Chapter one: School is my playground

Chapter 1: School is my playground when

The moon was up and the stars were out and Alyssa had just woken up. She opened her eyes to the darkness that was illuminated around her room. Only a small light shone on her rainbow colored walls, and that light came from the moon. Alyssa turned around looked straight out the window and up at the stars. The moon was full and gave off a bright light that Alyssa was drawn to. She thought of the moon as another person stuck in the sky who's only duty was to push and pull the tides. She'd rather do that than be here with her drunk parents.Thinking of her parents, she remembered the beating her father had gave her and thought of how much her back still burned. She pictured her father throwing his arm back and forth as the belt whipped her. She could still feel the burn, and she knew the marks would be clearly visible if she were to pull up her shirt.

Alyssa got out of bed and threw on a long sleeved white shirt to hide the marks on her arms. She pulled on a black Beatles t-shirt over it. It had each beatle member, John Lennon on the upper left, Paul McCartney on the upper right, Ringo Starr on the bottom left, and George Harrison on the bottom right. She put on dark blue jeans and black converse. She loved the Beatles music and each movie they have ever done, her favorite was called Help!

After a few more minutes Alyssa went across the hall and into the bathroom. She dimmed the lights and stood in front of the mirror and brushed her black hair that came just beneath her shoulder blades. She stood there and looked at herself. Her face showed that she was calm but her brown eyes begged for help.

Almost immediately after making sure that she looked almost presentable, Alyssa flew out the front door wanting to get away from this hell hole that she called home. She made her way down the sidewalk and started walking towards her school. Alyssa knew that this was going to be a long walk considering she did it almost every week. She took out her Ipod and stuck her headphones in her ears. She listened to one of her favorite songs and gladly had it blasting through her ears; Afterlife by Avenged Sevenfold.

Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've seen.

So unsure but it seems, 'cause we've been waiting for you.

Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste.

Of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway.

I see a distant light, but girl this can't be right.

Such a surreal place to see so how did this come to be,

Arrived too early.

And when I think of all the places I just don't belong,

I've come to grips with life and realize this is going too far.

I don't belong here, we gotta move on dear, escape from this afterlife.

'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here.

A place of hope and no pain, perfect skies with no rain.

Can leave this place but refrain, 'cause we've been waiting for you.

Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste.

Of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway.

This peace on earth's not right (with my back against the wall).

No pain or sign of time (I'm much too young to fall).

So out of place don't wanna stay, I feel wrong and that's my sign.

I've made up my mind.

Give me your hand but realize I just wanna say goodbye.

Please understand I have to leave and carry on my own life.

I don't belong here, I gotta move on dear escape from this afterlife.

'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here.

Got nothing against you and surely I'll miss you.

This place full of peace and light, and I'd hoped you might,

Take me back inside, when the time is right.

Loved ones back home all crying 'cause they're already missing me.

I pray by the grace of God that there's somebody listening.

Give me a chance to be that person I wanna be.

(I am unbroken, I'm choking on this ecstasy.)

Oh Lord I'll try so hard but you gotta let go of me

(Unbreak me, unchain me, I need another chance to live.)

"Hey, Alyssa." Gavin said as he approached Alyssa. He noticed that she looked hurt and distant away from this place. Like she wasn't even on earth anymore. It was probably because she was listening to her Ipod again, he thought.

 "Hey." Alyssa smiled softly. "What's wrong?" Gavin asked curiously. He knew he shouldn't have asked because she probably wasn't going to answer, but he couldn't help himself, curiosity just got the best of him. "Everything." Alyssa muttered. Her voice showed sorrow and Gavin felt just...sad. "What?" Gavin asked pretending not to hear hoping she'd give him more detail. Gavin was one of the very few people that Alyssa had actually talked to but she still didn't say to much. "Nothing." Alyssa looked down at the ground as she continued to walk away leaving Gavin standing there confused.

Alyssa sat down alone at cookie break. Cookie break was a half hour long period in the middle of the school day where they could just relax and be alone much like Alyssa was doing now. Alyssa closed her eyes and say under the sun trying to think about happy thoughts. An Image of Gavin came to her mind. She felt like it was always easy to talk to Gavin and sometime she knew no matter what act she put on, he could tell when there was something seriously wrong. If he didn't think it was too serious he wouldn't bother and let Alyssa come to him. Earlier she wanted to tell Gavin everything that was happening. How her parents were drunk twenty four seven, how her father beats her everyday, and how she cuts herself to relieve the pain. But it was too hard to put it in words and she didn't even know how Gavin could help let alone react. Alyssa figured that he would be horrified but upset and filled with rage at the same time. It was just like Gavin, and that's one of the many things she loved about him. He was like the brother she never had. Trying to forget about Gavin and pouring out her feelings to him, she found the only other way she could think of. She sat on a brick ledge and pulled out her Ipod enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. Alyssa opened her backpack and pulled out one of her favorite books to read; A child called It. It was the only other thing that relaxed her as much as soft music and a tragic novel.

********

At lunch Alyssa sat alone, or so she hoped. A few minutes had passed when she looked up from her book and seen Gavin approaching her with a tray covered with a sandwich, an apple, and a small carton of milk. His shaggy black hair bounced slightly with ever step he took and his muscles seemed to flex just a little the tighter he gripped his tray. Gavin sat down and offered Alyssa a bit of his lunch but she just refused. Gavin chomped on his sandwich and Alyssa could of sworn that was the biggest bit she's every seen, he bit off half the sandwich. She just looked at him with her mouth hanging open in awe.

"So I'm not convinced." Gavin stated as he looked upwards at Alyssa. She looked straight into Gavin's eyes and noticed for the first time that there was one green and one blue one.

"Your a husky." She said. "What are you talking about?" Gavin questioned not forgetting about the statement he made earlier. "Your eyes. And what's there not to be convinced about?" She replied. "You're not okay, just tell me what's wrong? I guess that's one way of putting it." Gavin said, the both of them having two conversations at once. "Well everyone has issues and I just happened to look like hell." Alyssa said a little irritated getting up to walk outside. Gavin got up and threw his tray in the garbage before following Alyssa outside.

"And what's that suppose to mean?" Gavin pushed. "Well there's two meanings. One meaning get the hell away from me and I don't want to talk about it," She continued not even glancing his way, "And the second meaning i'm a bit frustrated so I wouldn't get in my face if I were you." Alyssa sped up her walking pace trying to get away from Gavin. She knew that she was soon going to start going off about how horrible her life was and didn't want to cry in front of anyone, especially if that person was Gavin. "Look, I didn't mean to push it on you," Gavin said slurring his words a little lightly grabbing Alyssa's arm so she could stop and face him. "Ow." Alyssa jumped facing Gavin's way. It hurt for anyone or anything to even touch her in her arms because of her cutting, but she didn't want to stop. It was like alcohol, it took away the pain.

"Are you okay? I barely touched you." Gavin said softly noticing Alyssa's pain. His hand was still placed around her forearm loosened. "It's nothing," Alyssa whispered looking down trying to hide the tears. "Hey, Alyssa look at me." Alyssa refused and tried to pull away but Gavin wouldn't let her, every time she tried his arm was there restraining her or she would feel the pain. Gavin let out his arm and tilted Alyssa's face towards her. He seen her eyes filled with water and knew she was on the verge of tears but couldn't understand why. Gavin decided to let it go and figured that maybe she'd tell him when she's ready. "I'm sorry," Gavin said remorseful. He couldn't help but wonder why she was crying but he didn't want to push her even more. "It's fine," Alyssa muttered turning around and sprinting off in the opposite direction.