Seeing Red (The Dark Love Series)

by Olivia Howe

  “Obviously,” Caroline screams back.

  “You need to help me with the basketball tournament this weekend!”

  “What's that?” Caroline asks.

  “There's two parts to the tournament. The first part is the testing part, and it's open to boys and girls. It's twenty-five dollars to enter. It's to test your ability on how many free throws you can make, how fast you can run, and etc. There will be a winner for each category. The winners will receive a fifty dollar gift certificate to our local sporting goods store."

  "Ooh, that sounds like fun! What's the second part?" Lynns asks.

  "Yes, it is!" Kali shouts. "The second part is the most fun. You pay an entry fee of fifty dollars for your team, consisting of only five players. The teams play in a regular basketball game against another team for fifteen minutes each. The two remaining teams will go head to head for twenty minutes. The winning team will receive a trophy, a two hundred dollar gift certificate to our local sporting goods store, and bragging rights."

  "Ooh, sounds like a blast! I'm so excited to help," Caroline says as she hugs Kali again. “I've missed you so much, best friend!”

  “I've missed you so much, too!” Kali screams as the bell rings. Is she ever going to stop that? “Let me walk you to class!” Kali looks back at me and smiles. “See you at lunch, bestie!”

  “See you then,” I smile and hug her.

  I watch as Caroline, Kali, and William walk inside the school. I start to follow them, until Andrew grabs my hand. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

  “Of course,” I say and wait for him to speak.

  I watch as his foot kicks a rock. His hands slide in his pockets. “I was just wondering,” he pauses, “if you want to go to dinner tonight? Anywhere you want.”

  I smile. “That sounds really nice.”

  “Yes?” He asks.

  “Yes.”

  “Ok,” Andrew answers with a big smile. His teeth are shining white. “I'll pick you up around six?”

  I feel my face begin to turn three shades of red. “I can't wait.”

  “Come on, I'll walk you to class,” Andrew says as he hold the front door open for me. “Let me take those,” he takes the books from my hands. I stare into his eyes and we both smile at each other.

  * * * *

  I lost my memory of Andrew because of Lucian. How could he wipe away all of my memories of the love of my life, my happiness? I hope my memories come back. I wish they would just show themselves. Why do I always get so unlucky?

  I know one thing is for sure, Andrew loves me and he's never going to stop loving me, no matter what happens. I can't say I know how he feels. I can't say that I miss the way we were together, because I can't remember. I can't remember the way I felt when I first met him, or the first time we kissed. I can't remember our first date, or the first time we made love to each other. I can't remember anything about him.

  When I look at Andrew, I feel like something is missing, I know something is missing. Every part of my body wants to love him. I wish we could go back to the way things were, whatever that is.

  I guess all I can do now is concentrate on myself and try to live a normal life in this crazy, messed up world I live in.

  I have hope and faith that Andrew and I can fall in love again. I have hope for a new and better day tomorrow. I have faith that my memory of Andrew will return. Until then, I'll have to just keep trying to remember.

  Want more Nina and Andrew? Look for the conclusion of The Dark Love Series, 'Trying to Remember,' coming later this year! Thank you for reading!

  About The Author

  Olivia Howe

  My name is Olivia Howe. I'm 20 years old. I was born in Florida and raised in Maine. I enjoy writing, blogging, reading, and sleeping. Music is my life! I write better when I'm listening to music. I mostly listen to rock music like Tesla, Led Zeppelin, The Cure, Nirvana, Audioslave, Metallica, Motley Crue, Matchbox Twenty, Evanescence, Linkin Park, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. I just love music in general.

  Writing "The Dark Love Series" truly saved my life. In 2013, I was diagnosed with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Depression and anxiety is the hardest things to live with. I'm not ashamed of it anymore, it's who I am. I'm beautifully broken. That's when I discovered I wanted to write, and Dark Love was born. I didn't want the story to end there, because I connected so much with all of these character, so Seeing Red was born.

  Seeing Red has been a long journey, not only for me, but for my characters too. I've dealt with writer's block on many occasions. Luckily, music cured that! My characters have become my life. I feel like I live in their world sometimes, then I stop writing and get snapped back into reality.

  Without "Dark Love" and “Seeing Red” I would probably still be struggling with severe depression and anxiety. I was lost for a while, but writing saved my life, it truly did.

  Being a published author is my dream in life. I'm dedicated to make my dream possible, no matter how impossible it might seem. Giving up is just not an option.

  Acknowledgments:

  It has been a long and stressful journey. I wouldn't have completed this book without the love and support from my family and friends. Thank you all so much.

  Thank you, Melissa and Mariah, for being the best two nieces that any auntie could ever ask for. You both are my love and my life. Without your inspiration, this book would still be resting, unopened, in a folder on my laptop. I'm so blessed to have two amazing kids in my life. I hope you both continue to follow your dreams, as I am. Melissa, I know you want to be an author or a teacher. Mariah, I know you want to be a doctor. Don't ever give up. I love you both to the moon and back.

  Thank you, Dad, for being there every time I needed you. These past few months have been beyond stressful for me, and I want to thank you for helping me as much as you did. You're TRULY the BEST dad a girl could ever ask for.

  Thank you, Mom and Steven, for supporting me throughout this whole process. Thank you for bragging me up to all of your friends, and showing off my book to everyone you can. It really does mean a lot to me. I love you both very much!

  Thank you, Auntie and Uncle Scotty, for being wonderful supporters of The Dark Love Series. You both were the SECOND people to buy my first novel (my dad had to be the first). I miss my Florida family so much. I love you and thank you for everything! (http://www.southern-tinting.com)

  Thank you, Alyssa, for being an awesome best friend. You were the first person I ever told about this series. Remember when I first started it all? I'm glad to have a great friend like you. I'm happy to see you happy with your future husband, Stony. You two will be great together. I love you, best friend. <3

  Thank you, Bree, for editing this book! I would literally be lost without you. I would miss my Gatorade, bitch! But, seriously, you'll probably be editing this page too. I want you to know that it seriously does mean a lot to me, especially when I oversleep and you host my cover reveal party for me, and you rip your hair out trying to put together the rafflecopter for me. See, I would be absolutely lost without you. Now, Gatorade me, bitch! (http://www.facebook.com/authorbreepersall)

  Thank you, Isa, for being such a great role model for me. You've been there from day one, helping me, and pushing me to do better. You're truly an angel. I love you like a big sister! Thank you for everything. I want you to know, from my heart, it means so much to me. (http://www.facebook.com/isalovesbooks)

  Thank you to my lovely street team! You all are awesome! Thank you so much for believing in my writing and helping me promote it! It means the world to me and then some! <3

  Thank you to all of my beta readers!

  Shout out to anyone that is struggling with depression or anxiety. I know it's tough. I know some days you feel like giving up, but don't. Keep your head held high, and stay strong, because you're beautiful. <3 <3 <3

  Last, but not least, I thank God for giving me the life I have, and the family and friends I'm surrounded by.

>   Contact Information:

  Website: http://www.oliviahowe.webs.com

  Author Blog: http://www.authoroliviahowe.blogspot.com

  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authoroliviahowe

  http://www.facebook.com/darkloveseries

  E-mail: authoroliviahowe@gmail.com

  Twitter: @OliviaMaeHowe

  Book Blog:

  http://www.facebook.com/beautifullybrokenbookblog

  http://www.beautifullybrokenbookblog.blogspot.com

  The Dark Love Series

  Book 1 Book 2