Prologue
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“Hey, airhead!” The boys taunted me as they took the seat in front of me. I didn’t look up – I didn’t want too either. I simply had my head down and sighed in my mind. “Ey, stupid don’t wanna look up…” “Guess so.” One of them clicked their teeth, “Don’t wanna listen either, shit?” Their voices threatened me. I looked down to the side and fiddled with my fingers, nervous to death to what they might do or say. “Time for a little lesson…” Both whispered coldly. I looked up, almost instantly – as in impact they grabbed my wrists and rolled my sleeves down roughly, nearly scratching me. I tried to fight back, but failed as they did so.
“Hey, everybody!” Attention was drawn to our spot. One by one, heads drawn and faced to us – Seats shifted around us and I was petrified and shy. “This girl or ‘it’ as I refer too, self harms for attention…” They both said in union and rudely. “No… I-it was my cat… I s-s-swear…” I stuttered, nodding no frantically.
“Cutter, cutter, cutter, cutter!” They both chanted, soon enough the whole class was laughing and chanting along with them. I wanted to run, hide, scream, cry – But I can’t. The teacher walked in, I finally and successfully pried my wrists off, grabbed my bag and ran out the room. Tears accumulated in my eyes as I ran down the isolated gray halls. Tears pouring out and down my cheeks, I felt horrible and useless. I heard a roar of laughter from my class room, why can’t they stop?
They didn’t care. No one cares. No one ever does. No one ever did.
I ran and ran and ran till I could feel the pain in my calves, passing through the schools double doors, throughout the bloody hell streets of downtown, and then I stopped when I finally reached to a tall skyscraper. I panted heavily with my sweaty pink palms on my knees. I looked down, fighting for my own breath. I don’t want to continue this life, the bullying, the depression, the dread… Not even for a million dollars, for sure.
Tears slowly poured out, one by one – like a never ending river. “What did I do?” I asked myself out loud, but hoarsely. People glanced at me, as if I were stupid and crazy. I looked up, my neck hurt from looking up. The skyscraper was tall, reaching for the sky. Impetuously, I ran into the door and ran up the stairs, it was about seventy flights of stairs. I didn’t care, today, here, right now – I was going to commit suicide. I kept fighting for my breath as I ran up.
No one cares…
No one wants you…
You’re worthless…
A voice inside me whispered to me that no one wanted me. I was bull crap. I finally reached to the top, I looked at the sky, then at the balcony. I stepped closer to the edge of the building, then, I rolled down my sleeves and examined my cuts -- My wounds. I had red scratches and wounds everywhere. I deserved this. It was December 24th. Christmas eve. I took a deep look and then sighed. I slung my bag to my side and took out a sheet of a small blue sticky note and a red pen. I started writing on the note.
Whoever’s reading this, has found me dead. I, Shay Grayson, has committed suicide. Life has wanted me to stop since day one. And now life has gotten its wish. Good for them. I have been teased and taunted by practically everyone I know. I can’t go on, and I won’t. I am an artist. My paintbrush is a razor, and my canvas is my wrist. Goodbye.
I reached into my pocket and grabbed a black safety pin and pinned the note to my chest. I stepped closer and closer to the edge, exhaling calmly, I closed my eyes and felt the December breeze on my fair skin toned face. I spread my arms side to side like a bird about to take flight, I prepared for my death. Silence filled my ears… “Don’t do it…” A voice whispered into my ear, my eyes widened and I took a step back and saw a boy.
He had brown eyes. They were so deep. So mysterious, so dark... like a cave that reaches in to the depth of the earth, begging to be explored. His hair, it was dark and lustrous, it could’ve almost been mistaken for jet black – but the sultry deep brown could be seen around the edges and its shine were as if he was kissed by Christmas stars; anywhere the skies’ darkness didn’t obscure. His skin was fair, like mines. But it was more fair and pale than my winter breath. His clothes were raggedy, a simple blue tee-shirt with normal black jeans and a pair of worn-out sneakers. I snapped out of phase, amazed by his features.
Confused, I asked like an idiot “What?” I whispered breathlessly. He came closer, but hesitantly – my eyes widen and I stepped back. “No. No.” He was floating. I must’ve been so depressed that I was hallucinating… “Don’t die. I did that on this same building… I regret it.” His eyes twinkled and he stepped closer and closer till our eyes came in contact and our nose touched. “I…” I started “I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do!” I slightly yelled and stepped back. I looked to the side ignoring him. He came to me and ripped the note off of my chest and crumpled it and threw it to the cold cement, I gasped and furrowed my eyebrows. “And who do you think you are to do that?!” I looked into his eyes. “Well. I am Hunter. That’s all I know, and I know I may not mean anything, and that you probably think no one cares, but I care – and don’t do it. Please.” He whispered as he looked into my eyes with sadness. “Y-you… You see me.” He smiled sadly. I blushed lightly and fiddled with my fingers. “Wh-what do you mean?” I stuttered. His eyes widen, in realization. “Nothing. I… Just stay, please?” He smiled brighter.
‘This guy is crazy…’ I thought. Then immediately felt guilty. He wanted me to not kill myself, he seemed to care, and he stopped me. I didn’t want him to leave. Thoughts crossed my mind, and then finally I said a word I didn’t think I’d say to this guy.
“Okay.”
He smiled brightly as I blushed pink and fiddled with my finger. “But on one condition…”
“Anything!” He exclaimed happily.
“We have to get to know about each other.”
“I’ll get to know you like the back of my palm in less than a week.” He smirked playfully.
And that’s how our love story started...
