Part 1 (1/2)

Prowl.

Amber Garza.

To Mom for turning my dream into reality.

Acknowledgements:.

Thank you, Andrew, for your unconditional love and support. Eli and Kayleen, you are the best kids a mom could hope for. You always inspire me. Thank you to Dad, Matt, Karissa, Kagen and Rocky for always believing in me. Book club girls, I appreciate all your encouragement, support and laughs. A huge thank you goes to Amy Flores and Autumn Igo for the critiques, edits and suggestions. Lisa Eneqvist, thank you for designing the stunning cover. Thank you to the rest of my extended family (there are too many of you to name here). And, most importantly, thank you to G.o.d for everything. I couldn't have done this without each and every one of you. I love you!

1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Chapter One.

”I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually glad my mom's sending me away for the summer. I can't wait to get outta here.”

My best friend Haley sat next to me on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table as she painted her toenails bright pink. Haley wouldn't dare do that if her mom were home. Haley's mom was a total neat freak and she'd never let us do our nails in her house. I glanced around at the spotless family room with its s.h.i.+ny furniture, which smelled like lemon, and the cream colored carpet striped with even vacuum lines. It was such a contrast to my own home. Haley didn't realize how lucky she had it.

”Weren't you totally freaking out about leaving yesterday?”

”Yeah.” I leaned back, blew my bangs off my forehead. ”That was before I found out what a jerk Caleb was.”

”Cause he wanted to sleep with you?”

”Yeah, you should've seen him last night. He was all over me.”

Haley peered up at me, her curly red hair falling like a curtain over her eyes. ”I don't get it. That's never bothered you before.” She put down the nail polish and wiggled her glossy toes.

”I guess I just thought Caleb was different. I thought he wanted more than just my body.”

She dropped her feet to the carpet, but I could see the outline of her footprints on the coffee table. ”I'm sorry.”

I waved away her sympathy. Now, I felt silly. After all, I had a reputation to uphold. ”It doesn't matter. I'll spend the whole summer at my Grandma's house in California and meet tons of guys.”

”Cute, tan California boys.” Haley frowned. ”Man, I am so jealous. You're going to hang out on the beach while I'm stuck here in boring Was.h.i.+ngton.”

”My grandma doesn't live anywhere near the beach.”

Haley raised her brows in a question. ”I thought she lived in California.”

”There's not a beach everywhere in California. She lives in Folsom, it's close to Sacramento.”

”That makes me feel a little bit better. If I don't get to hang out at the beach all summer you shouldn't either.”

”Thanks. That's very selfless of you,” I teased. ”Besides, there's no way you'd survive all summer on the beach. Your pale skin would burn so bad.” I, on the other hand, was born to be a California girl with my blonde hair and blue eyes. A thought struck me. ”Hey, there is a lake near my grandma's house though.”

”Ugh,” she groaned. ”No fair. I'm going to be bored all summer and you're going to meet some hot guy at the lake.”

I giggled, even though inside I knew the truth. I was done with boys. However, I couldn't share that news with anyone. No one would understand. Everyone thought I was tough. I'd been pretending for so long I sometimes fooled myself. Honestly, I was tired of being used. I really liked Caleb and I thought he liked me too. But after last night it was clear that I'd been wrong. I could still smell his garlicky breath as he pushed up against me and feel the urgency of his touch as he forced his hands on me. But it was his words that stung. ”You're nothing but a tease. I thought you were different.”

”That makes two of us,” I'd replied.

How stupid of me. Obviously he was only after one thing. I needed to go someplace where n.o.body knew me; where my reputation didn't follow.

”I can't believe you're leaving for the whole summer,” Haley whined now.

”You've known about this for weeks.”

”I know, but I seriously thought you'd get out of it. I mean, come on. We're almost seniors. We're practically grown-ups. Your mom can't tell you what to do anymore.”

”Really? Why don't we ask your parents what they think of that?”

Haley's eyes widened. Her parents were way stricter than my mom.

”Anyway, you'll have plenty of fun without me. You spend practically all your time with Derek anyway.”

”I do not.”

I narrowed my eyes.

”Okay, okay. I know. But still we've never spent the summer apart. Who will I talk with when Derek and I are in a fight?”

”Chelsea.”

”Chelsea? Seriously?”

”She's your friend, isn't she?”

Haley pursed her lips. ”I guess. It's just not the same.”

”I know.” Haley and I had been inseparable since we were in seventh grade. I had just moved here and we quickly became friends. I thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen but everyone else teased her for being different. It's funny because that's what I liked about her. She signified a break from the tired pattern that had ruled my life.

”I just don't understand why your mom insists on you leaving. Since when does she care what you do?”

She had a point. My mom was known for being pretty lax. Mom said the reason she was sending me away was so Grandma could talk some sense into me. Mom thought I was too wild or something, even though I was way tamer than most of my friends. Okay, other than Haley. I think Mom just wanted to get rid of me so she could spend all summer with her new boyfriend. She swore she didn't have one. However, the cheesy grin on her face, and nonstop ringing of her cell told a different story.

Anyway, none of that mattered because I was ready to leave town. Maybe I'd even come back a new person.