The Cellar

**Please read before continuing - Yes Lewis is staying! SOME of his chapters anyway! And so is Summer's name :D Name changes - Summer's friends are now Kerri and Rachel, were Maria and Jess (the new names are two of my FB girls ;)) Heather is now Violet, much better FLOWER name! Might be a couple surname changes too so sorry if further into the story (after chapter seven (Clover)) where the old version starts, you get confused. It shouldn't be too bad though.

Let me know what you think of the new version of the book (Chapter One to Chapter Seven (Clover)) I hope you think it's improved! And hope you like taking a look into Clover's past! Happy reading!

Copyright 2012 Natasha Preston

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Chapter One

Summer

Saturday 24th July 2010

Looking out of the window, I came face to face with the dull, grey sky. The heavy clouds made it look too dark for summer, but not even that could break my happy mood tonight. GCSEs were finally over, and I wouldn't have to take another exam until next year. I was celebrating my freedom by going out with my friends to a local gig.

"Hey, what time are you leaving?" my boyfriend, Lewis, asked as he let himself into my room and sat on the end of my bed.

"In about half an hour. Do I look okay?" I looked back at my reflection in the mirror and frowned. My hair never really ended up how I pictured it in my head. Lewis smirked and rolled his eyes behind me. "You know I can see you in the mirror, right?" I teased.

"You look beautiful. As always," he replied. "Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off tonight?"

I sighed. The social club where the gig was being held was barely a two-minute walk. I could make it in my sleep. "No thanks, I'm fine walking. What time are you leaving?"

He shrugged. "Whenever your lazy brother's ready. Are you sure? We can give you a lift on the way."

"It's fine, seriously! I'm leaving now, and if you're waiting for Henry to get ready, you'll be a while."

"You shouldn't walk alone at night, Summer."

I sighed again and slammed my brush down on my dresser-it wasn't improving the look of my hair anyway. "Lewis, I've been walking around on my own for years. I used to walk to and from school every day and I'll do it again for Sixth Form. These-" I slapped my legs for emphasis- "work perfectly fine."

He smirked, his pervert eyes flicking down to my legs. "Hmm, I can see that."

Grinning, I pushed him down on the bed and sat on his lap. "Can you put your overprotective boyfriend shirt away and kiss me?" Lewis chuckled as his lips met mine. We had been together for fourteen months and I was totally crazy about him.

I had started liking him when I was eleven and he had come home with Henry after football practice one day. Being so young, I thought it was just a silly crush-like the one I also had on Usher at the time-and didn't think anything of it. But when he still gave me butterflies four years later, I knew it was something more.

"You two are disgusting." I jumped back at the sound of my brother, Henry's, deep voice.

"I'm going now, anyway." I said, and pushed myself off Lewis. I gave him one last kiss and slipped out of the room.

"Bye, Mum, bye, Dad," I called, and then slammed the front door shut behind me. I didn't wait to hear from them before I left.

I started along the familiar pavement, towards the pathway next to the graveyard. That was the only part of walking alone that I didn't like. Graveyards were a scary place, especially alone. I subtly glanced around while I walked along the footpath. I felt uneasy, even after passing the graveyard. We had moved to this neighbourhood when I was five, and I had always felt safe here. My childhood had been spent playing out in the street with my friends, and as I got older, I hung out at the park or social club.

I pulled my jacket more tightly around myself and picked up my pace. The social club was almost in view, just around the next corner. I glanced over my shoulder again and gasped as a dark figure stepped out from behind the hedge.

"Sorry, dear, did I frighten you?" I sighed in relief as old Harold Fox came into view.

I shook my head. "I'm fine."

He lifted up a heavy-looking black bag and threw it into his wheelie bin with a deep sigh. His skinny frame was covered in wrinkled skin, and it made him look as if he would snap in half if he bent over. "Are you going to the disco?"

I grinned at choice of word. 'Disco.' "Yeah, I'm meeting my friends there."