of my time.
Chapter 2
Maya
9 years ago, high school
Charlotte twirled on her toes like a music box ballerina in front of the door leading to the cafeteria. “Guess who just got asked to the prom?”
Students hurried by to get lunch before the bell rang, and a few cast curious glances our way. Even though her parents were filthy rich and mine were middle class, we’d been best friends since kindergarten. We both attended King’s Prep School, a private Christian school noted for its high scores and reputation for preparing students for Ivy League universities. I had a partial scholarship, and my mom paid for the rest from money her parents left her before they passed away. Charlotte’s parents could have sent her to a more prestigious school, but they felt that King’s Prep School had a solid Biblical foundation. They chose a school that was important to them rather than one that was considered better in the world’s eyes.
“You got asked,” I said with a smile. “Does this mean we’ll be a foursome?”
“Yes! You and Liam can share a Limo with Declan and me, and if Sophia gets a date, we can make it six.”
“I can’t wait.”
Our friend, Sophia, jabbed me in the ribs with her elbow, her long red hair swinging over one shoulder. “Too bad you already said yes to Liam. Easton can’t seem to keep his eyes off you.” She giggled and tipped her head toward the outdoor tables, and both Charlotte and I turned to look.
Easton stood there, dirty blond hair falling over his forehead, blue eyes piercing and almost predatory as he stared at me unapologetically, though it wasn’t the stare of a guy who was interested. It was quite the opposite. Easton hated me. Couldn’t stand me. I never really understood why, but maybe it was because I was his sister’s friend, and I wasn’t rich. Perhaps he thought I wasn’t good enough to be in her circle.
My brows lowered, and I tore my gaze away from him, a sick feeling tumbling in my stomach. Whenever he was around, he drew me in as much as he repelled me, and that unnerved me a great deal. He was a bully, a player, and a conceited jerk, just to name a few of his wonderful qualities. He was self-serving in every way. Absolutely nothing like Charlotte.
But even so, I was extremely attracted to him against my will, and that made me madder than a cat thrown into a pool of ice-cold water.
“Not sure why you had to bring him into the conversation,” I said, staring at my fingernails. “Didn’t you get the memo, Sophia? He doesn’t like me. Never has.”
“He doesn’t have a good handle on his feelings,” Charlotte said. She tapped her chin with her forefinger and glanced at Easton and then back at me. “I don’t think he hates you.”
“Can we change the subject, please?” Talking about Easton made me uncomfortable, and even more than that, it brought discontentment into my life and made me long for something I didn’t have. Something I shouldn’t desire. He was bad news, and that was putting it lightly. I didn’t want to be with him, and yet, a part of me did. I had so much inner conflict when it came to him.
“Fine with me,” Charlotte said. “Let’s get out of here.” She stuck her tongue out at him, and I tried not to smirk at how juvenile she appeared. While we would all agree it wasn’t the mature thing to do by anyone’s standard, the look on his face was hilarious. He jerked back in surprise as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and I did my best not to laugh.
We walked away after that, and I forced myself not to glance at him over my shoulder. I turned my thoughts to Liam, and my shoulders instantly relaxed as the brown-haired boy with hazel eyes came to mind. He was a good guy. Kind. Funny. Sweet. And he’d asked me to the prom. I was a sophomore, and he was a junior in high school. We’d have a great time together.
Later that afternoon, I walked out of my English class and was about to head towards the front of the school to catch the bus when Liam weaved in and out of a group of students and jogged up to me. He stood with his hands at his waist, taking deep breaths as he bent forward ever so slightly. There was