"We were happy once. Not a care in the world except for the drama we made every day that made life liveable. We were young once and we were considered nothing more than the next generation. All we knew is that life was flying by in a flash and we were just trying to hold on for the ride. Some gave up hope in this world, some clenched their jaws determined to make it, and others well we were the dreamers."  The thoughts flowed through a young woman's mind.

Chapter 1: Before
"WOO-HOO!" Yelled a group of young adults. It was mid-summer and a group of friends was celebrating finally being out of high school. They were also celebrating how they all got into the same college. One girl ran ahead of the group as they walked towards their favorite hangout spot, HowlHello Cafe. The girl ran inside and quickly claimed a spot at one of the tables. She was bouncing in her seat like a little kid about to get ice cream. A waiter walked towards the brunette-headed girl as the rest of her group walked in the door laughing.

Omelia's POV

"Hello, and welcome back to the HowlHello Cafe, Miss Sapp," the waiter grinned at me.
"Hi, Henry!" I beamed at him, then tilted my head as something crossed my mind, "I thought I asked you to call me by my first name?" I recalled.
"Sorry, Omelia, I'm just not used to calling people their first name yet," He whispered sheepishly.
"It's fine Henry, how long til your shift is over?" I asked hopefulness in my voice.
"Just a couple more minutes," his southern accent showed as he answered. The rest of the group settled down around her as Henry's boss called for him in a back room. Omelia didn't see the sad look in Henry's eyes as he walked away from her.
"Hey, Ome!" A dark-haired guy looked towards Omelia waiting for her to shift her attention to him.
"Yes, Samuel?" I asked as I turned my head to look at him.
"What are your plans tonight?" Samuel pressed.
"I didn't have any as far as I know," I replied confusion overtaking her face. Tilting my head my eyebrows knitted together, "Why do you ask, Sammy?" Playful suspicion glazed her deep, dirt-brown eyes.
"Oh, um, I, was just wondering, if, um, maybe you would like to hang out?" Sam stuttered, nervous was an understatement for the pure anxiety in his voice.
"Hmmm, sure! I would love to!" She smiled with a huge grin. Sam was dumbfounded as he looked at her in complete silence. Omelia quickly turned her attention to her other friends as Sam continued to just stare at her overwhelmed with happiness. Henry was heading back to the group of friends, now that his shift was finally over when he heard Omelia accept Sam's offer of hanging out. Dismay and disappointment cast over his face as he swiftly changed course and headed out the Cafe door as tears started running down his cheeks. Omelia just caught a glimpse of Henry as he ran out, confusion flashed across her face as she wondered what was wrong.
She plastered a smile on her face as she turned back to her friends trying to hide her worry.
"Henry seemed really upset about something, I hope he's okay. I'll come back tomorrow to see if he is okay." Omelia briefly thought as worry consumed her, but then she shook her head slightly.
"There's nothing to worry about right now, we're celebrating." She thought firmly. Omelia's worry faded as she talked to her friends, drinking one of the many delights of the HowlHello Cafe. Soon enough it started to get late so the group of friends dispersed into their separate ways. Omelia and Samuel were heading out to wherever Samuel thought was the best place to 'hang out' as he put it. Omelia quickly ran to the safety of shelter when it started to pour down the rain. Samuel opened the door and the two of them headed inside.
"Cozy little cabin you have here, Samuel," Omelia stated, as she glanced around, "This looks very familiar," she realized.
"Yeah, don't you remember, this is the cabin that my parents took us to every summer for like two whole weeks?" Samuel asked.
"Oh, yeah!" Omelia's face lightened up as her memory was jogged, "I do remember, gosh, it's been so long since I've been back here." She smiled. Samuel and Omelia continued to talk about their childhoods together as they settled down on the cabin couch.
"Do you remember the time when you brought that baby bobcat here?" Samuel chuckled.
"Oh, my gosh! Alli Bird!" Omelia giggled.
"Oh, yeah. Alli Bird that's what you called her!" Samuel laughed breathlessly.
"Hey, Sammy?" Omelia asked.
"Yeah, Ome?" Samuel whispered.
"Do you remember when you and that girl Sally got caught in a closet sophomore year of high school?" Omelia teased.
"Oh, um, well, heh. I promise nothing happened!" Samuel stuttered as his face turned red.
"No, but it would have if no one caught you!" She laughed.
"I'm glad that didn't happen she was awful!" Samuel admitted.
Omelia was about to continue but a huge yawn stopped her. Samuel looked at the time and realized how late it was.
"Oh, crap!" Samuel jumped up from the couch.
"What?" Omelia asked.
"It like three in the morning, we need to head home," He informed her.
"Oh, yeah, let's go before our parents call the police!" She hollered as she jumped and ran out the door.
Samuel followed her and they got in his car. They pulled up in front of her house. Omelia gulped when she saw the living room light on.
"Night Sammy," she whispered.
"Night Ome," Samuel whispered back.
Omelia opened the door and jumped out, she turned back to Samuel slight fear glazed her eyes.
"Wish me luck Sammy," she half joked.
Samuel leaned over and pressed a light kiss on her lips.
"Good luck," He said once he pulled away, breaking the kiss.
Omelia looked shocked and her face turned red. She shut the car door and ran inside the house. She heard Samuel's car pull away as she turned to see her mother tapping her foot, and a glare on her face that could have killed. Omelia gulped.
"Omelia Jessabell Sapp! Do you have any an idea how late it it is?!" She hollered.
"I'm sorry mama!" Omelia whispered shuffling my feet.
"I don't care if you're sorry. What I care is what in the world were you doing? Just because you are an adult legally doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want!" She lectured.
"I was with Samuel, mama, he asked me to hang out at the cabin today with him," Omelia informed her.
"You and Samuel were alone at the cabin?" She asked suspicion glazed her eyes, "what were you all doing all night?" She pressed.
"We talked about when we were younger that was all mama," Omelia told her truthfully.
"You sure? Cause your face was as red as a tomato when you walked in," she smirked evily.
"Oh, um, well, heh, that's not my fault," dhe rambled as she raised her eyebrows, "He kissed me right before I came inside okay!" Omelia whined.
"Did you kiss him back?" She whispered.
"No, mama! I was so shocked that I shut the car door and literally ran inside," I squeaked quietly.
"Okay, I believe you honey, head on up to bed kay," she whispered pushing me towards the upstairs.
"Okay mama, see you later," I yawned over my shoulder.
"Night baby girl," she called.
I ran up stairs and flopped on my bed. I grabbed a pillow and pressed it over my face. I screamed into the pillow, not knowing what else to do. What the heck is wrong with him?! You don't just randomly kiss somebody! I screamed into the pillow again. Exhaustion settled over me, I pulled a blanket over me and passed out. When I woke up I was still fuming about what Sammy did. I ran downstairs for food, knowing very well my face was pulled into an angry expression. My mother glanced at me when I walked into the kitchen. She smiled, obviously amused by how angry I was. I glared at her till the smile disappeared then grabbed eggs out of the fridge.
"So, I am guessing that you are extremely mad at Sammy, huh?" My mother asked.
"Duh, mother, wasn't that obvious from the look on my face!" I replied sarcastically.
"Well, that's no way to speak to your mother young lady!" She slightly scolded.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
"Dear, why does it bother you so much that he kissed you?" She asked.
"He just did it out of the blue! I mean you can't just randomly kiss somebody unless you know you have their permission!" I rambled angrily.
"Haha, I guess I raised my little girl right," my mother praised.
"I guess so, that and I live in a fairytale land where I think everything should be perfect," I joked.
My mother laughed as she grabbed the eggs from me and started to cook them.