Betting on your Heart

Chapter One

The sun was just peaking over the horizon and the breeze made early autumn leaves scatter over the streets with a kind of beauty. It seemed that everything was right with the world. "You asshole!" A feminine yell was exclaimed from the Wilding/Scott's home. Ella Wilding, seventeen year old senior had woken up to find the all of her precious books had been ripped to shreds and Ella had no doubt in her mind who was culprit was. Damien Scott, her devious step brother who was also seventeen. He was obviously looking for a punch in the face with this last stunt.

Ella stomped her way down the hall to his room, still in her pajamas. She threw his door open and glared at her step brother. Normally, Ella was not so easily furious with Damien but he knew better than to mess with her most prized possessions. Damien had definitely stepped over the line this time. Damien looked up at Ella as soon as his bed room door flew open with a loud bang. Ella's expression was priceless at that moment. Her face was red with fiery and her body was practically shaking with anger. "How could you?!" She screeched. Damien simply shrugged.

"I was tired of seeing you reading a book every second of every day. " He answered. Ella sucked in a breath; she never thought he could be so cruel! The poor girl finally snapped and Ella lunged herself at him where he was lying on his bed. Damien barely had any time to react before his step-sister was on top of him... with her hands around his neck, strangling him. "You really freaking suck, you know that?! I hate you!" She growled out before getting up and exiting. His mother and his step-dad were standing near the door way to his room, scowling.

The two had obviously witnessed his recent handy work. "Damien, you are going to apologize and buy every last one of her books back or you are going to be grounded for three weeks." His mother stated before turning and walking away, shaking her head in disappointment. Okay, so maybe he had really fucked up this time? All he had wanted was a little attention from his step-sis. Damien knew that she was royally pissed off because she had actually said that she hated him this time. No matter any prank he pulled, any insult or rude name he threw her way... she would never say she hated him. So the words had stung him a bit.

Ella went back to her room and sighed in frustration. She looked over the ripped pieced of paper that covered the entire floor of her room. Ella just couldn't believe he had actually done this! With a shake of her head, Ella started to get ready for the day. She figured she would just clean this ridicules mess up when she got home from school. Ella navigated her way through her room to her closet. There, she picked out a normal t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Ella was not the very flashy type. Then she went down the hall to the bathroom and proceeded with her morning ritual. After her shower, Ella looked into the mirror and studied her features. She had long brunette hair and chocolate eyes, she was very pretty but Ella thought herself to be boring. Plus, she never tried to look really nice.

Thinking about her own looks, made Ella think about Damien's.  Girls at school had labeled him the hottest guy there. Even Ella had to agree that he was very handsome, but he was her brother so she never thought anything weird about him like that. He had shaggy black hair with electric blue eyes and he was pretty built. Ella huffed; it was bad when your brother was considered more attractive than you.  Ella put on her clothes and exited the bathroom. Then she went down stairs to the kitchen where some pancakes were already cooked and waiting for her to eat them.

Her step mother, Maria stood behind the stove making some more. Maria turned to her step-daughter with a slight smile. "Ella, I am so sorry about Damien ruining your books and I am making him buy you all new ones." She said. Ella sighed and smiled softly, "Thanks, Maria." At least now, she would get her books back. Just then, her father came down holding her one year old little sister, Nora. Ella's smile brightened upon seeing her little sister. Nora reached her hands eagerly out to Ella and her father placed Nora in her arms. Nora cooed and grabbed onto Ella's finger with affection.