Catastrophic Love

To Start Over

Alexander Blackwell:

Living in a town like Springfield wasn't always easy. Not when those who surrounded me were concealed, and when danger constantly lurked in the shadows.

Springfield was home to a plethora of illegal activities, and the height of the southern drug trade.

The middle of nowhere, and two docks to the north and south made it a prime location for drug and substance dealing, gangs, money laundering, and theft.

But Springfield had seen much worse. Springfield had seen death.

Springfield had seen murder.

Yet, on the surface, we were an ordinary small town with gorgeous scenery and crystal blue waters.

But what lurks beneath the water, and what is hid behind closed doors, is spine-chilling. And that, I believe, is an understatement.

When Victoria Adler arrives in town, bringing with her a storm of hope and chaos, everything changes.

She became a wild, perfectly put-together mess amongst the seemingly normal people in Springfield.

My perfectly put-together, untamable mess.

And this is the story of how we taught one another how to love. Saving a few lives along the way.

•••••••••••

"She's hot too," Dylan comments dreamily, chugging the rest of his discount beer.

I sigh at my best friend. "How do you know?"

"I saw her when she road in. God damn. It's not every day someone good-looking besides myself shows up in the middle of nowhere. In fact, the odds of me getting it on with a horse are more likely," He rambles on, and I suppress the urge to slap him.

He may act like a cocky player, but we all know how he feels about a certain brunette. Rebecca Sampson. The only girl in town who hasn't fallen victim to his quote on quote 'charming' ways.

He's pretty darn whipped. I get major secondhand embarrassment watching him flirt with her, only to get rejected almost every time.

Sometimes I don't blame her. Her exact words have been womanizer, douchebag, and misogynistic asshat.

"Why would someone willingly move here? And alone..." I question looking off into the wooded distance.

Dylan's eyebrows draw together as the thought dawns on him. "That is pretty weird."

"Yeah," I say. "Weird."

"Dylan, I'm fixin' to come and beat your ass if you don't get in here!" Dylan's mom shouts, the rickety screen porch door flying open.

"Coming, Ma!" Dylan shouts his face washing over in bewilderment.

I stifle a laugh, knowing good and well Mama Bell wouldn't hesitate to jerk a knot in my tail as well. She's the closest thing to a mom I have. I'm proud to be her honorary son.