Hades

|Life|

•CHAPTER ONE•

    I lock the door behind me, stepping into the cold, crisp air. Smiling, I wave at the kids across the street as they yell my name. Their grandmother, Ms.Donna, was such a sweetheart. She'd always come over here, wondering if I was alright and handing me desserts.

"You have a nice day now!" She smiles at me before ushering the kids back into the house.

I grin back , "You too, Ms.Donna!" I say a quick goodbye before starting my walk to school.

It was autumn. Which meant photography would be everything right now. I couldn't wait to capture a single leaf falling onto the ground, or the clear blue skies and colorful trees.

Photography had always been a part of my life. I got my first camera when I was twelve. My dad assembled it for me with the best products, and wrapped it as a gift for me on my birthday. I truly believe I got the desire to be creative from my mother. She was an artist at heart.

My chest clenches at the thought of her. She had the prettiest dark brown skin that glinted in the warm sun. Her powerful, green eyes would always shine with this playful, kind look. I missed her with everything in me. If anyone asked me what the definition of beauty was, in all aspects, I'd without a doubt mention her.

I sigh, putting my head down as people pass by me. Tendrils of curls fall over my face and for once, I'm glad to have a head full of thick curls that shielded me from the cold.

"Hey, Sammy!" I cringe at the nickname, glancing up to see none other than my childhood friend: Jacob Smith.

He smiles at me, dimples forming on his cheeks. "Hey, Jake."

He was definitely a ladies man. With his dark hair that hung over his eyes in curls and his glistening brown eyes that reminded me of smooth, dark melted chocolate. His pink lips plastered on his face, kissable and soft that matched well with the tan skin tone. He was the quarterback of our schools football team, and everyone loved him. Girls wanted to warm his bed and boys wanted...well some wanted the same thing. Others wanted to just simply be him.

"You walked here? I could've given you a ride. I texted you a bunch of times." I blush as he gathers me in his arms, squeezing me tight. "You must be freezing." He rubs my arms before throwing one of his over my shoulder.

I frown, "I didn't receive any messages. Otherwise I would've felt my phone vibrate." I tap around my jeans, checking my pockets for the rectangular object. Ah..that's why I didn't feel anything.

"Fuck. I forgot my phone. I must've left it on the table."

He chuckles, "Too far into that head of yours huh?" He ruffles my hair and I gasp, slapping his hand away.

"Jacob Edward Smith! Now you know to never touch a black girls hair." I snap, glaring at him.

"You're barely black. Isn't your dad white?" I hear a voice say from behind me. I tense, clenching my fists as her stupid voice grates my ears.

Turning around slowly, my cheeks flame red as my gaze falls on the one bitch I've hated since the beginning of senior year.

"I don't remember anyone talking to you, Dania." I spit out, aware that Jacob has stepped closer to me.

I didn't understand why she kept taking jabs at me. People kept calling it jealousy because she was a dark-skinned girl. But why hate? She was as beautiful as me—hell, even more so in my opinion. Her dark skin shone brightly with the sun, as well as her dark brown eyes and her long straight hair. She had a body to die for, with her curvy hips and a chest size that matched. I was also curvy, but she wore it with confidence and prowess. I wore it with awkwardness and just...awkwardness.