Chapter 1
Lexi
Bed rotting has become the only extra curricular activity I can tolerate these days. Other girls my age are filling their after schools hours with things like cheerleading, yearbook club, dance line, and so on.
I, on the other hand, crawl back into bed the second I pass through the doorway of my bedroom. That’s on my good days. The ones where I make it through an entire school day without getting sick.
The headaches started when I hit puberty, debilitating migraines triggered by hormonal changes. Somedays, I spend hours vomiting my guts out while a jackhammer pounds in my head.
I’ve tried just about every medication on the market to prevent these episodes, some help for a short while, but the side effects end up outweighing what temporary relief I get.
I have zero social life because I’m not in school long enough to make any lasting friends, which is thoroughly depressing.
When I do make a friend, I end up constantly cancelling plans due to my attacks. My life is so isolating, social media has become my only outlet.
“Sweetheart, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.” My mother whispers as she creeps into my dark bedroom. Today is a good day, my headache is only at a four, so I’m still able to somewhat function.
The weight of the bed shifts as she cautiously sits down beside to me.
God bless her, she’s tried everything to help me. We’ve seen every specialist, neurologist, obgyn, and endocrinologist in the area, but each just tries to push different drugs at us.
She hands me a glass of water, my chilled eye mask, and two aspirin. “I think we should consider online school for a while. It seems like the lights and noise from in person schooling are making your attacks worse.”
I pop the medication into my mouth. She’s right, by midday I’m absolutely miserable. Besides, it’s not like I’d be missed. I do my best to hide, when I am there. This latest antidepressant they started me on has blown me up like a balloon. I’ve already gained 30 pounds.
“I think you’re right mama, it’s time.” This transition is long overdue, but she’s desperately tried to keep me at an in person school as long as possible, for my mental health. We learned with the pandemic that I struggle more when I’m isolated.
Everyday, I wish I could go back to that happy go lucky little girl that didn’t have a care in the world, before my body turned against me.
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Two years later
Cameron Knight
“Knight! When you’re bringing that ball down the field, keep your eyes peeled to your left. The left forward on the Eagles is quick!”
“It’s like you don’t even know me coach.” I laugh as I dribble the ball back to the sidelines. He smirks then shakes his head.
“I know that you’re easily distracted by your personal cheerleading section over there, but keep your eyes on the ball.”
“What can I say? The ladies love me!” I snatch the ball up, bouncing it from knee to knee, before knocking it into the bag with my head.
“Arrogant bastard, they’re not all here because of you, ya know.” Ah...Hardy, one of my best friends and wingman. Right wing to be exact. I’m the starting center forward, Hardy’s right, and Wrigley’s left. We’re what’s known around town as the Penbrook Princes.
“Sure they are. I’m the highest scoring player in state history.” I laugh tugging my shirt up over my head. Then I look over at The Fakes as they’re known.
The Fakes are a group of three girls and their lackies who have it stuck in their bleach blonde heads that me, Wrigley, and Hardy are destined to be their husbands someday.
Granted, they are the most popular girls in school, but everything about them is fake, hence the nickname.
Gwen’s father is some famous plastic surgeon to the stars who’s worked his magic transforming his daughter and her friends into weird Bratz doll look alikes. Gwen’s 10th birthday present was her first nose job.
Gwen is also my ex, we dated throughout our freshman and sophomore years. Back when she still somewhat resembled a human.
“CAM!” She yells with a swoon, waving her hand at me.
“Hey ladies.” I politely toss them a quick wave on my way to the locker room.
In this town, soccer is thee sport. Most people think of a midwestern suburb as football country, and at other schools that stands true. But here in Penbrook, soccer has always dominated. That probably has something to do with my family’s legacy.
My father and uncle founded the soccer program in this town, both playing in, and winning, the World Cup before I was ever born. My father put a soccer ball between my feet early on. I was able to kick it before I could walk.
“You asking her to the homecoming dance this year?” Hardy smirks.
“Are you asking Darcy?” I shoot back, knowing he’d rather slit his own throat than be in the same room as her ever again.
“We haven’t talked since the last day of school.” He says shaking his head. A day no one in the history of Penbrook will ever forget. Hardy caught Darcy giving the football coach, who’s married with two kids, a blowjob in the field house.
Apparently, they’d been messing around for most of the school year. It was the biggest scandal to ever hit Penbrook and the guy was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor.
“She’s just a cheap whore.” His words are cold, but he’s not wrong. Poor guy’s been in a massive depression all summer over it. Darcy was the first girl that he ever thought he loved.
“She is, but you can do better.” I reassuringly pat him on the back.
“Just think of all the freshman meat coming in this year. All those eager, naive little minds and bodies we can corrupt.” I laugh.
“You’re so fucked up.” He snorts.
“HEY ASSHATS!” Wrigley chimes in charging between us. He tosses an arm around our shoulders.
“Who’s ready to get lit?!” He smirks.
Where Hardy is the level headed, serious one, Wrigley is the golden party boy. Lookwise, the three of us are comparable. Hardy’s slightly shorter than us with green eyes and sandy brown hair. Wrigley looks like a live action version of “beach Ken” even more so than Ryan Gosling.
The girls swoon over his blonde floppy hair, blue eyes, dimples and golden tan. Not to mention, with his class clown antics. He never takes anything, except soccer, seriously.
“I could use a cold one.” I say, my mouth’s already watering at the thought of lying by the lake with a six pack.
“Can we use your dad’s boat?” Hardy asks.
“I can ask, but I’m pretty sure he and uncle were headed out for some trolling.”
“What about the jet skis?” How did I know that was the next question? I sigh. Wrigley, beer, and jet skis don’t mix.
“Maybe.”
“Don’t gate keep my fun, Knight!” Wrigs says as he tightens his arm around my neck until I’m in a headlock.
“FINE! Fine! I’ll bring the jet skis, but no fires this time.”
“I can’t make any promises!” He laughs.
“Oh I gotta let the girls know.” He lets go of us then runs off towards the fakes.
“NO! It’s guys night!” But my words fall on deaf ears.
Wrigley is obsessed with women, any and all of them. Let’s just say he has zero standards, but it’s only because Riley Pierce won’t give him the time of day.
She sort of hangs around the fakes, only because Darcy is her cousin. Wrigley has been obsessing over her since she moved here in 3rd grade.
Riley isn’t allowed to date though, her father is a pastor at the local church. Believe me when I say every guy in this school fantasizes about ruining that good little Christian girl.
Well, every guy except me. She’s sweet, but I need a girl with a bit more spunk. Riley’s too quiet and passive for my taste.
“She won’t be there!” Hardy shouts after him. We all know Wrigley holds out hope that one day Riley will eventually tag along with her cousin. Hardy and I know otherwise.
There’s no way in hell that Pastor Pierce would ever let his daughter out of his sight to go hang around a bunch of horny teenage boys.
That guy is more than overprotective of his youngest, in fact, the vibe he gives off is actually kind of creepy. The poor girl always looks absolutely terrified when her dad is around.
“Meet you at the beach?” Hardy asks as I saunter towards the showers.
“Yeah, I’m just gonna run home and grab the jet skis. Can you can bring the beer?”
“Already on it.” He throws me a fist bump as he exits the locker room.
