BOOK 1

CHAPTER 1

Misty got comfortable in her seat. To think, she was going home after 20 years. As she sat there she thought of what the town would look like. She was especially interested in one place in particular. Had it been torn down or was it still there? Even then it had been empty, but the memories it held would last a life time.

The two-prop plane taxied out on the runway and waited for the go ahead to take off. Misty closed her eyes, her mind drifting back.

She had just turned seven when they had moved to Frankfurt. Her dad had been transferred to run the train station.

Frankfurt was a typical town of 10,000. It had a quaint business square that boated of historical significance. There were a couple of nice parks, good schools, ball fields for the usual baseball and softball summer leagues, and all the usual happenings that went on in a small town. It also had its run-down side, which was separated by the train tracks that run through the middle of town. It was made up of mostly rundown houses with junky cars in front of them. When they first moved there, her father was warned never to cross them as bad things seemed to always happen to anyone who dared go there.

Misty's brows furrowed whenever she thought of her dad. He wasn't a tall man, being just under six feet, stocky built, and dark, brown hair. She always kept out of his way as he did have a temper. He would always shout at her mom when he was angry about something. Her mother was a slightly built woman who had a quiet nature, jumping whenever he ordered something done. Being a station master was of great importance to her dad. To him it meant a social position of great importance which people would highly respect. Misty never understood it, not even as she got older as she had always thought of it as just another job.

After a week, Misty's mom took her to the school to enroll her. Her mother had wanted to take her on her first actual day, but her dad said she had to go herself. Misty walked to school her first day dressed in a pretty pink pinafore, white socks, and black patent leather shoes. Her light colored eyes shined as she was anxious for her first day. Her mom had brushed her thick dark hair till it shined, putting it in a ponytail with a pink ribbon to hold it up. "You look so precious," her mother cooed. She gave Misty her lunch bag and kissed her on the cheek. "Have a good day."

"I will, mommy," Misty said, and went out the door for the short walk to school.

On the way, she saw some boys coming from the other direction dressed in rather shabby clothes. She picked up her pace, hoping to get to the school yard as she was afraid of them. One of them spied her. "Well, look at that. Isn't she soooo cute!" he sneered. He and one other boy went over to her, blocking her path. Misty stood there, trembling, afraid to move. They walked around her, looking her up and down.

"Haven't seen you before. Must be new here, aren't you?"
Misty didn't reply.
"A snob. Don't want to talk to us poor kids. Not good enough."
One of them fingered her hair, then grabbed her ponytail, yanking it hard. "Ow!" she cried.

The boys started laughing. "Why don't you leave her alone."

The two turned to see another boy, dressed like them. "Hey, Mark," they said. "We were just having some fun." They walked away turning to see if he was following them.

Misty let out a sigh, till the tall boy came over to him.

CHAPTER 2

Misty looked at the tall boy who had towered over the others. She saw he was dressed in a faded shirt, patched jeans, and torn sneakers. The first thing she noticed about him was his slicked back red hair.

Mark Roberts had walked the several blocks to school as he did every day. His mother had left him and his dad, saying she had had enough of the rough life, and did not want the responsibility of a child tying her down as well as his father's constant drinking. Mark had no other relatives to go to so he stayed, growing up fast at the age of nine. He had seen the boys going over to Misty. He thought her cute and hadn't like it when one of them had pulled her hair. He knew he could have easily taken care of the both of them, although he didn't want to fight, instead using his size to intimidate them.

For several seconds nothing was said. He could see she was scared of him. He went to say something but she backed up a couple of steps, then went around him and ran into the building. He sighed and went into the building to his classroom. At lunch time he went out on the playground, having no money with which to buy lunch. He looked at a table not far from him. He saw her sitting there opening her bag to eat her lunch.

Misty looked up to see him watching her. Then she saw his eyes go to her food. "Do you want some?" she asked.

Mark wondered if she was talking to him. He pointed to himself. She nodded, then motioned for him to come over. He sat on the other side. Misty's hand shook as she opened the wrapping, revealing a sandwich. With a shaking hand she handed half of it to him.

Mark took the half and slowly took a bite. "Thank you," he said between bites.

"I'm sorry I ran away from you. I've never seen anyone as big as you. It scared me."
"I do that to a lot of the other kids," he said.
"My name is Misty."
"Hi. My name is Mark."
"Where do you live?"
Mark hesitated, then said, "Across the tracks."
Misty did a slight intake of breath, remembering her father saying they w ere not to be trusted. She went to get up, but saw how he looked down. She took the apple her mother had packed and gave it to him. "Here, eat my apple."

"Don't you want it?"
"No. I'm not really hungry."
Mark bit into the apple, the juice dripping down the sides of his mouth. "Here take a bite." He held the unbit side to her. She shook her head. He continued till she went ahead and took a bite. Mark ate the rest of the apple, wiping his chin with the back of his hand.

"Don't you ever eat lunch?"
"No, I usually just hang around outside till the bell rings."
"Don't you get hungry?"
He nodded his head. "I don't eat till I get home, then I usually do the cooking since it's only dad and me."

The bell rang. It was time to go back to class. At 3:30 the bell rang, school was out. Misty got her things together and walked out of the building. She looked around but didn't see him. She went down the steps and walked toward home.

From a place across the street he watched her walk home. That night after he had cooked and cleaned the dishes, he went to do his homework. His thoughts went to a girl in pink and dark hair. She had been nice to him.

"Mark! Get in here dammit and fix me something!"

It was his dad, coming home drunk again. He sighed as he got up to help his father.

CHAPTER 3

After that Misty made it a point to have extra in her lunch. Of course, she had to sneak it out as she didn't want her parents to find out. Some days she would put in an extra apple or cookie. One day she managed to put in a couple of pieces of chicken when her mom wasn't looking.

She would sit at the table where she had first talked to him. She noticed there would be days he was not there and wondered where he was. But, when he was there, he always sat at the table, Misty giving him the extra food she had snuck out.

The other kids began noticing the two of them sitting at the same table at lunch time. A few of the boys teased Mark about his "girlfriend." He would turn red as would Misty, who was also teased about her "boyfriend."

A couple of months later, he got up the nerve to walk her home. When they got to her front door, he gave her her books. Her mother came to the door. When Mark saw her, he ran down the steps and down the street. "Who was that, Misty?" her mother asked.

"Mark Roberts, a boy from school."
"Where does he live?"
"Across the tracks."

Her mother gasped. "Misty, you know what your father said about people from there! Don't ever let me see you walking with him again!"

"But mom, he's a nice boy."
"No one nice ever comes from there! Now get in here and do your homework!"

Misty hung her head. "Yes, mother," as she entered the door.

"I don't even want you talking to him at school either!"

Misty went to her room and shut the door.

Mark was out of breath when he got home. He had actually walked her home. He looked at himself, knowing he could never be good enough. He sat on the worn couch, then heard someone snoring and mumbling. It was his dad home early. He had probably lost another job. Mark went in his father's room and saw he was passed out on the bed, the smell of whiskey permeating the room. Mark went over to him and took his dad's wallet out of his pants. He looked inside and took out what money there was. It had become a habit of his to do so as it would mean there would be money for the house. After putting the money up, Mark went to the kitchen to fix a sandwich. As he ate his mind again went to Misty, then he looked at what he was wearing. He had to get himself some new clothes, but he needed money as the other was needed for the house. He sat there and thought of how he could earn the money.

That night, Misty lay in her room crying. Her father had spanked her because she had talked to someone from across the tracks. Misty knew her mother had told. When she knocked on the door, Misty told her to go away.

CHAPTER 4

Mark began looking around for odd jobs. The stores were reluctant to have someone so young although he was tall for his age. He had just about given up when he stopped in front of a motorcycle repair shop. He had always been fascinated with them, his favorite being Harleys. The owner of the shop saw Mark. "You want something?"

Mark looked at the man. He blinked then inhaled. "I was wondering if you could use someone to do odd jobs around the shop?"

"As a matter of fact, I could use someone to clean up and run errands. Think you could handle that?"

"Sure, but I would have to do it after school."
"That sounds fine with me. When can you start?"
"I could start Monday. We get out at 3:30."
"Okay. Oh, how old are you?"
Mark dropped his head. "Nine."
The man raised his brows. "Tall for a nine-year-old. Well, see you Monday."
"You mean I still have the job?"
"Why not. You're never too young to work."

Mark smiled and ran home. He would be making his own money. Now he could get some decent things to wear.

At lunch time he went outside and waited on Misty. She came over to the table and sat down. Mark noticed she seemed uncomfortable. "My mom told dad about me having talked to you. He got mad and spanked me. He told me I was to never talk to you again."

"Guess I should leave. I've caused you nothing but trouble."
Misty looked up. "No, stay here. I like talking to you?"
"But what about....?"
"I'm going to whether dad likes it or not."

For a while they sat there. Misty gave him some of her lunch to eat.

"I got a job. I start today after school."
"What will you do?"
"I'm working for a repair shop. I'll be cleaning up and doing errands."
"Why?"
Mark put his sandwich down. "Because I want to look good enough for you."
"I like you. It doesn't matter to me how you look," she replied.
Mark raised his brows then looked down. "I'm from across the tracks. No one there is ever good enough."
CHAPTER 5

Misty began seeing a change in him. He now walked a little straighter, his head no longer down like it used to be. She also noticed he no longer wore tattered and faded clothes. She liked the change in him. "You look nice in your new clothes," she told him one day at lunch.

"Thanks" he said. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
"What's this?"
"Something for you."

Misty slowly opened the box. It was a small bracelet. "This is pretty," she said, putting it on her wrist. "Thank you."

"It's not much, but it's my way of saying thank you for being my friend."

Misty saw him blush and then smile. She smiled back, noticing he had a cute smile.

Two years went by. Mark still worked at the shop cleaning up after school. He saved back as much money as he could, hiding it so his dad wouldn't find it. He and Misty were still the talk of the school. Everyday they sat at the same table and had lunch, only now Mark was bringing lunch for them to eat, this time sitting beside her. He had also grown taller. He now was a full foot taller than anyone at the school. Misty teased him. "Looks like I'll have to stand on a box from now on."

Misty laughed softly in her seat as she thought about how tall he looked then. She thought to the day when he first asked her to go to the movies with him.

"Misty, would you care to go to the movies with me?"
"I'd love to, Mark, but knowing how my dad feels, how?"
"I don't know. Maybe you should go with one of your friends and we could meet at the theater."
"Maybe I could talk Cindy into going. I'll let you know tomorrow."

Cindy was Misty's best friend. She was always getting into some kind of devilment and loving it. Misty explained to her what her and Mark planned.

"OOHH, I love this kind of stuff! Sure I'll do it. What time?"
"I thought the Saturday matinee would be okay."
"I'll be by the house at 1:30."
Misty told Mark the next day that she and Cindy would be there by 1:45.
"I'll be waiting for you."

Cindy was on time. It didn't take long to get to the theater. Sure enough, Mark was there waiting. He paid for both the girls' tickets. They found seats in the back, Mark getting them popcorn and sodas and then settling down to watch the movie. While they watched, Mark put his hand over hers. Misty turned and smiled, then intertwined her fingers with his. Mark was ecstatic, finding it hard to keep his mind on the screen.

Misty smiled again as she slept. Remembering how they still held hands even after the movie was over. She thought to their time at the soda shop. Cindy teased the both of them. Then it was time to go home.

"I had a good time," Misty said.
"So did I," Mark replied, his eyes down.
"Oh Oh! I think he wants to kiss you, Misty," Cindy teased.
"Cindy!"
"Well, he does! Don't you?"

Mark blushed and nodded. "Sort of." He bent and kissed Misty's cheek. Cindy giggled. "Now that makes you his girl."

CHAPTER 6

Misty opened her eyes, then touched her cheek. Cindy had been right. That one kiss had made her his girl from that time on. She closed her eyes again. She went forward in time to four years later (Misty 13, Mark 15).

While most of her friends were still in the developing stage, Misty had blossomed, her body already showing signs of womanhood. Along with it came the usual stares and whistles from the boys. Misty paid no attention, but inside wished they would stop.

Mark was also at that stage when the hormones were beginning to work overtime. He often wondered as he laid in bed what she would look like without clothes on. He would look down at himself and see the bulge outlined by the sheets. He would groan, then get up and go to the bathroom to take a cold shower. He wondered too when he and Misty would be able to go some place without having to wonder how she could get out of the house. For four years they had dated secretly; plotting and scheming ways they could go out without her parents knowing. Cindy was always helpful but it just wasn't the same.

His job at the repair shop was now at the point he was learning the basic mechanics of repairing motorcycles. He had also learned to ride, the owner letting him borrow one of the store models to practice on. The owner had seen potential in Mark and had taken a particular interest in him. One day he took Mark to a room he kept locked. Upon opening, Mark saw a room full of trophies and ribbons the man had won over the years on the racing circuit. In the middle of the room was a huge canvas draped over a large object. The man took the camera off, revealing a custom-made racing bike, the chrome shining under the light.

"This baby and I won many a race over the years. But, time caught up with me, so I retired and opened this shop." He turned to Mark. "I saw how fast you learned how to ride and your ability to repair them. You're a natural, Mark. I was your age when I first started. How would you like to race?"

Mark blinked. "Me? Race? I don't know. My height would be a hindrance. It might e better if I was a mechanic instead."

"Okay, Mark. We'll leave it for now."

Book 1 Part 2

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