Chapter 1

Eight years later

~Florida~

(Cassie's POV)

I closed my locker to find Isabel standing there.

“No,” I told her, knowing very well what she was about to propose.

“Oh c'mon, Cassia. It's going to be fun!”

I arched my eyebrow.

“Don't call me that” I warned. “And I am not letting you borrow one of the dresses I made for some party.”

“Please?” she begged giving me her puppy eyes.

I really couldn't resist it.

“Fine” I agreed. “Just this time.”

“Yayy!” she exclaimed.

“But you're buying me lunch” I announced and pulled her towards the cafeteria.

“Aw!” she whined.

We headed to the back table of the cafeteria where our friend group usually hung. Helen was the only one seated.

“Hey!” we greeted and sat down.

“Can I borrow forty bucks?” Elena asked, ignoring the greeting.

I gave her a look.

“Nevermind” she pouted, rolling her eyes.

“Well, senior year isn't that exciting” Forrest sighed joining us.

She made the cutest face when she was upset.

“Well, I can't wait for it to end” Jay, her boyfriend added, stealing a piece of French fry off her plate.

I chuckled and pulled out my travel-size ice cream.

“Again?” Isabel asked with a frown.

“Is that all she ever eats?” Jay asked with an amused look.

“Yes, and the lunch lady was nice enough to keep it frozen for me,” I said to them.

“How come she never gains any weight when all she eats is junk?” Helen asked.

“Because unlike you, I don't keep ripping borrowing money from my friends” I replied.

Helen narrowed her eyes at me. She had a gambling problem and even though it kept landing her in trouble, she didn't look like she was willing to stop.

“So, you guys going to Jace Graham's twenty-third birthday party?” Forrest asked, changing the topic.

“Yes!” Isabel shrieked excitedly, making a few heads turn to look at us.

“Hey, but wasn't he supposed to graduate like five years ago?” I asked.

“Yeah, but no one knows why he still goes here” Forrest sighed.

“He probably got held back. Good looks aren't everything” Helen added, looking straight at me, as if the last part of her statement was for me.

“I think it's because his girlfriend still goes here,” Jay said.

I chuckled. Why would anyone choose not to graduate because of their romantic partner?

“Anyway, Cassandra's promised me the cutest dress!” Isabel cried excitedly, drumming her fingers on the table.

“I never knew you Mexicans were such party lovers” Jay chuckled.

“We're not,” I said with a little laugh.

Isabel laughed and playfully nudged me.

“Ignore her. We throw the bestest parties.”

I frowned with amusement.

“You seriously need to work on your grammar Isa,” I said, making everyone laugh.

Just then the school's gossip, Regina, rushed into the cafeteria and climbed onto a nearby table.

“Listen up everyone!” she screamed, the noise suddenly dying down. “Jace Graham just broke up with Montana Adler!”

Dramatic gasps filled the cafeteria.

“Do you ladies know what this means?!” Regina continued. “We have a shot with Jace Graham!”

Excited shrieks filled the cafeteria and the talking began again.

I was not surprised. That Montana girl was such a brat. She came from an equally rich family as Jace's; maybe even richer. Their families owned this exclusive business and they all lived in the same estate.

“It's about time,” Helen said. “That boy could use a breath of fresh air away from Malibu Barbie.”

“I say she deserved it” Isabel added. “She's such a bully.”

I looked at her.

“What?” she asked. “Have you forgotten how she walked all over you back in middle school?”

“I haven't forgotten, but it's not nice to judge. We don't even know what really happened” I said.

Isabel shrugged.

“I still think she deserved it.”

I shook my head and began to peel off my ice cream cover. It was still frozen solid and the cover seemed to be stuck. I tugged harder.

“Cassandra, maybe you should—”

Jay doesn't finish his sentence when the cup goes flying from my hands. The collective gasps that followed made my heart skip.

“Oh no,” I muttered and turned around only to find my ice cream dripping all over Montana.

Oh, Cassandra!

She glared at me and the silence that was hanging in the atmosphere sent shivers up my spine. No one dared to say a word. I stood up.

“I'm so, so sorry Montana” I apologized, attempting to step closer to her.

She raised her hand to stop me and turned away without a word. I gulped and Isabel pulled me back into my seat.

“I guess the breakup might have gotten to her more than we thought” Forrest whispered.

“Oh, she's definitely planning something” Helen chuckled.

“Oh, you are so dead Martinez” Regina teased and stuck her thumb in her mouth like a baby.

Everyone laughed and I immediately grabbed Isabel's hand before she could reply to Regina. She gave me an angry look and tugged me away from the cafeteria earning us inappropriate comments and low whistles from the boys.

✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽ ✽

AP Chemistry ended and I hurried off to go find Montana to apologize before she did anything to me. In my hurry, I tripped on my shoelace and bumped into a really hard wall, causing me to stumble back. I closed my eyes as the sweet smell of cedar and grapefruit shot up my nose and I braced myself for the impact but an arm slid around my waist instead.

I slowly opened my eyes and I realized I had spilled coffee all over the person's shirt.

Today is just not my day.

“I'm so, so, so very sorry. I wasn't looking” I apologized.

“No, I should be the one apologizing. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been more careful” a deep dark voice replied, sending shivers down my spine.

“Here, I'll fix it” I announced and began to rub the coffee stain with the end of my sleeve.

I didn't even realize I was making it worse until he held up my arms causing me to look up.

I flinched at the force and used my hair as a barrier from his bright blue eyes which bore into my ice-blue ones. He smiled, flashing me a set of white teeth.

How come I'd never seen this gorgeous creature here before?

I suddenly felt hot. His lovely dark brown hair which he wore in a quiff and his dimples made him look like an Adonis.

Wait! Bright blue eyes, dark brown hair, dimples.

Those were distinctive descriptions I'd heard from Isabel time without number. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was standing with Jace Graham!

I quickly pulled away from him and his eyebrows furrowed.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Sorry about your shirt but I have to go” I quickly murmured and ran off.

I found Isabel outside buying a hot dog.

“Where were you?!” she scolded. “I thought you said we were going to try on the dresses you—”

She noticed how uncomfortable I looked.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “You're not still thinking about Montana, are you?”

I shook my head and plastered a fake smile on my face.

“I'm just tired” I lied.

She studied me for a while before letting it go.

“Let's get you in that dress,” I said.

She smiled at me and laced her fingers through mine, as we walked home together.