Life Unexpected

Author Note:

Before reading, I want to note potential trigger warnings. If any of the following triggers could be harmful to you, please do not proceed. Your mental well-being is important.

TW: Mentioned drug use, Descriptions of death, mention of abortion, detailed sexual content, forced orgasms, minor bullying, and an unhinged MC.

Let me know if you feel I missed one, and I will add it to the list.

**This is unedited. Once it's published widely, it will undergo edits. I appreciate every reader who has pointed out the errors, but let it be known that this is a free read and will be fully edited when published.

Enjoy!

Isabelle

Then

Sixteen Years Old

I talked myself out of coming here probably a hundred times. You will rarely see me at one of Noah Wilson’s house parties. He’s the star linebacker for our school’s football team. The McDonogh Eagles. And my boyfriend’s best friend.

Yes, Isabelle Taylor has her first boyfriend. It was the last thing I expected when I moved here from my hometown of Boulder, Colorado, a year ago. When my mother cheated on my father with a man she met online, a prominent attorney. She couldn’t wait to leave my drunken father and move to Baltimore, Maryland, where her new husband resides. After that, my father was almost unbearable, so he sent me here to live with my mother, her new husband, and his son, my evil stepbrother.

Alexander Harris.

He is the McDonogh Eagles’ captain and a total douche canoe. Alexander thinks he’s God and is determined to make my life miserable. Because of my looks, it’s already hard enough to fit in.

I’m not your average teenage girl. I have a slight pouch, a little extra weight around the hips, and a little more junk in the trunk than the other females at my school. My black-rimmed glasses make me stand out even more. Oh, and that’s not all. Due to my crooked teeth, my mother made me get braces. So yes, I’m often called brace face. I have my lovely stepbrother to thank for starting that nickname around the school.

Something went wrong during my birth, and my mother was told she couldn’t have more children. Growing up, I was always jealous when I saw other kids with their siblings. I was often by myself with a drunk father and a mother who couldn’t care less what I did. Having a sister or brother to do things with would have been nice. Well, that was my thought process anyway. Until my mom married a rich prick. I was forced to share a house with his even prickier son.

Alexander’s mother died when he was ten from a freak accident. She was on her way out of the house when she fell down their granite staircase. Her neck snapped instantly, and Alexander was the one who discovered her body when he came home from school.

Maybe that’s why he is the way he is—a total prick.

While I don’t miss my hometown much, especially my drunk, abusive father, I’m not a fan of this place either. I would have instead endured my father’s constant belittling than my sadistic stepbrother.

But things changed.

Imagine my surprise when the star quarterback of the McDonogh’s Eagles started showing me attention. He was seated next to me in Algebra, where we began a friendship. It made me more of a target for the girls in school. When before, I was invisible.

With gorgeous caramel eyes, chocolate brown cropped hair, and sculpted abs, Colton Jacobs is the epitome of sexy. Oh, and did I mention he has a perfect V leading down to his, you know what?

At first I was leary of his intentions. I mean the star quarterback wanting to spend every chance with me. My mom and stepfather were in disbelief also. The first time, I brought him home for dinner. My mother couldn’t fathom why the star football player would want to date me.

Colton Jacobs is everything I want, but nothing a girl like me could have expected.

I still remember the day Colton asked me to be his. I stare down at the note in my hand. It was in my locker this morning.

“Meet me after the game tonight under the bleachers. XOXO Colton.”

Colton and I have spent every day together for the past few months. At first, I was weary of his intentions. Being the star quarterback, the guy can get any girl he wants. And most of the football team goes for the slim-fit cheerleaders—everything I’m not.

Rumor is he’s hooked up with most of the squad: head cheerleader Ava Harrison and my high school nemesis being one of them. God, that girl’s mission is to make my life miserable, even more so since Colton’s been spending all his free time with me.

“You look presentable tonight.” Mother compliments me. Something she never does as she takes in my appearance. I wanted to look nice for Colton. I’m sporting our school colors, black and orange, and a jersey with the number seven. Colton.

He’s lucky seven.

A week ago, he had given me his jersey. A sign at our school that a boy has claimed you as his. Although Colton hasn’t asked me to be his, it got all the other girls to back off. But it hadn’t stopped the dirty looks I’d received all week.

With a washable marker, I added the number seven to both cheeks, and I’m in minimal makeup—some black mascara with a tint of blush. I’ve never been one to douse myself in makeup, not like the cheerleaders. Colton prefers the natural look anyway.

Instead of my usual messy bun, my hair is down in ringlets.

“Thanks, mother.” I spat back. I’m sure it almost killed her to be nice to me for once.

“Oh, come on, that’s bullshit.” My stepfather, Jonathan, bellows to the referee who just called a penalty on the play that Alexander did. He’s always been tough on his son when it comes to football. He’s determined to get his son drafted onto the number-one-ranking team.

Rumor has it. Jonathan went to an Ivy League college to play football. In his first game, he got tackled, resulting in an injury that ended his football career before it even began. I’m pretty sure he’s trying to live through his son.

The crowd erupts into cheers as Colton runs the ball. He’s at the fifty-yard line when he extends his right hand and passes it to a fellow offensive player. The player cradles the ball in his arm and runs it, scoring the last touchdown of the night.

Everyone jumps with joy, including me.

I look down from the bleachers and see Colton’s caramel eyes burning into mine. He curves his lips, giving me that panty-dropping smile. My face turns into a frown when I see Queen B Ava Harrison come up from behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck and practically thrusting herself at him. Jealousy threatens to rise.

Colton isn’t mine. Not officially, anyway.

Then why does it hurt to see a girl hang off him? Well, it’s not any girl.

It’s my nemesis.

Relief overwhelms me when I see Colton shove Ava off. She pouts and throws a hissy fit, then finally stalks off.

Take that bitch.

Ten minutes later, as he asked, I’m heading to our spot to meet Colton under the bleachers. I call it our spot because we sometimes meet for lunch here to escape from prying eyes.

After waiting for what feels like forever, I’m about to walk away when I hear rustling. Then I see him—my 6′2, muscular, sexy-ass quarterback.

“Fuck, I’m sorry. Coach Clark gave us a long applause. Then I had to jump in the showers because I smelled like ass.” Colton rambles.

It’s too cute.

“Shhh,” I place a finger over his lips to shut him up. “It’s okay. Now tell me why you asked me to meet you here.”

He entwines his soft hands with mine. The warmth of his skin against mine warmed my heart. “These past few months getting to know you have been amazing, Isa. I have never connected with someone the way I have with you. I wanted to ask you.”

No, this isn’t happening. My heart starts to pound, feeling like it’s about to burst out of my chest.

“Isa, will you be my girl?”

I fell hard.

Hard for Colton Jacobs.

I’m in love with him. I know it’s only been six months to the day that we’ve been official, but he’s the one.

Tonight is the night I give him the only part I have yet to share.

My virginity.

I didn’t think it would be in a house full of drunken idiots. But this is the only place I can get him alone.

Taking a deep breath, I run my hands down the silk black shimmery top I chose for tonight paired with some jeggings and heels. Yes heels. My mother was quite pleased when I asked her to buy me a pair. She said it was about time I dressed like a woman. I can barely walk in them, but I look good.

I went with a black top because it’s more slimming than the burgundy top I initially chose that showcased all my jelly rolls. I also had my mother take me shopping for some sexy undergarments. I’m growing tired of wearing cotton. Although it’s much more comfortable than the thin string of lace I have shoved up my ass crack.

Swallowing down my nerves, I step inside the house, strumming through the crowds of students from our high school.

All eyes are on me as I enter—making me grow self-conscious. My palms start to grow sweaty. Wiping them on my leggings, I check my surroundings for any sign of Colton.

That’s when I feel his breath. Smell his scent. Cinnamon with a touch of spice. “Happy Birthday Isa.” My chest constricts at the nickname that only he calls me.

I spin around, instinctively swinging my arms around his neck and smashing my lips to his in front of a crowd of sophomores, not having a care in the world. But I do feel Colton tense.

Is he embarrassed to be seen kissing me?

“Hi, Cole.” I smile shyly, trying not to show that his reaction toward my kiss hurts me.

“Well, if it isn’t McDonogh’s golden couple.” My evil stepbrother speaks snidely. Have I mentioned that I hate him?

“Fuck off, Harris.” Colton flips Alexander the middle finger and then turns to face me. “Hey, let’s go somewhere private.” I nod and follow him up the stairs with our fingers entwined.

There are teens in the hallway, some kissing and others talking. We pass a couple of girls on the cheer squad shooting me icy stares. “Good game, Colton.” They congratulate him, batting their eyelashes. Back off, ladies; Colton Jacobs is all mine.

Colton leads me into the last room on the left. As we enter, I see it’s filled with posters of legendary football players. We must be in Noah’s room.

“Relax, Noah’s cool with us being in here,” Colton assures me. I try my best to calm my nerves by taking another deep breath.

He leads me to the king-size bed in the middle of the spacious room. You can feel the music booming from downstairs. Colton leans in to kiss me and he doesn’t hold back this time. His lips are soft and gentle at first. Then he slides his tongue inside, colliding with mine. A slight moan escapes my lips.

God, Colton Jacobs can kiss.

I’m done overthinking. Tonight is the night. Here and now. I give Colton all of me.

Gaining strength with our tongues still entwined, I climb onto his lap, straddling him. His body freezes beneath me, probably surprised by my sudden confidence. We’ve shared kisses before but nothing like this.

I can feel his need for me against my legging-clad thigh. He’s in loose-fitted sweats from after the game. “Isa, what are you doing?”

“Colton, it’s my birthday.”

“Yeah, and if you could have anything you want, what would it be?”

“You,” I reply honestly. I can feel my cheeks heat at my confession.

Colton places his rough hands on my face. “You have me, Isa.” He returns his lips to mine, but he doesn’t slip his tongue in this time. I begin to rock my hips slowly but he stills beneath me.

“I want you, Colton.” With all the courage I can muster, I lift the hem of my top and pull it over my head. His gaze immediately goes to my firm breasts. His eyes widen in surprise. “I want you to take my virginity. Tonight.”

Before he can respond, our heads turn to the door that springs open. In walks the entire McDonogh’s football team. I rush to grab my shirt that I tossed on the bed and hold it tightly to my chest. “Well, looky what we have here, boys. My innocent stepsister isn’t all that innocent now, is she.” Alexander starts to clap, and the other guys huddle beside him, all cackling.

I want to die.

“Harris, shut your fucking mouth.” Colton hisses with an expression of guilt on his face. What does he have to be guilty about? A sudden eerie feeling takes over. Something doesn’t feel right.

“Whaaatttt?” I stutter, unable to speak. “Is this?” Colton averts his gaze from me.

“Do you want to inform your girl Jacobs or should I?” Alexander asks with a sinister smile.

Inform me about what?

Colton visibly swallows.

Still clutching my shirt, I turn to him. “Colton, what’s going on?”

He finally lifts his gaze to meet mine. Taking a deep, pained breath he closes his eyes before muttering. “I’m so fucking sorry, Isa.”

“Sorry?” I ask, still not comprehending what is happening.

“See,” Alexander speaks again, returning my attention to him. “I made a bet with our star quarterback here that he couldn’t get a loser virgin like yourself out of her panties.” He looks to Colton, who’s still unable to face me.

“Guess he proved me wrong. If we hadn’t busted through the door just now, you would have been deep in virgin cunt, Cole.” Alexander emphasizes the nickname only I use for Colton, nearly shredding me apart.

With my face downward, unable to look at my tormentors, I can see wet tears splattering my arm. “That’s enough!” Colton growls. I tilt my head up and see him eyeing me painfully. It’s almost like he wants to reach over and pull me into his arms and tell me everything will be okay. But he did this. It’s his doing.

My stepbrother may have provided the gun, but Colton Jacobs pulled the trigger.

Six fricken months.

The sadness fades, and anger starts to set in.

Alexander steps into Colton’s space and swings an arm over his shoulder. The cocky bastard that he is. “Hey, now. Don’t be hasty. We did you a favor. She was seconds away from stripping out of her clothes. None of us want a Heffer when there’s prime rib waiting for you downstairs.” Colton gives Alexander, standing there, a devilish smile, a hard shove back.

I’m unsure what I ever did to Alexander to treat me as badly as he did. I moved into his house. Is that why he loathes me? Is that the reason he’s determined to make my life hell?

I face Colton. “So this was just a bet to see if I would give myself to you?”

“Isa.” He sighed, still unable to face me like a man.

“So the past six months were just a game. I was just a game?”

“What the fuck is going on in here?” Noah storms into his bedroom, trying to take the scene in. He looks at me, still standing there with my shirt clenched to my chest, and frowns. Immediately turning to his best friend. “What the fuck did you do to the girl, Jacobs?”

Alexander scoffs. “Like you didn’t know Wilson. You were there when we made the bet.”

Noah leans in closer to Colton. “You were supposed to call that shit off.” Colton doesn’t say one word. He remains standing there with his eyes narrowed to the floor like the coward he is.

I was just a game.

With my shirt still tightly clenched with a fist to my chest, I face the guy I was just about to give all of me. “I was just a joke to you?”

Silence.

Despite doing my best to hold them in, the tears fall. I lose all control over my emotions.

“Isa,” Colton finally finds the courage to meet my eyes. I see genuine sorrow in them. But I also see guilt.

Guilt that he got caught. Selfish bastard.

I rear my arm back and give him a stern fist to the cheek. I’ve been told I hit like a man before. His head swivels to the side from the force of it.

“Oh look, the kitty has claws.” My sadistic stepbrother says, and I’m also tempted to smack him.

Instead, I give Colton one last look, whispering my final words.

“I hate you.”

Without looking back, I run out of the house, pushing myself through the crowd of students downstairs. I hear laughs of hysteria and look down to see what everyone’s laughing at.

Me.

In my haste to escape that room, I dropped my shirt because I’m standing in a room full of classmates in a black lace bra. One that I bought specifically for Colton Jacobs.

I’m completely mortified. How will I ever be able to live this humiliation down?

I will never be able to show my face in town again.

“Mother, please don’t make me go back. I’m already the laughingstock of the town.” Tears stream down my reddened cheeks as I plead with my mother not to make me return to school that Sunday night.

It’s been two nights since I suffered the most humiliating experience of my existence.

“You have embarrassed this family, Isabella. I couldn’t send you back to school even if I wanted to.” Mother chastises.

Of course, that’s what she’s worried about, how I shamed the family. “So I’m being punished for something out of my control?” I’m about to place the blame on my dear old stepbrother, but Jonathan saunters inside the living room, ready to defend his son.

“Don’t you dare place blame on my son, young lady. He has no control over what Colton Jacobs does.” Not surprised he’s so quick to come to his son’s defense. It must be nice to have someone in your corner, someone to have your back.

Something that I still have yet to have.

“It’s not Alexander’s fault you were so naïve to think our star quarterback would ever fall for an ordinary girl like yourself. When he can get any girl in society that he wants.” His words hurt. But I swallow them down.

I know I’m not what society deems “beautiful,” but I am happy in my skin. Well, I was happy. Colton destroyed my self-confidence. One I’ll never get back.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. First thing in the morning, you’ll get on a plane and fly back to Boulder, Colorado. Jonathan has already spoken to your father; he’s expecting you.”

Fear sets in as my mother informs me of my new fate.

My father, William Taylor, isn’t a good man. For most of my life, he was an absentee dad who chose alcohol over his family. It wasn’t until his drinking got out of control that he started using his fists. I remember many nights waking up and hiding in the corner of my closet to escape the yelling.

Even to this day, I get nightmares.

Now, I’m being forced to return to the one place my mom tried for years to escape.

“Please, Mother.” She holds a hand up. And I know there’s no changing her mind. She wants me gone, and this is her only opportunity to do that.

“You have embarrassed this family enough, Isabelle. It’s time for you to go back home.” Mother checks the room to look for any sign of my stepfather. He must have slipped out. She gets to eye level with me. “You will not ruin this for me. It’s time for you to go.”

The tears fall.

My life is over. And I have only one person to blame.

Colton Jacobs. Who I thought was the love of my life.

Is now my enemy.