Bittersweet Endings

Chapter One

I felt apprehensive as I lay sprawled in bed. The rain pounding on the roof, heavier than it had in a long while which wasn't encouraging my mood. The rain offered a soothing effect, something I always loved. It would wash away any emotion I was experiencing and make it better no matter what. Not tonight. I had a lot on my mind. That compelled me awake and drove me to examine everything.

My train of thought wasn't surprising considering I had regarded this subject often in the last week. Big warm chocolate brown eyes, you could forget yourself in them if you weren't careful. It had been five years since I last looked at them and here they are keeping me awake yet again. I was thirteen when I last saw him. A day I'd never forget. I struggled to not let my mind drift to those eyes or the guy they belonged too. This last week for some damn reason they were on my mind.

Five years ago, they belonged to the boy who used to be my best friend, the one person who could keep me sane amongst the crazy. I met him at one the family functions when I was eight years old. We became tight, just as our families did. At eight years old he was like my brother but, my mind shifted just before that eventful day and I realised that I loved my best friend.

He switched to the same school as me and we continued through primary school together and we would've finished high school together until that day. When I was thirteen, my mother caught my father cheating on her. So, she decided we would move. Me and her, away from dad and away from my best friend Scott. She required a clean start, so she found a small city that held a country feel, we called it home for the past five years. Mum was different after the move. She immersed herself in her work or a random guy. There had been too many to count.

Mum decided when we moved we would end all connections with the past at least that's how she phrased it. This meant I never kept in contact with him, I knew there would be ways around this, but I wanted to keep mum happy she had been through enough. I couldn't figure out what my head was thinking when it brought him up. I would not be seeing him soon that I was positive about, he could be anywhere. Plus, even if I saw him again I doubt we could become friends again, I am very different to how I used to be. I have anger issues and extreme fierceness or, so I am told.

Since moving my mother has come to terms with the fact, I'm not the daughter she always wanted but what does she expect when she is never home. There was only one thing I still did for her and that was I still attended school. Only on the arrangement that if I attended she wouldn't send me away to some distant boarding school. As much as that would have dealt with issues I didn't want to go, I appreciated the freedom I had here and the friends I had made.

I only had two friends at the school although that was all I required. Everyone else fears me. It's not without reason, they knew not to mess with me. No one here knows my history or why I'm so angry and that's just how I wanted it. I had a lot of rules but the fundamental one was don't touch me, and everybody knew to follow it. I rolled over as I struggled to clear my head, focusing on the rainfall. This allowed me to settle to sleep, an uneasy sleep but sleep none the less.

I woke up alarmed, there was thumping on the door and when I concentrated I could pick up my mother shrieking at me to get up. I looked up 7:30. This meant I couldn't expect a lift to school this morning and I would walk, not that it was far.

"I'm awake," I yelled out to her, to get the banging to stop.

"About time, you must walk to school this morning." She came back.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," I answered, uncertain she heard me and not caring either way.

I glared at the roof as a yawn escaped my lips, I didn't get adequate sleep last night but then I didn't get adequate sleep most nights. The only difference being it was due to injuries and not old friends. I clambered out of bed and snatched the clothes I had set out last night. No it wasn't the uniform, but I didn't care, and the school let it slide. It wasn't anything revealing just jeans and a shirt, I'm uncertain if the school should let it slide but no one would say anything they never did.

I opened my door and headed for the shower, locking the door behind me I concentrated on the task at hand. I turned the shower on and stripped down. As I was awaiting the water to heat, I looked at myself in the mirror, but I didn't focus on it. I didn't like glancing at myself, it forced back pains and recollections I wanted to have locked away. It never took long for the water to heat and I stepped in. I let the hot water work its magic on me and rinse everything away, the fatigue and the image of those eyes. It made me feel better. There wasn't much time to get ready as expected she waited until the last minute to wake me, I finished what I needed to do and got out.

Once I threw my clothes on, I then ran a brush through my hair and chucked it up into a ponytail, applied eyeliner, mascara and lip gloss, the only girl things I allowed myself to give in to. I grabbed all the books I required for the day from my room and chucked them into my backpack.

The thought crossed my mind to send a quick message to Megan for a lift but decided against it. She had a vivacious personality that was the complete opposite of myself. Although I cared for her, I couldn't deal with that at this stage on a Monday morning. It was also pointless sending a message to my other friend Luke as I was doubtful that he would even be there today.

I snatched an apple from the fruit dish in the kitchen and made my way to the front door. "See you mum," I yelled walking through the door, slamming it behind me. It was a habit I was having trouble breaking.

I drew my iPod out of my bag and listened to "Let it die" by Three Days Grace. I had heard it one day and fell in love. As I was walking, I drew my phone from my pocket I glanced it checking the time. Given the walk took around 20 minutes, and I had gotten ready much quicker than thought I would have 40 minutes to kill. There would at least be company at school as Megan always arrived early.

The only two people in the entire school I tolerated are Megan and Luke. Megan and I had been friends for two years. She was new to the school and Trent the resident prick was his usual prick self and was saying shit to her. I don't know why but I snapped and had a go at him. We had been friends ever since. I tried to train her how to watch out for herself, but her sweet nature wouldn't allow it. As for Luke we became friends last year. He was new Megan befriended him and then so did I. I understood that they were both fearful of me, but they saw past it.

I was glad this year was my final year, then I would leave this town. Sure, I would miss my friends, but I couldn't do it any longer. Plus, there are enough of ways to stay in contact. It wasn't long before the school gates came into view, the school looked the same as it always outside the swarm of bodies in the carpark. This was unexpected. I saw Megan's ute just pulling into the carpark, so I made my way over to her and her little blue jumbuck ute. Not the ute I would have chosen, but she loved it and that's what counted.

"Hey Megan, do you know what's going on?" I inquired, despite only just pulling up she talked to other people from the school.

"There's a new kid or something, and the rumour is he's hot." She replied. It was common knowledge that your looks played a big part in how people treated you at the school.

I nodded my head in response not even wasting my breath on words.

She made her way over to the group of people and walked through them. No one said anything to her, it was because I was walking behind her. They ignored me as they muttered hellos to Megan. It preferable that they ignore me. I was hoping with everything I had that as it was the first day, no one would say anything to her. Not needing to fight would be too good to be true, but I would if I had to.

Muting everyone out I followed, making sure that people were polite and respectful towards my friend. I didn't need to know what he said, but it wasn't good as I saw Megan stiffen. It meant someone had said something as I stepped around her I saw Trent. It was obvious he hadn't seen me as he kept the taunts to when I wasn't around.

"How many fucking times to do I need to hurt you, Trent, before you get the message," I said the threat clear in my tone. He looked shocked, he opened and closed his mouth several times not sure what to say. He went to say something but at the moment the new guy turned around and the rest of the world vanished from my view. It was him, I was staring into those damn eyes that had been haunting me all night.

"Scott," I stated, the question clear in my voice.

His eyes grew wide. Several emotions flashed through them, realisation been the main one. He recognised who was standing in front of me.
"JD." He replied. It wasn't a question it was a statement.

"Don't call me that." I snapped before turning to walk away. I should have known he wouldn't just let me go. He grabbed my arm, not knowing my golden rule. Several people gasped in anticipation as everyone stopped talking to see what my reaction would be.
It was not what everyone thought it would be.

"Don't touch me," I said before yanking my arm out of his grip and walking away, leaving everyone with open mouths and full of surprise. No one said anything, no one tried to stop me. I'm sure I heard someone tell him he was lucky, that he broke my rule and I walked away. It was unheard of. I kept walking, no one made a move to follow me. Just the way I liked it.

Time to introduce myself. I'm Joey Daniels, I'm almost 18. My life hasn't always been easy, but I've dealt with it the only way I knew. I had the rest of the year planned out but now this was unexpected.

Two questions now consumed my thoughts why is here and what does he want.