FOREVER NOW

CHAPTER 1

The birds were already calling to each other in the early morning stillness of Veil, Colorado as the sun rose slowly over the mountains, stretching golden fingers that within moments was purple. The leaves on the trees rustled gently on the barest breeze as 17 year old Hailey Allison Miller stood silent on the damp grass of their yard watching the brilliant sky explode in shimmering colors.

"Hailey, dear, come inside now. Breakfast is ready." Patty called out her daughter from their backyard door. She was on her floral apron and mittens.

"Coming, mom!"

So far, Hailey's life turned out great. It was so much more than what she had imagined in her little head when she was 7. She lived in a massive house, she had her own room, own bed, lots of toys, and a closet full of clothes and shoes. She went to a real school now too. She has a loving mother and father, an annoying but still sometimes-nice of a brother. She was thankful. She was blessed.

Everything seemed to have happened quickly. She was now 17. She was no longer the short kid that she was before. She had gotten taller. Her body already had curves on the right places, her long brown locks moves together with her, her skin was so smooth and pure as white. Her eyes seemed to have grown lighter green now and with long thick lashes, one would think they're the eyes of Athena, add those naturally red lips and perfect nose. Everything about her was breath taking and perfect!

Puberty had hit her hard.

The orphanage. She had visited quite a few times after she left. Hailey and TJ were both happy with every day spent together even with the little time they had. Everything was running good until she turned 10. TJ called Hailey early in the morning letting her know that someone would be adopting him, finally. Happiness was evident in his voice as he said it and Hailey was just so happy for her best friend. After a day or two she excitedly went to visit TJ in the orphanage only to find out that he had already left. She was saddened that she didn't even have the chance to say goodbye and to embrace him for the last time.

The only things she had of TJ were their picture during her 8th birthday, the little thank you card that he had made for her that she kept in a special box inside her closet and the little bits and pieces of their memories together and that she would treasure for the rest of her life.

His voice still echoed in her ears as he mouthed, I'll find you, we'll see each other again. I promise.

Then again, they were so young back then, anything could happen though. She had thought thousand times of the possible fact that they might not see each other again. But there's still a tiny hope inside her that wished they would.

Hailey sat on their rectangular marbled table next to her mother. William sat on the center while Jared sat across from Haileu. At 20, Jared has this enormous height. When they were younger, he was always anxious to tease Hailey. She had become the subject of his attention.

Jared helped himself to a slice of the succulent ham as Hailey swiped at his fingers.

"I'll cut them off if you don't watch it." Hailey waved the knife at him, more than a little teasing. Jared irked her constantly. He just love to tease and to play and annoy her. More than once, he had pressed until she took a swing at him which he always deflected easily and then boxed her less than gently on her ear for trying.

"Get way from me, Jar. Go bother someone else." More than not, she called him Jarhead.

Jared only laughed and took a sip of his juice. Hailey imagined  tipping the glass on his face just for revenge but that would be too inappropriate.

"Jar, stop annoying your sister." William finally spoke as he took a spoonful of his cereal. "Both of you should hurry up or you'll be late for school.

"Yes, dad." Jared and Hailey said in unison.

After breakfast, Hailey hurried to her room to change into her uniform. She slipped into her skirt. For an instant, it made her look like an innocent young girl again but her womanhood was already too advanced to be denied even with her old checkered skirt.

Hailey and Jared went to different schools. Hailey was on her last year in senior high school and Jared was on his 3rd year on college. Hailey had seen her brother get drunk but she would have died before squealing to their parents. Even when they were at odds, there was still an unspoken bond between them.

At school, Hailey had few friends but the closest one was Milicent. A blonde with blazing blue eyes, she met her during the enrollment of freshman year and from that day on, they were inseparable.

"Hail!"

Hailey instantly new who it was. She turned around to see Milicent running towards her.

"Why are you in a hurry?" Hailey turned her wrist to check her watch. "we're still early for our next class."

"I'm not in a hurry. I'm more like excited for next week!" Milicent said with giddiness.

"What about next week?" Hailey started to walk towards her locker to gather her books but Milicent blocked her with furrowed brows that Hailey almost laughed at.

"Seriously, girl? You're not giving me that shit again." She paused. "Seniors' night. It's Seniors' night!"

"Oh. So that's next week?" Haileu said as she lightly pushed her best friend aside to open her locker again.

"Yes!" Milicent answered. Her eyes were glittering with hope.

"Well...I'm just glad I'm not coming." Hailey spoke with much confidence that killed the hope in Milicent's eyes. She has never been fond of parties and she would rather stay at home and read books than to be in some party and get wasted. She had seen it happen, even Milicent got into that kind of situation and its a 'no thank you' for her.

"Again? Hail, we have gone through freshman year, sophomore and junior ang you haven't attended any parties!" Milicent's hands were all over the place as she tried to make her point. "It's our last year." She was trying hard not to scream at her best friend's face.

"Exactly, I have gone through the last three years without attending those parties so why bother now? And besides, you know I'm not fond of parties."

Milicent rolled her blue eyes, she's not going to give up until she finally convince her bestfriend to go. "Don't be such a kill joy. This is our last year, we should rather enjoy it. We'll never gonna have this fun when we get to college."

"I'm not a kill joy Mili." Hailey whined. "Stop rolling your eyes at me." She crossed her arms on her chest. Students passed by them and she could hear them talking about Seniors' night.

"I'll buy your lunch for 5 days." Milicent negotiated.

"Nope." Hailey said popping the letter P. "Ain't gonna work."

"Oh come on! It'll be fun. It's not like something bad's gonna happen. You won't even drink. I know you don't drink." Milicent rolled her eyes for the twentieth time today. She pleaded and pleaded until...

"Fine."

Milicent stopped.

"Fine I'll go. Now stop rolling your eyes, really." And Hailey stomped off with her books in hand. Her best friend can be really annoying, pushy and dramatic sometimes but she loves her like her own sister.

Milicent followed behind with a smile plastered on her face and for the last time, she rolled her eyes.