Chapter 1 New beginnings - Monet

There's excitement in the air when I get out of my car, smiling as I inhale the oxygen of my new home. At least for the next four years.

I want to dance, and shout in excitement that I'm finally here! The summer dragged on where I was working in a diner to save up money, working any and every shift I could.

Even with a scholarship, I know things are expensive and I don't want to put any more burden on my single mother.

She already got me the car. It's small, and second hand, but it runs like a dream.

My phone rings in my hand, and I smile at Mom's face, accepting the video call.

"Are you safe?" She asks immediately.

She could track me, so she knows I'm safe.

"Yes, Mom, I just stopped at my dorm."

"I really wished you would've let me go with you." There's regret in her eyes.

Then she had to pay for a flight ticket back, and I didn't want that.

"Mom, I'm here, and I'm safe, okay. I will send you pictures as soon I decorated my side of the room." I roll my eyes at her with a smile. "I love you, bye."

"Call Cole!" She yells before I make kissy faces at her and end the call, immediately calling my brother to tell him I've arrived.

His phone just rings, so I decide to call him back later. He's probably busy, he always is.

Also, he was really weird when he came home for two weeks over summer break. He hardly spoke to Mom and me, always getting on his motorcycle and staying out late at night.

He was almost never home, and we hardly saw him.

I register at the front desk, and get my keys to my room. The welcoming committee is very cute and two girls help me carry my stuff up two flights of stairs.

The dorm room is not much, but Mom made me a personalised quilt with pictures of me, her and Cole over the years to bring a little bit of home with me. I also have some of her art work, leaving my side of the room colourful and pretty for the small space.

I'm busy packing my clothes in the drawers underneath my bed when the door opens and a busty blonde dragging two suitcases enters in a flurry.

"Oh! Hi!" I rush to hold the door for her.

"Thank you! I'm Chrystal." She blows her hair out of her face and smiles at me. "You must be Monet, right?"

"That's me!" I beam. "I hope you don't mind me already choosing a side."

Her eyes go to where my bed is already made and the artworks I pinned on the wall.

"Oh no, I think my side is going to look dull and boring now."

"I'm sure it won't." I chuckle.

"And please excuse my mom, my parents are on their way up, she can be a little invasive."

Her words aren't even cold when a stylish woman enters the room and introduces herself as Chrystal's mother, who proceeds to decorate her daughter's side in nudes and pastels.

I excuse myself so they can have some space is the small room, and head downstairs to call Cole again.

"Yes." His voice sounds gruff when he actually answers.

"Well, hello to you too. I just wanted to let you know I've arrived at my dorm." I look at all the students moving in. "Mom said I had to call you, so I'm calling you."

"I'll be there in half an hour." He disconnects the call, without saying anything else, leaving me to look at the screen in confusion.

What the hell is his problem? Did he forget his phone etiquette or something?

We used to be so close with Cole only being two years older than me. He came to live with us when he was six and his mother was brutally killed.

Unfortunately, he witnessed her murder, leaving the six year old traumatised. Mom did everything she could, took him to psychologist after psychologist, but he didn't speak to anyone. Not to her, and certainly not to his doctors.

But he spoke to me.

And only me.

When nobody was watching, and we were playing, he would tell me about his mother. How beautiful she was, and how kind, and that he's very sad that she's gone.

I was only a kid, but it's funny how I remember that. I used to hug him when he told me he was sad, and he used to cling to me.

He changed when he picked up a football, though, he began talking and laughing. Mom was so happy, she took on odd jobs so she could give him everything he needed when it came to football.

Cole lost his mother, and she lost her best friend.

Mom always says Cole's mother left him to her so she could always have a part of her.

My father said he didn't sign up to take care of a child that wasn't his, and he left too. Cole felt guilty, but Mom assured him she didn't lose anything, and she would choose him in a million lifetimes.

Yeah, my mother is really badass.

I'm still sitting on a bench in front of the dorms when a black truck pulls up, and I jump up with a wide smile when Cole's best friend, Luke jumps out of the passenger side and runs to me when he sees me walking over.

"Stinker!"

I laugh at the stupid nickname he gave me when we were kids, and hug him tightly when he picks me up and swings me around.

"Put her down." A deep voice says from the truck, and I'm still laughing when he puts me back on my feet, turning towards Cole who is standing there with a bouquet of white roses in his hand.

"Is that for me!" I walk closer to embrace him, but he has his strong jaw clenched and he holds the roses out so I wouldn't touch him. "That's so sweet, thank you."

He shrugs and shoves his hands in his shorts' pockets when I take it from him. "Mom said I should get you something to welcome you."

His blue eyes roams over my body, and he clenches his jaw even harder when those bright blues settle on my face.

"Where's your bike?" I look at the shiny, new truck.

"Had to sell it, coach said it was too dangerous."

My smile drops. "You loved that bike."

"Well, we can't always have what we want." He says harshly before opening the driver's door. "See you around."

"See you, Stinker!" Luke ruffles my hair, and I swat playfully at his arm before watching them leave.

What the hell is going on with Cole?

He's always been a quiet guy, but he's never been this cold.

Not to me anyway.