My name is Nicole Mason I am a small town girl who wishes to be anywhere but here. I have a group of friends who are more like my family than my actual family. There's the girls Justine, Riley, Rachel, and Noel, and the boys Jay, Thomas, Lee, Kel, and Harry. We are all basically the misfits in our of us fit in at school, church, or anywhere. The only place we feel like we belong is together. Our group has two couples, Riley and Kel, and Justine and Lee. I really envy how much they love each other and how well each couple fit together like a puzzle. I've had a silly crush on Harry for what seems like forever. Since I looked into his green eyes that first time I haven't been able to get him out of my head.
CHAPTER ONE
I rolled over in bed to look at the clock it's only 3am.
"I can't believe I'm up " I mumble to myself as I roll back over and hid my face in my pillow. I didn't have to get up for another three hours. I shut my eyes and pulled my blanket over my head. "There is no way I'll fall asleep again." I moaned
The next three hours I tossed and turned but never really fell asleep. At 6 my alarm clock rang its shrill chime forceing me to get out of bed. I got up grabbing my clothes out of my closet and head for the bathroom to get a shower. I strip out of my pjs and step into the hot shower. The hot water woke me up even more as it ran down my back and arms.
My wrist was stinging from the water running over my fresh cut that I had made last night. I had been cutting myself long before I met my friends, the only difference now was they weren't as bad because I had my friends. Cutting was the only way I felt I could let out my anger and anxiety. When something was bothering me badly enough and I had something sharp I didn't hold back.
After my shower I turn off the water and step out onto the cold bathroom floor. I towel dry my dripping, blond hair not in the mood to blow dry it. I pulled on my dark, almost black denim short-shorts and my tight, brown t-shirt that had the long black guitar on the front. I walked back to my room and put on my dark eyeliner and a light shade of lip gloss. Satisfied with my makeup I pull on my black combat boots and a light sweater.
Feeling ready for school I walk down stairs to find the kitchen in a mess and my dad asleep in the living room on the couch. I decide to skip breakfast and quickly clean the kitchen. I walk into the living room with a blanket I got from the closet under the stairs and covered up my still sleeping father.
He had been this way every morning since we moved here. When we lived in our old home my mom died from lung cancer. We moved about a month after her funeral to the small, forest surrounded town Rock Island, Washington. He got a job working at the river dam as a night security guard and worked late nights.
I kiss my dads forehead before I tiptoe to the door, pick up my bag, and slip outside. I look around wondering where the hell Riley and Noel are. They are so late picking me up. As I look up I can hear the familiar loud music coming from down the street, I smiled to myself knowingly. Just then Riley's black BMW pulled up and stopped infront of me. Rolling down her window Riley said, "Hey Nic! I'm sorry we're late Kel's truck wouldn't start so he called and asked if we could give him and Harry a lift. " "It's cool but if we don't hurry we are all gonna be late." I replied while climbing next to Harry in the backseat.
As soon as I was seated and buckeled Riley sped off down the road going way faster than the speed limit. I said hi to Noel, Kel, and then Harry with a slight blush.
Riley soon blasted the radio eliminating any conversation we might have had.
We quickly arrived at school and rush out of the car. We just make it to homeroom as the tardy bell sounds.
As we made our way to our normal seats the rest of our friends spotted us. "Hey guys", Rachel squealed excitedly, "why are y'all so late?" "Riley and I picked up Kel and Harry on our way to get Nicole" Noel explained. "So what are we doing this weekend" Jay asked. "Why don't we go down the river and have a bonfire?" Suggested Kel. We all agreed as the bell for first block rang.
I got up to go to English class, which I had with Rachel, Riley, and Harry. I make my way down the crowded hall toward my locker. I heard the high pitch laugh of the one girl I absolutely hated, Delia. We had hated each other since we met. She was that popular, bleach-blond, bitch that slept with all the guys on the football team and treated everyone like dirt. I completely HATE her.
I open my locker,grab my books and head for the English room. As I walk towards the door someone pushes pass me. "Watch where you're going troll! " Delia's henchgirl, Lottie, said as she walked into the classroom. "Why don't you, slut!" I snap walking to my seat by Noel in the back of the classroom.
Before Lottie could reply our English teacher Mrs. McLoud walks into the room. "Okay students settle down and take your seats. Today I will be assigning a research paper that will cost 25% of your grade. You will be working with a partner of my choosing. " she announced to the class. We all moaned, she was a nice teacher but loved to assign lots of work.
"O! Hush! This will only widen your horizons even more. Now the first pair will be ... Riley Summers and Lottie Andrews,then Rachel Stewert and Alan Sanders, Nicole Mason and Harry Edwards ..." I froze, did I really just get paired with Harry? My mind swirled I didn't hear anymore of the pairs I was too shocked.
Before I knew it class was over and the bell was ringing. Mrs. McLoud hands me the topic of my and Harry's reasearch paper on my way out of class. "Hey Nicki what's our topic?" The British acsent I knew so well awoke me from my trance. "Um... we got Romeo and Juliet." I reply shyly "Cool, we should meet up sometime this weekend to start working on it. " he says with that cute smirk he always wears on his gorgeous face. "Sounds good . Why don't I text you tomorrow and we can meet up somewhere?" I suggest "Sure. See you at lunch " he answers as he turns to go to his next class.
I turn to go to my next class when I see Noel running up to me. "Oooo so my girl is a flirt now! " she gushes. "What? No he was asking me about the project we are doing together!" I reply blushing. "Sure. " she says sarcastically,"Well you seem pretty happy with yourself. " she teased.
We walk into science class which we share with Kel, Jay, and Justine. I head to my assigned seat which is right by Delia. "Oh look it's the thing from the sewer! " she laughed to her friends. I ignore her comment and try to focus on the lesson, but I'm to caught up in my thoughts about tomorrow.
Soon class is over and we all go to lunch. I sit at the same table I sit at every day with my friends. Thomas and Jay announce that they will be provideing the drinks tonight and Kel and Lee are going to gather the wood for the fire. We all talk about tonight until the bell rings. I head to class which goes by very quickly and soon school is over and I'm walking home to get ready for a fun riverside party with my friends.
When I get home I text Justine,"Hey cutie I need some help picking an outfit. You want to come over and get ready together?" Not even a minute later my cell vibrates, "Sure thing love I'll be over in ten :)!"
"What should I do to my hair. It looks horrible?"
"Nicki calm down. Why don't we curl it? With the shirt your wearing you'd look stunning with curls." Justine was right. I was wearing a cute, tiearond the neck, silver shirt that was silky and shined in the light with Jean short- shorts. "Okay" I replied.
When she was done curling my hair we both looked in the mirror. She was wearing a pink tanktop that said "party girl " on it with white cut off shorts. "We look hot, if I do say so myself. " she giggles "Okay I think its time for us to go, before you start makeing out with your reflection. " I say trying but failing to hide a laugh.
We get in her car and head to the rive which is about a thirty minute drive from my house. We get there just as the sun falls behind the trees, and find that we are the last to arrive. "Well it's about time! We've been waiting on you two forever!" Lee yells at us as we climb down the steep bank to where everyone is sitting around the small bonfire. "It just got dark " I protested. Justine sits on Lees lap and I grabbed one of the empty chairs the boys had brought.
Soon Jay and Thomas go get their cooler off the back of Jay's truck. "So who wants a drink? " Thomas asks holding up a beer. Jay grabs a couple and hand them to Harry, "Pass those around would ya?' He sort of asks. Harry stands up and hands a drink to Lee, Justine, Kel, and Riley. He grabs two more and moves his chair next to me while balancing the drinks in one hand. "You want one?" He asks with a smile sitting down. "Thanks." I say taking the drink.
We all get drunk quite quickly. "So why don't we play an elementary game of truth or dare?" Kel asks in a slured voice. "Ooo I'll start!" Noel squeals. "Jay truth or dare? " "Dare" Jay replies with a smirk. "Take off all your clothes other than your underwear, and stay undressed for the entire game. " she says with a blush. Jay does as she said without any thought. "Okay my turn" Jay says looking around the group. "Justine truth or dare?" "Dare!" Justine says with total confidence. "I dare you to spill a secret about Noel, Riley, Rachel, or Nicki. "
I start to panic, Justine knows that I like Harry and when she's drunk she tells anything. "Okay! Um oh I know a good one about Nicki..." "SHUT UP Justine " I cut in sending her daggers. She giggles then says, "Nic is totally crazy about Harry! " she half yells. Then almost everyone starts laughing, Noel looks at Justine shocked that she spilled my secret, and both Harry and I sit there frozen. I jump up and run up the bank just wanting to get away from the laughter, the looks, and Harry.
I hide inbetween the cars sitting in the dirt with my knees pulled to my face. I was trying desperately not to cry. "Are you alright?" A familiar voice asks from out of nowhere makeing me jump. I look up at Harry,"I'm fine" I say in a barely audible voice.
He sits by me pulling me into a hug. I smell his cologne making my heart pound even faster. I look up at him, our faces only centimeters apart. He starts leaning in towards me and I can't believe what's about to happen.