Chapter One

Sally’s POV

It all started when I was five years old, the day before my sixth birthday. In New Jersey, when everything was right. Everything was perfect until that night when my dad got shipped back to Afghanistan to serve our country. I never knew what he did out there. All I knew was that he was going to “fight the bad guys”, is what my mom use to tell me. After this week I knew my life was going to change drastically.
Oh yeah, my name is Sally Elizabeth Liza Johnson and I am the only child... the perfect child as they would say. If they only knew.
I was a daddy’s girl. My dad and I use to go out to go get ice cream almost every day. My mom didn’t like it but it was a daddy daughter thing. I mean, we did do everything as a family. When we went out we had to look alike, We had to wear the same clothes , colors and everything to match. I actually liked it. My favorite outfit was when we went to Disney World for my fifth birthday. My mom bought us matching shirts that said “King, Queen, and Princess”. My shirt had a baby minnie mouse on it, it was black and white with the word Princess on top in cursive. My parents shirts were all black but had an older version of Mickey and Minnie mouse on it with King and Queen on top, it was the cutest thing ever. We was basically the perfect family.
Let me fast forward.
This is how my morning went on my sixth birthday.
“BIRTHDAY GIRL,” my mom and dad sang in unison. “Get up baby girl its time to eat your special birthday breakfast.”
“Mommy, Daddy I don’t wanna.” I said in the most tiring voice.
“Come on sweets,” My mommy said.
“Alright mommy, I hope its your special blueberry raisin pancakes.”
So, I ran downstairs with my light blue and green hello kitty pajamas on. My eyes got as big as two oranges when I saw six big yellow and pink balloons and 10 yellow and pink boxes. My mom and dad knew I just loved the colors yellow and pink. I opened my mouth so wide before I could even speak there was a delicious blueberry raisin pancake shoved in my mouth.
“Mhhhhmmmm mhm mhm mhm hmm,” I mumbled as I tried to say. “Oh my gosh thank you!”
My parents always knew how to surprise me. I was only six and I knew it was going to be the best birthday ever. So I thought. So normally for my birthday we would go out to eat and they would have a party planned for me, but something seemed different about this birthday. Something odd, something I didn't want to feel.
“Like your presents Liza,” said my mom. She never called me Sally.
“I didn't open them yet,” I explained. “Whats going on mommy, I may be six but I am a very smart six year old, I can tell when you're not happy mommy.”
“Baby I’m fine,” my mom sounded very depressed.
“Daddy?” I said in confusion.
“Mommy heard some sad news.”
“Daddy what was it?”
“I’m going back to fight the bad guys tonight,” tears slowly began to form in his eyes.
“Oh daddy, it’s okay you’ll be back in 2 weeks, no doubt”
“You are so strong, my little soldier,” chuckled my dad.
“I love you daddy, LETS GET THEM BAD GUYSSSS.”
That day we went horseback riding, to the jersey shore beach, to my granny’s house and went to Jersey Outlet Playhouse (My favorite kid gym). It was a perfect birthday the last day I would see my dad until he comes back. That night I couldn’t stop crying knowing when I woke up my dad would be gone to go fight “the bad guys”. My mom and dad couldn’t stop comforting me, they had to sleep in my bed that night I wouldn’t go to sleep.
“Goodnight princess, I love you so much, never let anyone make you do things you don't want to do because your mother and I will NEVER do that to you,” my dad said in confidence while I fell asleep in his lap.
“Goodnight daddy I love yo…” I couldn’t even finish my sentence because next thing I knew I was fast asleep.

Chapter Two

Sally POV

Its a Sunday, my dad left on a Tuesday. My mom and I are doing very well. No more tears. I was sitting at the table when my biggest fear became a reality, my world would be coming to an end. The phone rang and my mother answered it.
“Yes, this is her,” my mom said with  a look of confusion.
The next thing I saw was my mom dropping the phone and hit the ground screaming and shouting like someone had died. What I didn't know was that the one man whom I loved the most was gone.
“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,” I started crying myself. “Mommy what's wrong?”
I’ve never seen my mom cry this hard, look so sad, look so helpless. I’m praying to God for an answer. I couldn’t help but hold my mom until she was done crying to get my answer. The answer that would make me look at life in a whole new perspective. My life was changing before my eyes and I didn’t even know it. Thirty minutes had passed and my mom finally stopped crying.
“Mommy what's wrong.”
“Daddy…….. daddy.”
“Mommy what about daddy,” I started crying.
“Oh God No why,” she started crying and shaking
“Mommy?”
“Baby, daddies gone.”
“Mommy what are you talking about hes going to fight the bad guys he will be back mommy its okay.”
“No baby, Daddy died. Daddy isn’t coming back, daddy’s not coming back.”
My heart dropped, “Daddy no come back?”
“No baby.”
“Daddy go bye bye,” I couldn’t stop myself from crying.
This was a six year olds worse nightmare.

Chapter 3

Sally’s POV
It has been ten  years since my dad has died and I’ve been through it all. My life is terrible and I don’t know where I should start. I feel like I want to die. Every since my dad left us my life has gotten so bad. Everything was perfect until my mom went to the streets. My mom didn’t know where to go or who to go to so she went to the first thing was to sell drugs and do things with guys she would have never thought to do  ten years ago. Its been going on for six years. I thought everything was going to be okay when we lost my dad but I was wrong.
One day I walked into my house and my mom wasn’t there. I haven’t seen her in three weeks. It was like she wasn’t my mom, she was a random person who would show up every other month. I don’t know where she would be but I would hate when she came home. For the past four years my mom would use my body for drugs. She wouldn’t care if I would cry. I was “too young to know what was going on,” is what she use to say to me. In reality I was hurt, I was scared for life. No one would know what I would go through at home. Not even my best friend Jamie. Jamie would ask me why I have bruises and scratches on my body, but I always told her it was because I was playing outside. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone anything about my life and what is going on. I didn’t want to be judged, I didn’t want my mom to hurt me. My perfect life was over.
I walked to my best friends house every morning before school so her mom could take us to school on time.
“Sally, what do you want to eat?” Jamie asked.
“Pancakes,” I replied in a short answer.
Ever since my dad and basically my mom wasn’t in my life I was always sad and depressed. I haven’t remember a day I smiled. A day I laughed. I just wasn’t happy anymore. I didn’t feel like there was a reason to smile, or a reason to live.
I went to school and back home. I was NOT participating in anything after school, with those stuck up snobby girls. Everyone told me I was the prettiest girl at that school. But, I couldn’t understand nor believe it because I was always getting bullied. I was always getting picked on. But I was the prettiest. Shouldn’t the prettiest girls get treated like queens? Or was that only in movies? I wish my life was easier.
I go to school only for my friends. Friends? I only have one friend, the rest of them aren’t my friends.
Jamie was the only one there for me when my dad died, and we were six. What a great friend. Jamie is sixteen like me and were a week apart. She’s older, she has red hair and has a light skin complexion. She always wears bright red lipstick, she is the captain of the cheerleading team and everyone wants to be her. Jamie is an energetic, outgoing, and an all around person. Totally different from me. Shes loving and caring. She has 3 little sisters (Jordan, Jayla and Jase)  and a set of older twin brothers (Jake and Josh). Her dad is a doctor and her mom is a nurse. Her family is big and basically PERFECT.
Jamie and I were unbreakable. We never left each others side. We was like sisters and we were the duo. Everyone wanted to be us.
“My grandma is picking me up today do you wanna come James?” I asked Jamie. “Jamie! Are you listening?”
“Yeah… Yeah…” Jamie tried to spit out, “Did you see HIM? The new guy. Hes so cute.”
“What new guy Jamie? Don’t you have a boyfriend?”
Jamie pointed to the direction the new guy was standing in. “Yeah, I’m not looking for me, I’m looking for you. I heard hes trying out for basketball or something, he transferred from Wisconsin All Stars. He’s like 6’9 or something.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Because, I’m the captain of the cheer team, we always find out things very fast.”
“You think I should talk to him?”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“Because Sal, you need a guy. And he’s cute. So why not hop on. You’re the cutest girl at the school and you don’t even know it. You have guys lining up. Just to try to date you. And if you get him EVERYONE is gonna be jealous.”
“You think so?” I said shyly.
“Yes, Sal go over there and talk to him.” Jamie shoved me towards his direction.
I’m slowly walking towards him looking back at Jamie for confirmation. I am so nervous. I dont know what to say. Do I say hi? Do I tell him my name? Does my breath stink? By the time I get done thinking about what to say I was Face to hips with the new guy.
“Hey shorty,” The new guy said.
“Hi…” I said softly
“Little lady speak up.”
“Hey,” I said with an attitude.
“Whats your name?”
“Im…” Do I say my whole name, first name, or nickname? I start thinking to myself.
“Well hi ‘I’m’ my name is Jake,” he smiled .
“My names not I’m my names Sally, people call me Sal for short or Liza.”
“Why do they call you Liza,” Jake chuckled.
“Oh because my mom called me Liza when I was little and my whole name is Sally Elizabeth Liza Johnson,” I started blushing.
“Well you’re pretty Liza.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I have to go to basketball tryouts. Call me,” he said as he slipped a piece of paper in my hand.
As jake walked away I saw Jamie running towards my way.
“Oh my snickers, what happened? Spill the detes.” Jamie screamed
“His name is Jake, he told me to call him and his number is right here. I don't know if I should I don’t want to get hurt like Elanzo did to me,”  said with a sad expression. Elanzo was my first love. We literally did everything together. When I mean everything I mean I gave up my body to him..
“Bestie, Elanzo was no good, he did you dirty and started dating Katina, Joslina, Josephine, Angela and Alise when you didn’t know. He’s a bastard after 6 years dating you shouldn’t you be faithful? Well I guess Elanzo didn’t understand that. Jake seems like a really cool kid and a faithful one at that. Talk to him, if you don’t like it then cut it off. Nothings wrong with trying.”
“Okay. You’re right Elanzo is no good. I really was in love with his mexican accent and his beautiful mexican features. I miss him. But, I can’t. He did me bad. So Jake will be mine.”

That night
Jamie and I decide to spend the night with grandma. I love spending the night at my grandmas it takes the stress away from staying with my mom. It helps me forget.
“Muchachita!” My grandma yells for me. Thats her little nickname for me it means little girl. My grandma is Black and Puerto Rican. She is a short grey haired little lady, with a peanut butter like skin complexion. She always wore the color red. So I thought that was her little way of telling us that she was evil.  She was so thoughtful but if you messed with what is hers then that Puerto Rican side will come out so quick. She was quiet but very quick-tempered.
“Yes Nana.”
“Come in here Muchachita.”
I walk in there forgetting I had shorts on and I don’t wear shorts because I have bruises I do not want to explain to Nana and Jamie about. Nana looks at me and goes ballistic, and starts to speak in spanish.
“ ¿Qué pasó con el ángel de su abuela pelo. ¿Por qué es rizado. Que sea recta. Haga algo esto no es lo que me gusta ver esto no es lo que su madre le permite salir por la casa que parece. Estamos puertorriqueño! Sí, su cabello es largo, pero no hacen que se vea mal bebé………... Oh, Dios mío ¿Qué le pasó a tu pierna del bebé!” (What happened to your hair grandma's angel. Why is it curly. Make it straight. Do something this is not what I like to see, this is not what your mom lets you walk out the house looking like. We are Puerto Rican! Yes, your hair is long but don't make it look bad baby………. Oh my gosh WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEG BABY!)
“Nana, My leg is fine. I’m okay. I promise I just fell off my bed last night I’m fine don't worry. Sí nana que voy a hacer mi pelo si te hace sentir mejor(yes nana ill do my hair if it makes you feel any better,”)I said trying to make a cover up. Jamie is looking around so confused. “Nana I’ll be back.”
“What the heck, I didn't know you was fluent in spanish.”
“ I know a lot, I only need to know some if I want to talk to my grandma. I mean I am black, white, Puerto Rican and Irish . I feel more comfortable speaking in spanish than any other language. All she knows is spanish.  Because she is 75% puerto rican and 25% black. Its crazy. ”
“How hard is it?”
“Not hard at all I mean you never heard me speak spanish when I was mad?”
“I mean I always do but I think nothing of it. Did you call Jake?”
“Not yet, thats why I told Nana I’ll be back.”
So I start dialing the number and I’m so scared. What if he doesn’t answer? Oh my gosh its ringing.
“Hello.”
“Hey Jake, it Liza.”
“Hey cutie.”
“So you told me to call you.”
“Oh, yeah so do you want to go out to eat some time. I know it may seem early but I really want to get to know you.”
“He just asked me out on a date Jamie”.
“Girl! Tell him yes!”
“James I don't know,” Jamie grabbed the phone away from me.
“Hello, this is Jamie, Sal’s best friend. She’d love to go on a date with you. When is fine?..... Oh, alright, she's not busy then. Okay… thanks Jake. bye,” as she hung up on Jake she gave me this devious smirk. “Sally Elizabeth Liza Johnson .Friday, 8pm , Red Lobster. Don’t be late.”
“Wow Jamie Jasmine Alisha JENKINS!” I yelled.  “I can't believe you, I can't believe you got me a date with the new guy. I don’t know him. I’m only sixteen.”
“Girl and you are the only  sixteen year old who has their license and a car already. Stunt why don't you.”
“Okay, Alright. Lets go to sleep okay”, I smirked  and turned the lights off.
“Liza?”
“Yes.”
“What really happened to your leg?”
I slowly sat up on my bed and looked at her.  And  started to cry. I cried so hard  Jamie got out her bed and rushed over to me.
“Nana, Nana!” Jamie screamed.
“Don't buscarla. Todo está bien. Por favor, no te dan su im no está listo para decirle.”
“I dont speak spanish what did you say,”Jamie seemed upset.
“I said, Don't get her. Everything is fine. Please dont get her i'm not ready to tell her.”
“Not ready to tell her what Sally.”
“It all started after my dad died….”
I finished telling Jamie the whole story and she got so mad and started to cry.
“I hate your mom, why would she put you through this for ten years.? Why didnt you tell me?”
“I didn't tell anyone I was scared. I didn't want you guys to judge me.”
“Why would we judge you Sal? Your life has been a living hell and you couldn't get out. We have to tell Nana, and if you don't . I will. I'll just have to get google translate to figure out what to say and you know I will. I love you more then anything and you know I am here for you no matter what. And you not telling me this hurt me so bad. I understand you are hurt yourself. But I am your best friend. I will be here when no one else is . I will listen to you when no one else will. I will always be by your side because I love you.”
So Jamie picks me up and takes me to my grandma.
“Nana.”
“Si Jamie.”
“Sally has to tell you something and I need you to understand and listen before you get angry.”
“Si Jamie speak Muchachita.”
“Todo comenzó cuando papá murió(It all started when papa died),” I finished telling Nana the story and she couldn’t stop crying. And Nana crying made me and Jamie cry.
“Nana, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Baby… it…. is….not…. fault” Nana’s english wasn’t so good.
“Nana, I was so scared.”
“ "Se va a la corte mañana para obtener sus papeles de custodia para mí. Yo cuidaré de ti y no es que lo siento excusa de una madre que tiene. Le dije a Papi para no casarse con ella. Pero, no era mamá me encanta su shes perfecto. Pero ella hace esto a mi Muchachita. Por supuesto que no!(Were going to the court TOMORROW to get your custody papers for me. I take care of you and not that sorry excuse of a mother you have. I told  Papi to not marry her. But, it was No mama I love her shes perfect. But she does this to my Muchachita . Hell NO!).”
“Nana no. Mommy will hurt me.”
“No se va y eso es ir final a dormir Muchachita(No were going and thats final Muchachita).”
To be continued...