One.

Elsa

My head was throbbing. Who the hell decides to throw a kids party in a small cafe at this time of night?

Tossing some paracetamol back my throat, I head for home. The one place that I didn’t want to be.

As the rain starts to fall, I pull the thin coat around me and quicken my pace. I had to get home before my stepmother, Kyra, realised I was late. She would be fuming if I didn’t have supper ready for her and Sadie.

Pulling my phone out my pocket, I check the time. Two minutes, I could get home in two minutes. 

My walk turns into a run as I turn into our street. My feet splash through the puddles as I watch the clock on my phone tick over.

The lights were on and I groaned. I was supposed to have been home already. Kyra was bound to hit the roof for the fifth time this week and it was only wednesday. She wouldn’t care that I had to do over time. I pause to take a breath, wondering what my punishment would be tonight.

I could hear my stepsister's shrill voice before I opened the door. She was excited about something.

“Mum, this is Ben, my boyfriend.”

No, no, no! This could not be happening.

Pushing open the door I see Sadie’s hand locked with Bens. The very man that I had been texting for months. The man that I had fallen head over heels for.

His chocolate eyes meet mine and he doesn’t even look sorry. He ruffles a hand through his blonde hair, completely unphased that I was standing in front of him and his so-called girlfriend.

Nothing had ever been made official between us, but it still hurt. 

“This is Ben.” Sadie’s cheshire cat grin irritates me. “Oh, wait,  but you already know him, don’t you sis?” She mocks as her eyes drop to my hand. To the phone I had forgotten to hide.

Crap!

“Where did you get the phone sis?” Sadie’s deep blue eyes meet mine. She flicks her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder. Snatching the phone from me, she turns it over in her hands. Tutting.

I froze. The very man she had introduced as her boyfriend had got it for me. He had promised me that we could stay in touch without Kyra or Sadie knowing. 

I had sent him so many texts about the things Sadie and Kyra did to me. I had hoped that one day, he would help me get out of here, just like he promised. How wrong had I been!

As my eyes flicker to his, she immediately makes the connection. 

“Did you give her a phone?” Her tone drops a little, annoyance creeping in. “Why would you give my dirty sister a phone? I thought you liked me.”

“I do! It’s not what you think, Sadie.” His warm voice cuts through the air. “I figured this way, I could get to know you.”

“Me? You used her to get to know me.” She presses her hand to her large chest. “Oh my gosh, that is so sweet but you could have just asked one of my besties. Not this trash.”

She presses her lips against his cheek. Flashing those eyes at me her lip curls up. “Did you really think someone would be interested in you? Look at you, Elsa. And look at me!”

I don’t say anything. I just wanted the room to open up and swallow me whole.

She tosses the phone back at me. “Here, have it! It’s not like you have anyone to text now, is it?”

I flick through the message history. Every other question was about her. Why hadn’t I seen it? Why had I fallen for it? I was so embarrassed. Of course it was about her. It always was. I was just the reject.

Kyra pushes her way past her daughter. Her horrible bleach blonde hair was up in giant rollers as she looked at me in disgust.

Taking the phone from my hand. She slaps me on the back. “Now be a good little girl for once and run to the store. Let's celebrate my daughter bringing her boyfriend home.”

Kyra shoves me towards the door. “Go, and hurry up too. I shouldn’t have to be waiting on you.”

It was times like these that I missed my dad. So many times I wished that I had died in the shooting instead of him. And I was constantly reminded of that too. Not a day went by where Kyra would remind me of it.

I was so desperate to get out of this town.

I sigh as I step back out into the rain. Pulling the coat tightly around my small frame. I march down the road to the nearest store.

Quickening my pace. I knew I better hurry. I didn’t need to give Kyra another reason to beat me tonight. I already had enough bandages wrapped around my waist.

Stepping out into the road, someone grabs me, ripping me back onto the pavement. Just as a lorry goes screeching by, spraying water everywhere.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” A low voice rumbles behind me as I realise what I had just done.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking.” I flatten down my coat before looking up into the darkest eyes that I had ever seen. A strange red ring sat around the outside. They almost take my breath away

“Well, I’m glad I was here to stop you from getting run over!”

I didn’t recognise the man looking back at me. And I thought I knew everyone in this shitty little town.

He towered over my small frame. His eyes search mine. His short dark hair is perfectly styled unlike Ben’s chaotic blonde hair.

“Uh, thank you!” I mutter, suddenly remembering my manners.

“Nate.”

“Thank you, Nate.” I can’t quite bring myself to look away from his strange eyes. “I’m Elsa.”

“Where are you off too in such a hurry that you couldn’t look both ways?”

Why was this handsome man paying me so much attention?

“Getting a cake for my stepsister.” I mutter.

“That’s kind of you.”

The snort escapes me

“Maybe not?” He gives me a crooked grin.

“She’s a bitch!” I slam my hand over my mouth. I should not have said that, what if he does know her?

“Look, somethings clearly pissing you off. My bar is over there, can I get you a drink?”

Why was I even considering it? He was a complete stranger

I look across the road to where he is pointing. Surely, one drink won’t hurt.

“Sure.”

He guides me across the road and orders me double vodka and lemonade. It seemed like the people in here feared him. Like he had some sort of control over them. But I didn’t care, the longer I could stay away from Kyra and Sadie, the better.

Before I knew it I was on my second drink and then my third. He pays me loads of attention. His lips leave little kisses along my neck, making me giggle. No one had ever paid me attention like this. No one had ever wanted me for me. It had always been about my stupid stepsister.

When he offers me another drink, I accept. What was the worst that could happen?