Chapter 1

"GET OUT!" she screamed. Her words filled with venom, dripping from every word. She swung her fist, into my temple. My ears were ringing and I could feel the tears starting to come but I can't show any emotion. I can't let her think she's broke me, not after all that's happened. "WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO MOTHER? DROP OUT OF SCHOOL AND BECOME A JUNKIE LIKE YOU?!" I screamed. Completely ignoring me, she drunkenly swung her fist again. It struck before I could get a chance to put my hand up. I felt a searing pain in my right eye. The rest was a blur of pain and screaming. I opened the door and ran out of the house trying to hold myself together. I peeled out of the driveway not looking back. My lip started to quiver and shake until the tears dripped down my cheek onto my denim black jeans. This isn't the first time I've been kicked out but it was different now. I'm old enough to go out on my own and that's exactly what I plan to do. Jade West doesn't take any shit from anyone, that is, unless it my mother. I instinctively reached for my bag to grab my phone. Shit. I had left it in my room. I didn't have enough money to get a hotel so I decided to go to Becks. He always knew just how to put me back together when she tore me down. My knuckles were white on the steering wheel and I tasted blood in my mouth. I felt my foot getting heavier as I raced through the streets pushing 90 until I got there.

I rang the doorbell, trying to push my mother out of my head. Beck lived in a relatively nice apartment complex. Not to ghetto but not too prissy either. "Beck! Are you there? Open the fucking door!" Where was he? It occurred to me that I hadn't even checked what time it was. Wait, it's Friday. Beck works down at the gas station till like 2 in the morning on Fridays. It could be hours before he gets back but then again I have no clue. I'll just sleep in the car. It's not the first time.

As I was walking back to the car I spot Becks car pulling in to the parking lot. I adjust my shirt and try to look as presentable as a person can at 2 A.M., when a woman steps out of the passenger seat. My heart skips a beat. I start rushing over to her when Beck gets out and greets her with a not so friendly kiss. Before I even realize what I'm doing I shove Beck off of her so hard he slams back into the trunk of his car. "What the?! Oh…Jade." He doesn't even look sorry, just embarrassed. This only fuels my rage, which I decide to take out on the slut he was sucking faces with. I'm going to punch her so hard her grandkids are going to feel it. I raise my fist, but as I did, I got a look at her face.

No. This wasn't happening. It's the North Ridge girl Beck did a "project" with a year ago. He said it was just to have "a second opinion" on the song he was working on for that week. "Beck…?" I say, unintentionally sounding like a hurt child. I hate myself for crying but I can't stop it from coming. "Jade don't cry. Listen, I just…." I feel it again. All the rage and hatred that I've been swallowing since the blowout just hours ago. I go to let it all out on the slutty North Ridge girl when Beck steps in front and I end up punching him straight in the Adams apple. A loud choking sound is all he can manage to say as he doubles over on his knees. Blondie is yelling at me…or maybe Beck. I don't really care, all I know is that I can't take it anymore. "We're over." I say and run back to my car, and for the second time that night, I drive away from my problems.