The iPhone radar alarm set off. The seventeen year old tried to get another five minutes of sleep but the piercing noise continued to blare like an fire alarm. Finally, she gave up and got out of bed.

Last night, she'd purposefully placed her phone on her dresser because the alarm of the iPhone can even wake a dead person up. It was the most annoying sound she'd ever heard in her life. And even though she hated the sound, she was thankful for it—at least, it helps her out of bed in the morning.

She turned the alarm off and said, "Alexa play hands to myself by Selena Gomez."

The virtual assistant said, "playing hands to myself by Selena Gomez."

As Gomez's voice echoed from the device. The young girl gazed at her reflection in the mirror, she needed a shot of espresso to kick start her day. Chantel was exquisite, with icy blonde hair that almost resembles the clouds and her eyes were blue and grey. She was perfect in every way, except that she'd stopped growing. She wasn't that short—but her classmates had all outgrown her in the past year just like that. The only girl in class who was shorter than her, was Christina Wendall and the twins Alexa and Alyssa Sworn were the same height as her.

"Checking your height every single day won't make you grow." Her mother had said over the summer.

"I'm not asking to be as tall as Shelley," she'd said. "But it'd be nice to have a few more inches."

"You're an inch taller than the average height of women in the country," her mother mentioned.

Her mother was right, 5'4 was the average height for woman in the US and she was 5'5. She should be satisfied with with it. But the heart always longs for something more, don't it?

She shoved her pom-poms inside the tote bag and glided down the stairs. Chantel and her mother lived in a two storey suburban house, the house was especially made to fit a nuclear family but Chantel was the only child of Susan Channing and her parents had separated before she was born.

Her mother was seated at their all white kitchen/dinning area, eyes fixed on her laptop. Susan Channing was as an interior designer. Her features were soft, her platinum blonde hair fell a little over her shoulders and her eyes were blue in colour.

Chantel headed straight for the espresso machine. "You want one?" She asked her mother, who was clearly unaware of her daughter's presence.

"Morning honey," she lifted her head up, "I didn't know you had school."

Chantel was wearing her green and white cheerleading uniform. No wonder her mom thought she had school. "We have practice," she noted.

Since it was going to be a busy year, the Cheerleaders had decided to start their practices before school begins. When she became a cheerleader, her mother had told her: her skirt was miserably so short, that back in the days, it wouldn't even count as a piece of clothing.

She made two cups of hot espresso and took a seat with her mother, who was clearly consumed by work. The girl sipped her morning coffee and checked her social. There were dozens of notifications, from the pages and people she followed and almost all the cheerleaders had posted on their stories. As she was scrolling she got a ping.

"Gia's here." She announced picking up her tote.

"All the best honey," her mother said. "Love you."

"Love you too mom." She gave her mom a flying kiss before walking out of the house.

Gia Rai was at the driveway fixing her makeup, grooving to 'run the world' by Beyoncé. She had made that her official theme song. Gia was an attractive brown girl, with chocolate coloured eyes and black natural curls. She lived just three houses down from Chantel's. Their mother's were best friends. That's how the girls got introduced at the first place.

"Morning gorgeous." Chantel wished as she got into Gia's car, which was an all yellow Fiat 500.

A gift from her parents on her 17th birthday, before Chantel could see it from her own eyes, she saw it on Gia's feed with the hashtag #bestbirthdayever. The power of social media. Can't live with it, can't live without it.

"Let's go," Gia said as she started the car. On their way, they decided to grab iced coffee for everyone. There's no such thing, as too much caffeine. The line was extremely long, so Gia decided to go live on her social and talk about the new shade of gloss she'd just purchase. Gia love and breathed makeup, that was her thing and she looks so good doing it.

Nothing interesting ever happens at Hemlock Grove. The small sleepy town in Pennsylvania surrounded by a thick forest. If it was upto her, she'd want to live in the city. But this town was her home, she was born here and her mother loved this little town. After what seemed like a lifetime, they finally got to order.

• Hemlock Grove High School •

The three storey high red brick building, was dead silent since summer wasn't over yet. Except for the school janitor who'd occasionally stare at the Cheerleaders in their mini skirts. Brooke Bluebell, their head cheerleader had missed practice she'd notified the group she had a date. So Chantel being her right hand was left incharge.

Chantel had been yelling. "One, two, three, four, five." On repeat that her throat started to itch.

She didn't remember for how long she'd been yelling, until she saw a familiar figure observing her. She blinked the sunlight away from her eyes. How long had he been there? Roman Godfrey. The prince of Hemlock Grove was leaning on a light post, when their eyes met, he gave her a quick salute.

Why is he here? Now everyone would be distracted. Roman, was not only a star in high school but the most popular teenager in Hemlock Grove. His family was inevitably rich, everything that falls under the Godfrey's name were theirs from buildings, institutions, programmes etc. The White Tower which was situated at the heart of town, was an utter display of their wealth and power.

"Gia," Chantel pointed at the girl with her pom-poms. "You're in charge."

Gia gave her a nod as Chantel jogged towards the boy who was standing above the football field.

"Afternoon sweetheart." Roman wished his voice as smooth as silk. She could smell him even from a distance; he had that distinctive smell of spicy and woody oud wood that overpowers her sense of logical thinking.

Roman was as tall as a guy can be, devilishly handsome, with pale skin and brown hair. Very well dressed at all times, embodying his wealthy persona. But what stands out in him according to Chantel were his green and hazel eyes. When he first caught her gaze, she'd told herself. He was a vampire. That was a year ago.

"Morning," she panted fanning herself with the pom-poms.

"I called." He informed, he was holding a cone of ice cream that was mournfully melting away. It reminded her of their first meeting.

"I've been busy." She gestured to the cheerleaders below.

The ladies were still practicing but watching them from the corner of their eyes. It was inevitable. He was a serious distraction—an eye candy, wherever he goes. Every guy wanted to be him, every girl wanted to be with him.

"I brought your favourite." He handed her the vanilla flavoured ice cream.

"You're the best." She tippy toed and gave a quick peck on his cheek, he was 6'4 after all. The blood stain on the cone caught her eye. "Shee-it! Rome you cut your finger or something?"

One night instead of saying 'shit' they'd said 'shee-it' and ever since, they'd been using that word.

He gave her a devilish smile, she was the only one who called him Rome. Then sucked his bleeding thumb. He looked incredibly sexy. She shoved that thought away.

They sat under the lamp post, the breeze was blowing and if not for Gia yelling at a distance. "One, two, there, four, five." It almost felt like they were at a park, having a picnic. Almost.

Chantel licked the ice cream, "why are you here anyway?"

"I just wanted to drop by..." a small smirk passed his face. "See how you're doing."

She let out a chuckle. "Like you've not dropped by last night."

"You know." He put an arm around her, "I need to see you every single day, especially when you're in your uniform."

He was that close that she saw the bright lipstick stain on his shirt. She shoved him away gently, "did you get me this after..."

She didn't have to mention it, he knew exactly what she was talking about. Roman Godfrey was the number one player of Hemlock Grove it was a open secret; almost every other day, he's seen around with a different girl.

He shrugged. "Guilty as charged."

She tossed the ice cream into the trash can, "eww!"

"Why'd you do that?" He furrowed his brows. "I didn't cum on it."

"Double eww!" She clenched her jaws. He was impossible.

He gave her a cocky grin. "It's good protein you know."

"Jeez! Rome, when will you ever change?" She squinted, vexed at the fact—that he'd swung by after fucking a random girl, somewhere.

Roman Godfrey was her best friend and she was his, and she knew exactly who he was but it still surprises her somehow. Or maybe: her heart wasn't ready to accept what her mind already knew. That he was a dangerous player after all.

"When you give me a chance." He winked. The way he winks catches her breath, every single time. It should be a crime to be this attractive.

"Very funny, playboy." She crossed her arms. "Very funny."

He chuckled as he stood up and offered his hand. "Come on."

"I've practice." She looked up at him.

"You've done enough practice for the day, beautiful." He smirked. "It's time for a little break."

Chantel took his hand as he gently pulled her up. "So where do you want to go?" He asked licking his pouty perfect pink lips.

"I'm going back to practice and you're going home." She told him.

"You serious?" His expression almost comical.

"I am," she nodded.

He huffed a breath of disbelief. "Sweetheart."

But she was already going down the stairs, to re-join the group. Even though her heart wanted to escape with Roman, her mind knew she had work to do. And that's how it always was with Roman Godfrey, the battle between the heart and the mind.