siena's pov

i came downstairs in my sweats to grab a quick snack, since food is only thing that gets me through the endless studying that my dad makes me do.

but, i slowed down as i reached the bottom because i was surprised to see jack stood by the door.

"i can't believe that you actually agreed to help my dad" i said, as i began to approach him.

"well, he's paying me good money for a simple job and plus i get to see your pretty face everyday" he winked.

i straightened up my posture to hide the fact that i practically swooned on the inside and was beginning to blush like i did last night.

"don't just think that i've forgotten about your insults yesterday".

"aw come on, it was joke. can't rich, stuck up girls take jokes?".

his repeated insult aggravated me even more, that i folded my arms to hold myself back from slapping him.

"see, there's that cute face again" jack pointed out and i gave him a sarcastic smile, just as my dad entered the room.

"siena, what have i told you about wearing such clothing? please can you change and get back to studying?" he told me, as i subtly pulled down on the hem of my cropped hoodie.

"and jack, how about you grab some of those boxes over there and take them to the garage" my dad ordered. "i'll be right behind you, i just have to send an important email".

"no problem, mr edwards. you take as much time as you need" jack assured him.

"wow, kiss up much?" i smirked.

"wow, stuck up much?" he retaliated, before holding onto the sides of his grey hoodie and pulling it over his head.

he dropped it in front of me, so my arms instinctually caught it and let his scent wave over my nose.

when i looked up, my eyes instantly locked on his firm muscles, that were on show from the tank top that he was wearing. my heart rate drastically increased and i cleared my throat to shy away the fact that i was becoming breathless.

jack bent down to successfully lift two boxes - his veins suddenly covered his tense arms, as he glanced back to catch my focus still on him.

he chuckled lightly and managed to open the front door with one hand, "you might as well tell me that you're impressed".

"well, you might as well admit that you're cocky".

"hey, you're the one drooling over my arms, not me" he shrugged, just as i frustratedly threw his hoodie over his shoulder and made my way to the kitchen like i intended to.

+

for about a year now, i've managed to become a pro at operation: get out and get in, which is basically code for sneaking out of the house without my parents noticing and coming back in like nothing ever happened.

when i turned eighteen, i assumed that my parents would at least give me some sort of freedom or at least give me a later curfew when it comes to parties. but being home by six just didn't work for me.

so, i decided that it was time to make my own curfew and if i'm sure my parents won't let me if i ask, i just leave the house without telling them.

i mean, it's been a year and i have never been caught. but that credit also goes to my younger sister, who's pretty smart when it comes to distracting my parents from entering my room.

i tied my hair up into a high ponytail to keep it out of my face, when i climbed out of the window. i dropped my bag to the ground beneath me, before beginning to go down the drain pipe in my black boots.

as i came close to the bottom, i heard someone clear their throat, and then laugh at how their voice almost made me slip off the pipe.

when i reached the ground, i noticed jack standing by the garage - he had a spanner in one hand, an old cloth over his shoulder and dirt splattered around his top and face.

i hushed him with my finger over my lips and shooed him away, since i knew my dad was just in the garage beside us.

"it's gonna cost you" jack whispered.

"are you serious? my dad is already paying you twenty five dollars" i whispered back.

"jack? is everything okay out there? did you find the spanner?".

my dad's voice caused my mind to scarcely flash through the moment of him catching me, and my days of sneaking out being completely over.

but jack rubbed his fingers together, so i gave in and picked up my bag to stuff five dollars into his hand.

"yeah, everything's fine. i've just found it, actually" jack finally said as he admired the money in his hand and turned to walk back inside the garage.

i waited beside it for my cue to go, as i could hear my dad and jack going deep into a conversation - i then gave myself a minute or two, before hurrying down the side of my house and going to the corner, where the uber usually picks me and my friends up.

+

tiana, avery and i came into the house - the bass of the music suddenly become much clearer, as many familiar faces from school were taking shots, chugging down alcohol and having seperate conversations around the living room.

"siena!" a male voice called from behind me. avery and tiana went ahead to say hi to our other friends, while i turned around to see kyle approaching me.

a smile sat across his face as he immediately greeted me with his arm over my shoulder, then placed a huge kiss my cheek.

"you made it!" he yelled over the music and i could strongly smell the alcohol in his breath. "i never-i never saw you at harrison's party last night".

i looked up at his taller and drunk figure, "well, you know how my dad can be - strict as always".

"aw, that's too bad because it wasn't much fun without you there" he spoke, bending down to my ear.

"yeah, right".

"no, seriously. you're the life of the party, babe" he winked at me and lightly squeezed my ass in his hand.

kyle and i met at the age of 14 through our parents - he attends the polo club that my dad co-owns and is pretty much their best player.

so because of that, our families have been really close and i mean so close that i'm pretty sure they're set on kyle and i marrying each other.

although in my eyes, that's never going to happen.

kyle and i did date a year or two ago and he happened to become the guy i lost my virginity to, and the first real boyfriend i ever had.

but even though kyle's become one of my closest friends, half of time i know that he just forces our relationship to suck up to my dad.

hours went by and i was now slightly tipsy and seated on the couch with half a cup of vodka punch in my hand.

as i was focused on the entertaining shot game in front of me, a weight quickly dropped onto the couch and i turned to see kyle now sat closely beside me.

"hey," he smiled with his breath still reeking of vodka.

"hey".

he pouted like a rejected puppy and took hold of my free hand, "i feel like we haven't spent much time together lately".

"well, don't tell our parents that because they'll most likely flip" i joked, taking a small sip of my drink.

he chuckled as his hand slipped down to softly grip my thigh, "so, this weekend. i have a...i have a polo match. you're coming, right?".

i laughed lightly at how wasted he was, then gently patted his cheek.

"i wouldn't miss it for the world, kyle".

his face lit up slightly, "aw see, this is why i-i love you. make sure you tell your dad that i love youuuu" kyle slurred as he rested his head on my shoulder and eventually passed out completely.

i playfully rolled my eyes at him as i moved from my position. i let him fall flat onto the couch then made my way to the kitchen, where my best friends were.

"so you never told us how it went at that dinner last night?" tiana asked as she poured herself another drink.

"yeah, was the employee's son hot?" avery nudged me with her elbow.

i shrugged my shoulders and rested my arms against the counter, "yeah, he was hot - like i'm talking perfect-jawline-hot, but he was an asshole so".

"he was probably just flirting with you, that's how boys do it nowadays" avery said.

"no, i can tell the difference between flirting and just being idiotic" i corrected her. "plus, he's not my type any ways".

"oh yeah i forgot, you want someone like kyle, who's very educated and plays polo, and talks about politics at the dinner table" tiana listed.

"no, i don't want someone like that actually. i kind of want the complete opposite to be honest, but of course my parents would most likely disown me if i bought a guy like that home".

after i spoke, i downed the remains of my drink then slightly winced because i could feel the toxins burning inside my chest.

"and speaking of my dad, i need to head back before he realises that i'm gone" i told my friends and they chugged down their drinks like i did, and called an uber to take us all home.

-

it may seem like jack and siena's relationship develops quickly in the book, but you'll understand why that makes sense later.

but pls tell me if you like the story so far thx ily vote and share too