Prologue

I glanced at Reid Garwin and sighed.

"So you're telling me that you wanna break up?"he asked.

"Yes, Reid, that's what I'm saying."

"Um, why?" His clear blue eyes were confused.

I turned back to my door, and put my head against it. I couldn't look at him.

"You know why," I said, hoping he would be able to hear what I said because I wasn't going to repeat it.

"Actually, I don't know so do you mind filling me in?"

"I can't explain, Reid. I just want this done with." I said, pressing my eyes together tightly. Anything to cloud the pain.

"Cass, what in the hell are you talking about?" he demanded. I could tell he was angry. He was always angry at anything, never sad or upset, but angry. He was a hothead.

"About us. I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."

He stayed silent for a minute. Digesting the information, probably trying to figure out where he went wrong. I wanted him to tell me off, call me a name, and run off like I expected him to.

He didn't, which is really out of character for him.

I flinched when I felt his hand on my shoulder and then felt ashamed for being scared. He pulled on my shoulder, to turn me around. I turned but I wouldn't meet his eyes. I didn't want him to see the trail of tears running down my face. I didn't want to break up with him, but I had to.

He let out a strangled breathe. He touched my hair, stroked it. He pulled me close to him for a minute and kissed the top of my head. More tears streaked down my face. He let go then turned around and left me.

I met Reid at the Harvest Festival Dance. I was new to the school then, having just transfer from a different private boarding school that year. I studied him for a long time. He had seemed tense for some reason, talking with his brown-haired friend I would later learn was named Tyler Simms. He barely glanced my way. He was pre-occupied.

I asked him to dance. He was surprised at first but then agreed.

That was the beginning of our relationship.

In class, the following Monday, he sat with lunch, he invited me to sit at his table with his friends.

Even though, I was new to Ipswich I had already heard the legend of the Ipswich Sons. I just didn't expect to be surrounded by them. Caleb Danvers, the serious but sweet, dark haired one. I was mildly surprised to see cuts on his face. Pogue Parry, the big teddy bear, with the long brown hair. Tyler Simms, shy but nice, with short brown hair. Sarah Wenham, the beautiful, blonde, kind one. She was Caleb's girlfriend. Kate Tunney, the beautiful caramel-colored skin one who was also just as kind as Sarah. Then there was Reid. The so good-looking he was almost pretty, blonde. I could tell that Reid inviting a girl to their table was not a common occurrence, though they still welcomed me with open arms.

For six months, all I did was hang with them. We hung out at school. We hung out at Nikki's, which was a popular bar the Spenser kids went to. I watched Reid hustle people for money by playing pool and wondered how he did it. He always seemed lucky. Everything went his way. If he failed a test, his grade would be an A+ by the next week. He always won his stupid bets with Aaron no matter how much Aaron hated it. I asked him about it once and he said that I was just, and I quote, "his good luck charm." He even started calling me Charm.

At around the fifth month, in March, I noticed something different about him. He seemed tense again and I started noticing his eyes change colors but it would only be for a split second and then I would chalk it up to my imagination.

One day, we were all at Nikki's and he was playing pool against Aaron again. He lined up his shot and hit it the ball. The ball was clearly going to miss and I glanced up at him. I knew he would be disappointed, but what I saw wasn't disappointment.

It was much worse.

I saw his clear blue eyes flame, literally, then they flashed an onyx black. I heard the cheers from Tyler and him, indicating that the ball went in but all I could do was stare at Reid, as he slapped Tyler's hand in a high-five. That's when curiosity became suspicion and suspicion became fright. That was when I decided I should break-up with him.