by Anna B. Doe
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Epilogue
The End
PLAYLIST
COMING SOON...
Other books by Anna B. Doe
Acknowledgments & Author’s Notes
About the Author
Text copyright © 2018 Anna B. Doe
All Rights Reserved
Copyediting by Britini Armitage
Cover Design by Najla Qamber Designs
Logo & Graphic Design by Little Miss Tease
Interior Formatting by Abigail Davies at Pink Elephant Designs
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are production of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
“We love the ones we hate”
― Jessica Shirvington
Senior year.
Three girls. Three guys.
Hockey and rivalry.
Mean girls and friendships.
Old loves and new chances.
One more year of being invisible.
One more year to win it all.
The countdown begins.
Senior year can’t come or end fast enough for Amelia Campbell. For the shy, nerdy girl-next-door that she is, high school is torture and all she wants is for it to be over. Having her heart broken by a popular, womanizing boy all those years ago doesn’t help the matters. Nor does his best friend who still has a habit of mercilessly teasing her. Now, she only has one year left, one year to be invisible before she can move on with her life.
Derek King doesn’t do drama, but his life is all about drama once Maximillian Sanders steps foot into his town, his school, and into Amelia’s life. Max is always around, and he is making her smile again. But the boy who once broke her heart isn’t ready to let her go. Older and wiser, Derek isn’t about to let someone take away what he wants, and he wants Amelia.
She's set on not believing in him and on not getting her heart broken once again. He is set on showing her wrong.
She says she hates him, but maybe the line between past and present, love and hate is thinner than she ever realized.
Amelia
People don’t believe that you can love someone and then start to hate that same person all in a blink of an eye.
But it’s true.
The line between love and hate is thin. Thinner than one strand of hair. Thinner than paper. Thinner than petal of a flower.
The same thing happened to me. It was a long time ago, when I was just one little girl who believed in fairytales, prince charming, and happy endings. However, at the age of almost eight, my illusion of life was broken into millions of tiny pieces together with my heart. Was it for better or for worse? You can choose because even ten years later I still don’t have an answer to that question. I guess some questions are meant to stay unanswered forever.
Amelia
Stone Cold is playing on the radio as I drive my Volkswagen Golf to the school. The car may be old, but it’s reliable. Kind of. Maybe I heard some strange noises coming out of it a time or two. But it’s something normal, right? Strange noises coming out of old thing give them charm, give them character. People say it all the time.
Anyway, the car is mine, and that’s all that matters to me. The last three summers I was working my butt off helping my aunt in her hair salon and saving money so I could buy myself a car.
It’s the first day of school and the first day of my senior year. The beginning of the end. I’m one step closer to my freedom, one step closer to getting out of hell and starting a new life—life away from this city and its people.
The phone on the console in front of me starts ringing. Lowering the volume of music, I give a quick look at the screen before connecting the call and putting it on speaker.
“Where are you, Lia?” My best friend’s voice comes from the speaker.
“On my way to school, Brooks. Where would I be?”
“You are late.” I can hear the noises coming from around her meaning she is already there. I roll my eyes at her accusatory tone. “I was worried,” she adds, this time a little softer.
“No need to be. I simply overslept,” I reassure her feeling slightly guilty. Brook is my best friend, always being there for me and standing by my side, even when things aren’t pretty. How many people do that? She knows how difficult is for me to return to the school each fall, so of course she’s worried. “I should be in time for homeroom. Save me a seat, will ya?”
It’s not like somebody is going to take the front row seats anyway. Most of the time the two of us are invisible. Most being the keyword.
Some strange noises start coming from my car and light on the console turns red. “Ohh shit!” I groan loudly. “Not now.”
“What’s going on?” She sounds worried. “Why are you yelling?”
“Something’s wrong with the car. I have to pull over. I’ll see you later in class okay?”
“Later.”
She hangs up, and I pull over at the side of the road. Not knowing what I should do, I simply stay in my seat. Looking in front of me, my hands grip the steering wheel tightly, turning my knuckles whiter than they already are.
“You can do it, Lia,” I murmur to myself as I take one deep breath and open the car door. “You can do it.”
Going to the front of the car, I lift the hood and look inside. All those wires and tubes and… whatever. Blackness and dirt, that’s the only thing I understand about it. How the hell should I know what’s wrong with this thing?
I bite into my lower lip to stop it from wobbling. I’m already tired and frustrated by my dream and from waking late. The last thing I need today is to be late for class or have a mental breakdown—and here I am on my way to both of those things.
Taking the phone out of my pocket, I try dialing my dad, but it goes straight to voicemail. “Just fucking perfect,” I swear under my breath. After the beep, I explain to him what happened and where my car is.
If I start walking now and hurry, I’ll be late for class just for a few minutes.
I’m about to close the hood when I hear the sound of a bike nearing. It’s some kind of fancy, sleek, black bike. It starts slowing down, only to stop next to my car.
The driver’s also dressed all in black—black helmet and leather jacket, black jeans and biker boots. He takes off the helmet and holds it against his side while he runs his right hand through messy strands of dark brown hair.
He’s handsome, so handsome he looks like someone who should be on the cover of the magazine.
“Need help?”
His voice is smooth, easy going. He gives me a crooked smile and his almon
d, grey eyes have a hint of teasing light in them.
“If you know how to get this thing going.” I shrug, pointing with a thumb over my shoulder at my good-for-nothing car. I’m not usually so careless to talk or accept help from a complete stranger, no matter how hot they are, but I don’t have much choice right now. Not if I want to come to school on time and not draw attention to myself on the first day of classes.
“Let’s see. What happened exactly?”
He gets off the bike in one smooth motion, like he did it a hundred times before. He probably did. I tell him about the strange sounds and light going on as he gets under the hood.
I look at him while he works.
He is around my age, but he could be older. It’s hard to guess because he has this whole older bad-boy vibe going on, and I’ve never seen him around school or town. I would know, everybody knows everybody around here all the way back to the diapers.
Add to it that he looks a little bit dangerous. Everything about him screams beware bad boy trouble—all dark and mysterious, giving sexy half smiles and trading fingers through hair right after taking off the helmet. And is that tattoo peeking through the sleeve of his shirt?
He turns around, startling me. “It’s definitely the oil.” Grey eyes narrow, looking at me. “Did you just stare at my butt?”
“What?” A shriek leaves my lips. “I did no such thing!”
His smile grows even wider, confidence oozing from every pore of his body. “You so did.” He leans into the car. “But it’s okay. Good to know all these exercises pay off.”
He winks at me playfully, and I can feel my cheeks getting hot with embarrassment. What did I do to deserve this kind of day? And it’s just beginning! “So can you do something or not?”
“If you have an oil change in your trunk, then yeah I can do something.”
I bite into my lower lip, uncomfortably switching from one foot to other.
“I guess you don’t.” The tone of his voice clearly states what he thinks but is too polite to voice—typical girl behavior.
“Well, I called my dad. He’ll come later and take care of it,” I sigh, going to the backseat to get my backpack. Walking it is. Is there something else that can happen to ruin this day even more than it already is? “Thank you for stopping to help and wasting your time, but I should really go. I’m already late for school.”
“You go to Greyford High?”
Throwing my backpack over my right shoulder, I close the door and turn to look at him, but he isn’t where I left him at the hood of the car. No, he is right there behind me.
This close, I have good look at his face.
He is handsome, his facial features movie–worthy. Strong jaw hidden behind light stubble, straight, white teeth, his lower lip is slightly fuller. His nose is straight, no bumps or any imperfections, and his almond, grey eyes stand out even more against his dark, prominent eyebrows and olive skin. Also, he is tall, over six feet and even behind clothes I can see he is well build.
“Why?” I ask carefully.
“Are you afraid?” he teases. The back of his finger is caressing my cheek, and I feel my body tense then shudder slightly from his touch. What is he doing to me? How is it that this guy that I just met has this kind of power over my body? “If I wanted to kidnap you, I would have already done it.”
“Then?”
“I’m going there myself.” He shrugs like it’s evident or something. His finger falls from my cheek as he takes a step back. “I just moved here, so it’s my first day. It’s your call, Freckles.”
I watch him go back to the bike. I could easily take his offer and maybe get to school on time. Or I could refuse him and walk twenty minutes with a backpack full of books over my shoulder.
“I don’t know you,” I say hoping to convince, I don’t even know who really, that this is not a good idea.
This is the first time I’ve seen the guy. Yeah, he is polite and helpful. Kind of like a knight in shining armor—or knight on a sleek bike—but I learned a long time ago that knights are just a myth, and if you want to survive you’ll have to do it on your own.
“Max Sanders.” He offers me his hand and I take it in mine. It’s big and warm, enveloping mine completely.
“Amelia Campbell.”
“So, Freckles, which is it? Bike or walking?” Max is still holding my hand as he asks the question.
“Why do you keep calling me that?” I ask, trying to contain the small shudder that goes through my body. That name reminds me too much of another, not so cute pet name I’ve got. I look him in the eyes, hoping to find something, anything actually, that will tell me what he is thinking.
“You have them all over your nose and cheeks.”
“It’s hard not to notice when you have to look at that face every day for 17 years.” My tone is sarcastic, but he ignores me.
“They are cute.” He gives me yet another shrug and a half smile. “So?”
Taking one deep, shaky breath I put backpack over both of my shoulders. “How good are you at driving this thing?”
“The best,” he replies with a big, goofy smile. “Hop on.”
I’m so going to regret this.
“So…” Nervously, I look from behind Max.
People started staring from the moment we entered school property. Not hallways. Parking lot.
It was like a scene from one of those chic-flicks I make Brook watch with me where everybody turns around and stares at the hot new guy or girl and then they turn around and start to gossip.
It’s insane and makes me jittery. No one ever pays attention to me, except when Derek and Andrew are around, then they do. Pay attention that is, watching from the side and smirking like they know something when in reality they know nothing. Some also enjoy getting in my way. Apparently, I’m too close to them, so their foot finds a way in front of my legs making me trip, or their shoulder pushes against mine as we walk by in the hallways. Like I said, I’m in their way.
Why were they even still in the hallways? The bell is about to ring any second now.
“Thanks for the ride, again.” I try smiling, but it feels forced even to myself. Max turns around and looks at me with his brows raised. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
I try to pass around him, but he catches my hand and makes me stop. “Not so fast. What do you have first period?”
“Homeroom, Mrs. Rayan.”
“Great, me too.” He gives me a wide smile, one filled with mischief. That guy is born up to no good. “You can pay me back for saving your ass this morning by showing me how to get there. My personal guide for the day. What do you say, Freckles?”
We look at each other. It feels like an eternity, but I know it’s a matter of seconds. Every time he calls me that my stomach begins tumbling and a sour taste erupts in my mouth. I lick my suddenly dry lips before answering. “Okay,” I agree. “But you have to stop calling me that.”
His smile falls. “Why would I do that?”
“I…” I bite into my lower lip, almost making it bleed and slowly shake my head. “Just don’t.”
Insightful, gray eyes look at me for a few long seconds before he finally nods his head, even if reluctantly, in agreement. “What do I call you then?”
“Lia. My friend calls me Lia.”
The bell starts ringing loudly, startling me. People around us break from whatever spell they were under and hurry to their own classes, although I see a few curious faces giving us a backward glance.
“This, Lia, is your clue to start leading the way.” He throws his hand around my shoulders tugging me into his side. He towers over me, and I can feel heat radiating off his body. Masculine scent surrounds me. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I want to burrow my nose in his neck and inhale him in. But I don’t because it would be extra creepy. “I didn’t break a few laws so that you end up late for class.”
A giggle escapes my lips. It’s soft, almost inaudible. I don’t know who is more surprised to hear it—me
or Max.
“Come on. It’s this way.”
I walk, thinking he’ll move his hand off my shoulders and follow me, but he surprises me, as he did from the moment I met him. His hand stays firmly in place as he follows next to me, taking smaller steps to accommodate my pace.
I don’t know what to make out of him. One moment he is teasing me, like he enjoys mocking me and seeing me blush, but in other situations, he is really nice and considerate.
“We are here,” I say stopping in front of the closed door.
Mrs. Rayan’s voice is calling names from the other side of the door, a door that leads to a classroom full of students who will turn around and stare when I open them.
Max is standing behind me, his hand on the doorknob. “Come on. It’s nothing serious,” he assures me. His relaxed and composed voice calming my rapidly beating heart. “Everyone gets late every once in a while.”
He turns the knob and softly pushes me inside. Everyone turns around, looking at me, looking at us standing at the door.
“Miss Campbell,” Mrs. Rayan voice is impassive. “I’m glad you could join us. Go in and take your seat.”
Derek
“Hey bro,” John, one of my teammates, pats me and Andrew on the back in passing. “That was a hell of a party last week!”
“You know it, man.” I grin widely at him and we fist bump.
“Same time, same place next week Johnny,” Andrew yells after him. John gives us thumbs up and continues on his way.