Chapter One
105 days left.
105 days left until graduation.
105 days left of people calling me Eli’s little sister.
105 days left of going to this hell hole that is called Greenfield Academy.
Ever since the new year hit I started my countdown of how many days are left until I finally get to escape the shadows of my brother. I will finally be able to leave Los Angeles and be my own person far away from here. I had spent my whole life living under the shadows of my brother and I felt so claustrophobic. My parents had expected me to be just like him. He’s currently the starting linebacker for the University of Southern California as a sophomore, he’s been dating the same girl since his freshman year of high school, and to top it off his grades are almost perfect. He has his whole life laid out for him; meanwhile, I have been trying to live up to him even though it just isn’t who I am.
I’m being honest, I don’t even know who I am. I have spent my whole life trying to be just as perfect as him and I lost myself in the process. I have been so focused on maintaining my grades that I haven’t had time to do anything for myself. I’ve never been out on school nights, I’ve never been on a date, meaning that I have never had a boyfriend, which leads to never being kissed. My life was far from perfect.
“Ms. Garcia?” Shit. I must have been lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear Ms. Ryan call my name. I wonder how many times she’s said it already.
GG must be thinking about how she’s going to fit in doing her homework for next week.” I turn to see the voice come from none other than Brynn, the girl who is determined to ruin my life. The class erupts in laughter as I look like I want to bury my head in my books from the embarrassment. GG is what I get called by damn near the whole student body, it stands for Good Garcia. I got that name because I’m not as rebellious as my brother was meaning that I’m the good Garcia.
“That’s enough class. Keep your childish comments to yourself, Brynnlee.” I want to laugh because Brynn hates being called by her full name.
105 days left. I can get through 105 days.
The bell rings, saving me from more public humiliation. I try to walk to my locker keeping my head down so that no one manages to see me pass. You would think since my brother was such a legend that I wouldn’t be made fun of, but that is not the case. Since I am nothing like my brother, people make fun of me for never being good enough.
Brynn had the biggest crush on my brother, she tried to get me to break him and his girlfriend up many times but I would never do that. As much as I despise my brother, I wouldn’t try to ruin his happiness.
Indiana, my best friend, graduated last year. So now I’m left all alone to suffer in high school without any friends. It’s fine, I always say to myself, all I should be focusing on is my grades so that I can get as far away from here as possible. I’ve been looking at NYU for the longest time, and my parents have no clue that I applied there. I’m almost 18 so I should be able to make my own decisions, I just hope they will understand and still pay for the college I decide is right for me.
I’ve always wanted to go into journalism, but every time I’m asked by all my relatives what major I want they give me this look. This look is like when your younger sibling draws a really hideous picture but you have to give them a little white lie to not hurt their feelings. No one believes that I will be able to do it, my parents assume I’ll go into business and then work for them after college but it’s not what I want. It’s not something I would ever be passionate about. I’m not who they want me to be.
I grab my books from my locker and head to my next class, keeping my head down I feel someone muscular brush past my shoulder and I can’t help but let out a soft whimper. I turn to see who the person is but I only catch the side of their face when they quickly say, “Sorry,” and keep walking.
He had a nice, sharp jawline with some stubble. I don’t catch his eyes or any other facial features. He’s walking quickly, running into everyone in the hall with his hood up. I don’t recognize him, and I know everyone. Also, we aren’t allowed to wear hats or hoods indoors, yet he was. I shake off my weird feeling of him and continue walking.
I sit in the middle row on the edge, closest to the door so I can leave right when the bell rings. As I wait for everyone to settle down and for class to start, I pull out my journal and continue writing where I left off in my story. My journal has all the little stories I like to write to help pass by time. It’s a way I occupy myself now since there’s not much for me here.
Austin tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Something I’ve grown to love, I never knew why he did this. Such a small gesture could affect a person so much more than you’d wish. I smiled as he rested his palm on my cheek. I could feel the warmth of his hand.
“Why are you smiling?” He questioned me with a small smile that sent shocks down my spine. God, I loved that smile, I love him. I just can’t tell him, not yet.
“I’m just really happy,” I respond, smiling into his palm.
I stopped writing when I heard the bell ring, signaling that class was beginning. I put my journal back into my bag and looked to the front of the classroom to see a familiar face watching me. He looks as if he has been watching me for a while.
I recognize that triangle-chiseled jaw with a little bit of stubble. It’s the boy who brushed past me in a hurry in the hallway just a few minutes ago. His features were absolutely gorgeous, but I’d never seen him before today. I can tell he’s new, he’s wearing a white buttoned-down polo, blue tie, black slacks, sneakers, and a blue jacket, clearly not in proper uniform. We make eye contact for a split second, his eyes are a beautiful hazel with eyelashes that look perfect, his hair is a chestnut brown and cropped, while his lips are a light shade of pink and parted, nice and full. He stares at me for a much longer time than I stare at him.
“Class,” Mr. Walsh waits for everyone’s eyes to look to the front where he’s directing our attention, “as you can tell we have a new student.” Everyone looks at the new guy, it must be extremely awkward for him. “Mr. Wells, please introduce yourself.”
“I go by Liam, thanks,” he scoffs, “and I don’t need an introduction. I’ll just find myself a seat.” Rude. That’s all I have to say about him. He reminds me of another Eli, only at least Eli is polite whereas Liam seems to be cocky and not care if he shows it.
To my luck, he finds a seat right next to me. “Is this seat taken?” He raises his nicely shaped eyebrows at me. “I wish it was so you wouldn’t have to sit here.” I try to say under my breath but I think he hears me. I clear my throat as I move my stuff and force a fake smile as he sits down.
“You’ve got an attitude,” he raises a single eyebrow, “I like that,” he winks at me and I feel a shiver. It’s just one class that I will have to deal with him I tell myself. I roll my eyes at him then turn my attention to the front of the room, angling my body in the opposite direction of him.
“I don’t have cooties, ya know,” he whispers with a smirk and leans closer to me.
“Maybe not, but you could have an STD and not know about it,” I shot back with a little attitude in my whisper. I give him another fake smile.
“That’s not how it works, Cookie Crumbs,” he smiles, trying to hold in his laughter. What the fuck does ‘Cookie Crumbs’ even mean? “Excuse me?” I raise my eyebrows and shoot him a glare.
“Your freckles,” he points at my face, “they’re like cookie crumbs. I don’t know your name so I’m gonna call you Cookie Crumbs,” he smiles with squinted eyes. I’m not gonna lie, the nickname is pretty cute. I hope I wasn’t blushing, but by the look on his face, I think my cheeks were a little pink. He was right, I did have freckles all over my nose and they sprinkled only a little on my cheeks but not a lot.
“I’m a little offended though, Cookie Crumbs. Do you think I sleep with a lot of girls? You don’t even know me and you’re already looking at me like I’m some sort of sex symbol,” he placed his hand on his chest and pretended to look hurt by my comment. “I know I’m good-looking, but I am not a man whore,” I roll my eyes.
He leans in, his mouth inches away from my ear, “Are you picturing me naked yet?” I want to slap him right there but he pulls his head back and faces the front of the classroom too quickly. He was staring at me through the corner of his eye. I try to shake the thought of him off and just pay attention to Mr. Walsh’s lecture.
This might have been the longest class I have ever been in, but we still have about five more minutes left when Mr. Walsh finishes. He gives us the remainder of the time to do whatever, so I pull out my journal and think about what to write next.
“I’m really happy, too,” he smiled at me and leaned in to kiss my forehead. The touch of his lips was so soft and gentle, that I wanted to melt into his arms and collapse in them. How could he ever love a girl like me? I’m so average, so shy, so ugly, and he’s so smart, outgoing, athletic, and really hot.
“Thank you, Alexus,” he smiled.
“For what?” I questioned his random act of appreciation.
“For being mine,” he moved another piece of hair out of my face. I let out a small giggle.
“What are you writing there?” Liam tries to peek over my shoulder but I quickly close my journal before he can see. I kept these stories to myself, not even Dylan knows about them. Every time someone is even close to reading them I feel embarrassed.
“That is none of your concern, Wells,” I respond coldly as the bell rings and I quickly pick up my stuff and leave. I walk through the hallway the same way I did earlier today, with my head down so no one sees me.
I open my locker when I see from the corner of my eye a body leaning against the locker next to mine.
“Oh Austin, how could you ever love a girl like me? I’m just so average, so-” I slam my locker shut to face the gleaming face of Liam Wells reading from my journal.
I grab my journal aggressively and stare him down. “Where the fuck did you get this!” I yell, but I make sure only he hears me. “Did you steal it from my bag?!”
“Ouch,” he places his hand on his chest again and pretends that I hurt his feelings, “Cookie Crumbs, it really hurts that you think so little of me,” he remains calm whereas I, on the other hand, am about to lose my mind.
“Where did you get it,” my voice sounds more aggressive than it did a minute ago.
“Relax, you left it on the table. I’m no thief,” he stays still and stands up straight, no longer leaning on the locker beside mine.
“Why did you read it? Have you always been such a snoop?” I squint my eyes at him waiting for his smart-ass reply.
“No, my curiosity just got the best of me this time,” he smiles. “You’re good.”
“What?” I’m confused. Good at what? “Your writing. It’s good. Very descriptive. I could feel the butterflies Alexus was feeling towards Austin. I would like to read more if you’d let me,” he sounds sincere, but can I trust him?
I take a step closer to him before replying, “I don’t even let my best friend read it.” I turn around and walk away. There is no way in hell I am going to let the new boy read my little stories, they’re too personal to me and he will probably find it funny and use it against me.
‘Cookie Crumbs,’ I thought to myself. I hope I can shake that name off.
