Tink.

“Why do you make me do this, child? Why?”

Tink.

“I only do the things I do out of love, Kelly. You know that.”

Tink.

“Maybe this time you've learned your lesson.”

It wasn't the swelling of her cheek or the painful bruises that littered her body that eventually stirred Kelly from her restless slumber. No, she had grown accustomed to the aches and pains of her father's heavy hand years ago. Instead, the insistent chime of pebbles pinging against her window made the young woman slowly rise from her sheets. It was past midnight. Which could only mean one thing. Lifting herself from her mattress, one hand running through her waves of golden hair, the other pressing gently against her latest injury, Kelly shuffled to her window in a daze. Lifting the pane of glass from it's resting place, she poked her head past the entryway only to be welcomed by the faces of her two closest friends.

"Well, hello there, sleeping beauty."

"Coming out tonight, Kelly?"

Kelly had known Theresa and John since before she could remember. They had grown up together, and they were the only two people in the world (besides herself and her father, of course) that knew the real stories behind the bumps and bruises that always appeared along her frame. Though the trio each came from different walks of life, the three of them had somehow managed to find solace in each-others company. Theresa was the girl that everyone envied. She had the glitz, she had the glamor, but, she also had a heart of gold. John, on the other hand, was rough around the edges. He cussed like a sailor and drank liquor as if the stuff were water, but he was also one of the most compassionate people that Kelly had ever had the pleasure of befriending. As for herself? Kelly was just an average girl. Her family was middle class, she made decent grades, and the only thing she had ever really been good at was singing. She didn't have Theresa's money or John's 'idgaf' attitude. All she had was her voice. And even with that, they were the only two that had ever heard it.

Giving the two of them a soft smile, Kelly slowly shook her head and sighed, giving her shoulders a subtle shrug. "Not tonight, guys. I need to study." Crossing his arms, John perked a brow at her excuse and simply scoffed while Theresa added, "Kelly, that was the same excuse you gave us Tuesday. You'll have to do better than that."

"I'm serious." Kelly muttered.

Palming her hips then, Theresa rolled her hazel eyes and gave Kelly a playful grin. "You already know you'll do fine on that Chem final, so drop the act. Besides, John and I feel neglected. You haven't come out with us in forever."

"It's only been three days, Tessy."

"Your point?"

Shaking her head some, Kelly couldn't help but smile down at the two of them. "There's just no winning with you two, is there?"

 Flashing her a triumphant set of pearly whites, John simply shook his head. "Nope." Laughing and shutting the window, Kelly left the two of them standing outside as she went to her closet. Giving herself the once over in the mirror that sat nailed to the closet door, she decided that dress she wore to bed would suffice. Grabbing the small, coat that sat on the edge of her bed, Kelly slipped out of her room, being extremely mindful of the degree of noise she created as she scurried down the stairs and out of the front door.

The night air was crisp. Crisper than Kelly had initially expected. Tugging at the flaps of her coat, she tightened them around her slender frame and sighed. She could see the silhouettes of Theresa and John further ahead, their shoulders close together, hands clasped tightly. The image made Kelly smile sadly. As much as the two had initially denied it, Kelly had always known that the pair would end up together. Their chemistry was unmistakeable, not to mention that they had always brought the best out in each other; John had a way of making Theresa see the good in everything while she had a way of keeping him cool, calm, and collected. And, as happy as Kelly was for the two of them, she still felt an aching sense of envy sprout in her chest at the sight of the love birds. Kelly had had her share of boyfriends, sure, but never had any of them been of a serious degree. She had always been a firm believer of 'The Spark'; that jolt of electricity that ran through a person's body at the sound of the others name, the feel of their skin, their smile. Kelly had never felt that with anyone. And, until that person comes along, she had decided that it would be best to just live her life and let the others live theirs. Perhaps it was just a fantasy, something that was irrational and unnecessary, but Kelly still had hope. Even if it was slowly beginning to fade away.

Tilting her head towards the sky, Kelly breathed in the night air and sighed. Though it burned her lungs, it brought a soothing calm to her. Not to mention the fact that it felt great against her swollen cheek. Hearing John's booming voice up a head, Kelly turned her attention back to her friends, only to see that they had stopped. Theresa stood off to the side, her arms crossed, as John knelt forward, his hand outstretched. Confused, she picked up her pace to catch up with the pair, only to be welcomed by an unfamiliar face. One that John apparently knew.

"Well, if it isn't Brent. What are you doing out here, man? Not hitting Mike's party?" Clearing her throat some, trying to grasp hold of John's attention, she watched as he turned back to face her and Theresa, a look of puzzlement on his face. Until he realized that he was the only one acquainted with the stranger. "Oh, that's right. Brent, the brunette is my girl, Theresa, and the blonde is my friend Kelly." "It's a pleasure." Theresa peeped cheerfully. Outstretching her hand, Kelly greeted the man John referred to as Brent, an amiable smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. "Nice to meet you."