Dancing with Darkness

The Way It All Began

Chapter One

The Way It All Began

I was just a kid When Klayton and I first met. He was a junior and I was in my freshman year. He was a rough redneck type guy. You know strong, tall, bold and brash. He didn't give a damn what people thought of him. In some ways, he reminded me of my old friend Chase and I think that is why we got along so well. He was a strong, stubborn man and I loved it. I loved all of it.

I remember the day I first met him. It was awkward how we met honestly because I wasn't the type of person who easily made friends. His cousin Alexis is the reason we met. We had been friends since the second grade. Even as kids she was always trying to hook me up with people. I guess that's why I wasn't surprised when she introduced me to her cousin Klayton. We hit it off, I was talking to her cousin almost every day now. He was an amazing guy.. One day she decided to confront me and ask the question that I dreaded having to answer

"Do you like him? Mackenzie" she said. I stopped dead in my tracks, I hadn't really thought about it much until that moment, to me he was just a friend...right? Yes.friends, that was all we were. I simply shrugged my shoulders and went about my day, though I couldn't help but let what she had said keep coming back to my mind. I couldn't deny the fact that I liked him, and if I am being honest, I was okay with that. There was only one problem, he was two years older than me. He was 18 and I was only 16. I couldn't fall for him... that would never work.

Weeks passed and with each passing day, I kept telling myself to move on and try to forget my feelings, but no matter how hard I tried he was always there. He was like a drug to me, something that I couldn't let go of. Everything about him was addicting. I didn't know how to feel, so I shut myself away. Each day in our homeroom he made it a point to talk to me. I think he thought that I was lonely. I would sigh and just sit on my laptop going through letters I had written to him that would never be sent. I wonder if he ever read any of them...

I couldn't believe it, we were off to a good start but sadly, summer was right around the corner. I knew t soon I wouldn't see him. On the last day of school he came up to me with tears in his eyes...he was leaving I could tell. Of course, I thought to myself. Right after him and I become friends he leaves Tucson high. I wonder why he never stays in one place for too long? Oh well.

I went about my life. Three weeks later I met a guy named James and started dating him. That whole relationship still haunts me...but I'd rather not mention it. Tears started pooling in my eyes and without warning my phone dinged. I flinched, was it, James... was he going to try hurting me all over again? I picked it up to see who it was and my heart lifted, it was Klayton wondering if I was still going to Tucson High...I was happy at least this year there would be one friendly face in this hell hole known as highschool. I responded and let him know that I would be there.

My heart pounded as school drew nearer. My brain was mentally counting down the days until I would see him again. I had been asking myself where he could have been and found that I was constantly worrying about him. So for me, seeing that he was ok and healthy would be the perfect way to start my sophomore year. On the first day of school, my heart was ecstatic, every time someone walked in the doors my ears perked up like a dog when their owner returned from a trip. I took a deep breath and with each day dressed as if it were my last. If I am being honest I think that a part of me was hoping to impress him. I saw that he was placed back into my homeroom and smiled. At least we had homeroom together tomorrow. I couldn't wait to see him again. I was shaken from my state of bliss when I heard a familiar voice...

"Hello darling" he said. I froze, it was James. He was standing behind me. I clenched my fist. He placed his arms around me and I couldn't move.

"G-go away J-James" I managed to stutter out. He pulled me against him, why I thought to myself wasn't putting me through hell once enough for him? I teared up. He smirked as he led me into one of the janitor's closets with no cameras. I was paralyzed... he was going to hurt me again. I tried to escape his grip and he laughed