New Beginnings Aren't So Simple.

I packed my things into my small backpack, as much of my necessities that I could possibly fit. I didn't know what I'd need, but I brought the basics. Blanket, clothes, money. Some food, my teddy bear. Yes my teddy bear, a special bear my aunt gave me when I was only one. Amongst other junk. I threw the bag over my shoulders and walked out of the house skateboard in hand, a picture of her in my other hand. I looked down at it, then once at the house. I sighed and turned to face the cold harsh world, now alone. 

I don't really know where I'm going, but I know it's far away from here. Somewhere where I can have a fresh start, start a new life.

Life wasn't always perfect in my old town. My ex boyfriend was an a*s who cheated on me. I always got harassed at school each and every day. No school official or 'friend' ever bothered to help me. I had friends, if that's what you call people who talk behind your back, sleep with your boyfriend and tell you to go kill yourself. I also had a little problem in the beginning of the year with self-harm. I stopped. But it's still difficult to cope with. All that is going to be a thing in the past after tonight. New me. No more pathetic little Skyler. How I'm going to do this, I have no clue...

- - - 

I skated around for a while I'm almost positive I've left town. Everything looked different, and strange. I skated for a little longer and was in front of yet another park. I took out my blanket and teddy bear laying down on the cold metal bench. I shivered my already cold skin against the freezing metal made me go a little numb. At least now I won't feel the pain. I cuddled up with my teddy bear and wrapped the blanket around tighter. This is going to be harder then I thought. 

- - - 

I woke up to someone yelling at me to get up. I squinted in the darkness of the night to make out who it might of been. It was four boys surrounding me. I quickly got up on my feet. "Alright! I don't know who the hell you think you are but you better not try anything!"I growled aggravated. One of the boys laughed and smiled, he snapped his fingers and the other three began to get closer. I raised my eyebrow and grabbed my skateboard backpack already on my shoulders and attempted to skate away. A failed attempt at that. Before I even got to kick start my skateboard one of them pulled me by my backpack flipping me over his back. I kicked and punched but it was no use. I even screamed but when I did I got a glare from whom I was assuming was the leader and became quiet.  The walk was long, and my eyelids began to get heavy,  I drifted off back to sleep not knowing if I'd wake up. 

= = = 

I woke up in a warm, soft bed. I was surprised, more surprised to be a live. I checked under the covers to see if all my clothes were still on, they were. I got up off the bed and walked over to the door. The room was empty. There wasn't even a single window. Just a bed, and small dresser in the corner. I tried to open the door but it was locked. I sighed and banged on the door screaming, "HEY! OPEN THE DOOR! I GOT TO PEE!" I crossed my legs and waited. The door finally opened revealing the boy who picked me up, and other boy I didn't recognize. They grabbed my wrists and started to pull me out of the room. "Hey, hey! Relax on the grip please?" They ignored me and kept walking. We walked down the hall and entered a big room with their leader awaiting.

 "Good. Sit her down over there." They led me to the sofa and I sat down as I was told. "Alright Beck, Dylan, you can go now." They nodded and left. He made his way over in front of me and looked down his cold eyes looking into mine. "What were you doing out in the park so late?" 

I looked back into his eyes, they were blue. "Sleeping. What did it look like." He didn't like my answer.

 "Okay. Where are you from?" Why is he asking me all these questions, mine as well kill me and get it over with already. 

"I don't think that's any of your business." He smiled, his straight white teeth shined. "You've got spunk kid, I'll admit that. You don't seem like much a of a threat." He clearly doesn't know who he's dealing with then, but of course it's one girl against a bunch of guys... Maybe I'm really not much a of threat. "You're not a part of some gang are you?" I shook my head no. He nodded indifferently. "Well, you can stay with us. Seems like you've got no where else to go anyway." I got up, he looked at me for a sign of what I might do. 

"Look, that's nice and all. But I'm not staying with a bunch of creeps who decide to pick up girls in the middle of the night out of no where and take them home. Now where's my stuff, and I'll see my way out." He stepped an inch closer to me.

 "I'll put it this way then, you're not leaving." 

"Excuse me? What the hell does it even matter if I leave or not? Now where's my things!"

He smiled, and touched my hair. "You're cute when you're angry, you know that?" 

I blushed, then quickly slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me." 

He laughed and sat down on the couch. "Sit, relax. You're going to be here a while babe.My names Zeke, what's yours?"  

Oh dear god, he was serious? "Skyler." My eyes patrolled the room, I saw my skateboard by the door. I smiled, such fools. "So where's the bathroom again Zeke?" 

He pointed down the hall, "Down there, right in front of your room." Just as he looked away towards the television I made my way to the door instead of of the bathroom. I grabbed my skateboard and open the door running outside. I heard Zeke scream "NO!" In the background. I turned back to see if he was following, he was. It was daylight outside but I was in a dark alley. I didn't even get to get far before bumping into someone. "Hey! I'm not going back so don't bother!" He grabbed me wrapping one arm around my neck, and ting my hands behind my back. I screamed in terror once I felt  cold, sharp metal against my cheek. Zeke and his gang ran outside but stepped dead in their tracks. 

"Ricky?! Let her go!" Zeke looked almost as scared as me. 

"Oh, but that be to easy." Ricky's voice was deep and mysterious. More people surrounded me and Ricky facing Zeke and his gang. This didn't look good. Zeke stepped forward but Ricky only pressed the knife closer to my skin. I felt the line of blood slowly drop down my face. 

"Come on Ricky, I thought we settled this already." Zeke stood frozen in his stop looking at me then back at Ricky. 

"We did, and now I want to settle it again. You and your friends are going to pay Zeke. One way or the other. We don't take things kindly." 

Ricky let go of me and pushed me towards Zeke. I stumbled to the floor in front of him. Zeke helped me up, "Are you okay?" I nodded. 

"Don't worry, we won't attack just yet. You're expecting it. I want it to be a surprise. See 'ya later." Ricky and his gang backed up out of the alley. 

Zeke helped me back inside and they all crowded around me. Beck got a first-aid fit and put rubbing alcohol on my cheek. It stung but I stayed quiet. "You'll be okay." Beck smiled kindly.

Zeke paced back and forward, "Fine? You know what Ricky's like! We've got to protect her." He ran his hands through his hair. "I'm going out, don't stay up." Zeke grabbed his jacket and waked out. 

I hope he's okay. Beck and Dylan sat down with me on the sofa. At first we spoke we were all silent then Dylan spoke. "Don't worry, he's just upset. He'll be fine. He knows how to fight for himself if he runs into trouble." This didn't seem to calm my nerves at all. I had this feeling something wasn't right.

- - - 

Well my feeling wasn't wrong. When we all finally fell asleep I heard Zeke stumble in. I quickly got up to my feet and rushed to the living room. He had a black eye and a slash on his arm. It wasn't that bad, but there was a lot of blood. "W-What happen?!" I woke up Dylan and Beck and they already knew what to do. Dylan patched up Zeke while Beck got him something to drink. I sat in the corner of the room distant, just watching and listening. 

"What happen man?" said Beck. Zeke struggled to talk, "Nothing. Just settled things is all. Well, attempted to."

 Dylan shook his head while still cleaning his wound, "What the hell is wrong with you, are you trying to get killed?" 

Zeke looked over to me, and his face grew lower and I strained to hear. "You guys know what Ricky is like, you probably already know what I heard come out of his mouth." This was definitely about me, but what are they saying. What did Ricky say, and why did Zeke go out looking for trouble?! "I had too. It didn't help, but it was worth a shot." 

Beck began to talk, I could only hear so very few words, "You going to tell her?...She has to know... Dude, it's not worth it." The conversation ended there. Beck turned to look at me and smiled, "You must be tired. You should go to bed, this knuckle head will be fine."

I didn't truly believe he'd be fine, but I said my good nights and went to bed. I laid in bed and thought to myself this has only been one day in my new life. I can't imagine what's up ahead.