Chapter One

FIVE YEARS LATER

PATIENCE

"Girl, I don't know what's going on between you and Brad, but, babes. The damn chemistry between the two of you could start a fire," Hana says, fanning her face, and making me laugh.

I glance over my shoulder at the sexy football god that can't seem to take his eyes off me, and toss him a wink. His nostrils flare and I smile, licking my lips, tempting him. Ugh, these boys are so easy. A giggle here, a bat of my eyelashes there. It's all the same.

For once, I want a challenge, someone to make me feel something other than comfortable. Someone like Kian, but that I can actually be with in public.

"He's fun," I reply, then move over to my locker. I have twenty minutes before my next class. Maybe I could tempt someone to join me for a little R our families hate each other now, but what does that have to do with us? We were just kids. He can't seriously blame me for what my father did.

"Well, what do we have here?" Cal questions, leaning up against the locker next to me. He reaches out to tug on my ponytail, and I spin, giving him my full attention. I swear, for a moment, I see guilt in his eyes, but it's quickly washed away, and he's back to being a dick.

I pout and tap my freshly manicured nails against my bottom lip, pretending to think of something. I know he wants me. Deep down, below all the lies and bullying, he craves me. I gasp and give him my best smirk.

"Oh, I know. A snake that's slithered out of his hole," I coo, and he laughs as if I just said the funniest thing, then leans in so he can whisper more threats into my ear. At first, they would scare me.

I mean, how could my best friend all of a sudden want me dead and buried beside my father? But, now I just ignore him, for the most part. I guess somewhere in my soul I'm still hoping, praying, and wishing that he will come back to me.

Don't get me wrong, he will have a lot of groveling to do, and I will enjoy having him on his knees for me, but I do miss my friend. Before everything went down, our parents would joke about us getting married. Me and one of the twins. Not that I could have ever chosen between them.

"Keep it up, little rabbit, and see how far I can make you fall. Don't forget, Patience, I know the real you," he sneers. I try to hide the tremble from his words, and give him a tiny smile as he stands up.

"I'd love to see you try, Cal. You haven't known me in five years. You may see me every day, but I'm not that sad little twelve-year-old girl anymore," I coo, before placing a kiss on his cheek and walking away.

I strut past Brad and trail my nails along his chest. A purr leaves his lips, and I grab his hand, pulling him with me into an empty classroom.

"You have five minutes to get me off before bio, or I will go find someone else for the job," I tell him as he pushes me up against the whiteboard.

"Challenge accepted, babe," he growls before going for my lips, but I turn at the last second, giving him my neck. I don't kiss fuckboys. Only Ki, and… well, the only other person who has ever touched these lips was one of the twins. I never did find out which one it was, but it was the best kiss of my life. I just wish things didn't turn to shit right after.

" Patience, wait up," Nate calls after me as I race for the waterfall. It's hot today and Alla told me we could go swimming as long as Kian came too. He's the oldest out of all of us, and she thinks he will babysit. Ha, if only she knew he gets into as much trouble as us.

I slow my stride and wait for the boys to catch up. We can't go in the water until Ki arrives, so I plop down on a rock and lean back, closing my eyes, and sun my face.

Cal comes up beside me and pokes my nose.

"You have freckles, rabbit." I blink and give him a smile.

"It's summer. I always get freckles." I gently shove him and he gives me a smirk.

"We should play a game." I nod and Nate comes to sit on my other side.

"What game?" Nate asks his twin, and the look in Cal's eye warns me this is going to be fun. Cal shrugs as if he doesn't have something up his sleeve and I roll my eyes.

"How about Truth or Dare?" Nate nods, and I agree. It's a fun game and I can usually get the boys to do something crazy. I climb off the rock and we all sit on the ground. I face Cal, and Nate sits next to me.

"Okay, Pay, you go first. Truth or dare?" I think for a minute, then chicken out.

"Truth," I say and Cal snorts.

"Lame, but okay…" He thinks for a minute. "Oh, I got one. Have you ever been kissed?" I blush and look away. They already know that I haven't. Last month at Sarah's birthday party, we played spin the bottle and I chickened out. I don't know. I just didn't want my first kiss to be someone random. I've been saving it for someone else.

The guys laugh at me, and I giggle too.

"No," I choke out and Cal grabs something from his pocket as Nate takes his turn. He choses dare, and I try to think of something fun for him to do while we wait for Ki, but Cal blurts out for him to go jump off the waterfall before I can. Nate shrugs and gets to his feet.

"Wait, Cal, shouldn't we wait until Ki comes?" Cal snorts and wraps his arm around my shoulder, holding me close to him.

"You're such a good girl, rabbit. Come on brother," he calls out to Nate. I watch as Nate pulls his shirt off, takes a few steps away from the cliff, then runs full force and jumps. I wait for the splash then sigh. Glancing around I still don't see Kian. I groan.

"Where is he? It's so hot out. I want to go swimming too," I whine. Cal takes my hand and pulls me to my feet. Nate comes back to us, wrapping a towel around his shoulders. His dark hair is dripping with the cool water and I'm jealous.

"Okay, Cal. Your turn," I say, turning to him.

"Dare." I shake my head because he's so silly.

"Ugh, okay…" I think of something good, then frown. I suck at this game. "Oh, I've got it." I move over to my bag and dig around until I find the purple, glittery nail polish. I pull it out and Nate starts cracking up, laughing. Cal is already shaking his head, and I frown.

"No, Pay. I swear to God." I give him a smile, and he takes off running as I chase him.

"It's a dare, Cal. Are you chickening out?" That gets him to stop. He puffs out his chest and gives me a look with those hazel eyes that always make my heart beat a little faster, and sighs exaggeratedly.

"Fine, but if you tell anyone." He shuffles closer to me and sits on the ground. I move beside him and pull him into a big hug.

"You know I always keep your secrets, Cal." He nods and hands me his foot. I laugh and shake my head. He groans and gives me his hand. I start on his thumb nail, as Nate starts telling us about some dream he had last night.

When I finish with his nails, he looks so pretty, and it's my turn. "Truth or dare, rabbit?" I take a deep breath and smile.

"Okay, it's only fair, Cal. Dare." He gives me a smirk and pulls the bandana out of his pocket, then looks at Nate. Nate nods.

"I dare you to let us blindfold you and give you your first kiss." A gasp of air leaves my lips and I know my eyes are wide.

"You… You want to kiss me?" I stutter, and my cheeks heat. Nate nods and Cal covers my eyes gently with the cloth that smells like him. Apples and oranges. "Who is going to kiss me? I can't see anything."

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Nate asks Cal, and he must agree because now they are playing that silly game. Then a warm hand touches my neck and pulls me closer. I purse my lips, but nothing happens.

I probably look stupid, like some fish just standing here. I'm getting annoyed when I feel soft pressure against my mouth. Sparks flash behind my eyelids and I wish I could see who's kissing me. But it's better this way.

"Wow," I gasp and take a step back when a branch cracks behind me. I reach up to pull the blindfold off, and Ki is there with a huge basket and a cooler.

"Hey guys, having fun without me I see," he grumbles and sets everything down. I glance back at the twins, but nothing shows who was the one to kiss me.

"Truth or dare, Ki," Nate says and I sigh. I guess we're just not going to talk about what I know will always be the best kiss of my life, and that's okay. I don't want to know because they are both my best friends and I would never choose anyway.

"You're so hot, baby," Brad coos in my ear and I sigh, coming back to the moment. I thought I saved my first kiss for the right person, but maybe I should have just given it to a rando.

Brad drops to his knees and kisses up my thigh. I lean farther back against the board and let him take me away from my thoughts.