Chapter 1 *Shaylee's POV*

- Nothing but a small bump in the tracks was enough to wake me up from my slumber. My head was violently thrusted at the window and I quickly drew it back in pain. Finally, the train came to hissing stop. The words "Tulsa, Oklahoma" were painted in big black letters across the top of the train station. I rubbed my eyes once more and grabbed my bag off the ground.

- Once I stepped onto the platform, the train took off behind me and blew my hair over my shoulders. A deep voice yelling my name mixed into the whizzing sound that the train made, and as the noise subsided, I was able to focus on who was addressing me. His voice came from the corner of the station. His silhouette slowly and mysteriously emerged from the darkness into the dim light created by the flickering street lamp. He was tall and handsome and his lips curved into a half-smirk that made me wonder if I was the same Shaylee he wanted to see.

- I comfortably dropped the strap of my bag on my shoulder and managed to drag myself over to him. "Who are you?"

- His smirk turns into a smile to reveal his perfectly aligned teeth. "I'm Randy Adderson. I'm your uncle's neighbor. He couldn't make it so he asked me to come pick you up," Randy explained, playfully tossing his car keys in the air.

- "Typical," I murmured under my breath in way that Randy couldn't hear. He slipped my bag off my shoulder and carried it to his car, his beautiful blue Mustang. I ran my hand across the roof of the vehicle, but kept an eye on Randy. He slipped into the driver's side and slammed the door behind him. I glared at him through the open window on the passenger's side. He put the keys in the ignition and with the flick of his wrist, the engine buffered to a start. But he didn't change gears when he noticed me still standing outside of the car.

- "Are you coming?"

- "How do I know you're really my uncle's neighbor?" I asked with skepticism inflicted on my words.

- Randy leaned over and clicked the door open. "You don't," he said, "you just have to trust me." I pulled the door open and an appalling squeak was triggered. I winced and crawled into the seat.

- "Well, I don't trust you," I sneered, pulling the seat belt across my chest.

- "Then why are you in my car?" he questioned.

- I wasn't sure if Randy was kicking me out before I even had the chance to close my door, but he yanked the shift into drive and swerved onto the street. In a panic, I pulled the door shut as if I was playing tug-of-war.

- I thought for a moment on how I should answer that question. He had a very good point, but I glanced at him as he began to drive down the empty road. "Because it's a nice car," I answered as if it were common knowledge. He looked at me for a brief second when we were halted at a stop sign. I flicked my eyebrows up as if to say "I win."

- I didn't realize how close our faces were until his attention was snapped back onto the street as he started to drive again.

- The silence of the rest of the car ride lingered heavily in the air, but Randy eventually pulled over to the curb in front of a huge two-story house. I looked out of the window and saw a small picket sign plunged into the ground that had "McAllister" printed in fancy script letters. It was almost pitch black outside, but the full moon illuminated the house enough for me to tell that it was gorgeous house in this run-down town.

- I reached out to push the door open, but Randy extended his arm and his cold fingers wrapped around my wrist. This made me jump and I nervously glimpsed at him through the edges of my vision. He must've known that he startled me though, because he immediately dropped my hand in my lap. "Sorry, Shaylee, I didn't mean to scare you."

- "They never do. . ." I breathed.

- Randy jerked his head back and sat against the back of his seat as if I had just slapped him, but he leaned towards me again. "Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow night?" he whispered with the same half-smirk he wore at the train station.

- "What?" I giggled, unable to take his invite seriously.

- Randy shyly took my hand in his- and said "I want to take you out."

- I stared at him for a couple seconds and slid my hand out of his grasp. I squirmed out of the door and retrieved my bag from the trunk. The sound of Randy's door closing instantly followed the sound of the trunk. "So, you'll call me?" Randy desperately asked.

- "No," I scoffed. I paced up to the front stoop and fumbled with the door knob. After a while, I realized the door was locked.

- Randy suddenly appeared behind me with a key. He shoved the key in the lock and forced the door open. "You know, you could've waited," he scorns.

- I make a childish face to mock him. Though it was meant to be inconspicuous, having him see it might have been a lot more rewarding. I followed him into the foyer and trailed several paces behind him up the stairs, admiring the decor adorning the walls.

- "Wow, this is my uncle's house?" I inquired in monotone, though I was clearly impressed. Randy nodded, but I continue to doubt everything. "Tyler McAllister?"

- "Yeah. Your uncle is the richest of the Socs around here," Randy responded, showing me a bedroom which I supposed was mine.

- "Socs?"

- "The rich kids," he clarified. I nodded and smoothly ducked my head through the window. "That's my house," Randy said, pointing to the house next door. "And that's my room," he added, specifying a certain window on the side of the house. "So, if you ever need anything, just... holler."

- I formed my lips into a closed smile even though I wasn't positive if he could see it or not. I shut the window once I removed my head and sat on the edge of the bed that would be mine for the next two years. I twiddle my thumbs for a moment and gazed up at Randy. "Did Tyler say when he's coming home," I wondered out loud.

- Randy idly shook his head and tucked his hands into his pockets. "Well, I'll let you get settled in. Goodnight Shaylee."

- And he left.