The morning after the funeral I made up my mind on what I wanted to do. I went to the Ducati dealership and bought my motorcycle. I packed a backpack said bye to my dad and headed on a road trip to anywhere.
CHAPTER ONE
All-American Nightmare
“Fiona wake up!” My brother Luke yelled, banging on my bedroom door.
I pulled my comforter over my face. I was so exhausted there was no way in hell I was opening my eyes yet. I felt like a freight train hit me and a marching band was parading around my head. I didn’t remember much of last night, or the night before... My drinking too much had been a recurring thing lately. I liked the being numb, not having to feel. I know it’s not going to matter in the long run but it’s good enough for now. For me today was just another day waking up only to realize my nightmare was still a reality too bad school doesn’t feel the same way.
It all started at the beginning of this summer. Things in my family had always been storybook like, we had the nice house, fancy cars; we were a prestigious, well-respected family. My parents Levi and Gabby Prescott were high school sweethearts. The prom king and queen of Prescott, Tennessee, the captain of the football team and captain of the cheer squad as about American pie as you can get. Yes, the town is named after my dad’s family and unfortunately everyone around here knows it and treats us like celebrities. I had always been a daddy’s girl, he was always around, spent time with us and doted on my mom’s every wish. Everything was perfect up until two months ago… Then she came along and it changed everything. This is when my path of self destruction started.
Right before the end of the school year she moved to town. Ms. Gigi Cipriani, just the name made me want to throw up. My mom called Gigi “the Raven” since she had jet-black hair and looked like a corpse. She was hired to manage the dealership here in town. Supposedly she was best for the job, but I’m betting she was best at the ‘blow-job’. She managed to get her claws slowly into my dad, she had him so pussy whipped he just packed up his closet and left, no note, not even a good-bye. I hated him. I couldn’t believe he could do this to us. To make matters worse my boyfriend of two years Jack broke up with me in hopes of avoiding as much of the scandal as possible. My mom was destroyed. It’s not easy having the love of your life walk out on you for someone only a few years older than your own children.
Gabby Prescott, was the typical all-American beauty. Her beautiful shoulder length blonde hair always immaculately styled, bright sea blue-eyes and a flawless complexion. She’s slender and still in amazing shape for being 40. My selfish bastard of a father made her lose it, in just a month she had lost her beautiful figure and now looked emaciated and gaunt.
“Fiona you have to get up or you’re never going to make it to school on time.” Luke was really pounding my door down now. I decided to stop dwelling and get my ass out of bed. Today is the first day of my senior year and I was not looking forward to it one bit. Normally I liked school, I was a good student, popular (not by choice) but with all the drama surrounding my family right now being in a small town really sucked because there was no escape.
“I’m up! I’m up!” I yelled sitting up and still feeling hung over, fabulous, I groaned.
“Can you open the door? I want to talk to you quick.” Luke asked. I went and unlocked the door opening it and waving my hand for him to enter.
“You look like shit.” He stated matter-of-factly looking me over and shaking his head. I knew he was seriously over stressed.
“Thanks big brother I feel like it too.” I snapped not wanting another lecture.
“Fiona, you can’t keep doing this to yourself. He’s not worth it and I can’t keep being to strong one forever okay?” He said sadly.
“Whatever you say.” I waved my hand dismissively as he walked out the door.
I did kind of feel bad for having such an attitude because as far as brothers were concerned Luke was the best. He was funny and no one ever messed with me because like our father he was also the all-American athlete, captain of every sport, all the guys wanted to be him and all the girls were crazy in love with him, even still. He graduated two years ago and just turned twenty a few weeks ago. He was supposed to be a junior in college right now but ended up taking this semester off to stay home and help out around here, mostly with my mom and me. We both have our dad’s dark brown hair and our mom’s blue eyes. He’s tall 6’1”, and built like a brick shit house all tall and muscular; I’m slender, slightly curvy and not athletic in the least but luckily with my 5’7” frame I can pull it off.
I headed into my en suite and looked in the mirror only to find out Luke’s reference to me looking like shit was no exaggeration, I looked plain scary. I was starting to get dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep, my hair was sticking in every direction and my makeup was smeared all over my face. Definitely time for a shower. I showered, dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a black tee and flip-flops really not caring about my appearance. I put my hair up in a messy bun and was ready to go about a half hour later. I grabbed my backpack and headed down the long corridor of our second floor to the grand double staircase in our way too big for four, well now three people house. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed and apple and my car keys before peeling out of the driveway and heading off to Prescott High for the first day of hell.
I pulled my brand new gun metal gray Audi R8 Spyder into the school parking lot. It was a gift from daddy dearest. He was trying to buy my love and forgiveness; it wasn’t working, but as much as I hated him right now, which was a lot, I really loved the car. I pulled up next to my friends Casey Collins and Harper Banks.
“Hi.” I mumbled walking over to them and climbing into the back of Casey’s BMW.
“Hi.” They replied annoyingly in unison.
“Are you ready for this?” Casey asked concerned.
I just shrugged my shoulders, I wasn’t really ready and didn’t want to deal with the drama but there wasn’t much I could do about it at this point. I’m sure even the teachers all knew by now, news traveled fast in a small town especially the scandalous kind. Frankly I’d be surprised if the entire state wasn’t aware of my family’s drama by now.
The lot was filling up and people were surrounding my car to get a better look at the “impressive piece of machinery” that was my car. I just slouched down in Casey’s backseat trying my best to disappear. Prescott was a pretty affluent town but my family made them look like paupers. I closed my eyes and I wished I could just go back to the beginning of the summer before my dad met Gigi so maybe things could be normal again. I was brought out of my reverie by a nasally voice.
“We have to get to class now.” Harper said. She was the goodie-goodie of our little group. She was afraid to try anything new and steered away from trouble. She was short, had blonde hair and green eyes. I’d been friends with both of them since kindergarten and we’ve grown up together ever since. I guess I would consider them good friends but I didn’t really see much of either of them this summer. Casey was around my height with brown hair and brown eyes she was built like a swimmer, tall and lean, I would say I’m closer with her than Harper.
I grabbed my Louis Vuitton backpack and headed towards the double doors of my perpetual hell. People were already staring. I could already tell it was going to be a long day. I headed to my first period English class and took a seat in the very back, I was crossing my fingers that it would help me avoid the unwanted attention and gossip. No such luck. As soon as I sat down I noticed my ex-boyfriend Jack come through the door holding hands with Ashley Jade the voluptuous vixen of Prescott High, Miss Sex on a Stick. Every boy here was probably having wet dreams about her. Ashley and her best friend Tabitha were the wanna-be “it” girls of Prescott High.
I felt the knife in my gut turn a little as I tried to put on a fake smile and pretend like I didn’t give a shit, she gave me a bitchy look an Jack pretended to not see me. I resented him almost as much as my dad, he was my fi
rst serious boyfriend, we had plans for the future and he bailed when I needed him most. Just as I suspected it didn’t get better all day, which seemed like it lasted forever. Everyone knew about my dad’s departure and I was so sick of hearing “We’re sorry”. The whispers were even worse than the stares or the apologies, all the sudden I was a pariah. When the final bell rang I literally ran to my car and actually managed to beat everyone out of the lot. I turned up my new favorite band Skillet’s CD and started the ride home, squealing the tires out of the parking lot leaving a haze of smoke in my wake. I just wanted to get home and get this day over with. I was in such as rush to get home I didn’t see the red light causing me to almost hit a motorcycle. I slammed on my brakes and pulled to the shoulder. I took a cleansing breath and tried to figure out what just almost happened. This was exactly what I needed to finish up the day… not!
He pulled up next to me and started yelling.
“What the hell! You need to watch where you’re going!” I couldn’t see him through his helmet full-face helmet but could tell by his voice that he was really pissed off.
“Me!” Oh great how am I going to talk my way out of this one? “How about you pay more attention to where you’re going! You’re the one on the death trap!” I was never fond of motorcycles and this one just screamed danger. It was all black and stealthy looking; the driver was definitely a bad boy. But damn, his leather jacket was open, he had on a tight long-sleeved thermal that made him look HOT!
“You’re the one that almost hit me!” He was really angry now. I guess my charms weren’t working like planned.
“Whatever no damage done right.” I was hoping he couldn’t see the tears starting to form under my Chanel sunglasses but the traitor tear slipped out and slid down my cheek.
“Right. Just be more careful next time.” He said in a softer tone. He turned the throttle and was gone. I pulled carefully out into traffic and started my journey home, again. This time I pulled in the driveway without incident. I headed to the kitchen and heated up some of last night’s lasagna. I made a plate for my mom knowing damn well she wasn’t going to eat it. I don’t think I’d actually seen her sit down and eat a meal since my dad left. If it wasn’t for Carmen, our housekeeper, I think we’d all be starving. Cooking wasn’t even in her job but she’d been working here since before I was even born, it was sweet of her to do it. I took it out of the microwave and headed to her room and knocked.
“Mom?”
“Come in.” I opened the door; she was in her bed watching soap operas in her navy blue Juicy sweat suit that I got her last Christmas, her hair pulled into a messy ponytail.
“I brought you some lasagna, you really should eat something.” I placed it on the end table and sat on the edge of the bed. When I looked at her it brought all the pain to the surface.
“Thanks sweetie. How was your first day?” She smiled but it definitely didn’t reach her eyes. We had both become pro’s at faking it.
“Awful. Everyone was talking.” I said solemnly willing myself not to cry again. I just wanted to make myself forget again.
“I know, hopefully something else will happen and it will be old news soon.” She said trying to sound hopeful.
“Maybe.” I kissed her forehead and stood up. I walked out closing the door behind me and headed to my room. I walked over to my desk and placed the lasagna down and pulled out my bottle of Jack Daniel’s and opted for some liquid dinner instead. I poured a shot, downed it, then another and let the burn ease my pain away until finally I fell asleep.
When I woke the next morning I didn’t even want to get out of bed. It was gray and rainy out. The rain was going to make a bad day horrible. I was heading towards my bathroom when a huge boom of thunder came radiating through the house making me jump and crash into my dresser and bang my hip. Awesome… that’s going to leave a mark.
I hurried through my morning routine choosing just to throw my hair up and put on PINK sweats and my UGG boots. I headed to the kitchen to grab my keys and a granola bar, I caught a glimpse in the mirror on the way out I was looking and feeling like the weather, crap. I opted for a more cheery Capital Lights CD hoping to brighten my day up just a little, I turned it up as loud as I could to drown out the rain and headed off to school.
As soon as I pulled into the parking lot I wanted to go home. Sitting there taunting me was the motorcycle from yesterday, the one I almost hit. That could only mean one thing… he must go here now.
Where’s my fairy godmother when I want to disappear. I blew off Casey and Harper choosing the self-loath in my own car. I waited in my car until I was going to be late. I was completely unenthusiastic as I attempted to drudge my ass into school. As soon as I stepped out of the car I felt my boot get soaked, of course a puddle, next thing I know I’m going to get stuck by lightning. Everything was going wrong today, my teacher called on me when I wasn’t paying attention, I got my books mixed up and brought Sociology instead of Biology. Thankfully it was finally lunch I was standing on the long line when I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned to see who it was.
“Hey Crash.” He said grinning.
“Excuse me.” I said in the bitchiest tone I could manage. He was probably the sexiest guy I had ever seen. I was trying not to drool. I drank in his tall, muscular frame, his dark hair that wasn’t quite black, his hairstyle looked like it was from the 1920’s; he was very handsome. He had a barely there goatee and spider bite piercings on his lip. I finally looked up to his eyes, they were the brightest green I’d ever seen, they looked like emeralds and for a second I was completely mesmerized.
“I nicknamed you crash after you almost killed me.” Oh he thinks he’s funny too. He was smiling at his little inside joke.
“Um yeah, sorry about that. I was having a bad day.” Now take your apology and run along big guy. I was trying to blow him off before he attempted to wear down on my self- control.
“Looks to me like you’re having another bad day.” He said looking down at my appearance and still soaked shoe. Dammit!
“Wow thanks for stating the obvious. Wait, you’re a rocket scientist aren’t you!” I turned away from him and started down the line grabbing a disgusting looking chicken sandwich and a water. I felt him still standing close to me.
“Just perceptive.” He lightly grabbed a hold of my arm trying to bide my attention or possibly keep me from running away. He had a great smile.
“Wanna grab a bite after school sometime?” He asked hopeful.
“Sure I’m free February 30.” I spat feigning annoyance.
“Hey what’s your problem?” He looked concerned. I certainly didn’t want pity from anyone especially the new guy that looked like a Greek god.
“You don’t already know? Why don’t you just ask anyone here. I’m sure they’d all be more than happy to fill you in.” I tried as quickly as possible to get away from him. I was biting the inside of my cheek trying not to cry as I searched the cafeteria for Harper and Casey. I spotted them on the far side by the windows.
“How can I ask about you if I don’t even know your name?” I barely heard him as I walked away. I hurried over to Harper and Casey and sat down. I’d completely lost my appetite at this point and the dam was threatening to break at any second.
“How do you know the new Hottie McTottie?” Casey purred. I gave her the death glare. I wasn’t in the mood for twenty questions today and no doubt she wanted to ‘bag’ him.
“What’s with the attitude Fiona? It’s been months. You can’t act like this forever you know, he left get over it! It’s not all about you all the time you know.” She huffed. I was pissing my friends off too. I knew I’ve been acting way more bitchy than normal lately but I had enough going wrong in my life I didn’t need to loose my friends too. So I decided to indulge in her inquisition.
“I almost hit him yesterday on the way home from school. He rides a motorcycle. That’s all I know.”
“He’s soooooo hot! Looks like a total bad boy. What’s hi
s name?” Casey said dreamily.
“I have no clue. Like I said he rides a motorcycle and is obviously new here.”
“Ohmigod, look at his arms.” Harper squawked.
I looked over to where he was sitting and he had pushed his thermal sleeves up to his elbows to reveal full sleeves of tattooed fore arms. He had a girl on either side of him, Ashley and Tabitha. I felt my blood boil. Was I jealous? I didn’t even know him. I didn’t want to either. I swore off men after my dad left and Jack broke up with me. They just couldn’t be trusted. He chooses that precise moment to look over and catch me staring and then he had the nerve to wink. That asshole! I threw my barely touched sandwich in the garbage and made a hasty exit without bothering to say goodbye to Harper or Casey. I walked into the empty corridor and broke into tears. What was wrong with me, maybe I needed therapy or something. I felt so broken and alone even though I wasn’t. Someone slid down next to me; it was Harper.
“Fi are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I figured the more I said it that I might actually start to believe my own lie.
“You’re not but if you want to talk about it I’m here.” She stood up and walked away.
CHAPTER TWO
At Any Cost
Today was Saturday, which normally would be a good thing except Luke and I had “mandated” visits with the bastard and his precious Raven starting today. I didn’t want to go but my mom wanted us to at least try, so just this once I was going to do it, for her.
I showered and dressed in my absolute sluttiest looking shirt and shorts I could find, I buckled my six-inch wedge sandals and put on a ton of black eye-shadow way overdoing the smoky eye look. I looked in the mirror happy I achieved the look I was going for, teenage runaway meets 16 and pregnant, and total bitch rolled into one. I inwardly smiled at my own little joke.
“Fiona are you ready we have to leave in five.” Luke said through my door. I walked over and opened the door and couldn’t wait for his reaction.
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