Protector

Chapter 1

1

​I woke up drenched in cold sweat, and too scared to scream. This wasn't normally how my nightmares went. I would normally start running, and the man would chase me and fire his gun. My arm started throbbing. I examined the scar in the middle of the upper part of my arm. It had faded to a pale pink and from what I think, was about half a millimeter deep. The man in my dream was the burglar who broke into my house when I was eight, and grazed my arm with a bullet. He was the reason I was afraid of the dark, he was the reason I had a scar, and he was the reason that I never wanted to be alone.

- - - - - - - - - -

​I dragged myself out of bed, and went to the mirror to attempt to untangle my bed head that closely resembled a birds' nest. I finally untangled it, though it required a gallon of water and about a quart of hair de-tangler. I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked at my waist-length light ash brown hair. It came down in a simple wave but was mostly straight. I stared into my dark blue eyes that completely contrasted my light hair color. I broke the gaze with myself, threw on a blue-and-pink striped collared shirt and some jeans. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail that still draped down to the bottom of my ribs and went downstairs.

​​I immediately regretted walking downstairs when I saw a balloon bouquet and a banner that said. GOOD LUCK BRIE!! I forced a smile and remembered, it was my first day at Jackson Middle School. Great. Luckily I was starting on the first day of school, like everyone else. Unlike me, they were with their friends since the sixth grade. My thoughts started to wander about what it would be like, would I have good teachers, and would I meet some friends.

​"So Brie, do you like it?" my mom asked, snapping me back to reality.

​"Um, yeah. It really cool. Thanks." I lied a bit. I don't like to be fussed over, but, I do appreciate the effort.

​"Since it's first day of school, we thought you would like it." Pipped my little sister Katharine, who was only twelve. two years younger than me.

​"I still can't believe you are in ninth grade now." my mom choked, tears welling in her eyes. "You are getting so big!"

​"Aw Mom please don't cry on me right now. I love you too." I replied, comforting her so the tears would not spill. "When is Dad going to be home?" I asked, needing a subject change.

​"He called me yesterday and told me that he will be home this afternoon." Mom said, sniffing and wiping the tears from her eyes.

​My dad always goes on these long business trips. He has been to places like Washington D.C. and now he was visiting a friend in Alaska. When we moved in the middle of the summer, I was told that I had to go to this Jackson Middle School and start in ninth grade. I checked the clock, it was 7:45 and school starts at eight. I said goodbye to my mom and Katharine and ran out the door.

​I was given directions on how to walk to school because my grade starts earlier than Katharine's. As I was walking, I took a good look at the houses and suddenly realized that I was all alone. Where was everyone? I felt somewhat vulnerable, but I liked the quiet. I quietly hummed one of my favorite songs, it was called Fireflies. My mom is one of those people who gush over everything about you, and my voice is one of those main topics. "Honey your voice is beautiful!" or "You should major in music in college!" I honestly didn't think I was that great. It was honestly just enough to pass my music class. I arrived at school sooner than I thought I would. I took a deep breath, hoped for the best, and walked towards the doors.

I walked towards the group of girls that were standing by the door. There was a blonde one, a dirty blonde one, a redhead, and a girl with jet black hair. They looked about my age, I wanted to go say hi to them but I had to get my schedule from the office. As I walked towards the door, the girls glared at me. It was very apparent that newcomers where not welcome. I walked through the doors and the office was right in front as soon as you walked in. As soon as I walked in, the receptionist looked up at me.