Addicted

The bright lights surrounded Las Vegas, illuminating its power and radiance. The streets, during the day and night, held the lively atmosphere. Everyone had their job and worked hard for their status in the world. Power is one of those jobs that everyone, deep down, sought every second of everyday, without realizing it. To most people, power is a game, just like life. If you are capable of making life your own game with everyone else playing, and win, then you deserve to hold the title of the best player in the game of power. It’s all about control, over everyone... and yourself.

Las Vegas is a glamorous city, known for its wealthy hotel lines, luxurious casinos, not to mention its fairly amount of powerful and rich, for a lack of words, people. A magnet for hunters for money and power such as wealthy heirs and famous faces. Though non of them, no matter how greatly guarded, can go unseen by the lords of the streets, the real heads of the game they all are playing, no matter which table they belong to.

Most of the so called powerful people that think that they own the night are blinded by their own big head and illusions. They don’t come anywhere near the predators of the night that lurk behind every shadow. They work in groups under their leaders, giving away all their trust in them. Every ounce of their own strength they give to the leader that actually keeps them safe and protected. Every family feels that power of their leader, the leader’s strength pushes them forward, giving them the strength they need to complete the game.

Leaders of every gang had their own hiding place, a little sanctuary that no one could find, far from their own homes where they usually don’t get disturbed by the other gangs. Every one of the leaders had work and responsibility they had to take care of, papers, people, allies, enemies... lives. They have over hundreds of lives in their hands, a real responsibility indeed.

The doors of the large, extravagant building keep opening and closing, therefore everyone who comes and goes is being watched from a haunted and endangered young woman. The girl has been taking in the city, every building, every corner, street, alleyway, store and innocent passerby. Everything seemed the same as when she left her home three years ago, but the dark cloud looming over the city changes everything. Nothing is the same as it was three years ago, her life drastically changed over night and everything she knew of was gone. The life she once knew was aggressively taken from her at a young age, only one of the leaders being responsible for that.

Now a new life awaits her, and new problems she will cross will be like nothing she has ever experienced, though she is ready to take every blow and return it harder...

~Samantha Torres~

A loud banging resonated through my room. Whoever was pounding on my door might as well beat it down. If I just play dead and keep on sleeping then maybe they’ll leave me alone...

My hope grew a bit when the banging stopped and silence spread around we once again. So I saw that as a signal to bury myself in my silky sheets some more and get back to sleep.

Alas, I forgot that I live with a jerk and that was the moment my dear older brother decided to just barge into my room, yelling ′

Good morning!

′ at the top of his lungs while pulling back my curtains, letting the Sun’s rays blind me.

“Go away! Let me sleep...” I switched positions and turned on the other side to get away from the light. I could hear some shuffling around the room, indicating that the ass didn’t leave my room yet.

“No can do, sunshine. It’s 6 AM and you still need to go to school.” Suddenly, chills spread all over my body at the lack of contact with my soft sheet. What the hell?

“Fuck my life...” I turn around with a slight frown to see a grinning Philip holding my precious sheet.

“Oh, come on, sis. Don’t be like that. Where’s that all too familiar sarcastic attitude of yours? We haven’s seen each other in a long time, grace your brother with that impeccable personality of yours.” He laughed to himself as he put down the sheet and made his way to the door. Good riddance. “Oh, and if you’re not up in the next half-hour I’m coming up here and waking you up myself, and you know you don’t want that.”

Jumping up from the bed I make a bee line for my en-suite. “I’m up, I’m up!”

There’s no way I’m going to live through that again...

Shedding my clothes I step into the shower, letting the hot water sooth my muscles and take away the sleep. There’s no time for my regular hourly showers so I quickly finish up, not wanting to be late on my first day.

I don’t particularly hate school. It’s okay, I guess. Back in L.A. I was a straight A student, never had a problem with any of my teachers. It’s just a pain that I have to go through introduction today. Boring. As if everyone here doesn’t already know who I am.

Quickly washing my hair and rinsing off the lingering body wash, I step out of the shower and dry off. I’m glad I unpacked last night. If I hadn’t, dressing would’ve been a pain in the ass right about now.

Picking a white crop top, I pair it with some light high-waisted jeans and white high tops. It’s going to be hot today, I know that, so there’s no need for a hoodie, but just in case I tied a jean jacket around my waist.

I dried my long chestnut hair in record time and put some light makeup, so I don’t scare anyone to death with my zombie appearance. Okay, that’s a lie. I like to put some makeup from time to time.

So after applying some of my BB cream, concealer, contour, highlighter, eyeliner, mascara and my favorite Kylie Jenner matte liquid red lipstick I was ready to go.

But, after looking at myself in my floor length mirror, I noticed that there was something missing... my backpack was grey-white, so it went perfectly with my look.

Aha!

A red bandana! I feel a bit hippy. So to complete the look I picked out some really cute sunglasses.

Perfect!

Checking the clock my eyes nearly bulge out of my head. It says that it’s 7.30 AM. Well, I think I took too long after all.

"

Samantha, hurry up! You’re going to be late!

" Philip yells from downstairs and I run as if my life depended on it. Well, it kinda did.

“I’m here, I’m here.” I sit myself at the table where Philip already had our breakfast ready. Though, there’s a vacancy at the table that made me slightly suspicious. “Phil, where’s Peter?”

He turned around and glanced at the staircase, rolling his eyes at the emptiness. “Peter!” He screamed loudly, only to be graced with an annoyed grunt from upstairs, followed with a loud bang. Peter must be very grumpy.

Not waiting for ether of them I dug in and hurried with my breakfast, trying not to choke on the food in the process. Thank God the school isn’t very far from here.

Not long after my other dear older brother stumped inside the kitchen and made a beeline for the coffee machine.

“What’s got your panties in a twist?” I asked with a mouthful, making Philip glare at me. Of course, he also scolds me about how I need to start acting like a girl and not like a disgusting, half drunk truck driver.

Plopping down in his seat next to me, Peter glanced at me for a second in acknowledgement before directing his icy glare towards Philip. “Our dear older brother here decided over night that should be his slave, apparently.”

“Oh, quit whining. It’s not like you did anything back at the office yesterday for you to be tired for night watch.” Philip shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and proceeded having breakfast.

“Yeah? Well let’s see how you’ll react when Slave boy here make so much mistakes you’ll need an entire week just to notice them, let alone correct them, you ungrateful son of a-”

“Enough!” The two of them look at me, surprised at my outburst. “I really want to go on my first day here at least somewhat cheery. So please, why are the two of you fighting? There are two of you, make it work. One could concentrate on the company one week while the other takes care of the Family’s duties. Two heads are better than one, yet it looks like you two are after each other, not working together.”

“Damn, since when are you all gown up?” Peter takes a sip of his coffee while looking at me skeptically.

“Since I grew tired of listening to the two of you bicker back and forth about every single stupid detail that was supposed to be too easy.”

“No! I forbid you to grow up! I want you to stay little.” Philip pouted like a toddler, obviously in a good mood since this morning.

Getting up from the table I grab my back pack and kiss both of them goodbye. “You and me both, Phil.”

“Have fun at school! No boys allowed!”

“Very funny, Peter!” I yell as I shut the door behind me.

I still have 15 minutes to spare, guess I’ll walk today.

But, today my luck decided to take a vacation, so upon exiting my fence I bump into a very hard wall of muscle. Why can’t God give me a break? It just had to be my first day back home...

“Sorry-”

“Would you watch where you’re going?!”

Well, I guess you can’t be nice to people here... This guy needs to chill.

“Well I guess that I’m not sorry then. You should watch where you’re going too! If you lack that ability, then I suggest you take that stick that’s buried deep up your ass and use it as a guide!”

A small smirk grew on the fucker’s face as he crossed his arms, making his muscles bulge. But something else caught my eye.

He was wearing a short sleeved white T-shirt that made his tattoos very visible. He looks yummy.

What? He might be a dick, but I have eyes, you know?

His dark chocolate hair was ruffled messily, his curls were sticking out everywhere, but it looked really good on him. His eyes were the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen, and those full lips of his... ugh! Serve him on a silver platter, please! And that piercing on his lip... oh my God... I want to bite it.

“Quite a mouth on you there, beautiful? A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be so vulgar.” Mystery bastard took another step towards me, now completely towering over me. He was well over six feet tall, a lot taller in comparison to my 5′5 frame.

Rolling my eyes at the idiot I make my way to school, not wanting to lose any more time. Also, I’m trying really hard right now to ignore the little feeling in the pit of my stomach. Do I really know this douche from somewhere?

Could it- No! It can’t be him. He does have a similar English accent, but the tattoos? The piercing? What happened? Plus he looks so much mature and- wow!

“I see you recognized me.” I turn my head to glance at him. So it is him? He changed a lot. And by the look of the back pack he’s carrying and walking with me the same way he attends my school as well. Why isn’t he in England? “Took you a bit, I could never forget such a pretty face like yours, Sam.”

What? He sounds different as well? What happened?

“Speechless I see. Well, I guess we don’t have time to chat now seeing that class is starting soon.” What is he talking about?

Oh, we made it to school!

Now that I look around I can see people staring at the two of us. I recognize some people from middle school. Some people from my brothers’ gang are here as well. Good. Now I know that I can’t do much here, seeing I have eyes on me everywhere.

“I have some business to finish beforehand, but, I do hope to see you later and hear that sweet voice of yours, babe. So unfair of you keeping silent as soon as you found out it was me. I hope I can change your mind and you see that I’m not that big of a failure?” He smirked at my confused face and winked at me before disappearing somewhere.

Did this just happen? What in God’s name is going on?

He still owes me some answers even from three years ago. So I guess this just adds to the pile.

Failure? Why does he think he’s a failure? Maybe he was just messing with me. But still, even after all this time, and after seeing him like this my heart still skipped a beat. But I’m scared of what happened. Would I hate the answers that he has to offer?

This is all just too overwhelming. I need to concentrate on something else so he can leave my mind.

I make my way to the entrance, heading to the office to grab my locker combination and class schedule. It was easy. Apart from the questioning and dirty looks I got from some students I pretty much like it here already. I know for a fact that I won’t be bored. Looks like I’ll be getting lots of wanted and unwanted attention. What can I say? I like the thought of it. I’m an attention whore. And the spotlight will soon be mine, no doubt.

My locker was apparently located near my homeroom class and in the busiest hallway in the school. Getting rid of some things in the locker I make my way to my homeroom class.

It was fairly crowded, the students looked sleepy, though some were already in a heated conversation. Early morning can’t stop you from spreading the latest gossip. But, after my entrance and aura that screamed for attention, everyone hushed. The teacher, however, seemed to be asleep on the desk. So creeping slowly as to not startle the poor man I tap his shoulder lightly three times. He steers a bit and glances up to meet my gaze.

When he finally figures out where he is he straightens in his seat and clears his throat. “I apologize. What do you need, Miss?”

“Uh, I’m the new transfer student?” Came my reply in a form of a question, not really sure if this dude is the real teacher. He looked confused and out of place, as if he just got here.

“Let me check.” He fiddled with his papers a bit, looks like the board failed to inform the man of my arrival.

After a minute of him looking through the files his eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “Yes, right, Miss Torres. I see. My apologies, once more. Erm... let me introduce you to the class,” He muttered hurriedly, making me have my doubts about his role here.

The class was already eerily quiet, they were trying to gather as much information just from our conversation, but it seems as of they’re not satisfied because of us being quiet.

Some people here already heard of my arrival and knew exactly who I was. No surprise there. My brothers like to take precaution to a new level...

“Good morning, class! This year, we will welcome our new student, Samantha Torres!” I could hear a few gasps around the room, and a few hushed whispers about how my brothers are hot... yeah, bitch, better don’t come near me after those nasty comments. Ew!

“If you would take a seat next to Rachel Potter, Miss Torres. Miss Potter, can you please raise your hand?” A girl in the back smiled brightly and waved at me. Hurriedly, I made my way to her and took a sear.

“Hi, I’m Rachel. Welcome to ‘Hell at its best’.” She rolled her eyes dramatically and I just know that this is a start of a beautiful friendship.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Sam. And I like you already.” My new friend placed a hand over her heart in a dramatic matter and sniffled, wiping a fake tear while repeating ′

thank you, thank you

’.

“Why’d you decide to move here in your senior year, if you don’t mind me asking? Wasn’t L.A. a dream?” She stared off into space dreamily, and looks like I have a new drama Queen in my presence. Not at all bad. And apparently she knows very well who I am.

“Well, it was at first. To be honest, I acted like a typical tourist. Later, when I settled in, it all became normal and nothing special when you get used to it. Plus, I missed my brothers and friends so there’s nothing to worry about. I already know who half of the people here are.”

“Hm, I see what you mean.” Rachel nodded her head and smiled at me.

“But-” I caught her attention immediately, “the one thing I will never get over is the beach in Hollywood. You can meet anyone there.”

She jumped slightly in hear seat, her mouth formed an ‘O’ while staring at me like I became her hero. “I would so die if I met Dylan O’Brien!”

“Already met him.” I scrolled through my phone for a second, not missing her silent screams. “And-“, looking at her I my silly grin now matched hers as I showed her a special contact in my phone, “I got his number!”

I don’t think that I should’ve showed her immediately because (I think) she started hyperventilating. “Oh my God... Oh my God!”

A loud laugh escaped my lips at her face, which resolved to the professor glancing at us. Though, he didn’t have enough time to comment something when the door to the classroom opened suddenly.

The two of us didn’t pay much attention to who was at the front because I kept listing names of people that I had met during the short three years I spent with my aunt in Los Angeles. I know that I was always welcome at her house and I wouldn’t mind bringing along some friends. I have a feeling that Rachel and I are going to be very close. She just has this aura around her that makes me want to keep her for life. She’s a special one alright.

Our conversation, though, stopped the moment the professor started talking. “Mr Martin. Mr Black. You are late. And it’s the first day. Couldn’t your shenanigans wait for after a few days?”

“No, they couldn’t have.” The boy I bumped into earlier spoke calmly with a teasing smirk, the professor fumed at his disrespect.

“Detention. Both of you! Now take your seats!”

The moment they turned around our eyes met. It was those same emerald orbs I grew up with, but there is something different about them now. Something dark.

He smirked at me as he took a seat directly behind me. Chills graced my tan skin at our close proximity. He had me breathless and confused once again. A second time today and it’s not even 9AM.

A scrapping of a chair resonated through the room, but nobody seemed to pay any mind to it, yet I can’t help but cuss my traitor of a heart as it started beating faster.

Suddenly, the hairs on my neck stood alert at the presence behind me, welcoming the familiar warm, minty breath as it hit my sensitive skin. “Nice to see you here, babe. My gut is telling me that we’ll be seeing a lot of each other during classes.”

“Oh, piss off, Black! You don’t have to hit on everything that has a vagina!” Rachel hissed slightly and rolled her eyes at him.

“Chill out, Ray.”

“She’s my friend.”

“Well, she was mine first.”

Oh, my poor heart can’t handle this. I could feel Rachel’s eyes on me and I stole a sheepish glance at her and offered her a sweet smile while she stared at me incredulously.

“You didn’t?!″ At that my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Seeing my face she scooted closer to me so I could only hear what she was saying. “You slept with him?!”

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets and I chocked on my own saliva as I tried explaining myself. She patted me on the back slightly, while I came down from my fit of coughs.

“I know I’m to die for, but you are really pumping my ego, babe.” Turning around I glare at the smirking jackass and I so have a strong will to punch it off his face right this second.

“You wish. Keep your opinion to yourself, Black. Nobody asked you anything. And the least you of all people could’ve done is ask if I was okay or not speak at all.” Hearing this his smirk fell and I noticed him clenching his jaw. Hit a nerve, have I? Well suck it up.

Rachel studied this whole ordeal with a confused expression and the two of us turned to face the front again, she came back to her previous position as she awaited my reply patiently.

“I never once slept with him, Ray. I grew up with him, but he-” stopping to think about my past I let out a low sigh as I continued, “he’s not the same guy from three years ago, apparently.”

A look flashed in her eyes and she nodded at me with a soft smile. “I have only ever known this side of him, rude, mean, and perverted. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, he is one of the greatest friends I have ever had, but other than that I’ve never seen a different side to him.”

Really? He changed that much? The once quiet, funny, calm, charming, smart, witty, shy David Black turned into a womanizer?

Well, of course I don’t know anything about him now. He goes to school here now, he has tattoos, a bad boy look and reputation apparently.

The rest of the class the two of us spent whispering about anything and everything. We exchanged our phone numbers and we were making fun of the teacher and she asked me to sit with her and her friends at lunch. Even though I know David is going to sit there as well I agreed, because I really like Rachel and hope to stay great friends with her.