Chapter One

River

     "Miss Stephenson, wake up!" Our math teacher, Ms. Davis, shouts at the girl sitting next to me. I give her a gentle shake to wake her up, but as always, I get yelled at for it.

       I've always been the odd one out, the outsider. I'm the water girl for the football team because I can't play any sports. My two left feet always hold me back. One of the popular girls on the team, Marie, insults me, calling me the "nasty girl" and saying she'll have to scrub her arm until it bleeds to get my "nastiness" off.

      I'm not sure how I got this reputation as the "nasty girl" in school, but it's been that way for a few years now. Thankfully, this is my last year here. I've already sent in all my college applications and I'm just waiting for the right one to accept me. I look over at my best friend, Sydney, as she defends me against Marie's insults. Sydney tells Marie to go eat pussy and leave me alone.

     "God, Sydney, do you have to be so vulgar?" I ask her.

     "Ah, River, don't start with your good girl act. One of us has to show those assholes who's the queen around here, and it definitely won't be you," Sydney retorts.

      I still can't believe Sydney and I are friends. We're complete opposites. She's the life of the party, speaks her mind without caring what others think, and dresses all in black with black lipstick and nail polish. She's stunning with her long black hair, blue-green eyes, and hourglass figure. Meanwhile, I have reddish-orange hair, ash gray eyes, and I'm a bit on the heavier side, weighing around 150 pounds. Guys are always asking Sydney out, but she turns them down because she's into girls. She's never made me uncomfortable with her sexuality, and if I didn't know her so well, I wouldn't have even known she liked girls. She's only had one girlfriend, and it only lasted for about six months, so maybe it was just a phase and she's still figuring things out.

     Finally, the bell signaling the end of class rings, and it's time for lunch. Sydney and I head to the cafeteria and join the salad line so I can get myself a salad. After paying the cashier, we move to the pizza station for Sydney to get her pizza. As we wait, a football player in line decides to make a comment about my weight and food choices.

     "Damn water, girl! Shouldn't you just stick to the salad you have in your hands? You keep eating unhealthy foods like pizza. You're going to get too big to run and fetch me my water."

      "Thanks for your concern, Arron, but it's unwanted and unnecessary because all I'm eating today is my salad."

       "You don't have to explain anything to that douchebag," Sydney hisses at me.

       "I was being sarcastic, Syd." Sydney rolls her eyes at Arron and leads us to our table. Thankfully, I make it to my table without any incidents. Usually, I end up with food spilled on me before reaching my table.

      "Are you okay, Riv?" Sydney asks me once we're seated.

      "Yes, I'm used to it by now."

      "Wow, River Rock just walked in," Sydney tells me, I feel my skin heat up at the mention of his name. Rock, also known as James Martinez, is not only the hottest guy at school, but he's also the quarterback and captain of the football team. Unfortunately, he's also my biggest hater at Scotts High. To make matters worse, his mom is dating my dad.

     "Hey water girl, go get me some food," Rock said, coming over and sitting down at our table as if he owned it.

     "Fuck off, Rock," Sydney snapped back, quickly positioning herself between us. She probably thought that would deter him from harassing me. I wanted to get up and get him food just to make him leave me alone, but Sydney wasn't having it.

     "Sit your ass down," Sydney growled at me.

     "Just let me do this, Syd, so I can eat in peace today," I pleaded.

     "You're going to eat in peace anyway. I'll make sure of it," Sydney said through gritted teeth. She didn't realize what she was starting when she stood up for me.

     Surprisingly, Rock got up and walked over to get his own food, then joined his girlfriend and the other football players. I finally got to eat my food in peace for the rest of the lunch hour. Once the bell rang, Sydney and I headed to our next class. We made it through our last couple of classes and then it was time to go out on the football field to make sure the team had plenty of water.

    As I walked onto the field, I couldn't help but entertain the thought of putting laxative tablets in their water. It would be interesting to see how well they practiced while having to run to the bathroom every five minutes.

    "Yo water girl, get your ass over here with the damn waters!" Damion, the linebacker, yelled at me, snapping me out of my daydream.

     I knew I wasn't the only water girl out here, but I was the only one who got picked on. I couldn't understand why they targeted me. Unlike Tiffany, who dry humped Rock's leg while giving him water, I was quiet and kept to myself.

    Walking towards the table, I placed more water glasses down and then approached the guys who were waiting to get on the field, asking if they wanted any water. "It's about damn time, water girl," most of the guys said, but there were a few freshmen who thanked me. However, I knew that would change once they heard how the other guys referred to me and how they treated me. They would soon start doing the same.

    Once the current group of guys headed onto the field, the ones who were already on the field came off, and I repeated the same process for them. I poured water into the mouths of those who wanted it and got shoved aside by those who didn't. God, I really didn't know why I was doing this. I hated football. But it was either this or listen to my dad complain about me not doing anything.

    At the end of practice, I finish packing up and get ready to go to the locker room. Suddenly, Rock and his friend Damion approach me from behind and push me so hard that I fall, causing the bottles in my hands to go flying across the field.

     "Oh, damn water girl, I didn't see you standing there," Rock says, pretending not to notice me. He then bends down to help me up, but I slap his hand away.

     "Now, now, River, is that any way to treat your soon-to-be stepbrother?" Rock chuckles.

      God, I hope not.

      "My dad will never marry your mother. He loved my mother too much," I spit at him, hoping to shut him up. But instead, he sees red. Rock lifts me off the ground by my shirt, pulling me into his body.

     "You listen to me, you little bitch," he growls, his anger evident.

    "James Martinez, put River down right now," Coach barks at him, coming to my rescue. Rock forcefully throws me to the ground, and I land hard on my butt. Once everyone heads to the locker room, I slowly get up and start gathering the bottles that had scattered earlier, putting them back in the bags.

     Coach must have stayed behind because he helps me with the bottles. "You know, Ms. Darby, you really shouldn't let those boys treat you that way," he advises me.

     I know I shouldn't, but I really don't have any choice. "Thanks, Coach," I say gratefully. He helps me up and hands me the bags to carry to the locker room.

     "River, I've known your father for a long time, and I don't think he would be too happy to know how bad things are for you at school."

     "No offense, coach, but you must not know my father as well as you think you do because my dad couldn't care less." I walk into the locker room without saying another word. After finishing everything, I head out to my 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee that my dad got me last year after I found out he was dating Rocks' mom, the one person who seems to hate me as much as my father does.

    Ms. Gabriela and my parents were college friends and remained friends even after my mom did what she did when I was five years old. I barely get into the cab when my phone rings with my dad's name on the screen. I answer it on the second ring.

   "Hello, dad."

   "Hello, River," Dad replies. "We're meeting at the restaurant tonight. I want you to go home and dress appropriately."

    "Can I skip this one, Dad? I have a ton of homework to do tonight."

    "River, don't start with your antisocial nonsense tonight, young lady. Go home and get dressed. Gabriela and I will wait for you. I need you to go to Gabriela's and pick up the two younger kids. James is already on his way from football practice."

    Are you kidding?

    "Yes, sir. I'll get right on that." Great, I have to play house with the Martinez's tonight after dealing with the jerk Rock all day. I pull up to the house and quickly run up the stairs to my bedroom, where I find a pair of slacks and a blue blouse along with my dress boots. Then I rush back to the jeep and drive three blocks to the Martinez house. As soon as I park in the driveway, the two younger Martinez kids come running out the door and towards my jeep.

     "It's frustrating that their older brother is such a jerk, especially when the two younger kids are so sweet. If it was just the two of them, I probably wouldn't have such a problem with my dad dating their mom.

    "Hey River," Jessica, the second oldest Martinez kid, greets me as she gets into the front passenger seat of the jeep. "She's about 15 now, so she just started high school. She knows what it's like to be targeted by mean kids. The difference is her brother is the quarterback of the high school football team, so once people find out, they leave her alone. Then there's the adorable little guy, Abe, the little blonde-haired beauty. He's only 8 years old, but he's already fending off girls. He looks just like his older brother.

    "Snapping out of my thoughts, I turn and greet the two who got into my jeep. "Hello guys, how was your day at school?"

    "It was okay," the kids say. "So, do we know why we're going to have dinner with my mom and your dad?" Jessica asks me.

    "Your guess is as good as mine," I tell her. Once we arrive at the restaurant, we all get out of the jeep and I hand my keys to the valet. As we walk towards the entrance, we see Rock walking in with none other than the head cheerleader and his longtime girlfriend, Amy Smith.

    "Well, hello water girl, long time no see," Amy sneers. "Do you work here or something?" She asks me, seemingly serious, but I can't believe she's that clueless, right?

    "Have you hit your head one too many times?" Jessica asks Amy, trying to hold back a laugh. I struggle to keep a straight face.

     Amy looks over at Rock for help, and he leans in and whispers something in her ear.

    "Oh, you poor thing," she tells Rock, and they walk into the restaurant as if we're not even there.

     I roll my eyes and follow them inside.

     Abe places his hand in mine and whispers, "You're much prettier and smarter than she is."

    "Aw, thanks buddy," I reply.

     My dad pays more attention to the three unrelated kids than to me, his own daughter. To make up for it, Gabriela gives me a big hug and compliments my appearance.

     I really like Gabriela, but I don't like her son.

    "How are you doing?" I ask her as I step back and sit down beside her and Abe.

    "Sweetheart, I'm doing very well. How are things at school?" she asks, fully aware of the difficulties I face daily. She doesn't know that most of it is caused by her son, but that's a conversation for another time.

    Once we all order our drinks, my dad stands up, capturing everyone's attention. He clears his throat and looks at Gabriela. "Gabriela Maria Martinez, you are my best friend, my true love, my forever person. I can't imagine being with anyone else. So, Gabriel Martínez, will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

    He doesn't even bother to kneel.

    Gabriela, of course, cries and says yes to my dad.

     I hear Jessica gasp in shock, and Abe claps his hands together. Rock is furious. I agree with him. Wow. I would never agree with that jerk.

     "Are you kidding me right now?" Rock hisses through his teeth. "You can't marry him, Mom. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Jim, I think you're cool, but I can't be known as her stepbrother," he says, pointing a finger at me.

    Funny, that's not what he was saying earlier today.

    "That's enough, James Martinez. Now apologize to River," Gabriela tells her son, and my father has the audacity to tell her it's okay. "I'm sure Rock has a reason for being mean to River."

    What the heck is going on here? Why has my father turned against me these last couple of years?

    I congratulate Gabriela and give her a kiss on the cheek. "Now I must leave. It seems my father doesn't want me here."

    Gabriela smiles at me. "That's not true, Riv, and even if it was, I want you here for this big day."

    "Thank you for the invite, but I really need to leave," I tell her and walk out the door. I grab my jeep and head for the house where I'm not really wanted anymore.

   My dad is someone I would never expect Gabriela to want to marry. He is so cold, self-centered, and arrogant.

   As soon as I get home, I make my way to my room and text Sydney right away.

    Me: My dad asked Gabriela to marry him tonight. My life is over.

    Sydney: What? Don't be so dramatic. You like Gabriela, right? 🤷‍♀️

     Me: It's not her, Sydney. It's her son. He will make my life hell, and you know it.

     Sydney: You have to stop letting him win, River. You've been doing it our whole life. He shouldn't have power over you.

       Note From Author: Hey Guys let me know what you think so far!

@crystalsteadman 2023