The bad boy craves me

3.Meet the family.

Three long, blissful days have passed without any trace of Regina and her posse bothering me. It's been a mystery to me what had transpired after that fateful day inside the cafeteria. Despite the lack of explanation, I have been more than grateful for the peace and quiet.

The cheerleaders, football team, and even the rich students have all given me death stares, as if they were attempting to penetrate my very soul with their gaze.

Surprisingly, even the nerds have been casting glares of disapproval in my direction. Yet, despite their apparent disdain, no one has dared to utter a single word to me.

I was overjoyed to say the least that I could actually walk through the school's halls without being bombarded by insults and ridicule. I didn't even see a video of what happened.

Despite the respite from Regina and her crew, a nagging feeling of anxiety and unease still lingered within me. The thought of Regina seeking revenge for what had transpired in the cafeteria kept me on edge, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon.

To add to my concerns, I had noticed one of Kristrin's gang members following me around. At first, I dismissed it as nothing more than paranoia. But the more I noticed them lurking in the shadows, the more uneasy I became. Were they planning something together?

I was pulled out of my thoughts by the high-pitched voice of my two-year-old brother, Antonio, calling me urgently from downstairs. "Anna, momma needs you downstairs now!" he yelled, his tiny feet pattering against the hardwood floor as he scampered off.

I made my way down the stairs; I couldn't help but smile at the sight of my little brother. "Come here, you ant boy!" I called out, teasing him playfully.

"I'm not an ant!" he giggled, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he darted away from me towards the kitchen. I chased after him, my heart feeling light for the first time in days.

I caught up to him and scooped him up in my arms, I felt a sense of warmth and contentment wash over me. Despite the chaos and uncertainty of my high school life, moments like this with my family were what truly mattered.

As I entered the kitchen, the savory aroma of my mom's cooking filled my senses. She stood at the stove, her back turned to me as she stirred the pot with a wooden spoon. My three-year-old brother, Antonio, was doing his best to climb onto a nearby stool, determined to get a better view of the delicious meal being prepared.

My mom was of medium height, her brunette hair tied back in a messy ponytail atop her head. She swayed her hips to the rhythm of some 90s music playing softly in the background, lost in her own world of culinary bliss.

I made my way towards my mom, and as she picked Antonio up in her arms, I asked, "What's up, Mom?"

"We'll be attending one of your father's galas this Saturday night," she replied, a hint of excitement in her voice.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over me at her words. I had attended these events before, and they were nothing but a boring gathering of rich, snobbish people talking about business and their social status - topics that held no interest for me.

"Okay," I said, trailing off as I tried to ignore the true meaning behind her words.

I knew my parents expected me to be on my best behavior and make a good impression, but the thought of spending my Saturday night listening to boring speeches and engaging in small talk with strangers filled me with a sense of dread.

"Vicky will be here to take care of Antonio while we attend the gala," my mom continued, sensing my hesitation. "This is one of your father's most prestigious business events, and it's important that you attend. You know they'll want to meet the heir to your father's corporation and their potential future business partner."

I couldn't argue with my mom's logic. My father, John Walker, was the CEO of one of the most prestigious hospitals in New York City, 'Horizon.' As a result, he had business allies from all over the world.

I knew that attending this gala and making a good impression was essential for my father's business success, and as his daughter, it was my responsibility to support him.

My mom wasn't just the wife of a CEO - she was a successful doctor in her own right. She had earned her position at 'Horizon' hospital through her own hard work and dedication, holding a master's degree in doctoral studies.

Despite my father's constant urging for her to join him in managing the company, my mom's passion for saving lives was too strong to ignore. And despite their ten years of marriage, my parents still acted like teenagers, constantly teasing each other and laughing at their own inside jokes.

Unlike my parents, I never quite got the hang of socializing. While they thrived in social situations, I often felt awkward and out of place, struggling to make small talk and connect with people.

With a groan, I reluctantly agreed to attend the gala. I knew that my parents had their hearts set on me attending, and besides, it was only once a year. Antonio, my three-year-old brother, was oblivious to the conversation, and continued to giggle and laugh at my dismay.

"Oh, and your cousin Maria will be living with us for a while until her parents are settled again," my Aunt Talia announced, her smile as bright as ever. "She's coming this Sunday, just in time to start school on Monday."

Aunt Talia and Uncle Jimmy had always been adventurous, jetting off to new countries whenever they could. But this time, they had decided to take things to the next level, embarking on a year-long travel across the globe. The news of their journey was exciting, but it also left me wondering what would happen to their only child, my cousin Maria.

As soon as I heard the news about Maria, my cousin from my dad's side, my ears perked up with excitement.

She had always been a welcome presence in my life, visiting us every summer and spending hours with me, sharing secrets and giggling over silly things. Despite our different personalities, we had always been close, more like best friends than cousins.

I couldn't wait to have a girl around to talk to, to share my secrets with, and just to have someone to hang out with besides Steff. The thought of having a confidant who knew all my secrets made me smile brightly.

"So, how's your senior year of high school going so far, sweetie?" my mom asked, bringing me back to the present. I realized that I had been lost in my own thoughts, daydreaming about all the things that Maria and I could do together.

"It's going great," I lied, not wanting to reveal my problems to anyone. I had learned that being a big girl meant taking care of my own issues, and that's exactly what I intended to do.

I tried to keep up the facade, the front door suddenly burst open, revealing my dad. He was a tall, lean man with jet black hair and hazel eyes, which were traits I had inherited from him.

We lived in a beautiful two-story house, but if it were up to us, we would have preferred a smaller three-bedroom house. Unfortunately, our family was quite large, and when relatives came to visit, we had no choice but to make accommodations for them.

As soon as my dad walked through the front door, he enveloped me in a bear hug, "My princess," My dad said and placed a tender kiss on Antonio's cheek before turning to my mom and giving her a passionate kiss.

"Okay, that's enough PDA for one day," I playfully groaned.

"Don't worry, sweetheart, you'll find your Prince Charming soon," my mom quipped with a wink. I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile at their loving display.

"Anna, you know the rules: no boys until you're twenty-two," Dad replied firmly. It seemed that the age for consent always increased as I got older, with him having mentioned it being seventeen the last time.

Mom chimed in, "Do you remember us being together when we were sixteen?"

"That's different," Dad responded, with a hint of amusement. "I remember us doing some naughty things back then. That's why I don't want her near any boys until she's old enough. Do I make myself clear, hun?"

I quietly nodded in agreement, helping Mom set the table.

Pshh please.

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The clock read 7:30 a.m. and I begrudgingly prepared to face another day of school, my mind waging an internal war between slumber and responsibility.

After taking a quick bath, I hastily dressed myself in a pair of form-fitting blue denim jeans and a crop top, topped off with a white jacket and black and white Adidas sneakers. I quickly put my unkept hair in a ponytail which was mostly concealed under the jacket.

By this time, my parents had already left for work, leaving Vicky with the task of preparing my little brother Antonio for his daycare and making us breakfast.

"Come on, Antonio, we don't want to be late for your daycare and make me late for school," I urged, rushing to the car after quickly finishing breakfast and brushing our teeth.

"I'm here!" he yelled as he climbed into the car seat, and I buckled him up.

I noticed a piece of paper in his hand and asked, "What's that?"

Antonio quickly stuttered, "N-nothing," and blushed as he attempted to hide the paper.

Hmm that's odd I'll pry into it later.

"Hmm, that's odd. I'll have to pry into it later," I thought to myself as I dropped off Antonio at his daycare and headed to my own personal hellhole. Walking lazily inside the building since I was a few minutes early, I made my way to my locker.

As I approached, Steff looked distraught and motioned towards the area where the school's bad boys leaned against the lockers, swarmed by girls.

I stood there, transfixed, taking in Kristrin's handsome appearance. He donned a black leather jacket, a white tee shirt, dark denim jeans, a pair of black studs, and his disheveled hair made him look like the fallen angel he was.

He was goddamn gorgeous!

However, my momentary bliss was cut short when one of the twins caught me gawking at Kristrin. The twin smirked, turned to whisper something to Kristrin, and I suddenly felt very exposed.

Feeling embarrassed, I quickly turned away, unable to meet the eyes of the boy I'd had a crush on since the day I first laid eyes on him. I had never admitted it to myself, let alone anyone else.

"H-hi Steff," I stuttered, suddenly realizing that Steff was with me. He groaned, and I couldn't help but smirk.

"Someone's in a bad mood today," I taunted, trying to stay calm despite feeling the weight of Kristrin and his mates' stares burning holes into the back of my head.

I couldn't afford to have Steff in a bad mood. He was always my funny bunny and the one who could cheer me up no matter what.

"Don't even ask," Steff said before I could even inquire about his sour mood. I watched as he turned to stare at Kristrin, who was looking in our direction and causing me to blush.

"Guess what? I have a surprise for you," I said quickly glancing away from Kristrin, hoping to change the subject and lift Steff's spirits. He always loved surprises.

"Oh my God, an all-expense-paid trip to the Caribbean!" he exclaimed, making me scowl.

"Of course not," I replied, running my hand through his neatly styled hair. "You remember Maria?" I asked, gesturing for us to start walking towards our first period class.

"Of course, the light of my world and my future wife," he spoke dreamily, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his over-the-top declaration.

I proceeded to tell him everything about Maria, and he was now beaming with happiness. I was glad to have been able to make my best friend smile again.

"I can't wait to see her again!" he yelled joyfully.

But my excitement for my best friend's happiness blinded me to the chaos that was yet to come. If only I could go back in time to the moment when my mom had first broken the news of Maria's arrival.

Then I would be able to protect everyone and myself from the impending terror.