CHAPTER 1

"He's a freaking famous football star!"

I blurt out, gawking at the screen.

The passengers in the bus spin to stare at me in wonder. Can't I scream without being stared at like I'm crazy? I just found out my boss is a freaking famous football star for a freaking famous football club! 

I pay no attention to the passengers and continue sliding through Trent's wikipedia. Holy shit! The guy is a big deal! Playing as a right back footballer for Liverton FC.

I know Liverton FC. They train back at home in Melwood. It is a famous football club. My ex-boyfriend aspires to join the club after college and he is a huge fan of Liverton. He goes to every one of their games and has dozens of their jerseys too. He even used to drag me to several matches the previous year! I'm really not a football fan though!

Never been! Never will be!

I quickly shake the thought of my ex away, and text Troy.

ME: Heyyy!😃😃

TROY: Don't talk to me!😑😑

Oops! Somebody is pissed.

ME: Sorry I was late. I got caught up in school work. 🙄🙄

TROY: Great! Seems like you are

the only one with school work!😏😏

It is no use explaining anything to him. I will explain everything tomorrow at school, eventually. I can't wait to tell him how his famous friend is a freaking ass! And that the first thing he said to me was he didn't like my eyes! My gorgeous green eyes!

Prick!

I turn off my phone and slide it in my bag. I sink back on the bus seat and rest my forehead against the window as I watch the dark buildings flying by.

It is going to be hard working for Trent. I know it. But I need this job. It's a resolution I made for the new year...

New year, new beginnings...

××××

The little round table in the kitchen is set when I enter the cute cozy little house.

My aunt, Lucy, is passing plates across the table.

I groan at the sight of Garry, my aunt's boyfriend. I really hate the guy. My aunt deserves someone better than the douchebag...

Aunt Lucy smiles at me immediately I join the table and take a seat.

"Becca is finally home," she says sweetly, looking at me.

I sigh, taking a slice of meatloaf. "Sorry I'm late... I was caught up in something..."

"Were you shagging?," she asks bluntly, earning gasps around the table.

Pepper, her daughter, grimaces at her. "Mind your language, Mom!"

"You are sixteen Holy Mary! Don't tell me you don't know what shagging is..."

Pepper rolls her eyes as she eats the delicious meatloaf, potatoes and some green veggies.

"You are late. You were caught up in school?," Aunt Lucy asks.

"I found a job!"

My aunt is so excited for me!

"What!" Garry barks. "You will stop working at the bar?"

I swear I am enjoying watching the look on his face right now.

"Yes. Any problem with that?"

"I... I... I thought you loved it in my bar... Why are you quitting?"

I force a smile, tempted to throw a fork at his ugly face. "I want to make more money..."

"But I pay you well," he grunts, glaring at me.

I smirk at him and continue eating my food. The prick is spoiling my appetite.

For a minute, the only noise there is at the table comes from the clinking of glasses and spoons on plates.

Lucy breaks the silence. "Why do you need the money?"

"I want to move out!" I announce abruptly.

I planned to tell her privately. But there, I just said it. I'm moving out!

The three gasp in unison.

Lucy frowns. "But why? Don't I treat you well? Don't I feed you enough? Don't you sleep well?"

"Do you hate the way I snore?," adds Pepper.

I smile at the two beautiful ladies. I stretch out both my hands to them and grin.

"Aunt, Pepp, I've had so much fun living with the both of you this last year. You have treated me like a daughter and made me feel like this is my home," I pause. "But its a new year... new beginnings. So, I decided to get a new job and move out."

Lucy is silent for a while before asking. "Does Grammy know?"

I sigh. "I'm planning on telling her soon..."

Grammy will freak out!

"What about college?," asks Pepper, biting a spoon.

"I will be working in the evening hours. My classes are during the day, so work won't interfere with school. Hopefully."

"That's great."

Lucy forces a smile. She is not happy with this whole moving out thing.

"You are letting her move out!" Garry snaps, his brow furrowed.

"Darling," Lucy says softly, darting a glance at Garry. "That's what Becca wants..."

Garry Hook is younger than my aunt. Probably in his late twenties. They have a ten year age gap. They met a few months ago in his small bar and a few weeks later, he moved in. According to my aunt, who is a sucker for love, it was love at first sight.

I wish she knew...

He digs his spoon in the food, cursing under his breath. I wonder what my aunt saw in Garry. Well, he's not that bad looking. He has this long copper hair that falls on his broad shoulders. He's a huge guy with huge muscles like Jason Momoa, probably the reason aunt Lucy fell for him. Aunt hopes that the relationship may lead to marriage. Huh! Crazy, right? But my Grandmother wouldn't approve of him. 

And you know, apart from me, who doesn't like him?

Pepper.

She loathes the mere existence of Garry!

Pepper throws me that cute but sad puppy face. "We are going to miss you..."

I beam.

"I will try to drop by once in a week..."

××××

That night, I draw the curtains and toss myself on my small bed next to Pepper's. She's giving me this absurd look as she tucks herself in bed.

"What?"

"Why are you moving out?"

I knew she would ask me that. But I can't tell her the reason I'm moving out . We are so close but I can't tell her the whole truth.

"I thought I told you the reason at the table..." I sigh tossing my head on the pillow.

She snorts. "That was bullshit!"

"I overstayed and now it's time for me to leave and start over. On my own."

She raises an eyebrow. "With Dax?"

I scowl at her shaking my head. "No! On my own!"

Why the hell does she have to bring Dax up?

"You two will eventually get back together. You know that, right?"

Pepper used to and still loves Dax but never will I ever get back together with that jerk! We can bet on that!

"Can we talk about anything other than my ex!" I sigh, and pull the blanket.

"So, where is this new place you are working?"

"Salford."

She gasps. "That's too far!"

I thought so too. It's a 45-minute drive from my home, Liverpool. But Trent is offering a really handsome pay.

"And what are you working as?"

"A maid."

She looks at me weirdly as if shocked by the word "maid". I can tell she doesn't like it that I'm working as a maid. So I decide to lighten her mood.

"You won't believe who I'm working for!"

"Who?"

I smile. "Trent Aston!"

She shrieks. "Trent!"

I giggle as I nod.

"Oh my God! I stalk him on IG!"

Her wide smile turns into a frown. "But he would never fall for a fat girl like me."

"You are chubby," I correct. "Not fat."

"Call it thick. Call it chubby. It's still fat..." she grunts.

Pepper has always struggled with her weight since childhood. But to me, she's still so beautiful and has this perfect glowing skin and kissable chubby cheeks. Plus, she is very curvy. I just wish she knew how beautiful she is...

Her face suddenly lights up. "How does he look like? How does he smell like? Is he tall? Is he masculine? Does he like you? How is his voice? Is it deep? How does he smell like?"

It's the second time she's asking how he smells like. I wish I could tell her that he smells of stinking pride!

"Give me an answer!" she shrieks sitting up on bed.

Why does she have to scream? Trent is just a random rude guy and she's just sixteen. They could never be a thing. Ever!

I huff. "Well, he's just... A pretty face."

That doesn't satisfy her. She's yearning for more I can see.

She stares at me for a while and blurts. "You can be his wag!"

Wag? What is wag?

She rolls her eyes at me. "Wag as in... Wives and girlfriends of sportstars! Duh!"

I go silent digesting what she has just said.

I roar with laughter. My bones are aching.

"I am his maid," I say between laughs. "Plus, I'm not his type. He's not my type."

She grins at me. "Make him fall for you!"

Is Pepper listening to herself?

This is ridiculous! I can't believe I'm having this conversation with a high school kid who knows nothing about love. A kid who knows nothing about Trent. The guy looked me in the eye and the first words that spilled out of his mouth were, 'I don't like your eyes.' My gorgeous green eyes. How could I even fall for someone like that? Plus, he's too serious. And too proud. And too arrogant. I just can't date someone like that. And most importantly, he's my boss...

Rule number 1! Don't fall for me!

"You guys make a cute couple!" Pepper gushes.

I smirk. "What happened to 'you and Dax make a cute couple?' Mh?" I ask sarcastically.

"Trent is richer and cuter," she grins widely. "That's what happened."

This girl is crazy. She's talking about us as if we are already a thing. Me and Trent could never be a thing! Ever!

I groan as I turn on the other side of the bed. I'm not listening to her crazy fantasies. I turn off the lights and rest my head on the pillow. Pepper is still gushing about Trent and I and something about us having beautiful bouncy brown babies...

Told you she's nuts!

After a couple more minutes, Pepper goes silent. She drifts off to sleep and starts snoring.

As I slowly drift to sleep, I'm immersed in a million thoughts. Trent and his stupid rules seem to crowd my mind. One rule particularly lingers on my mind, causing even more confusion. 

Stop biting your damn lips...

××××