I couldn't tear my eyes away, feeling like an intruder in this private moment. My mind raced with questions, doubts, and a profound sense of betrayal. What had happened to the childhood friend I had known? And who was the girl in his arms?
As I stood there, hidden in the shadows, I couldn't help but wonder if the chasm between Conrad and me had grown too wide to bridge, and if I was truly an outsider in this new world I had entered.
My heart pounding like a drum in my chest, I attempted to make a hasty retreat, silently cursing my curiosity for leading me into this uncomfortable situation. I took a step back, trying to blend into the shadows, but my attempt to sneak away was sabotaged by a clumsy mishap.
In my haste to escape, I inadvertently bumped into a precarious pile of plastic chairs. The deafening clatter filled the hall, reverberating off the walls, and my heart seemed to skip a beat.
Panicked, I watched as one of them approached the light switch, the sudden illumination exposing me like a deer caught in headlights. The girl who had been sharing an intimate moment with Conrad darted away, escaping into the safety of the well-lit corridors.
But Conrad remained, slowly taking a step closer to me, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. I retreated instinctively, my back pressing against the cool, unforgiving wall. His expression was a mystery, impossible to decipher.
"You know how to be at the wrong places at the wrong time," he said, his voice laced with a hint of amusement that only deepened my unease.
I stammered, my voice trembling as I replied, "I...I didn't mean to intrude. I was just...lost."
His gaze was so piercing that my glasses began to steam up but their was no point in wiping them because he gave no room for me to move an inch. As my heart threatened to burst from the tension, a sudden interruption came to my rescue. A tall, strikingly handsome guy appeared, moving swiftly to stand between Conrad and me. His presence was commanding, and his dark hair and chiseled features made him appear almost otherworldly.
"I've been looking all over for you," he declared, his voice smooth and confident. He turned to me and continued, "I thought we were supposed to grab lunch together?"
I was bewildered. I had never seen this handsome stranger in my life, and yet he held my hand and led me away from the hall, leaving Conrad behind. As we walked away, my thoughts whirled with questions, and I couldn't help but wonder who this ridiculously handsome guy was.
Liam Liasons – the name rolled off his tongue with an air of confidence as if he could read my mind. Surprised by his sudden appearance and introduction, I realized that he had indeed been sitting right in front of me, and I hadn't noticed. His striking presence seemed to have an almost magnetic pull.
"Jenna Brooks," I replied, offering my own introduction, feeling gratitude toward this handsome stranger who had come to my rescue.
Liam's demeanor shifted, his expression growing serious. He leaned in a little closer, his voice lowered. "You should stay away from Conrad," he advised, his eyes fixed on mine. "He's no good."
His words hung in the air, a warning that echoed in my mind. I nodded, thankful for his concern, and replied, "Thank you, Liam."
A playful glint danced in his eyes as he added, "I'll be around whenever you need me." His flirty smile sent a tingle down my spine, and for a moment, I was captivated by his undeniable charm.
As I returned to class, I took a seat gathering my thought but it was as if the school was bent on leaving me breathless because now, the pretty girl I had admired hours ago was wearing a smile and standing right in from of me. Her eyes, her hair, her lips and even the way she smelled was heavenly now that she was up close.
She took a seat near me and extended her hand, “Olivia Downs.” She introduced herself with a confidence that made me feel like a mere whisper in the wind. I couldn't help but feel a pang of insecurity as I stood beside her.
"Jenna Brooks," I replied.
Olivia flashed a mischievous smile, and her eyes held a knowing glint. "Oh, Jenna, I've heard about you," she said, her tone casual. "You're related to Conrad, right?"
I nodded, related was a strong word but okay, "Yes, he's family."
Olivia leaned in a little closer, her voice low. "So, tell me, how hard is it to be living under the same roof as him?"
I hesitated for a moment, contemplating my response. "Well, he's not really difficult," I began, my words trailing off as Olivia burst into laughter.
Her laughter rang through the classroom, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of embarrassment. Had I said something wrong?
Olivia composed herself, wiping a tear of amusement from her eye. "Oh, Jenna, you're adorable. You have no idea, do you?"
I furrowed my brow, confused by her reaction. "No idea about what?"
Olivia leaned in again, her gaze locking onto mine. "Conrad Declan," she said, her voice filled with amusement. "He's not just any guy. He's practically the king of this school. And he's a playboy, Jenna, dated almost every girl in this place."
My heart sank at her words, and I felt a swirl of emotions. Shock, disbelief, and a hint of dread. How had I been so oblivious to this side of Conrad? The Conrad I knew would never hurt a fly so how had he changed so drastically? With what I had seen earlier in the hall, I knew there was no doubt Olivia was telling the truth.
Olivia continued, her voice dropping to a whisper, "And guess what, Jenna? I'm his next target, but I'm not going to fall into Conrad's trap."
As Olivia spoke, her eyes bore into mine, and I couldn't help but feel a sense unease. Conrad next target was Olivia? The word ‘target’ had a chilling wave to it. How could Conrad consider someone a target? It was as if the more I found out about him, the more bewildered I felt.
“We should be friends, Jenna.” Olivia offered with a smile.
The thought of being friends with someone like her was out of place. Before I could answer her, Conrad appeared from nowhere and stood in front of Olivia. I was shocked by how big his smile was when he was talking to her. Could it have killed him to smile at me in that same way?
Out of anger or jealousy, I wasn’t quite sure what the feeling was, I stood up and walked out of the room. I spent the rest of the day at the library because somehow, everyone and everything seemed to annoy me. Was it the fact that the one person I had been looking forward to meeting all these years was treating me with so much indifference? Or the fact that he would put on a big smile for everyone else except me? Or the fact that he had turned into a monster, not to exaggerate? Or the fact that…the facts were endless?
I buried my face in a book and sighed so loud that it attracted everyone’s attention to me. Great.
“Someone’s having a bad first day,” I heard the whisper coming from the desk next to mine. Then I saw that familiar smile, it was Jamie. Of course, it had to be him. Where else would you find a nerd like him?
He dropped his book on the desk, “You know, if you’re having a hard time, I can help.”
God. He’s such a sweet boy. Why couldn’t Conrad be more like him? You know, less Conrady and more Jamiely?
I smiled and reassured Jamie that I was fine before placing my head on the desk. Was I already regretting my decision to come to Houston?
Conrad Declan’s POV “I’m never going to date you, Conrad.” Oliva said to my face and walked away leaving me standing in the hallways.I smirked as I watched her catwalk back to the class room, the kind of catwalk that screamed I-really-want-you-but-I-gotta-play-hard-to-get-first. Yes, that’s Oliva. A girl I hated, to say the least. I’ve always thought of Olivia as a slutty and manipulative person. She had a reputation that preceded her—kind, gentle, pretty, caring blah blah blah but in reality she wasn’t any of those things. She messed with most of the seniors when we were juniors and sometimes I had always wondered how someone from such a rich family could be so petty. But then again, besides the designer clothes and bags she carried, there was nothing else to prove that she was indeed from a rich family. No one has ever been to her house or seen her parents who she claimed were abroad. We can’t be sure she’s not getting all that money from selling her body.Olivia’s had a
Jenna Brooks’s POV As we ate dinner, Auntie Laurel asked me how my first day went and I kinda lied about how great it was. I had earlier told Jamie not to mention it to her that I was having a hard time. As i slowly ate my lagzania, I tried not to look at Conrad who was seated right across me, poking at his food with a fork.Jeanette had told me he hardly ate at home so why was he here tonight? Did someone invite him? Yeah, I was annoyed at him at that moment and I remember I swore not to let him get to me but gosh! He had a way of annoying his way into my thoughts.Finally, as dinner was about to be over, Auntie Laurel turned to Conrad.“You have your study session with your friends tonight, right?” She asked him and he barely acknowledged her with a nod. “Great, you can take Jenna along.”Jenna? My Jenna? Why? How? I glanced at Conrad to be sure his eyes weren’t already throwing daggers at me. Too late. His eyes were already shooting lasers.Conrad shrugged, “I don’t think J
Jenna Brooks’s POV Liam's grin widened, and he motioned towards a table adorned with cups filled with a suspiciously colored liquid. "In that case, let me get you a drink. It'll help take the edge off, trust me."Reluctantly, I nodded, my curiosity overriding my reservations. Slowly, Liam guided me towards the table, effortlessly dodging the energetic crowd as we made our way through the throng of partygoers.As I held the cup in my hand, tiny droplets of condensation trickling down its sides, I hesitated before finally taking a hesitant sip. The drink was bittersweet on my tongue, but as the warmth spread through my body, i couldn't help but feel a fleeting sense of relaxation. As the night wore on and the drinks flowed, my inhibitions began to melt away. The once disapproving gaze I held over the party faded, replaced by a sense of reckless abandon. The music engulfed me, its rhythm guiding my movements as I danced among the swaying bodies.Amidst the pulsating sea of
Jenna Brooks’s POV KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! I jolted awake, startled by the noise. Ow. My head was throbbing. I rubbed my temples trying to remember what had happened last night but I failed to. How did I get home? How did I get to my room? This must be what it feels like to be hungover. How much did I drink? Why was my head pounding so much? Was it the tequila? The whiskey? The rum? The wine? Mixing all four? Who knows. KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK. Shit. What time was it? I checked my phone: 8:05 a.m. Fuck! “I’m coming!” I shouted, trying but failing to put on my best I-definitely-did-not-just-wake-up voice. I yanked open the door. It was Jeanette. She was all dressed for school except, she hadn’t yet put on makeup. “You’re not ready yet?” she asked me, her eyes scanning my appearance with suspicion. “Yeah…I’ll be down in a sec.” She mumbled a ‘hurry up’ before I closed the door and rushed into the bathroom. Jeanette still hadn’t done her make up yet so I still had time. In less tha
Jenna Brooks’s POV Fear pricked at my heart, my eyes widening in a mixture of shock and embarrassment. I covered my stained skirt with my hands, my face flushing crimson at the realization of my predicament. Conrad's urgency urged me forward, and with a silent nod, i allowed him to guide me towards the ladies' room.As we walked, my footsteps felt heavy, my legs losing their strength as fear gripped me tightly. Questions raced through my mind, wondering how he even knew about the stain, and why he was showing such concern for me.Arriving at the ladies' room, Conrad firmly instructed me to wait inside while he headed out. I obeyed, leaning against the cold tile wall, my mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. I could hear muffled conversations from inside, the sound of running water, and the soft rustling of paper.I felt embarrassed. How was I supposed to face Conrad after this? I fidgeted with my glasses as I looked down at my shoes, trying to sniff back the t
Jenna Brooks’s POV My heart froze with fear as I tried to open the door by continuously tilting the door knob but to no avail. I felt my heart race, I had always been scared of being trapped in enclosed spaces, dark enclosed spaces. Crunching hit my ears from behind, accelerating the already rampant pondering of my heart. I sunk to the ground, was this the newbie prank? Who would do something so mean? The crunching got louder and i clutched my knee, trying to block out the noise. I felt a chill of unease run down my spine. My eyes were focused on the door…waiting. Please. Please. Just open. Then, like a miracle, the closet door swung open, flooding the small space with light. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. And there, standing before me, was Liam. As I quivered on the hard, cold floor, my breath hitched in my throat as Liam stepped forward. Without a word, he reached out and enveloped me in a warm, protective hug. The kind of hugs in high school movies.
Jenna Brooks’s POV Conrad’s expression was unreadable as he glared at me. I sprinted off the shelf, feeling a mix of embarrassment and shock. What would he think of me now? That the girl who had spent barely two weeks in the school was already making out with guys in the janitors closet?“The driver’s here, it’s time to go,” he said more casually than I had expected, then turned around to leave.How could he be so indifferent about what he just saw? At that moment, I felt like a loser. The person I had been trying so hard to be perfect for, had just caught me making out with a guy I barely knew, in the JANITORS CLOSET of all places. And to top it off, his reaction was…nothing.You fucked up, Jenna! Why couldn’t you control yourself? Why did you have to melt into Liam’s arms? He’s not even that great of a guy besides his dreamy eyes, strong shoulders, muscles-you-only-get-to-touch-once-in-a-life-time, strikingly handsome face, full lips, golden brown Mohican hair, extremely ch
Jenna Brooks’s POV He gently pulled back the hair over my ear to kiss my neck, giving me goosebumps that caused a shudder to run down my spine. His eyes on mine, he leaned more forward until our faces almost touched. His fresh apple shampoo smell was distracting. For some reason, it made me feel warmer. His lips hovered around my face a little until it was about to touch mine…Knock-knock-knock! Jenna, are you in there?Shit! That was Jeanette’s voice. I pushed Conrad off of me and he landed on his back. I sprinted off the bed and made sure Conrad was already on his feet before opening the door.“What took you so long?” Jeanette asked me as soon as I opened the door. I had never been this nervous.Reaching out her hand, she placed her palm on my hot cheek. “Why’re your cheeks so flushed?” she whispered.“Nothing, Jean. Let’s go.” I held her hand and walked out of the room and down the stairs to meet Auntie Laurel. “I need to go groceries shopping for tomorrow, who wants to tag a