Kris was not in a good mood. No one from Playa Linda had set foot in her room before. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed or outraged that of all the people who could have seen her very valley girl room, Bradin Westerly had to be the first. Her present room looked quite a bit like it had looked like back in her old home. She changed herself drastically upon moving to this stupid spit of sunshine, but the one part of her past that she salvaged from her personal wreckage was her room. It served as a sanctuary from the image she saw in the mirror, both a comforting area and also a warning reminder of all that had happened to her in the past.

As Bradin no doubt knew by now, Kris was not always such a cynical punk-esque bitch. In fact, it had only been in the last six months that she had warped into who she was now. For most of her life, she had been a good girl. She went to church on Sundays, kept up perfect grades, rode in the popular crowd at her school, and was even a cheerleader, and a damn good one at that. Everything she seemed to hate now was related to the girl she once embodied.

Brown hair, layered and straight. Designer clothes, expensive shoes. A chronic smile. She was a girly girl.

And she had also been the girlfriend of a star football player. He was sweet and the two were the Golden couple for a few months. Then he moved away, and in doing so crushed Kris in the process. Of course, he hadn't really broken up with her, and he was far from happy at the prospect of leaving. He had actually cried on his last night in town, and she still smiled when she thought of him.

This leads us to Kris's next serious boyfriend. She had been deeply saddened when Mr. All-American left and had declined the multiple guys who then proceeded to ask her out. She leaned on the shoulders of her best girlfriends for support, but also against the shoulder of one specific guy. He had been friends with her ex-boyfriend, and had helped her to get over him. The comfort sessions changed into something more when he asked her out one day, almost two months since her break up. They had gotten very close, and he swore that he would not hurt her, that they would move slowly. She agreed, and with that agreement she lost a few friends along the way. This wasn't a second all-star athlete. He was a friend with her ex through forces unseen by many of the school population, since they were from different cliques. He had a slightly grungy, punk essence, with his longish black hair, band shirts, and multiple piercings (eyebrow, lip, and tongue to be precise). He was one of the only guys who didn't insist on wearing ultra baggy pants, opting for classic fit jeans that hung casually off his body, yet exemplifying his attractiveness. Kris thought he was incredibly hot, and add that to his musical, artistic, and academic talent and up popped up a guy who she perceived as irresistible. He had a soft, slightly raspy voice, long, slightly calloused fingers, and eyes with enough emotion to take your breath away. The relationship that the two would share would make her relationship with Mr. All-American look like a childish kindergarten crush in comparison. His name was Seth Allister and he was the only guy she had ever loved.

A bunch of her friends hated him. He had a tortured artist vibe to him that clashed with the preppy attitudes of several people whom Kris had once hung out with. Some thought she was being rude for moving on from her last boyfriend. It had been two months, what did they expect? Did they actually want her to somehow turn into a nun, saving herself from any guy until the day where her ex came back (which would be never)? They didn't like Seth, he was too different, and he wasn't their type. She lost a fair few friends but she didn't care at the time and she doesn't care now.

When she says she loved him, she means it. He was so intense, so wonderful. Their friends who weren't complete asses didn't mind their relationship and they formed a group of prunk kids. She pretty much adored him.

After almost a year of bliss, he wanted to go further. This didn't surprise her. After all, it had been a long time. The thing was she didn't want to have sex until after high school. Remember, she was a good girl at heart. He seemed okay with it at first but after a month or so, he began threatening to break up with her if she wouldn't do it. She naturally refused at first, but when she felt that he was seriously drifting away, she finally slept with him. They slept together several times before he suddenly dumped her anyways. He had apparently gotten bored, thought that their relationship was too serious. He was uncomfortable with it and so he left her. He was with someone else in about three days. If she was crushed when her football-playing boyfriend left, she was dying inside now. He said that things had been good at first, but that after they slept together she was pressuring him too much about commitment, about their future. He had told her that he only wanted to have a good time, and he was sorry if she didn't feel the same way.

Being childish and entirely unused to this dumping thing, she lashed out. Her entire demeanor changed and those friends who had left her earlier mocked her now. Those who tried to help her eventually gave up, and it was at that point that her life changed forever.

She didn't want to be played again. She couldn't ever have her virginity back, so she figured nothing else in that department mattered. Angry with guys in general, and wanting revenge anyway she could grab it, she began dating around even though she was far from over Seth. She slept around as a defense mechanism. Before this, of course, she had switched schools so she wouldn't have to see his face every day. When she moved away, she didn't want anything to remind her of how weak she had been. She was mad at the hours wasted pining after him and she changed herself completely. She burned her old clothes, and decided that since no own in this new town knew her yet, she could manipulate how they saw her. She wanted to hurt guys before they could hurt her.

Bradin was no exception. Except when he started to see through her deception. Now that he knew what she was, she had no idea how she would explain anything to him without coming off as immature. But then, why did she have to explain anything to him? It wasn't any of his business what she did in her past, or how she got where she was today. In fact, nothing about her was his business. Some stupid little stalking surfer who developed some sort of crush on her was not entitled to anything.

With that mindset, Kris roughly shouldered her backpack that Monday morning and marched out the door, determined as hell to be confident and to not let anything get to her. She didn't exactly know what she was going to do, but she did know that she had to confuse Bradin and get him as far away from the truth as she could. She wasn't going to let anyone here know what a fool she had once been.

"You're such a dog, I hope you realize that." She rolled her eyes as she reached her locker only to find Bradin waiting there for her.

"What the hell happened this weekend?"

"You took stalking to a whole new level, and, I didn't know it was possible, but you made me lose any respect for you that I may have had before." She stated cheerfully.

"Why won't you let me in, Kris?"

"Aw, let's be fair, Surfer Boy. I've let you in, around, over, and against more than most guys have."

"You know that's not what I meant." To her amusement, he turned a light pink.

She leaned in close to him and ran a finger gingerly down his chest. When she spoke, he could feel her breath brush against his cheek. "What is it that you want from me, Westerly?"

As she expected, her close proximity to him made him seriously flustered and he swallowed uneasily, obviously having to hold himself back from reacting physically to her tease.

"I want you to let me in emotionally. I've just realized how little I know about you, and it's disturbing me."

"We've known each other how long, Westerly? And you've just realized you don't know me at all? I'd say you're just trying to ease your conscience for sleeping with a girl multiple times without taking the time to know me first. And I'd also say that this is baby's first benefit-only relationship."

"It is. And I'm not ashamed of that fact."

The way he said it made her laugh lowly. She leaned in closer still and caressed his chest with both her hands before clasping her hands together around his neck. "And you think I should be ashamed that it's not my first, don't you?"

"It's your life."

"Don't pretend to be so up righteous. You're judging me. Have been since we first met. I know what you think of me, the same as they all do." Her hands dropped to his upper arms and she leaned in against his ear, "I'm a slut. And baby, I'm not ashamed. It is my life, remember your own words."

He jerked aside, putting some distance between the two of them, and Kris smirked. She was definitely affecting him.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Using your sexuality as a weapon."

"Because it is one, hon." She answered. "It' s the best one there is, especially against stupid little boys who don't know anything at all except the fact that they need sex."

"I'm trying to forge a relationship with you."

"Like I said. You're a stupid little boy who doesn't know a thing." Her smile had faded now and her voice was full of spite when she stated, "There's no such thing as a relationship. It's a lie, a false little pink package that makes people feel better for being naughty little children."

"What made you think this way?" Bradin snapped. "Seth?"

This time she had to fight to refrain from saying something rash. "No one made me do anything."

"Bull shit. Who was that guy in the picture? What did he do to you?"

"He raped me and hit me, and I didn't know what to do, daddy." Kris said in a childish voice. "Please. I'm not some damsel."

"He hurt you, I can see it in your eyes."

"He was a better man than you will ever be." She defended.

"He's obviously an ex. Why are you still defending him?"

"Because you need to get over yourself. I don't even like you, Westerly. You're just a decent body, a pretty face, a fair fuck."

"And Seth wasn't?"

"You're meaningless, Surfer Boy. And I know it eats you up inside that I'm not pining after you. You're just like all the others I've been with. So stop acting like you're the one who will change me. You can't change me unless you've affected me."

"It was him, wasn't it? He treated you like you're treating me."

"How am I treating you?"

"Like an object to be used and then discarded."

"You knew the terms, it's not my fault you thought you could be the exception. I thought you'd get the concept of a physical relationship, but I must have overestimated your empty blonde head."

"You're a real bitch, you know that?"

"Of course." She grinned. He was getting pretty pissed. Her hand slipped to his waist and a finger dipped down under his jeans, her nail scraping his bare skin a little too close to something she was all too familiar with. He gasped in surprise and couldn't stop a low moan from escaping his lips. She positioned her face so that her lips were only a few centimeters away from his, and this time, his will power failed and he forcefully cupped her face and pressed his lips against hers. He all but shoved her against her locker and the rough intensity in which his lips were working demonstrated just how much of an affect she had on him. She pressed her nail harder against his skin and he moaned again. Smirking, Kris moved away from him.

"Even when you're pissed as hell, you still want me more than anything. Funny, isn't it?" she patted his cheek condescendingly. "Stupid. Little. Boy."

Kris walked away, leaving Bradin panting heavily. She was satisfied. It had been ridiculously easy to distract Bradin. He wanted her, all right. It reassured her to know that she had all the power. And she was going to make sure he knew that. Because she wouldn't be able to survive being out of control and toyed with again. She knew that she was being cruel, she knew that it wasn't right, and she knew that this wasn't doing her any actual good in the way of getting over Seth, but hey- at least she got to forget about him for a while and have a little fun in the process.

A/N: So sorry about the delay, but I've been completely obsessed with Higher Ground fan fiction right now, heh I've found a blonde hotter than Jesse (don't throw rocks at me!). Never fear, I won't leave this story unfinished. Thank you for the reviews : )