Forbidden Love

5

Jaxon

Even though I didn't drink the night before, I woke up with the world's biggest headache. Thankfully, Stone didn't punch me too hard. The bruise on my face isn't visible, it only hurts when I touch it.

The pain occupied my brain for a little, but the second I got in my room, I looked to my left and the wall made the hole in my stomach feel wider.

I haven't seen my dad yet. He was in the shower when I got home last night. I was awake when he knocked and opened my door, but I pretended to be asleep. I was too tired to deal with him then and when I woke up this morning he was already gone to work. I'll eventually see him, I know that, but I'm still dreading it with every inch of me. There's a good reason I didn't come back from Canada a minute sooner than I had to—most of it's because of my parents, other reasons include more gloomy topics. Well, also because the flights were cheaper yesterday than any other day.

After a long debate with myself on whether or not to actually come, I pull up to the academy. Usually I'd skip, but I need to ask Coach about football tryouts. Maybe I don't have to tryout since I was already on the team before. It'd be too embarrassing if Turner made me try out with a bunch of freshmen who don't know their left from their right.

It doesn't feel weird being back, but all the memories hit me when I look at the building. I'm pretty sure it's as old as the town itself. Vines cover most of the dark stone and the windows. My cousin once asked if I went to a "rich boy school" when she saw a picture of it. I told her the pictures looked bigger than it actually is.

I lied.

It doesn't take a genius to know the school is huge—which means a lot of investments from rich parents. Allison would lose her mind if she saw it up close. She's into the buildings that look thousands of years old.

When my parents were younger, the academy used to house students, but someone set fire to the building, and I think a student died—it's a long story that my parents refuse to talk about—so the old dorms were made into extra classrooms, and they sent students back home.

Part of me wishes they still housed students. It could get me away from my parents for more than a few measly hours.

The second I walk through the front doors, the familiarity of Rose Thorn's uniforms hit me. The red blazer with a red check tie around the white button-down shirt covers their tops. Red, grey, or black skirts, pants, and shorts cover their bottoms.

I adjust my own tie. I miss Canada and the no uniform school I went to for junior year. It wasn't exciting, I didn't talk to anyone aside from my cousin and her friends, but it was different. And more importantly, it wasn't in Rose Thorn.

"You actually came." Paxton's voice comes out of nowhere and he slaps my back. We do our handshake, and he falls in step beside me. "Thought you were gonna skip."

"I was thinking about it."

"Are you ready to talk to Coach?" He asks excitedly.

"How are you so energetic?" I question, glancing at him sideways. "Aren't you hungover?"

"Not at all." He shrugs. "What time did you leave last night?"

"Don't remember. It was late."

"I totally blanked." He admits. "One minute I'm walking in with you and the next I'm lying in bed."

"With that girl?"

He gives me a grin and that's answer enough. "I heard Corey knocked you right in the face."

The mention of Stone has a grey cloud forming above my head. "He's crazy. Just like the rest of his family." Well, that's not true. Luna Stone seemed normal enough. The memory of our conversation last night plays in my mind. She looked shocked when I said I had started it all. Did she expect me to be a liar amongst all the other stuff her brother says about me? I bet he tells them all sorts of lies.