Book 1: It's Just Pretend

Chapter 1: Well Shit

"God dammit, Sharon! Ever since The Incident, you've been un-fucking-bearable!"

"Don't you dare... Don't you dare bring that up at a time like this!" I could imagine Ma's tear-stained face as she shrieked at Mom, her southern accent growing stronger and harder to understand the angrier she became.

"Well you act as if it never happened! As if he never happened!"

"Get out. Get out! Get the fuck out of my face!" My hands shook as I messily tucked my hair into a knit beanie and cycled out of the backyard. The wind whistled past the exposed part of my ears, whipping stray locks of curly hair into my face. I blinked away the sting of the wind in my eyes and peddled harder. There was suddenly a person just a few feet in front of me. I braked so fast, I flipped and fell to the hot concrete.

"Mother of shit!" I cursed as I tumbled down.

"Hey, you hurt?" I rolled my eyes.

"What does it look like, genius?" Standing up, I brushed dirt from my clothes and examined the cuts on my ankle and hands. I looked up and goddamn, this boy was really fucking cute. I faintly recognised him from junior year.

"Jeez. Why so salty, Tiger?" A smirk effortlessly appeared and he shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. His hair was perfectly styled- down to the piece of dark black hair that fell against his forehead. His combat boots were shined to perfection.

"First, I apologize for being a little bitchy. Second, don't belittle me, Edge-Lord." I picked my bike up from the floor, checking the minimal damage.

"I'm Chandler. Chandler Bilyk." His body was relaxed and he lifted the edge of a beer can to his still-smirking lips. The name registered in my mind and I remembered him as the ultimate fuckboy of school. Fantastic. I gave him a short nod.

"Nice to see you again, Bilyk." Turning on my heel, I made to leave.

"Wait, do we know each other?" I snorted and faced him, a small smirk on my lips.

"Not really, but I know of you. I guess you could say the news about you gets around as much as you do." He chuckled under his breath.

"Well that makes sense. What's your name?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Doesn't really matter does it? We'll probably never talk to each other again."

"Hey, you never know." I laughed dryly.

"Neither do you. Plus, won't you already be having trouble remembering the names of all your lady friends?" He tossed back his head in laughter and it warmed me.

"So you gonna tell me your name?"

"Nah, don't feel like it. And anyway, I thought you might be the type to enjoy a little mystery."

"I guess I'll name you then."

"'Scuse me?" I arched my eyebrow and crossed my arms.

"Well, you won't tell me your name... Tiger." I snorted.

"I believe I mentioned that you shouldn't belittle me." I stood a little straighter and pressed my lips into a tight line.

"That wasn't what I was going for," he put his hand up in mock surrender, "You do realise how feisty you are, right?"

"Well that's putting it lightly," I replied, snorting,"I guess it works."

"And I can probably make the assumption that you'd try fight anyone that fucks you over."