B I T T E R

C H A P T E R ONE

There was that boy again. He hung out with all my guy friends, yet I hadn't talked to him before. I had a desire to get to know him. The fact that I felt drawn to a boy who's name I did not know should've set off a red flag for me. It was a warning sign that I should've ignored.

"Who even is that kid? He can't be from around here." I asked my friends. The four of us were never not together. We were in all the same clubs and extra curriculars. Most of my camera roll was ugly pictures of them or pictures with them. We knew each other secrets and just about every other detail. I'm proud to say that they've all seen my boobs at one point in our past four years of friendship.

"That's Ace Zane," Riley answered.

"How do you know him?" I pushed.

"He's in my Literature class. He's really stupid." She bit into her sandwich.

"Aren't you in AP?" Havoc asked

"There are a lot of stupid people in classes they shouldn't be in." Spencer rolled her eyes. She was the nerd of our group and despite her lack of experience in relationships, she gave very good advice on them.

"He's pretty cute." I said randomly. It just slipped out my mouth.

"He's not good for a relationship, Charlotte. You can do so much better." Riley shook her head.

"Well who said I wanted a relationship, anyways? Maybe I just want to fool around with him. You know I'm not cut out for relationships." I shrugged. Spencer and Havoc nodded, knowing I was right.

"Ever since Aidan...," Havoc started to say until I shot her a deadly look.

"We do not speak of him." I clenched my hands up, my reaction every time I heard his name.

We all returned to eating in silence. I watched the students around us. The football freshmen ate together, the varsity basketball team was divided into two cliques, the ROTC kids threw food at each other, and everyone else was scattered into their own little friend groups.

I turned my head to the entrance of the cafeteria and saw Ace and Kaden walking towards me. Were they walking towards me? I hoped not and pretended to be interested in talking to my friends.

"So, I recently met this guy named Tony." I said.

"Aye, Charlotte!" Kaden called me. He was standing behind me and Ace was staring quietly at me from the back.

"Yeah?"

"You got any food or money for me to buy food?" he chuckled because this was something we went through often.

"No, Kaden. I barely eat lunch and I don't have money." I sighed, tired of repeating this every week.

"I'll get you something to eat." Riley offered. She blinked twice at me and I knew she trying to tell me that she was helping me out. Spencer and Havoc caught on and went along with it.

"I say we take a trip to the vending machines. I too am feeling hungry." Spencer smiled. The four of them left the cafeteria and I expected Ace to follow them, but he lingered.

"So, you and Kaden been friends long?" I sparked conversation.

"Nah, I just met him this year. I went to school in another county before." He took a seat next to me.

I knew he wasn't from around here. He had a different vibe to him and maybe that was why I found him intriguing.

"Well, I'm Charlotte. And you are?" I asked as if I didn't already know.

"Ace." He said dryly. It was like he had no personality.

"Cool name. Let me know if you need anything and I'll be happy to help."

"Actually, I'm failing math." He admitted.

"Well, let me give you my number and you can text me whenever you need help with something." I took out my phone and he took out his. We exchanged numbers and just as we finished, the girls and Kaden returned.

"Ace, let's go man. There's a football meeting right now. Thanks, Riley!" Kaden ushered him. I stared as Ace walked away and I noticed he didn't look back at me. Did he feel my eyes? I also noticed he walked awkward as if his leg were paining him.

"Well, how'd it go?" Spencer asked, anxious to hear everything. The three leaned into me.

"I got his phone number. Thanks for distracting him, Riley." I smirked.

"It was a pleasure! But, did you learn anything new?" she smiled.

"Well, he really is stupid. He's failing math. He seems bland. He's got a funny walk." I told them everything.

"You have fun with this one." Spencer blew out a breath.

"That's all it's going to be." My smirk deepened, thinking of all the things Ace and I were going to do.