The difference between us – Chapter 1

Kaylin looked out the window of their old Dodger Charger and sighed as she braced herself for her first day at the new school, the third one in a year.
She looked down at the charm-bracelet her dad had given her for her birthday, took a deep breath and opened the door, stepping out into the sunlight.
"You have a great day, sweetie, and remember what we talked about." Her mother, Arielle Davis, said from the driver's seat and Kaylin nodded, oh she remember what they had talked about alright, it was the execution of the whole thing that was going to present a bit of a challenge.
Her mother waved goodbye at her from the car, a wave that Kaylin returned although not as enthusiastically. She was nervous as she started making her way towards the doors of the school, you would think that she would have gotten used to transferring schools by now but the first day was always hell.
One thing that helped though was that the sun was shining, she'd had enough of the cold in Montana so she lingered a little outside before finally walking through the doors of her new school.
She knew people were staring at her but that she was used to, she had learned to ignore it a long time ago and so she made her way through the corridor, her head held high and confidence in her steps as she searched for the school's information-desk. Soon enough she found it, got the things she needed along with a map of the school and headed to her first class for the day, math.
She sat down in one of the empty seats in the middle of the classroom, knowing how to give off a good impression to both the students and the teacher. She opened her new math-book and lazily flipped through the pages, happily noticing that she knew most of the equations in it.
As Kaylin continued to review her math-book, someone was watching her with scrutinizing eyes from across the classroom.

Ryan McCarthy was a bit of a player, anyone who had ever set eyes on him knew that, and even if they had failed to notice, the look on his face as he checked out the new girl would have swept away all doubts.
He took in how the 5'5, slender girl flipped through her book with a small smile. How her jeans hung low on her hips and approved of the way that tight black lace camisole showed off her curves. Her slightly curled chocolate-brown hair reached past her shoulder-blades and shimmered when the sunlight found its way through the windows.
She was hot, but not in a model kind of way. More ordinary than extraordinary but still enticing in her own way.
He got up from his seat and made his way over to her desk, turning on that killer charm that had broken so many hearts over the years.
"Hi." He said and without asking he helped himself to her desk.
"Hi." Kaylin replied with slightly raised eyebrows. "Can I help you?"
"You're the new girl, aren't you?" Ryan asked, completely ignoring her previous question. "I'm Ryan." He reached out a hand and showed her the smile that could make any girl moan aloud.
"Kaylin." Kaylin nodded and took his extended hand. It wasn't that he wasn't good looking, and it wasn't that she didn't appreciate him talking to her but she had known too many heart-breakers in her short life, and she had developed a gift of being able to sniff them out. And this guy was a stinker, big time!
"So where are you from?" He hadn't let go of her hand and the smile on his face was almost mocking. If he thought she was going to be easy then he had clearly underestimated her.
"Montana. We came in the other day." Kaylin pried her hand away from his grasp but continued looking into those blue eyes, she'd had enough of guys thinking she would spread her legs over a simple smile and a handshake.
Ryan noticed a fire go off in those bright green eyes as she removed her hand from his and for a second he thought he saw a look of defiance flash across her face but it passed as quickly as it had shown. Something told him that this might not be as easy as he had assumed, but he had never given up on anything and he wasn't about to start now.
"Listen, I'm having a party this Friday, you should come." There was something close to a challenge in his voice when he spoke and it made Kaylin a little cautious, even though she was careful not to show it.
"I don't think I can. Lots of unpacking to be done and things like that." Okay, that was a lame excuse but she wasn't sure her mom would appreciate her getting into trouble the first weekend in the new place.
"Oh, come on. It'll be fun." He leaned closer until he was only inches from her and whispered suggestively. "I promise I'll take good care of you.". Kaylin felt her eyes widen, did he just...?
"Listen... Ryan, is it?" He raised an eyebrow in response, that damn smirk still on his face. "I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not the kind of girl who gives it up to any guy who makes a move on me. So why don't you get back in your seat and leave me the hell alone?"
"Well, Kay. That went well, didn't it? Making friends on your first day at school, bravo!" Her mind was screaming at her sarcastically but she couldn't help it. She had the temper of her father and although sometimes it worked out to her advantage, she figured that now was not one of those times.
Ryan looked a little phased by her outburst, obviously not used to being spoken to in that manor, but simply smiled and leaned close again.
"Are you sure about that? I mean, you sure look like one." Okay, she totally didn't but nobody spoke to him like that unpunished.
To hell with her promise to her mom, this guy was asking for it! She jumped out of her seat and was about to launch at the blond in front of her but was stopped by the sound of the warning bell, and the teacher walking into the classroom.
"Do we have a problem here, mr McCarthy?" The man asked, obviously noticing the silence in the classroom and the tense atmosphere between the two students standing in the middle of the classroom, neither taking their eyes off the other.
"Nope." Ryan spoke, his taunting eyes never leaving Kaylin's. "No problem, sir."
"Well, then I suggest you get back in your seat so we can start the lesson. And ms Davis, welcome to Cypress Creek. Now the chapter for this week..."
Kaylin tuned out her new teacher's words. One, because she already mastered what he was lecturing, and two, because she was too fired up to even act interested.
Sometimes she just hated her temper, today was supposed to be a turning-point and it turned out to be just another normal day. Well, she comforted herself, at least I didn't actually hit anyone.

Ryan looked at the brunette with an evil smirk. It had been a long time since he'd had a real challenge and breaking this girl seemed like fun. He made himself a promise. He was going to hit that. Hit that and break her, and he was going to enjoy every single second of it.