With Every Step

Chapter 1

If I'm going to tell you this story right. I'm going to have to start off from where it all began. A little house just outside the city limits of Sydney, Australia. It was in that house, that my older brother, Calum picked up his first instrument. The guitar. I know what you are all saying. 'He plays the bass guitar. Not the normal guitar. That's what Luke and Mikey play!' But that will come later on in this story. I was only seven years old when I first saw Calum pick up a guitar. And the truth is. His was not that good. He sucked actually. But after years and years of classes and dedication. He began to torture me with that hair raising amp of his. That he bought with his own money when I was about thirteen. And trust me. It was like needles going into my skin. Our parents made him go in the garage out in the backyard. Because he would not stop playing. All he literally did was eat, sleep, tickle, and play that stupid guitar. Occasionally do his homework.

But now that I was fifteen, I rarely saw him. The only time I would ever see him was on our way to school. But we would never talk. We would see each other in the halls and smile. But that was it. It was like we weren't even family any more. Just two best friends that drifted away from each other.

But one day that all changed. The day I first met Luke. It was after school on a Friday, when Luke pulled up the driveway in his 2002 Taurus. I was sitting on the front porch steps, reading one of my library books. I watched him as he parked his car and started walking to the backyard.

"Calum's not home yet." I called out. Luke turned to look at me. "My mum made him take a trip to the store." He nodded, licking his lips.

"Do you mind if I wait?" he shoved his hands into his pockets. I shook my head. He came over and sat down next to me. I moved my black hair over my left shoulder for a shield of protection.

"So. You're Calum's sister, Caley right?"

"Younger sister. One year apart." I answered awkwardly without moving my head.

"Oh." I could feel him staring at me. "What are you reading?"

"Pride and Prejudice." I moved to my right, moving away from him.

"Ya know. I've seen you at school. Don't you feel kind of. Ya know. Lonely." I looked up at him. The first thing I noticed about him was his bright blue eyes.

"What?"

"I mean. Every time I see you, you're always alone. Reading a book or listening to your mp3. You never have any friends around you. Don't you feel left out?"

I looked up him, trying to hold in my anger. But I couldn't.

"Maybe I like being alone! It means I don't have to deal with bastards like you! You prying into my personal business! Wondering if I'm okay! Well guess what! I'm perfectly fine all by myself!" I slammed my book shut and stormed inside. Closing the door behind me. I leaned up against the door, putting my face in my hands. 'Oh god! Where's my book?!' I started panicking.

"Shit!" I looked out the window to see Luke flipping through it.

The reason why I was freaking was because of my bookmark. He pulled it out of my book and I swung the door open.

"Umm. I can explain." He turned around with confused look on his face.

"Explain what? All I was doing was checking for when you had to turn it back in." He showed me the due date card, that was in between his index and middle finger. I sighed with relief. "By the way, it's due today." he slid the card back into its pocket. "Do you want me to take you to the library?"

I thought about it for a few moments. Looking down the street, not seeing Calum. I glanced at the time on my phone, noticing that it was almost four thirty. The library closed at five.

"Sure. It closes in about half an hour. So, we should probably get a move on." I forced a smiled as I crossed my arms. Luke pulled out his keys and unlocked his car.

I opened my book and looked at the bookmark. I stared at the picture of my brother, some guy named Michael, and Luke. That was what I was afraid that he would see. My bookmark was a picture of him.

"Are you coming, or what?" he was already sitting in his car, passenger window down. I put the picture in the back right pocket and walked down the steps to the sidewalk.