Chapter 1 Back in session

"Selene!" my father called for the fourth time attempting to rush me out the door in time for school.

"I'm coming, one minute!" I call back from my bedroom as I take one last look at my reflection in the mirror.

Dressed in a simple school uniform, a navy blue skirt with a single white stripe an inch above the hem, white button down tshirt, and navy blue vest with the school crest embroidered in gold and silver over the left breast. paired with my white Van hightops. My long dark brown hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, a touch of gloss on my full lips, and black eyeliner accompanied by mascara outlined my almond shaped eyes. My appearance was modest for the most part, and meant to be ordinary to blend in with my fellow peers. I exhale one last long breath staring into my turquoise eyes that stand out against my tan complexion, shaking off the nervousness of yet another first day of a new school year.

I grab my backpack off the chair by my vanity and rush out of my room swinging the door shut behind me before rushing down the stairs, taking two at a time.

"Selene! Slow down before you hurt yourself!" My father says with concern, just before I reach the landing. "What's the rush? You're not late yet." He teases me.

"Sorry. " I reply sheepishly attempting to look apologetic. "It's just Rosa will be here any second and I didn't want to force her to wait on me." I explain to him.

"Well, if you didn't snooze through all your alarms this morning you wouldn't have to rush around like a mad woman." My father reminds me as he rolls his gray eyes at me in annoyance, while crossing his large arms over his chest. I open my mouth to intervene his scolding with an excuse, hoping to prevent another time management lecture, when the sound of a car horn radiates through the room. Thank you Rosa!

I stand on my tippy toes pressing my right hand onto his left shoulder for balance as he leans down for me to reach him. "Bye daddy!" I tell him before giving a quick peck on his left cheek and bolting for the front door. He fallows me out standing on the porch with his arms still crossed.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He calls after me as I run down the steps towards Rosa's black Jeep.

"Love you!" I call out to him as I reach the door, just inches away from freedom.

"Love you too!" He calls back to me. "Straight home after school!" He reminds me, as if I'd ever forget the routine. I jump into the passenger seat and toss my backpack onto the floorboard.

"Good morning Mr. Delray!" Rosa yells past me with a wave of her hand and a bright smile plastered across her pink painted lips.

"Good morning Rosa." My dad hollers back finally uncrossing his arms from his chest while raising his left hand in a small wave. "Drive safely with my precious cargo." He adds to embarrass me, while I cover my face with my hand hoping it would help me disappear.

"Absolutely Mr. Delray! Have a great day!" she replies. Peaking at her through my fingers I notice the twinkle in her soft brown eyes. I look back to the porch and see my father turn on his heal and head back inside.

"You too!" he calls out while opening the front door.

I look back to Rosa rolling my eyes as I notice her bottom lip pulled in between her teeth.

I give her a smack on the arm displaying my full disapproval as she jumps back to reality.

"Ouch!" she yells, more surprised than hurt. "What was that for?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what that was for." I cross my arms over my chest and knit my brows in disapproval.

Rosa licks her lips as she looks out to my house again before responding with a low hum. "What? You're dad is fucking hot!" She explains with a smirk on her face before looking back at me.

"You realize how disgusting that is right? How wrong it is to say? You do realize that? Don't you?" I question my so called best friend while trying to hold back the bile building in my stomach begging to come out.

"Oh, come on. It's really not that bad." she says with a smirk and a shake of her head."

"You're unbelievable." I huff.

"Your dad's body is unbeli"

"Stop!" I quickly cut her off desperate to end this conversation. "Can we go now?"

"Aww. Is someone jealous?" Rosa teases.

"Absolutely not."

"Don't be jealous babe. You're a total hottie too! I mean, damn! Just look at how well you fill that shirt out." She tells me while poking my left breast with her fingers. Causing it to jiggle while I swat her hands away. "You look like your going to bust right out that bitch, hulk style!" She giggles.

"Knock it off." I warn.

"All I'm saying is you should be grateful your dad is such a hottie, he's definitely blessed you." She tilts her head towards me as she pulls the Jeep in gear and starts heading down my driveway.

"Rosa!" I warn again. knowing this girl has no filter and is a total perv.

"Selene, don't be jealous, you know you will always be my first love." she teased. "And I'd only love you more as you're new stepmother." She laughs historically as she pulls onto the main road.

"You could stop at any time you know."

"If only William would bless me."

"Enough!" I snap as I turn the radio on blaring the volume as loud as it will go. Desperate to stop the torment Rosa has decided to bestow upon me this morning. She just shakes her head laughing as her Carmel colored hair falls in front of her face blocking the glare in my eyes directed at her.

Rosa has been my closest friend sense middle school. Today is our first day of our senior year, our finale months of highschool. Although she might be a pervert and a pain in the ass, I have to admit when she's not picking on me she's hilarious. She is beautiful with caramel hair that flows in waves to the middle of her back. A heart shaped face with soft honey brown eyes, a button nose and the perfect natural pouty lip. Though she looks small and delicate, Rosa is anything but. She is captain of our rugby team, has been in jiu jitsu classes sense she was three, and is a total gym rat. If I didn't know her as well as I do her resting bitch face would definitely scare me away. She is my number one call at the slightest hick up, my most loyal companion, and obviously my best friend.

We arrive at the school 20 minutes later giving me enough time to get over Rosa's taunting me. She circles the lot for a few minutes before finding the spot she wanted. She quickly whips into the spot cutting off a silver Honda. The driver lays on their horn, rightfully pissed as she throws the Jeep in park and cuts the engine. I shake my head at her smirking as I grab my bag and hop out of the Jeep. Rosa fallows suite jumping from her seat and strolls in the direction of the blaring horn. Once Rosa is in sight the driver abruptly cuts off the horn while giving her an apologetic wave before driving off in a hurry.

"Friend of yours" I ask smirking at her. she shrugged her shoulder while grabbing her bag from the back of the Jeep.

"Looked like Dorothy Weber." She says as we walk towards the building.

"No wonder she drove off so quickly." I laugh knowing the two have an extensive history of not getting along. Mainly Dorothy instigating issues and Rosa squashing issues by breaking Dorothy's face and other body parts.

"Looks like her nose and jaw have finally healed up. maybe she wanted to attempt eating solid food this year. " Rosa shrugged as we entered the crammed main hall to the building.

"Speaking of which, are you still on probation?" I inquire.

"Just until next week, then I'm a free woman." She winks as we open our lockers that sit next to one another. We hang our bags inside as familiar faces walk by greeting us, eager to spill all the details of how summer vacation was spent.

The hall grows increasingly louder catching my attention. I turn to look as a crowd begins to form behind us. I catch a glimpse of the two most hard to miss boys our school has to offer.