Chapter one
Dylan, Grace, Her full name was Grace Keller, but I called her Lace-only I could get away with that. She was the one who'd taken my frozen heart and smashed it into a million pieces.
Everyone loved her; she was ideal in almost every way, but never had an ego about it. Everyone got equal treatment in her eyes.
Her vision was an intriguing gray color, and you couldn't help but be drawn to them as soon as they opened. She knew why people were so attracted to her, yet nothing ever changed how she acted around them.
Even when boys hit on her, she would reply back with a clever remark and walk away with a wink. Although she hung out with all kinds of guys, she kept it strictly platonic.
I watched from afar-not like a creeper-just so I could appreciate her presence without getting too close. I wasn't anything special, certainly nowhere near her level; still, everyone wanted to be near her radiating personality and joyous smile.
Her long locks were slightly curled at the tips and rippled in the wind. She drank but only on special occasions.
If she had too much, her amusement was infectious; however, she couldn't hold her liquor. She partied just as hard-if not harder-than most, yet managed to remain dignified on the dancefloor unlike many of my other conquests.
Her admiration for Ethan's music was obvious-as I grew fond of her. Even so, I hadn't gotten to know her as well as I initially assumed; she was genuinely extraordinary.
July 9th I became aware that my mother was an alcoholic and my father a former rock star who wasted all his money on alcohol and women.
He was certainly not the best father figure one could ask for!
Everywhere I went people called out my name, Dylan Jenkins: Virginity Stealer, McDreamy, Bastard, Dick, Asshole...
the list went on and on!
My dark hair was usually brushed back with wispy bangs and I typically wore black t-shirts with jeans. The locals scowled whenever I passed them by but I'd simply ignore them-I refused to be like him.
After I left home at 17, I took a job at my uncle's car wash to prove something to myself. He'd been letting me stay at his cabin a few miles away since then.
Grace seemed to have noticed me for some unknown reason and started pursuing me, though I couldn't understand why. She'd wave and smile, but I could only stand there, dumbstruck, as she returned to her friends.
One day we were all at the popular teenage hangout spot, Ronny's. She was with a group of jocks when I arrived with my cousin.
She glanced at me, and though I disregarded it like she was simply looking around, my cousin elbowed me in the side. "What?" I said and scowled, ready to take him on.
He just pointed towards Grace. "You ignored her!
Can't you see she's hot and checking you out?" he managed between breaths. I laughed slightly before glancing back in her direction; the jocks behind her were still giving me menacing looks.
As I turned back towards my cousin, who was now frantic, he mumbled "12 o'clock". Sure enough, she strode towards us and cleared her throat.
With a smile she spoke: "I'm Grace Keller; my friends call me Lacy." As she stretched out her hand for me to shake, I replied "I know who you are, but I don't want to get you in any trouble pretty girl; your buddies over there seem pretty angry".
I chuckled as my cousin sat up straighter. I said sarcastically as she chuckled at me.
"I apologize for them, they think they have control of my life," she said before turning away from the group and toward me. "I'm Dylan," I introduced myself, to which she smiled and nodded.
"I know who you are.
You just moved here from New York, right?
I love your dad's album!
Too bad it only lasted one tour, he definitely had potential for greatness.
Anyways, do you work at the car wash?
My car is in need of a good cleaning, so if I came by can you guys take care of it?
We could maybe go grab something to eat afterwards at Ronny's?"
She asked me with a hopeful look on her face. I smirked and thought about it for a moment before responding. "Yeah, Jenkins will be free Wednesday evening around five; that's usually the least busy time."
My cousin spoke up before I could answer. She gave him a slightly awkward glance before looking back at me.
"Alright then, see you Wednesday," she said with a smile before walking away. I couldn't help but laugh at my cousin sitting there with his mouth wide open in shock.
"You can close your mouth later," I said through fits of laughter as I grabbed him and pulled him towards the car. After driving to my childhood home, I made my cousin stay in the car while I went inside to drop off some money for my mom- though God knows what she does with it all.
When I walked in, my mother was embracing someone who looked quite familiar to me. As a youngster, I'm sure I spotted him in the area before.
My mom quickly stood and kissed my cheek. Her face was mangled, like a wild cat had gone at her head, and she had tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Mum, is everything okay?"
I asked as she grasped my face with her hands. Immediately, I could tell she was struggling and wanted help. Without giving it any second thought, I turned around and yanked the man by his shirt and hoisted him up.
I started to swing hard at him but he moved his arm to block me and managed to get one in on my forehead. Blood streamed out of the cut; I felt weak but kept going anyway until eventually, I punched the man so many times that my fists were covered in blood.
My mum frantically attempted to pull me away from him.
"Don't kill him Dylan!
Get off baby, stop hitting it's okay now, stop!"
She shouted through tears.
"Did he hurt you?"
I asked as her shaking head gave away the answer. "He deserved it then," I said as she placed her hand on my forehead.
"Come on baby let me clean you up." She suggested as the guy tried to stand up and regain his composure.
He wobbled while getting back onto his feet. To make sure he wouldn't return again, I screamed in his face: "Come anywhere near my mom again and you'll deal with me, you bastard."
He quivered like a child and sped off. My mom held onto my arm.
Take a seat, I'm just going to get some ointment and bandages." She said as I groaned in protest.
"No mum, you look unwell, while I'll be fine; it will heal over time." I responded and she frowned slightly.
"You need to sit down; we have something to talk about anyway." I did as told.
"Mum, how long has it been?"
I asked her with worry on my face which softened when she smiled at me. "It's been 10 weeks since I got clean.
I threw out all the drugs; everything is gone now." She looked satisfied with her own accomplishment and wiped my forehead gently.
"Baby, don't listen to what they say about me in town; they don't know me like you do." My mother said as she expertly applied the bandage to my cut.
"I have to go now." I murmured and hugged her tight before leaving for home where my father waited outside in the car.
He eyed me suspiciously as soon as he saw me, trying to figure out why I was outside so late with a black eye and a bandage on my head.
"What took so long and why the hell do you have a black eye?"
He questioned immediately after greeting me. "Just a bit of family business."
I replied with a smirk before driving off towards my uncle's house with a wave goodbye from my dad who looked suspicious still. Touching the bandage on my head softly, I whispered, "Smart boy Jenkins, smart boy indeed."
He muttered to himself as I waved at his mother who stood on the porch. I parked and handed over the keys to my cousin, then I trudged down to the cabin.
Wearily, I changed my clothes and started tinkering with the engine of what was soon to be my car. My uncle said if I managed to fix it, it would be mine.
It had taken me weeks of hard work and dedication so far and whilst I waited for parts, I sometimes borrowed my cousin's vehicle. I was nearly done; all I needed was a better engine, but that could wait until later in the week. Exhausted, I put on some sweatpants and collapsed onto my makeshift mattress, my head pounding from all the work I had done today.
Suddenly, I awoke to find the curtains pulled back and my dad sitting at the foot of the bed in a suit. Like always, my breakfast was waiting beside me.
The clock read 2 pm; it was time for me to get Dylan to wash my car. Although he exudes mystery, asking him out directly was something I couldn't quite bring myself to do.
"Baby girl," Dad began, "I heard about your little playdate with Dylan.
You have that press conference next week, remember?"
Despite his words, I carried on eating my toast without saying a word.
"Where did you get that information?"
I asked eventually while shielding a bit of my face with my hair. "Your friends Will, Lexi and Landen told me," he replied.
He smiled and said, "Oh, they were there when I asked him to wash my car. It's not a date, Dad. I'm almost eighteen."
His face dropped as he realized the truth behind my request. I gave his cheek a quick peck goodbye before I dashed off to the shower.
He loves me and wants to protect me, but it's too much sometimes; especially considering that I'm his only daughter. My brother works for some prestigious law firm and pops home every so often, but he and I are really all that keep this family going.
I grabbed my favorite strawberry body wash and donned my favorite sundress. Dylan was probably not expecting me to dress up, but I had a reputation in town to uphold for my dad's sake.
Before I got into my Mustang, however, I noticed it was unusually clean. Jenny must have given it a wash yesterday like she does every week.
To be sure that my father didn't catch me, I quickly grabbed some mud from the ground and spread it around the car tires - he always called it "brown clump" I covered the back of my car and smudged some on the window with my fingers. Disgruntled, I made my way to the car wash, not expecting to see much of anything-it was almost four in the afternoon.
To my surprise, there was Dylan's friend from yesterday leaning against the building. I got out of my car and smiled at him, only for him to scowl in return. "Jenkin's isn't here," he said flatly.
"Where is he?"
I asked, feeling a bit of heat radiating off me. He gestured up the hill towards the cabin I see every day on my drives.
And with that, I hopped back in my vehicle and sped up the street. I arrived to find Dylan working on a car engine with his shirt off.
I could see the cut on his forehead and I knew I had to help him. I waited for him to finish up, unable to take my eyes off of him.
When he was finished, he wiped his hands on his pants and looked up to find me there. Startled, he ran a hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly.
"What are you doing here?"
He asked, but I didn't answer. I just walked up and stood by him, handing him his shirt.
He looked surprised, but put it on and smiled. "Let me take care of that," I said as I reached for the cut on his forehead. He winced slightly as I dabbed it with alcohol and wrapped a bandage around it.
"Thanks," he murmured.
