Chapter 1
KATE
Unlike what most people believe, love is not what it seems to be. It is not just falling for Prince Charmings who save your life and sweep you off your feet. Love, instead, is a game. It’s a game that has many factors affecting it, many ways of ending, and many ways of playing. And I played it - dangerously.
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My father and I had just moved to the bustling city of Santa Monica, California. The decision was made just after my mother tore our family apart when she cheated on my father. Once their divorce was finalized, my father surprised me with plane tickets the day after. I was disgusted with what my mother had done so I knew it was the right decision for me to go with my father.
My mother was upset and fought my father for custody over me, but in the end, my father still won. The only way my mother accepted it was if I agreed to call her at the end of every month.
So my father and I got on a plane that weekend, our luggage packed full of our few belongings. I had never been an over-packer, so I didn’t bring any more than a few outfits since I knew I would just go shopping when I needed more clothes.
My first thought when I saw our new house was that it was way too big for only two people.
My second thought when I saw the inside was that it was definitely new. All the kitchen appliances were shiny and there wasn’t a fingerprint to be seen.
My father placed the house key on the marble island of the kitchen, while I walked to the back door. I opened it to peer into the backyard and let out a girly scream as a raccoon’s eyes met mine. I quickly slammed the door shut and placed a hand over my pounding heart.
My father let out a low chuckle when he saw the surprised look on my face. “You okay?” He asked.
His voice had changed since the divorce. It used to be light and happy, but now it comes out sounding exhausted and rough - as if it would break every time he used it.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, my heart finally going back to its normal rhythm.
“Why don’t you go check out your room and unpack while I do a little grocery shopping?” he suggested, sticking the house key into the pocket of his jeans.
I only nodded and grabbed my luggage back from where I’d left it and headed up the stairs to where I assumed the bedrooms were.
I picked the room furthest away from all the others and that has its own bathroom, which is something I had never had before. The room I chose was certainly larger than my old room, and it had white walls and a large bed covered with a teal and white comforter and matching decorative pillows.
I placed my luggage onto the bed and opened it. I began with the photos I’d brought, carefully placing them along the white dresser placed across from the foot of the bed. The photos made the room look more like mine, but at the same time, they also looked like they didn’t belong.
I started taking out the few clothes, a few t-shirts, and shorts that I’d brought and stuffed them into random drawers. I noticed a hook on the back of the door and hung up the sweater I’d been wearing. California is noticeably hotter than New York, and I knew right away that it would take some getting used to.
