This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Corina Eichholz
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
Cover design: Addendum Designs
Editor: Stephanie Lott
Formatting: Champagne Book Design
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
For my mom, the best person ever.
Michaela
James, his toned and chiselled body, his bronzed complexion and wavy chestnut locks could only be described as perfect to every girl on the planet but me.
“Have you seen James? He’s gotten even hotter over the summer, if that’s possible!” Emily gushed. I rolled my eyes at her, of course I’d seen him over the summer! We were neighbours after all. Unfortunately, I’d had to see him every day since I was five and dad had bought the house next door. The first day of school was always hard but I had expected to go at least five minutes without James being the center of attention but as usual, my expectations were dead wrong.
“I know! He looks like a model straight out of an Abercrombie ad,” Tara said, blushing red. No one knew why I hated James with a passion but he shared the same feelings for some unfounded reason.
“You guys are unbelievable!” I said annoyed and stomped off. This was my year; senior year and I was not going to continue listening to everybody talk about how perfect James looked. Nobody had even noticed the changes in me, like the thirty pounds I’d shed and the acne that had disappeared from my face or how my hair was now a full four inches longer! Nobody bothered to say, wow Mickey you look great, you changed a lot over the summer. You don’t look like you at all, hell I don’t even recognize you. Even just a, you look pretty Mick, well they would’ve said Mike. Still it would have sufficed but no one said anything. I got diddly squat. Maybe I was being shallow or selfish, but I honestly didn’t care, I had literally worked my butt off to look like this and nobody said anything, not one comment. As my evil little step-sister said, I changed from the ugly fat duckling to the dorky pigeon. You would think people would stop staring and drooling over James for a few minutes to notice. I walked to homeroom with a lead pencil and my fuchsia notebook in hand. At least my schedule was good, I had English, my favorite class, for homeroom and gym last, so when I was all sweaty I could go home. The classes at Horizon High were relatively small, no more than twenty-two students in each. There was only a total of ninety students in my senior year. My English class had been switched to an old science room, there were sinks in the room and counters, also the desks were designed for two people.
“Michaela,” Mrs. Becker said, eyes shining with pleasure. She was my English teacher last year as well and we got on great.
“You look amazing! How was your summer?” she asked, putting her arm over my shoulders. Finally, a compliment! I thought, smiling happily.
“Thank you, my summer was fine. I read most of the books you recommended.” I smiled. Mrs. B knew my love for the written word and showed me many books the that led me to far off places, full of adventure, love, passion, hate, mystery, intrigue, tragedy, and hope among others.
“Did you enjoy them?” she asked, looking proud.
“Very much so,” I said, being cut off by the bell.
“That makes me happy, now go sit down and after class I’ll give you another list, this one will be a little more adult appropriate,” she whispered, giving me a secret wink.
“Thanks.” I smiled back and sat in one of the front desks by myself. I didn’t have many friends, maybe five. Okay not even, more like two and three acquaintances. And none were in this class but that was okay, I never really talked to them when I had work anyways. Everybody thinks I’m a little Miss Perfect but really, I just like to get my work done as fast as I can. No one really understood that or me but the one person that had lost everything to me, including my trust. Mrs. B did attendance and then told us all to stand up.
“You are all going to have to sit in pairs since there aren’t enough desks,” Great. I grimaced. “The person I pair you with, will sit with you throughout the year,” Even better, I thought sarcastically. “And you will have to do assignments together as well.” That’s just perfect, I hated group work. I heard lots of groans and grumbles in complaint and one person even said ‘this sucks ass’, but no one argued.
“Okay now in the first desk, Taylor and Marshall,” she said, patting the desk beside me. I moved to the front of the desk while she continued to read off her list of students for each desk, smiling happily. There were only three desks left at the back of the class and six people: me Sarah, Cody, Mathew, Gabriella and, James. I continued to ignore him, just as I had when I first walked in, and like I had for the year before.
“Mike, James. Here,” Mrs. B said pointing to a desk. Everything froze before me. No. No! I wanted to shout. “Are you okay Michaela?” she asked, stopping to make sure I was alright. I was still standing looking at the desk and James who was already seated. I felt all twenty eyes on me
