Chapter One

Dear Journal,

For all my life I’ve always wondered who were my birth parents. My adopted mother Michelle told me that she wasn’t sure. All she told me is that my mother left me at the stairs of our house in basket with my birth certificate and adoption papers. She said I was a little miracle sent from Heaven just for them. But that’s when they gave me the letter that my mother left with me.

My mother was thirteen when she given birth to me. She didn’t say much in the letter but said that she really loved. How ironic to show a mothers love to her daughter by giving her away. But I do not blame my mother at all. No. She was child when she had me. At times, I keep on wondering why? Why was I given away so easily? Does she even know my name? I hope so. Maybe one if it’s by the power of God we will meet for the first time. For now, I will only continue to wonder who she is.

I closed my journal and sighed softly. What if I could never find my mother like I always hoped I would? Sometimes I even wonder what features I have of her. All that I know of is that I’m full-blooded Japanese, which means my mother is somewhere in Japan perhaps maybe. One day I will go to Japan and search for my mother. I have enough to find where she lives. I have a letter that she written when I was born and the necklace she had around my neck when my adopted mother found me.

My fingers played with the pendant that was on the silver chain. The words were in Japanese and I don’t know anyone who could translate it for me. One day I will find out what the pendant says. Till then, I will continue to find my mother.

The phone started ringing and I heard my mother’s voice answer it from downstairs. “Naomi, it’s for you.” I got up from my bed and went to the stairs. I looked down and smiled as my mother was looking up at me, holding my brother Tyler. I got on the banister and slide down on it. Before I even got on the ground I grabbed the phone from my mom and answered as I landed on my feet safely.

“Hello?” I answered into the phone as I started to walk back upstairs.

“Naomi, I have a game and my hair refuses to stay up in a pony-tail. Can you do anything about it?”

“Sure, Lisa, come right on over, and don’t forget to bring your brush and some hair ties.”

“Thanks, Naomi. I’ll be there in a jiffy.” Lisa hung up as well as I did. I sighed and slide down the banister once again. I handed the phone back to mom as she put it on the receiver.

“Lisa again?”

“Yep. And she’ll be knocking on the door in 3, 2, 1” Someone started knocking on the door and I went over to it to open it. “It’s about time you get here.” I snicker.

“Well, excuse me. We might live next door, but I can still take my sweet little time to get here.” I giggled softly and shook my head.

“Come on, your game will be starting soon. We need to fix that frizzy hair of yours.” I took her hand and dragged her upstairs to my room. I closed the door and put in my favorite Jonas Brothers CD in the stereo. I looked around and got a Bounce sheet from out of its box. “No wonder you’re having a difficult time with your hair, it’s frizzy like there’s no tomorrow. Did you forget to blow dry your hair and straighten it again?” Lisa huffs and crosses her arms as I pulled the sheet through her hair to get the frizz out.

“It takes to much time to fix my hair, you know I’m not patient.” I shook my head.

“What am I going to do with you? You better be glad I’m going to be a professional hair stylist.” Lisa rolls her eyes as I plugged my straighter up so it can warm up.

“Hair stylist or not, no one isn’t that picky with their hair.”

“Apparently I am. Hair is one of the most important features of women. As for men, they really don’t care.” The two of us laughed.

“True to that. I mean, have you seen what’s in for boys these days?”

“Of course I had. Messy hair reminds me of the 80s.”

“My brother says that the ladies love it.”

“Lisa, your brother is a slob. No offense to him or anything, but has he ever had a girlfriend?”
“I think he has for a week or two, but no longer then that. He says that he likes to play hard-to-get.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s a complete moron! I mean, the boy is stupid as heck. If you ask him what’s 2 + 2 he’ll probably answer fish.” I laughed at Lisa’s joke about her brother. The straighter beeped and I started pulling it through her hair.

“It must be nice to have a older sibling though.” I said almost sadly.

“Nah. It’s nothing special really when you have two other brothers and a younger sister who’s two.” Lisa looks smiles sweetly at me. “But be glad you have a younger brother, Naomi, even if he’s not blood related. You know how much your parents wanted to have a child of their own.” I frowned and sighed.

“I know, but I wonder if I do have any blood siblings.” Lisa frowns at what I said.

“Naomi, you will find your mother one day. I can guarantee she is wondering what you are like now.” Lisa smiles slightly. “Once you do find your mother she will see how beautiful and nice and funny you are.” I sighed but smiled.

“Thanks, Lisa.” I finished straightening her hair and started to French braid it into one braid. “You have beautiful hair, Lisa. I wish you would take care of it.” I said to change the subject of my mother.

“Sure.” Lisa shrugs her shoulders. “More like a pain in the butt to even fix it.” She huffs. As I braided her hair I started to weave yellow ribbons through hair and smiled once I finished.

“There, all done.” I handed her a hand held mirror and she looked into it.

“Wow, I love it Naomi! You’re so creative with hair!” I laughed at her compliment.

“Sure I am. Now, hurry up and get going to that game. It starts in an hour and you need to get there early to practice getting your goals. I’ll see you in a little bit, ‘kay?” Lisa hugged me and I hugged her back.

“Sure.” She pulled back and smiles. “See later!” She runs out of my room and smiled. I got up and look in the mirror. I looked okay and shrug at myself. I sat on my bed and looked through my memory box. I had picture of me when I was first found in the basket and my adoption papers and birth certificate. The odd thing with the adoption papers, the name in the signature wasn’t the same hand writing in the letter. I researched the name on Google, but there wasn’t anything over it. I still have the letter, but it was pointless reading it again for the millionth time.

I looked in the mirror and smiled at myself. “Maybe I do need a haircut…” She said, playing with her waist length hair. “Yea…”

“Naomi, if you want to make it to the game on time you need to leave now.” My mother said from my door.

“Thanks, mom.” I got up from my chair and walked down the stairs. I got my bike from the porch and pulled it down the four steps and got on. I waved at my mom and brother who stood at the door and ride off to the schools’ soccer field.

“Naomi, hey!” I looked to the side once I got off my bike. My friend Amanda and Becky ran up to me with bright smiles. “I’m glad to see you here.” Amanda said happily.

“Well, you know how I am, I have to be there for Lisa to cheer her on.”

“I know what you mean. She gets nervous too easily.” Becky nods her head at Amanda. Lisa kicks the soccer ball into the goal she smiled. She looked over to us and ran over to us.

“Hey, girls. I’m surprised all of you came to see me.” Lisa smirks. “Especially you, Amanda.” She snickers.

“Hey! I came to see you, and this is the thanks I get?” She huffs and blows her bangs out of face. The two girls laughed at each other. I looked at my watch and smiled.

“We still have twenty minutes to talk, let’s go find a place to sit at.” I suggested.

“Way ahead of you. My blanket is next to that tree with my camera and bike.” She points at a near by tree.

“Wow, nice spot too. We have real good view of the field.” I complimented.

“A perfect view to see our Lisa to shoot a goal.” Amanda smiles.

“Of course! I bet’ya that I’ll be shooting so many goals, the other team will be crying.”

“Oh? That sounds like a promise, doesn’t?” Amanda asks, raising an eyebrow.

“You bet!” Lisa smirks. The girls and I laughed.

“You better get out there now or coach will get ya.” Becky says, hearing the soccer coach blow her whistle. Lisa smiles at the girls and salutes them.

“I, Lisa Pen, will be back as a winner!” I shoved her lightly.

“Okay, okay, we get it, but you need to get going.” I giggled to myself seeing Lisa run off to the field. She talked to the coach real quick and her other teammates circled around, having a pep talk from their coach.

I looked back at the girls. “Lets go sit down already now.”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Becky says, already walking to the blanket. I pulled my bike to the blanket and leaned it against the tree. Amanda and Becky sat on the blanket and Amanda turned on her camera.

“Still have that photography dream?” I asked as she gets her camera ready.

“Yepp! What about yourself being a hair stylist.”

“Well, of course.” I shook my head. “I love doing other people’s hair. It’s so much fun!” I smiled, taking a piece of my hair and playing with it. “What about you, Becky? What do you want to do when you graduate?” I asked, seeing Becky leaning against the tree, looking like she was about to fall asleep. She opens one and yawns.

“I don’t know right now. Everything is confusing to me.” I blinked at her but nod.

“If you say so. Okay, anyways, I discovered at Mr. Lotner’s class that he is engaged.”

“You got to be kidding me? Mr. Old Lotner?”

“Yes, Mr. Lotner.”

“Well, tell me the deets! How you find out?” I tapped my temple.

“A lot of research and questions.” I smirked.

“Watch out!” A voice not far from me called out. I turned my head to see what it is, but a football smacked into my face. I fell back and groan softly to myself as my vision started to go blurry. A blurry face hovered over me. “Are you alright?” I groaned softly and sat up. When I sat up I felt really dizzy and almost fell back, but the person put an arm around my waist.

“E-excuse me?” I looked at the blurry face and blinked. “Who are you?”

“How many fingers am I holding up?” I squinted my eyes to see how many the person was holding.

“Um… Six?” I replied.

“Close enough.” The voice sounded like of a boy. He helped me up from the ground and I wobbled over to the side, but he helped me balance by putting an arm over my shoulders.

“Who are you?” I asked again, my vision starting to be clearer.

“My name is Damien.” My vision finished clearing and my eyes widen. He was absolutely gorgeous. He had neck length light brown hair and big green eyes. His lips were light pink and he had little beard stubbing from his upper lip to his chin. My eyes searched his face, trying to take in all of his features. I could feel how strong his arms were from the grip of his hold around me. “What’s you’re name?” I went back to normal.

“Naomi.” I simply said. I didn’t know what else I could say without babbling like a complete fool.

“Would you like an ice pack? It seems that I hit you pretty hard on the forehead.” I touched my forehead and wince. That’s going to leave a bruise, not to mention a bump as well.

“Sure, that’ll be nice.”

“Damien, is the chick okay?”

“Yea, she’s just fine, Brad. Just a little bump in the head.” His friend looks down at me and touched my forehead. I winced again the moment he touched the spot. He pulled back his hand and looked at Damien.

“You hit her pretty hard, Damien. Nice going.”

“Yea, always me that gets the blame.”

“What? Are you blaming me for you missing the catch.”

“You threw it when I wasn’t looking!”

“And? You still could have caught it.” Damien grumbles softly.

“How ‘bout you just keep your mouth shut.” Damien said with a forceful voice.

“Fine, fine. You just run along with little miss freshmen,” I opened my mouth,

“Junior,” I corrected him.

“Junior, whatever.” He stopped and looked at me puzzled. “Aren’t you a little young to be a junior?” I shrugged my shoulders.

“I started school a year earlier.” I stated. “All my other friends are a year older then me, except for Lisa. Lisa is three months younger then I. I’ll be sixteen in four months.”

“So you’ll graduate at seventeen.” Damien asks.

“Well, yea.” I replied, like it was simple as that.

“Cool. I didn’t graduate high school till I was eighteen back in Kentucky. I just started college last fall, so I’m a year late.” Damien explains, scratching his cheek.

“So you’re nineteen?”

“Yes. My birthday was two months ago.”

“Cooly.” I replied. “Can we go get that ice pack before my head swollen more?”

“Sure.” He looks at his friend. “I’ll see you in a little bit, Brad.” His friend nods his head and walks off with the football. I looked back at my friends who were smirking the whole time at me. They all held up their thumb for good luck. I rolled my eyes and mouth “shut up.” They all just giggled and turned my heard away from them.

“I hit you pretty hard, huh?” He stated, dabbing my bump with a pack of ice. I took the pack and held it there for him.

“It’s not that bad.” I said, shaking my head.

“It looked pretty bad when you gained your vision back.”

“Nah. I’ve been through worse. When I took ballet classes when I was little I sprained my right ankle three times in six months from trying to do a jump.”

“It sounds to me that you’re a bit clumsy.”

“No, not anymore. I’m more balanced and fit from what I used to be.”

“I see.” He leaned against the table. “It sounds to me that you changed?”

“No. I just grew up.” I played with the pendant around my neck. Damien looked at the pendant.

“What’s that?” He asked, seeing that there’s writing on it.

“My mother found this necklace around my neck when she first saw me out on our porch. There’s Japanese writing on it, but I can’t read it.” Damien took the pendant.

“I know what it says.” I blinked shocked.

“You do?”

“Yea. I study Japanese a lot because I travel to Japan with my cousins a lot. Your pendant says Aishiteru, which means I love you.” He looks harder. “And there’s a name…” I bit my lower lip. “I can’t read it… It’s hard to pronounce out. I think it says Sa-Sa-Sa-… I don’t know. I’m sorry.” He frowns at me. I looked at the ground and frown.

“Its okay…” I said softly, tears about to form in my eyes, but I held them back. Damien just looks at me sadly as he just leaned there against the table, not sure what to say. I just continued looking at the ground with my hand still on the ice pack. What will I do now?