Chapter 1: BIG NEWS

✿Moana⁠✿⁠

“I have big news baby” my mum literally screamed as she entered the house. I was just having dinner alone again as usual, I can't even remember the last time I ate dinner with her.

“Remember Richard Dickson right?” my mum asked as she sat down opposite me.

“Yes, you mentioned dating him” I tried not to sound boring, my fork scooping some pasta.

“We're getting married… he proposed!” she dropped the bomb happily, showing me the big diamond Ring… luxury

“What?” my fork froze halfway to my mouth.

She has had several relationships since she lost my Dad but those relationships never lasted let alone leading to the altar.

“Yes baby, I was shocked too when he proposed, he said he doesn't want to delay again we should tie the knot”

“I'm happy for you Mom” I managed to come out of my shock, genuinely I want her to be happy, I want her to have a stable relationship and if this Richard I had seen once or twice is making her happy…then it's fine.

“That means a lot to me, I know I might not say or act like it but you know you're the most important person in my life Ana” her warm hands found mine across the table.

“Yeah …. yeah” I replied, taking my hands away stylishly grabbing my glass of water, I have never had that close relationship with her that doesn't mean I hate her though.

Silence for a quick few minutes, awkward, her smile turns a little sheepish.

“There's one more thing”

I almost choked on my water, of course there is always one more thing.

“What is it?” my head snapped up

“We're moving in with Richard this weekend” her voice came out calm.

The calm before the storm.

“Moving what? This weekend!” I tried not to sound sour, keeping my voice calm wasn't quite working at this point.

“Sweetheart I know it's sudden but his house is much bigger and luxurious, you'll have your own room….”

“I have my own room here” I cut her off

“I know baby, this one is bigger and beautiful and you know it will help financially too, you get all the designers you want, the luxury life Ana, you'll love it”

My mind raced, trying to process everything, the marriage, the new house, a step father, a new life she has apparently mapped out without even considering my opinions.

Not that it matters. It never mattered

“Okay” my voice came out hollow “fine”

“Thank you for your understanding sweetheart, I promise this is going to be good for us. For both of us”.

I had already lost the small appetite I had. “I'll be in my room, I haven't worked on my assignments” I got up and left even before she could respond.

I entered my room, minimal decor, not so fancy, this new life that I'm about to live I'm not ready for it. I lay in bed, I have mastered the art of pretending everything is okay, masking my feelings and emotions with sass.

I stretched and picked my journal, I was journalling before I went down for dinner, going through what I had written earlier my mind raced back to today in school, the annoying dickhead who finds it fun taunting me.

Dylan fucking Dickhead!

His name is actually Dylan Dickson but I call him Dickhead cause he's one. Just thinking his name made my jaw clench. I'd spent the entire afternoon in AP Calculus wanting to strangle him. He'd beaten me again on the last test. By two points. Two. It should've been impossible. The guy spent more time with his dick inside random girls than he did studying, and yet somehow he was brilliant. Effortlessly, maddeningly brilliant. And he knew it.

"Something wrong, Queens?" he'd drawled after class, that infuriating smirk pulling at his lips as he leaned against the doorway, blocking my exit. "You look a little… tense."

I'd shoved past him, shoulder checking him hard enough to make a point. "Fuck off, Dickhead."

His laugh had followed me down the hall, low and dark and way too satisfied.

God, I hated him.

I hated his arrogance. I hated the way he looked at me sometimes, like he could see right through my sharp words and perfect grades to the girl underneath who craves dangerous things. I hated that he was tall and built and stupidly, criminally, sinfully devastating hot. Name it

And I hated that I noticed.

Because noticing Dylan Dickson was dangerous.

He was everything I'd sworn to avoid. A playboy who never fucks the same girl twice. The kind of guy my mum would've fallen for in a heartbeat. A walking red flag in ripped jeans and singlets.

I refused to be that stupid. I dropped my journal suddenly, not wanting to write again. That scumbag is messing with my head.

My mind went back to the conversation earlier, I'm going to have a step father now, a man I barely know, I looked around my room missing the warmth and privacy already.

“Weekend” I muttered, feeling empty inside.