Chapter 1
Coming back from school after a long day of classes, I was greeted by the comforting sound of my mom's voice and the smell of freshly cooked dinner drifting from the kitchen. My tired feet instantly felt lighter.
"Sarah, welcome home," Mom said warmly, her arms opening for a hug.
Her embrace was always my safe place. For a moment, the weight of the day melted away, and I felt truly happy.
Oh, let me make an introduction. My name is Sarah Loscin, I'm sixteen years old, and if you ask people at school, they'll probably tell you I'm the "nerdy four-eyed girl." I've got emerald green eyes, plump lips, and long, shiny black hair that I usually keep tied up so it doesn't get in my way when I'm reading or doing assignments. Glasses sit permanently on my face, and even though they help me see, they've also made me a target.
"Sarah the nerdy four-eye girl!" they chant sometimes, and though I try to pretend it doesn't hurt, it always does. I laugh it off with my friends, but deep down, I feel ashamed. Always ashamed. I often wonder if I'll ever be seen for more than just the quiet girl with glasses.
"Sarah, your brother is back," Mom's voice snapped me back into the present.
"Really, Mom?" I asked with a smile, though it faltered almost immediately when I remembered how much he loves to tease me. "Alright then, let me go greet that pain in the ass."
Mom chuckled, shaking her head at my choice of words as I ran up the stairs. I dropped my schoolbag in my room and made my way to my brother's room. I didn't even look up when I walked in.
"Hey, big head," I said casually. "You're back."
"Yes," a voice answered. But it wasn't my brother's.
My head shot up so fast I almost lost my balance. Standing there wasn't Blake—it was someone else. Someone tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes so piercingly blue I froze on the spot.
Oh God. Who's this hottie in my brother's room? I thought, my heart skipping a beat.
"And you must be the girl Blake is always talking about," he said with a smile.
Wait. That wasn't just a smile. There was something else in it, something teasing, something that made my stomach flutter nervously.
"And you are?" I asked, trying to sound confident, though my voice betrayed a mix of shyness.
His gaze traveled slowly from my head to my toes, lingering just a second too long.
Wait—was he checking me out? My cheeks burned instantly, and I quickly looked down, embarrassed.
"Damon. Damon Mickelson. Blake's friend."
Before I could react, he stood up and closed the distance between us. I hadn't even noticed him move—I was too busy staring at his mesmerizing blue eyes. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my head, his fingers ruffling through my hair like I was some little girl.
"What the hell?" I snapped, swatting his hand away. "Why are you ruffling my hair like I'm a kid?"
"Aren't you?" a familiar voice said from behind.
I turned to see Blake leaning against the doorframe, grinning smugly. "Jeez, Sarah, you're still little even after four years." His laugh filled the room like he had just told the funniest joke in the world.
"Shut up, Blake!" I muttered, crossing my arms.
Blake ignored me and introduced us. "Oh, you must have met my friend. Damon, this is my sister I told you about, Sarah."
I turned back to Damon, only to realize I had completely forgotten about him in my annoyance with Blake. Up close, he was even taller than my brother, at least a foot taller than me. If Blake was 6'0, then Damon had to be 6'1—towering over my small 5'4 frame.
"Yes, I have," Damon said smoothly. "And she's exactly what you said about her." His eyes flickered down at me again, and I quickly looked away, my cheeks flaming.
"I'll leave now," I stammered, rushing out of the room and slamming the door behind me.
By the time I collapsed onto my bed, my emotions were all tangled up—embarrassment, anger, and something I couldn't quite name. Staring at the ceiling, I whispered to myself, "Why does everyone treat me like a kid? No one ever takes me seriously… no one even likes me."
Little did I know, that meeting wasn't the end. It was only the beginning.