right, its the first door on your left," she said laughing.

I follow her directions and get into the kitchen. It's beautiful, stain glass steal appliances, along with black granite counter tops. It's a wide space, big enough for the small table and five chairs where my parents are sitting with Delilah. I smile as I see them and take my seat across from my dad, and grab some pancakes and strawberries. I eat quickly, listening to my mom and dad try and coax Delilah to talk.

"Mom, I'm going to go out and explore the ton be home by dinner."

"Hold it young lady. Do you have your phone? Do you have money? Do you-"

"I'm going to go grab my phone and then I'm out of here. I have money, I'm bringing my purse and I have everything I need. Bye guys," I say rushing out of the room to avoid any other interrogative questions.

I climb the stairs, quickly wanting to move to the living room, less stairs. I walk into my room and up the spiral staircase to grab my phone, and quickly go down the hallway and out through the passage. I walk don our drive way and through the gate. I stop and look both ways, deciding that from what I can see the town must be to my left. I decide that I don't want to take the side walk, so instead I turn around and head back into the forest.

I put my head phones in and turn up the volume. I slowly walk through the forest every so often stopping to admire some wild flowers, or watch a deer or two running. I love the serenity of the forest, the slight sway of the trees, and the way the light reflects of of every living thing. I take my head phones out to listen to the blue birds sing. I stop walking and sit under a tree, pulling a book out of my back pocket, always need a book handy. I start to read as I listen only to be jolted from my story by hands covering my mouth. I scream in fear and begin to hit whoever it is with a book.

My self defense classes kick in and I quickly bite down hard on the persons hand causing them to groan in pain and let go. I quickly turn around grabbing the arms closed to me and swiftly bending it behind the persona back in an uncomfortable position.

"Who the hell are you and why did you attack me?"

"Let go of me," says the boy.

"Not until you tell me why you grabbed me," I say putting pressure on his arm.

"Alright, Alright. My name is Jason and I live in the house right there," he says nudging his head to the back right. "I saw you sitting out here, and was going to ask you why you were sitting out here all alone when I heard a grizzly bear near by. So instead of asking you, I decided I better keep you quiet so the bear would go away."

I release his arm,"You are so stupid, Grizzlies will leave you alone as long as you aren't threatening them. You live by the forest but you certainly don't live in it." I say with a huff.