--Hamper Street--
Chapter One
Down the street she could hear the sirens. When you live on Hamper Street like Marian Halls does, you pretty much get used to it. In this neighborhood, drugs, gangs, even murders are not out of the normal. But that’s what you get when you live on the bad side of town. She wasn’t complaining. Marian loves it here. She has her family here. She has a nice job at the local Starbucks. And who can forget the fact that she has the most amazing friends here: Mason, Ashton, and Ryan. Even though she gets a lot of hate for having four guys as her best friends, she truly doesn’t care. Mason is that cute next door neighbor (in fact, all three boys live on Hamper). She and Mason were strictly friends, but she simply can’t deny his looks. All the girls love him and they loathe the fact that she gets to be closer to him than they can. Mason and her are a lot closer to each other that her and Ryan, or her and Ashton. Ashton, oh Ashton. He is that friend that everyone suspects was dropped as a baby. He's not the smartest but he is the most sincere and definitely the funniest person anyone could ever be friends with. And then there’s Ryan. Ryan, the rebel boy who acts tough but is actually a sensitive young chap. She and Ryan can stay up till the break of dawn just talking about how they were feeling. He is a very good listener. Marian had the best friends anyone could ask for. While thinking about them, Marian suddenly remembered that they were supposed to meet at the corner before school. She looked at the watch on her hand, only to realize that she was late. Again. She grabbed her jacket off the kitchen counter, yelled goodbye to her mother, and walked out of their chipping, wooden door.
Great, she’s late again. Ryan Collins knew she would be late. Marian is always late, but he actually kind of likes it when she comes running down the street. She always has that ‘I’m sorry’ look on her face. He enjoys the crease that starts in between her brows, or that one bead of sweat that manifests on her hairline when she actually reaches the corner. Ryan shook his head. He needs to stop thinking like that. Marian and he were strictly friends. If he had it his way, they’d be more than friends. Yet, since being anything more would ruin not only their friendship, but also the whole crew’s. He didn’t want to ruin things. The crew was perfect. It’s the only thing that gets him through the day. Ever since his dad was sent to jail, 5 years ago, Mason, Ash, and Marian have been there for him. Ryan ran his hands through his short, brown hair. Thinking about his dad always made him jittery. Down the street he could see Marian running towards them. She looked absolutely amazing in her jean shorts and Vlados. He could see that look across her face. He shook his head again. Oh, man, he thought, this is going to be a long day.
“Hey guys!” Marian yelled, “Sorry I’m late. I got lost in thought.” All three boys greeted her in unison. Mason, today, stood anxiously. Last night was not peaceful for him. He had a fight with his family. For some reason they’ve been doing that more often. He can’t stand them. They just don’t understand. His mother was a constant drunk and his father is never home long enough to realize that she needs help. Sometimes he wonders if he even loved his mom. No, he mentally spoke. He doesn’t. She wasn’t a good mother and she never looked out for him. He glad he was the only child because he doesn’t know how he could protect himself and a brother from her moods. Maybe it was time to leave Hamper Street. Mason pushed the thought from his head. Today, he promised to himself, he was going to have fun and not worry about his home issues.
“So, where are we going today?” Ashton asked. Everyone seemed so strange.
“Um, well I was thinking we should go to the place, oh what’s the name of it? Oh yeah, SCHOOL!” Ryan said, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
“Hey! That is a very hurtful voice you are using. It pains my heart,” Ash faked a cry and then returned to his usual smile. “But, I was thinking maybe we could skip today and head to get ice cream or something.”
“Ugh, I wish. But Mrs. Joel is giving us this huge test. I can’t miss it. I studied all night,” Marian said. What a Debbie Downer? Ash loves Marian, but he really wanted ice cream.
“Oh please Marian! Pweetttyy Pweeeasee! If you go, I’ll clean your bras for a month and I’ll even polish the straps! Please,” Ash was desperate to go. What can he say?
“Oh ew! Hahaha fine! But no need to clean my bras, I’ll just make up the test tomorrow,” Marian surrendered.
“I’m in,” Ryan said. Ash already knew that if Marian was going of course Ryan would come. She could move to Africa and he would still follow. People do crazy things for love.
“Yay!” Ash began to jump in glee. He turned towards Mason, who was leaning against the stop sign. “Hey, Mase, you coming?”
Mason seemed to think about it for a minute. Then the corners of his mouth tilted upwards and he uttered the words that Ash was hoping for. “Let’s get ice cream.”
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