This Is Our Town
Prologue
And All I ask
Is that you'll be here
When I return
To share arms
In what we have learned
For so long these streets were my home
A small girl in a blue plaid sundress danced happily along the empty town streets. Her soft laughter echoed off the moist stone walls, filling the air with sweet melodies the world would eventually be without. She paused, taking a steep off the curb as she turned to face her best friend. His black hair dangled in front of his full hazel eyes, and his grin spread from ear to ear.
"You’re gonna get your dress dirty from the puddles," he sighed, reaching his hand out to hers. "I like that dress."
She giggled, rolling her eyes and jumping back to the sidewalk. "Boys aren’t supposed to like dresses, Joseph."
"Well…" he stuttered, trying to hide his flush cheeks in the sleeve of his shirt, "girls aren’t supposed to jump in puddles, Kaylee."
The little girl swiftly placed herself on the bottom step of the church. She rested her chin on the palm of her hands, allowing her eyes to examine the boy that stood before her. "I bet Wendy jumps in puddles," she smiled as she looked to the sky.
"Wendy?" Joseph questioned with a high pitch tone. "Like the girl from Peter Pan?"
Kaylee nodded eagerly, playing her favorite bedtime story through her mind. "Yes. That Wendy."
She patted the stone step beside of her. Joseph walked over to her with his hands in his pockets and cleared the spot of the leaves. He sat beside her, and ever so innocently took her hand. "Kaylee?" he asked, watching her as she got lost in her story.
She turned to him, smiling her nearly toothless grin, just as most seven year olds had. "Yes?"
"Do you think we could be them?" his voice weak.
She lurked away in confusion, "Be who?"
"Peter and Wendy. And never grow up. Never, ever. Stay seven forever. Or maybe grow up a little more, and then stop. And go away to our own town where we could stay forever, and never have to be older than that…"
She giggled, shaking her head. "Maybe. I hope so, Joseph." Kaylee waited until he turned his head in the opposite direction before she leaned in, kissing him softly on the cheek like she’d seen in the movies. He kept his face turned, trying to hide the small grin that refused to leave his face. He wasn’t grossed out like most kids his age. His secret crush on the girl next to him got rid of the cooties, as they would say. "We will be," she whispered. And with that, she stood, and danced on to the next street.
Eleven years come and go.
***
Chapter One
The sheets are tightly would between her fingers. She wouldn’t dare let go, nor would she turn her eyes away from the walls. A small sound creaks from the floor beneath her, sending her breath into panic. Her eyes widened. She thought about listening to her iPod, but that would only make her more paranoid. Then she would have to focus on the background sounds.
It’s happened every night since he left. She felt unsafe. Every night since he left she stayed awake until her mind gave out from stress.
She turned over to her side to check the time. Four AM. A grunt escaped her lips as she fell face down back into her pillow. "Guess I won’t get any sleep tonight."
He left two years ago, and promised to bring her with him. But he never came back. If she got lucky, she’d receive a text message, or maybe even a three minute phone call.
He was no longer down the street. He was no longer climbing up to her window at night. He was no longer sleeping beside her bed on nights when she was upset. He was no longer holding her.
He was no longer hers.
All of that added together equaled her sleepless, worry-filled nights.
***
"Morning sunshine," Kaylee’s mother smiled warmly as she threw some pop-tarts in the microwave. "Another sleepless night?"
Kaylee yawned and nodded, sitting down at the bar beside her older brother. "Don’t think I got a h-hour tonight," her head fell into her folded arms.
"I’m getting you like, Lunesta for Christmas, how’s that sound," Jon laughed, flipping his dyed black hair out of his eyes. Kaylee snarled under her breath.
"I’ll take Lunesta over drugs any day, brother," she smirked. She glanced up at their mother’s expression and laughed. "Just kidding, Mom. Just kidding…"
"You better be…" her voice stern. "That’s not funny."
Jon jumped from his stool and headed towards the front door. "Going out, later," he called.
"No, no no, Jon, where are you going?" Leslie sighed as she braced herself on the counter. "Do you kids ever give me a break?"
"Sorry. Going to… Wal Mart. Bye."
"No Jon-"
The door slammed shut, waking Kaylee up from her brief two minutes sleep. The engine roared and he was out of the driveway before his mother even had the sense to chase after him. She sighed and turned to her youngest son. "Get your pop-tarts out of the microwave, Brendon. Mommy’s gotta sit down."
He abided and sprinted over to grab his breakfast. "Are you hungry Kaylee?" he asked. She shook her head.
"No, thanks, but you can turn on the radio for me…"
"What station?"
"107.5 please."
He clicked the button, and without a word ran off to his room. Kaylee put her head back down as the music ended. "CALLER NUMBER FIFTEEN, GET YOUR JONAS BROTHERS TICKETS NOW! FAMILY FOUR PACK, CALLER FIFTEEN!"
The obnoxious speaker yelled through the station. Kaylee grunted and plugged her ears. "Shut, up…."
The music began to play again. She glanced out of the window above the sink; it was getting dark. Only eleven in the morning, and it’s nearly pitch black. It was beginning to mist, and the thunder was starting to roll from miles away. Another summer storm was on the way, which meant another boring day indoors if her brother had the car.
She tapped her fingers to the now static radio station. The simple beat soothed her thoughts, if it were to end, she’d be disappointed. Her voice mindlessly hummed the melody, though just as she was getting lost, it stopped.
"Caller number fifteen! You just won a family four pack of tickets to this weekend’s Jonas Brothers CONCERT!"
She groaned.
"Dude, SERIOUSLY!? Oh man, my sister’s gonna kill me," the voice sounded familiar. Kaylee shot her head up and beamed out the window.
"Yeah man! Stay on the line for the deets, whose your number one station that took you to the Jonas Brothers concert!?"
"107.5 KZL MAN! DUDE SHE’S GOING TO KILL ME-"
Once the radio was silenced, she bit her tongue and turned to head for her mother. But what good would it do, she thought. Telling?
"Jon…," she mumbled. "Why…"
