"I want to feel loved without feeling like I am begging for it."
Willa
𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

"I swear to god, Remi, if you don't hurry your ass up right now!" I shout, the frustration bubbling over as I tap my foot against the cold tiled floor of the hallway. The first day of school, and already my thirteen-year-old sister is testing my patience. The clock on the wall mocks me, ticking louder with every second I waste waiting for her.

I grab the spare set of house keys from the kitchen counter just as Mum walks in, her silk nightgown flowing around her like something out of a fairy tale. She smiles at me, that dreamy look in her eyes that only a mother could pull off, and she's clearly feeling sentimental about the start of a new school year.

"Oh, my baby, you're so grown up!" Mum exclaims, pressing a hand to her chest as if she might actually shed a tear.

I roll my eyes and step back when she moves to squeeze my cheeks. I don't have time for this today. "Mum, seriously? Not the time."

She just sighs, tilting her head with a wistful smile. "I can't help it! You look just like I did at your age. It's like looking in a mirror."

I hear this comment at least once a week. The blonde hair, the sharp jawline, the sunshine comments. If I had a dollar for every time someone said, Oh my God, you're just like your mother, I'd be filthy rich.

I glance at the clock again. "Where's Dad?" I ask, trying to hide the irritation in my voice as Remi shuffles into the kitchen, her eyes barely open, still half asleep.

"He had to leave for work early," Mum responds while pouring herself a cup of coffee. "But he wishes both of you a great first day of school."

Before I can say anything else, a loud honking sound breaks through the air from outside, obnoxiously long and incredibly unnecessary. I cringe at the noise, already knowing who it is.

Alec.

"Come on, let's go!" I shout to Remi, grabbing my bag off the counter and quickly adjusting my blouse. "You're lucky Alec even agreed to drop you off this year."

"Yeah, yeah," Remi mumbles, stuffing a granola bar into her mouth as she sluggishly drags herself toward the door.

I quickly kiss Mum on the cheek and pull Remi out of the house, feeling the crisp morning air on my face. Alec's car is parked in front of the driveway, the engine already running. He's leaning against the driver's seat, wearing that trademark cocky smirk.

"Took you long enough." Roman drawls from passenger side.

I flip him off climbing into the middle seat next to Alex as Remi squishes in next to me.

"Hey," I say to her, tugging my seatbelt on. I glance out the window, noticing the lights on at the West house. That's weird; Gracie and Logan usually travel this time of year.

"Did you dye your hair? It's blonder," she asks, passing me a packet of cherry gum from her backpack. I press a kiss to her cheek and unwrap a piece, popping a bubble before answering.

"No, just a lot of days in the sun." I smile.

"You look good," Alec says, smirking at me in the rearview mirror. I dramatically press a hand to my chest.

"Why, thank you, you little manwhore," I snicker.

"First day of senior year," Alec says, pulling out of the driveway. "You ready to make some freshmen cry?"

I smirk, clicking my seatbelt into place. "Always."

"Hey, how's things with Scarlet?" Alex asks, poking Roman in the neck.

"Eh, it's not working out," Roman shrugs. Alec's the biggest player I know, though I guess it's not really playing when both sides know what's coming after the deal ends. Roman, however, isn't so innocent himself. They're both good-looking guys, using it to their advantage. While Roman has the cute, friendly vibe, he's got those manwhoring ways down to an art.

"Yeah, because we all know you can't be in a relationship for more than three days without ghosting them," Alec adds, shooting Roman a playful smirk through the rearview mirror.

"I don't ghost them. I just... leave," Roman responds with an overly dramatic sigh.

"Yeah, whatever, man. You're a walking love life disaster," Alec teases, though his words don't seem to faze Roman.

"You guys really don't let me live this down, do you?" Roman grins and raises his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. But let's be real, when I find the one, I'll be the best damn boyfriend there ever was."

"Oh, please," Alec scoffs, focusing on the road as we near the school. "You can't even commit to a single meal without switching it up halfway through."

I snicker at their back-and-forth, leaning back in my seat as the tension in my chest begins to ease. Today will be a good day. A good day.

The car pulls into the student parking lot, the first bell ringing in the distance, signaling the start of the day. Remi is already bouncing in her seat, practically vibrating with excitement, while Roman pretends to act cool despite the fact that we all know he's secretly just as anxious about senior year as the rest of us. He'll probably sneak off with Alec to the back of the school to smoke as soon as they enter first period.

Alec parks the car, killing the engine, and we all sit there for a moment, taking in the reality—the final year of high school. The end of an era.

I glance at Alec, Roman, and Alex, my friends who've been with me through the ups and downs, then my gaze flicks back to Remi, already grabbing her bag and unbuckling her seatbelt.

I've known these assholes since I was 7, each one of them I would go to hell and back for. And even though our group might have been fractured when he left, we've stuck by each others side.

"Alright," I say, straightening my school skirt as the nerves start to creep in. "Let's do this. Last first day of school. Let's make it count."

The five of us pile out of the car, Remi practically running ahead with her energy. I feel the adrenaline kick in as we step toward the school building, the weight of the upcoming year settling in.

"Alright, see you guys later," Alec says as he and Roman head toward a group of boys in our grade waving at us.

"Try to stay sober!" Alex shouts over at them, causing Roman to flip us off as we link arms and stroll through the school parking lot.

School is buzzing the second we step through the doors.

Everyone is talking, whispering, watching.

Most of them are watching me.

"What's going on?" I whisper to Alex as Daisy bounces toward us, her eyes wide.

"He's back!"

My heart drops.

"Who?" Alex asks for me, though I already know the answer. There's only one person who could have this much of an impact on our school. One boy who could have all these people whispering.

My hands begin to sweat, and I swallow through my dry throat.

"West," Daisy says, looking straight at me. I force my face to shut off.

I refuse to react. I refuse to let him get to me.

Instead, I keep walking, pulling Daisy along with us, ignoring the way people are watching me closely, waiting for a reaction.

"Honestly," Daisy says, catching up with our strides, "I think it's hilarious. He thinks he can just waltz back in and pick up where he left off? I have to give it to him, though—he's only gotten hotter. But still, the nerve."

"Are you okay?," Alex asks softly in my ear.

I force a smile, keeping my head high, though my stomach twists. The crack in my chest that's been broken since the day he left threatens to spill over.

"We've got to get to class," I say, parting from Daisy as we approach the entrance to our class. "Nice shoes, by the way, Daisy." I smile at her as we part, and Alex sends me a knowing look.

Alec catches up to us before we enter, smirking as he throws his arms lazily around our shoulders. "West is back."

"Yes, we've all heard by now. Thanks very much, asshole," Alex says, pinching his side. I slip out from under his grip and flash him a tight smile. God, he's probably so happy—both he and Roman are probably thrilled to get their best friend back.

I push the rumors to the back of my mind as I step into my first class, Alex and Alec right behind me.

I've perfected the art of moving on. Of being untouchable. I have my friends, my reputation, my life. I don't need him, and I'll be damned if I let him think otherwise.

Fucking karma.

Sitting there, in the back of the room is Dominic West, surrounded by his old friends and a group of girls hanging onto his every word.

Like he never left.

Like he didn't shatter me.

Like he didn't take everything we were and disappear across the world without a second thought.

I freeze for half a second, my stomach flipping, my chest tightening.

And then—he looks at me.

Brown eyes, darker than I remember, sharper, colder.

And for a moment, the world tilts.

It's been two years.

Two years of pretending he didn't exist. Two years of building myself back up, piece by piece, refusing to be the girl he left behind.

But right now, with his eyes locked on mine?

I feel like I'm sixteen again.

Falling.

Breaking.

Hurting.

But this time, I won't let him see it.

I square my shoulders, plastering on the sweetest, most detached smile I can muster.

And then, just for good measure, I walk right past him—like he's nothing.

Like he never meant a damn thing to me.

Even if I know that's the biggest lie of all.

𓇼𓇼𓇼𓇼

I'm so excited to write this book because I get to explore and use the found family trope a lot more!!!!🥰🥰🥰🥰

Again if you guys have any like tropes/moments you really want in this book comment so I can include them😆😆

^^ like small details but not the whole plot, like jealous moment etc but trust me there are gonna be some juicy jealousy moments😉😉😉😉😉