It's a Fine Line

Prologue

   Beneath the covers, I felt anything but comfortable. It was a regular Tuesday morning, of course, but I felt particularly unsettled. My stomach gave a small rumble, and I hazily pushed myself off of my canopy-light-blue queen bed. "Gemma Lynne!" Mom called from downstairs, the smell of bacon entering the room quickly. I let out small sigh and quickly ran to my dresser, pulling out a pair of washed dark denim jeans and a pressed gray t-shirt. Simple, casual, typical. I then pushed back my long, light brown hair into a ponytail at the crown of my head and ran downstairs to where my mother waiting for me. "You're going to be late." She ridiculed, rolling her eyes at me, looking disheveled. 

"I'm sorry, okay?" I said rudely, wanting nothing more than to be away from her. Hurriedly, I grabbed my oversized purse filled with books and some breakfast and headed out the door. I don't take the bus, by the way. "Are you coming?" I turned towards my mother, impatiently waiting for her to walk outside. I couldn't drive yet, however much I wished I could. I was only fifteen, a sophomore in high school. There's too much you can't do at fifteen. My friends would be annoyed that I was late again. Especially Lia, my best friend. 

"Sorry, sweetheart." She appeared on the other side of the red Chevy, swinging open the driver's door and putting her key in the ignition. I climbed in and ignored her comment, she always pulled the nice act before she would come at me with an attack or an insult or a snide comment. I buckled myself in and waited for her remark. "Do you plan on doing anything useful? Anything other than texting or hanging out with that bad girl Lia? Really, Gemma, you know that I expect more of you. I just want you to do well, and..." I closed my eyes, turning away from her and glancing out the window. We were finally at Oakland High School.

"Bye, mom." I said quickly, shutting the door before she could say anything else. God, I hated her sometimes. I know I shouldn't be saying that, but I really do. My thoughts get the best of me at moments like these, and this must be the reason my friends think I'm so scatter-brained. Even my mom does. Maybe she's right... Whatever. I pushed my bag further up my shoulder and walked into the big front doors of the school. Oakland was a very big school, and there must have been up to 800 kids, in my grade alone. The halls weren't as crowded since I was late. I fast-walked to my first period class, and as soon as I walked in I saw Lia giving me the look. The look meant she had to tell me something. Well, she usually did. But today it seemed important. Mr. Kaldren gave me a dirty look as I shyly moved to the back of the classroom in my usual seat next to her. "Hi, bitch." I said teasingly to her, hoping to lighten her up. She gave me a stone-faced expression, and I knew it was something serious. "Okay, okay. What's wrong?" I spoke cautiously as her fingertips twitched against the desktop. 

"There's supposedly a new kid coming into our Italian class this period." Lia said quietly, like it was some kind of big secret. She seemed... Nervous. Lia never got nervous, I would know.

"Um, okay? I don't see the big deal... Lia, tell me, why are you being like this?" I flipped my hair behind my shoulders, my dark brown eyes scanned hers looking for an answer. I couldn't find one. 

"You don't understand, I-" She was cut off mid-sentence as a handsome kid knocked on the door. My teacher looked shocked, I mean, he was breathtakingly beautiful. Mr. Kaldren opened up the old, creaky door and in walked living perfection. From his dark brown hair to his dark brown eyes to his chiseled jaw to his structured body, come on. This had to be some kind of a joke. He looked so familiar.

"Class this is Riley Mckina. Riley is, well, I don't want to put him in an uncomfortable position. Please welcome him." My teacher said in a distant tone. "Take a seat anywhere you'd like." And but of course, that seat had to be right next to me.