The Outcast - Prologue

I never wanted things to go this way. It was never my plan. All I wanted was a little attention, maybe a little love. Was that honestly so much to ask for? Apparently it was. Someone like me isn't allowed to have that. This put me in a very bad mood, and sent me stalking off down the sidewalk and through the streets, over to the old park that has the river running through it. A few years ago the river flooded and wiped out the park. It does it every year now, and no one likes to go there.

Except me. The Outcast.

As the Outcast, my role is to be lonely for eternity. As it is, the park isn't so bad when you can catch it on a warm, breezy day when the river's not so high. I climb the trees there often enough, when the bark isn't too damp and not so dry that it cuts me and breaks off as I'm climbing.

Some days are better than others when you're like me.

Today was just one of those days. I didn't know he was popular. I'd never seen him before in my life. He seemed nice enough, while he was talking to me, helping me clean up a cut on my arm. Then the others came and dragged him off, throwing sticks and stones at me, and yelling at me. Sticks and stones may break my bones, yadda yadda, and so on and so forth. Well, this damn near broke my rib, the way that stupid rock slammed into me. Then she came along. A pretty, wild, vibrant blonde girl with amazing blue-gray eyes. Unable to do anything else, I could only stare as she walked by me without giving me a glance. Ouch. That hurt. That hurt deep within me, in my heart. Ow. Brushing off my bruises for the time being, I bolted, running to the park. My secret sanctum. My place. No one elses.

Sighing beneath my heavy breath as I slow, I gaze down at my reflection in the water. Grimacing, I kick a clump of dirt into it, splashing my reflection out of existence. I might as well be invisible, the way I'm treated. In fact, being invisible would be an improvement, because at least then no one could see me to pick on me.

Not that they didn't have reasons to pick on me. For one, I have no mother, she died when I was born, and my father is a drunkard. He blames me for my mom's death and likes to beat me when he feels in the mood. I accept it; what else can I do? I'm just a kid. I'm short, only fifteen, and my clothes aren't all that great, either. They're raggy and have holes in them. Dad never buys me anything new. He gives me clothes that are free or some of his old work things. Thus I am reduced to this.

My name doesn't help, either. Kyal Finner. Finner. Ugh. Just my luck, my Dad had to make sure to give me that for a name. He changed my name, legally, to give me that. Now I'm teased constantly, and always repeat in my head that I hate him, and will surely dance on his grave when the booze kills him, which, I think, will be sooner than later.

He's always drinking.

Most days it's okay to be home, like when he conks out on the couch for hours on end and then has too much of a hangover to even take notice of me. But then there are other days, when he's not too drunk to remember he has a son, and then takes advantage of the fact that I won't hit him back. It's against the law to hit one's father, and he seems ready for me to hit him so he can drag me off to jail to rot for a while. Honestly, he makes my life miserable.

It's miserable enough without him butting in. I don't need his help in that department.

I have no friends. Zip. Nil. Nadda. No friends, no pals, no nothing. They all hate me, and don't ask me why, because I'm not sure. They were great in grade school, but since I left that, they've all turned on me and hate me. Even my 'best friends' have turned on me and are now against me. EVERYONE seems to be against me, nowadays.

Don't feel sorry for me, I'm used to it. Heh. What a terrible thing to be used to.

But just once, I wish I wasn't so different, that someone would give me a chance. Just once, I wish someone would actually try to get to know me. I wish I could have a friend. A REAL friend, not some jerk that's messing with my feelings. Just one, that's all I'm asking. Seriously, is that so much?

Welcome to the sad story of my pathetic life.

***Please comment; this is the first story I've done like this. Please let me know what you think.***