1 | Chapter One

It all happened so quickly.

Each second faster than the last.

Leaving our love no time to blossom, we all know what happens to things that can't blossom.

They die.

Monday morning. My least favorite day, but then again so is Sunday, but that's only because it's a warm-up to Monday. It's not the day I hate, it's what I have to do on that day I hate, but the task comes with the day only making it easier for me to say “I hate Mondays” If Monday was a person — I wonder how they would feel. They’d probably be depressed, because they’re Monday. Nobody likes Mondays.

Making it through Monday only makes you happier knowing you're one step closer to your favorite day. The day that brightened the smile on your face by just looking at it in the calendar. The day that makes everything wrong about the week go right. The day that's automatically everyone's favorite. Friday — it’s strange how Friday is so close to Monday, yet Monday is so far away from Friday.

I am my mom's Monday.

I am my dad's Friday.

The universe always balances itself out.

I took a quick glance at the mirror looking at my braids already getting loose. I’m too lazy to take it out so, It can last a while longer. I'll worry about it later, as for right now — I was going to be late to school, something that has never happened to me before. My mom would be pushing me out the door right now.

My mom's a pusher. She's been pushing me ever since I could remember, making school my top priority. It pays off well, I'm doing great in school, by great I mean free scholarship and all. I mean it only cost me my mental health and happiness. Sometimes I think she'll push me to death — that was when she was around.

Right now, it’s just me and my old man.

I quickly pulled on some basketball shorts, throwing on a hoodie. Guess it wasn't such a great idea to catch up on love island last night. I did tell Jenny no, but as usual, that didn't stop her from making me. I brushed my teeth faster than usual, right when I was about to pee my dad called out for me again. I decided it was best to hold in the pee , and make my way downstairs instead.

"Zoey let's go!" My dad called out again.

"I'm right here." I panted making it to the last step, looking up to him. The man has no patience — he didn’t give me any time to catch up with his long strides, already making his way out the door.

I followed him to the car, climbing in the passenger seat. I seatbelt myself waiting for him to start the car. I don't know if he hasn't noticed, but I was running late, the last thing I needed was for him to move at a slow pace. Not that it's a big deal, but I worked my ass off to have a perfect attendance.

We never conversate in car rides, we usually just crank up the radio or sit in comfortable silence, so it wasn’t a big deal that we weren’t talking. My gaze was glued on the window, my knees bouncing up and down — it may seem like I’m overreacting but I did have a two years perfect attendance. I guess that’s out the window now.

"Have a nice day," My dad snuck his head out the window waving me goodbye. Sadly he is that dad, very supportive, and very loving.

"You too." I waved back, if I don't comply he might make me say “I love you” in public, just to torture me.

Great, I'm late.

As I walked down the hallway on my way to the office to plead for my case. I already created numerous reasons why I was late to get them to not mark me tardy. I've worked far too hard to have tardy on my report. I walked down the empty hallway, trying to convince myself that it's just tardy.

I finally reached the office. I swung the door open to busy looking down to look at where I was going — by the time I looked up I was already bumping into a broad chest.

Not just any chest, Lambert High's notorious bad-boy, Josh Walter. Of course, he'd be late. He lightly used my shoulders to brush me off of him since my body was still against his, he had an annoyed expression on his face, but that wasn't the only thing on his face.

His face was beautifully bruised, his right eye was more swollen than the other, his cheeks was lightly grassed — the cut on his bottom lip didn’t go unnoticed, the whole look giving him this bad-ass demeanor.

His lips twitched into a smirk as he towers over me. "Well, that's a first." He chuckled playfully.

His deep husky voice made my eyes widened. My dad always taught me to Steer clear of those kinds of guys, but with a voice like that, I might have to reconsider my choices.

I gave him a weak smile making my way toward the office.

I walked closer to the office. My heart is beating faster and faster. My nerves are fighting to get the best of me. Josh was right this was a first. Last time I was in the office was when my dad signed me out — that was freshman year.

"Are you lost, honey? is this your first day?" The secretary looked at me, before looking back down at her computer.

"No, I'm late to class so I just need a pass." I managed to say without choking on my words.

"Ok, hun I just need your name."

"Zoey," I muttered.

I tapped on the counter, "Zoey with a y". I don't know why I said that, isn't all Zoey with a 'Y'?

"Is this your first-time hun?" She asked.

"yes"

"It's okay hun, just get to class" She handed me a piece of paper with my first name, date, and reason on it, I grabbed it thanking her before walking out the office.

I was never careless, so what people thought of me mattered to me, the constant need of validation was always there. So walking down the empty hallway, the thought of what my teacher would think of me was floating in the back of my head.

I pushed the thought away, focusing on the walk to class. The closed lockers looked all the same, the familiar marble floor was distracting me from thinking of how late I was.

I got closer to my class but from the far distance I could see a lean body leaning against the door. It wasn’t until I got closer I noticed it was no other than Josh.

I fidgeted before stopping near him, stretching my hand to meet the door handle, I lifted my gaze fixicating it on him for a second, noticing the unlit cigarette between his parted lips. His eyes glued on his phone before he lifted his head meeting my gaze, his blue eyes held so much emotion that I couldn’t decipher — but I broke our gaze as I opened the door.

I walked in, handed the teacher my pass and took my usual seat.

Shortly after Josh walked in, all the girls' eyes were glued on him; while he flashed them his signature smile. I always sit in the far back of the class just to avoid having to sit next to someone, but he took a seat next to me.

I looked over my shoulders, stealing a quick glance, he clenched his jaw as he looked forward, paying attention to what the teacher was saying.

Mr. Tumblr mumbled my name, scattering my thoughts, since I wasn’t listening to what he was saying, he directly told me that the person who sits to my right is my partner for the upcoming project. In my case that happened to be Josh.

I tried to plead with Mr. Tumblr to give me a new partner, but he was grounded on his methods.

Josh tapped on my desk demanding my attention. Which I gave to him by turning my head to face him.

"Are you afraid of a little challenge?" He smirked,

"No." I said defensively.

"It's settled then, Mr. Tumblr we’re all set," he says with a proud grin on his face. The cigarette was no longer between his lips — instead between his fingers.

He stretched one of his hands out, "Well, I'm Josh," he introduced himself.

"I know who you are," I said in a monotone.

Everyone knew who he was.

"A fan?" He questioned, with a cheeky smile on his face.

"No, just Zoey." I raised my voice slightly, getting annoyed.

God, he's so full of himself.