Chapter 1 New Boy In Town
(Hey, everyone, just a few things about this book. I originally published it on Amazon about five years ago, but it has been removed. It is available elsewhere, so if it seems familiar to anyone, that is why. It is published under my other name, E.L. Shorthouse, elsewhere. This version will be heavily edited, and only minor changes have been made for anyone already familiar with it. Some chapters needed to be split, so they will be shorter. It is a series of three books, and there may be a fourth, but they will all be put into one. )
Gracie
It is the last night of the summer holidays. Our senior year starts tomorrow. It is my last year of high school. When I leave, I will miss school, but I won’t miss this damn town or most of the people who live in it.
Everyone from my class is in the woods having a party. A tradition of this town and has been for years. It is the one night of the entire year we are all together, but when school starts again, most of us won’t even look at each other, let alone spend any time together. It is high school after all, what else can anyone expect?
The bonfire is lit, the music is blaring, and the drinks are flowing. People are making out, taking photos and acting like they are all friends. It isn’t my scene. To start, I don’t drink for personal reasons. When your father is an abusive alcoholic who takes all his anger out on you, it tends to put you off drinking. I have a deep fear that if I start drinking, I will end up acting like him. I don’t want that. That is not who I am. I could never imagine hurting anyone or anything. If anyone asks, though, my excuse for not drinking is that it doesn’t agree with me and makes me sick. They don’t need to know the truth.
Lola, my best friend, turns to me. “Gracie, will you be okay here alone? I promise I won’t leave you along long ?”
I laugh. “I am a big girl, Lola. I will be fine. You go and do what you need to.”
I know where she is going. Someone has caught her eye. She is going to go to him and make sure he knows that. Lola loves boys; she always has. I don’t mean she screws around. She loves them in all ways, and there is nothing wrong with that.
“I will be right back. Don’t move,” she warns in a slur.
My best friend is a little drunk. Most people here are except me and a few others. I nod, waving her off. Even though she said she would be right back, she won’t be. She will return eventually, but not quickly. Lola gives me a quick hug before she rushes off. I watch as she makes her way towards Harry. He is one of the sweetest guys in our school. I believe she has a massive crush on him, something she will never admit. Lola doesn’t do relationships, they cause too much drama and pain—her words, not mine. I don’t mind sitting alone. I like my own company sometimes.
The sudden feeling that someone is watching me hits. I glance around in case I am imagining things. Some guy is watching me. I have never seen him before. He doesn’t go to our school. I haven’t ever seen him around town. I would have known if I had seen him before. He stands out. The mysterious guy is dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. All the rest of the guys here are in hoodies or letterman jackets.
I notice a tattoo on his neck, but he is too far away for me to see what it is. His dark hair is slightly messy, but it suits him. His stare in my direction is intense. I expect him to pull away, but he doesn’t. I should stop staring at him, too, but I can’t. I feel strangely drawn to him. Why, I have no idea.
A smile slowly creeps onto his lips, or maybe it is a smirk. I wasn’t sure, but it is one or the other. It is my cue to turn away from him. I quickly draw my attention from the gorgeous stranger. My eyes dart around anywhere that isn’t at him. I can still feel his eyes burn into me. I ignore it, trying my best not to look at him again. It is not easy to do. I need to get out of his sight. I stand and walk towards the lake. If there is a bigger distance between us, then I don’t need to force myself not to look at him.
I stroll to the docks and sit on the edge, letting my feet dangle over the water. Thank God I wore sensible shoes, or they would be floating in the lake. Closing my eyes, I listen to the sound of the water. I love the sound of the waves. It relaxes me. I wish I could afford to sail around the world. It would be amazing. Just me and the ocean, sounds perfect to me. It would get me away from here. No one could get to me.
I sigh, running my fingers through my long hair. It is nothing but a fantasy. It will never happen. I can still dream, though.
“Why did you run away?”