My Name is Tristen Blake.

Prologue

'Fuck, what am I supposed to do? How am I even going to be able to get home?' I thought to myself in panic.

I was soaking wet from the rain and my scraped knees didn't help with the whole walking thing.

'Maybe I should call Carter... No, it's 2:39a.m., he won't want to leave his house just to come and get me. Maybe if I told him what happened, he would.'

I pondered the idea of seeing Carter in his loose pajama shirt and Hanes boxers. And how his hair would be scruffy and his eyes would be full of sleep.

'Stop, you need to get home. Now.'

Ok, inner voice, I guess you're right. That means I either have to walk 17 miles in the rain and 55 degree weather or I could call Carter and have him pick me up in his dingy little car with the nice warm heaters blowing away the cool, damp feeling that's set in my bones.

My thumb hovered over the send button on my phone. Should I? I know he isn't asleep. He doesn't sleep until at least 3:30.

Ok, let's try.

I continued walking barefoot as I held my shoes in my left hand and my phone up to my ear in the other.

One ring. Two ring. Three ring.

"Hello?" His voice was raspy and hushed, like he was trying to soothe a screaming child.

"Hey, it's me." I say, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Hi, me, what can I help you with? And shouldn't you be in bed reading right now?"

He knew me too well.

"I'm kind of in a situation at the moment." I say as I glance around the dirt road. Last place I saw a sign was 3 miles back and it said in bold letters 'TOWN, 20 MILES AHEAD'. I'm assuming I was going to approach the gas station my dad used to stop at to get bait for fishing soon.

"What kind of situation, T?" He sounded a bit concerned. Then again, he always is with me. Like I said, he knows me too well.

"Well, I am currently walking in the rain down Jackson street 17 miles away. I feel bad for asking, but do you think you could pick me up? I'm wearing shorts and a tank top and my shoes are wasted. Otherwise, I would walk."

"What the hell are you even doing out th- oh, please don't tell me..." His voice dropped. And so did my heart and lungs. He already knew.

"I'm sorry..." I managed to muster out. I felt my throat squeezing to try and muffle my cries.

"Ok, you stay put. I'm coming right now. Don't even walk another foot. Just, stay." He cut the line. I stopped dead in my tracks. It was cold outside tonight. I looked around and up at the trees and the stars. My eyes were still stinging with my struggle to hold back my tears.

The stars were my way home. Dada always told me, "You see that star there? That's the North Star. If you ever get lost and you're scared and hidin', follow it. Even if you don't get to where you're wantin' to, it'll get you somewhere. I promise."

I sat down and kept my head arched up, looking at it. I feel like that star and the boat is my only way of feeling him anymore. Everything else is just faded and gone, just like his pictures.

I glance down at my screen that seemed brighter than normal. Probably because I was surrounded by trees and darkness. It was 2:45a.m. It'll probably take Carter ten minutes to get to me if he speeds, which he more than likely will. So, I just sit with the trees, the darkness, and dad.