Chapter One

                                    

                                          
I am lost in thought, I haven't a clue as to what I should do. So I pace back and forth at the top of the stairs in my two-story home in rural Nebraska. I am waiting for someone to wake up, knowing I'll be late just like always. Being late doesn't help me at all, going into class with everyone staring. I look at my watch estimating just how late I'll be. 
                          
I would walk the six blocks myself, but my Nana Hildy put the fear of death into my father when she told one of her "I walked all that way barefoot in the snow, and lost a toe" stories. I mean, she was in a blizzard going to the only amount of schooling available. But my mom doesn't care, she even said herself how she would have to pay for an unnecessary medical bill. So I will again be laughed at as the freak, outcast, and loner...maybe this is all in my head. I hate this, but I know I'll graduate soon and be out of this stupid town.
                          
'I need to, but what if I'm caught? The release it would give me would be worth the trouble, but there's not enough time...
                          
I have this corny notion, just like a faraway dream or a fable out of one of my storybooks, that someone will come and rescue me someday. Although it's very unlikely, one can still dream. No one understands what it's like to be me, but of course, they wouldn't. Maybe just maybe, that dream of mine could somewhat come true. The new kid gives me hope, he hasn't been here long enough to hate me.  It's also a plus that he is amazingly cute, and he behaves differently from the rest. He keeps to himself mostly but that doesn't stop everyone from gravitating to him like he's a magnet making him an unwitting popular. Normally I was put off by the opposite gender... well any gender. People had a habit of getting under my skin, there was just something about him that drew me in.
                          
"Elyzabeth!" came an uproar from my parent's bedroom, blasting me out of my thoughts. "Let's Go! Now!" I thought about replying with a snarky remark but instead chose something safer.
                          
"Coming!" I hollered. I walked slowly down the carpeted stairs and out the front door, wanting to put off the horrible day that I knew was coming. She acted like I was the one making us late when she hadn't even left her room yet.
                          
If only I could have a regular life. I have no friends, and the teachers aren't much better. The only thing at this school I like is the English class. I like to write just as much as I like to read. It takes me to another place with less suffering. 
                          
My mind wanders back to Max. He's taller than me but not by much. I fantasize about kissing him, knowing full well the chances of it ever happening were very slim.
                          
He walks the halls at school confidently expertly winding through them, never once bumping into anyone. His eyes were the color of the clearest waters of the Ocean, I could get lost swimming in the sea of warmth they give off. His dark brown shaggy hair hung just past his ears. His skin is an even olive tone, perpetually tanned.
                          
 I continue to daydream about him as I get into my mom's beat-up red Sedan. I set my backpack down on the floor in front of me, and buckle up, and now I'm on my way to the second less annoying hell hole of my life.
                          
I wander through the halls pitching up my mental block for the first and worst class of the day. Math! I hate it with a passion. Do you know how hard it is to do trigonometry at seven o'clock in the morning! When I get there I can feel them watching, watching me, always me. Their eyes follow me as I find my way to my seat. The teacher looks up briefly but doesn't say anything. My mind is buzzing distractedly as Mr. Tallou shakes his head at the idiot in front of me. Mr. Tallou HATES when people eat in class, as they often leave wrappers everywhere or gum stuck to the desks. 
                          
I try to focus on the problem on the board, coming up with nothing. This is so stupid...
                          
When the bell rings everyone scrambles for the door, pushing and shoving like the building is about to blow. But not before the teacher stops us and tells us our assignment for the night. Then all I can hear is a chorus of "ugghhh" and "whaaat".