My Next Door Bully

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1 - DEFINITELY NOT MY TYPE

I DIG MY TOES into the warm sand and look over my shoulder—nothing, absolutely nothing. I'm all alone in this paradise.

Alone.

I could say that's my biggest fear, but I could easily argue that spiders or darkness as well—oh and death, of course.

I look out into the sunset or sunrise, it's like right in between. And then I hear it—a faint, soon loud and annoying beeping in my ear. Like an amber alert. I spring upwards and turn my alarm from my desk. Is it weird that I have dreams/nightmares almost every night? Well, at least the "dreams" are far more adventurous and beautiful than my real life.

I get up and take a quick shower, spraying freezing water on my face to wake myself up (spoiler alert: it works!)

I dry and straighten my hair, and put on light makeup. I dress in mom jeans, a white crop top, a couple of silver necklaces and rings, and my sambas. Then before I head downstairs, I realize today is school spirit day which means we have to wear school colors. I text one of my best friends, Anthony, to bring a gold (one of my school colors) piece of clothing I could wear.

"Hey mom," I hurry down the stairs that switch from carpet to hardwood floor.

"Hey, hon." There's a small scent of sweets—pancakes. "I'm making pancakes." I was right.

I physically float to where she slides one into my plate. There are small dots of something brown, "Chocolate!" I speak like a five-year-old. After I inhale the two pancakes, I head out the door and drive to school in my used car.

...

The bell rings again. And a few minutes later as Mrs. Jones gets out of her chair to give some lecture about listening to teachers, Ashton runs in.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Mrs. Jones, I was just doing ... some stuff." He says. We all laugh at "some stuff" and he just smirks and shrugs. Ashton who not only just so happens to be my annoying next-door neighbor is also the school's biggest player.

We used to be best friends until he grew two feet, cleaned out his acne, and started to, in an unreasonable amount, go out with girls in the ninth grade. He ignored me after I stayed back and didn't enjoy going out to parties, we still talked from time to time, just him teasing and tormenting me. Actually he and his friends used to bully me. Although he hasn't really done it this year.

Unfortunately, he sits right next to me, "'sup, Tessa tots," he grins at me saying the horrible nickname he gave me in the ninth grade after I gained some pounds off of tater tots and other delicious goods. He used to have a cruel tone to it but now he just calls me that out of endearment.

"Hey, Ashton," I say without any emotion. I can feel his creepy glare on me, I turn and lock eyes with him, "yes?" I ask.

I study his expression.

I will admit he is good-looking, which causes many girls to fall for him and get their hearts broken in the end.

He has sharp features and green eyes with gold specks in them. Dark hair, flopping down onto his forehead. And a wide smile, straight with white teeth. He's the captain of the soccer team, which leads him to have a strong upper and lower body form. He's hot, but definitely not my type. If you didn't know him for basically all your life, you'd mistake him for a Calvin Klein or Abercrombie model.

He smirks and shakes his head, catching me studying at him. He knows he's handsome and uses it to his advantage. "Take a picture, it'll last longer," he says.

I roll my eyes and answer him, "I was admiring your ridiculous pants." Ash is wearing bright gold pants you could spot from a mile away.

He rolls his eyes, not answering "By the way, nice tie," he points out.