Before I Go

Prologue

Skylar POV
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    I felt tears streaming down my face as I began hauling my bags from my bedroom to my front door. Tears of Joy and sadness mixed. I couldn't wait to arrive at LAX in California and begin perusing my dreams of becoming a successful super/pop star. I know it seems stereotypical. Small country town girl moves to Hollywood to become famous. Kind of like a Taylor Swift thing. I guess. But music isn't just something to get me famous. It's my life.

   Since I was a baby, my parents would always sing to me and my dad would play guitar around the house. Naturally, music sparked curiosity in my heart. I began playing around with my father's guitar in my free time and became really good. I entered talent shows and sang until my lungs felt as if they would burst. And eventually I got noticed by a record label. A big one too!

   And that all leads up to today...the day I leave my hometown of Summerstein. Along with my friends and family.

   I'm moving to California all by myself at the age of 14. But my manager promised to take care of me and convinced my parents it would be best to stay in Summerstein.
"Dad!! A little help here??" I shouted from the middle of the hallway, out of breath and tired. I, somehow, managed to lug my three ginormas suitcases down the stairs, but there is no way I will be able to make it to the front door.

   "Just a minute honey!" He shouted back, right before he rounded the corner and relieved me of two of my bags, leaving me with one. We made our way to our front porch where, Vicky (a.k.a Victoria) my manager and new temporary guardian/caregiver was waiting to take me to the airport a few cities and hours away drive. Since this is a small town, there are no airports within a 100 mile radius.

   More tears escaped my eyes as I saw my friends all lined up on my front porch. I walked over to them.

   "Promise not to forget Me?" My best friend May asked with tears in her eyes and a small smile.
"Never in a million years will I forget you" I smiled back before I gave her a huge hug and turned to Logan. My next door neighboor, and kinda sorta crush.
"See you soon, Skylar. And don't forget to invite me as your date when you win your first Grammy" he demanded with a shaky laugh, trying to not let his emotions show. I blushed and hugged him before he could see me.

   He wrapped his arms around me tightly and held me close for a minute. I wish it didn't end. But I pulled away,  wiped my tears and moved onto his best friend and a good friend of mine, James.
  
   "Good luck Skylar. Have fun and don't get wild." He said.
"Thanks and I will stay humble and visit all the time" I assured him.
With a final group hug and goodbye to my parents I got into the front seat of Vicky's rented Silver Range Rover. I rolled down my window and smiled and blew kisses before I was too far to see. But right before I turned the corner, I caught Logan "catch" a kiss I blew, and press it to his heart. Confused, I craned my neck to get a better view. But it was too late. We already turned the corner.
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   I practically jumped off the plane once we landed in LAX.
"Skylar!Wait!Wait for me!" Vicky yelled from behind me. I turned around and flashed her a signature smile of mine. I ran to claim my suitcases but had trouble due to the weight and amount. I decided to wait for her after all.
"HURRY UP!!" I shouted across the airport.
"Skylar I am wearing heels!" She shouted back.
   I huffed and blew a stray hair out of my face and took out my new phone. It is my very first and I love it. I took a couple of selfies and sent them to my famliy and friend's separate group chats. I clicked my phone off just as soon as Vicky caught up to me, out of breath and wheezing.
   "Skylar, I understand you are excited but you cannot run off like that" she demanded. "Sorry! I've just never left Summerstein before. Unless you count that one time I went to RiverTwin to visit my grandmother for Christmas? Does that count? Wait, no! Right?"
"Skylar, please you're giving me a headache" she sighed, holding her hand up to me motioning for me to shut my mouth.
"Let's get a cab and head back to the house" she said after a minute of massaging her head.
"Great idea!" I squealed.
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Three Years Later
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   "Skylar! Honey please, open up! We can talk about this. Please, just stop" I hear Vicky's voice travel through the bathroom door. But this is my decision.
   "No! I'm sorry but I can't do this any more!" I whisper the last part as a reassurance to myself. I lift my knife back up from where I had it sitting beside me. Vicky's and  Jakes' voices radiate through the door, but I shut them out.
   I lift my gaze from the knife to my bleeding and scarred arm. Trailing the fingers of my empty hand up and down my scars one last time. I bring my blade up to my vein on my left wrist and right before I sink the blade into my soft skin, the door bursts open and Jake pries the blade from my hand. He scoops me into his arms and my vision goes blurry from the tears and blood loss. I hear the sound of Vicky's heels clicking on the tile flooring as she desperately tries to keep up with Jake. Then everything goes black as we emerge from my Beverly Hills House into the sunlight.
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Three Days Later
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   I wake up to the sound of screeching beeps in my ear and bright florescent lights flood my sight. I sit up and look around the room. My eyes meet a pair of hopefilled and relieved eyes belonging to my father. I can recognize those emerald eyes anywhere.
   "Skylar, sweetie. How are you feeling?" He asked as he stood up and strided to my bedside taking my ice cold hand in his warm and clamy one.
"I'm sorry dad. I was just so overwhelmed with it all. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to come this far." I babble breathless with tears running down my face.
"Shh...I'm here now and Mom is on her way back from the cafeteria. Don't cry sweetie...We'll take care of you. " He coos into my ear as he hugs me and runs his fingers through my hair to comfort me.
    I take a deep breath and break the hug. I give him a tired and weak smile. But a genuine smile nonetheless. It's been so long since I last smiled. And I mean really smile not a fake one for magazines.

   "Maybe it would be best if you left California for a while. I know you love singing and doing what you do. But look what this world has done to you. Your mother and I already discussed this. She agrees. Sweetie, come back to Summerstein with us. Finish High School back at home. Real Highschool, not online. Please sweetheart. Come home." He begs. I wrap him back into a hug and nod in agreement.
"I think it's time. Just while I heal. Then I can come back to Califorina to keep making music." I say, my words muffled from his sweater.
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   Ohhh....My.....Gosh!!!!! I have been dying to write this book for the longest time. I played around with the prolouge for a while and I came to the decision that this is perfect. Special thanks to kassandra-morales. She played a big role in helping me write this.
    I literally cannot wait to start the next chapter. I'm probably working on it as you read this. I want some feedback from you guys. What do you think so far of Skylar? I know it's pretty early but...I want to see what you as a reader think. And hey, who knows, she just might surprise you in the future. Anyhoots... I hope you are just as excited for the next chapter as I am! Bye!! Don't forget to Vote!(please)