SAPPHIRE (Book #1 Of Fire Series)

PROLOGUE

"I'm sick of this," I exhale as I quickly slam the album shut.

Why does this woman still have pictures of this man in our house?
Both my sister and I have expressed we want nothing to do with her sperm donor.

This young lady clearly needs a good talking to about letting go.

Listen I've got daddy issues. I'm not the first and I won't be the last.
But I wear that shit like a badge of honour, because having that man out of my life is much better than having him in it.

Good riddance Satan.

Today marks exactly seven years since my mother quite literally threw my father and his mistress —who was supposed to be taking care of us— out of our house.
My mother wasn't perfect —having parental issues too— staying with him much longer than she should've, really. He was never perfect, from what I've heard he's been a red flag since the beginning.

My father's type was no better than my mother's honestly. Everyone would believe him if he said "my ex-romantic partners are crazy". One of them —the mistress who was supposed to be our caregiver— did unspeakable things to me because there was trouble in paradise.
For some odd reason she thought my father would care, well he didn't, obviously.

My mother —bless her heart— was always away on business trips and trusted my father, and my older sister Lethu, who was about eighteen at the time.

My father was too occupied with who knows what, because he wasn't even paying attention to his precious —emotionally volatile— Ruby, who was pregnant at the time. Ruby saw an opportunity and she took it, leaving my sister alone to look out for me.

She wasn't alone though, because he was there too. My best friend Ethan.

I've known him as far back as memory serves and have loved him for as long as I've known the concept of romantic feeling.
He has been with me forever and it doesn't help that he has put himself in serious danger for me before.

We are so close, my mother moved me to his university at the beginning of my third —out of four— year of university. She has always wanted us to possibly get married one day, I know from the way she speaks rather suggestively about him and I.

I sigh as I fix up my hair and decide to throw on something random.

He —besides Lethu— has always been the only one I have.

I'm glad that's different now, because I have Kayleigh too.
The very person who practically forced me to get some fresh air and maybe break my dry spell.

I've been single for over two years and I am starting to question how desirable I really am.
It doesn't help that I'm practically in love with my male bestie.

Sorry to girlies with male besties. I feel like I'm giving you guys a bad rep here.

This year is the year I either ruin our friendship or I find someone else, either way I won't be single for much longer.

A ping from my phone draws my attention away from the mirror and I see it's my new friend.

"You better not flake tonight! There's a couple of people I want you to meet!" I can hear her squeals already.

Another message.

"There's this hunk I think you're going to get along with! I'm talking black hair, blue eyes and covered in ink!"
"So don't you dare flake on me!"

"I'm coming, ungasabi [fear not]. But don't get your hopes up, I'm not hooking up with anyone tonight."

"Okay okay, Virgin Mary. But I'm serious, at least try to have fun tonight. Let the music take control!"

"Virgin Mary is crazy."
"Okay fine, if you find me drunk and grinding against a random stranger, no you did not."

"See what? I'm Stevie Wonder babe."
"Anyway get here already! And dress sexy for me. ;)"

"I thought you said you had found my —in your words— future bae, so why are you flirting with me? Causing all sorts of confusion."

"Good! Just know I'm number one, baby girl. I might be wanting you to get with J, but I'm still jealous."

"Whatever XD."

I chuckle at our text thread. She —the one straighter than a ruler— is constantly flirting, but I'm the bisexual one.

"I'll be waiting sexy thing. ;)"

I laugh out loud as I look at myself one more time, preparing for the noise after about a week alone in this big house.

Right now, in this moment, everything is so perfect.
Picture perfect.
I guess it will stay this perfect until it isn't anymore.

The cracks will begin to show incredibly quickly and everything about who I am will be tested.
Not only will it be my loyalty getting tested, but my honesty, my sense of self, my entire perception of my life and my beliefs.

But... it wouldn't be a good story if it was all rainbows and sunshine, now would it?

Anything for the plot I guess.

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