Shattered

Prologue 1

"I had a really nice time tonight. Thank you," the girl says blushing slightly as she looks at the guy in front of her. She can't believe that Grant asked her to be his girlfriend. It's been a month and it's still unreal to her. The most popular boy at their high school, school's been out for some time and they've both graduated, but still. Grant was a player in school. She never would have agreed to go out with him then. He was only with girls to sleep with them then once he did he left them high and dry.

When he first asked her out she shut him down, hard. She had no desire to be just another one of the many. He didn't give up and kept asking her out. During that time he never went out with any other girl.

He wouldn't give up and finally he promised her that if she gave him a chance that he would be respectful. He wouldn't pressure her in any way.

It would only be for the summer any way.  Savana didn't believe in long distance relationships and she's going away to university in the fall. She knows that Grant is as well, just in a different school. Although she's started to trust him, she doesn't believe that he will remain faithful to her if they stay together.

Besides that would make it difficult for her to go on dates as well. Not that many people have ever asked her out. She knows that people find her good looking. She hears their comments all the time about how pretty she looks. She doesn't consider herself any more beautiful than any one else, but a lot of the females that she went to school with made nasty comments from jealousy. She's never been mean to them so she doesn't understand why they were being so mean to her.

Guys didn't ask her out. She didn't have many friends either and she didn't understand it. She tries to be nice to every one, like she was taught. She didn't pretend like she hadn't heard what some girls say about her. One of the few friends she had said that there are rumors that she's stuck up. That had made her very confused. She talks to people, didn't matter who. She did her best, but it was never enough.

Then she had heard one of her so called friends talking about her to a group of girls. "She's just so nice that it makes me sick."

Savana had gone up to her and said, "I'm sorry that I make you sick. I won't bother you any more." Her friend had looked horrified at Savana having overheard her. Savana had managed to make it to her room before she burst into tears.

After that she stopped trying to make friends with people. She was still friendly, but no longer pushed herself like she had before.

High school had been lonely, but at least she wasn't bullied.

She had watched in silence as the girls at school would get asked out, would have relationships, many of them getting pregnant, the parties that she was never invited to, but it was like watching a soap opera. She was never a part of it.

She had her parents and it was enough for her. Most of the time at least.

There were times when she was lonely, but she just dealt with it and hoped that at University that she would be able to find someone that wanted more than just a shallow friendship.

Grant gently runs his fingers along her face bringing her back to the present. He lifts her head up and just as he is about to kiss her the front door opens. Savana blushes deeper as her father looks at them smirking.

"Come in, both of you. The night is still early, Grant, no need to leave just yet."

"Thank you, Mr. Carter," Grant turns to Savana. "If it's alright with you?"

Savana nods blushing even more. She likes that he asks her, her opinion before doing something. She just wishes that her father had better timing. She was hoping to get her first kiss.

The two of them go inside and her father shuts the door behind them. Savana takes them to the kitchen where her mother is making cookies. She knows that her mother would like to get to know Grant better.

"Grant, Savana, have a seat." Mrs. Carter says and sets a plate of cookies out for them to eat. She brings over some glasses and the milk.

As they are talking her father comes in to join them.

They are having a good time talking and laughing. 

Suddenly the kitchen door busts open and they can hear the sound of the front door being forced open as well.

Savana sits terrified as several masked men enter the room. They are all armed with guns.

They shoot her father when he turns to face them. He didn't even say anything, they just fired.

Savana is too shocked to do or say anything as she watches her father fall on the table. The growing red stain from his blood coming towards her.

She hears her mother scream and she turns her head towards her. 

She looks like her mother and hopes that she will be just as beautiful when she's that age. But as she watches what the men do to her mother, she just hopes that they kill her now.

"What the hell is going on here?" Grant demands. He's not scared, Savana notes absently. He sounds annoyed rather than angry. She wonders how he dares to talk to armed men with authority like that.

"Shut up, Grant. You weren't supposed to be here." The one that had hurt her mother growls out.

Savana's breath catches. That voice, she knows that voice, it's Grant's brother, the sheriff.

"You weren't supposed to come here!" Grant yells back. "They were off limits. I told you that."

She can't see the face, but she can hear it, the man sneers as he answers Grant back. "She's worth a fortune, Grant. You are taking too long and the auction is coming up."

"You aren't taking her." Grant says and gets in front of her so that the men can't touch her.

"You aren't going to stop me, little brother. She's worth far too much to allow her to not be sold."

"No!" Grant says and starts fighting with his brother. A gun goes off and Grant falls to the floor holding his stomach.

Grant looks at his blood covered hands then looks to Savana and whispers, "I'm sorry."

Savana screams then blacks out.