Fade (On Hold)

Chapter One:

     I've never been 'just another face in the crowd.' Being put into foster care rips that away from you the moment you're given up. You're automatically seen as unwanted, a problem child, a risk to add to your family, a danger to become friends with. A loner.

     That was pretty much how the last fifteen years in my life had gone, until suddenly things turned around for me. I joined the cross country team, breaking several records and placing myself as the top of the team. I earned respect from my teammates, resulting in friendships and, later, a boyfriend. A couple with a three year old found me, and decided to try fostering, and we really got along, the first house in a long time that I wanted to stay in. I was no longer a nobody, instead I became someone everyone wanted to hang out with. My grades soared. My life soared. I soared.

     Until one day, it all came crashing down. Having brain cancer made the town look at me in a way I haven't been looked at before; I was looked at in a pitying way. I was forced back into the system, yanked away from the life that I had always dreamt of having.

The class stared at me as I walked in, purposefully taking a seat in the back corner, where I wouldn't be susceptible to awkward eye contact with others. I was the new girl, the one who had been whispered about at family dinners. The dying girl who was just recently adopted, most likely out of pity.

     Just as the second bell rang, a guy with his head low and eyes cast down strode in, hastily taking the seat beside me as he carelessly tossed his bag to the ground. His brown hair was tousled and messy, and his green eyes dark, something obviously bothering him. His pink lips were pulled into a deep scowl, and his muscular, tan arms were tensely folded across his broad ches—

"Can you stop gawking?" A deep voice interrupted my analyzing as I ripped my eyes away from his body and up to his face. Turning red, I mumbled an apology as I looked down at my desk, playing with my pencil.

"I'm pretty sure I asked you a question."

"I'm pretty sure it was rhetorical question," I bit back, tone hard as I keep my eyes fixed on the speck of dust on the desk in front of me.

"Who are you?" He mused allowed. "Why haven't I seen you creeping around?"

"I'm new here," I reply, shooting him a side glare. "Nobody told me a pessimist lived in small town River Bend. Didn't think it was big enough for someone like you."

The guy snorts and I roll my eyes. "Watch who you talk to," he warns, and I give him a flat glare in return. "Right back at you," I spit. The class inches on, and I feel his eyes on me, slowly raking up and down. I had decided to cut my coffee colored hair shoulder length, and the choppy layers hid my olive green eyes well. Not that I'd have hair soon.

      My makeup was simple, blush, mascara and eyeliner, along with the essentials. I wore a black off the shoulder top and light blue skinny jeans, nothing swoon worthy.

Starting to squirm under his stare, I whirl around and give him a triumphant smirk. "Can you stop gawking?"

The guy gives me a flat look. "Why would I ever be checking you out?" He demands. I open my mouth to protest, but the bell rings, so I instead gather up my belongings and head out the door. What a great way to start the day.

☄💫☄💫☄💫☄💫☄💫☄💫☄

"His name is Jason," a girl explains to me, carrying a tray of questionable-looking cafeteria food to an open table. "Definitely badass. Sexy and mysterious, and he doesn't talk to anyone. The fact that he said something to you is, well, amazing!"