• tab I walked out into the bright sunlight of a new day, and sighed. The sunrays were poring down and heated everything from the pavement, to my face. Great, another day I'll have to spend boiling in the sun, was the only though running through my mind at the time.
    "I'll be out side, mom," I said over my shoulder as I stepped out fully into the sun. "Be careful," I heard her call back. I ran a hand through my dark black hair, that was sticky from the heat. My hair was long, for a boy, and my mom always tells me to cut it, but I really don't want to. I sighed again as I took in my surroundings. There was trash all over, the lawn needed to be mowed, and someone crashed into the fence again. I guess I should get to work.
    tab I was finishing the lawn when I heard someone call my name.
    "James!"
    I stopped the lawn mower and turned around.
    "Hey, Elli," I said, in a calm tone, "What's up?"
    "I came by to see if you'd... want to go shopping with us?" She said, flipping her long, red, hair behind her back.
    "With who?" I asked.
    "Just me, Christian, Tyler, and Kate," she said with a smile.
    With a sigh- wow, three sighs in an hour- I said, "Okay, I guess. Just let me finish up here, and I'll come by your place." Her green eyes widened, and she asked, "Really?"
    I rolled my eyes, "That's what I just said, right?"
    Her face was practically glowing with happiness.

    tab I finished my work, informed my mom about where I was going, and headed to Ellis' house.
    "James!" I heard- an all to similar- voice cry out.
    "Hey there Kate," I said with a fake smile. A faint blush spread across her pail face. She had long, blonde hair, and dark, blue eyes.
    "Well, we were just about to head out," she said, "I'll go tell the rest that you're here."

    tab We headed to the mall, where most of the time us guys -Christian, Tyler and I- watched the girls try on clothes, and ask if it looked good. I find the best was to handle this type of thing is to nod and say yes, because if you say no, they'll try on more.
    "Thanks so much for coming with us, guys," said Elli, "Its better to know the man's point of view." I surpressed the urg to laugh. She sliped her fingers into Tyler's and smiled, running her other hand through his blonde hair. There was a spark in his eyes that said he liked her. Alot. Christian glarded at them. Mabe he likes her? Hm...

    tab I returned home, later that night. I opened the door, and heard a scream.
    "Sh*t!" I cussed out loud and ran toward the scream, "He wasn't ment be home for another hour!"
    I found my mother laying face down on the floor. "What the hell did you do!?" I said, and looked strait into my fathers face. "Nothin' she didn't have coming for her. Now get outta my face, before you end up the same," he growled. "Get away from her!" I said, putting myself between them.
    "look at you, tryin' to be a hero. All you have is a smart a** attitude!"
    And then, he was coming at me. I had seconds to defend, so I picked up the knife laying on a nearby counter...
    ****
    To Be Continued (in part 2)