Heart Thief

Chapter One

Stephanie POV.

The darkness was engulfing me as my consciousness slowly awakened. I dared not open my eyes as I felt the weight of my exhausted body refraining me from doing so. The sound of the running water and the chirping of the birds from a distance was like soft lullaby to my ears and the coldness of the air was both chilling and soothing to my pale skin. It has been so long since I've been this relaxed and at peace. I wish everyday was like this. It feels like a dream and I never want to wake up into the harsh and cruel reality.

"...fy, Stefy wake up," I heard a familiar voice called while they were shaking me up.

"Five more minutes," I mumbled into my sleep unsure if the other person heard me clearly.

"Stefy!" I felt a sudden slap to my cheeks as my eyes shot immediately. My cheeks were squished and my crystal eyes met the emeralds of my best friend, Alexandra Gomez. 

"Aw," I groaned in pain and she let go. I rubbed the sting off my cheeks as I glared at her.

"Oops, sorry darling," Alex teased as she giggled. Alex and I are like sisters with personality of polar opposite. She is an easygoing, optimistic, adventurous girl that everyone adores. While me. Well, I am the type of girl who likes to prefer staying indoors, reading books and socially awkward person.

I would not be in this trip if Alex did not threaten me to exposed my bikini photo. That bikini photo was shot secretly by my evil best friend. Also, that bikini photo started after I lost in a game and she dared me to wear a two-piece bikini for an hour as a punishment.

I yawned and stretched my arms. I adjusted my round glasses in my nose.

"We have arrived. Come on," she grabbed my elbow and dragged me out of her Mercedes-Benz.

The sunlight blinded me as soon as I stepped out of her car. I put my hand upward and see through the gaps of my fingers of the shining sun. We stood in the middle of the woods with a cabin in front of us. The cabin has two floors and it was quite large.

"Where are we?" I asked. I stretch my limbs up once again with my shirt pulling up exposing my flower navel pierce. 

"Hey, since when did you get this belly button ring?" she asked as she reached for my pierce. I grabbed her hand midway, stopping her. I lowered my hands and my shirt covered my pierce.

"Just a few months ago. Technically it was a dare," I answered and she brightened up.

"Why didn't you tell me? You should have invited me," Alex whined while shaking my arms, "Oh wait, maybe I'll get one when we go home. YOU will come with me," she emphasized the word you. I raised my eyebrow at her and crossed my arms teasingly.

I tilted my head on the side. "Why would I come with you? I do not owe you," I argued with a grin. A playful banter with Alex was enough to start a good day.

"Just because," she whined again. "Sometimes you really get on my nerves," she continued as she put her arm over my shoulders. She pulled me closer to her face and our cheeks touched.

"Ew. Don't flirt with me," I said teasingly as I pushed her head away from me.

"Haha. As if," she said and flicked my forehead. I touched my forehead and I glared at her while she laughed her ass off.

When she finally calmed down, she turned to me and pulled my hair tie. "Hey, what are you doing?" I asked confused as I tried to reached for my tie but to no avail. She put it in her back pocket of her shorts.

"Trust me, you look prettier with your hair down," she complimented while trying to fix my dark wavy hair.

I raised my eyebrow in suspicion. "What is this all about? Hmm?," I asked.

"You'll find out soon," she said and winked at me. She grabbed my hand as I chuckled on her behavior.

Alex opened the front door for the both of us and she escorted me inside. I felt at awe on the modern style interior design of the cabin. The wall was painted in grey with hanged paintings on it. Everything is beautiful and pleasing. My eyes wandered on the black, white and grey furniture, and the place was nice and cozy.

"Wow. This isn't a cabin, it's a damned house," I exclaimed in astonishment.

"I'm glad you like it," I flinched on a sudden male voice rung from above. Both Alex and I looked over the stairs. There stood a tall, tanned skin guy with jet black hair and thick eyebrows. He continued to walk down the stairs and walked towards our direction.

"Lexi, who is he?" I whispered on Alex who was beside me as my gazed was fixated on him. This man was over six feet tall with a wide shoulder and a firm body. His shirt hugged his figure perfectly and upon closer look he had these beautiful chocolate brown irises that seems to stared into my soul.

"You are Stephanie Willman, am I right?" the male acquired as he reached for my hand and gave it a light kiss. I froze on the spot and a blush creeped on my cheeks. I felt my heart skipped a beat from shock. "I have heard about you a lot from Alex. I am Liam Hunter by the way," he said with a gentle smile and his small dimple showed. My heart was thumping loudly in my ears. I retracted my hand and stepped back a little. I was hoping he wouldn't hear the sound of my heart as he was so close to me.

"A-Ah, I see. Nice to meet you. B-But I thought it was just the girls. I never would have guess..." I looked around for the shadow of my best friend Alex but I could not find any glimpse of her. "Where the hell is she?" I mumbled to myself as I glared to no one. I really do not know what was going on. First, there was an unexpected guy in our trip and then Alex left me alone with him all of a sudden.

This is so freaking awkward. Alexandra Gomez, why did you do this to me?

"She must have gone to your friends. Come on, I'll take you there," he said as he led the way to the other side of the cabin.

As soon as he opened the door to the backyard, A strawberry blonde girl came rushing on me with her piercing high pitch voice and choked me with her bear hug. "O-EM-GEE-STEFY! I missed you!" she screamed into my ear and I lost my balance from her sudden attack. As I felt myself falling back, I tightly closed my eyes and I ready myself for the incoming impact. A few seconds later, I did not feel any pain. When I opened my eyes, I saw those pretty chocolate brown irises again that belong to Liam. It was both heart flattering and fascinating.

"Oh my God. I am so sorry. Are you okay," Chae-won Grey, the strawberry blonde girl and one of my closest friends, apologized and also help me regain my balance. Chae-won is a half-Asian, half-American. She may be Grey but she had a Rainbow personality. Her mum was a fashion designer in one of the prestigious companies in our country. She was the baby of our group. Super clingy and adorable.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You should be careful next time, Chae-ah," I said and Chae-won nodded her head. She clung to my arm.

I turned to Liam. "Thank you, Liam. I owe you that one," I said with a kind smile. Even though we only just met, I can tell he is kind and gentle.

"Don't worry about it," he responded with a closed eye smile.

"Hello Steph. Long time no see," Abigail Reinhart stepped in and greeted. Abigail and I are two peas in a pod. Back in high school, we were called the 'Nerd Twins' because both of us wore eyeglasses and also the top student in our grade. Abigail is a shy type of girl with a beautiful and innocent heart.

"Abby, hi," I greeted back with a cheek kiss.

"Babe, there you are. I have been looking for you," Alex said and emerged from out of nowhere. Everyone turned their heads to the source of the voice.

When I finally saw her, my mood turned to sour.

"Oh B~abe," I slowly said with an inconspicuous venom laced in my voice. "Where have you been?" I said as I shot her with a malicious look in my eyes. She needed to be punished for leaving me with Liam earlier that left me in a very uncomfortable situation.

"I went to the bathroom Sweetie to answer a phone call. That's all," she said totally unaffected with my menacing aura. She winked and smirked.

You little traitor.