What would you do if someone hated you so much, that they were willing to frame you, just to chase you out of your home?
Melissa Stephens is forced to find out when she is accused of robbing one of the biggest banks in Pennsylvania - a crime she cou...
The events of the last twenty-four hours were like a blur in my head. I was unable to figure out the faces of the people around me, screaming at me to move my feet and to run away.
Long story short, I, Melissa Stephens, was being framed for a crime I most certainly didn't commit. In fact, I wasn't even in town when the bank was robbed, but nobody was listening to a word I said. This is the main reason why my mother decided it was best if I lay low for a little while, so she called my grandfather, who lived in a cabin across the country. Fortunately, he agreed to take me in for a few days, but nothing more, for fear of getting tangled up in this mess.
I woke up the next day, packed my things and then dropped my suitcase in the backseat of my new car, a sixteenth birthday present from my parents. Even though we are not wealthy, they have always managed to provide for me, and I will be forever grateful for that. Slamming the trunk, I looked at my mom, struggling not to cry, while my dad was gently rubbing her folded arms. I had already hugged both of them, and I was certain that if I were to go back to the porch again, I would completely loose it. So instead I circled the car to the driver's side, got in, and sped off.
When I exited the Pennsylvania State, all hell broke loose. Out of nowhere, three police cars appeared behind me, speeding and signaling me to pull over. Shit. News travel fast, apparently. My instincts kicked in, so I pushed my foot on the pedal and drove past the cars in front of me. My eyes were dancing from the rearview mirror to the highway in front of me. Although it was a stupid situation to be in, there was a part of me that craved the adrenaline, the thrill. Call me crazy, but between the blaring sirens and the speed, I even cracked a smile.
Eventually, I managed to lose the police cars, and after about three hours of driving, my rumbling stomach made an appearance. Although I was hesitant about stopping at a gas station, I had no other choice but to pull over at the nearest one. I pulled the hood over my head, put on my dark sunglasses, and then got out of the car. The gas station wasn't too crowded, and I managed to get everything I needed in record time. At the check-out station, I made sure to pay with cash, so that my credit card couldn't be traced back here.
When I was back on the road, the tension gradually left me, but thoughts of my family filled my head. Would they be able to prove my innocence? Hard to believe, since someone was out to get me. Try as I might, not a single person came to my mind. That son of a bitch better pray that I don't find him.
When I arrived at my grandfather's house, the sun had already set, and he was waiting on the porch, hands in his pockets. We've never had a great relationship, probably because we live so far away. When Mom told me that he had agreed to let me stay with him, I was shocked. Despite everything, Grandpa was the only other person I had, beside my friends and parents, and I had to convince him to let me stay here more than just a few days. Once inside, he mumbled something about there being food in the fridge and then he went to his bedroom. Great. Off to a good start.
The morning came all too quickly, and I was hardly rested enough. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand and saw that it was 10.17 a.m. I didn't want to spend the whole day in bed, to feel sorry for myself, so I got up and went into my personal bathroom.
When I entered the kitchen, I saw my grandfather preparing some pancakes with strawberries and whip cream – my favorites. I frowned and raised an eyebrow when he turned around from the stove.
"How did you know?"
"Your mother. She actually sent me an email with instructions for you. Care to read it?"
"Not particularly." Filling a plate with pancakes, I sat down at the kitchen table and waited for Grandpa to sit down too, before I said,
"So... there's something I have to talk to you about." He looked at me with a hint of curiosity and nodded, a sign to continue.
"Well, as you know, I am sort of... kind of... a per-"
"Are you trying to say a runaway?"
"Yes, that. Which is why I wanted to ask you if you could let me stay here until mom figures out a way to clear my name. I can help around the house, or... I don't know, as long as I can stay with you." He looked at his hands, sighed deeply, and then said,
"You can stay... on a few conditions. We need to have some rules if we want you to stay out of jail."
"You're absolutely right. What kind of rules?"
"First off, you can't go running around town looking like the girl they're looking for. The good thing is that these people haven't seen you, or heard of you, in more than a decade, so they'll have no idea that Melissa Stephens is my granddaughter. So, you must change your name. Pick anything you want, if you pair it with my and your mother's last name. Secondly, you must get a job. Nothing fancy, just as long as you earn enough to contribute to the spending. And... I think that's about it. For now, at least."
I mulled it over, and I had to agree, choosing a new name sounded pretty awesome to me. I agreed with the rules and then spent the rest of the morning trying to come up with a name, after Grandpa left for work at a restaurant in town. Hmm... and then, out of nowhere, it hit me. Evelyn Montgomery. It's perfect!
At noon, I decided it was time to go outside and get some fresh air, after being cooped up at the cabin with a book. I grabbed my jacket and stepped on the porch. After a moment of hesitation, I changed my mind about going into town and instead followed the path that led into the forest behind the cabin.
After about an hour of walking, my eyes focused on a gleaming spot in the distance. Being bored out of my mind, I decided that exploring the forest was a hundred times better than going back home. Passing the curtain of trees, the sight literally caught my breath.
Before me was the most wonderful lake I had ever seen. Because of the bright sunshine reflecting on the surface of the lake, the water was a mixture of blue and turquoise and the ground around it was adorned with stunning flowers. This would make an incredible painting, I thought to myself.
Suddenly, I heard someone next to me clearing their throat. I froze, my heart about to burst out of my chest. My head was spinning, trying to make out if the person next to me was a part of the police force, or someone about to call 911, so another criminal would be locked away.
Seeing that I wasn't doing anything, he asked in a deep, yet slightly annoyed voice, "What do you think you're doing here?"
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Ethan Walter - Dominic Sherwood
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Hi, guys. This is my first story on Wattpad and I hope you like it. Please let me know what you think. I am in the middle of editing the first few chapters, and then I plan on continuing the story. Stay tuned! *)
