Chapter Two

KIMBERLY

"Kimberly?" My mom calls out as I click the front door shut.

"Yes mom?"

"Kim! Kim! Kim! See what uncle Luca bought me."

My Ten year old brother Killian rushes into the hallway with a huge mortal kombat doll, I kneel down and gasp with exaggeration.

"He did? This is so cool kiddo!"

I ruffle his hair, mum stands in the kitchen doorway with her hands crossed on her chest and a bright smile on her face. Well it's always been the three of us, dad ran off with his secretary and all the money in his and moms joint account,leaving us with nothing but the house. Mom decided to sale it and we moved to Blackwool from Palm Springs.

A beautiful town on the west side of California.

But the thing is, it's not just any ordinary town, it is a town full of rich folks and old money with both friendly and judging eyes.

The rich do not mingle with the low class people, unless you're from a well to do middle class family.

"Go finish your lunch Killian, then Kim can help you with your homework later."

Mum says and he nods, disappearing into the kitchen.

"Finish everything and we might play mortal kombat," I shout after him.

"I'll lick the plate clean master!" He shouts back making both mom and I smile.

After helping Killian with his homework,we role play mortal combat as promised, then he falls asleep, releasing tiny snores.

I tuck him in and place his new favorite toy beside him, then his arm around it, I kiss his forehead and whisper,

"Goodnight little champ."

I stand up and head out, clicking the door shut quietly. I'm about to head to my room when I hear small sniffles coming from downstairs, I carefully move down the steps and see mom seated on the sofa with a glass of wine in her hand.

"Why did you do this to me Julien? I keep playing every part of our lives together and still can't pinpoint where I went wrong."

She sniffs and takes a sip of her wine. My feet itch to move to her and comfort her,but every time I try, she ends up closing herself in. It's been six years since dad left us, without any explanation or goodbye.

Killian was only four years old, I was ten at that time, I remember everything clearly.

My mom depressed, crying every night and acting strong during the day. Killian constantly kept asking when dad would return from the store with his toys. Which makes me more angry the more I think about it. Why didn't he just leave?

He had to promise a four year old boy knowing full well that he wasn't going to hold on to that promise, for Christ's sake, the kid still thinks he's working somewhere to put enough money together for toys.

I enter my room and sit on the bed, holding my head in my hands, why does my life have to be this hard?

* * The Next Day* *

Early morning, I stretch and yawn, throwing the covers off, i head to the kitchen in my fluffy pajamas.

"Good morning sweetie," mom greets from the other side of the kitchen.

"I made enough bacon and cookies,you can take some with you and share with Sam."

My mother loves Sam, she's the only friend she's ever approved of a hundred percent.

"Sure, thanks mom."

After breakfast, I shower and get ready for school. At Blackwool, they have the perfect uniforms:

blue mid thigh length skirts with tucks,white long sleeve shirts,blue tie, white socks and a grey jacket with the schools logo on the left corner.

A golden crown and small words underneath written in gold *Blackwool Royal*.

The same goes for the male uniforms except theirs are jerseys instead of jackets.

I stare at myself in the mirror and head out.

Mom drops Killian off everyday because his school is just near her workplace, a publishing company, Devine and Supreme.

Sam honks and I grab my backpack, kiss Killian on the forehead and mum on the cheek

"Be safe honey,say hi to Sam for me!"

"I will!" I shout back.

* *Hours Later* *

It's lunch time and Sam manages to drag me to the cafeteria

"Do you perhaps have a death wish for me?"

"Of course not. You need to show these idiots that you're not scared of them."

"Easier said than done Sam, easier said than done."

"You're overthinking it Kim." She spins around and grabs my shoulders, staring me straight in the eyes.

"You've got this, you've got me, you can do it," I push at her face and sigh.

"Okay okay."

We walk in and the chatters don't stop, except for one table,where the Elites usually sit, that place is treated like the throne, nobody and I mean nobody, touches or thinks of sitting there, it's at the far right end of the cafeteria.

Bree sneers when she notices me, some of the guys stare,some don't.

We grab our food and seat at the table near the entrance, just the two of us anyway.

Ronan gets up and I hold my breath when he starts moving in our direction.

"I told you this was a bad idea," I whisper to Sam.

"Chill out, just act like he's not there."

I straighten when he reaches the table,he slides in next to me and heads start turning, Great! the last thing I needed.

"Hey Sam."

"Hi," She doesn't even look at him.

"Hey Kim, how you holding up?"

"I was just fine before you came here," I turn to look at him.

"Look Kim,you don't always have to be hostile towards me, I just wanna talk."

"And I already told you, I don't."

"I wasn't thinking straight,I was drunk okay, I didn't-"

"I don't care! I don't wanna hear it, drunk or not you did cheat on me."

I can feel the tears threatening to spill, so I push up from the seat,grab my backpack and lunchbox.

"Let's go Sam."

"Thank you," she groans then stands immediately and follows me out.

We head to the benches behind the building on the school premises.

"I don't like him,never have and never will,"

She takes a big bite of her sandwich.

"I know," I sigh. "I still can't believe he cheated on me like that."

"I always told you he's scum, he doesn't even try to hide how he flirts with the Elites girls even when Noah is there. And no excuses for him Kim, he knows Noah is our friend. I wish you'd just realise he's the one for you," she mumbles the last part.

"What?"

"Nothing..." She trails off and smiles.

"You said something Sam,what was it?"

"It's good you realize he's not the one for you, I mean Ronan." She continues eating and smiling in that awkward suspicious way.

"Okay."

We finish our food and head back inside for the rest of our classes.

* *Home* *

It's midnight when my phone rings on the bedside table,I ignore it but it starts ringing again, I groan and feel my hand for it, bringing it closer to my face, the light assaults my eyes so I take a few seconds to adjust, Ronan flashes on the screen.

I hit reject and push the phone under my pillow, it starts ringing again and I groan, pulling it out I hit answer.

"What?!"

"Kimberly..." He whispers like he can't believe I picked up.

"No Ronan no-"

"Please don't hang up," he cuts me off, I frown at his resigned voice, he sounds...hurt? Is he hurting?

"It's my parents."

I sit up, his parents filed for divorce a few months back,it was officially over in court just four months ago but apparently, his mother still loves his father very much,there's been rumors whispered in dark corners of his father cheating,with whom? we don't know and nobody dares to talk about it, because Ronan happens to be the son of business owner Jonathan Caicedo, one of the richest men in town who owns resorts and the most famous law firm.

Izzy his mom is a very sweet woman,she was so heartbroken about the divorce,I had to check in on her everyday to stop her from gaining an eating disorder.

"Are they okay?" I ask calmly.

"Yes,well no. My dad is but my mom isn't."

"What happened to Izzy?"

My heart hammers so hard against my chest.

Being the sweet woman she is,she insisted I called her Izzy.

"She's going into depression Kim, Dad's marrying again."

"What?!" I ask shocked, "it's been four months, how's he remarrying?"

"I don't know Kim, I've been asking myself the same thing."

Silence.

We're both silent for thirty seconds. even though they were on separation for six months, four months after divorce is just too soon.

"Do you think he was cheating on her all this time?" His voice sounds so broken.

"I don't know Ronan, maybe or maybe not,sometimes it takes a few weeks for someone to feel attached to someone and a few months enough to marry them."

I answer honestly.

"But four months? Four months Kim, maybe she's the one he was cheating on her with," He sighs.

"Is it true? I mean the cheating rumors."

"Yes, now am certainly sure and I'm positive this is the same woman responsible for it."

He's silent for a few seconds.

"I need you Kimberly."

"Ronan please stop I ca-"

"Please Kim, this...all this cheating and divorce with my parents has made me realise how much I must have hurt you. Let's just talk tomorrow, please."

His voice sounds desperate and broken, I sigh.

"Okay," I whisper. He hangs up and I throw my head on the pillow then sigh again, maybe I should hear him out.