Chapter One

"How did you girls enjoy that...what was it called?" The faint lines in her father's forehead furrowed in concentration. Rebecca could see his pale blue eyes brighten as he remembered the name. "Camp of the Arts."

"I loved it!" Rachel exclaimed. "I made soo many pictures. They even had these airbrushing guns that I got to decorate a t-shirt with!"

"How about you, Bec?"

Rebecca grinned. "My instructor was amazing. He actually teaches a creative writing course at the college. I can't wait to work on my stories some more now that he's given me all these tips."

"Oh, but the best part..." Rachel started with a grin, looking at Rebecca.

"Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou, Romeo?" they both said in a comical voice. The twins broke out giggling at their impression of the drama teacher.

CRASH!

Rebecca woke with a start, the sounds of crunching metal and shattering glass still ringing in her ears. It took a few seconds to calm down and remember where she was.

"You okay, Bec?"

She rubbed her tired eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a dream."

Rebecca's mother pulled the car into the driveway. "Welcome to your new home."

They both got out of the car and grabbed the various suitcases in the back seat. Rebecca asked, "This it for luggage?"

"Yeah, I brought everything else over on our trips here to paint," her mom replied, walking up the steps of the roofed front porch.

Rebecca paused by the car and took in the sight of her quaint, two-story house. Two oak trees supported a worn hammock left by the previous family. The house was a warm cream color, with espresso brown wood that made up the porch, its roof, the door, and the trim around the windows. A single small round window adorned the second story. Confused, Rebecca went inside and asked, "What's upstairs?"

"Just an attic," her mom replied. "Your room is the last one down that hall."

Rebecca followed the short tan hallway, taking note of the rooms as she went past: a bright laundry room, a small spare bedroom, her mom's red room, a forest themed bathroom, and finally, her room. Her mom had already painted it a combination of light green and chocolate brown and filled it with her stuff. With relief, she dropped her suitcases and flopped onto her bed. She had been exhausted ever since that fateful day at the beginning of summer. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept more than a few hours straight.

The picture on her desk next to her bed caught her eye. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she gently laid it face down and quickly walked out of the room.

"I'm going to test the hammock," she said to her mom as she passed her room.

Rebecca stepped outside into the warm sunshine, taking a deep breath of clean air. The small town lacked the variety of scents and sound that the city held, but she like it. Smiling slightly, Rebecca crossed the yard to the hammock. Looking at the weathered thing with trepidation, she eased herself onto it. Surprisingly, it held all her weight. She gave a sigh of contentment and laid back, closing her eyes and resting one arm above her head to absentmindedly play with her hair.

Voices interrupted the calm quiet. Without opening her eyes, Rebecca figured out it was a pair of teenagers: a boy and a girl, both sounding to be her age. They didn't acknowledge her, so she didn't bother disturbing herself from her comfortable position.

"Who was that?" Matt asked, looking back at the lanky girl stretched out in the Swan's old hammock.

"A new girl," Sam replied, attempting to spin the basketball on her finger as she walked.

Matt rolled his eyes. "No, really? Where's she from?"

"Somewhere that's not here."

He grabbed the ball. "I'm serious."

"I don't know," she replied, exasperated. She tried reaching around him to grab the ball, but he held it away. "Why are you hounding me about it? We'll probably see her in school tomorrow."

"I was just wondering..." he trailed off, looking back again.

"Ooo, Matthew likes the new girl."

He turned back and glared. "No, I don't, Samantha. I've never even met her before."

"Uh huh. Sure."

Matt chucked the ball at her, and Sam caught it, chuckling.

Author's Note: I will admit, this isn't one of my stronger stories, but thanks for reading the first chapter (or so I assume since you're at the bottom of the page). Please review!