The Protector (Rewritten)

Pt. 1, Chapter 1: Purpose

Author's Note: This book is a revamp of the original version! It will have the same overall plot, so only a few things will be switched around. The wording and speed of plot progression will also be adjusted/corrected. I felt this book could be made a lot better, so here we go!

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The bell rang across the school, signaling the end of fourth period and the day. I sprang out of my chair along with everyone else, but before we could go anywhere, the teacher said, "The bell doesn't dismiss you, now sit back down. We haven't finished yet." The class slowly sat back down, but kept their bags in their hands. You could still hear several people shuffling to put binders in their bookbags. "Do the back side of the classwork for homework. Today's notes will be posted online, so they will be there if you need them. Also, don't forget to have your parents sign the needed paperwork for the school talent show on Friday if you haven't already." She paused, looked around, and nodded in approval before she said, "Alright, you're dismissed." Everyone hastily got up and rushed out of the classroom. We were one of the last classes dismissed, so there weren't many people left out in the hallway. I heard people complaining that our teacher is going to make us miss the bus one day. I got outside just as I saw the last few students getting onto our bus. I knew the buses wouldn't roll out quite yet since there was another entire class coming out, but I ran anyway. I sat down where I usually did and put in my earbuds to listen to some music. I was the second to last stop, so I didn't need to pay too much attention to where we were until after about fifteen minutes. I stared out of the clouded window, letting my mind wander. I found myself hoping I got home before my parents did.  I tried to think about something else, but it didn't work. My mom and dad used to get along fine, but as time went on, they fought more and more. They'd work it out eventually, surely. I just wished that it wouldn't end in a divorce. Since they started fighting, I had to take care of myself a lot more. I would go home, do my homework, eat dinner once I finished, and sneak out of my bedroom window and into the forest. The forest was a place I could clear my mind and be in peace for a while. It was usually dark by the time I got out there, but I liked it. There was no yelling, no phone calls, no background noises except the wildlife and the sound of my footsteps. Sometimes I would take my sketchbook and pencil out to draw as well. What I drew usually came from what I'd daydreamed that day. I didn't have any close friends, either. I was a loner, but I didn't mind it. I kept to myself a lot, that was just me. My train of thought got interrupted by the sound of the bus doors swinging open; it was my stop. I put my bookbag over my shoulder and got off the bus to my house. I took the house key out of my pocket and opened the door, looking around. There wasn't anybody home yet. I placed the parent paperwork on our oak dining room table for whoever came home first, and went off to my room. I took out my math homework and tried my best to focus on it, but it wasn't working. I must not have slept well the night before, so I decided to take a nap until someone got home. I fell back onto my bed and took a deep breath, instantly falling asleep.

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I slept for about an hour, and I felt like it would be easier to focus now. I made my way back to my desk to make another attempt at my math homework. I finished everything in an hour and a half, then went out to have dinner- mac and cheese, broccoli, and fish. It was cooler than usual, so it must've been out for a while before I came out. It was dark out by the time I finished eating, so I went back to my room and slipped out of my window into the forest. I felt the misty grass below my feet as I landed on the ground. The only sounds that could be heard were the crunches of dead leaves as I walked and the crickets in the background. The forest got thicker the further you went into it, but I knew my way back after coming out this many times. I finally sat down and leaned my head back against a tree, looking up at the cloudless sky. The moonlight reflected off of the scattered water on the ground from the rain from earlier. I watched the moon as it slowly rose into the sky. I began to wonder about what I was doing with myself. Sure, I was a student, but I wasn't really doing anything for anybody. And my life had to get more interesting than this anyway, right? I closed my eyes, wishing for these things- a more interesting and purposeful life. As I opened them back up, I noticed something moving across the sky- a shooting star.