Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

"Ugh!" I cry out, turning my head to slam my hand down on the annoying alarm clock. I groan and haul my sore body out of bed to the bathroom. I start running water for a shower. I get in, close my eyes, and let the hot water pour over me.

When I'm out, I choose an outfit for the day. I really don't feel like making an effort with my appearance today, so I choose some sweatpants and a hoodie, then pull on my converse. I put my hair up in a ponytail. I don't bother with makeup. I slip downstairs and rummage around in the fridge, trying to find something to eat. My hands finally settle around an apple. I eat it as I walk out the door towards my convertible. 

It's a nice day, so I put the top down and blast One Direction at full volume. Some of the neighbors glare at me, but I honestly don't give a fuck at this moment in time. I'm upset and sore, and I still have to face school. Ugh. School. I hate that word. School is full of bitchy girls, hot boys, and self-consciousness. Who likes that? Some people might like the hot boys part, but not me. I hate it when hot boys are in my vicinity, because it just makes me hate myself all the more, knowing they won't notice me.

So I tend to stick to my own turf. If you don't venture out, you don't get hurt. So I don't even try to get those guys to like me. And I hate it when my friends are all like, "You need to ask him out!" Why embarrass myself by asking a hot guy out when I know beyond the shadow of doubt that he'll say no?

There is no reason to humiliate myself like that. I plan on just relying on Sarah all throughout my senior year. I don't try to make friends. As far as I'm concerned, Sarah is the only friend I need. But we do have other friends, people Sarah has met and gotten along with. There's Kathy and Kelly, who are identical twins, and there's Ashley, Abbie, Monroe, and Lisa. Everyone knows Monroe and Lisa like each other, but nobody's willing to make the first move,  so they stay just friends for now. They're constantly flirting, though.

Ashley is very outgoing and by far the wildest one of the group. I'm a toddler compared to her. I don't like wild parties or anything like Ashley does. Abbie is quiet like me, but she does have her moments where she stands out. The twins, Kathy and Kelly, like to have fun every once in a while, but they don't like it when things go too far. Monroe and Lisa are much the same. Sarah, however, mirrors Ashley and is nagging me to get out more. 

But I don't want to. I don't like to make a big impression. I just like to stay in the shadows. Although not TOO much in the shadows, because I'm afraid of the dark. Did I mention my dad was murdered? No? Well, here's the story.

"Good night, Daddy. I love you." "I love you too, princess. Sleep well. Big day tomorrow." I waved at him under the covers. My 11-year-old mind was already thinking up what I'd do tomorrow, for it was my birthday! I could just imagine the cake and the balloons and the heaps and heaps of presents...

I startled awake from a soft noise. I'd always been a light sleeper. I sat bolt upright in bed, listening. It was dark and quiet. All seemed as it should be....

Another sound, this time softer.....A footstep? Another. Another. Someone was standing at the foot of my bed. Whoever it was yanked the covers off. I screamed, for I knew this could not be Mommy or Daddy. They would not pull off the covers so harshly. The person advanced quickly, and clapped a hand over my mouth. "Shut up!" The course, rough voice would haunt me for the next month.

I struggled to pull his hand off of my mouth, but he was much too strong. He laughed sardonically. I heard pattering footsteps and felt a glimmer of hope. It was extinguished as the mystery man pulled a black stubby object from his pocket. A gun. My Daddy stood, proud and tall, with balled fists at the entrance to my room. "Leave my daughter alone," he growled. Mystery Man raised the gun.

He took aim. And he pulled the trigger. "I'll be back for you," he said and exited our house through my bedroom window. And, just like that, my Daddy was gone.

So that's why I'm afraid of the dark. For months, years, I would lie awake all night, waiting for Mystery Man to come for me. My mother would lie awake with me, ready to interfere if he showed up. For years, we kept a gun in my bedroom. It's now locked away in the kitchen, unused. After all these years, Mom has lost her concern for me. It's unlikely that Mystery Man would make an appearance now, so long after he killed my dad. I can now sleep at night, but my fear of the dark will never go away. Bad things happen in dark places, and I'll never be comfortable in one.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts by my arrival at school. I turn off the radio blaring "What Makes You Beautiful". I park my car and get out. Quickly, I plaster on a rather convincing fake smile. I walk through the doors, smiling and nodding at friends. Inside, I'm screaming and crying over my unfair life. To ensure that I won't start bawling, I go over to my locker and gather my stuff for History.

Then, I wait for Sarah. We have History together, so we always walk together. She comes rushing up, worried, anxious, and obviously distressed. I give her a puzzled look and say, "Sarah, what's wrong?" Words come tumbling out of her mouth so fast I can't understand her. "Sarah, slower! I can't understand you." She takes a deep breath and speaks slower. "Alex, I saw Mystery Man yesterday! I'm sure of it! He matches your description and the rose tattoo was there."

My breath catches. When Daddy was murdered, I told Sarah what had happened and gave her every detail I could remember about the man, including the intricate rose tattooed on his right arm. His face is etched in my memory forever, and a close likeness of him is etched in Sarah's. The news unnerves me greatly. "When did you see him?" "Just this morning," Sarah replies. "He was standing outside the grocery store, smoking." I take a shuddery breath. He's back in town!

Sarah looks at me worriedly. "Alex, you need to be careful. He may try to hurt you. I don't think you should be staying alone." "Well, there's not much that can be done right now," I say. "Mom's going to be in Venezuela for the next month. After the shoot, she's staying with an old friend for a while." Sarah clenches her fists. "Can you call her?" "Sarah, you're overreacting. Just because you saw him once, doesn't mean he's out to get me." She rolls her eyes. "Stop being so damn brave, Alex! He killed your father, for fuck's sake!" I sigh. "Look, just leave it. I'll be fine." I say. She sighs and pulls me into a hug. "Just be careful." I nod and we walk to class together.