𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑, luke hemmings

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE
— SAMANTHA —

Sometimes I wish I was the main character of one of those cliche teen movies, when it starts off and the reader is introduced to the characters and everything. And then, the main character falls in love with a boy, a mysterious bad boy who seems to be way out of her league and usually acts like a dick to everybody else but something's different about that girl that causes him to be drawn to her repeatedly. And then, there's always that one group of popular girls, the "she wolf pack". And the leader of the pack also has a crush on the same boy. Then, the girls battle it out for him and eventually the main character gets the boy... she always does.

But, my story won't go like that. No, because I'm such an outcast... an outgoing, too-loud outcast that there will be no one for me to even introduce, and I don't mess with popular girls. I'm so horribly loud and obnoxious that not too many people have taken a liking to me. I haven't had a "boyfriend" since the first grade... and that didn't count because all Aaron did was bring me peanut butter cookies, play tag with me at recess, and show me his collection of Pokemon cards on the bus ride home. It doesn't matter though... the very few friends I have I cherish everyday and try to be especially nice to them and shower them with gifts so that they never leave me.

Plus, the boy I have a crush on doesn't go to my school. In fact, he dropped out. And if my mom found out, she'd kill me.

Same goes for Abigail. Because the guy I happen to like is actually her brother.

Speak of the devil, my ginger haired bright eyed best friend joined me at the door in front of the school. "Morning, Samantha!" Abby smiled as soon as she reached me. I'd been waiting for her for like 10 minutes. I'd gotten tons of dirty looks from the people pushing past me but I didn't let it phase me. I wasn't in the mood to chew their ear off with an argument like I usually would.

"Hey, Abs," I grinned, wrapping my arm around her. Abigail's been my best friend since kindergarten, and honestly it's hard to believe I've kept a friend for so long. It's also been a while since I've figured out that her brother plays in a band, and now we can just talk about it normally. But what I think is totally different. I know Abby's supposed to be my closest friend, and that she probably wouldn't care if I told her... but I didn't want to risk losing our friendship over a stupid boy. I could contain my feelings for now.

"We're so old," Abby pointed out, and we both broke out into giggles.

First day of the new school year at Westville High, a gigantic high school simply because it used to be a college, the whole area its former campus. They had gotten rid of the dorms and turned it into an athletics center. Westville was a big booming area in New York City, with people from all kinds of different backgrounds. Sure, the bustling city life could be a bit of a hassle sometimes, but I had gotten used to how to manage crowded areas so I figured high school would be the same.

Starting today, Abigail and I are both eleventh graders, juniors. Next year will be the biggest year yet... graduation. Just bringing it up gave me chills. I barely even knew what I wanted for breakfast in the morning, let alone what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. "Are you scared?" I tease, even though deep down I'm probably more scared than her. I don't even know what I'm so afraid of... change, I guess.

"Nah," Abby shrugs. "As long as we're together, I think we'll be able to make it through just fine."

All of a sudden her phone screen glows; the small box of technology vibrating as if it were alive and singing Abby and I's favorite song when we were little, Naturally, by Selena Gomez. We used to play it on repeat over and over again in our bedrooms, singing into our hairbrushes like they were microphones and standing on the bed as if it were a stage, performing to the millions of adoring fans in the crowd that happened to be our stuffed animals sprawled out all over the floor. Once Abby got a phone in 6th grade, she changed it to that ringtone and left it ever since. I suppose it was a special marking of our friendship. 

She curls her lip into a smirk, looking up at me. Her eyes then glanced down at the phone, and she immediately rolled them as a response. "Luke," she mutters and I immediately tense up. As if he's there, I primp myself, brushing through my hair with my fingers like madness. I hadn't spent long on my hair this morning because I didn't want to be late on the first day, so I had a serious case of bedhead. Abby raises her eyebrows at me then laughs and answers the call.

"Hello? Yes, Luke, I'm fine... you don't have to check on me every minute of the day." She makes eye contact with me, obviously annoyed with him. "Okay, whatever... Just leave me alone, go do your stupid band shit.... Oh and tell Ashton I said hi! Okay. Love you too. Bye." Abby laughs, shaking her head, and shoves her phone into her pocket. "What was that about, Sam?"

"Oh... I thought I saw this guy I thought was cute from my science class last year ," I mumble quickly.

"So you have a crush, huh! Who's the lucky guy? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"Abby cried, grabbing my hands and staring into my soul. I suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. Leave it only to me to create such horrifically embarrassing situations.

Your brother. "Uhh... nobody. Nobody, I wasn't looking at him correctly... I'm over him." I grab her arm and pull her away.

"That quickly? Damn, if only I could get rid of my crushes that fast." Abby laughs, allowing me to drag her along. I yank her into the school building... not that I want to get to class, but because I just want to find a distraction.

And the perfect distraction reveals itself... a shaggy haired boy that's not too hard on the eyes and has a killer smile with his deep dimples. "Hello ladies," he greets us in his deep, charming voice. It's Abby's crush, Dustin. She's liked him since sixth grade shamelessly. I understand why she likes him, too... he's pretty cute. He has brown hair, blue eyes, and his clothes are pretty stylish and up with the latest trends , too. All of the girls think he's cute, basically. For some reason he always talks to us, which should raise a little red flag but I'm sure that it's just because he likes Abby too.

"Hmm?" Dustin asks, looking sideways at me.

"What?" I ask, obviously confused. I must've been too busy in my own thoughts that I didn't hear what he asked me.

He laughs it off. "I said, do you know where your first class is?"

"Me?" I question, frantically digging through my backpack for that package of cinnamon brown sugar Poptarts I had stashed in there earlier. When I finally find them, I snatch them out my bag, ignoring the mass of candy wrappers that also falls out of my bookbag in the process. 

Dustin laughs yet again and before I know it, Abby and I are laughing too. His laugh is sure contagious. "Yea."

"Oh, um.... I'm going to history. But we cool people call it social studies." I laugh again, and, in a desperate attempt to break the obvious intense awkwardness, I shove a Poptart into my mouth, hoping that this will allow Dustin to realize I'm not open for further conversation and start asking Abby some questions. 

However, Dustin doesn't take this bait. "No way, I'm going to history too!" Dustin says, even though I can sense false enthusiasm. I mean, really? It's just history.

"I'm going to biology" Abby pipes up, even though Dustin's not looking at her. Maybe he's just too shy to face her... or am I just sounding like a total idiot?

"Cool," he says to Abby and then turns back to me. "See ya in histo...I mean, social studies, Sam."

Then he winks.

I'm pretty sure he winks, but I don't know for sure because Abby wasn't paying attention to it. Maybe he just had some dust in his eye... better yet, maybe it was his arrogance. "Did you see that?" she muttered. "He's totally ignoring me."

"Sometimes, guys ignore the girl they like," I say, patting her on the back. "Don't beat yourself up, Abby. It's only the first day, I'm sure he'll realize he likes you soon."

But I can't help the jealousy I'm feeling, because my crush will never talk to me.