Coming Undone

Prologue: Love-sick Puppies

            A punkish looking teen walks down an inner city street with a Jansport on her back and a well-used sketchpad swinging in her right hand. Her eyes dart around her, aware of every person on the street, because she knows that bad things can happen to kids who are caught off guard.

            On the other side of the avenue, two little kids are wrestling on the pavement, rolling precariously close to the busy street. Ahead, two hoodlums stare at her from under their low-set caps and wear sinister grins that spell trouble. She quickens her pace although she’s pretty sure that they won’t chase her today. A quick glance upwards reveals a cloudless, blue sky (that is barely visible over the tops of the rundown apartment buildings) which forecasts a beautiful day. 

‘How unusual,’ she thinks as she continues her hurried walk to school. ‘What happened to the weary, dreary weather that usually accompanies me on my way to school?’

Hearing a scuffling noise behind her, the girl whirls gracefully around, bending a little at the knees, ready to take on whatever dares to threaten her solitude. Her sapphire eyes widen as she takes in the figure behind her and then relax as she breaks out into a grin.

“Casey,” she cries, flinging her arms about his neck. Then, she quickly pulls away, placing her small hands on his broad, well-muscled shoulders. Pursing her full lips in mock-annoyance she growls, “I’m going to kill you for scaring me like that!” With every other word, she gave him a shake to emphasize her point.

Casey just chuckled and smiled down at the little beauty in front of him.

            ‘How can he do that? How can he make my heart pound and my knees go weak with one smile after all these years?’ she thinks as she fights to keep her breath steady.

            “Liadan, dear, sweetie, would you kill your boyfriend over a stupid scare?” Casey asks with a cheeky grin, and covering her hands with his own. “Or,” he pauses dramatically as he removes her hands from his shoulders, “are you this much of a chicken all the time?”

            Liadan’s almond eyes narrow as she pulls her hands roughly out of his gentle grip. “Did you just call me, ME! a chicken?” She folds her arms and gives him a haughty look, “I’m the toughest girl on this side of the city and you know it. You’re lucky I don’t feel like kicking your ass right now mister.”

            Casey holds his hands up in surrender, “Ok, ok, I’m sorry your toughness. What can I do to make it up to you?” He puffs out his bottom lip, looking impossibly adorable and irresistible. (A/N: Think tall, dark and handsome with his bottom lip poking out:0)

            A grin immediately appears on Liadan’s lovely face as she sweeps some of her brown hair behind her ears. “Well,” she says lazily, slinging her arms over his shoulders and looking into his amber eyes, “I can think of one thing…” She runs her hands seductively through his curly brown hair and leans against his hard body, loving the feel of it. Casey just grins like a fool and wraps his arms protectively around her tiny waist as he leans down to kiss the woman he loves.

            Fireworks explode between as they explore each others mouths. Casey runs a finger down her face as he bites her bottom lip and pulls away, breathing heavily. Leaning against her forehead he whispers, “How can you still render me breathless after four years woman? You are amazing.”

            Liadan looks up into his handsome face and smiles radiantly at him. “I could ask you the same, lover-boy. But I guess it’s ‘cause I love you.”

            “And I love you.”

            “I know,” she says quickly before touching his full lips with her own in a gentle kiss that sends shivers racing down his spine.

            “Oh, cut it out you crazy, love-sick puppies! Can’t you get over yourselves? You’ve been together forever, just go and get married. Have a couple kids.”

            Refusing to move apart, Casey and Liadan simply turn their heads to regard the intruding person. A fiery red-head saunters up to them, smiling at her accomplishment.

            ‘It’s impossible to break those to apart for more than a minute, but at least I distracted them from their game of tonsil hockey for a couple of seconds.’

            “I can tell what you’re thinking, Cara,” Liadan says dryly as she steadily eyes her best friend.

            “That’s great, Li. Now you’re a mind-reader as well as a lover of PDA,” Cara replies with a roll of her green eyes.

            Four other figures join them, joking among themselves.

            “Hey guys, hey Jenn,” Cara greets the three boys, Nick, Jay and Roger, and the dark-haired girl. Then, turning to Casey, “Let’s go Romeo, or else we’ll be late for school. Make sure you bring your Juliet with you. With that said, Cara turns on her heal, grabs Jay’s arm and begins the trek to school.

“Hey! Who said I wanted to walk with you?” the defiant brown-haired boy demands, mildly struggling to break the red-head’s grip as she drags him behind her.

“Jay, when are you going to learn that you don’t have a choice?” Cara replies smoothly, glancing back at Jenn, Roger and Nick.

The rest of the gang just laughs. This kind of banter was a part the usual morning routine: meet up; break-up the lovebirds; walk to another boring day at school while watching Cara take over the world.

            “Did you do that chemistry homework, Roger?” Jenn asks meekly, looking down at the pavement.

Roger just scoffs. “What do you think Jenster? Do I ever do hw?”

“Aw, lay off the poor girl Rog,” Nick reprimands him, with a twinkle in his blue eyes. Glancing at Jenn, who is still studying the sidewalk, Nick elbows Roger in the ribs.

“I think she likes you,” he whispers.

“I think everyone likes me,” Roger replies, loudly.

“That’s ‘cause you’re an easy lay,” Nick practically shouts as he begins to sprint down the road, with Roger close on his heels.

“Why do we even associate with those losers?” Liadan questions.

“Beats me if I know,” Casey responds before landing a quick kiss on her pouty lips. Liadan smiles and walks dreamily with him hand in hand.

            Liadan’s gang passes a couple of other groups of teens, but they ignore them. No one in their right mind would start a brawl before school. Still, Casey sticks his free hand in his picket and fiddles with his switchblade, just for reassurance. Cara and Jay slow their walk and the other five catch up to them. They now huddle together and make their way to the large brick building where they will spend the next seven hours of their lives.

Ok guys, decided to finally write down my new story idea. I know I have two other unfinished projects, but oh well. I hope you enjoy. It’s not going to stay all peachy keen as you might’ve guessed. I’ve got a lot planned for this thing, so hold on to your horses. I know the beginning ain’t much, but oh well, hopefully it will get better. Thanks for reading you guys!

This chapter is for Katelyn Devaney who listened to me whine during its creation and supported me when I was ready to bash my head in. :0)

Just a list of characters intro’d so far.

Liadan

Casey

Cara

Nick

Jay

Roger

Jenn