Chapter One. Jack

 Rossie. The day I met you wasn't a good day. Sorry if I offend you by saying this, but it's the truth. On top of being completely humiliated in front of Linn, I had a hurricane waiting for me at home. Not to mention it was freezing and I had to walk home without a jacket.

     I'm sure you remember how I gave you your bracelet. Truth is, Rossie, it was meant to be Linn's birthday present. I'd liked her a long time at this stage, and I considered her to be a close friend. But there was the issue of Alan - her boyfriend at the time. After he threw his plate of potatoes and gravy over me, beat me up and walked away with his arm around Linn, I'd kinda forgotten about her present. Especially since she giggled at me as she turned away.

     Sorry. I told myself before I started writing this that I wouldn't make it about Linn. Coz it's not about Linn. It's about you.

     I was about ten minutes from school when I stopped to take the stupid bracelet out of my pocket. I had stopped just outside the old abandoned courthouse.  I think it had been abandoned over twenty years ago at the time.

     I was so angry, Rossie.

     I channeled all of my anger into one fierce throw. I was a little satisfied as I watched the sparkling silver bracelet soar through the air and inside the old courthouse through one of its big fancy windows that had been smashed open.

     I remembered that I'd use about three months' worth of pocket money to buy that bracelet, and my heart sank. I wanted that money back if I wasn't going to see that bracelet on Linn's wrist.

     After glancing quickly around the street - it was a cold October's evening, and everybody had bustled indoors once they arrived home. I then climbed on top of the wall and hopped down into the overgrown, weed-infested grounds of the courthouse.

     As I circled the building as best I could without tripping in the overgrowth, I had the feeling I wouldn't get the bracelet back; the huge fancy windows were too far from the ground for me to see through - let alone climb. And the doors had been shut up long ago. Bottom line, Rossie, there was no way inside.

     Something moved in the long swaying grass. I froze and watched as the fat, hairy grey creature skulked towards the right side of the building. It turned its head lazily to look at me; it was a cat, and it was missing its right eye. I shuddered as it turned away and continued on its way.

     I was intrigued as to what the cat was up to; surely it didn't live on the grounds of the courthouse? What was there here for a cat?

     At the back of the building, the cat wriggled into a huge cluster of weeds that had grown up against the wall of the courthouse. I assumed it must have spotted a rat or something, and I waited for a few minutes to see if it would emerge with its catch. However, there wasn't even the slightest movement in the grass and weeds.

     I grabbed a branch from the ground - it seemed to have fallen from the nearby sycamore tree - and poked it into the weeds to see if I would disturb the cat. Nothing moved. I pushed the branch in further, wondering why it hadn't hit the wall by now. I dropped to my knees and began to pull the weeds apart, ignoring the stings of the thistles, and pushed my head in.

     It was then that I crawled - for the first time - inside the old courthouse. And Rossie, I had no idea that my world was about to be flipped upside down.  

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Author guidance for This story

First completed story here; Guy-meets-girl in unusual circumstances. Hardship, romance, bad guys. Hope you like it ^_^

The inspirations for this came from a lot of different places! LoriKelly will get one of them :)

POV switches between Jack and Rossie throughout the story, and the characters communicate with each other through the italics.

Characters.

Name: Jack Parker.
Physical Appearance: Jack is short for his age. He's got curly dirty-blonde hair with a cowslick to the front left. He has freckles on his pale face. His eyes are big and brownish green.
Background (upbringing / adulthood): His early childhood was fine, when his parents (both doctors) made more time for him. However as he progressed into adolescence they've begun to let him fend for himself, often leaving him feeling neglected and unwanted.
Personality attributes: Mainly Jack is shy and quiet, generous and thoughtful. He always means to do the right thing. He isn't usually afraid of much, but has a bad nerves problem. He used music as an escape from the world.
Conflicts : Nothing seems to be going right for Jack until he meets Rossie; the girl he likes isn't interested in him, he's harrassed at school, and his home life is cold, to say the least. The one that tops them all though is when he thinks Rossie could be in danger.

Name: Rosaline (Rossie) Evans
Physical Appearance: Rossie is tall with broad shoulders and hips. She has dark skin and almost black hair, which falls to her shoulders. Her eyes are deep brown.
Background (upbringing / adulthood): Rossie's parents are unknown. She was brought up in an orphanage until she was six. She lived with Allister and his long-time fiance, Helene, until she was killed in a skiing accident when Rossie was eight. Allister was unable to keep himself and Rossie supported, and the family was forced to the streets when Rossie was 9. They have been living in the old courthouse for six months when Rossie meets Jack.
Personality attributes: Rossie is strong and independant, but also compassionate and emotionally vulnerable. She is either completely cold to a person or cares deeply for them; she dislikes doing things by halves, even if it is just deciding how feels about someone. She refuses to have mixed emotions.
Conflicts : When she first meets Jack, Rossie is struck by the constant worry that her and Al's hiding place has been discovered. She is also concerned about her foster father's unusual mood swings.
Habits and Mannerisms: Rossie is of course wary, but not scared; she knows she is capable of handling anything as long as she is prepared. If she is the slightest but annoyed or suspicious, she turns vicious; again, not wanting to succumb to emotion by half.

updated Aug 25 '11 by TheGirlInTheCupboard