Chapter 1

I did another leap and landed it perfectly, running to my next move. I twisted my body in a new way, improving the dance routine.

As I spun on my toes, I suddenly fell to my knees. I cupped my face and groaned in frustration.

I've been feeling run down lately. Almost as if someone else was feeding from my energy. No matter the sleep. No matter the food I eat. I feel like I have no energy.

As I was sitting on the floor of my practice room, I cradled my knees.

"I'll never get this right..." I felt my body tremble. I jumped at the ringing of my phone. I walked slowly to answer it, notice it was my friend Tracy calling.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"When are you coming?"

I checked the clock on the wall and noticed it was 3 o'clock already. "I'll be there shortly."

I hung up quickly and slipped on my sweatpants and hoodie over my dance clothes. I slipped on my vans and trotted to my kitchen.

The practice room was a small room, mirrors on 2 of the 4 walls.

I grabbed the keys to my SUV and walked down the steps quickly to the car garage for the building. My phone started going off again, but the number was unfamiliar.

"Hello?"

"Is this Raven?"

"Yes? May I ask who this is?"

"This is your National Bank. It looks as if there was a large amount of money spent from your account. What's the largest amount of money you've spent lately?"

My heart dropped and my head began to hurt. "Um, about 186£?"

"You're account lost about triple that. You have about 100£ overall. We will find who stole your identity and report back to you."

"O-ok, thank you." I sank into the driver's seat and gripped the wheel tightly. Just my luck, right?

As I pulled into Tracy's driveway, I whiped my tears, took a deep breath, and walked to the door with confidence. I let myself in, greeted by a chocolate lab, Nonny, and a hobbling little 1 year old with dark brown hair, dark eyes, and tanned, fare skin.

Her name's Jade Taylor Taint, and she's my daughter.

"Mumma!" I swiped her up off the ground and cradled her.

"Hello, sugar!" I kissed her cheek and placed her on my hip as I walked into the living room.

"Trace?"

"In here!" She called from the study. I walked in and watched her pack up Jade's bag. She caught eyes with me and immediately sensed something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" I sighed and set Jade on the ground, guiding her to her bag of dolls. She pulled out her favourite and swung it around. I played with her hair as I sat behind her on the couch.

"Identity theft, that's what." I looked up to Tracy falling to the chair across from us.

"What?!"

"Yup! I have 100 pounds to my name right now. How the hell am I suppose to support Jade and I?" I felt the anger build up in my body. Jade tipped her head up and looked at me upside down. I smiled at her sweetly.

Jade is the only thing waking me up in the morning. As a teenager, I would have never thought that I would have a daughter by 19. But I did, and it's the best thing to ever happen to me.

"What did they say?"

"They don't know who is taking the money, but they're gonna find out. What am I suppose to do?! Get yet another job?! I need to focus on these auditions! It could help Jade and I!"

"I know, babe. I know. What you should do, is..."

"Is what, Tracy?" She eyes me carefully. Almost as if she was frightened to finish the statement. "Tracy Lynn, tell me."

"You should contact Jade's father." I blinked at her a few times.

"Hell no. He's staying out of our lives. Right, Jade?"

"Yes!" Jade announced back.

"She doesn't even know what you're saying! She doesn't count!" Just as Tracy said that, her husband, Kris walked in. He set his brief case next to the stairs and gave me a kiss on the cheek and Tracy a kiss on the lips.

"Who doesn't count and what for?" His American accent rang.

Kris is from New York City. He moved to central London for a magazine and now has his own Ad Industry. This man, has a lot of money.

"Ray doesn't think she should talk to Jade's father."

"That, Zayn Malik from One Direction, right?" Kris asked as he loosened his tie and plopped next to Tracy.

"Yes," I sighed. "He doesn't care! He has his own life! What does it matter to him!"

"That Jade is his daughter? I think that would matter!" Tracy retorted.

"He can live in his big high life with babes and stardom. I'll stay down here where I dance for musicals. On the normal people's ground." I grabbed Jade's bag and slung it on one shoulder as I put Jade on my other hip.

"At least think about it?" Tracy begged. She followed me to the door. I shook my head.

"Please, Ray, please!" She put her hands up to her face and stuck out her bottom lip. "Pwease!" She mocked a child. I finally sighed and hung my head.

"Fine! Maybe!" I smiled slightly and walked towards my car. "Thanks again!"

"Anything for Jade!" She called out. I waved with my free hand, then tugged open the back door. I set Jade in her carseat and buckled her in securely.

The drive home was short, with my occasional glance back to Jade. She was swinging her feet and humming something quietly. I smiled at her innocence.

It's ironic to me, how something so innocent, can come from someone losing theirs.

"I love you, Jade," I called to her. Her head snapped in my direction and she blew me a kiss.

"Wuv you, Mumma!" Her sweet voice rang through the vehicle. She is honestly the best thing to have ever happened to me.

After a night of Jade playing and colouring, it's about 8:00 and she's yawning uncontrollably.

"Jade, sweets. Time for bed." She nodded then wiped her eyes. I picked her up and cradling her small body into her small, purple room. She immediately fell asleep once I laid her in her crib.

I trudged back to the living room and picked up some. My phone went off from the kitchen, signalling that I received a text message.

From: Auntie Tracy ;)

Babe, Kris got the number for One Direction. Found out that they're gonna go have lunch with him for business, but Kris invited us since it's at the cafe. Lets go...kris said it's not that important. Let me know x

I sighed. What do I do? Tell him? No. He'll get scared. He probably won't even remember who I am. And if he does, it'll just be 'That one girl I shagged that one time at that once place.' Nothing important.

I locked my phone and stuffed it into my sweatpants pocket and tip-toed into Jade's room. Seeing her tells me to talk to Zayn. For her own good. It's what's good for Jade. She needs a father. Or at least something similar.

I kissed her forehead and whispered a lullaby. I rubbed her cheek as she stirred in her sleep, only to fall fast asleep quickly.

I fell into my bed, stuffing my head into the pillow. I thought about it for a while before answering Tracy back.

To: Auntie Tracy ;)

Ok, fine.. Meet you at 10

Not too long after that, I was in a deep sleep.

I woke up to an annoying beep of my alarm. It's 6 o'clock every morning when I wake up and get breakfast ready for Jade. The morning routine is simple, really.

First, I wake up and take a shower if I hadn't the night before.

Then, I wake Jade up, change her soiled diaper, then set her with her toys in the living room.

After, I get her breakfast ready and bring her to the kitchen to eat. She'll sit in her high-chair until I'm done with my coffee, then squirm to get out.

Then, I'll change her into her day clothes, bring her to the play crate in my room, then I'll get changed.

Finally, we're finished and ready for the day.

Today, I dressed her in a white long sleeve shirt, a black 'tutu' skirt, black leggings, and white converse; the outfit Tracy bought her for her 1st birthday, which was 5 months ago, June 25th.

I just dressed simply, not trying to impress anyone. A green long sleeve, v-neck, a pair of ripped jeans, brown leather, knee high boots, and an ivory scarf. I threw my hair up in a messy bun and applied a little mascara and red lipstain. A thought passed through my head...

-I wonder if Zayn will notice me...-

I shook out of my thoughts and approached Jade with a funny face. I started tickling her sides as she erupted into a fit of giggles. I tossed her in the air, forcing another laugh out of her lips. As she calmed down, she reached for a stray clump of hair from my bangs and played with it. I watched her intently play with the hair. Her brown-gold eyes going back and forth.

All I see is Zayn when I look at her, just with my cheeks and mouth. Her eyelashes are long and full. Her hair was a dark brown, almost black. And her fare, soft skin just makes me want to cuddle her and never let her go.

I snap out of my thoughts when she started squirming. "Sorry, sugar." I kissed her head and set her down. She went hobbling to the living room, me right on her heels.

I walked into the kitchen to pack a snack pack of animal crackers and a juice in the bag for Jade. "Jade! C'mon, sweets!"

I walked towards the front door and she appeared from behind the couch. I buttoned up her small black pea coat that matched my red one. I picked her up, set her on my hip, and off we went.

As we walked up to the front steps of Tracy's home, I set Jade down and she went running up the steps, stumbling a bit. She only laughed it off and pounded on the front door.

Tracy appeared, picking up Jay quickly and attacking her with kisses.

"Hey, Trace!"

"Early, aren't we?" She questioned with a smile. I just shrugged. "Thought we could just spend time together. I was gonna dance but I found it idiotic to drive here, drop off Jade, dance for an hour, come pick her up to get her ready... And so on."

"Very true! Come in!" She stepped aside and set Jade down. I pulled out a notebook and a few crayons out of my bag for her and turned on cartoons.

"Want some tea?" I nodded to Tracy and sat behind Jade.

"Can Mumma braid your beautiful hair, Jade?" She nodded, never taking her eyes away from the paper in front of her. Her little tongue stuck out the corner as she scribbled. Tracy says she mimics me like that. I guess I do it too. I parted the soft hair and braided it quickly, securing it with a small rubber band.

"Here, babe." I turned around and grabbed the mug, sipping it carefully.

"Thank you!"

"Does Jade want anything?"

I shook my head. "She had a pretty big breakfast. And I have a couple crackers and a juice in my bag."

"Alright!" There were steps coming from the stairs, then a Kris appears from around the corner, whistling a tune.

"Whatcha whistling?" Tracy asked after he kissed her.

"One Direction's new song. Something like Live While You're Young, Live While We're Young? Something like that..." I rolled my eyes. Every time that song came on the radio, I'd switch stations or just turn it off.

"But I'm off to get some papers for the lunch. Be there at 12?" Tracy and I nodded. He kissed her lips, then my cheek, then Jade's head. He went through the side door into the garage and sped off.

Tracy and I just chatted about different things; my money situation, my dancing, her art, her job at the gallery. About an hour later, it was 11:25, so we thought about heading out. I changed Jade quickly and buckled her into my SUV.

We arrived right on time. I didn't see the boys anywhere around the cafe as I hopped out and to Jade's side of the car. I set her on my hip and walked in behind Tracy, who led us to a table with Kris.

"Why are we here again?" I asked. "Isn't this business?"

"Well," Kris started. "It's not official business. We're working on an ad for a big event they're doing. I want to get to know them, so I asked them for lunch with my family." He pointed to us 3. "You guys!"

"Well, that's sweet, baby!" Tracy kissed his lips then sat back when we heard a mob of screaming girls. Jade tensed in my arms when the screaming got loud when the door opened.

"Mumma, too loud!" She covered her ears and hid her face is my chest.

"It's ok, sugar!" Tracy reached for her. I obliged and let her take her from my lap. Kris stood up at the sight of 5 young men walking into the room. I glanced up and immediately, my eyes landed on the dark haired fellow with brown eyes. I tore my eyes away from him and fingered the napkin in front of me.

"Ah, One Direction! I'm Kris Young. You can just call me Kris. This is my wife, Tracy," he gestured to Tracy, who waved. All the boys chorused a 'hello.' "This is Jade." He gestured to Jade now, and Tracy took one of her hands and threw it in the air. Jade is really shy with new people, so she was trying to hide her face in Tracy's chest. "And this," He then pointed to me. All the boy's eye landed on me and I finally looked up. "This is Raven Taint."

That's when I realised I never would forget those brown eyes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

heeeelllooo. you guys liiike?

that was obnoxious. 

ok, hi guys. I've been having Zayn feels so I wrote this and posted the prologue a while ago. so here's chapter 1 :)

how about a couple comments and a vote or 2 for the next update? :)

love you! xx