Toxic: A Sociopath Novel

Chapter 1

I live in the small town of Lincoln. Myhigh school is pretty tiny, everybodyknows each other and twenty fivepercent of the population consists of mycousins. I was raised by my grandparentswho own a mini mansion off of astretched dirt road surrounded by a pond and a horse farm. Most of the time,I'm hanging out with my two best friends,Courtney, She's blonde with a hour glassfigure, and Taylor, she's a brunette. IfI'm not with one of them, I'm probablyinterrogating my boyfriend, John.Sophomore year starts in exactly oneweek, so John is taking me back-to school shopping. The car ride to thestore was hell because we argued thewhole way. The truth about John is, he'stoo sensitive for a boy. He's honestlyworse than a baby, crying to his mama atthe smallest inconveniences. I walkedaway from him at the store because Iwasn't in the mood to deal with himanymore."What school do you go too?" I askeda girl with an ombré in her hair. Shesmiled when I spoke to her."I will be going to Lincoln." I gasped,announcing that was my school."Where are you from?" "Atlanta.""A city girl," I looked her up anddown. "I was born and raised in Lincoln.What brings you to these parts?""My uncle owns a restaurant downhere, he thinks my family will benefitwell here." I looked at her confused. Icouldn't tell if she was the mostsouthern person I'd ever met, ornorthern. Some of her words had a deepsouthern accent, and some of themsounded like she was from the deepsides of New York. I told her I'd see herlater and then started to walk away."I didn't catch your name!" She calledbehind me. I stopped and turned to faceher."LeighAnn." I hurried out, and thenscurried away to find John. John is six two with a lumber jack beard and a bodythe size of a pole. Once I found him, I ranup and socked him one right in the ribcage. He winced and arched his back. "Ow, LeighAnn! What was that for?""For being a mama's boy!" He hissedat me and then pulled me into a hug, Irefused to return it. John become lividand told me he was leaving. I tried mybest trying to convince that I hadn'tgotten any school supplies, and hebecame triggered."I don't care. I am leaving. You caneither come with me or find a new ride.""Awe, Babyboy is finally sticking upfor himself!" I laughed and followed himout. I proceeded to bully him on the wayback to my grandma's."You're so pathetic, John. You're noteven cute according to my dad. I don'teven know why I'm still with you,honestly. You just treat me like shit. Didyou not hear how you just talked to me?I'm telling my grandma and when I do,you'll hear from our lawyer!" "I love you." He claimed as I climbedout of his truck. I guess he didn't hear aword I just said."Whatever." I spat back beforeslamming the door. He drove offimmediately, not even waiting to see if Imade it inside. He always waits. Whatthe hell is his problem?It's a week later, and here I amwaiting outside for the school bus. I haveon white skinny jeans, a see-throughfloral crop top over a white cami, andsome purple converse. My hair isstraightened and my winged eyeliner isperfect.John caught up with the girls and I atbreakfast, but once the first period bellrang, he separated me from thembecause he wanted to apologize."Yeah, yeah. It's whatever." I told himright before the tardy bell sounded. Ihurried into a seat right behind Taylor and next to Courtney as our Biologyteacher began roll call."Lyn." She called. I don't recognizethat name. I looked around the roomand sitting diagonally from me, right infront of Courtney, was the new girl, theSouthern Yankee. Lyn, her name is Lyn.After roll call was done, and the teacherfinished talking about what we'd belearning this semester, Taylor engagedme in a conversation about how shebroke up with her now ex-boyfriendbecause she wasn't in love anymore. Ihave been with John for over two years,but now all of a sudden, I had the urgeto not be anymore. I thought about that,and the changed the subject."Lyn," I called. She turned to me witha smile. "Do you know the other new Kid,Christopher?""That's my brother!" Taylor and Igasped. I wanted to set them up becauseHe's cute. He's got long blonde hair that flows just right with his beautiful blueeyes."Does he have a girlfriend?" I asked, alittle bit too shyly."I don't think so. Although, I dobelieve he likes a girl here, he met herthrough our cousin. Her name is Caitlynor Cathlyn, something like that.""Oh, okay." I said, and then dismissedher to butt-out of my conversation. Shedidn't even seem to mind. She might bea good victim, her and her brother.At lunchtime, Lyn was sitting with mycousin Gene, a carrot head who's almosttoo gay to function, but I decided not tojoin them. Instead, the girls and I joinedChristopher and his clique of soccerjocks. I was watching Taylor, trying tocatch her being smitten with Christopher,but she didn't seem interested in him atall. On my spectrum of the table, therewas another soccer jock flirting with methrough his eyes. I gave a flirtatious smile back and twirled my hair. Hesmiled and slid his phone across thetable; it was on the 'add contact' screen.I entered my number and handed it back.His name is Cody, and I thought I coulduse him as a gateway to Christopher.After school, I stood outside mygrandma's and waited for John to showup. He told me he wanted to hang out,but I had other plans. When he pulled up,he opened the door, but I approachedhim and insisted he stay put."It's over, John." I blurted. Withoutreason, without any further feelings,John cranked his truck back up and left,not even saying bye. I shrugged him offand proceeded inside, where I had eighttext messages from Cody:"You know that new girlLyn?""She's Christopher'ssister.""Well anyway, I heard shehas a crush on me." "She's pretty.""She's too shy though.""I like outgoing girls.""Kind of like you.""Wanna be my girlfriend?"Without hesitation, or Taylor having anew fling, I told him yes. I've got himnow so Lyn can't. I'm hoping that thiswill give me the chance to learn moreabout Christopher.School the next day, was interesting.John hadn't shown up, Cody wasshowing me off, Christopher was givinghim a stank face, and Lyn, she lookedshattered. Despite the fact thatChristopher was angry with Cody, he stillinvited us to his lunch table and includedus in the conversation. I wondered thewhole thirty minutes, what was goingthrough that gorgeous mind of his.