Hi! This is my first Wattpad story (which I'm sure is going to be evident from my writing skills) and I'd like feedback on the first chapter before I go any further. There's not a lot to go on, but I'd just like to see if it's any good. I'm going to write the book and then publish all the chapters at once :)
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It was dark, cold, and unbearably silent on this Avenue at one o'clock in the morning. And the bench I'm on is growing mold and creaks every so often when I shift, telling me that if I was just a few pounds heavier, I wouldn't have a place to sit and hide out from the rain.
The overhang of the closed shop was the closest haven I could find when the down pour started, and it might not be in the safest area but at least it's dry. It provides me a place to rest while I calm myself, which is hard to do after the night's events; my mind is still reeling.
I can't believe Janna left me. And for some guy too. I thought that when I came up to New York to visit it her during my last three weeks of Summer, we would have time to catch up, but instead it's been her dragging me out to parties I don't even want to go to.
For once I'm glad I brought along a jacket, because being in this neighborhood in the dress Janna gave me is not a good idea. I thought I knew the way back to her apartment but I guess I was wrong, because I know for a fact my sister would never choose this area.
"Ah!" A voice echos from the alley down the street, which is then followed by a series of loud crashes and what sounds like breaking bones. And for a second- I'm truly torn. My head is telling me to brave the rain and run away, but my instinct wants to see if whoever made the commotion is alright. I wait a good ten seconds before I decide to take a chance and try to help out. My heels click on the sidewalk, and I'm doing my best to be careful and not slip. Of course tonight was the night Janna told me I couldn't wear my converse to parties anymore.
I round the corner and brace myself for thugs or robbers ready to mug me, but instead I'm meet with the outline of a teenage boy. It's hard to see science the street lights don't work around here. I take a step closer and as his form becomes clearer, I notice the disfigurement of his ankle. He's doubled over on the ground, leading me to believe that he didn't start the night with it like that. He struggles to stand up while battling what seems to be a heavy backpack.
"Oh god, are you okay?" I hurry over to him and offer my hand. And in an instant I'm met with a blazing gaze and piercing green eyes. It takes me several moments to break away from his gaze and lower mine to his injury
"Ah...your ankle..." I say and do a poor job of hiding my disgust. It's twisted the complete wrong direction and it's seriously a horrendous sight.
"Wow..." the boy speaks at last with wonder on his tongue, "real physical pain." He marvels at his foot and then frowns deeply, "It's much worse than I thought it would be." He reaches and takes my hand that's still outstretched, "Thank you for your assistance."
"You need to get to a doctor right away. What were you doing that caused this?" I ask him and let my guard drop a bit, seeing now that he didn't intend any harm.
"Oh, I-I fell," he answers hesitantly.
"You fell? I ask skeptically, and hoist his arm around my should so I can help him walk.
"Yes, I'm still getting used to being here, in fact I just got here a few minutes ago."
"First time in New York?" I ask as we hobble along the sidewalk together, which for me is quite difficult seeing as I'm just realizing how tall this guy actually is.
"Yes, it is" he responds and then he unwraps his hand from my shoulder suddenly. He is standing up straight on his own, much to my bemusement.
"Your foot... it's normal?" My voice comes out more like a question, however it most definitely is visibly true since the once contorted ankle is now perfectly aligned with his leg.
"It was just broken... what happened to it?" I ask puzzled and stare down at it. This night has been so fucking weird, maybe I took some of the drugs the addicts were smoking back at the party, I think to myself. And then my mind is pulled out of its trance when soft fingers push my chin up to look at the face of the gorgeous boy they belong to.
"I'm Raphie," he extends his hand out to me and smiles brightly. He looks incredibly handsome and on any other occasion I would have been caught up in his beauty, however the seemingly magical properties of his ankle seemed a bit more important.
"Uh...hi?" I breathe out and hesitantly bring my hand up to meet his. It fits perfectly in his palm and his grin widens even more.
"Nice to meet you Avery. You're very pretty." His sudden words catch me off guard and his compliment is almost enough to distract me from the fact that he already knew my name.
"I-I haven't told you my name yet" I say softly, my volume almost a whisper.
"Yes I know," he states matter of factly. His voice is simply melodic, and it's smooth tone somehow soothes my worries. In a strange way, although I know I should be much more scared than I am right now, I feel... happy. I feel safe. It's then that I become vaguely aware that our hands are still connected, and start to pull away. This catches Raphie's attention and his eyes darken just a bit.
"Oh I'm sorry, It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable, I'm still learning about normal human interaction." He apologizes, and looks down at his feet; embarrassment etched on his face.
"Human interaction? What do-" my question is cut off by his concerned voice,
"Your shoes..." he says worriedly.
"Oh, yeah, they're ridiculous. They're not mine though! They're my sisters," I babble suddenly, and for some reason I think it's because I want him to know I would never normally wear something like this. Why am I trying to impress him? And sometime during my defense he had dropped down to his knees.
He unbuckles them, and then says, "Can you step out please?" I wait a beat, contemplating the fact the he could very well turn out to be a thief and run off with them, before slowly removing my feet from the pink skyscrapers. Raphie lifts them up and points to a wrinkle in the heel part of them.
"They were going to break, and then you would fall. As I have just experienced, a twisted or broken ankle would is not pleasant."
"Oh... thanks, but now what will I wear on my feet. I've still gotta walk home."
"No you can take a car," he tells me and saunters to the end of the side walk.
"No cab would ever drive in this neighborhood, this late at..." my words trail off as headlights curve around the corner. The familiar yellow color on it lets me know that it is, in fact, a cab.
"Your ride awaits," he beams, and holds out his hands like he's presenting it to me. And although at this point I'm feeling rather exhausted, I can't help but smile back at him. When I do, his eyes twinkle and he turns to grab the door for me. I walk towards it and duck my head to climb inside. Then I look out at Raphie expectantly, but he starts to close the door.
"Hey wait! Aren't you gonna come with me?I've got enough cash to drop you off at your house," I yell out to him.
"That's okay, I've got some things I need to take care of. I'll see you tomorrow Avery." And before I can ask what he means, the door closes and the cab begins to move.
