How the hell did he know my brothers? My brothers were… there weren’t words to describe them. I loathed them. Because they left me here, with dad. They’re liars, and not even very good ones.

Jax opened his mouth and I’m sure he was about to say something smart, when my father walked into the kitchen.

”Oh good, you’ve met Jackson,” he said casually.

I stood there, frozen.

Shock.

Fear.

Anger.

Shock again.

The flurry of emotions was hard to handle.

“Amber, close your mouth. It’s rude,” Dad pointed out, walking towards the table and picking up a piece of toast.

I snapped my mouth shut; I hadn’t even realized it had been open.

I couldn’t have people at school know I lived in a mansion and that I had more money in my bank account than their parents would make in a year. I couldn’t have that. I had a reputation! Sure, it wasn’t a very good one when it came to school, but I still had one.

I glanced at Jax. He was rubbing the back of his neck, and his eyes were fixed on me. He seemed pretty shocked himself.

I stared at the toast. I was anything but hungry.

Only the appearance of Jackson Johnston could ruin my unhealthy need for bacon in the morning.

After having seen Jax with his top off, I doubt I would ever be able to eat in this room again.

He had scarred me.

Dad took the stool next to me.

“I received a phone call from the local police today, Amber” Dad

Great.

“Your license has been suspended again.”

He had power, connections, and money. All things in my favor, but it seemed like he wasn’t using them this time.

“I told them you would stay off the roads this time. Three months,” he added with a tone to say I had to do what I was told. 

I slammed my fists down on the island counter.

“Do not start Amber” he warned, giving me a pointed look.

Jax walked towards us, and took a stool at one corner of the island.

“Jax and you attend the same school. Perhaps you could ride together?” Dad asked, looking over at Jackson.

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“I’d be happy to give you a ride,” Jax said politely, looking at me.

My mouth dropped open! What a Kiss Ass! I could count on one hand, actually on one finger, how many times Jax had spoken to me, and now he was offering to take me to school? Well, he could go and get fucked.

“That’s very nice of you Jax, you are a good man!” Dad praised.

Dad shot me a disapproving look

“Something wrong Amber?” he questioned.

Not at all dad, seriously, everything is just peachy. I am over the moon with this morning’s events. Of course, I never said any of this out loud.

I felt my control on my temper slipping.

“Nothing.” I muttered.

“Good, I will see you tonight then.” He stood up, nodded at Jackson, and walked out of the kitchen, coffee still in hand.

I glanced at the pinhead named Jackson Johnson.

Why was he smiling? What was funny about all of this? I glared at him. The rage I felt towards him wasn’t reasonable.

His smirk still stayed put.

‘What?!” I demanded. Why the hell was he still looking at me!

I jumped off my stool and left the kitchen, seething. As I walked up the stairs, his smirk played on my mind.

It was bad enough I had to deal with him at school, and sit next to him in history, and now… now he was in my house!

I quickly changed, not paying attention to my look, and headed back downstairs.

Jax was now standing at the front door, fully dressed.

Thank

There was something about him that drew women in. Maybe the edge to his personality. Maybe the fact that he always looked like he had just got out of a caged fight, and was more than capable of coming out the winner of any fight.

I don’t know what it is, but women just love him.

I was not one of those women. Sure, I had wondered why he bothered attending school and sure, I had wondered how he kept his body in such great shape.

But, never once had I asked either question.

Nor would I ever.

Because, when it came to him, I wanted nothing to do with him. He knowing my brothers only made me want to stay away from him more.

I walked down the stairs quickly, passed him, and walked through the open front doors.

“Wait up!’ he yelled behind me.

Did he honestly expect me to ride with him?

Was he that stupid?

Surely not.

“You coming with me or not?” he snapped.

Yep, he was that stupid.

I turned to glare at him. Why I felt so much rage towards him I didn’t know.

“I would rather ride the bus with the junkies, than get in a car with you,” I continued to walk up the drive way.

“Whatever, don’t complain to me if you catch something,” he yelled after me.

“Complain to you? Fuck, I don’t even want to talk to you,” I snapped over my shoulder.

I heard his car door slam, and, then, within a few seconds, I could hear him approaching me.

He drove through a puddle close to me, deliberately I’m sure, and splashed water up my legs.

I glared at the back of his Hummer.

I picked up a rock from the ground and threw it in the direction of his car, missing it by centimeters.

I groaned to myself as I walked up our long drive way.

Why me?

He expected me to always be in control. He expected me to always have his back, which meant I had to be able to shoot straight, and right now I couldn’t even throw something straight.

I groaned. Not only did I have to get a bus, but I was more than positive I would have to spend more time at the shooting range.

***

I glanced up at the clock. I was about 45 minutes late for class.

Stupid bus. Never runs on time.

On the up side though, I had missed forty five minutes of Mr Wood’s class, which meant less time with that pinhead, Jackson Johnston.

I smiled to myself. Suddenly, the day was looking up.

I finally made it to school, and walked up to my locker to dump my school bag in it. I hated school and really saw it as pointless. I wasn’t career minded, although I realized that would be a problem later in life.

I began to head up the corridor towards Mr Wood’s class, dragging my feet as I got closer.

I could just not go in, I thought to myself.

But knowing it wasn’t really an option, I knocked on the classroom door.

It opened slightly and Mr Woods was surprised to see me.

“Nice of you to join us Miss Shields,’ he said in an official voice, laced with sarcasm.

“Couldn’t prolong my tardiness any longer,” I muttered to him.

I wasn’t sure if he’d heard me, but he opened the door wider, and I slipped in, walking towards my desk.

I glanced around and noticed that everyone was sitting in pairs.

My eyes landed on my empty seat, and I didn’t bother looking at the thing sitting in the next seat; I knew who it was.

Bloody Jax.

I sighed loudly and took my seat.

“Class continue,” Mr Woods directed.

The class slowly began to start talking again.

Jax was more in the middle of the desk, then on his side.

“Move,” I muttered.

He ignored me.

“Move,” I said louder.

“Make me,” he challenged.

Well, he asked for it. “Sure,” I snarled.

He groaned in pain.

“Miss Shields! Violence is unacceptable!” Mr Woods screamed in my direction.

“My arm slipped”

“Bullshit,” Jax muttered, under his breath.

“Take it like a man,” I whispered coldly in his direction.

I heard him grunt.

“Principal’s office. NOW Miss Shields,” Mr Woods commanded.

I sighed.

“Whatever,” I added, gathering my books. I didn’t want to be here in the first place.

I heard Jax chuckle.

“Don’t worry babe, I will get your homework for you,” he said smoothly.

I rolled my eyes. He wanted to talk dirty? Perhaps no one told him that if he played with fire, he was going to get burnt.

“I think you should be more concerned about where your balls are,” I said loudly.

There were a few soft chuckles from the class.

“Now, Amber!” Mr Woods yelled.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Principal’s office,” I muttered as I walked towards the door.

I was sure Principal Pike wouldn’t be happy to see me. I think he leaves me sitting in the hallway on purpose. Apparently, my smart Alec remarks give him a ‘headache.’ Personally, I think any head that large would give someone a headache by virtue of the sheer weight of it.

I couldn’t help but smile a little when the door slammed behind me.

I looked back down at the clock. It had only taken ten minutes to be kicked out. That was a record, even for me.

***

I slammed the front door as hard as I could.

After history class, the day had just gone from bad to worse, with me being put on a behavior watch by the principal. I ended up having to eat lunch by myself, and then afternoon classes totally sucked, and, to top it all off, I had to walk home because I missed the bus. It was fair to state that I was in a shitty mood.

“Amber!” My dad hollered from the dining room.

I was so late because I walked home, that I hadn’t even noticed the fact that it was tea time.

I stormed into the dining room.

“What?” I said in a bored tone. There better be a bloody good reason for him to have called me in here.

I noticed Jax sitting, eating at the table.

How lovely. Jax gets a nice hot tea and a snack, and I get blisters on my feet. Fuck, I hate karma.

Oh, how I would love to take that fork and attack his…

“Are you going to join us for tea?” Dad interrupted my, well… evil plans.

“Hello. No.” I answered quickly.

Dad frowned.

What? I didn’t feel like eating in front of THAT.

“Fine, bed then,” he ordered.

I rolled my eyes and walked out of the dining room.

There was close to no chance that I would be going to bed right now.

What was the worst that could happen? I’d get pulled over, and again, lose my license.

I didn’t need an early night.

I needed drinks and conversation.

I unlocked my phone and scrolled down to Blake’s number.

My off again, on again, boyfriend, Blake and I, had seen more drama than most couples on daytime television.

I hadn’t talked to him in over a week; since he’d hit me, and

I’d left after that, and hadn’t spoken to him.

I think he took my silence as me breaking it off with him.

I knew I shouldn’t even be thinking about calling him, but he was once sweet and charming, and I loved him. Love can make you do crazy things, like it was making me do now.

Now, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him, but I knew he was one of the few people who could cheer me up right now.

I sat down in the middle of the staircase, and dialed.

I really hoped that it wasn’t going to be too weird.

Ringing.

Ringing.

Ringing.

“Hello” said a husky voice.

Aww Blake… how I had missed your voice.

I smiled, just a little. He really did bring out the girl in me.

“Hey Blake, it’s ummm Amber,”

“Amber.” I could hear his voice brighten. “What you been doing babe? I haven’t seen you in a while.” Yeah, well I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see you again.”

But the gang was family, and you don’t walk away from family, unless it’s my blood family and, in that case, you run as far as you can to get away from them.

Blake went silent. I’m sorry about…” He started, but I was quick to cut him off.

“Don’t say sorry. Anyway, I didn’t call to fight.” I didn’t need to hear him say sorry. I knew he was sorry as soon as his fist had connected with my face.

I heard him sigh.

“So, why did you call?” he sounded disappointed.

“To see if you wanted to do something tonight? Or if you were doing anything?”

“Oh, well I am just at home with the guys. We are pre-gaming and then heading to this party. Wanna come babe?’ He sounded almost happy, but we both knew that only a high on drugs and money gave him real happiness.

“Sure, so I’ll come to your house then?”

“Sounds good to me. Will I see you soon?” he questioned.

“Yep, you will,” I answered, and then hung up.

Finally, something to do. I didn’t usually drink on week days, but hell I deserved it.

Having that Jackson Johnston move into your house was more than reason enough to get blinded on a Tuesday night.

I went upstairs and quickly changed into jeans and a long sleeved white top.

I jumped down the staircase, grabbed the keys to my Hummer off the hook and headed towards the garage.

I ignored my dad’s warning about my so-called suspension.

If I ran into the cops, I would wing it. What was the worst that could happen? I’d get arrested.

I heard mumbles of conversation coming from the dining room as I passed.

I couldn’t believe it! I made it to my car without anyone having seen me.

Life was a whole lot better as I drove towards the front gates.

I smiled. My night was going to improve.