Chapter one

"Are you sure you're okay?" mom asks as soon as I walk into the kitchen. I just shrug and remain silent. I had enough sleep last night but I want to sleep longer. My eyes are still heavy due to my night pills.

"You're clearly not. Go to your room and sleep more," my dad suggests before prying his eyes away from his phone.

"I'm fine. I can't miss school. It's my first day at Brimville High," I say bitterly. I loved going to school before but now, I don't know. Nothing except for reading or painting fancies me.

"Fine, but you know what you have to do," mom reminds me in a harsh tone. I sigh. I know that my parents really don't want to do this. I know I'm ruining their perfect life filled with nothing but hatred toward each other.

My dad hates my mom because apparently, he caught her cheating and my mom hates him because she wasn't cheating on him. I mean, how's this even possible? I remember my dad yelling at my mom using the exact words "I saw you naked with that man. You had his marks all over your body" while my mom stood there calmly and said, "you know nothing, Greg. Just shut up. That's the only thing you're good at."

"Don't be so rude to her, Rebecca! She's your daughter!" Dad scolds her but she simply ignores. My mom doesn't hate me but she isn't really fond of my existence on this planet. I sigh once again. At least she's not revealing my secrets.

Without having breakfast since I don't wish to face my parents, I walk back to my room. I'm in a mess. I'm fortunately having a good hair day. I wear a little bit of makeup and leave my honey blond hair open. My eyes fall on my fresh scar visible on my neck. It extends from my collar bone to the halfway through my neck. I decide to change and wear a black turtleneck.

I step out of my house after waving a small goodbye to my parents who are trapped in their office work. I walk to school silently with my mind continuously reminding me,

Keep a low profile.

I didn't even realise that I have already arrived at my new school. I somehow make my way to the office and get my timetable. My first lecture was Calculus. I got my locker number and unfortunately, I was sharing a locker with some guy. Can you believe it? Sharing? Really? Which means that I have to be very careful with what I keep there.

I open my locker and am about to shove some of my books in the upper section when a loud voice makes me flinch.

"What the fuck are you doing!" I spin around to see a tall guy staring at me with a sharp gaze which are burning holes in my body. His blue eyes stared at me as if I was trying to steal his money. Mustering all the courage I could, I slightly push that guy away and say, "Keep your volume low, Mr. I-am-a-furious-asshole. We're sharing this locker."

He steps back a little bit since my push had no effect on him. My eyes involuntarily travel all across his body. He is really tall, I must say. I barely made it to his nose. His icy blue eyes didn't leave my face. He has a well-built body. I'm pretty sure he goes to the gym every day.

"I'm not sharing my locker with you." He shoves me away and closes his locker with a loud thud. He turns around and looks straight into my eyes.

"We are. If you want to change your locker, you may but I'm not. Oh, and just to let you know, no other locker is available," I say in a neutral tone. I hope he decides to share a locker with anyone but me. I don't want to see this gorgeously impassive face every day.

"How could they fucking do this!" He mutters to himself as he opens his locker yet again to stuff a few papers back in his bag. He turns to me."You have the upper section. Don't you dare touch any of my belongings."

"As if I'm interested to know you." I roll my eyes and add, "-but hey! Why are you getting three sections and I'm just getting one?"

He huffs. "Because I clearly have more stuff than you. Don't forget what I said." Saying this, he walks away and I hope he goes straight to the office to change his locker.

"Are you sure you're not interested in him?" A guy approaches me out of nowhere. I shake my head indicating a no. He smirks and I notice his deep dimples. He brushes a hand through his smooth blond hair noticing that I was checking him out.

"I'm Wes, by the way," he says and looks at my left and then back to me, showing his sharp jawline.

"Amber," I say bluntly. He nods and his words ring in my head. "Why did you ask if I'm interested in that asshole or not?"

He laughs. "Caleb is breathtakingly handsome. There's no way that any girl won't swoon over him." He's right but I'm so not admitting it.

"Says who? I'm sure there's at least one girl apart from me who is not interested in him," I cross my arms over my chest. He gives me a look.

"You sure, newbie?" He gives me an innocent look but humour was filled in his way of speaking. "Are you challenging me?" I eye him.

"It's a bet, then."

"What will I get if I find such a girl?" I ask. I'm not agreeing with this bet for nothing. Besides, it would be a good thing if I mind revolves around something else for a while.

"A date with me," he smirks and I roll my eyes. "Ugh, no! I'd rather die alone than go on a date with you." He dramatically places his hand on his heart. "Ouch. That pierced a knife through me. Why didn't I die before listening to this?" I laugh at him.

"How about you get free food for the next of the week?" He suggests and I nod enthusiastically.

"Sounds good to me," I say and he gives me a friendly wink.

"Gotta go. Caleb needs some of my dating advice. I'll see you later," he clearly jokes and turns around to leave. "Oh, and where will I find you often apart from school?" He asks.

"Probably at the nearest cafe," I say and he nods. He gives me one of his charming smiles and I couldn't help but admire it. He seems fun to spend time with.

°•°•°

Calculus is first so I enter in the room where it was going to be conducted and find that more than half of it is empty. Wow. People really hate Calculus. I dislike it, too but I ain't terrible at it. I find a girl sitting alone in one corner of the room. Her eyes met mine and she offers me a small smile.

I walk toward her and ask her if I could sit. She gives me a wider smile, allowing me to sit beside her since her best friend is absent.

"Hey, I'm Amber," I introduce myself and take out my notebook. "I am Selena."

"Sel, can you please write down a short story for me?" A guy approaches her. She nods without saying a word. He looks at her with an apologetic look. He surprisingly resembles someone I've met before. I wonder who it is.

"Are you still upset with me?" He asks with concern in his tone. Selena lets out a deep breath. "I am, Charles. I'm not going to forgive you unless you try harder."

His blue eyes waver. "What can I do to make it up to you?" Selena finally looks at him and advises, "Not me, you asshole- Ellie. Take her on a date. You've been so busy with those assholes, give her some time, too."

"Caleb and Wes are not assholes," he says. That grabs my attention. Selena is the one who doesn't swoon over Caleb. Yesss!! Free food for a week. "Besides, Ellie likes them."

"Whatever it is. Take her on a secret date which has to be amazing. She is really upset about Teddy." Charles lets out a chuckle. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm dating both of you." Selena joins him and I awkwardly smile, feeling a little bit left out.

"Oh, and she's Amber. My new friend," Selena smiles at me. Charles nods and asks, "Wait, are you that newbie girl, Wes was talking about?"

I scowl. "Really? Has he kept that thing as my nickname?" Charles laughs. "I'm sure he has. He seems pretty interested in you."

"Well, tell him to save his money because I found someone," I say, knowing that Selena isn't really a huge fan of Caleb and even Wes.

"Sure, whatever that means." With this, Charles walks away without a word as if he was in a hurry to do something. "Do you know Wes?" Selena questions.

"I met him. Why do you think he is an asshole, though?" Wes is funny and flirty, but by calling him an asshole, Selena meant an asshole asshole or a good asshole.

"I don't know, maybe because he's friends with Caleb?" It was more like a question than an answer. I chuckle at my victory.

"You're not like one of those girls who have a crush on him, are you?" I ask just to make it clear. "They say that he is not a player or extremely bad but I don't like him. He is rude to everyone apart from his friends."

I nod and turn to the teacher who had already started to teach.

(Let me know how you feel about this chapter! <3 )