Chapter 1

Scarlet

I walk inside and slam the front door shut behind me. Before I even ask, I silently hope that nobody's home. "Hey mom, you home?"

After the day from hell, all I wanted was to lock myself in my bedroom with a truck load of junk food, and endless tracks of sad love songs. Why was being a teenager so damn difficult?

Throwing my bag on the floor and toeing off my shoes, I headed for part two of my plan— junk food. Mom wasn't home, thank God. I wouldn't have to explain my puffy red eyes. She'd never leave me alone. My mom was such a fixer. She had all the answers.

"Shut the hell up," I said to myself, throwing my phone on the table as I continued looking for the perfect salty snack to drown my sorrows in. My phone was blowing up with messages from curious "friends".

"Whoa, Scar. Do I need to kick somebody's ass?" Chase smiled the sexiest of all smiles while he took a seat at the table.

"Not in the mood, Chase." I glared back at him.

Chase was always here, he might as well of had his own bedroom. He actually did. The guest room was unofficially his. He was best friends with my brother, Ethan and they were attached at the hip. Chase had a shitty upbringing and asshole parents so my family basically adopted him.

"I'm being serious, dipshit. What's wrong?"

Choking back tears, I grabbed my phone and slid it over to him. "My boyfriend broke up with me and decided that going out with my best friend was a good idea," I said. "It's all over social media now. I'm so embarrassed, Chase."

"You're sixteen, Scar. There will be other guys. Guys begging for your attention. He's a douche. And that girl wasn't your friend. Fuck her."

"That's easy for you to say, you're hot. I'm just Scarlet, the girl that everybody walks all over."

He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. I guess I could never give him a compliment. "Oh stop, like you don't know you look good."

As he continued to smile, he shrugged. "So I've been told."

I smack his arm and laugh. He's unbelievable. So sure of himself. Confident. All of the things I wish I were. I've had a crush on him since middle school. He's tall and has killer eyes.

We both stopped laughing and there was a moment where we made eye contact. My heart picked up speed and my stomach felt like butterflies were racing each other. Is that a thing? Of course it's not.

As if sensing what I was feeling, he cleared his throat and looked away before talking again. "So, why did he break up with you anyway?"

"It doesn't matter now, but I wouldn't sleep with him and I'm assuming —"

"What the fuck, Scarlet. Are you serious? He tried to get you to have sex with him?" He stood up, so angry and headed for the door. "I'm going to beat his ass."

I jumped up. "No, stop. Chase, wait. It's fine... it doesn't matter." I grabbed his arm and pulled him back toward me. I had to calm him down. He was nineteen and could get in serious trouble. He's always had an awful temper and I could kick myself for telling him.

He cupped my face. "Scarlet, it's sure as fuck not okay. Listen to me. Don't you ever settle for some dickhead who only wants in your pants. He's not worth your time. You are beautiful, Scar. Okay?"

I was like a statue, just standing there while his hands were still on my face, straining my neck to look up to meet his eyes. His hands were so soft and it was like he was seeing me. Really seeing me. I could feel myself holding my breath as he moved closer to me.

"Never forget how beautiful you are," he murmured as he slowly kissed right on the corner of my mouth. My eyelids fluttered closed and put my hands over his. When I finally opened them, his baby blue eyes were looking right at me, slowly moving down to look at my lips.

As quickly as the moment happened, it ended. The front door opened and my brothers big mouths raked through the house. Chase quickly moved away from me, grabbing a handful of his hair and hurrying his fingers through it. I stood there for a spilt second before grabbing my phone and going upstairs to my bedroom.

Chase

Fuck, thank god her brothers came home. After adjusting myself in my pants, I sat down before they came into the living room. I don't think explaining to Scarlet's brothers that their baby sister made my dick hard would go over well. Especially since she's fucking sixteen.

There is no excuse for being attracted to her. I knew it was wrong. Not only would I end up in jail but her brothers would kick my ass before I even made it there. Scarlet doesn't look sixteen though. She has long brunette hair, curves in all the right places and a very plump ass. Sixteen my ass.

Her lips are full and the perfect shade of pink. And her green eyes... Don't get me started on those. They threaten to bring me to my knees. Dammit, she's perfect. And so fucking off limits.

~

After playing basketball, Ethan and I headed back to his parents house. I was silently praying that Scarlet wouldn't be home or maybe she'll stay in her bedroom. I didn't want to be around her right now. The way she was looking at me earlier and the way I was responded to her was just trouble waiting to happen.

As we were raiding the kitchen, Scarlet walked by in a barely there red bikini and headed outside to the pool. I almost choked on the chip in my mouth. Holy shit.

Ethan gave me a knowing look and hit me in my stomach. "Don't fucking think about it, man."

I raised my arms in the air like I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Scar, put some damn clothes on!" Ethan yelled as she walked outside. Shaking his head he mumbled, "That girl is going to be the death of me."

And I couldn't agree more.

Scarlet

"Hurry up, I don't wanna be late!" I yelled, waiting for Ethan to hurry the heck up and take me to my friend's house.

Chase walked into the family room, "Chill, he's taking a shit. He'll be done soon."

I groaned and sat on the couch. "Great."

Strolling over, Chase came and sat beside me and nudged me with his knee before laughing.

"Why do you have a beanie on? It's like 80 degrees outside."

He grabbed his hat with both hands and shrugged. Something was up. He never wore a winter hat in the summer. Plus, was acting all weird about it. I tore it off his head and took off running up the stairs. I could hear him chasing behind me as I laughed.

"Scarlet Rose, get your ass back here!" He called out, closing in on me.

"I don't think so!" I yelled.

I ran into my room and tried to slam the door but before I could get it all the way closed he pushed the door open and tackled me onto my bed. He kept trying to reach for it but it was just out of touch. He started poking at my sides trying to get me to move the hat closer to him.

Eventually, he resorted to full blown tickling. I threw myself backwards and I was half way between laughing and begging him to stop.

"Chase! Stop it, stop it," I said giggling.

He continued tickling me. "Give it back then."

I gave in and he snagged the hat. "See? Was that so hard?"

I grabbed my stomach, trying to steady my breathing. "Yes!"

"Don't laugh but I got a bad haircut yesterday."

I quickly run my fingers through his hair and laughed again. "It doesn't look bad."

"Whatever. Come cuddle with me," he groaned as he moved himself behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"You are such a baby." I giggled when he pulled me even tighter against his chest.

"Am not. You're just the best cuddle buddy."

He squeezed a little and kissed the back of my neck. I loved his lips on my skin. I couldn't help but feel like he liked me just as much as I liked him. But that couldn't be right. I was so out of his league. He was hot and I was just... me.

Ethan walked by my bedroom and froze. "Get your ass out of my sister's bed. What the fuck are you doing?" He stared at Chase. "Let's go, Scar."

"Relax, E. You think I'm trying to fuck around with Scarlet with her door open?" Chase teased.

"Don't joke around, Chase. It's not funny."

Chase got up and laughed as my brother punched him in his arm. "Chill out," Chase groaned, holding his arm. "Fuck, that hurt."

"Good. I don't want to see you in her bed again. I'm serious."

"Whatever, dude."

Chase walked out and Ethan gave me a glare. "Stop flirting with him. He's too old for you. And he's a jackass. I'd hate to lose my best friend because he fucked you over."

He was right. I know he was. But there just something about Chase Davis that drew me in. I couldn't stay away from him and I secretly hoped he wouldn't stay away from me either.