CHAPTER 1

Maxine POV.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, fingers pushing along the hairline of my glasses. The girl looking back felt like a stranger. Fat, with a messy shock of curly hair and skin that broke out more often than not, I felt every bit the outcast I was treated as. Sighing, I shrugged into my one oversized hoodie—the only type of clothing that seemed to hug my body perfectly—as I roughly jammed my school things into my backpack.

Living with Coreen was a daily challenge. Every morning, I woke up with the same sense of dread about the new form of cruelty my stepsister might conjure. Coreen was everything I wasn't—beautiful, confident, and popular. She ruled the university, where she was the center of all attraction and glamour as a cheerleader, with the perfect figure and perfect smile. I'm the opposite of her, I was the nerdy stepsister, always an easy target for Coreen and her minions.

When my mother remarried a year ago, things started going downhill for me. Moving into Coreen's mansion put me in a world where I was constantly reminded of my shortcomings. My inadequacies seemed to magnify as I went into each room, more opulent than the next, through the spacious halls.

"Maxine, hurry up! You're going to make me late!" Coreen's voice resounded across the house.

I huffed and puffed down the stairs. Naturally, Coreen was perfectly attired and coiffed in the most current fashion. Long golden blonde hair flowed down her back in big, soft, perfect waves. She didn't even give me a second look as she sauntered out the door.

Breakfast was silent. Coreen's father, Mr. Sanders, took the head of the table, deeply engrossed in his tablet. He was a very busy man, always working, so he hardly had time to notice the unease between me and Coreen.

"Looook, you still want more, silly sister." She plopped an enormous pancake on my plate, beaming so brightly it made my teeth hurt. "You're so cute in your hoodie," she said, her voice laced with feigned sweetness, ensuring our dad noticed her 'kindness.'

The eyes were on me, waiting for a reaction, but I only held mine on my plate, trying not to feel the pit in my stomach. It wasn't about the pancake; it was how she could turn something as simple as breakfast into another weight jab. I swallowed down my resentment and focused on finishing as quickly as possible.

We arrived at the Hampton University after that quick breakfast. At college, I always kept to my own world. It was better to let nobody see or pay much attention to me. Classrooms were my paradise, where I could hide with a book in my hand far from the world for a while.

Walking to my first class, I felt the familiar prickling of eyes behind me. Whispers and giggles followed like a shadow as I hastened my steps to the haven of my seat.

"Hey, Maxine!" A cheery voice pierced my thoughts.

It was my only friend, Sarah. Another outcast, a bookworm, and a lover of science fiction and fantasy. She spoke the same language I did. We had bonded over our shared love of stories and had spent more than one lunchtime discussing in-depth our favorite books.

"Hey, Sarah," I replied, managing a small smile.

"Did you finish the homework for chemistry?" Sarah asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Yeah, I did. I can help you with it during lunch if you want," I offered.

"That would be great! I got stuck on the last question," said Sarah with a hint of shame.

We continued to chat, and with time, the apprehension I felt melted away. It was a sign that I wasn't completely alone in this world.

But the respite was short. When I walked into the room, Coreen and her henchmen were already there, lounging and carrying on.

"Look who it is," Coreen said. "The school's resident nerd and her sidekick."

I didn't answer but went to stand by my chair. Coreen wasn't done.

"Don't you have something better to wear, Maxine? That hoodie makes you look like a homeless person," she teased.

I clenched my hands into fists under the desk, willing myself not to respond. I had tripped into that trap several times.

Sarah gave Coreen an accusatory look. "Why don't you mind your own business, Coreen?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize the freaks were banding together," Coreen shot back, her friends laughing in agreement.

The professor came in, and the chatter quieted, but I felt Coreen's eyes on me for the entire class. It was almost a relief when, at last, the bell rang and it was over.

As Sarah and I packed up our things, Coreen ambled over. "You're coming to my party tonight, right, Maxine?" she asked sweetly, though there was malice in her eyes.

My stomach plummeted. I had no intention of attending, but the tone Coreen used didn't leave much room for refusal.

"I... I don't think so," I stammered.

"Oh, come on. It's my 18th birthday. It wouldn't be the same without you," Coreen told me, her grin growing.

I knew it was a trap, but I also knew that saying no would only make things worse. "Fine, I'll be there," I mumbled.

"Great! See you tonight," Coreen chirped, flipping her hair as she walked away.

"Are you really going?" Sarah asked, concern etched on her face.

I sighed. "I don't have a choice. If I don't go, she'll make my life even more miserable."

"I wish you didn't have to deal with her," Sarah said softly.

"Me too," I replied, and dread set like a stone in my chest.

The remainder of the day was a blur; I failed to pay attention in my classes, flashes of the party and what new humiliation awaited me whirling through my head. By the time I got home, I felt sick with anxiety.

I pulled on the most nondescript pair of jeans and a plain T-shirt I could find. I knew that no matter what I wore, Coreen would find something to criticize.

I lingered at the head of the stairs for a little while longer, listening to the echoes of far-away music and laughter. The night was quite cold compared to what it had been earlier, and the chill seemed to get beneath my skin, just like the ice within my heart. Facing me was this great mansion, so huge that it was in complete contrast with the turmoil that raged within me.

I re-entered the house reluctantly, trying not to attract attention. The peals of laughter and chatter had been joined by the sound of glasses clinking and the murmur of conversation. It felt as though I was an intruder in a world that didn't belong to me.

I resorted to the corner where it was slightly quieter, escaping from the heavy atmosphere. But the sharp sensitivity in Coreen's eyes was always on the hunt. I leaned against one wall, my eyes staring at the floor to avert any other unwanted eye contact.

"Maxine! There you are!" Coreen's voice cut through the crowd. I looked up to see her heading my direction, flanked by her retinue. Her smile was just as sunny as ever, but her eyes glinted with something that made my stomach twist.

"Having fun?" she drawled, thick with insincere sweetness.

"Not really," I replied, working hard to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, come on. It's my birthday!" Coreen said, beaming an even wider grin. "You ought to be doing something."

"I'm okay," I said, just loudly enough to hear myself speaking.

Coreen glanced at her pals, and they both smiled with similar raised eyebrows. "Well, you're catching us at the tail end. We're just about to play another round of Truth or Dare. Why don't you join us?"

"I don't really—" I started, but Coreen cut me off with a wide wave of her hand.

"Don't be bashful, Maxine. We have a special treat prepared for you."

Coreen took hold of my arm and guided me back toward the crowd. They were whispering among themselves, their gazes following us. I groaned inwardly; this was just a setup for another one of their trite games of Truth or Dare.

"Alright, everyone!" Coreen called out. "We're ready for the next round. Maxine, why don't you start us off?"

A burst of laughter and half-applause went through the room. My stomach turned. Coreen wasn't playing for the sake of playing—this was an elaborate game designed to humiliate me. My eyes shot to Alph, who stood on the fringes, his face a mask. I thought I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, maybe sympathy—but it was gone too quickly to be sure.

Coreen's smile could only be described as predatory. "Truth or dare, Maxine?"

I was smart enough not to try for "truth." I took a deep breath and said, "Dare."

Coreen's eyes gleamed with mischief. "I dare you to steal a kiss from Alph."