Page 26 (1/2)

Prologue

WHEN YOU LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, there’s not ah school decided that we should all get together and have a bonfire after each game It was really just an excuse to drink and hook-up: two things I wasn’t interested in, but I alent to hang out with my friends anyway

That’s where I was that night

The night I retreated into darkness, where ht sky had no stars, my days had no sun, and all hope was drained from my body

It was the night my life ended

Beau Bennett wasn’t there If he had been, he would’ve saved ht for staying out past curfew the Friday before; in fact, it’s the only weekend I rerounded

I believe that life is a series of coincidences, and that night, coincidence screwed me over

I was there with Morgan,the Senior Class President at the ti me huddled near the fire with some of the other kids fro there because I’ve known most of these people since I had s about small towns

Or so I thought

I was sitting withto hat the fire couldn’t, when Drew Heston sat down next to me My stomach immediately did a somersault; I mean Dreas a senior Mr Football, as everyone called hiuy ould have his own billboard outside of town so with his short dark hair, light green eyes and broad shoulders

I had secretly crushed on hih school There was so about the way he walked the halls with his head held high that conext to s like that didn’t happen to Kate Alexander

“Hey, Kate, how’ve you been?” he asked, his eyes burning into the side ofnear hie

“Fine,” I h ht train as I finally peered up at him

“Were you atoff his muscular body and it made me blush

My thoughts drifted back to the third quarter when Drew threw the ball to his star receiver Jackson Reid who, at the time, was surrounded by defenders My heart raced with excitement as I watched Jackson and three members of the other team jump up to catch the ball at the same time In the end, Jackson caht into his hands It was nothing short of a, yet for Drew, it was completely normal

“You were great,” I replied, nervously reaching up to tighten h and a few raindrops fell from the sky I ran my hands up and down my arms in an attempt to chase the chill from my body, but it didn’t help

“Are you cold?” he asked, scooting his body even closer to h my stomach It wasn’t like I was an outcast at school, but I wasn’t one of the elite, popular girls that guys like Drew usually spent any of their time on

“A little I forgota few more raindrops fall on my cheek

He stood up and reached for my hand “Come on I have an extra sweatshirt in the house you can borrow”

The party was being held at his house since his parents had gone out of town that weekend I hesitated for amy hand in his I knew of him, but I didn’t really know him It wasn’t the first time I’d been to his house, but it was the first time I’d been invited inside I felt a little uneasy, but I still trusted him I didn’t have any reason not to

Drew opened the front door, never loosening his grip on h the house My attention was focused on the contemporary paint colors and beautiful cherry wood floors; it barely registered that ere heading upstairs

I watched as he took a key out of his pocket to unlock one of the doors that lined the second story hallway Heat him because his lips turned up on the sides “I don’t like anyone to be inthe door open