A Twisted & Planned Collision

Chapter One.

The first week of school was always her worst ever since the night her dad died. Tomorrow, Tuesday will be the third year since he was murdered and two years since her mom became a vegetable.

It’s odd how both Sadie’s parents' tragic incidents both happen on the same days, same time; only a year apart. The federals investigating their case made it clear that it wasn't just an accident. Someone deliberately wanted to hurt her parents and they indeed succeeded; her mom is unable to walk no matter how she tries and her sweet, caring, and irreplaceable dad is dead.

Sadie moved here to Lily Pond; the town where her mother grew up and lived all her life until she left. Sadie, her twin brother Evan, and younger sister Kyra. Her whole world crumbled before her eyes in just one year; losing two of the most important beings in life. All the plans she had for her future life swiftly vanished without a trace of hope.

New plans, new life, not so much of a new start, and false hopes.

The starlit sky that reflected in her room was the only ounce of light that was present there. She laid still on the bed, looking through her window; being so deeply wounded, not even a prick of tears would or could fall. Sleep neither would fall upon her to relieve her from her painful thoughts and memories.

She was damaged without repair.

~***~

Sadie spent the remaining hours laying wide awake, her thoughts consuming her until it was dawn. There was a special program on the radio; life & relationships, which helps her cope with her stress along with her morning exercises before school begins: the only thing she could still do or had the energy to do since her father died.

Turning the volume on the radio to a minimum for her hearing so she doesn’t disturb the rest of the household. Doing her hair in a ponytail, she immediately began exercising.

The morning's topic: “Taking Chances” was one that had Sadie thinking hard on three things: If she should do it? How should she make a move? If it will be a mistake? Once an outspoken and bold girl was now easily wounded and embarrassed.

A deep and unsure chuckle escaped her throat as she stood from her position on the floor. She saw all the signs when she spent her summer as a cook at the camp for the rich kids and Simon, one of the rich, her crush, assisted her. That one guy whom she holds has her escape from the world when she indulges in deep thoughts about him.

Today was the day she planned on telling him about her feelings. Take Chances; Evan Sparks said. Let’s hope that hope gives her a chance of being happy.

And that was the exact thing she was about to do.

With her heart beating abnormally fast. Sadie made her way over to Simon to ask him not one but two questions; praying and hoping that Evan and the summer events were at least on her side.

“No?” Sadie asked, confused. This was not a good start, she frowned. Also far from the answer, she expected to get.

She had spent all of her summer afternoons when work was over with Simon Atkins. The most popular being both in and out of Lily Pond. She worked in the kitchen at the summer camp for the rich where she filled her grandmother gap who was aiding her sick mother.

Moving to a new town at the age of 15, she remained in her small shell all by herself. Her twin Evan on the other side was well-known by everyone on the school compound. He was the multi-talented of them; dancer, basketball player, and artist; he one day wants to major in architecture.

Sadie has had a crush on Simon since her relationship ended with Hunter from her old school and being in every class with Simon she knew and heard everything about him. That faithful summer when he was set on helping her out, they were inseparable, there wasn’t a happier person alive than Sadie.

When summer camp ended they texted countless times, spent hours on facetime checking in on each other. It was perfect and all until now when Simon said one word that made Sadie feel less of herself because she misread the signs.

“Nope,” Simon replied, leaning against his car. He tucked the phone back into his pocket, with folded his arms.

“But, I thought-.”

“You thought wrong, whatever your name is,” Simon cut her off. “Both of us were looking for a rebound during the summer and at that time we had a one-night stand. That’s it, nothing else. I’m sorry if you have mixed feelings but that’s what it was for me.”

“You call the whole summer we hang out together; going out, and doing numerous activities” she quoted. “A one-night stand?”

“Listen, no hard feelings but you’re not my type. I don’t like you, please quit messaging my phone, calling me, and all that stuff,” he replied, calmly, however, loudly causing more attention to be drawn to them. “If I knew you were going to be one of those obsessed girls with me; I'd have looked in the opposite direction.

Sadie fiddled with her bag straps, staring him in the eye. A smirk formed on the side of his lips. Sadie felt her heart tug, her heart was forced to make its way through her chest. Huge bile was even beginning to form in her throat.

A crowd was now forming around them because one of his boys blurted out some distasteful stuff that caught the students' attention. She lowered her head in embarrassment and quickly made her way across the parking lot that led to the play field. She could hear the gossip, laugh, and scornful things the girls and boys were saying as she passed them.

Sadie wished she had remained in her shell to avoid this heartbreak and embarrassment. She found herself in a classroom that was empty to avoid staring eyes. Damn you Evan sparks! She hissed and murmured under her breath.

~***~

She slowly lifted her head in an upright position, rubbing her bleary eyes, so she could see clearer. The sun was setting over the eastern horizon and a ray of sunlight came through the classroom’s window. It was 8:00 which means the school would be flooded with students now.

She arrived at school just to catch Simon without attention but it didn’t make any sense. It was the first week back, kids were dying to reach school.

Sadie deprived herself last night just to make it to school early to confess her undying love for someone who did nothing but humiliates her in front of the whole sports council. It was just 6:30 when she arrived at school, something she wouldn’t even do for anything else.

News traveled fast in Lily Pond High School so she knew everyone would have heard about what happened this morning. Peeking through the door that was slightly ajar she made her way to the bathroom to wash her face and added a little of her contour to lightning her face.

“Sadie Elisa Grayson! Don’t tell me that of all people to get manipulated and embarrassed by; you choose Simon Atkins! What were you thinking?!” her best friend, Hope screamed, making her voice vibrate, and stormed towards her in the hallway with hands on her hip.

Sadie scoffed at her friend's vulgar ness, she was expecting a lecture from them but she didn’t expect Hope to be this loud.

“Yes, Ms. Speaker, go and broadcast it to the whole school now,” she replied dramatically. I’ve never been more ashamed of myself.

“Like everyone hasn't heard about it already,” she replied, clenching her fist. She’s been my best half forever; hates drama also and is feisty.

Here comes the second one, Kaylee, my other best friend, she’s the most hostile one out of all of us. She’s also my brother’s girlfriend of 2 years, her brother, Hunter is my ex, my first everything. Sadly, that ended faster than it even started.

Sadie growled, lowering her head to the desk. “What have I done?” she muttered to herself. “Say it already.”

“Did you really?” she asked, calmly.

“Unfortunately, Yes. I did. However, this is Lily Pond. By the end of the day someone else will be the main topic,” Sadie replied.

“What got into that brain of yours?” Kaylee asked.

“Let’s not talk about it, okay?” She responded with a sharp tone, giving them the hint to drop the conversation right here and now.

The bell rang signaling the start of class and I was right all eyes and ears were busy gossiping about someone else.

Draping her arms around us, Hope propelled us through the crowd in the hallway.

“Oh f**k!” Sadie grumbled. Wanting to forget this morning's humiliation she completely forgot that she shared classes with Simon.

Her friends followed the line of her eyes to find Simon staring back at her. He was wearing his usual plain shirt with a jeans jacket and matching pants. A smile then played on his lip as he waved to her.

“Forget about him, babe. He’s not worth it,” Kaylee reassured her.

“Don’t be naive, Sadie. Listen to Kaylee. She’s right,” Hope chimed in, leading them to the three desks that are beside the window facing the playing field.

The three of them gathered at the back of the class with heavy sighs.

Sadie began speaking to herself so that she could hear. Naive?! I’m not being naive. I guess I read the signs wrongly. Every night we hung out, we were only stuck at first base because neither of us wanted to rush it. Every night after camp he dropped me at the entrance of my street and even waited for a text that I got inside the house safely before I heard him drive past to ensure I wasn't lying and was inside.

Sadie took the last seat at the back, even though she wears glasses. She doesn't need them but at times her eyes got foggy.

Kaylee sat across from Simon, to his right.

He has the audacity after making her look like a fool this morning to talk to her. “Can we talk later?” he asked, earning the most disdainful look from Hope, who eyed him up and down twice.

Is this guy for real?” Hope asked Kaylee.

Sadie looked at Hope who had a look of distaste written over her face. With a heavy sigh, she looked out the window wondering if she was imagining things.

He humiliated her this morning, now he’s talking to her. She’s hallucinating or whatever they called it, she thought to herself once more.

Opening her bag, she took out her phone which vibrated. It was a message from Simon. With a scowl and profanities being muttered under her breath she blocked him.

Hope was right; he was indeed manipulative and loved games.

~***~

Sadie’s POV

“Simon, do us both a favor and f**k off,” she snarled so that he could hear her.

Here comes the other side of me. The one who loves overruling and being hard-headed. Payback is a b***h, Atkins. Or maybe I’ll just ignore him.

I felt guilty, maybe he was just a rebound for me, but he still humiliated me and I’m not letting that one go. He could've said so over the phone.

I earned a roll of the eye from him, which I didn’t care about.

Once the introduction was done and the teacher started chanting about what was expected then she went ahead giving us work on the first day. I’m going to both love and hate being a senior. This lady didn’t even ask how our first day of school went.

My mind wandered off into space or what my grandma would call my world.

Thanks, Evan Sparks, and your pep talk about “taking chances” that didn’t work for me.

The first three classes before lunch were horrible. The teachers kept getting worse and worse. One gave a lot of work, the other gave assignments while the other already gave us a group project in which we had to research on our own.

The lunch bell rang and while she made her way to the cafeteria to find Hope and Kaylee, who had separate third classes from her, normally waited on her at the cafeteria entrance.

A hand captured her shoulders holding her still in place that almost made her pee herself. Swiftly she turned around and the horror on her face turned to anger. She looked around foolishly to see if she spotted anyone else but to her surprise it was him.

It was Simon.

“Can you not touch me,” she scrunched up her nose at him, shrugging him off.

“You don’t have to be like that,” Simon sighed.

“Like what?” She asked, angrily.

“Me,” he replied. His answer caught her off guard.

“Yes. Like you. What do you want, Simon?” She continued asking questions.

“I hate being ignored,” he said bluntly.

“Then find someone interested in giving you attention, not someone whom you humiliated a couple of hours ago,” Sadie replied, annoyed.

“You know you want me. I’m Simon Atkins,” he smirked. “If I were you. I’d rethink that. I don’t take ‘no’ slightly.

“You’re so cocky. Even if I did, I have no interest in going down that road anymore. I respect myself. You should too,” She told him bluntly before making her way to the cafeteria when he said something that made her stop in her tracks. It’s a miracle a search party hasn’t come looking for her yet with the best friends and brother she had.

“You’re gonna regret it,” he spat at her.

“I don’t have time moping over a narcissist that thinks I’m out of his league. I have nothing to give, nothing for you to touch or see” She stated, calmly checking her watch. “So kindly dismiss yourself.

“Are you forgetting that I already explored your body?” He eyed her up and down with a mischievous grin on her face, as one of his teammates passed by.

“Consider that the only chance you’ll ever get to touch me,” she said, softly, turning on heels to walk away.

“I’m sorry. I’m not usually like this. I had to say what I said moments ago. You won’t believe me but I had to,” he apologized, rubbing his hands over his face with a deep and long sigh.

“Just avoid me, Simon.

“I said I’m sorry. This is difficult for me,” he said, holding onto her hands.

“It’s not.”

“I like you. All of the things we did and I said summer; I mean it. It was genuine. I’m sorry about this morning also. I’m doing this for your protection,” He frowned, perplexed. He was stupid enough to have hope that she would believe him.

“What protection?” she asked, confused.

“You’ll understand soon, just hold on. Humiliating you was nowhere in my thoughts, but I guess the universe had different plans for me, and for us,” he stated, the sound of hurt and pain was evident in his voice.

“I’m f*****g confused Simon, make sense already,” Sadie demanded, growing impatient.

“It’s not that easy and you won’t believe me. I’m seen here talking to you this long will only make things worse. Don’t go around asking questions, Okay? I gotta go,” he looked around before placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Sadie stood in her spot confused, dumbstruck, scared and most of all wanted to just disappear. She only had twenty minutes left for lunch and boy she wanted to eat her thoughts away. She wished that it could be that easy.

“Did that smart mouth of yours get you into trouble?” Hope asked as Sadie approached the cafeteria table.

“Nope, but there’s someone out there that genuinely hates me,” Sadie replied, taking a bite out of her brother’s apple.

“I saved you two sandwiches and some fries,” Kayle said, pushing over a tray towards her. Sadie began devouring the sandwiches with big bites.

“I knew you loved anything with mayonnaise and cheese but damn you’re hungry” her brother stated after he watched her amusingly finishing one sandwich and halfway through the other.

“You forgot to add that they're small,” she rolled her eyes.

“That they are, however, it has lettuce, ham, bacon, and your favourite tomatoes and pickles inside,” he replied. “That’s one packed sandwich.

“I also didn’t eat anything this morning,” she defended herself. “I just had a cup of mint tea.

“Please remember Kyra is on our pick up schedule after school,” Evan reminded his sister, planting a kiss on Kaylee’s cheek as he left the cafeteria and as he made it through the door, the bell rang.

“How does he do that?” Hope asked, referring to the fact that without looking at a phone or watch. Evan always leaves the cafeteria approximately a minute before the bell rings.

“Why are you asking me?” Kaylee questioned, shrugging her shoulders. “It’s her brother.

Hope turned her attention towards Sadie, a little disappointed. “It’s her boyfriend,” Sadie retorted.