Valemont's Game

Chapter 2 – Wakeup Call

Haylee-

I woke up.

Morning shining so f*****g bright, as I started to remember what happened yesterday.  The card he handed me after he told me who his friend was. Sebastian Valemont. Of course, I of all people run into the son of the biggest school in Oregon. Johnathan Valemont, one of the richest people in all of Risen Vale, Salem, Oregon, and pretty much everywhere else. He’s the kind of rich that exists in the shadows of the world.

Runs bad places that do bad things and Sebastian is one of the cruelest people in that part of the world. The fact that he yelled at me, it’s not a surprise at all. Though, it makes sense now. The shivers that ran down my spine when I yelled at him. Not to mention, all the things Gray Eyes told me.

His name’s Isaac, apparently

We talked for a long time. Going over who he was and who I was. Seemed just as confused as me, but I guess I should’ve expected that. There was so much missing. No wonder he snapped at me in the restroom. Sebastian Valemont is not someone you want to mess with and I guess what Charlotte said makes sense now.

Sebastian’s cold. Isaac burns me like fire, I get a heat when I’m around him. Sebastian’s colder than an avalanche on Mount Everest. He’s like the f*****g Upside Down. Been watching too much Stranger Things, I guess. Either way, he makes me feel like I’m drowning and I’ve got no way out.

My eyes open, switching the position in my sister’s bed. Sometimes I feel like I’m being haunted by her. I don’t mind it if I’m honest. Though, I think I’m asking for it by sleeping, no, living in her room. She used to laugh at my keen thought process and busy mind. I’d babble a lot; I still do. I guess, the only difference is that she can’t see it anymore nor can she hear it.

I huff, groggy and with that... I’m sad. Sad she can’t hear or see me anymore and sad that I even thought of that. Such a dark thought. Mom says that I’m pessimistic; I think I’m starting to see it.

I push back on my side, noticing the white card from the corner of my eye. It’s a letter from my father. He sends them every birthday, but I don’t really read. Besides, it’s not mine. He wrote one for my sister too and she kept it on her nightstand, right next to the picture of me.

Haylee Lathilian Heartfelt.

“Sweetheart, can we talk?”

I shuffled out of bed as my mother’s voice spilled through the white door. Echoing from outside and shocking the s**t out of me. I grab the uniform from my closet, or her closet. Whatever, don’t care.

“Look mom, I get it. I’ll meet him tonight.”

She wants me to meet Pastor boy, but lately everything’s been so f****d-up. Really since Zoe died, but now I’m realizing this school is... I don’t really know how to say it. Isaac’s explained everything I’ve needed to know yet, it still feels like there’s something missing.

“I would love for you to meet him, but not that’s not what the issue is, darling” she interrupted.

She seems pleased with me.

What does she want?

I stare at the door blindly, gliding the uniform skirt halfway up my frame. Black cloth and not a single rip. Sorry, I like my clothes with rips. Although, I have to pay if I rip this one so I guess I won’t. I just don’t know why they had to make it so synched. It’s basically wedgy-station the second you put it on.

“Look, that guy that stopped by last night has offered to drive you to and from school. I’ve heard great things about him and since you crashed your car, I was thinking it would be a good idea.”

I make one mistake and she’ll bring it up for an eternity!

“Is that because he’s a nice guy, or because he’s rich?” I ask.

“Please, let him drive you; you could use an influence like his.”

“Do I have a choice?” I questioned, already knowing the answer.

“Of course not. So, it’s settled then” she pondered sarcastically.

At least my mother has a little sense of humor. Otherwise, I’d be so cluster-f****d right now, I might just kill myself. And with the car, it was one night. Long story short, I was drunk off my ass. Like most teenagers in that particular situation. Though, it was a little bit different with me when I left my hundred-thousand-dollar car with my friend and he crashed it into a big-ass f*****g semi.

Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes, I say. It took thirty f*****g minutes for him to crash a Lotus Evora. He was in the hospital for three weeks and when he woke up, he didn’t want to be my friend anymore.

He was great with computers though; it is too bad. Radian lost everything in that f*****g crash. He was gonna be something big; I just knew it. Now he’s stuck in this town and my mother doesn’t want me going near him. Sad stories, right?

With the black skirt all the way on, I jotted to the dresser and grabbed the folded button-down. Throwing it over my head and grabbing an oversized sweater to hide my oversized school spirit. Go rot in hell, Valemont Prep!

I grabbed a bag before walking out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. Staring in the mirror and contemplating my life while toothpaste filled throughout my mouth. I washed my face and added some eyeliner before slipping out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

Watching my mom as she struggled to sip a martini. Instead, she kept spilling it out of a tiny glass. Walking in three-inch, bubble gum pumps. The microwave said nine in the morning, but my mother doesn’t do time. Only alcohol.

I grabbed a bar from the pantry, instantly seeing a dark blue Mustang with a certain guy glaring at me from the window. He arched his eyebrows and licked his lips seductively. He wants me to stay away, but he keeps barging into my life. How f*****g ironic! I threw the bar in my mouth, complete with mixed signals when he gestured a heart with his hands, blowing kisses passionately. I guess he’s cute. A little funny, but that’s not my type. Honestly, I don’t know what is.

“I should go” I worded slowly, saying goodbye to mom, but never letting his eyes separate from mine. I don’t know why, but I wanted to stay there. As weird as it sounds, it felt like home in a way.

Running out the door without letting myself wonder why he was doing this. When I wonder, I also think about my sister. And then, I think about her smile and all the good things we did together. I think about the memories before I think about the way I hurt her which is never good. I end up in a rabbit hole that I’ve been digging for a decade. Placed in between and anxious about everything. I’d rather not right now.

I stepped up to his window, admiring his car. Felt like I was standing next to the shine of a f*****g sapphire diamond. Blue as can be like the waterfalls in certain rainforests. Striding into the water and letting its cool breeze take me away. It cascades down the gray upholster and looks a bit like the dark depths underneath.

“My mother can be a lot; you know I can just walk.”

“Get in. Don’t worry; I’m not gonna bite.”

The most cliché line a guy could say and yet, I fell for it. Sure, I can make the excuse that I did it just so I could see the inside of his car however, I know that’s not true. There’s no point in lying if you’re not saying it out loud. Most people get to be honest in their head, but then again, most people don’t have someone reading their every thought.

Shit, I guess I’ll just say it then. I got in his car, not because of his remark, but because I wanted to see the car. I felt nothing for Isaac, not at all.

Yeah, not even I can believe that!

I chuckle at my thoughts, throwing my bookbag in the back and slipping into the fancy, leather seats. Adorable and probably costs more than my entire livelihood. Which makes me wonder, how much does his cost? A great sweatshirt, but for all I know, it could cost hundreds. I’ve been in the rich life. The people there are vindictive. I really like Isaac; I don’t want him to be like them. s**t!

I like Isaac?

“You have a pretty laugh” he compliments.

I smile, “Thanks, I guess.”

Let’s play a game. Never have I ever had anyone like him, be nice to me. Never have I ever had a guy at all, be nice to me. I dare myself to date the worst possible piece of s**t. f**k, I already did. Though, that’s the wrong game and I’m getting tired. My point is I’m shocked. Guess there’s a first time for everything, right?

“So... I...”  am trying to make conversation, but it’s not going well.

He starts the car, forgetting to finish and pulls out. Of the driveway, to be exact. Despite how dirty that sounded, it didn’t make me laugh at all. Just waiting here, trying to find anything to speak about and drawing a complete blank. So, I stop thinking and just go for it.

“I searched up Johnathan last night.”

He stops at a sudden halt, “You did what?”

“I just wanted to know who he was, ya know?”

“Don’t.”

He says it so firmly, shivers run up my spine. It’s not the words that capture me, but more like his  tone of voice. I need to get out of this car. Something feels so out of place, I just can’t pinpoint what it is. A moment of time when he switches lanes and we pull into the parking lot of an auto shop.

“Don’t what?” I took a chance.

“Don’t, want to know who he is.”

“Why not?” I question. Curiosity assaults me. The questions punch me in the face, spitting out blood before all the little theories push me down and kick me in the cheek. Going from a heathy body to just, a limp nothing. He seems so scared and I truly wonder why but like I said, pondering won’t do me any good. 

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from us?”

“Yes, and then you insisted on driving me to school this morning so, really, who’s the real hypocrite here?” I huffed, “Besides, what is so bad about the owner of our school? Why the hell would he care if I searched him up? I think you’re reading too much into this s**t, Isaac. Maybe you should...”

He slammed on the steering wheel, palm reddening in front of me. A moment of time before his grin changed. It wasn’t like last night; it wasn’t friendly. Pressing up against me with the smile he gave Charlotte yesterday. A mix of passion that claimed CC was his play toy. Is that true? No, it can’t be. His grip on my arm got tighter with every word, but it didn’t seem like he wanted to stop.

“Look, I get it” he chuckled, “You’re not the type of girl to give up. You’re one who gets curious. They’re okay with getting burned. They like the height of the fall and the flight it gives them to be f****d on the side of the road, in a Mustang or, whatever the hell it is you’re trying to achieve. There’s only one problem with that, Haylee. My friends and I won’t burn you; we’ll f*****g ruin you.”

“Let go of my arm” I warned.

“Think about it. Go ahead, be curious about Sebastian and when they f**k you up, maybe you’ll understand. Or you can listen to me and avoid it all. Despite what you may think, I’m actually trying to help.”

Scratch that; I change my mind, maybe he isn’t a good guy.

“I can walk” I blurt, one second from running away.

Which is exactly what I did when he unlocked the doors. Swallowing the rage and registering the words. It’s like he flipped a switch. Turning into this evil, vial, being. Ha, reminds me of someone. I won’t name names but let’s just say this, my past isn’t one to be taken lightly. 

I walked into one of the allies behind the auto shop, leaning against the brick wall and pulling out a box of Camels. Lighting it and letting it take me away. Haven’t had a cigarette in a long time, from the days of drugs, but I kept the box in my sweater in case I ever wanted to take the edge off.

“You smoke?”

He says it as if it’s so hard to believe.

You have tattoos! Isn’t it so stupid, the rules we put for rich people? Just because ones got money doesn’t mean they’re gonna be perfect. Actually, they’re gonna be the farthest from it. If someone’s got money, it means they’re gonna do whatever the f**k they want and be able to pay it off, with said money. Really, whoever came up with societal pressures was just lying to escape punishment.

“Why’d you follow me?” I question.

Forcing a grin and remembering his words. Such dirty things that I never expected him to say. He seems like one of those pretentious, prudes. Even his outfit said it. Khakied pants and such fancy, blue, dress shoes. Flipped back and perfect, black hair. You can tell he uses a lot of jell. Not to mention, the number of buttons on and buttons off, on his uniform blazer. He made them even and that either says someone OCD or someone pretentious.

If he can be like that, it makes me wonder how Sebastian is. Someone who already has tattoos on his arms. Someone who doesn’t follow the rules and wears a band t-shirt to school, instead of his uniform. Someone who seems a little sadistic and makes dirty insinuations to Mrs. Ryan’s, during class. I bet he could throw me around all night! f**k, I really shouldn’t think about that.

It’s the least of my worries right now.

“I didn’t mean to snap, okay? I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

Yes, right there!

We just met yesterday. Why is he so worried?

“What would I get hurt from, Isaac?” He looks the other way immediately, as if he doesn’t want to answer. What’s he so scared of; I don’t get it.

He c***s his head, “I like that skirt on you.”

“Don’t deflect. Tell me what the f**k I could get hurt from?”

I look down, shooting back up in a second. I wanted to spice up the style since it’s pretty sucky so, paired the skirt with a ripped sweatshirt. I’m still wearing the uniform so they can’t f**k with me. I decided to go with boots this time, especially since I live in boots and I think it looks good too. That said, he can’t just the change the subject and expect me not to notice.

“Why do we have to talk?” he whispers.

“What the f**k has gotten into you?” I say two seconds before he takes the cigarette out of my hand and throws it to the ground. One flick and he’s up against me, brushing his hand up my leg as chills set out on my skin.

“Shh” he sighs.

“Stop.”

“Be quiet” he growls.

“Get off me!” The sun, pricking my eyes when I felt his erection press into me. Was it hot? Sure, but I’m not gonna be used as some f*****g tool to avoid his dumbass problems. So, instead, I kicked him in the balls.

Every step made my heart shake and my toes nervously curl. He dropped down, holding his groin, and placing his hand on the pavement next to my cigarette. It was a stupid thing to do although, at the same time it wasn’t. What would have happened, right then and there, if I didn’t hurt him? I don’t know, but whatever it was would’ve been scary.

“I can walk” I repeat.

“Fine, f*****g walk.” He steps away without looking back. Kneeling his head up and leaving me with words that take my breath away.

“You might be the hardest one, Haylee. Good luck.”

What the f...!