Face First

"What are you so afraid of?" His breath fans my lips, reminding me just how close we actually are. I watch as a smirk tilts the corner of his mouth when he notices my eyes glance between his blue orbs and soft lips. He takes a step closer. I hold my ground, not wanting to let him know that he has an affect on me.

"I'm not afraid of anything," I speak, but my voice comes out airy. Cursing mentally, I see him take yet another step.

"I don't believe that. I think you're afraid of falling. You're afraid of falling in love with me." He talks lowly, as if he doesn't want to frighten a cornered animal. I'm not scared, I tell myself. I'm not scared of anything, I can't be. I have to be strong; the strongest.

"Love's a myth, it doesn't exist." Soon, we're chest to chest and I have to crane my neck to meet his eyes.

"How can you fear something that isn't real?" His hand brushes my hair behind my ear, and he lets his fingertips softly glide down my cheek to hold my chin.

"Exactly," I breathe. He dips his head and I have no control over my racing heart.

"I'm going to make you fall in love with me, Candy. Face first."

***

Candice Thomas isn't a stereotype of any kind. She takes bits from each and makes them her own. Like a nerd, she loves video games. Like a white girl, she thinks coffee is life. Like a rebel, she refuses to take shit from anybody. Like an outcast, she doesn't really have any friends. Like a jock, she could probably beat you at any sport. Like any emo, she's considered to have depression.

Still suffering from her tragic past, Candice uses video games, crude humor, and sarcasm to deflect her pain. No one questions it, instead choosing to avoid her. Until Candice's twin forces her to interact with the school's 'popular boy'.

Her life seems to go downhill from there. Or maybe, it starts to look up?