My Not So Prince Charming

Chapter 1

The persistant blaring of my iPhone across the darkness of my bedroom caused me to jump. God, I wished he would stop calling me. I didn't want him anymore. Couldn't he just take a hint and grasp the fact that I was trying to change? I didn't want to be a slut anymore, for Christ's sake. The ringing cut off before starting up again, sounding impossibly louder.

"Maren, just answer the fricking phone. You know he's not gonna stop calling until he gets what he wants from you," my best friend Sienna Roberts mumbled sleepily and rolled over in my bed.

"I don't want to talk to him!" I hissed, my eyes darting to my phone laying atop my dresser. The green numbers on my alarm clock blinked to 1:37 and my phone shut up. I held my breath, waiting. Then, my ringtone started up again.

I screamed into a beaded pillow before getting up and stomping across the room. "What, Kade? What do you want from me?"

"Baby, don't be mad. I just want you, like always," he murmured. The throaty tone of his voice sent shivers dancing down my spine and I struggled to ignore them.

"Please. Leave me alone, Kade. It's almost two o'clock in the morning, dammit," I snapped.

"Maren, I need you. Come over. You know I love you," Kade pleaded softly.

I almost gave in right then. The word okay was on the tip of my tongue, but then I remembered that he was lying. The only thing Kade Matthews loved about me was my body. Besides, I knew who he really was. He was a disgusting player that thought he could have me whenever he wanted with just a quick call. And that was all I was to him. A booty call. I sighed heavily into the phone and blurted out my reply in a rush, the words tumbling over one another in my haste to get them out.

"No, Kade. I'm fricking tired of you thinking you can do whatever you want with me. I'm not just some toy you can just play with whenever you please. So forget it. I don't even care that everyone at school thinks I'm a whore. I don't even care that every guy thinks I'm easy and every girl thinks I'm a bitch who wants to steal her boyfriend for a quick screw. Just stop. I don't want you anymore, okay? Understand that and leave me alone."

Then, I quickly hung up and powered off my phone. I just hoped he would get it through his thick head that I was done. D-O-N-E. I hurried back to my bed and crawled in under the covers next to Sienna. Her blonde hair was splayed out across the pillows, her mouth open to let out quiet snores. At least she looked peaceful. I turned over to face the wall, finally falling into a restless, troubled sleep.

***

The next day, I got up like everything was normal. Except it wasn't. I ususally wore a revealing lacy top, tight skinny jeans, and patent leather stilettos, but today that wasn't the case. Instead, I dressed in an oversized USA Athletics sweatshirt, frayed denim short shorts, and white Converse high-tops. The only makeup I put on was mineral powder, EOS lip balm, and mascara. To top it all off, I threw my dark red hair up into a messy bun and stuck a stubby pencil through it to hold it up. Sienna shot me a confused look, but didn't comment on my wardrobe choices.

We arrived at school early considering that I hadn't taken almost an hour on getting ready. Sienna had remained silent the whole entire car ride in her sky blue vintage Bug, which was way out of character for her. She was probably just worried about me, but I wasn't in the mood for her pity. As soon as the car was parked, I jumped out and practically ran away from her, relieved she didn't call out after me. But right when I entered the school, I was kind of angry she hadn't. Two strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me into the janitor's closet where we couldn't be seen, but I knew exactly who it was. I was familiar enough with those arms.

"Let me go, Kade," I commanded tiredly.

"Maren," he whispered into my hair. "You really didn't think you could get away from me that easily, did you?"