Escape From Reality

chapter 1

   I'm walking cautiously on my tiptoes silently past my mother's ajar bedroom door, hoping not to wake her. My black converse pressing lightly against the wooden floor as I creep toward my exit, shutting the front door slowly and gently behind me. Afterwards, I jog over to my friends who are waiting for me underneath the flickering lamp-post at the end of my street. I stick my hand into the pocket of my black skinny jeans, pull out a piece of spearmint gum and pop it into my mouth. I step into the dim yellow lighting.

"Took you long enough," Carter says making me scoff.

"I made it didn't I?" I say balling up the gum wrapper in my hand and chucking it at his chest playfully. I smirk and pop the bubble resting on my lips.

"Leah you made it!"

My best friend Mia exclaims as she engulfs me in a tight hug.

"You took such a long time! I was starting to think that you got busted by your par... I mean your mom."

Ouch... that stung.

I know Mia didn't mean to say that but it still hurt.

My parents divorced recently. I'm still in the early processes of healing. It's hard to forget all the ugly words they spat at each other. I'm still pretty upset about it all. I feel angry and betrayed, which is why I agreed to sneak out tonight. I need to escape reality, let it all go and forget.

Carter checks the time on his phone. "It's 12:15 a.m. we should start heading out toward the skating rink where my brother Connor and his friend Aiden are waiting."

My stomach does a somersault at the sound of one of the names mentioned. Did Carter just say Aiden? Oh gosh.

Mia intertwines her hand with Carter's and the three of us begin to walk to the rink which is conveniently only a few blocks away. A chill hits my face making my cheeks freeze and go numb. I quickly throw my hands deep into my pockets so they don't suffer the same fate.

"Hey, guys you showed up." Announces a masculine voice as we get to the skating rink building.

I look up and meet eyes with Conner. His crystal blue eyes twinkling in the light. He sporting a dark gray beanie and a red and black flannel.

He and Carter slap hands.

"Hey, Mia. Hey, Leah." Conner smiles and gives us a small wave, motioning us to follow him and Carter.

I tug at my bottom lip with my teeth nervously and shadow behind him.

"So, what are you gonna say to Aiden when you see him?" Mia asks, elbowing me in a teasingly way.

"Shh, not so loud!" I whisper, slightly blushing.

"Well you gotta know what you're gonna say unless you wanna just stand there gawking like last time."

Mia covers her face, but I know she's laughing at me. I roll my eyes.

"I was not gawking!''

"Come on Leah lighten up! It's not every day that you break into a roller skating rink with your closest friends, plus the guy you've been crushing on since like the 5th grade."

I turn my head and do a double take as I notice the presence of the guy standing in front of the opened doorway.

Aiden.

He's wearing a black hoodie, black jeans, black converse and a black SnapBack. He flashes his million-dollar smile at us, eyes glistening in the light.