Chapter 1
1178 Words
Moments. Life is full of them—some good, some bad, some forgotten. Yet one thing is certain: we spend our whole lives looking back at moments, asking questions like What could I have done differently? What if I hadn’t been in that place at that exact time? What if I had never met that person?
Most moments fade into nothing. But then there are the rare ones—the moments that change everything. One small turn, one chance encounter, and suddenly your world is upside down. You feel things you never thought possible.
I will never forget the moment that happened to me.
The moment I met him.
Buzz. Buzz.
“Ugh, go away. Where’s the damn phone? Six a.m.!”
Flash!
“This better be an emergency.”
A chuckle on the other end tells me it’s not.
“I only had an hour left to sleep. Couldn’t it have waited?”
“Well, morning to you too, sunshine. No—it can’t wait. I’m out front. Get your ass out of bed.”
“You’re not human, you know that?”
I hang up mid-laugh and drag myself up.
Flash—real name Luke—earned his nickname when he broke the school’s track record in junior year. Five months from graduation, he still holds it.
I zombie-walk to the door. Flash stands there grinning like a maniac.
“Morning, Jess. You know a smile wouldn’t kill you.”
Average height, green eyes, jet-black hair—Flash breezes past me into the kitchen.
“Is that coffee?”
“Look, she speaks! It’s a miracle. Actually, it’s a mocha with coconut milk. Your fave.”
“Oh yes, please.” I sink onto the couch with my drink. Mmm. Georgia’s Diner makes the best mochas—most places never get them right.
“Seriously. Six a.m.! Couldn’t you have waited three hours until school?”
“Nope. I was too excited. Ruby didn’t answer, and you live two streets away. So here I am.”
“Lucky me.”
We grin. Ruby’s our other best friend. School isn’t great, but with them, it’s bearable.
“So? What’s the news?”
Flash bounces to his feet, pacing.
“I got a sports scholarship! Track and field. Corey Grammar College. In Greenfield!”
“What!?” I’m up in an instant, hugging him. “That’s amazing! Only sixteen scholarships a year and you got one? I’m so proud of you!”
Relief hits me too—Corey Grammar’s just over an hour away. We’ll still see each other. “Your parents must be thrilled.”
“They are. Money’s been tight—this means everything. Now do you see why I couldn’t wait three hours?”
“I forgive you. Plus, now I know before Ruby.”
We giggle. He smacks my shoulder playfully.
“Maybe I should’ve waited to tell you both,” he says nervously.
“Nah, she’ll get over it. Besides, you did call.”
I glance at my phone. “It’s already seven? How!?”
“I’m showering. TV’s all yours.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He flops on the couch.
---
Nothing like a hot shower to wake you up before another day at Chatswood High. At least in five months, I’ll be free.
Chatswood is two hours from San Francisco. Cheaper than the city, which is why my parents chose it. The catch? They hardly come home anymore. Most teens would love that. Me? I just feel forgotten.
I spent years with my grandparents in Australia, then a nanny when I came back. The older I got, the less my parents showed up. Independence doesn’t erase the need for parents.
---
Fresh out of the shower, I realize my clothes are in my room—while Flash is in the living room. Great.
Wrapped in a towel, I dash to my bedroom and pull on light blue jeans and a plain white long-sleeve tee. Simple, safe. Sometimes blending in feels better. If you’re invisible, no one can hurt you.
I stare at my reflection. Positive thoughts, Jess. You’ve come a long way.
Forty-five pounds, to be exact.
When I returned from Australia in middle school, I was heavy. Comfort eating filled the loneliness, and by twelve, I was obese. Dean Clarke, in particular, made me his target.
At fourteen, my parents hired a trainer and dietician. I learned balance, exercise, and better ways to cope. By ninth grade, I’d lost thirty pounds. Now, at eighteen, I’m forty-five down.
At 5’10”, I’m still a size 10–12, but Dean and his crew never let me forget where I started. I never let them see they get to me.
Their narrow minds won’t break me.
---
“Jess?” Knock on my door. “Nearly eight.”
“s**t! Five minutes!”
I hear him laughing down the hall.
When I finally emerge, hair tied back, jacket on, Flash looks up from his phone.
“Finally. Ruby’s up. Want to take my car and grab breakfast on the way?”
“Bagel?” The word makes me cringe. Not because I dislike them—because I love them. Too much. Irrational fear whispers: one bagel and you’ll gain it all back.
Flash reads my mind. “On second thought, yogurt and fruit sound better.”
“You’ve been in my fridge?”
“Whoops. Busted. Already ate two bananas.”
“Hungry guts.” I toss him a yogurt.
---
Of course, the second we leave, we spot Dean Clarke.
He leans against his shiny Lancer, smirk plastered across his annoyingly perfect face. Tall, athletic, basketball captain, dimpled grin—the works. Basically, the dream package wrapped around a nightmare.
Flash doesn’t slow down. I shrink into my seat, praying Dean ignores me. No such luck. His smirk follows us down the street.
---
At school, Ruby’s waiting. The second Flash blurts his news, she’s screaming and hugging him.
Ruby and I met in middle school, fighting over a copy of The Princess Bride. By the end of the week, we were reading it together every lunch. Best friends ever since.
“Jess!” Ruby beams. “Isn’t it amazing? Only an hour away! I’m still waiting to hear back from my colleges.”
“Hopefully Ashfield,” I tease. At least that one’s not four hours away.
Ruby rolls her eyes, but Flash grins. “Jess, your grades are solid. You could apply somewhere in-between us.”
“Exactly!” Ruby nods.
I sigh. “Guys, I haven’t even decided if I’m going to college. Maybe I’ll take a year off. Move to Australia with Nan and Pop.”
Their synchronized eyebrow raises say it all.
“Your parents will love that,” Ruby deadpans.
We laugh and head inside. Another day in hell—sorry, high school.
Five more months.
As I near my locker, my stomach sinks.
Blocking it: Bonnie Johnston, Audrey Myers, Brock Evans, Clayton Bishop… and, of course, Dean Clarke.
- Writer
