winter's p.o.v

I walk towards my locker, frowning when I notice Gemma Hill leaning against it with a confident smirk on her face. My heart races as I walk up to my locker, watching as she moves out of the way so I can open it. It takes me a good minute to finally open my locker, my hands shaking in worry. 

As I hold the door to the side, I try to calm my raging heart down by breathing normally, or, at least try to. Since the door is blocking out Gemma, I can only hide my head in my locker for so long until Gemma does something. There is never a time she just stands there to stare at me. I'm obviously going to have to deal with her.

I grab the book that I need for my next class and fight the urge to just scream like a siren and run away, avoiding anyone and everyone. I close the locker door, looking to my left to notice that Gemma isn't standing there. I can't help but smile. I turn around and stop, my smiling falling off of my face faster that the snap of my fingers. Gemma stands there with her group of friends from the cheer leading squad. I breathe in, holding my book close to my chest.

"Hi, Gemma." I greet, forcing a small smile onto my face. "Anything I can help you with?"

Gemma nods, "It's Monday."

She holds out an envelope, and I extend my arm and take it from her, knowing what she wants me to do. You see, every Monday, Gemma gives me an envelope to then pass onto Josh Collins. I've been doing this for a few months now, and still have no clue why Gemma hasn't just talked to him since the envelope idea isn't working at all. Why am I doing this?

Well, I got myself into a big mess and Gemma helped me through it, which is now why I owe her. We never talk about what happened a few months ago and that's because Gemma doesn't want to think about it, and neither do I. Besides, Gemma has a reputation to uphold here. Everyone loves her and anyone ever found out what happened, it wouldn't go too well for her.

I send her a nod and she returns it before walking off with her friends, all of them making sure to give me one hard look before turning away. I shake my head, ignoring them. I place the envelope on the top of my book and begin walking in the opposite direction, knowing that Josh always hangs out in the library on Monday after break. People stand by their lockers as they talk their lives away, not caring about anything around them. I head up the stairs and make sure to hold the back of my skirt in case someone tries to prank me or something.

Hey, you never know! Some girl was unlucky last week when a guy from the football team ran past her and flipped her skirt up. I would never want that to happen to me.

I push open the doors to the library, looking around for Josh. I notice him at one of the tables where most students study, a book in front of him and a laptop beside it. I make my way over to him, grabbing the envelope in the right hand before placing it down on the book that he is reading. Josh looks up at me, throwing me a smile.

"Hey, Winter." he greets, looking down at the envelope. "Another one?"

I chuckle with him, nodding. "Yep. You're one lucky guy getting letters from Gemma."

"Only if I wanted them." Josh says, opening the envelope.

As he pulls out the paper, I wave him off. "Anyway, I'll leave you to that. I'll see you next Monday again, I guess." I say and Josh nods, his eyes reading over the words on the paper. I turn around and begin to make my way out of the library, holding my book close to my chest once again.

---

I look at the selections today, my eyes falling onto what I usually avoid on Mondays. Meatloaf. I look away and stare at the sandwiches, knowing that it will have to do. The lady hands me the sandwich that she notices me eyeing. "You really hate meatloaf, don't you?" she laughs, making me somewhat chuckle.

"Hate is a strong word, but yeah."I say, taking the sandwich from her before moving out of the line. I look around the cafeteria, trying to spot a table where I can sit without being disturbed.

Unfortunately, I can't find any, which leads me to the conclusion of sitting outside. I walk towards the doors and push them open, walking past the two people making out against the brick wall.

Teenagers, am I right?

I find a nice spot under a large tree, sitting down and placing my bag beside me. I grab out a bottle of water before taking a few sips, watching the football team run laps around the field.

---

I lean against the school gates, watching as the cars drive past and some pull in. I scan the parking lot, trying to find the black SUV that belongs to my mother. She is usually never late to pick me up but I think it's because of how much packing she has to do before she leaves for Africa. I suddenly hear a beep which makes me look over to my right, noticing my mum's car pull up outside of the school, I push myself off of the gate and make my way over to the car, opening the door and getting in.

"Hey, mum." I say, placing my bag down on the floor by my feet. My mum throws me a smile and leans over, kissing my cheek.

"How was your day?" she asks, putting the car into drive before leaving. I put on my seat belt. "Anything interesting happen?"

"If you count getting an assessment interesting, then yes. Other than that, no." I say, looking out the window.

"Winter..." my mum says, placing a hand over my leg as she drives with the other hand. "Are you alright?"

I nod, "Yep." I reply, looking over at her. "Never been better."

"You can't lie to me, baby." she says, throwing me a smile. "Is it because of me leaving?"

I shake my head, "No, I'm happy that you're doing what you love. It gives you freedom. It's just that I hate being alone."

"You won't be alone. You'll be staying with Becky."

"Becky?" I ask, raisin my eyebrow. "Who is Becky?"

"You don't remember her? She's my high school best friend. The one that always babysat you when I was at work."

I click my fingers, nodding. "Oh, you mean, Rebecca."

My mum chuckles, nodding. "Yeah. Anyway, you'll be staying with her."

I nod, watching as she pulls into the driveway. "For a year." I add, taking off my seat belt. My mum places her hand on my arm, stopping me from getting out of the car.

"You do know that I want to be here with you, right? I just..."

"I know." I say, sending her a small smile. "I know."

My mum sighs, taking off her seat belt, her hand leaving my arm as she turns off the car. "I love you, Winter. Always."

"I love you too, mum. Now, come on, you wouldn't want to be late to the airport."

---

"Winter! Oh, my God! I haven't seen you since you were twelve!" Becky says, pulling me into a tight hug. "I hope life has been treating you well."

"It has." I reply, smiling at Becky once we stand in front of each other. Becky looks over at my mum, pulling her into a hug.

"Still beautiful as always, Kel." Becky smiles and my mum returns it. "Come in. I'll make you some tea before you head off."

As we enter the house, I can't help but take a look around. The house hasn't changed at all since I was last here. Photos cover the wall of her children and nature. I pause, looking at the photos. I've never met her children before, and by the looks of it, they are all boys. So, I'm going to be staying at this house with four boys... for one whole year?

Well, I can't really complain, can I?

I look at the photo, the boys looking young and healthy. I feel my stomach drop as I realise that they look way younger than me. They look around the age of thirteen or fourteen, maybe even fifteen... I'm not too sure. Suddenly, I hear someone clear their throat from the top of the staircase in front of me. I look up, my mouth falling open without warning.

He definitely doesn't look younger than me now.

"Winter, am I right?" the boy asks, walking down the stairs. I feel like a statue at this moment. I can't move. The boy stops in front of me, holding out his hand for me to shake. "I'm Cole."

"Cole, I think she's scared of you." I hear someone say behind him, making me look. This guy doesn't look young either. Then, that's when I realise that the photo is probably years old.

"I'm Alec." the other boy says, shoving Cole to the side. My mouth becomes dry as I look at Alec.

"Hi..." I manage to say, licking my dry lips.

"Alec, go get Sam and Hayden. Mum said we have to introduce ourselves." Cole says and Alec looks at him, shaking his head with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Uh, I don't think so. You go and get them." Alec replies and Cole shoves him back.

"Alec, you're embarrassing yourself."

"No, you are!"

"Can you two shut up?" I turn around, looking at the boy who rolls his eyes at his brothers. "Don't mind them. I'm Hayden." he says, throwing me a very small smile. I watch as he walks past me and into the room where my mum and Becky had walked into a few minutes ago. I notice someone at the top of the stairs which makes both Alec and Cole turn around too.

"Sam. Meet Winter." Alec says once Sam stops at the bottom of the stairs, staring right at me. I feel intimated as he looks me over, his eyes dropping down the my legs and back up to my face.

I watch as he nods, throwing his hand up to quickly wave before pushing past Alec and Cole, following Hayden into the living room.

I furrow my eyebrows but Cole waves me off. "He's just moody."

I nod as Alec throws an arm around my shoulders. "I'll give you a quick tour of the house."

---

A/N - Okay, so, me being me, I was looking at the comments of this book because I was bored and noticed a lot of people saying that the book is poorly written and the plot has been written too fast and too messy. So, I am going to edit it. But instead of just fixing up errors, I will be sort of re-writing the book, deleting parts that I don't think need to be apart of it and just make it sort of not as much of a mess. So yes, this book will be changing during the month of January 2019. I hope that by the time that I am done, you guys will enjoy the book so much more and I'll be getting more positive feedback, rather than more negative feedback.

Also, thank you so much for a million reads on this book. I appreciate you guys so much.

-XmysterysmileX