The hugs, kisses, smirks thrown at me... everything was fake. Carter was fake. He was a good actor since I fell for it. He only wanted to play with me until he got bored. In the short amount of time we had spent together I had already started falling for him. I should have known that a guy like him wouldn't date me or reciprocate the same feelings for me. Deep inside, I knew it could not be real, I was just sugarcoating the truth.

I stood up after a few minutes, I checked the hallway and it was empty. I had some time to spare so I decided to go to the library. I was a little surprised that I hadn't visited it sooner. In my previous school Carla and I used to come to the library at least twice a day.

Libraries were always a place where I felt safe... like home. I meant home like when I lived with my parents because now it felt completely different.

I whispered a shy "hello" to the old librarian and she smiled at me. I headed for the romance selection because it was the only kind of books that didn't bore. I always craved the stories where the main girl met a bad boy that would eventually break her heart but in the end of the story they would have a big family and a few cats and dogs.

As I was choosing a book I noticed that next to me was a girl looking at the cover of a familiar book. I smiled after laughing under my breath.

" I loved this book, You should read it but get ready to cry."

The little brunette with big glasses looked up at me and grinned.

" Well I already read this book... it's one of my favorite reads ever and this woman is literally the best!" She pointed her finger at the author's name in the cover.

" I agree! I breathe for her books!" I muttered and we shared a little laugh.

" I'm Elle Taylor's. Nice to meet you!"

"Nicole Reed. Nice to meet you too! " The girl with a British accent replied and shook my hand.

We spent a few minutes talking and I learnt that Nicole's parents were lawyers and they lived in Haverhill since Nicole was five. She was an only child who loved reading and writing, she was also pretty unsociable. She literally loved all the movies I loved. Well, I had found my soulmate.

" You're new ? I've never seen you before. " She examined me through her glasses. She had beautiful blue eyes.

" Yeah... I'm..." I explained about my parents' death and my grandma. I was scared I would start crying in the middle of my rant but I was surprised I didn't. Talking about my past and its ghosts actually felt good. I was also fully aware that I couldn't keep all my thoughts and emotions caged up forever and expect they would disappear from my mind.

"I'm sorry... I didn't know!" She cleared her throat with an apologetic shake of head.

" It's fine..." I nodded and winked at her. My phone beeped twice so I fished it out of my back pocket . I looked at the screen before exhaling hard of relief.

My grandma.

I smiled dumbly at my phone after texting her back.

" What's your next class? " I questioned as Nicole closed the library's door carefully.

" English, what about you?"

" Same! How didn't we meet sooner?" I asked and Nicole laughed while adjusting her glasses. Suddenly someone bumped her from behind making her fall on the ground.

Vaughn.

"Be careful the next time nerd." Vaughn shouted without apologizing.

" Wait who do you think you are? " I stepped in front of Nicole, protecting her from Vaughn.

"Apologize! If your ego makes you feel superior when you hurt innocent people then let me warn you. You aren't."I raised my voice at him and eyed Nicole who was on her knees examining her broken glasses.

" Don't fucking touch me you psycho," I yelled when he fisted my jacked and reduced the tiny space between our faces.

" Be careful... I'm not Carter." He warned and glanced at Nicole before narrowing his eyes and leaving.

" Are you ok? Did he hurt you? " I asked as I helped her getting on her feet. She wiped a fresh tear angrily and all I wanted was to run after Vaughn to kick his childish ass.

" Yes... don't worry. It happens a lot. He doesn't like me too much I think..." She stated and I hugged her without hesitating.

___

I was heading outside after a long day when someone joined me.

" Hi! How are you?" A happy Madden asked and kissed my cheek. I blushed instantly, still not used to this kind of affection coming from a boy.

" I'm fine...oh no! It's raining!" I muttered and crossed my arms and I regretted not taking my nan's car this morning for school. When I woke up and saw the beautiful weather I thought it was good idea to walk, it would clear my head and thoughts.

" I can bring you home...or we can go to The Smiths to eat something!" He suggested with a playful smile painted on his beautiful face. His wet platinum blond hair falling on his eyes. I was about to refuse when my stomach growled in protest.

" Why not!" I answered and he took my arm and pulled me toward his black Porsche. I turned my head, feeling something, and wasn't surprised to notice Carter and his three best friends. They were eyeing us in a suspicious way that made me shiver.

Madden opened the passenger door and I gave him a smile. He was a gentleman, the complete opposite of his twin.

" Did you get new texts or something ? " Madden wondered as he turned on the engine. I wanted to tell him that the masked man had visited me the previous night but I couldn't. I was sure the masked man was not kidding when he threatened that he would hurt everyone who crossed his path.

" Nope!" I answered while popping up the p.

" Good but if you get another text tell me... I'm sure it's Carter." He growled and clenched the steering wheel tightly.

After the small trajectory Madden and I finally arrived at our destination. A few persons were eating and sharing milkshakes. I choose a table and Madden unexpectedly sat right next to me and not in front of me.

" What do you want to eat ? And drink?"

" Hum... an apple pie and a cappuccino !" I affirmed after clearing my throat and started playing with my fingers nervously. He only ordered a coffee though.

We were talking about school and our daily basis when I suddenly muttered:

"Is that true? Are you... "

He seemed caught off guard and confused: "What are you talking about?" He leaned closer until I could almost taste his breath.

" Are you a drug dealer?" I swallowed and closed my eyelids. I heard him swear and take a deep breath before answering.

" I'm not gonna lie to you. So yeah," I reopened my eyes and caught him staring at me without blinking. I nodded as my heart started beating faster and faster. "It's complicated, my family is... never mind."

What did he mean by that? I didn't want to push him because if he really wanted to tell me he would not hesitate. He wasn't a bad person and it was all that mattered.

" Do you want a bite?" I tried to brighten the mood and he looked intensely at my mouth before declining, at least he knew that I was talking about the apple pie.

"You have something in the corner of your mouth." He pointed at his own face and I instantly tried to wipe it away.

" Wait. Let me help you! " He turned my face and his finger wiped the corner of my mouth. It lasted longer than I thought it was necessary. After a few uncountable seconds his finger left my mouth and he sucked it in a very suggestive way.

"Delicious."

I didn't know if he was really talking about the apple pie. His eyes were a shade darker than minutes ago, I licked my own lips making him exhale.

" Fuck." I heard him curse under his breath.

" I'm sorry..." I apologized, blaming my behavior in my hormones' fault. Not mine. Madden was literally a god, well he was hot but Carter was another level.

Why was I always comparing everyone to Carter?

"It's not your fault, it's me I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry but I'm not gonna say I regret it. You're beautiful. " He winked at me with a playful smile and my heart melted.

I took another sip of my coffee to try to gain a composure and he followed me by taking one of his own too.

___