EMILY

The Parker Sisters

*Four years ago*

Justin's POV

"I don't want my son to be average."

"Hiding in the crowd is for cowards."

"Winners stand out."

"Never settle for the second best."

That's what my Dad said when I left the house in the morning for my first day in Redwood High.

Sliding inside the Mercedes, I asked the driver to stop in front of the cemetery first. The cemetery where my elder brother was buried. My brother who was anything but ordinary. The best in academics, the best in sports, the best in behavior, he was everything I aimed to become.

But he never graduated highchool.

Why? Because he was too good to live. So God took him away from us.

I was seven that time and watching my sixteen years old brother die in an accident was something I never expected. My father cried that night for the first time and I didn't know why he was crying, I didn't understand that this was the last time I was seeing my brother.

Now, they expect me to be the same.

To achieve everything he wanted to achieve.

To fulfill his dreams.

I smiled before exiting the cemetery. To be honest, I didn't hate them for wanting me to excel because personally, I wanted the same. I wanted to be like Sean.

Just as handsome, just as popular, just as intelligent.

I knew he would be very proud of me.

...

Something strange happened when I passed the playing ground. I met a girl, a very cute one. Her cheeks were chubby and her eyes were huge, like a cute, cuddly teddy bear.

I couldn't stop myself from kissing the slight dimple on her cheeks. She reminded me of the barbie I once saw in a Disney movie. The blush on her face deepened and I dashed away from that place. What if she slapped me from kissing her? Girls are scary sometimes.

Searching around, I reached the other side of playground where few boys were busy playing basketball.

Basketball. The love of my life.

"Can I play too?" I said, plastering my signature smirk on my face and walking towards them. They were all tall, just like me with athletic builts, indicating that they were in school team.

"Who are you?" One of them said, looking at me with his hazel eyes.

"Justin Reed." I matched his glare and said confidently.

"New in town?" he said, looking at me from head to toe.

"Yep." I shrugged, shaking my head so that few dark locks fell down on my forehead.

"You can't play with us Newbie. We have a standard." he said and snatched the ball from my hand.

"Who are you to stop me?" I snorted.

"Me? Well, Consider me the future basketball captain." he flashed a grin and turned around.

They started playing again while I kept watching them with narrowed eyes. Nobody had rejected me before, nobody dared enough. Maybe they needed to know who I was and what my Dad could do.

"I think you don't know me yet. I am Asher Reed's son." I announced and all the heads turned to me.

"Asher Reed?" one of them asked in surprise. Everybody knew my Dad was fighting the elections for Town's mayor position and the odds were in his favour.