"Never call a girl a bitch," I glared into his eyes as he opened them, piercing into me, the bright blue drink I had just poured over him still dripping from his dark hair. "Or she just might act like one." I gave him one last sarcastic smile before pushing by him and walking away, practically strutting. Well, this year will be fun... • • • • Crystal Summers; a self-proclaimed expert in all things sarcastic and the human embodiment of destructive decisions. Trying to get away from her troubled past, she moves with her mom to California to start a new life, and potentially not screw this one up. There, she quickly meets Scarlett and Savanah, her new-found partners in crime, and her life finally begins to feel normal again for the first time in years. But she just so happens to also collide with the school's sexy, notorious jackass, Ashton Monroe.. and his pack of asswipes. She loathes him, and the feeling is mutual. But as the poets say, the line separating love and hate is a very thin one. And often times, when two people hate each other, it can grow into much more. Hopeless devotion, if you will... • • • • !!!TRIGGER WARNING!!! • slight mention(s) of suicidal concepts • substance abuse, addiction, anxiety, PTSD • sexual assault, domestic abuse • strong language and mature scenes • • • •

Elena Adams has had a rough life. Her mother left her after the death of her sister and her brother never comes around. She's left alone with her drunk father. She's got a mouth on her though and will stand up to anyone who fucks with her or her friends. Reece Parkers life is golden, well except for the being dragged in a gang thing. He's the schools player/ bad boy. He's cocky, carefree and hot. He's tough and fearless... until Elena came along. She became his weakness in a matter of days. "I wanna punch you in the face" I squinted my eyes. Just then an apple snacked him right in the head. Lauren and I curled our lips in so we wouldn't laugh "my point p-proven" I bursted out into laughter He squinted his eyes and stood up "Who threw it!" All eyes were on him. I exchanged looks with Lauren before we gave him our attention again "Caleb please get down" I laughed He shook his head "No Lena" he looked at the jock table and jumped off the table stomping their way "who did it?" Lauren and I jumped out of out seats and ran to him "Caleb stop. They're gonna beat your ass" I made slight eye contact with Reece, his grey eyes stared into my soul and he gave me a blank expression. I looked at Caleb "Go now!" I pointed back to our table "Lena I got a fucking apple to the head" he frowned "I ain't leaving until I find out who it was" "I did it" Dylan smirked "but it was aimed for Kayne"

'Pain isn't remotely kind in that way. Pain wants its promised pound of flesh, ounce for ounce. It won't settle until you're left with nothing but a flaky shell of who you were. The burn of betrayal and the sting of rejection hurt, but nothing compares to the pain of being empty. Nothing hurts worse than not hurting at all and it makes no sense and perfect sense at the same time and I'm convinced I'm going crazy and I'm actually okay with that.'

This is the sequel (continuation) of After. Hardin and Tessa's relationship will be tested in ways she never expected, but he knew of all along.