The Forbidden Bite

Chapter 1: My Perfection

**Warning**

There is content that talks about suicide and other harmful things in this book. Some cursing and violence. 

I always loved tragic stories, and tragic endings.  Maybe it was because I hadn't been through anything tragic.  Unless a character dies then most of the time the tragic endings could have been avoided, so I always thought that I would never end up in that situation.  At seventeen I guess I was naïve, and that's how this begins.  I've come to the conclusion that life is tragic in itself.  I guess that where my story begins, more like our story begins.

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"Jack GET UP RIGHT NOW" I wake up to hear my mother screaming at the top of her lungs. I'm sure that the neighbors six doors down can hear her high pitch scream. I jump out of bed and stumble around my unclean room, trying to get clothes on as fast as possible. I pull on navy blue jeans and a red T-shirt, and grab my back pack. I run downstairs to see my little sister and mom at the table. In the world of 2018 you would think that being a senior in high school is easier then it was in the 60's but that is not true in any world.

"I've called you at least 6 times" My mother says with annoyance shining through her voice.

"I know mom, I'm sorry. I'm just tired" I complain as I grab a piece of toast. My mom stands up from the table and walks over to me.

"Sweetheart, your a senior now and things really matter. Your a great student and your future is perfect for you. You don't want to mess that up for yourself, right?" My mom raises her eyebrow.

"Of course not" I answer and run back upstairs to grab a hair brush.

I grab a blue hair brush and stare at myself in the mirror. My dirty blonde hair is ruffled and dirty. People always say I have my dad's deep blue eyes and my mom's personality. That comment always annoys me and I don't know why. I stare at my thin figure, even though I don't have a lot of muscle I'm not doing to bad for a 17 year old. I quickly brush through my hair and run out the door. As I walk through my small neighborhood to school I take in all my surroundings. I grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado where pretty much nothing exciting happens.

I still loved growing up here, it will be sad to leave. My dad told me that he wants me to go to Yale and when it comes to my dad, I don't argue. Yale's fine with me, both of my parents went there and they say it's great. I'm not sure what I want to do as an adult nothing has really caught my attention yet. Vanguard High, the place where every teenager goes in my side of town. Fantastic, another year of this even though I hate school, I'm still very good at it. Another year of everybody ignoring me and being the teacher's pet. I'm not a jock but I'm also not a nerd, I'm somewhere in between. I open a glass door and suddenly I'm jumped on by someone with big hair.

"Hey bro, how you doing?" Richard asks. Richard Marie is my best friend he hates that his last name is also a common name for a girl. He seems to have gotten much taller over the summer as his body is towering over me. He practically has an afro but he constantly denies that fact. The sun gave him a slight tan and his brown hair looks as if it's gotten darker. He has a rare condition where his eyes change color, and right now they are green. He was in Mexico over the summer on a missionary trip to help the poor.

"Hey, I'm good how was Mexico?"

"It was very hot and dirty, but we helped a lot of people so it's all worth it"

"Your much more generous than I am" I say and chuckle. Me and Richard head to the front desk to get our class schedule.

"We are in most of the same classes, which is awesome" He says which makes me smile.

"How's your mom?" He asks which makes my breath hitch.

"She's fine," I hope he can't hear the hesitation in my voice.  "Yeah, she was able to get over alcohol on her own,"  I added.

"I thought you said she went to rehab," Richard said and looked at me.  I stop dead in my tracks. Did I say that before?

"Yeah, your right. I'm sorry my head just isn't in it today," I answer. I can't tell him yet or anyone for that matter. It's so embarrassing and I don't want people to judge me. It's my secret to tell when I'm ready. Geometry is Richard's and I first class. The classroom looks all to familiar, and I mentally groan knowing I have to endure one more year of this. Once again it was just Mr. Burton's boring lecture about angles for the hundredth time. I keep trying to concentrate but almost falling asleep on my desk until the door swings open to the classroom.

"I'm sorry, I'm late" says a boy who is dressed in all black from head to toe. He has a nose ring and he has dark like midnight black hair. His black boots reflect the lights on the ceiling, and he has a black leather jacket. His shirt has a skull on it and his facial expression screams that he doesn't want to be here. Since I was sitting in the front row of the class I could see his eyes were black, a beautiful black. I felt like I was in a cheesy romcom. He had an intimidating demeanor, and I could feel anger radiating off of his body.

As the teacher was signing his tardy slip he turned his head and flashed me a smile. He couldn't be looking at me, right? I give a slight smile back, I could barely breathe as his smile made my heart palpitate. I started blushing and looked down at my notebook on my desk.

"Go sit down in that empty chair in the back. Please don't be late again, Mr. Whitelock" Mr. Burton said and turned to the board to continue teaching. I was distracted the entire time, I could feel that boy's gaze burning in my back. I started feeling tingly and nervous all of a sudden. I haven't felt this was in a long time and that scared me. Suddenly the bell rang and I jumped so hard I nearly feel out of my chair.

"Ok, class please leave nice and slowly. Don't run please" I left the class as soon as possible and then waited outside for Richard.

"Hey, why were you so jumpy in class today?" Richard asked me.

"I honestly don't know, I guess I'm just nervous for the new year," I say but I can tell that Richard doesn't believe my answer.

"Ok, well I have to go to Spanish. Have fun in English" Richard waved by and started walking faster down the hall. I sighed. What was wrong with me?

I always sit in the front row of the class, which is usually most students least favorite and I started getting my book and notebook out when I heard someone sit beside me.

"Hello" I look up and it was the same boy that was late to Geometry.

"um--hm-hello" I say in a very meek voice, I instantly face palm myself in my head.

"I'm Daniel Whitelock" He says, his voice is very sensual but it sounds gentle.

"I'm Jack Beck" I answer and smile. He smiles back and again that feeling in my stomach returns, and I start blushing. I really hope he didn't notice. That whole class went achingly slow and my mind could barely focus on what the teacher was teaching. I could feel him staring at me through most parts of the class, but when he would look away I would start staring at him. Finally, that class is over and I rush out as soon as possible.

The whole day just goes by so extremely slow, it feels like I am in some time warp where this day will never end. As the last bell goes off, I couldn't be happier. As I start heading towards the exit, Richard catches up to me.

"Hey, how did your day go?" Richard asks me.

"It was fine," I say.

"You act like there's something on your mind" Richard says as we both leave the building. It wasn't so much as what was on my mind more like who.

"Nothing, see you tomorrow" I say and wave goodbye to Richard. As I'm walking home and I can't stop thinking about Daniel's smile and his entire appearance. My world is far from perfect even though most people would disagree.  I never liked the unknown , but there was something about Daniel that made me curious.  Daniel was a human mystery and it was intimidating but I couldn't help it.  I needed to solve this mystery.