Chapter 1

Nathaniel’s POV

I look at the man with curiosity. I inspect his brown hair and broad shoulders. He seems familiar to me. I watch him put on a coat and slip on some gloves. He notices me watching intently and shoots me a smile. There was something odd about the way he smiled; almost as if it had been forced. While I look at the man’s face I expect to meet brown or perhaps hazel eyes. Instead, I saw a set of two black eyes staring back at me. I’m too shocked to turn away, for they seemed to have a hint of regret in them. The man was first to break the eye contact as he leaned down to pick up a large duffel bag. I look at him questioningly and he ruffles my hair in response. He turns around and begins to walk away without sparing me another glance. I stand there staring for a few moments before I begin to run after him. I knew this man, this I was sure of, but I couldn’t quite remember who he was. I knew that if I could catch up to him I might be able to get an answer. But, the faster I run the farther he seems to get. I try to call out to him, but for some reason I can’t make the words come out. I continue this useless pursuit when it suddenly hits me. I remember.  I watch as his dark figure disappears into the distant darkness . I throw my hand out and call to him.

“Dad!”

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My eyes flew open. I sat there panting, obviously still perturbed by what had just happened. I look around frantically, as if I had suspected to see him somewhere near. Instead, I saw no one. Oh, just a dream. Slightly confused I scan around once more. Where am I? My eyes meet with a large sign that says:

 Keep Our Park Clean!

�"Blackberry Bay Park

 I look around and see a playground surrounded by trees and lampposts. All my memories of yesterday suddenly flow back into my mind. Oh yeah, I crashed on the first bench I saw last night. I raise my wrist to my face and strain my eyes at my watch. 10:13 AM. I groggily get up to stretch, only to wince back onto the bench in pain. My back is painfully sore. Obviously these benches were not created with human comfort in mind. Damn, that’s the last time I camp out on a wooden park bench. Apparently, I had spent an all-nighter in some park called Blackberry Bay. Cautiously, I get up once more. I go to the nearest water fountain I spot and splash some water on my face and my hair.

Noticing an irritable itch in my dry throat, I begin to walk around the park searching for a vending machine. I walk around aimlessly until I spot one behind the gazebo. I fumble around in my pockets looking for some spare change to deposit. I feel a few coins in between my fingers and pull them out while counting. 25….75…..$1.50. Perfect. I begin to slip in the coins while hearing the faint pa-chink! as I did so. I inch the last quarter towards the coin slot a little too fast, making the coin slip through my fingers. I watch as it bounces off the change holder and lands somewhere too quickly for me to see.

I look back and forth on the ground, searching for the fallen coin. I spot it a couple of feet from the vending machine. I start to walk towards it quickly, eager to get my drink. I was roughly a couple of feet away when suddenly I found myself sitting on the hard pavement. I reach up to touch my suddenly throbbing shoulder when I notice a girl opposite of me doing the same to her head.

″Ouch...oh great, my hair...″ she moans as she tried to tame her now bisheveled caramel color hair.

She sits there rubbing her head before slowly getting up. The girl then turns to me and finally processes that it was I whom she had bumped into. She stares at me for a long time with a dazed look on her face.

“What?” I ask and startle her out of La La Land.

“Oh! Sorry for bumping into you.”

I watch as she takes one step forward offering her small hand with an apologetic smile on her face. Ignoring her hand, I get up and pat my jeans.

Her smile fades and a look of hurt flashes briefly in her hazel eyes at my refusal. She awkwardly tucks her hand behind her back.

“Watch where you’re going next time,” I say coldly.

“I said I was sorry. Geez, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” She huffs with an incredulous look on her face at my tone.

“Not exactly,” I roll my eyes, exasperated that we were having this discussion. “I actually woke up on a bench this morning, thanks for bringing that to light.”

“Why did you do that?” she questions, letting curiosity overcome her previous emotion of annoyance.

“I don’t really feel comfortable telling complete strangers my life story.”

“Well then, I’m Annabelle Wood. With this, I’m not a stranger anymore.” she smiles placing her hands on her hips, obviously confident of her logic.

I stare at her. Wow, that was a quick change in emotion.

“You’ve been awfully quiet there…uhmm….” She stares at me expectantly.

Knowing what she was anticipating, I give in with a sigh.

“Nathaniel Moore. Didn’t your parents ever tell you not to talk to strangers, Annabelle? For all you know, I could be a murderer or pervert.”

“Are you?”

“Well no, but-“

She quickly cuts me off. “Okay, then.”

“That’s not the point I’m trying to make!” I yell, annoyed at her naivety.

“Then what is?” she questions.

“Nevermind! Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I say while walking over to pick up the forgotten coin and returning to the vending machines. I hear the thump and reach down to retrieve my beverage. As I grab my bottle of water, a voice from behind makes me slightly jump.

“Well are you going to tell me why you prefer sleeping in a park than in your own home?”

I turn around to see Annabelle standing there. Geez! What is with this girl?

“Can’t you take no for an answer?”

She looks me straight in the eyes. Her hazel eyes are filled with determination.

“Nope.”

I’m not quite sure what came over me, but something about her eyes made me say it.

“Fine.”