He Claimed Me (On Hold)

Chapter 1

It was a cool, crisp morning and my grandfather and I were sitting in the garden. 

"Grandpa, I don't want to leave you. I love it here. Please, let me stay. You won't have to worry about me." I pleaded, one last time.

"No, Mari. You have to go. You already have a place to stay with your father in Los Angeles. It's time for you to have a relationship with him." He pulled me close, rubbing my back. "Now go to Ariana. Have her change your appearance. You'll have to blend. You understand that you can't tell anyone about being in a gang, unless you really trust them. It could bring trouble. This is for your own good. Come say goodbye to me once you're done. I'll see you off." He nodded his head, and walked away. I took a couple deep breaths, and my senses were filled with the aroma from the roses planted all around. In honor of my mom, we planted this garden.

My moms name was Rose. From what everyone tells me, she was amazing. She would light up a room when she walked in. We lost her to a stray bullet when I was 3. I never remembered anything about her, but I have pictures. At the age of 50, my grandpa was a new parent to a toddler all over again. My father was completely heartbroken and lost his mind when she passed. He was always drunk, and eventually ran away to southern California. 

I didn't want to leave. Everything I loved was here. I didn't want to live with my dad. He has missed every mile stone. Maybe, just maybe, he can be there for my high school graduation. I was told that he changed, and was a better person. Apparently he moved through the ranks at a marketing firm fairly quickly, and was now the VP of sales. 

I slugged my way to the room of my best friend Ariana. We had a gang house where people could live so they could e close to one another. We had grown up together. She was there for me when my mom was shot and killed. She helped me grow and heal. I couldn't imagine being away from her, from anyone. This was my family. I opened the door just in time to see Ariana wiping tears from her eyes.

"Mari! Come in! We have so much to do! Lets get started with that hair!" She laughed and pulled me into the room. "Now what are we gonna do? I say lets take you back to your natural blonde waves. Get rid of this black hair, take out your nose ring, and a whole new wardrobe." Her eyes crinkled at the edges, still a little puffy from crying. She was running her hands through my hair, sectioning it out. 

"Whatever you think is best, Ari." I looked into her eyes with a slight smile. She pulled on some gloves and got to work.

"So, whatcha gonna go by? You can't go by Mari. You could do your full name, go by Marianna. You could go by Anna. Whatcha thinking?" She asked, brushing the bleach onto my hair. 

"I'm thinking Anna. It's a cute name, plus Marianna is WAY too long to be called everyday." I smiled painfully. 

"I'm going to miss you so much, Ari."

"I'm gonna miss you too, but no crying. We've both done that enough times. Plus, my mascara is expensive, and Nathan didn't get me waterproof." She laughed, pulling down another section of hair. 

Nathan was her boyfriend since 8th grade. They were so cute together and everyone knew they would get married in the future. He was always like an older brother to me, and was heartbroken that I had to go. We said goodbye the previous night because he had his college courses today.

"Ooo, maybe there will be cute boys. I mean, it IS LA after all." She sighed dreamily. 

"That will be one good thing, but don't get too worked up, you have Nathan." I laugh. 

"I know, I know. Are you excited?" 

"Eh. I really don't want to leave any of you." 

"Then why are you?" She shot back, fairly aggressively.