HER NAME'S MADDOX

EVREN's POV

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IT'S MONDAY morning, the sun is shining through the glass windows, and the people around me seemed to have chosen to wear the vainest, fresh clothes they could possibly find on their wardrobes.

Pushing my hand against the opening of the locker, I look down at the paper that has my name on it. Evren Stephanie Maddox, locker 483.

I whisper stressfully, knowing that the real number could only be found at the end of the large, full corridor. That Sean motherfucker really had to ruin my day.

Even though the starting period of classes started one week ago, today is my first day ever inside these college walls, and already the worst of all, may I add.

The fact that I only have to turn my head slightly, so that I can see how many faces are looking back at me creeps me out, but mostly, it irritates me like hell.

I hate to have all the attention for myself, especially for not-so-good-reasons, but after those years I first spent in Highland Bricklane, I guess I could say I'm already used to it, kinda.

My boots started to click faster as I made my way between a couple of people that had stopped in their tracks to watch me. I decided to turn my gaze to what was in front of me, avoiding to look at their annoying faces.

"I lied, I wasn't really surprised to see you back. I mean, Colber died right? So that means you're free. A bit suspicious, no?"

I can't stop thinking about the moment I had to switch eye contact with that sick blonde bastard who is nothing more than a ridiculous, brainless, narcissistic prick. Sean is the guy who you'd roll your eyes at a million times before finally exploding and kill him with the closest object you could find.

He's conceited, manipulative and an absolute top-class jerk. I can't stand him, never could, but especially now that I'm obliged to see his face every single day for the next two semesters.

Before I left town, I had to kiss his ass when we attended high school – not because I wanted to, I mean I really had to. Being the son of the Windsor family meant he belonged to one of the most characteristic and wealthiest families of Highland Bricklane, which, by itself, left me to being collocated in a minor position, or whatever they call it.

Their reputation worth gold for them, though I always convinced myself a family like that could never be perfectly uncorrupted. There at to be a flaw, and that flaw was Sean.

He was nothing like his polite parents, rigorously followed the family traditions to the maximum, also, earned respect from the citizens. He doesn't follow the rules, and he's definitely not polite. Yet, his family has always his back, even when he disobeys their orders.

From what I could tell, he hasn't changed one bit, since he tried to intimidate me (totally failed, by the way). But just like before, I won't close my eyes when he fucks up.

I might not have the powers to make him pay for his sins or clean the troubles he created, but I am without a doubt, holding the joker card against him. Who knows when I can use his secrets on my behalf or to blackmail him? I know a few, and I intend to discover more.

Besides, Windsor had all the reasons and more to murder Colber, starting with the competitiveness between the two families. I would be a fool if I ever scratched his name out.

Having him calling me out on me being back home had me even more suspicious. Why on earth would he accuse me of killing Colber if not for being scared? Was he expecting me to arrive soon?

"Evren?" I hear someone calling for me. The tone of the feminine voice is clear, yet somehow involved by surprise.

My mind tries to process the information I received. There's only one person besides Colber who called me by my first name. Wait, that's got to be... Valerie Jordan.

"Val?" I turn around almost in daze, my eyebrows frowned and my mouth forms an O.

Valerie was the most badass brunette I've ever known. Her quirky walk is complemented by a great artistically ripped pair of black and white clothes and an exquisite appearance.

She has vibrant green eyes, covered by long lashes and tiny red lips. Besides stunning, this girl rocks, she was the closest I have ever had to a true girly friendship.

"Long time no see..." She said, cracking a smile.

"Thought you weren't coming back."

The astonishment is visible in her eyes, but mostly I find intrigued how much she has changed, looking taller and prettier. Valerie was the typical girl boys would run away from, an interesting similarity she had with me.

Her almost rebel traits and upfront features would classify her as being on the don't-fuck-with-me zone, though she spent most of her time isolated and quite.

But once she opened her mouth, oh boy, someone was screwed. That's what I loved about her, the uniqueness of her personality.

"I thought you weren't here" I responded, unimpressed by her boldness.

Valerie and I had met each other in the summer after sophomore year, before I left town. I saw her studying in the library for her late biology exam and thought about making her some company.

Sophomore year was also the year I met Colber, thought we were already great friends when I introduced myself to Val.

With school being over, Colber also had more extra free time, and, it was the only time of the year he wasn't too endorsed about the Circle's meetings, so that he could hang out with me. Eventually, the three of us would go out to watch the movies or to the pool.

"Yeah about that... I was one of the few who received a scholarship so I decided to stay. Besides, I don't think L.A was for me." Valerie talked, unbothered by the fact her destiny would take place inside the same city.

Both she and I came from rather humble families, but hers were poorer. To know she received a scholarship to attend college here I could only imagine her happiness. We always said lousy stuff about Highlane Bricklane, but, honestly, it's still home, after all...

"It's... good to see you."

"You too, really." I believed her honesty when she showed off her characteristic warm smile. Then, with me by her side, she accompanied me while we walked through the corridor.

"Get ready for the whisperers, you know how these people work." Indeed, that's something she knew very well too.

"Yeah, I was counting on that..."

"You... when did you arrive?"

"Uh, yesterday." I answered, tightening the hand of my backpack closer to my neck.

"So I guess uh... you have heard the news?"

She attentively eyed me, her piercing greenish orbs penetrating on mine as if she was scared to ask me such question.

"I know about Colber, Val."

The words fell out of my mouth automatically, but only the mention of him was enough to set the pain inside my ribcage on fire and the blood beneath my skin to boil.

"Right..." Valerie looked at the floor, hesitating.

"Evren, look, you don't have to tell me anything, you know I never asked anything from you. It's just- do you know anything, anything at all?"

Her eyes met mine, the conflicting pain and sorrow they held understood the similar feeling mine were insensitive to transmit. Yet Val knew me too well to presuppose I felt no grieve. I am hurting more than anyone.

"I wish I did, Val..."

"You know, despite our detachment over the last years, I never forgot about the time we spent together that summer..."

"Me neither." I smiled, remembering the times we would laugh our asses off for hours and hours.

For the whole summer, we were inseparable. If there's something I wish I've done differently is to explain myself to Valerie on why I left town so abruptly, on why things went downhill for the three of us once the eleventh year had barely started, but if only I had the courage to...

"Sean, Kit, Travis... they do not know him as we did. He was just- him."

I nod, the sadness creeping over me,

"I miss him too, Valerie."

"We weren't as close as we were before, but what they did to him- I... Nobody deserves that. If you ever need me, you've got me, Evren. Like the old days."

The mention that Valerie also remembers happily the time we spent together has me thinking about what brought me here the first place- love, so many people loved Colber, without even knowing it, who overshadowed those who jealously kept a close eye on him.

That's why we have to win, because he deserved love, not hatred.

"Yeah, like the old days."

I was about to crack a smile when we suddenly heard two ragging male voices, arguing, which seemed to have come from the back of the corridor. My gaze lays on the two figures who were standing close to one of the last lockers.

"What's- wait is that Josh, as in the goalkeeper?" I question, finding my vision super confused.

Josh belonged to the football team, which was weird, since he was kind of untouchable, to begin with.

"Uh, oh, yes!" Val recognized his face too immediately, but she didn't seem that surprised.

"Why the fuck is he being harassed?" Josh was standing against the locker, blocked by a tall guy wearing mostly back who was not happy at all.

"And who's that?"

"You don't know who he is? I thought you had read the newspaper. That's Rhys, Brendan Rhys" Val looked at me, bewildered.

The mention of his name did not ring a bell. "He belongs to the Circle" She concluded as if it was the most natural thing ever.

The top of my head must have formed a bunch of wrinkles. "How so? I have never seen his fucking face."

Which was true, no way I have never heard of his guy, though that would explain why Josh is being bothered.

"Yeah, he was quite the exception..." Val commented, touching her brown hair.

"Though he is not any different. Get used to that view."

"You mean watching Josh being harassed?"

"No I meant Rhys's explosive side." She smirked as if she was used to the same surroundings.

Well, that for me looked suspicious. The golden circle was formed when Colber joined the football team on sophomore year, then most of his friends did too, as well as their girlfriends and close mates.

No fucking way would a guy join the circle after sophomore year, especially without having the typical on top reputation for being rich or something. Yeah, I'm positive I will clear this out.

I looked at my side... 480...481...482...483... How cool, uh.

"You know what? That's my damn locker."

My feet automatically moved, I gained balance to walk rapidly as I adjust my backpack.

"Evren, wait, Rhys was the one who foun-" Valerie talked, though my attention was already caught by someone else.

"Hey, that's my locker," I said, impassively, my eyes zeroing on the back of the guy's skull.

He didn't move an inch, which bothered me even more. Josh looked back at me as if he had seen a ghost, the redness of his face being substituted by an overwhelming, shocking sensation. Silence followed over the whole corridor.

"I said, that's my freaking locker, so move out."

I watched impatiently as the guy in front of me took off his hands from Josh's t-shirt, one moving to touch his slightly-blonde curled hair, nervously. Great, this had just become even more exciting.

His reaction was not what I expected, though. He turned around, not violently. I saw him as I discovered his features – plump lips, a sharp square jaw and some cold blue orbs. He doesn't look as if he is too much bothered, perhaps annoyed but I still can catch the touch of daze his eyes hold.

His words are way provocative than his expression when he asks,

"And who the fuck are you?"

"Maddox-" Josh interrupts in exasperation.

My eyes don't leave Rhys's, while we glance at each other. I bet he is just thinking about what I am thinking. We haven't met each other, ever, and that's weird, uncanny and bizarre...

This screams trouble.

"Her name's Maddox."

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To be Continued

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FINALLY EVREN MEETS BRENDAN! What do you think it's happening next?

Also, Valerie is really an important character ;)

Love,