Prologue

The Lonely Wheel

Auburn hair shone under the bright lights of the city. It was late, reaching 2:00 am on the dot, as Soleil finally was released from her job. Not for the night, but for good. Tears glistened down round cheeks as she wiped at them furiously. She had hated her job to begin with, working late nights as a waitress at one of the local pubs. But this pub wasn't like the other pubs, it always seemed to attract the worst customers. The bloody rich, the dirt-licking poor, and the scum in between.

She blinked steadily, trying to stop the tears from falling. Once again she had been hit on for the umpteenth time, this man more bold then the rest. As she had been walking past the entrance to the bathrooms, her petite frame had been pulled backwards out of sight, too surprised to make a sound.

From there she was degraded, felt up and molested. Mustering all the strength she had, she kicked the drunken man where the sun didn't shine and walked out of there in a huff. At least he had not been successful at getting under the clothes. Being touched that way by a bum off the streets was as traumatizing as the breath that reeked.

As she reached the beat up honda civic, she gathered up all dignity she had left. Her slanted but doe-like brown eyes dried from the sudden loss of tears. Auburn hair that fell in curls was now tied up behind her left ear in a messy bun and out of the way. Her 'uniform' was worse for wear, but finally she would be able to trash it once and for all. Perhaps she would burn them upon her return home.

She took off heeled boots as she took the drivers seat. Never in her life would she be able to drive in four inch heels, even if they did make her appear to be less small.

That was one thing she hated most about herself, her size. Most women think it's a blessing to be naturally thin, short, and dainty but to her it was more of a curse. People thought she was weak, a damsel in distress, little did they know that was the furthest thing from true. Sure, maybe she couldn't take down a guy in a single punch, or hold her own in a fight with a person twice her size. But that didn't make her weak. She was only human.

When she arrived home it was half past two, the house was dark and quiet. It was small, kept up to a point, and rather unwelcoming to visitors. But to her it was home, home for the past six years. She had lived in Seattle for a majority of her life, but they had moved from apartment to house to townhouse to sharing a house to this. It was a cycle her parents had, get settled for a few years, then move and start over again.

She rolled her eyes as she approached the dainty porch, the beware of dog sign always sending annoyance her way. They had never had a dog in her life, let alone any pets. They weren't fooling anyone with the paper black sign.

Yesterdays mail sat in front of the door, the mailbox overflowing with the past months newspapers. She rolled her eyes, sweeping up the envelopes on the ground. She flicked through them as she fumbled with her keys. Bills, bills, bills, junk mail, and more bills. A small envelope fell from her fingers, flitting to the ground.

She looked down, staring at the beige rectangle. Her name was printed across the front in neat scrawl staring up at her.

Confused, she bent down to pick up the escaped mail.

Soleil Johns

Unable to stop herself, she moved to sit on the crappy lawn chair outside the door. All that was in her hands fell to her lap as nimble fingers moved to open the mail. Her hands shook the slightest as she pulled the single piece of paper out of the envelope.

'To my dearest granddaughter. Although we never have met, I have watched you grow over the years. It saddens me that I never once got to hold you. You're beautiful, the spinning image of myself, but twice the beauty and brains. Everything I own I leave to you, so you can experience the beauty of the world. You deserve it all child. You deserve so much more.

To you I leave, my house. 23 Howl Drive, La Push Washington. '

Her eyes widened, staring down at the paper in shock.

'Everything inside is yours my dear. As well as the money in my account.

If, and when you receive this, please contact -'

A number was scrawled across the bottom of the page, the name written down below it. Soleil wanted to believe this was joke, but it seemed so real.

"I'll give him a call in the morning." She told herself, it was the only way to find out the truth.

Authors Note: So I meant to have this up yesterday, but unfortunately my internet was being screwy. This is just the prologue, hence the shortness. Thanks for reading! Please leave your thoughts.

Review. You beautiful gorgeous son of a lover.