Prologue

prologue

Rose – Age Thirteen

"Come on, my little Rose, or you'll be late…" Dad says from my doorway.

I glance at him and swallow hard at the sharpness in his eyes. Then I look back at the mirror and scrunch my nose at the plaid skirt and white shirt tucked into it. The little blue tie is too tight around my neck and does not help my nervousness.

Today is my first day of high school, and I'm so scared. Being the daughter of a multimillionaire hasn't saved me grief from my peers; instead, I have been made the outcast.

I became the loner where no one wanted to know me.

It doesn't matter that my father never spoils me, making sure I work hard for everything I have; the girls in my school, who are jealous of what I could have if I begged, think I'm a snobby, spoiled brat. They spread nasty rumors about me, bully me, and even hurt me.

Before school was out last year, four of them held me down while Piper Andrews tried to cut my hair. The teacher only just stopped them, and they didn't even get punished until my father went in and threatened to sue, which only angered the girls more.

And the boys, well, they always stay far from me, intimidated by my family.

My school years have not been good so far, so why would I want to go to a bigger school with the same mean kids and others just like them who are bigger and older?

It's like throwing me into the lion's den while I'm covered in pig’s blood. Dark and gruesome thoughts, yes, but it's the truth.

I blink, my dark green eyes said, the freckles, just like my mom's, standing out because of the urge I have to cry, making my face go red. The girls always make fun of my freckles…and my blushes.

"Why can't I just be homeschooled, Dad?" I ask in a whisper, a hint of sadness I can't hide coming out.

I hear him sigh but don't look at him. Instead, I eye my hair, wondering why I let him convince me to leave it down.

It's dark red, like my mom's, and long and wavy.

My teacher, Ms. Oldens, says the girls were jealous of it, so they tried to cut it.

What if someone bigger gets jealous or hates the color, and tries to do worse?

I blink. Dad says I'm the spitting image of my mom, though my eyes are dark green like his. I wouldn't know, though, because she died giving birth to me. Sometimes, I think my dad hates me because I basically killed his wife.

That may be why I never got the ballet classes I wanted when I was six or the piano classes that all the kids in my class were taking two years ago, while my big brother got to play football.

I'm just a reminder….

"You've got to go to school because Dad won't allow us to be spoiled brats. Besides, I'll be with you," Alejandro, my big brother, says, and I turn and look at him.

My nose twitches, and I know I'm going to cry because he won't be there for much longer. He's just turned eighteen, and besides, he can't stop the bullying when the bullies are girls, and he wouldn’t hit a girl.

"Only for a year, though," I mumble, my eyes tearing up, making him and Dad sigh.

He walks my way, wearing slacks and a white shirt with a maroon tie, which showcases that he's a senior.

My big brother is a mixture of Mom and Dad, with reddish brown hair and green eyes.

He's also my favorite person in the world.

He takes me in his arms, and I place my head against his chest, which is basically where I come up to on him because he’s already over six feet.

"Listen, Little Bit, if anyone starts on you, tell me immediately. I won't have anyone hurt you," he states firmly.

I don't nod or confirm, I just I hold him tighter, knowing if I even think of going to him, the bullying will worsen.

He sighs, squeezes me tightly, and guides me toward my bedroom door. There, my father stands in a three-piece suit, smiling softly at us.

One year is all Al has left of school; it's how long we have left until he leaves for the military. He dreams of enlisting until he's twenty-five, gaining experience in the world, and helping people, before taking over from our father.

Dad owns the most powerful company in southern California, and Al’s due to take over, but he won’t get to “keep it” because Dad hates nepotism.

The company will go to our children, and then their children….

"You'll do great, Little Rose," Dad says as we pass him, but I don't acknowledge him.

He knows I've been bullied and don't want to do this. He only stepped in the last time because sharp scissors were involved. For the others, I was told to stand up for myself because I'm a Lopez, and Lopez’s should be ruthless, not weak.

He forgets that I'm also a girl who loves to read and be alone, and I know I won't get that at Kings Prep.

With a lump in my throat, and the urge to scream and run back to my room, I let my big brother to guide me to the dark blue 2001 Dodge Ram he spent four years saving to buy.

He works evenings and weekends at the local garage.

Dad has ingrained in us that we have to work to get what we want. Where I'll do the household chores because Dad refused to have staff because it's something Mom never wanted, Alejandro has been working below minimum wage since he was fourteen with Mr. Dillon, the garage owner and his old shop teacher, working his way up.

Though Dad still gives Alejandro money when he's short on gas….

It doesn't take long to reach the black gates of hell.

Alejandro, feeling my tension, squeezes my knee. "It'll be alright, Little Bit."

I nod but don't reply because we both know it won't be.

I heard Piper was grounded for the whole summer, and when I say heard, I mean I was cornered by her friends at the mall when I was trying to find a job for the summer. Her friends said I was on her list .

Whatever that means….

Ignoring my brother, I climb out of his car, grabbing my bag from the footwell before heading to the large, intimidating cream-colored building, ignoring all the students hanging out around their cars. A few seconds later, I feel a heavy arm slide over my shoulders, and instinctively, I move into the warmth of my older brother, who maneuvers me toward a group of people instead of guiding me to the front doors.

"Nah, no fucking way Little Bit is already in high school," Jacob shouts, shoving his scruffy blonde hair out of his eyes, squinting my way, and I grin, my cheeks heating up as eyes come our way.

Alejandro snorts, and I move out of his hold, walking into my cousin’s.

Jacob holds me tight, the girl next to him scoffing, causing him to tense.

"I hope you're not scoffing at my baby cousin, Alana?" he sneers, and the girl standing near him freezes. Her blue eyes widen as she gingerly pushes her blonde hair behind her ears.

She clears her throat. "It's nice to meet you, Rose. Jacob and Al talk about you a lot."

Her eyes narrow a little, but I just give her a timid smile, hoping to take the attention off me. I fail, as Cal, my brother's best friend, warns, "If you look at her like that one more time, you'll be out of our group, Alana."

Alana swallows hard, and I look over at Cal. His dark brown eyes glaring at the girl.

"Um, shouldn't we be heading inside?" I ask to break the ice, causing Cal to look my way and give me a lopsided grin.

"Always the good girl, huh, Little Bit?" he asks, and I grin wide because yes, yes, I am.

Alejandro pulls me out of Jacobs's arms, who instantly pouts, making me giggle as my big brother snaps, "Since when did you two start calling my sister Little Bit? That's my nickname for her."

I laugh as his girlfriend Vanessa pulls me from him, making him grumble.

She instantly links her arm through mine, and I place my head on her shoulder, happy she's only a little taller than me.

She has long, dark brown hair and light blue eyes. She's stunning, and my brother is lucky someone like her even looked his way, though she says he's a catch, which makes me gag every time.

They met after he spilled his soda all over her in the cafeteria, and they have been together for two years, even though our father doesn’t like it.

She's not from the right side of the tracks—his words, not mine.

"She's all of ours, Al, so get used to it," she replies, then pulls me toward the building, and my nerves pick up again. She catches on and gives me a squeeze, whispering, "If any of those girls touch you, I'll kick their ass."

I smile a little but don't take my eyes off the door.

"Hey, cuz, does Aunty Tam know you're smoking?" she suddenly says, stopping us.

"Stay outta my business, Van…" a voice replies with a bit of hate, confusing me, because Vanessa is the nicest person I know.

I frown at the hurt look on Vanessa's face and then glance toward the stone wall.

A boy with black hair that's short on the sides and long on top, with the deepest blue eyes I've ever seen, stares daggers at Vanessa while he puffs on his cigarette.

My stomach tightens, deepening my confusion.

My frown deepens at my reaction to him, and I say, "It's not nice to make people sad, especially not someone like Vanessa…."

The boy looks at me sharply, blowing smoke my way. His eyes take me in, and how my arm is linked with his cousin’s, before he raises a brow and asks, "And why is that?"

I shrug. "Because she's nice, and I'm not sure if you know this, but smoking is harmful, so you should really stop."

Vanessa snorts but coughs to cover it up while the boy half smiles and murmurs, "Is that so?"

I nod as heat rise up my back.

"Noah, stop looking at my baby sister like that," Alejandro states firmly, and I look up at Al and smile.

He returns the smile. "Ready to get this day started, Little Bit?"

My smile disappears, and I shake my head, making him chuckle.

"Come on, Rose. It'll be alright, I promise. Heck, even my stupid cousin here will make sure you'll be okay," Vanessa tries to console me, and I swallow hard, looking back at the boy.

Noah….

He tilts his head as another boy comes to stand near him, looking at us all in confusion, while Noah doesn't take his eyes off me.

"Your first day?" he asks, and I nod once, making him hum.

He observes me for a few seconds before stubbing out his cigarette, then jumps off the wall, nods to the door, and says, "Let's go, then…."

I blink a few times before Vanessa pulls on my arm, taking me into the school with my big brother, my cousin, his friends, and now Noah and friend behind us, causing everyone to look our way.

I notice Piper instantly. Her dark blonde hair is straight, and she's even wearing makeup. She's staring daggers my way until she notices the people surrounding me, and she takes a step back, hitting the lockers, her face paling.

I swallow hard and ignore her and everyone else, allowing my brother and the people he sees as his family guide me to my first class of the day.

Hopefully, I can dodge everyone after this, maybe hide in the library….

It's a shame I didn't realize that Noah had taken notice of me…and that he’d hurt me.

Noah – Age Fourteen

I twist the apple in my hands, leaning my elbows on my knees as I watch the double doors. My left knee bounces a little, and apprehension fills me.

“Mr. Scott, tables are for glasses, not asses, and chairs are not for your feet,” Mr. Crow snaps from the front of the room, and I grin.

“Does the dean know you swear at the kids, Mr. Crow, and in the library no less….” I chortle, making him grumble, shaking his bald head before going back to checking in books.

“Since when do we come into the library, dude?” my best friend Barnett grumbles from beside me where he’s leaning back on two legs of the chair, twirling his drumsticks around in his fingers. I shrug, my eyes going back to the double doors, the urge to grab a cig pulling at me.

I can’t do that, though, can I?

“Smoking is harmful, so you should really stop.”

Her angelic voice echoes in my head, her deep green eyes stuck in my brain.

Alejandro’s baby sister, Rose….

She’s fucking beautiful and doesn’t even realize it. Those eyes, the long red hair….

Fuck.

I hate people that come from money. My biological father was loaded when he met my mom. She said he was her everything until she found out he was married, and he denied my paternity, causing her to drink.

I’ve never met him, but the hate my mother instilled in me growing up goes out to anyone with money.

It doesn’t matter if she moved on and had a baby with someone else, it didn’t stop the vile shit she’d say over the years. It didn’t stop her from getting drunk continuously.

It’s why I never got along with my cousin’s boyfriend, despite him being good for her. Yet this girl, the spoiled rich girl, instantly entranced me, and I need to know more.

Is she spoiled, or is she as sweet as she seems?

Why can’t I fucking get her out of my head?

“Ah, fuck’s sake, this is about your cousin’s boyfriend’s sister isn’t it, the new girl, that’s why we’re waiting in here?” Barnett mutters, the chair legs slamming on the floor, but I don’t look his way, I keep my eyes on the door, and he snaps, “She’s thirteen, Noah….”

I hum, already knowing that, but we’re only fourteen, so his argument is moot, and he knows it.

“What about Piper? She seems like the perfect roadie,” he tries.

I snort. “She’s also a mean-assed bitch and a bully, who’s also thirteen.”

According to Vanessa, who cornered me after my last class, Piper is the person who bullied Rose for years while her father stood back and allowed it, and only butted in when the bitch and her squad tried to cut Rose’s hair.

Van is worried about her.

“We should be in the music room right now with Cam, Noah, not waiting on some chick,” he tries again, and I chuckle, looking his way.

I raise a brow. “So it wasn’t you who hung around the girl’s bathrooms waiting for Mary last semester, thinking she was the love of your life?”

He winces, then leans back in his chair on the back two legs again, placing his hands behind his head. “Yeah, alright, you’ve got me there. We’ll wait.”

I grin, looking back at the doors.

Mary wasn’t who he thought she was. She was older and riddled with STDs, and I don’t want to know how he knew that.

The left side of the double door opens slowly, and I smirk, mumbling, “Fucking knew it,” making Barnett chuckle a little.

Van didn’t think she’d come here, but based on what I’ve heard about Rose over the years, she’s a book nerd, and hates people.

The library will become her hiding place if I let it.

Her head pops into the room before she slowly walks in. Mr. Crow gives her a reassuring smile, and she sends him a timid one back, and I have to grit my teeth so I don’t snap at a fucking teacher.

Barnett chuckles lowly again, seeing my reaction, but I ignore him, taking in Rose’s appearance.

She’s put her hair up in a messy knot, and her right cheek is red.

I narrow my eyes, but I don’t move. I wait.

She looks around the room before her dark green eyes land on me. They widen slightly, and I tilt my head. My eyes go to her cheek, taking in the mark, the little scratch standing out.

I raise a pointed brow toward her, and she swallows hard, her delicate throat bobbing. Slowly, she walks our way.

When she’s close, I hold out my right hand and she clears her throat, willingly taking the apple, and whispers, “Please don’t tell Al….”

Barnett quickly stands and asks, “Who hit you, darling?”

I swallow my growl at his endearment and side-eye him, but he’s not looking my way; his eyes are focused on her cheek.

She doesn’t answer him, only looking down. I climb off the table and close the gap between us. She still doesn’t look up, so I place two fingers underneath her chin, her skin so fucking soft that I want to cup her whole cheek, but I refrain, and instead make her look up at me. I gently tilt her head.

“Your brother isn’t the one you should be concerned about, Petal. Who the fuck hit you?” I rumble.

Her eyes widen and she stutters, “P-Piper, cornered me in the girl’s bathroom with two of her f-friends.”

I nod and look at Barnett, who also nods.

She’ll become an outcast.

Looking back at Rose, I murmur, “You’re not spending all your time in here, Petal.”

She furrows her brows. “But I like the library….”

I smile slightly. “I know, but you can read in the music room….”

“But why….” Her words trail off as I wrap my arm around her shoulders and gently guide her toward the doors she just came through, Barnett following.

Everyone steps out of our way and stares as we get into the corridor, but we ignore them. I notice my cousin, who smiles lightly while Alejandro narrows his eyes. I lift two fingers in salute so he knows she won’t be hurt. Only when Van nudges him does he nod, while Jacob just grins like the idiot he is.

Rose allows me to guide her to the other side of the school, and only when we get near the classroom room do I mutter, “You’ll be spending your time between classes in here with me, Little Petal.”

She looks at me with a frown, but I smile and gently lean down, placing a peck on her forehead, and guiding her into the room where Cameron, my other friend, is waiting. He sees Rose and just shakes his head with a smile, before taking a seat behind the drums, his shaggy, black hair falling over his blue eyes as he leans down to grab his sticks.

I guide Rose to a chair and help her sit, smirking at the wide-eyed look she has going on, which makes her look cute and innocent.

Shaking my head, I grab my guitar and stand before the mic, her eyes going wider, if possible, when I start strumming a few notes.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me or why I’m so fucking drawn to this girl, but what I do know is that she’s fucking mine.

Always.