1. Meet Cute

Meadowcreek high school, the senior year 2010

Monday morning.

Eighteen year old Damien Sky groaned and shivered violently as the cold water dripped down his body. His ideal temperature was steaming hot water. So hot that the entire bathroom was usually hot and foggy, and the water would almost burn his skin.

But not today.

Today he had to settle with cold water as the hot water would make his wounds sting. The fresh new scars that decorated his back and thigh last night were still raw and painful. When will it end? He thought and sighed as he realized how pointless this question was. He quickly put on some clothes. The fabric rubbed against his scars, but he ignored the pain and hurried to his car. He couldn't be late for class again. Principal Hale would have his head and call his father to his office again. He couldn't have that.

He decided to make a quick stop at Robbie's house. Robbie was his best friend and the only person he trusted with all his secrets. He accepted Damien for who he was and never judged him.

Damien turned the doorknob at Robbie's house, and it opened right away. Robbie's parents were never home, and he didn't believe in locking his door. It was a surprise that they didn't get robbed already.

"Robbie! Get your ass downstairs. We are gonna be late!" Damien yelled from the top of his lungs.

"I'm coming! No need to get your panties in a twist, Jesus Christ," Robbie shouted from upstairs. Damien heard him stomping downstairs after a moment.

"Morning dickhead," Robbie greeted Damien and slapped him on the back.

"Fuck.." Damien winced. "That hurt, asshole."

Robbie frowned. "Shit, dude...my bad. It happened again last night?" his gaze softened. He looked at his friend with sympathy.

"Don't worry about it. Just another day in the life of Damien Sky." Damien laughed. Robbie didn't say anything else and turned away. There was nothing he could do for his friend, no matter how badly he wanted to help him.

They split up and went to class as they had different schedules.

"I'll see you at lunch. Take it easy," Robbie said before storming off.

The first and second period was eventless. Damien lazily got up and walked into his 3rd-period class, which was science.

"Nice of you to show up on time, Mr. Sky," the science teacher Mrs. Anders remarked as soon as he stepped inside. Bitch...

Damien glared at her but quietly took his seat. The last thing he needed was another detention.

"Hey Damien, are we still on for tonight?" Damien looked to his side as Julie Mathews spoke to him.

"What's tonight?" he was confused. Did he forget about a party? Robbie didn't mention anything about that.

"Damien! You were supposed to come over and help me with math, remember?" Julie giggled.

"I don't know shit about math. Are you kidding me?" Damien was starting to get irritated. What the hell was she talking about? He never made such a promise to her.

"By math, I mean..." Julie placed her hand on his thigh and gave it a quick stroke. She looked at him and winked.

Oh.

He finally understood what she meant. She wasn't planning on doing homework. She was suggesting that they fu...

His thought was suddenly interrupted as he heard a new pair of footsteps entering the classroom.

"Oh, you must be Adeline!" Mrs. Anders chirped.

He turned his attention away from Julie and looked at the door to see who it was as he never heard that name before.

A girl in a light green dress stood before him. She had a slender figure that resembled those on the cover of a magazine. She had a head full of thick, brown hair that framed her face perfectly. Her blue eyes were big and bright. She had a cute button nose and plump lips. She was petite. If he stood next to her, he'd tower over her. He tried to imagine what it would feel like to feel her soft skin against his. His jeans tightened at the thought.

"Class, we have a new student. Say hello to Adeline James," Mrs. Anders announced.

"Hello," some of the students murmured while the others stayed quiet.

"Hi," she smiled. Even her voice sounded pretty, Damien thought.

"Take that empty seat in front of Mr. Sky over there," Mrs. Anders suggested.

Great...a chance to get close to her, Damien thought to himself.

She walked over to her desk and sat down in front of him without saying a word. He leaned over and tapped her on the shoulder. She looked back questioningly. "Can I help you?" she asked. Her eyes were hard.

Damien was taken aback by her cold behavior. Most girls in his school had a crush on him, and he was used to them flirting with him. What was her problem?

"I am Damien," he said.

"I know, and I don't care," Adeline replied and turned around.

Huh? She knows? Then what's with the attitude? He tapped her shoulder again.

"What?" she asked, sounding more aggressive.

"Quiet back there!" Mrs. Anders yelled.

"What's your problem, new girl?" Damien whispered so Mrs. Anders can't hear him.

"What do you mean?" Adeline rolled her eyes.

"Why are you acting like you hate me? We just met," Damien asked.

"Why are you so self-centered and obnoxious?" Adeline asked in a hushed tone.

What the fuck? Damien thought, then instantly grinned. It looks like the new girl was full of sass. It'd be fun to tame her like a wild beast. No girl can resist him in the end, and she will be no different.

But she never stopped resisting. Nor did Damien stopped pursuing her. Giving up was not his in his blood. He kept trying and hoping she'd break one day.

If anything his father taught him was this, he had to take it if he wanted something. It didn't matter who got hurt in the process, and that was exactly what he intended to do.