Bound To You

02 | New Money

A L Y S S A

I spent the next few days curing my hangover and going for runs on the beach. Literally anything to get out that house. The other night at the beach party ended up being one of the best nights I've had in a while. I mean parties in Orlando was crazy but they were always at someone's house where as this was out in the fresh air, with hundreds of bodies filling the beach dance floor, I ended up staying with my brothers and getting extremely drunk which my mom and dad was not happy with, like at all.

It was the night before moving into the new campus and I decided to make it a chilled one, soaking in a hot bath, watching a chick flick with lots of snacks. My bags and boxes were already packed and my dad was planning on setting my room up while I was away.

"Get some sleep, pumpkin. You've got a big day tomorrow." My dad said from my already open bedroom door.

"I will, night dad."

"Night, princess."

He left closing the door behind him, I tucked myself under the duvet and laid on my side looking out my window at the night sky, it was so dark filled with thousands of bright, twinkling stars and a moon so bright it lit the sky up. I soon drifted off into a deep sleep with thoughts of tomorrow racing through my mind.

"Lyss! Wake up, lazy ass!" My brother Nick screamed through my door.

"Nick!!" I screamed back furious of how he woke me up.

I dragged myself out of bed and jumped in the shower that I now had one in my room so I didn't have to share with any of the boys which I was so happy about.

I got ready, dressing myself in a distressed denim skirt, a pair of white trainers and a white tee shirt that I tucked into my skirt. I left my hair down in natural waves and applied natural make up before heading down stairs for some breakfast.

"Here she is!" Theo said in a sing song tone.

"How are you so happy this early?" I groaned.

"Because we're going to a new school. This year is going to be epic! I can feel it!" He grinned.

"You're exhausting."

"You look exhausted."

I roll my eyes and bite into an apple.

"We're leaving in 20 minutes, kids, get everything you need and pack it in the car." My mom told us.

I grabbed my hand bag that hung loose on my shoulder and my phone before me and my two brothers load into the car, once again squashing me in the middle of them. My dad drove us half an hour away to the new campus and once we pulled up I was mesmerised by the size of it. The large stone buildings look so ancient they could tell us stories no one ever knew about, the grass was bright green and fresh, bodies were all over the place and everyone looked so glamourous. I'm beginning to feel a little undressed and very uneasy about being here.

My dad and brothers unloaded the car while I stood back watching, taking in what was going on around me.

"Theo, make sure you look after your sister. You know how she is with new things, she doesn't take it so well." My dad said.

"Dad? I'm stood right here..." I shook my head.

"I know sweetie but you're a very proud young woman, you would never admit that you're scared."

"I am not scared!" I denied.

He rolled his eyes with a laugh and placed a kiss on my forehead.

Me and my brothers headed to registration desk and checked in.

"Welcome to Vista Falls. Name please?" A bright, bubbly brunette greeted me.

"Alyssa Parkes." I answered.

"Room 281." She told me with a smile as she handed over my key.

Next was my brothers.

"Theo and Nick Parkes."

"Room 506."

"Thanks, beautiful." Nick winked as he took the key from her, lingering his hand on hers for a little too long.

I dragged him away from the desk and headed back over to my dad. We said our goodbyes and Nick helped me carry my things to my new room.

I walked in and there was already a red headed girl hanging posters up on her side of the room, she turned and gave me a wide, bright smile.

"Hey, you must be Alyssa! I'm Amanda! Looks like we're roomies." She barked pulling me into a massive hug which was a little uncomfortable.

I turned my head to look at Nick who was biting back a laugh as I looked at him like help me.

"We're going to have so much fun!" she beamed.

Nick placed my bags down on my new bed and pulled me into a hug.

"You know where I am if you need me. Just be yourself, trust me, everyone will love you." He smiled.

"Thanks, Nick."

He left me watching him as he left with a pit in my stomach.

This was going to be a nightmare.

I just knew it.

I unpacked my bags and boxes, made my bed and hung up my clothes. It looked pretty cute to say I had only being doing it for the past couples hours.

Amanda was a nice enough girl, very chatty, very bubbly, and very pretty. Her red hair was beautiful in a short pixie cut with a full fringe. We spoke for a while and she told me all about her life back home in Arizona and how her parents are the founders of a really expensive furniture company and that this was her second year here. She offered to show me around, which I accepted and then she invited me to a welcome back party in a dorm room not far from ours with some of her friends, which I was unsure of, but she wouldn't take no for an answer.

I soon came to realise this party was the beginning of a very stressful, scary and amazing school year.

Amanda turned the corner with me following closely behind revealing a corridor that the party had spilled out into, everyone had a red solo cup in hand and look to be having the best time. We walked into the dorm room and quickly found her friends.

"Nadine, Chloe, Amy, Jen, this is Alyssa. She's my new roommate." They all smiled and greeted me except one. Jen, who just gave me off smile, she looked at me like I was s**t on her shoe as she tossed her muddy brown hair over her shoulder and dipped her hip like she was posing for vogue. I ignored her and smiled along as Amanda told the girls all what she knew about me.

"So you're new money, huh?" Jen said in a falsely nice tone.

"I guess so?" I shrugged.

"Really Mandy? New money? In our group?"

"Leave off, Jen. She's a nice girl." Amanda defended me.

"Yeah, Jen, why you always got to be so mean and rude?" Nadine joined in.

"I'm just saying, we're the cream of the crop round here and new money in our group will be like causing social suicide."

She looked me up and down.

"But she's like, really pretty." Chloe gushed.

"Amanda, I'm just gonna go. I honestly don't want to be a burden on you, and I also don't associate myself with stuck up bitches neither." I shot a smug smile Jen's way before turning round and spotting that handsome stranger from the beach party my first day here, Trey.

'Oh my god, what is he doing here?' I thought to myself, internally squirming.

I began to walk off keeping my head down hoping he doesn't spot me.

"Alyssa!" Amanda shouted, chasing after me.

Her shouting my name brought his attention to me within seconds. His dark, piercing eyes scanning me from head to toe with his infamous smirk plastered across his lips.

Amanda grabbed my arm as I walked past him, spinning me round.

"Don't listen to Jen, she's just a sour b***h when it comes to new people, trust me, she will come round."

"It's fine, Amanda. I know girls like Jen, and I really don't want to be friends with someone like her, but me and you are cool. I'm just gonna head back to the room and call it a night."

"Please, just stay." She pleaded. "You haven't even had a drink yet."

"Honestly. I just wanna go back to the dorm."

"You sure?"

"Positive." I nodded with a smile.

I turn to leave feeling a presence behind me.

"Leaving so soon, Whiskey Queen?" His tone sent tingles throughout my entire body.

"Yup." I said standoffishly as I continued through the crowd of people scattered along the corridor.

"How come? Thought you was a party animal?"

"I guess not anymore."

I made it round the corner where barely anyone was and if people were there they were all making out against the walls and other peoples dorm room doors.

"Sugar, wait up." He chased after me quickly making it to my side.

Pet names really was a pet peeve for me. I hated being called anything other than my name by anyone who wasn't my parents, so him calling me sugar made me stop dead in my tracks.

"My names not Sugar, okay?" I snapped at him.

"Well you never told me your name."

"And I never will. Goodnight, Trey." With that I took off again.

"Come on a walk with me." He called out still walking behind me.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I want to get to know you."

"And I'm not interested."

"Yet."

"At all."

"Soon."

"Never."

"You will."

"I won't."

Our little back and forth had me biting back a smile. I didn't want him to know he was getting to me, affecting me in any way, shape or form but deep down I knew he knew.

"I'll just keep following you then, I'm enjoying the view anyway."

I stopped again turning round as he continued to stalk towards me, backing me up until I felt my back and the wall collide. He raised his hand and rested it beside my head with a red solo cup in the other. The smell of his aftershave mixed with the mint off his breath and the alcohol in his cup filled my nose.

"Why you trying to run away from me, sugar? Scared your brothers will see us together?" His tone was mocking me but in the sexiest possible way with it being low and husky, deep and seductive.

"Why would I be scared of that? It's not like anything is going on between us."

"Unless there was, which could be arranged."

Just those few words made me blush like never before. Normally I was very confident and never had problems finding love before but this guy was different, just him being as close as he was made all my confidence exit my body, leaving me with clammy palms, a racing heart and a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow.

"Come, walk with me."

He took my hand and began to lead me through the corridor when a large figure stood in our way.

"Another one of your conquests I'm gathering, huh, Trey?" He said.

He stood about 6 foot tall, just a little smaller than Trey, he was built but he was more on the slender side, his short blonde hair neatly combed over to the side and his eyes were the lightest shade of green I've ever seen.

"Move along, little one. I have words that need to be had with your biggest mistake." The stranger said looking deep into my eyes with those emerald eyes of his.

"Get lost, Jack." Trey snapped shooting him a warning look.

"Nah, I prefer to ruin your night and get my issues out with you. Two birds, one stone and all the business."

"Go on, Alyssa. I'll catch up with ya." He smiled as he placed his hand on the small of my back.

I was left speechless and just did as he said. As I was walking away from them I heard them talking in hush tones but soon became heated. I left them too it and headed outside to the dorm entry way where I waited for Trey for a few minutes and decided to leave and go back to my dorm room, just as I walked in the door way I bumped into a large body.

"Ah, little one." The blonde stranger smiled. "I'm glad to see you have more common sense that I first assumed. I'd stay well away from Trey if I were you."

"And why's that?"

"He's a playboy, and you don't seem to be that desperate. Do yourself a favour and avoid him like the plague if you want to survive being in this school." He advised me before leaving. But that left me with more questions that answers.

"Hey!" I called after him.

He spun round with an annoyed expression on his face. "What is it, little one?"

"What do you mean avoid him to survive?"

"If you continue to hang around him, you'll soon find out."

He turned the corner and left. I was dumbfounded by his blatant disregard and just assumed he knew me and what I was like. Assuming I was one of Trey's conquests, I mean he was right about me not being desperate but who was he to even assume that?!

I walked into the entry door where I saw Trey with a smile on his face walking towards me, I just continued walking, head down, eyes low.