Prologue: Betrayal

        I can’t wait to see Jake. I haven’t seen him since last weekend. Last night was graduation but Jake couldn’t come because his father was sick and needed him. I wasn’t angry, just ready to see him. I ran up to the front porch and walked in without knocking. It was a second home for me and we never were fond of formality. I didn’t see Billy in his usual place in the living room, but he might be sleeping in his room.

          Throwing open the door to Jake’s room, I stop in the doorway frozen in shock. His arms were around another girl’s waist, locked in her embrace. I knew this scene would be ingrained in my brain forever. He was my first kiss, my first boyfriend, my first friend period. We’d grown up together, the two of us always playing and laughing. How could he betray me like this? 

          “Jake, stop!” I cried out without conscious thought. I couldn’t handle a single second more. He glances up and lets the girl go. Jake begins to stutter out something, but I was beyond wanting explanation.

          “Just save it please. I saw what I saw.” I felt my eyes tearing up and tears spilling over but continued with, “We’re over. I see now Billy isn’t really sick. I was worried about him! I hope you two are happy together and she’s what you want.”

          Knowing I couldn’t keep talking, I turned and ran. And ran and ran. I stopped at the cliffs edge and sat there while sobs racked my shaking form. As if the weather was affected by my emotions, it began to rain hard, gusts of winds blowing it hard in my face. Everything fell into place. The looks people gave Jake and me last weekend and he’d been avoiding lately. Everyone knew but me. That happened so fast that now I can’t recall any details at all. Just the plain facts.

          I eventually got up and made my way to my truck and drove. I couldn’t go home to Charlie and know nothing was holding me here anymore. So I just drove into the night.

Chapter One: Lucky Situation

        I was walking down the streets of Seattle, thinking hard. I bit my lip, but then remembered Jake liked when I did that and stopped immediately. It was dawn in the city as I walked down the main street. I had to do something. I needed sleep and food and a shower and a job. Now, preferably.