Chapter 1

one

Rose - Age Seventeen

I growl a little under my breath as I try to write my report for English class on Marylin Monroe, which is worth 75% of my grade. I'm struggling with all the other students in the library mulling around, bumping into my table without a care in the world.

It's study period, and usually, I'd go to the music room, but today, it's in use, or so the sign outside the door stated. So I came here instead, but by the looks of things, so has everyone else, and not to study, either. And for someone like me, who's a shoo-in for graduating a year early, with valedictorian at that….

I shake my head. I'm pretty sure I saw two guys making out in the poetry section, and right now, some girl is grinding on a jock, not giving a crap about their audience, her school skirt hitched up around her waist. His hands on her butt are the only things covering her.

I side-eye the couple that looks about ready to tear each other's clothes off, wondering how they'd feel about me flinging my water over them because of the moaning and groaning, but before my hand can move, Mr. Crow snaps, "This is a library, not a brothel, pack it in or get out!"

Neither stop, and I roll my eyes, looking back down at my work, not surprised they carried on. Mr. Crow is all talk, no bite, and the students know it.

I side-eye my water again just as the girl moans louder, but again, before I can move my hand, I hear a sigh before Mr. Crow asks, "Rose, does Noah know you're in here?"

I wince at his words and give him a sheepish smile, causing the forty-something-year-old man to groan and put his head down, knowing a certain man will create havoc just like the last time I came in here.

He nearly burned the place down and was lucky he never got kicked out of the school for it. It helps that his band, “The Delinquents,” bring in a lot of money. They play every school dance and charity event.

I watch as Mr. Crow rubs his face, and instantly, I feel bad.

Noah hates it when I come to the library, and I know it's because it's the main hookup place other than under the bleachers, but today, it can't be helped.

I need to pass this assignment, and I need this paper to be perfect, otherwise, I won't graduate a year early, which would mean living long distance from Noah for a year while he travels the US trying to get signed.

I graduate now, then I can do college remotely.

Sighing, I grab my pen. Three and a half years, that's how long Noah's been in my life, that's how long he's been buried deep inside my soul.

That first day, he became my best friend, and the thought of not seeing him everyday kills….

I dreaded starting a new school, and if I'm being honest, it hasn't been easy. For the first year, Piper and her clique stayed clear of me, believing my brother and his girlfriend would hurt them if they hurt me, especially after Piper was made an outcast on that first day of school. However, once they graduated, the bullying picked up again.

The shoving, the snide remarks, and the name calling are just getting annoying and pathetic now. It's like I live in her brain rent-free.

The more she picks on me, though, the more of a reject she becomes, along with her clique. I guess she doesn't care anymore, though, because now she doesn't care who sees her blatantly bullying me. She wants one person, and nothing, including me, will get in her way. She has her sights set and, according to the school gossip, she'd been stalking said person before we even started King's Prep.

Noah.

She wants him so much that she enlisted his little sister Gina, who's a year younger than me, into her clique.

Gina's the youngest cheerleader on the squad, which helps Piper. Gina doesn't hate me, per se, but she does invite Piper to their trailer any chance she can get. I used to go there a lot, but the evil and nasty remarks got too much, and Noah picked up on my discomfort. Now we spend more time at his aunt's house with Van, who's currently in college studying to be a lawyer while my brother on his first tour with the military.

Vanessa's mom isn't rich, but she also isn't struggling. She's the reason Noah and Gina are at a private school while Piper is on a scholarship.

Sometimes, I think Noah's better off with someone like Piper. I know his mom and aunt agree. Heck, his mom flat-out told me to stay away from her son, while his stepdad Nick—if you can call him “stepdad” because he hasn't married Noah’s mom—told me to ignore everyone and stick to what my heart wants.

And my heart wants Noah, even if his family and my own father don't agree. To them, we're both on the wrong side of the other’s tracks. My dad thinks Noah's using me, while his mom believes I'm a spoiled brat.

Why can’t they just let us be happy?

Gently, I stroke the silver music symbol dangling on the silver chain around my neck. Noah gave it to me last year, stating it was a promise we'd get married one day.

The way he looked at me, seeing it dangling from my neck, his eyes darkened with possessiveness and love. In that moment, he realized I was accepting it and what it meant to him….

My heart aches a little. We have so much against us, and I'm worried he'll think I'm too much trouble and leave me, when I can't even breathe at the thought of losing him.

Swallowing hard, I drop my pen, and sigh. The library has become less crowded, making it easier to finish my paper, which is good because it's due after lunch.

Twitching my nose, I look down and re-read through my work, ensuring it's where it needs to be, trying to focus on the now and not the future.

It doesn't take me long, and a smile forms, knowing this is an A- at least, when strong arms hold me from behind, lips touching the top of my head, his earthy cologne hitting me. I grin wide, leaning back, turning my head to the left, placing my nose into the crook of his neck.

"And what does my Little Petal think she's doing in the library, hmm?" he murmurs, placing his lips on my forehead. "Do you want me to burn this shithole down?" he whispers against my skin, giving me goosebumps.

I smile, closing my eyes and enjoying his touch, sparks shooting through my skin. "The music room is in use," I mumble. “I needed to get this paper finished."

I don't mention why it's important. He knows what school means to me, knowing I won't accept money for college from my father, but he doesn't know about my chance at graduating. I want it to be a surprise.

He hums, moving his head back before gripping my hair and forcing my head out from the crook of his neck. I go to complain, but before I can open my mouth, his soft lips touch mine, and I sigh, the feeling of home instantly hitting me…with a hint of smoke.

I can still remember the first time he kissed me. God, I was so shocked.

For the first four months of school, he stuck by my side, keeping his arm over my shoulder, always meeting me by the wall in the mornings, ensuring to be outside my classes, keeping me in the music room during breaks and study periods.

I didn't think anything of it. I just thought he was helping his cousin out because I was her boyfriend's little sister. I mean, I was thirteen and never really had any boy’s attention, but then suddenly, some guy tried hitting on me on the football field during gym class. Noah was on the bleachers with his friends while Piper was trying to get their attention, and he saw the whole thing.

One moment, the guy was in front of me, licking his chapped lips, and the next, he was gone, and Noah's lips were on mine, his palms cupping my cheeks possessively. Then he was whispering, “You're mine, Petal….”

And I have been since, and not once did I question it.

Noah was my first kiss, my first boyfriend, my first love—my first and only, forever. I know I only just turned seventeen and haven't even lived yet, but I know I can't live without him….

He's all I want, and even though in school he's this big bad boy, outside of school or whenever it's just him and me, he's my angel, my protector.

Noah smiles against my lips before pecking them a few times, then pulls back, sitting his butt on the edge of the table, his white shirt straining against his muscular chest.

My eyes eat him up from the way his sleeves are rolled up, showcasing his tattoos. The large music symbol shaped in the letter R with several little roses hanging off it stands out, as does the way his hair is messy on the top of his head.

I make eye contact with him. He's smirking at me blatantly checking him out, and I know I'm blushing. The guy has massive sex appeal, and he knows that, but he never pushes.

We haven't gone further than making out, his hands always above my clothes. A small part of me is insecure, the little voice in my head wondering why, but the bigger part knows he knows me inside and out. He knows I'm not ready.

The guy owns me.

Instead of looking away like I'd normally do, I raise a brow at him.

Normally, he'd kiss me long and hard, but today, he hasn't, and I can smell why.

His smirk deepens, and I scowl, but he shakes his head, gently cupping my cheek and murmuring, "Don't give me that look, Petal. As soon as I knew you were here, where that bitch cornered you last month, I needed an outlet. You know I don't smoke unless I'm pissed, and you being here…."

I scrunch my nose. I had hoped he'd forgotten that.

He smiles at my reaction, and then kisses me again, but this time, he tilts my head to deepen the kiss. I open my mouth despite the taste of tobacco as his tongue pushes through my lips, tangling with mine.

I instantly taste his cigarette, which I hate, but I can't seem to care right now.

I grip his tie, keeping him close, making him smile into the kiss before dropping back a little. He whispers, "Let's get out of here, Petal."

I nod, and he stands, cleaning my stuff up for me, before grabbing my bag, and then helping me up. He wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I bury myself in his side as he guides us out of the library, saluting to Mr. Crow, who looks relieved his library is still in one piece.

I give the man a small “sorry” smile before gripping Noah's shirt, not wanting him to get too far from me as we get to the door. He doesn't, though. Instead, he squeezes me tighter to him, which I love.

When we walk out of the room, I look up and come to a halt, causing Noah to stop as well. My eyes widen, seeing all the students standing by the walls, rose petals all over the floor, his bandmates, his best friends, both grinning at me with their instruments in hand.

I turn to look at Noah to see him grinning at me. He drops my bag by our feet and kisses my head, then moves to stand before his friends, his eyes never leaving mine.

Smirking, he states, "The music room was occupied to everyone but you during the study period, and now because you decided to come here when I was waiting not so patiently for you inside that room, everyone is about to see exactly how much I love you."

My eyes tear up at his confession, a confession he's only said in private.

Clearing his throat, he turns and nods to Barnett, who starts strumming his guitar, Cameron following his lead with his. Then they start to play a melody that's so sweet it sends shivers down my spine. Noah makes eye contact with me again, and everything and everyone around me fades as he sings….

"You rocked my world when we were only young,

You looked at me like I was your only one,

You had me hooked with your words,

Digging yourself deep inside of me,"

He kneels, causing my mouth to part in surprise, and the students gasp.

"Petal, you got this bad boy down on his knees as he asks you to please…go to prom with me…."

I laugh, my tears falling at this goofy boy kneeling before me, and I nod enthusiastically, making him grin.

Everyone cheers and laughs as he leaps off the floor, taking me into his arms and swinging me around.

I giggle then lean back a little as he places my feet back on the ground, my fingers gripping his hair. I whisper, "I love you, my goofy singer."

He grins, his blue eyes darkening as he admits, "Not as much as I love you."

My eyes tear up again, and I press my lips against his, smiling into the kiss and feeling so happy.

This right here, it's something I know I'll never forget. The teenage girl in me always keeps hold of her love, even when he destroys her….