Forever & Always

Chapter 1 - Alessandra

"Ready?" Dad asked.

"No." I scowled.

"Hon," Dad sighed. "Just, give it a chance."

I frowned and walked out the front door. In the middle of our driveway was a brand new Tesla. "Dad?" I asked.

"Yeah?" He stuck his head out the door.

"Why is that here?"

"It's yours," he said, grinning.

I looked at him. He was serious. I smiled at him; it was forced. "Thanks."

When I got into the car, I noticed a hip-hop mix CD in the passenger seat along with an AUX cord. I frowned. Did he think getting me a car and a CD was going to fix things? Because if so, he was wrong. I started to feel guilty for not being more appreciative, but since Caleb died, he hasn't been there completely. He's been a ghost, sometimes there, other times not. It was confusing and beyond frustrating. He acted as if nothing had happened, as if our lives hadn't just been changed forever.

-

When I got to school, I parked my car. As I got out, a red Porsche pulled up in front of my car. "Who the fuck are you?" A guy from inside the car asked. "Get out of my spot before I slash your tires."

I decided I didn't want any drama on my first day and sighed. I got in my car and backed it out of the spot. I parked it in another and walked into the school. When I got to the front office, I saw the boy who had stopped in front of my car. He looked my way and smirked. "Hey, Puppet. What's going on?" He sneered.

"Don't ever call me that again or I will chop off your fucking dick." I said through my teeth.

He looked at me with mock concern. "Why not? I think it's a fitting name."

"Just because I did what you said once, doesn't mean I'll do it again."

He pushed me against the wall. "Want to say that again, Puppet?"

I reached out, grabbed his nuts, and twisted. A look of agony overcame his face and he fell to the floor. I bent down to his face. "Don't call me Puppet."

I walked into the office and up to the receptionist. "Hey, hon. Are you new?"

"Yeah," I said.

"Name?"

"Alessandra Dario."

"Well, Alessandra. Welcome to Norman High School. I'm the secretary here; my name's Miss Sherman. We're happy to have you here. Here's a book of all the school regulations that I'm sure you'll find helpful. You should have gotten one in the mail, but we always give students an extra copy. As you'll read in the handbook, we do not wear uniforms, but certain clothing is not acceptable here at Norman. If you have any questions feel free to ask me or any of the other staff here. Here's you schedule, dear." Miss Sherman looked at me and smiled. "And I know it's hard transferring to a new school, but I'm sure you'll like it here."

"Thanks," I said and she nodded. I walked back out into the hallway.

"Hey."

I turned. "Jesus Christ. Can you not take a hint? What do you want?"

"Just to talk." He smirked as he cornered me.

"Leave me alone before I make more than just your balls unusable," I growled.

"Oh yeah?" His smirk grew. "You don't want to do that, Puppet."

I ground my knee into his crotch. "You have a lot to learn about me." I smirked as he fell to the ground for the second time.

-

My first class was Geometry. Back in Nebraska, I used to get made fun of by my best friend, Samantha, because math was my favorite subject. She didn't understand why. Anytime I tried to tutor her she would look at me eyes wide, mouth open because I actually understood it. And, if after I explained it more she still didn't get it, she would claim math was against her religion and walk out.

I opened the door to Geometry and walked in. Right as I sat in a seat, the second bell rang. The teacher started to call roll. "Hey."

I looked up. It was the jerk from the parking lot. "Jackson," the teacher said. "Do you not understand the point of desks?"

The jerk, Jackson, smirked at the teacher and sat down beside me. A few seconds later, a guy walked through the door. He was wearing black skinny jeans with a white V-neck shirt. On top of the shirt he wore a black leather jacket. His hair was dark and wavy and he walked as if he didn't give a damn in the world that he was late. "Mr. Jordan," the teacher said. "You're late."

The kid smiled at the teacher and I swear I've never seen teeth so perfect. "But, Mr. Brown," he said. "You must admit that I am fashionably late."

Mr. Brown glared at the boy. "Sit down, Asher."

Asher did a fake salute and looked my way. I almost gasped. His eyes were a startling electric blue. He walked over to Jackson and glared at him. "You're in my spot."

Jackson smirked. It seemed that was what he was best at. "There are other seats, you know."

"Get up," Asher said, a challenge in his blue eyes.

Jackson looked at Asher for a few more seconds, then got up and sat at a desk in the back.

Asher sat down next to me and smiled-- no, smirked. I was getting really tired of smirking lately. "What?" I snapped.

"Nothing. Just nice to see a pretty face in this shit town."

"I'm sure there are other pretty girls who would love to have you look at them." I said, my tone clipped.

"Yes, but, you see, they're not as gorgeous as you," he said and he winked.

"Do your pickup lines ever actually work on girls?" I asked.

"They usually do." He continued to smirk with his perfect teeth. It was annoying how perfect he was.

"Could you not?"

"Not what?" He looked confused.

"Smirk!" I whisper yelled. "You've been doing it since you walked in the classroom!"

He pretended to think. "Hmm. Usually girls find my smirking sexy." He looked at me. I shook my head in disgust.

"Ms. Dario, Mr. Jordan. Do you have something you would like to share with the class?" Mr. Brown asked.

"No, sir. We were just talking about that huge coffee stain you've got on your pants." I said before I could stop myself. "It's very obvious, in case you were wondering."

Mr. Brown glared at me and walked out of the classroom. As soon as he left, the class burst into laughter. Asher looked at me, impressed. "What was that?" he asked.

"Well, nobody else was gonna tell him. I had to," I said back.

He smiled. "It wasn't that obvious."

"Yeah," I scoffed. "And pigs can fly."

"I know," he said.

I looked at him, confused.

He looked completely serious. "Have you not seen the Doritoes commercial?"

I rolled my eyes. He smiled. "You thought I was serious." I just looked at him. He shook his head. "I'm not stupid, Dario."

"It's Alessandra," I told him.

"I like that name," he said. "But I'm gonna call you Lessie."

At hearing that nickname, my face dropped. "No," I said coldly. "You cannot call me that.

He looked confused. "Why?"

"Because you can't!" I snapped at him.

Mr. Brown walked back in, wearing a different pair of pants. "Let's get started," he said.

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