Chapter 1-1
2306 Words
Chapter 1
Austin
A huge weight lifts from my shoulders when I hand the invigilator my examination booklet. After months spent burning the midnight oil, cramming every ounce of information in my already over-packed brain, I’m finally free. If only I could do a fricking somersault right now. But I’ll just settle for walking out the examination room with the biggest smile on my face.
There’s only one stupid formality left. Prom. Just the thought makes me roll my eyes. I’m not interested in getting dolled up in an expensive dress I’ll never wear again. There’s no urge to suffer through hours of ear-blasting music, stomach-sickening food or watching people make out on the dance floor. I don’t need to see the superficial bitches vying for the short-lived spotlight that comes with being crowned prom queen.
I’m not a regular eighteen-year-old. For me, a night of fun includes a family-sized bag of veggie crisps and Grand Theft Auto or Mario Kart 8. An oversized t-shirt and fluffy slippers completes my look for the night. Add a challenging code and I’m all set.
I’m looking forward to leaving high school behind and start my new life in Massachusetts. Getting accepted to MIT is a huge freaking deal. There are some awesome people I’ll miss like crazy, and my best friend Jolie heads the list. Daddy and my brother Sam aren’t close behind, either. But I’m ready to start my journey to launch my own company. It’s a long way off, of course. But each step takes me closer to that dream.
A tall, blond guy almost runs into me when I step out from the classroom. The apology dies on his lips when he realizes it’s me. A smirk takes its place, followed by a head-to-toe scan of my body, one that leaves me feeling n***d and exposed, and certainly not in a good way.
“Austin, Austin... still trying to make homeless chic a thing, aren’t you?” he says, grinning at his lame joke.
“Oh, screw you, John.” I don’t know what it is about my wardrobe choice that offends these boys so much, but I think they hate me for it. And I could care less.
John rubs his crotch, still smirking. “You wish, you perv.”
“Not even in my wildest dream, John.” I’ve had enough of this conversation. “I don’t f**k tiny d**k boys.”
It gives me great satisfaction to see the smile disappear from his face. I turn away with a giggle.
“Austin!”
Jolie’s voice comes at me before I get very far. I turn around again, and she’s sprinting towards me, not slowing down, which gives me the warning I need. Grinning, I brace for the impact and she crashes into my arms. A flurry of blonde hair covers my face as I catch her. Jolie giggles and tightens her hold. “I thought you’d drop me.”
“I haven’t yet.” I set her down, still grinning at her. Her happiness is infectious. “Except the one time you surprised me.”
“I thought I broke my tailbone.” She laughs, rubbing her a*s. “It still feels sore.”
“That was two months ago, so I know you’re being extra right now.”
“Whatever.” She bumps me with her hip. “How was your final exam, anyway? I bet you crushed the s**t out of it.”
“Oh, you know I did.” I’ve always been a badass with my schoolwork and I’ll always own it. “How ‘bout you?”
“It wasn’t an honor roll performance, like yours,” she replies with a casual shrug. “But I did the damn thing and I’m already over it.”
That’s always been Jolie, ever since we were kids. She doesn’t sweat the small stuff—well, he sweats nothing, actually, which is the complete opposite of how I usually react. On the surface and deep below, we’re like oil and water. Jolie lives carefree, while I worry about every single step I make. Her bubby, infectious demeanor draws people to her, while I’m a grumpy grandma who struggles to make new friends. But I guess that’s why we click so much.
“Can you freaking believe it?” Jolie says, linking her arm through mine. “We are finally done with high school!”
“Yup,” I reply, as we head down the corridor.
“How about you put a little enthusiasm in your voice, Auz? We’re heading to college, goddamnit!”
“Separate colleges, Jolie,” I point out, feeling that familiar rush of sadness I’d been experiencing lately. I had always known we would part ways, eventually. Jolie wants to be a fashion designer someday. I have no doubt she’ll be one of the best. In three months, she’ll head off to the Academy of Art in San Francisco, a four-hour distance by plane. We won’t see each other until the holidays, if ever. Jolie will probably have a serious boyfriend by then. She’s that kind of girl.
“I know...” She stops with a heavy sigh and I stop too. “I’m really gonna miss you, Auz.” She wraps her arms around me before I say another word, and I can’t help sighing, too.
“Lezzie.” John fake coughs as he passes us.
That’s been the running joke this year. That Jolie and I are dating. I don’t mind. Hell, I’d be lucky to snare someone as bright and sweet as Jolie. Plus the rumor keeps the assholes away from us both. Jolie snorts. “I guess that means I get more p***y than you, John!”
He flicks her off, but his face is red as a ripe tomato. Jolie and I burst out laughing. Within minutes, John has gotten his a*s handed to him by two girls he’ll never get to sleep with. There’s another rumor that he’s made a bet to sleep with every girl from our graduating class, but I don’t know if it’s true. John’s a hot guy, star of our racquetball team, and the outside, he looks the type to get any girl he wants. But there’s another rumor — one I think is probably true — that he has a tiny d**k.
Did I mention how gossipy my classmates are? And how brutal they can be? Four years ago, I got a first-hand experience and I still haven’t recovered to this day.
Jolie takes my hand as we head to the parking lot. We walk in silence for a while until she leans her head to the side, looking down at our clasped hands swaying between us. “Does it bother you what they think about us?”
I snort. “Of course not. It’s not like it hurts my dating life.”
“I’m sure at least ten guys online would sell their soul or game systems to take you out. Honestly, I’m not sure which is more impressive.”
“Guys who have never seen what I look like, you mean,” I reply.
“You’re selling yourself short, Auz. Don’t do that.”
I stop and sweep my hands over my figure. “Have you seen me, Jolie? No guy wants to f**k this, believe me.”
“Not unless you stop hiding behind those baggy clothes. You are a stunning girl, and you have a beautiful figure.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.”
“No, I’m serious, Jolie. This isn’t even about my clothes—”
“And you hair,” Jolie cuts in, grinning because she knows it will tick me off.
“f**k off, Jolie. As I was saying, I could be wearing the sexiest pair of jeans and a crop top and high heels, these boys still think I’m weird.”
Jolie shakes her head. “Let’s face it. Our classmates are nothing but assholes. Forget them.”
“Already done.”
A sneaky smile tugs the corner of her lips. “Something tells me it won’t be so easy to forget you know who, especially now that he’s back in town.”
My muscles tense, but I force myself to keep walking. I don’t have to answer for her to know what I’m thinking. Jolie knows me better than I know myself, but I wish I would have kept the crush a secret when we traded random bits of information last summer. Telling her I liked the older boy I grew up with was a mistake. Especially considering said older boy was an even bigger asshole than the ones at school. I’ll never forget what he and his brother did to me four years ago. And yet, I can’t stop entertaining the filthiest thoughts since he moved back last week.
“I know what that silence means...”
“It means nothing,” I say, pulling out the parking lot.
“You’re thinking of making him pop your cherry, aren’t you?”
“Nope.” If was Pinocchio, I’m sure my nose would be growing right now. Truth, I’ve thought of nothing but sleeping with Brett since I saw the light in his old bedroom. I blame it on my suppressed hormones caused by over studying. Now that I’m done with the books, they have risen to the surface, immediately getting out of control.
“Liar.”
I take my eyes off the road for a few seconds and look over at her. “Even if I’m thinking about it, we both know that will never happen. First of all, I hate his f*****g guts. Two, he’s a d**k and a manwhore. Three, I don’t intend to lose my virginity during a casual fuck.”
“Ok, point taken. Let’s forget about him. There are plenty of guys in town.”
I shake my head, pushing my dark braid over my shoulder. “It’s not important. I have a future ahead of me. No point in dating when college is coming up in-”
“In three months! You haven’t even had your first kiss, Auz,” she insists, cutting through my excuse.
“Romance can wait. My type is impossible to find. Plus, I prefer fantasy to real life. My video games and my fingers won’t disappoint me like a guy will do.”
That gets her laughing. We end up talking about ridiculous things completely unrelated to my crush and my boring life until we get to my house. Luckily, Jolie is easy to distract. I don’t like her digging at my lack of relationship. No guy wants to date me because I’m not dating material and I’m fine with that.
I can rely on myself. I don’t need some man to make me happy or anything like that. I taught myself to code. I’m graduating with honors despite my dyslexia. I’ve made myself a future worth having—all on my own. No help or partner required, although it would have been much more boring without Jolie. I still don’t know how I’ll survive four years of college without her.
Rolling up in my driveway, I see my big brother’s truck, and I can’t resist a hefty sigh when Jolie zeroes in on it. I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s back from college for my graduation, but that means I’ve lost all of Jolie’s attention. She’s had a crush on him since we were kids.
“Don’t be weird.”
“I make no promises.” She winks at me before getting out the door.
I quickly turn off the engine and get out to stop her when I hear an unwelcome, but familiar voice. “Aussie.”
Brett Remington. s**t.
My blood immediately chills as my face floods with heat, and the stark contrast isn’t lost on me. I wish there was some way to turn off my reaction to the asshole next door, but I can’t. I’ve gone out of my way to avoid him for an entire week, but I knew it was a matter of time before he tried to insert himself into my space.
Jolie sees the internal battle on my face and shakes her head. “You need to deal with whatever you’re feeling, Auz. Talk to him.”
“I can’t,” I grit through my teeth.
“Too late,” she whispers. “He’s almost here.” She purses her lips together to keep from laughing then motions towards the house. “Mhmm. I think Sam needs some company.”
“Don’t-” I beg her to stay.
But Jolie abandons me with a flip of her hair. I have no doubt she’s going to shamelessly flirt with my brother while I’m detained. Not that Sam will fall for it. She’s still seventeen and he won’t touch her. He calls her jailbait all the time, but I know he sees her like a little sister.
“Aussie, is that you or a doppelganger?”
I close my eyes and turn around to deal with Brett. His hair is shorter than I last saw it—maybe half an inch shorter—making his face look stronger, more powerful. His hazel eyes are bright as he smiles at me. His short beard doesn’t hide his sharp jaw and he has clearly been spending time in the gym. He’s not huge, though, but he’s about a head taller than me.
His smile makes me weak, but I try to hide it. He reminds me of my late-night dirty reading, but that’s something he doesn’t get to know. He’d just make fun of me for it, like he made fun of my writing hobby until I put it aside and went for something that didn’t involve an audience.
- Writer
