Vicious Desire by Leslie V. Walker

Chapter One

Ayanna

Present

I’m not really one to hate someone, but when it comes to Brendan Carter, I can’t help to picture his death. I mean look at him, with his arrogant smirk, green eyes, light brown hair, and his blue shirt, which rises up to reveal his unfairly sculpted V line.

He scratches the back of his neck laughing at something Jenna mentioned. Placing her red manicured hands on his chest she lets out an overexaggerated laugh. Leaning in close, she presses her upper body against him, giving him a clear view of her cleavage.

I watch as he doesn’t shy away and instead grabs a hold of her waist, pulling her in closer.

I can’t help but roll my eyes. This scenario plays out on a daily basis. It’s annoying as shit.

Sometimes I wonder how he even made it to senior year. Then I remember he’s the richest person in Ashbourne Hills, California, and is about to inherit one of the largest banks in the world. So, of course, with the amount of money he gives to the school, the teachers turn a blind eye when it comes to him not meeting the academic standards.

When it comes to this town their only goal is to be the best of the best. There are two sides to Ashbourne Hills––Westview, where the most high-class people in the country and state live, where they lie to the world and say how their number one goal is to help the people in need and instead do nothing. This is where I’m fortunate enough to go to school.

And on the other side of town where I live sits Eastview, where the people with barely any money try their hardest to get through life. Eastview is considered as the side of town most dangerous to live in with random people roaming the streets and crime rate jumping high, while Westview is the opposite.

I’m one of the lucky ones. Although I live in Eastview, I get to go to school in Westview High because of the scholarship given to me, thanks to my academic achievement in middle school.

Westview High is one of the top schools in the state. If everything goes well and I achieve success this year, I can secure a scholarship to one of the top colleges in the country.

It’s what I’ve worked hard for. Also, because my dad is on my ass constantly, which is why I accepted the scholarship, pushing aside the thought of how both sides of town will react.

There’s a made-up rule from when the school was founded years ago where you have to go to school in the side of town you live in. It’s considered betrayal if you don’t follow, so once word got out, I was attending Westview High all hell broke loose and everyone pestered me on about it, calling me names and spreading rumors.

The last four years attending school here has been unpleasant to say the least. The things people would say or post about me on social media were cruel and something I wouldn’t wish on my own enemy.

After summer four years ago, I knew things wouldn’t be perfect, but I didn’t think it would get this bad, nor that Brendan Carter will make it his mission to destroy me.

My goal this year is to let everything fly by like I have done for the past four years when rumors of me sleeping with not one, but four faculty members started to spread. There were many that came every once in a while, but this one has stuck with me through the years. Let’s just say I’m not the most liked person in town.

“You got some drool… just about there.” A pinky finger comes into my line of sight pointing to the side of my mouth. I swat it away immediately, tossing a glare to the source of the finger, Jason Miller—my closest friend, who I love dearly—who comes into view with his tall six-foot two frame, black hair, dimples, and hazel eyes that’ll make anyone weak in the knees.

I used to think Jason was just another jock wanting to get laid, but I was proven wrong. Jason is the complete opposite. One of the top students in the school alongside me, he’s on his way to get into Harvard.

Jason and I met freshman year when I accidently hit him in the crotch with my car door—how was I supposed to notice him running? We’ve been friends since, always doing things together whenever we had the time in between classes. When neither one of us was stuck studying, we would go out to the movies or even down by the lake on Hunter’s Creek Road.

I guess it can get tiring with the amount of studying I do, but with the pressure of my dad, who always reminds me how important it is to be prepared in life and not fail, it can be a lot.

I keep glaring at Jason who’s leaning against the locker beside me. “I’m not drooling dufus. I’m secretly plotting his death,” I correct.

“Mhhm sure. So, that’s not drool coming down on the side,” he points to the spot on my face and my hand comes up to check out of instinct.

I let out a small growl, coming up dry and dropping my hand to shove him away from me. “Stop it!”

Jason always makes me believe I act like I’m losing my mind when it comes to Brendan. He says it’s because I am and look like a creep whenever he’s around, but the truth is I’m literally plotting his death. I tell him just this, but he never believes me.

A loud bang comes from across the hall, and I turn to see Brendan and Jenna tumbling into the janitor’s closet, lips sealed as their hands grope one another.

I don’t hide the disgust written on my face as I turn to my right to where Jason stands in front of me. I had to stay past school hours to try teaching a freshman Algebra. Keyword: try. He was too busy trying to ask me questions on the size of my breasts because of a picture going around campus last year. They weren’t even mine, yet people love a good rumor around here.

“Remember what you promised me at the end of summer?” Jason asks.

“To punch you if you were ever becoming too annoying?” I nod, excited.

“No.” He shakes his head stepping away from the lockers and motions me to follow him out. “You promised me one of these days you’ll go to Trailstar Cave with me after being stuck in the house all summer.”

No, I don’t remember. And I wish he hadn’t either. Nothing good ever comes from Trailstar Cave. There’s fights, drugs, alcohol, and Brendan Carter with his stupid wannabe gangster friends.

This summer while I have been buried deep in books and Jason was out partying and living his life, he called me one night to hang out. When I declined the first time, saying I had a family event and continued to do so throughout the whole summer, he knew something was off. So, he came to visit me without my knowledge and found out the so-called family event was actually a date with Stephen King himself, and Jeff and Pam from The Office. He made me promise him I would go with him one day during the school year to TrailStar Cave to make up for the lost time I have spent stuck in my room studying. I just didn’t know he was serious. Besides it’s October, and it always gets crazy in the Devil’s month, as my mom loves to call it.

We walk down the steps and into the school parking lot where I catch my Honda Civic waiting for me with open arms. If I can just run past Jason quickly, I can leave without agreeing to anything and then I won’t have to go. My hope is quickly lost when he flashes me a look already knowing what I’m thinking of doing. No matter how alike we are academically, the one huge difference is Jason has more friends and loves to hang out with them and party while all I like to do is be alone with a book while a marathon of The Office runs in the background.

“I have an English Exam to study for so I can’t...” I trail off hoping he gets the hint as we stop in front of my car.

“You know how I feel when people break their word.” His voice comes out firm, and guilt quickly runs through me as I catch the look of disapproval in his eyes.

Jason’s stronghold for promises is one of the reasons why I love him dearly. He never breaks his promises, even if he hates them and would rather carve out his eyes than not keep to his word.

“You need to start hanging out with people your age and not Elga from the bookstore.” A gasp leaves me at the mention of my boss.

Working at a bookstore is like spending the summer with Chris Hemsworth, pure heaven. Not only is it the only bookstore here in Ashbourne Hills, but Elga—the nicest person in the world—built it up all on her own after her partner passed away a few years back. I’m her only employee because she says she doesn’t want to give out more money than needed when there’s two hardworking women who can stack books and lock up a store.

“Elga is a sweet old lady who has been nothing but kind to me. Besides, do you really need me to have fun? You’ve never needed me before.”

“It’s our last year of freedom until we’re off to college. I have never met anyone who has worked as hard as you have. You need a break.” I tune him out by taking my keys from my bag to distract myself. I already know what he’s about to say.

“Ayanna…” he presses. “Stop trying to be perfect and being someone you’re not, before you crack. Because in the moment when everything comes falling apart will be the worst pain you’ve ever felt unless you stop it now.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I understand where he’s coming from. But I still don’t want to hear it.

I shake my head, unlocking my car and throwing my backpack into the passenger seat. “I’m fine. And like I told you before, I don’t know if my parents will let me go.”

“Please. You and I both know your parents don’t give a shit about what you do. Your mother might, but she just wants you to be happy. She doesn’t agree with your father’s tactics.”

I ignore his comment and reply, “Fine.”

A satisfied grin sets on his features. “I’ll meet you at ten. Don’t be late.”

“Whatever,” I mutter. He laughs it off knowing I won’t stay mad at him for long.

I get in my car waving goodbye to Jason and deciding to read before having to study or leave tonight. I ignore the nerves soaring through my belly and try to think positive.