Chapter 1

Aria’s POV

“Mmmm… you taste so good, baby…” Zach mumbled into my mouth.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.” I confessed to him as he gripped the back of my throat and pulled me flush against his hard body.

“Aria...” he groaned into my mouth.

“Yes, Zach?” I whispered huskily.

“Aria?” He repeated.

“Yes?” I said again.

“Wake up!”

My eyes shot open, and Zach was hovering over me! With wide eyes, I stared into his bright blue ones, and I could feel my cheeks heat. I had another steamy dream about my best friend. God, this was so embarrassing.

Zach chuckled lowly, “you were moaning in your sleep.”

I grabbed my fluffy purple pillow and hit him upside the head, “how did you get in here?!”

“I snuck in through the window again, I could hear your mother milling about inside. Now get up and get ready, today is your last day as a seventeen-year-old and you can’t oversleep for school.” Zach pulled away from where he was hovering over me and I immediately missed his warmth.

“You can’t be in here! You know she’s going to freak if she sees you!” I rushed the words out, panicking at the thought.

“Don’t worry Aria, I’m going to sneak back out and I’ll meet you outside.” Zach told me with a wink before climbing back through my window.

“Aria! Get up and make breakfast you useless slut!” I could hear mom yell from somewhere in the house.

I let out a sigh and my thoughts wandered back to Zach. If he only knew how I felt about him. At first, he was my best friend since we me in middle school, but I started to see him in a different light freshman yea. Now, as he’s gotten older and filled out, he’s attracted the attention of many other girls at my school. No longer was my best friend the gangly kid that I was accustomed to, he was tall at 6 ft 3 in compared to my 5 ft 4 in and spent all his extra time in the gym when he wasn’t with his guy friends causing trouble around town. Zach followed Finn around everywhere when he wasn’t with me. When they first became friends a few years ago during sophomore year, I tried to be friendly to Finn but later on Zach pulled me aside and warned me away, “Finn is different, you don’t want to get mixed up with him.”

I couldn’t and still don’t understand why Zach wouldn’t let me around his other best friend, is he embarrassed of me? Where Zach was happy go lucky and extroverted, Finn was quiet with an intensity in his green eyes that sends shivers down my spine. Finn was the same height as Zach but where Zach had blonde hair, Finn’s was raven black. They look and act completely different from each other and it’s a wonder why they even click.

Ever since Zach warned me away, I’ve always kept my distance at school and around town from Finn and his lackeys.

I hopped out of bed and rushed to my closet to pull on some jean shorts and a tank top. Living in Texas is hot. Though it’s August, the humidity is stifling, and the temperature is too gross to think about. After I pulled on my converse, I went into the bathroom to do my business and brush my teeth. After a couple coats of mascara to frame my grey eyes and my favorite cherry lipgloss, I pulled my long brown hair into a ponytail and was feeling human enough to start the day.

“Took you long enough,” my mother growled as I made my way into the kitchen.

“Sorry ma’am.” I sputtered out as she lunged for me and pulled me by the hair.

“Are you talking back to me you damn slut?!” She yelled in my face, spittle flying everywhere.

“No! No!” I let out as she slapped me across the face hard enough that I could taste blood.

“Get on breakfast, I’m working a double today and need the energy to support your dumb ass. I swear you’re such a useless whore.” She ground out as she sat down at the chipped, redwood table.

I hurried to the stove and turned on the gas burners, placed a pan on the heat before getting some eggs from the fridge.

“Move faster, damn it! God, you’re such a mess and Aria, what the fuck are you wearing? Little booty shorts to show off for all the boys you spread your legs for? I swear to God if you show up to my house pregnant, I’ll kick you out and then what will you do?”

Without a word, I continued scrambling the eggs and popped some toast in the toaster. It doesn’t matter if I argue with her or not, she’ll still be pissed. I’ve found that she hurts me less when I stay silent.

Finally, the food was done, and I plated it before placing it on the table in front of her. She gripped my arm harshly as I sat the plate down and yanked me to her. “Get your ass to school.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I let out as she pushed me back with a disgusted grunt.

I ran from her and out the front door where Zach was waiting for me by his car, a black dodge charger with black rims.

I hopped in the passenger seat and buckled up as he slid into the driver’s seat and slid on a pair of black aviator sunglasses. “God Aria, you’re bleeding.” He murmured. “I can’t wait for you to get out of that house.”

“It wasn’t anything, let’s not talk about it.” I muttered out, embarrassed.

“In that case, are you ready to turn eighteen?” He asked next.

“Mmmhmm, though I don’t know what the big deal is about turning eighteen, it’ll probably feel the same as being seventeen. It’s not like I have money to move out.” I said to him.

“I don’t know about that, everything changed when I turned eighteen.” He mumbled. “As far as moving out, you can always come live with me.”

“Old man.” I chuckled while I ignored his comment about living with him. I know my mother would never let me leave.

“Hey, I’m barely two months older than you.” He said mock offended.

“Yeah, yeah.” I said as I noticed us slowing down at a large white, two-story house down the street from my house.

“Who lives here and why are we stopping?” I asked Zach.

“Finn lives here, his car is in the shop, so I told him I’d pick him up. Remember Aria, you don’t have to talk to him.” He said to me.

“Yeah, I know. You always tell me anytime he’s around. Don’t talk to him Aria, don’t look at him Aria, don’t breathe around him Aria.” I mocked Zach’s warnings to me.

Zach pulled into the driveway and turned to me, “I’m serious. He’s no good for you.”

“Then why do you hang out with him?” I asked, not for the first time.

“It’s complicated.” He answered like he does every time.

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

The front door opened, and Finn came out with a smirk as he approached Zach’s car.

“Hello, princess,” Finn greeted me as he slid into the backseat.

“Finn…” Zach practically growled at him as he stared him down through the rearview mirror. Finn raised his hands in surrender and pulled his phone out of his pocket before typing away aggressively.

I huffed before turning away from their exchange to stare out the window as Zach pulled out of the driveway and made his way to school.

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, I got out and rounded the car for my daily hug from Zach. He grabbed me by the hips and pulled me into this hard chest before squeezing tightly, “I love you, Aria. I’ll see you second period. Things will get better soon, I know they will.”

“You too, Zach.” I sighed as he released me. I stole a glance at Finn and noticed his amused expression before he winked at me and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lighting up.

I could hear their hushed whispers following me as I walked away.

“Dude, I told you not to talk to her.” Zach grumbled at Finn. I could see Finn’s mouth moving but couldn’t hear him from the distance between us. I quickly turned my head and sighed before they could catch me eavesdropping.