Prologue
Sam’s POV
Worst day ever.
Today was the first day of my freshmen year at Eastvale High School. I’d had high hopes to make a friend when I finally got here... But it turns out, no one wants me. They all want Ben.
My big brother. He’s a senior and popular. He has so many girls crawling all over him it's kinda disgusting, and yet, he loves it. He’s a Tight End on the football team and he hangs out with the rest of the popular crowd... Including the stupid skanky girls looking for attention. I don’t know how many times I walked in on my brother and some random chick in our house... Then they’d treat me like I’m some sort of maid. Like, what the hell?
And for some reason, he doesn’t see it. He just laps up all the attention, showing off for anyone who will bother to look. It’s disgusting how he acts like he’s God’s gift to the world.
So does his stupid best friend Ares... But I don’t want to talk about him. Ares is the QB on the team. He is THE MOST popular boy in school. And I get it he’s handsome and suave...
Once upon a time I had a crush on him... Until I realized what a player he is. When he was a freshman, he’d had a girl in his room every single day of the week... and they weren’t even the same girl! Ew! No thank you! I have gotten over my stupid little crush on him years ago. Now I just try to stay away from him.
I’d much rather find a nice guy who just likes me. I don’t want to be a number or a notch on his bed post. I’ve been looking for a nice computer nerd type guy. They wouldn’t be like Ares and Ben, right? They wouldn’t treat me like some slut.
Today I had 5 different girls coming up to me asking me if I could get them to Ares or Ben. The short answer: NO! I would not go up to my brother and Ares and beg them to sleep with some random chick who will suddenly pretend to like me, until my brother or Ares ditches her for the next flavor of the day. It never turns out well for me in the end.
I swear I haven’t had my own best friend that didn’t want anything to do with Ben since I was in kindergarten... And then she moved away. I still miss Lucy. At least I knew she was mine!
Now I have nobody. Do you have any idea how lonely it is growing up under my brother? I can’t get a single damn friend. All the girls just use me as some door mat to get what they want.
Since then, it’s been the same damn thing. I’m so tired... I’m tempted to change my last name... Or better yet, call Aunt Jenny and ask if I can move in with her. She lives 3 hours away. There is no way anyone would have heard of Ben Jones! Better yet, I won’t have to look Ares in that smug face ever again! I’m really starting to like this idea!
Someone bumps into me and I land in the lockers. My shoulder stings, and I rub it trying to get rid of the pain faster.
“Oh! I’m sorry,” a cute guy turns slightly as he gets pulled down the hallway by some girl. He sends me a wink, and I can’t help the blush.
I wish like hell I had a boyfriend of my own. Am I really not date-able? I know I’m not ugly... I’m pretty! Not that I’m stuck up like my idiot brother or anything, but I have long dark brown locks and deep green eyes that match my brothers. I have a curvy figure, but I’m not fat. What the hell is so wrong with me?
Why can’t I have a sweet boyfriend like any normal girl? One that wasn’t all about attention. Just me and him... But I doubt I’ll be getting that until I make it to college... Somewhere far away from my brother and his player best friend.
I round the corner, trying to make it to my locker so I can get my books and go home. It’s been one helluva day, and I just want to finish the stupid homework and grab a plate of cookies and a glass of milk... and maybe one of my favorite mystery stories.
I can’t help the giggle as I think of the romance I picked up... but that’s a secret! If I can’t have a boyfriend in real life, I might as well have one in my imagination... The perfect boyfriend. One who loves me and knows how to treat me like I matter to him... I sigh, trying to cool my cheeks from burning bright pink.
And then I skid to a stop. I think my entire body just locked up and my brain can no longer function. Because there is no way in hell I’m seeing what I’m seeing right now.
What the hell?!
Ares Beck is right in front of my locker... But it isn’t just him. He’s got Trisha Robins pressed up against my locker and sticking his tongue down her throat like he’s searching for treasure. The chick has her hands all over him, and he’s worse than an octopus! He’s groaning and she’s giggling.... And I’m gagging!
I can’t help it! I freeze. Just what exactly is going on right now? Is it pick on Samantha Day and I didn’t get the notice? Nothing has been going well since I stepped foot in the damn school. Girls have been harassing me, boys have been bumping into me. It’s like no one sees me at all!
I kinda wish they didn’t see me. I want to be a ghost right now, because then I wouldn’t be witnessing this freaking porn show! I want to jab my eyes out, but I can’t! I’m still stuck here like an idiot, watching two other idiots make fools of themselves!
What the hell am I supposed to do? I just need my damn books and he’s here making out with some skank against MY locker! Why can’t he make out with her at HIS LOCKER?
Is this going to be a reoccurring thing? Because if it is, I’m asking the office to move my locker to the other end of the school I really am not trying to watch this pathetic display. I don’t want to be anywhere around him and his slut. I want to go home where I can binge on crap TV and eat ice cream, and pretend I have friends... Like my teddy bears.
I know he’s doing this on purpose because he’s smirking at me while his kissing his toy, before he pulls away. I want to smack his damn face, but I’m still frozen in front of my damn locker. I wish I could unfreeze and run the hell away from here!
“I know you’ve got a little crush on me, Sammy. But a little privacy, please,” he teases. “You know you will never be good enough to kiss any of the guys in this school, right?” He laughs. Then he leans over and whispers in my ear. “I know you’re jealous and you are wishing it was you. But it will never be you."
I chill of revulsion rushes through my body causing me to shiver from his close proximity. He is way too close! I can smell her perfume all over him and it’s making my nose itch... I might be allergic to aroma-de-skank...
“Seriously! Who’d want to kiss a little creep like you?” Trisha’s voice came out high and nasally. “You are just a nasty little slut, just wishing you could be something important to him... Like me!”
I almost scoff. Does she really think she’s important to him? I’ll give him an hour. Two at tops to switch girls and I won’t even be sad... I’m just disgusted.
I must still be in shock because I’m looking at these two horn-dogs leaning against my locker and my brain hasn’t even caught up to what they were saying about me until the hallway breaks into laughter. Loud and mocking.
I look around as the whole student body seems to have gravitated to my locker just to make fun of me. Of course I’m this tiny little freshmen and all these guys are huge giants. Everyone seems to believe what they are saying. Do they really think I’m the slut when I have never even been kissed?
Ares knows this. And yet, he won’t do a damn thing to correct peoples assumptions now. He’s just laughing along like its the most hilarious thing he’s ever heard. But then again, Ares Beck has never been bullied a day in his life. He is the one people try to emulate. Everyone wants to either date or become the next Ares Beck... Except me.
I want nothing to do with him. But I guess he missed the memo.
A tear leaks down my face as I turn back to Ares. Something crosses his face as he watches the tear fall off my chin. I can still hear the laughing and jeering coming from behind me, but I refuse to acknowledge them. I don’t give a second glace to the bimbo shoving her boobs in my face. I just focus on the bastard who started this all.
“Ares. I was only trying to get my books so I could go home,” I choke out. “Next time you want one of your sluts, take her to your locker! Or better yet, go screw her in your car and then switch her out far away from me! I never want to see your face again!”
And then I turn around and walk out of the building. I don’t pay any attention to the talk, or the jokes being made as I pass by. I couldn’t care less about the scathing looks girls are giving me. None of them know me anyway. So, why the hell should I care what they think about me?
I swallow back my tears, wishing I had a girl friend I could talk to. I sure as hell can’t talk to my brother. Both idiots share the same brain cell and he’d just laugh at me too. I just want one damn friend! Is that too much to ask for?
I can hear Ares trying to call me, but I ignore him. He can go rot in hell for all I care. I’m not the kind of person to wish bad things to happen to others, but in this case, I wish karma would kick him in the ass for me.
All it took was one day for him to ruin my entire high school life. The first damn day! How am I supposed to make it through school like this?
I march past my brother, waiting by his car. I can see him out of the corner of my eye, trying to trot my way, but he is the second to the last person I want to see right now, so I just continue to ignore him. Maybe I should call Aunt Jenny when I get home? I don’t care about fairy godmothers or crap like that. I just want the chance to make a real friend, and I can’t do that here... I’m sure Mom and Dad would understand...
Ben... it would probably blow right over his head.
“Hey! Sammy! Where the hell are you going?” Ben calls out, trying to catch up to me, but I push my feet faster. I don’t to be near him. I also don’t want him questioning why the hell I’m crying. I’m not a crier, so it means something really got to me. But whose side would he take? That’s right. That rat bastard Ares!
“HOME!” I shout. That is all the answer I’m giving him. He can go score some chick and not have to worry about me for the rest of the day. I just want to be alone...
That’s a lie. I don’t want to be alone, but there is no one around I would like to have with me... So, alone it is.
“What the hell’s wrong?” Ben asks, finally catching up to me, pulling my arm to bring me to a stop. I try to yank my arm free, but he just pulls me closer and studies my face with a frown.
I growl, yanking my arm free just as Ares and his skank make it to us. Why the hell are they here? And why did he bring her? Is he really that dense?
“Why don’t you ask your stupid friend?” I demand, pointing right at Ares, who isn’t actually holding the chick. Maybe she just decided to come along to see what the fuss was all about.
Ben looks at Ares, who is running his hand through his hair in agitation. “Look, Sammy... It was just a stupid joke! I wasn’t serious... I’m sor-”
"I don’t give a damn if you’re sorry, Ares! I HAVE NEVER been interested in ARES BECK!” I scream at the top of my lungs to make sure the whole damn school could hear me, looking him in the eye so he can see I’m serious. “And I SURE AS HELL NEVER WILL BE! Just stay the hell away from me!”
And then I turn around and continue walking away from them. I have had it with this first day of school and just want the school year to end so they can move away and I can move on with my life and not have to look over my shoulder anymore.
“Sam! Come back!” Ben called.
“NO!” I shout back, not even turning around. “IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE FRIENDS WITH A BASTARD I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!”
I thought that would be the end of it...
I was wrong.
