Tormented

Chapter 1 Jane had known Alex for almost as long as she could remember. Their mothers used to joke that the two of them had been born to trouble each other. When they were little, Alex would steal Jane's snacks and run across the garden while she chased him. When they were old enough to ride bicycles, they would race down the quiet road behind Alex's family's enormous house until one of their parents came looking for them. Even now, years later, not much had changed. Jane stood outside the gates of Westbridge High School, staring at the huge building in front of her. "You're staring." She turned. Alex was standing beside her with his school bag hanging from one shoulder. "I'm not." "You are." Jane rolled her eyes. "I'm just looking." "You've been looking at the building for two minutes." "Because it's huge." Alex looked at the school and shrugged. "It's a school." "Easy for you to say." He laughed. Jane pushed his shoulder. "Stop laughing at me." "I'm not laughing at you." "You are." "Okay, maybe a little." She tried not to smile, but she failed. Alex noticed immediately. "There," he said. "I knew I could make you smile." Jane looked away. "You're annoying." "And you're nervous." "I'm not nervous." "You are." "I'm not." Alex stepped closer. "Jane." "What?" "You don't have to be nervous. I'm here." She looked at him. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then Alex smiled. "Besides, if anyone bothers you, I'll deal with them." Jane laughed softly. "You can't fight everyone." "I can try." "You'll get suspended on the first day." "Then we'll both stay home." She shook her head. "You're impossible." They walked through the school gates together. Westbridge High was nothing like the small school they had attended before. The corridors were crowded with students, teachers were calling out instructions, and everyone seemed to already know where they were supposed to go. Jane held her timetable in one hand. Alex leaned over to look at it. "We're in the same class." Jane looked at him. "Seriously?" He nodded. "English first." She smiled. "At least I won't be alone." "You were never going to be alone." Jane looked at him again. There was something comforting about having Alex beside her. Their families were different. Alex came from a family whose name was known everywhere. His father owned companies in several countries, and their house was so large that Jane sometimes joked she could get lost inside it. Jane's mother worked for the family as a cleaner. That difference had never mattered to Alex. At least, it had never seemed to matter. To him, Jane was simply Jane. His best friend. The person who had known him before the expensive cars, private schools, bodyguards, and family expectations. And Jane loved that about him. They entered their classroom together. "Jane." She turned. A girl she had met during orientation waved at her. "Come sit with us." Jane smiled. "I'll be there." Alex pulled out a chair. "You have friends already." Jane sat down. "You sound jealous." "I'm not." "You are." "I don't get jealous." Jane raised an eyebrow. "You absolutely do." Alex smiled. "Maybe." She laughed. Their first morning passed quickly. They talked between lessons. They shared snacks. Alex complained about their mathematics teacher, while Jane tried to convince him to pay attention. At lunch, they sat beneath a tree near the back of the school. Jane opened her lunch box. Alex immediately reached for it. She slapped his hand away. "Get your own." "I forgot mine." "You didn't forget yours." He smiled. "You know me too well." "You do this every time." "And you still bring extra food." "Because I know you'll steal it." He took a piece anyway. Jane sighed. "You are hopeless." Alex leaned back against the tree. "So?" "So what?" "Do you like the school?" Jane looked around. Students were talking in groups. Some were laughing. Others were taking pictures and exploring the campus. She smiled. "Yeah. I think I do." Alex nodded. "Good." "Why?" "Because we're going to be here together." Jane looked at him. "Forever?" Alex smiled. "Forever." Neither of them knew how quickly that promise would be tested. Later that afternoon, Jane returned home with her mother. Her mother was still wearing the simple uniform she used while working at the Harrington residence. "You enjoyed your first day?" her mother asked. Jane smiled. "Yes." "Did you make friends?" "A few." "And Alex?" Jane's smile became bigger. "He's still Alex." Her mother laughed. "I knew you'd say that." Jane placed her bag on the chair. "He said we're going to stay friends forever." Her mother looked at her carefully. "That's a good thing." Jane nodded. She believed it too. That evening, Alex sent her a message. Alex: Did you finish your homework? Jane stared at the screen. Jane: No. A reply came immediately. Alex: Then finish it. Jane: You're not my father. Alex: Someone has to keep you responsible. She smiled. Jane: Goodnight, i***t. Alex: Goodnight, troublemaker. Jane placed her phone beside her bed. She had no idea that this ordinary conversation would someday become one of the memories she would desperately wish she could return to. Because tomorrow, something would happen. Something that would change Alex's family. Something that would change Jane's life. And something that would turn the boy who had promised to protect her into the person she would eventually fear the most.