Love At First Academy Read online

  3.

  Shit Show

  Malia

  My alarm went off at 6:15. Rolling over to turn it off, I got up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I was literally dreading this school day. Like I always did on the first day of every new year. As I was going through my closet to figure out what to wear to school today, I tried to forget about my nerves.

  Focusing on the now I picked out my favorite black skinny jeans, my ripped black “Halestorm” t-shirt, and black bra with matching panties. I went and took a nice hot shower to relieve some nerves. I found that usually helped whenever I was nervous. Ten minutes later, I dried off and got dressed. Not really feeling up to it today, I just put some mousse in my hair and threw it up in a bun.

  After getting out of the bathroom, I went downstairs and made myself some toast. I could really use some coffee, but for that, I would need a coffee machine. Unfortunately, dad didn’t start his job and I haven’t found one yet. Job hunting was on my agenda for today after school. While eating my not-so-healthy breakfast, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

  Considering, only four people had my number and one of them was currently snoring away on the couch, could only mean one thing. It was one of the guys from yesterday.

  Asher: Good Morning Malia! Are you ready for the first day?

  Me: Morning Asher. Can’t say I am looking forward to it.

  Asher: Aww, come on. It won’t be so bad.

  Me: Easy for you to say. Everyone knows you and the guys. I will be the new girl with three of the hottest guys I have ever met!

  I hit send without even thinking about it, until he messaged me back. By his reply, I realized that I was flirting with him without meaning to. Oops.

  Asher: You think I’m hot, huh?

  Me: Oh please. I’m sure you’ve looked in a mirror before.

  Asher: Well thank you for the compliment, but I think you’ll be just fine with us. You’re pretty hot yourself.

  I snorted at that. Between eating and texting it was already time to go meet the guys at the park. I walked to the door and slipped on my black Converse. Zipping up my hoodie, I grabbed my backpack and headed out. I didn’t realize it would be this chilly in the morning so I tried to keep myself warm while walking. As I was walking, I put my headphones on and put on my Halestorm playlist. I was really hoping for a drama-free day. Although, with my luck, it would be anything but good.

  A few minutes later, I jumped and screamed like a banshee when someone came up and tapped me on the shoulder.

  Ryder ripped one of my headphones out and said, “Hey there, Pretty Girl. It’s just me.”

  “Jesus Ryder! Give a girl some warning next time. I feel like I just had a heart attack!” I admonished, trying to catch my breath.

  Grayson grumbled, “Maybe you should leave one headphone out while you’re listening to music and walking? You’re new to this area. You should be paying better attention to your surroundings.”

  “Yes, sir.” I mocked a salute.

  He got this funny look on his face and leaned down to whisper in my ear, “I like it when you call me sir.” His gravelly voice sent chills down my spine. I jerked my head in a nod to let him know I heard him.

  Curiosity got the best of me. I asked him, “How old are you?”

  “I’ll be eighteen on November Eighteenth. Why?” he asked me in return.

  “Uh…. no reason really. Hey, I’m older than you! Ha!” Meanwhile, I was still standing there wondering how many girls he had actually slept with to figure that out. Jesus Malia, who cares what he liked in bed. Nothing could happen with him. Now here I was talking to myself. What in the hell were these guys turning my brain into? A giant ball of mush that’s what.

  Trying to put this conversation into safer territory, I asked the guys, “Where is Asher?”

  “Here I am! You miss me gorgeous?” he said trying to catch his breath as he was running towards me and swooped me into a big hug.

  “Whoa there Asher! Put me down!” I squealed as he was spinning me in circles.

  It’s not that I didn’t like people touching me, I just hadn’t had any coffee yet. Asher put me down when we got to Ryder’s 2018 Red Dodge Charger.

  “Shotgun!” I yelled as I ran to the front passenger door.

  “Damn it, beautiful, I have the longest legs,” Grayson growled, while walking to the car.

  “Oh, sit behind me and stop your bitching.” I sassed at the grumpy look on his face.

  This actually might end up being a good year and place to live this time around. After Ryder started driving, I turned to ask the guys, “So anything or anyone I should know about before we get to school?”

  Asher answered me with a smile on his face, “Well, you might have to watch out for Skylar and the 'evil twins’, as everyone likes to call them. Skylar thinks that since she hooked up with a drunk Ryder over the summer that they are together. She’s also known as the mean girl of the school. Please, try and stay on her good side. Although I’m not sure that’ll be possible considering you are hot, and hanging around Ryder and us now.”

  Looking over at Ryder, I noticed that his jaw was clenched and his knuckles were white around the black steering wheel. Huh? I wondered if he actually wanted me to know about that or not.

  “So, why would that cause an issue for me? We’re just friends.” I tried to say casually, even though I wouldn’t mind hooking up with someone that looks the way Ryder did, or all of them for that matter.

  Hold on a minute, I couldn’t be into all three of them. That was not normal. I mean Grayson and I practically match in style so it wouldn’t be bad if we dated but I couldn’t date all three. Not like his clothes did anything to hide that wonderful body. None of them could hide the way their bodies looked. It didn’t matter what they wore. I could just imagine what they looked like with their shirts off. Oh lordy… Jesus Malia, get a hold of yourself!

  Giving myself a mental slap, I caught the end of the conversation, “… hooked up with.” Ryder was saying angrily. Meanwhile, here I was trying to make this blush disappear.

  “Malia, you okay?” Ryder looked at me with serious eyes.

  “Yeah, just nervous about the first day and being the new girl and all.”

  “Well, we’re here. So let me see your schedule to see if we have any classes together.” Ryder told all of us. Seemed as though, Ryder was the leader out of the three of them. Luckily, I had at least one of them in each of my classes.

  “Alright, let’s get this shit show on the road,” I grumbled, as I got out of the car.

  Apparently, Ryder’s car got a lot of attention because everyone was staring at me. My breathing started to pick up from all of the attention I was getting. This was not good. I did not need to have a fucking panic attack on the first day, in front of the entire student body.

  Grayson grabbed my face gently, filling my vision he explained calmly, “Malia, look at me and breathe. In through your nose and out through your mouth.” Honestly, when I looked at him and his gorgeous hazel eyes, it felt like it was just us. He was looking at me like I was the most important damn person on the planet and all he wanted to do was save me.

  I sensed a pattern with these guys. Ryder looked at me the same way yesterday. It seemed as though Grayson knew what he was talking about because the breathing exercises he told me to use were working. My breathing was slowing down. But for some odd reason, I didn’t want Grayson to stop holding me or looking at me the way he was. He sighed, putting his forehead on mine, and closed his eyes.

  4.

  Firecracker

  Grayson

  Between getting out of the car and calming Malia down, I had forgotten where we were. When I opened my eyes, I realized I was still holding her face in the middle of the parking lot. Letting go slowly, I lifted my head and noticed a crowd forming. Shit.

  “Malia. You okay now?” I asked quietly.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I think so. Thanks, Grayson.” she answered shyly. My name rolling off her tongue was music t
o my ears. It was instant, the reaction to my body from it. I got chills and goosebumps all at once.

  “Hey, can we maybe get going so people stop staring at me?” Malia insisted, looking a little better than she was a couple of minutes ago.

  “Yeah. Come on beautiful. Let's get you into First Academy.” I said, throwing my arm around her shoulders. Ryder was on her right side and Asher was behind her.

  As soon as we got in the doors, Skylar and her minions came strolling over to us, or should I say, to Ryder. Skylar looked at Malia like she was the dirt under her shoe. That immediately pissed me off. I already didn't want Malia to be around her. When she started talking it sounded more like desperation lacing her voice.

  “Hey RJ baby.” I barely stifled a groan at the pet name. She looked ridiculous as she ran her hand down his arm. If I didn’t know any better, I would think Malia looks pissed as hell, barely covering it with a scowl.

  “What do you want Skylar?” he said with a sigh.

  She tried to lean in and kiss him, but he was having none of it. He put his hands on her shoulders and stopped her from getting any closer.

  “Skylar stop it. What happened this summer was a mistake. Please just let it go,” Ryder tried to calmly let her down easily. Skylar looked at him with a resigned look for all of two-seconds, before the look was replaced with a sneer that was pointed at Malia.

  “So, what is she, your new toy?”

  “Skylar!” I growled at her because that was totally uncalled for. Malia surprised the shit out of me, smirking at her and saying, “Your ass must be pretty jealous of your mouth judging by how much shit spews out of it.” Holy hell this girl was a firecracker. Everyone burst out laughing. Even Janie and Jessie, Skylar’s minions, were covering their laughs with a fake cough.

  If it was possible, Skylar was turning redder by the minute. Like a petulant child not getting her way, she stomped her foot, and stomped away from everyone.

  “Well, I think I love you gorgeous!” Asher gushed to her as he grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

  “Dude leave her alone!” Ryder told Asher as he swatted his hand away from hers.

  “Would you two knock it off? Grayson, could you please take me to my locker since these two want to bicker like idiots. I would like to get to my first class before we are late,” Malia sighed, sounding almost amused but a little annoyed.

  As soon as she was done talking the first bell rang. My arm went around her shoulders, almost as if it was something I did every day. I steered her to where her locker was because this place could get confusing. Considering she had all AP classes like us our lockers were located next to or close to all of our classes.

  Most people would look at me, because of my size, and think I was just some dumb jock that played football, and only cared about that. Few people knew about my home life and what went on behind closed doors.

  See, my parents on the outside were loving parents, but in reality, my home life was falling apart. Mom and Dad just got a divorce. The only reason they were still living together, was because they wanted the picture-perfect life that society made it out to be. When the divorce was finalized, I would be in college. I kept my grades up so I could stay in football and get the hell out of dodge as soon as possible. My parents may be wealthy, but my dad wouldn’t let me have my trust fund until I was twenty-one.

  Malia and I had AP Calculus with Mr. Rogers for the first period. He was an alright teacher as far as teachers go.

  “Well, at least the lockers are a pretty color,” She huffed out as she shut her locker door. Asher was standing next to her and looked at her with puppy dog eyes and said, “Malia, school won't be that bad.”

  “Easy for you to say. Look around Asher, people are already staring. You three are probably ‘the most popular trio’ in school if I didn’t know any better. I am the new girl that just happened to walk in with you, have a face-off with what I can only imagine, is the most popular girl in school, and now I am getting these scathing looks from all the girls. If looks could kill I would be dead on the spot.”

  After rambling out her frustrations, she started walking down the hallway to what I guess she thought was the way to class.

  “Hey Malia, our class is this way!” I told her with a smirk on my face. Turning around, she stalked back toward us and flipped me her middle finger. Before she was able to pull her finger back I bit it.

  With a grin on my face, I turned around and started walking to class, figuring she would follow. When I didn’t hear any footsteps behind me, I turned to look back at her and found her frozen in her spot. Ryder started snapping in her face to get her attention, “Hello Malia? Snap out of it. We need to get to class.”

  “Uh-huh. Right let's go then,” She stammered as she followed us down the hall.

  When we got to the class, Asher gave her a hug and said, “I will see you later gorgeous.” She got a slight blush on her cheeks and Ryder just squeezed her hand while giving her his megawatt smile, then walked away from her.

  “You alright babe?” I asked quietly as I walked right up behind her. She nearly jumped out of her skin as she whirled around, so quick she lost her balance and fell onto me. I caught her by her hips while she yelled, “Son of a bitchtits! What are you guys? Some super stealthy undercover agents? Put some bells on or something, or maybe make some noise and give me some warning, would you?”

  “Hey, you were the one watching Ryder’s ass as he walked away. Let's get to class babe,” I chuckled while pulling her along to the back corner desks.

  Malia sat at the desk next to the window and I sat to the left of her. As everyone started walking into class and I unpacked my books, I felt something nudge me in the shoulder.

  I turned my head and raised my eyebrow at Malia silently asking, ‘What’s up?’. She looked at me with that annoyed face that was meant to mean annoyance but it looked so much cuter than what I think she was going for.

  “Just for the record, I wasn’t staring at Ryder’s ass,” She whisper-yelled. “So what if you were, does it matter? You dating anyone?” I asked subtly, trying to see if she had a boyfriend. Unfortunately, I never got an answer because a girl came in wearing all black and plops down in front of Malia.

  She was short like Malia, but she had black hair with green streaks in it. I think her name was Alyssa Monroe. I remembered seeing her around school, always having her earphones in. Actually, I think she and Malia might make good friends.

  While I was thinking about this, I heard Malia answer my question with another question, “No I do not have a boyfriend, but why do you care?” I looked at her with a smirk and shrugged, “No reason.”

  Simple, but it left her wondering about my question considering the thoughtful look that was in her eyes now. The thing was, I didn’t know why it didn’t bother me that she was attracted to both of my closest friends. I felt this weird pull towards her, even though I had only known her for barely a day. She really was a beautiful girl.

  Mr. Rogers came in and took a seat at his desk. When he got up and looked around he noticed Malia. “Looks like we have a new student in school. What is your name miss?”

  “Malia Williams, sir.” For a second, he had a look of recognition on his face while looking at Malia. That was really strange even though it was gone in the next second. “Can you tell us a little bit about yourself Malia?” he asked her.

  She stood up and replied sickly sweet, “Malia Williams, seventeen, from Delaware, and unless you fuck with what is mine, I’m as sweet as a peach!”

  The class was so quiet after that I didn’t think they knew what to do or say. The only person to really react was Alyssa, as she turned in her seat and looked at Malia and said, “I think we are going to be great friends.”

  “Malia thank you for that bit, but please refrain from using that language in my class. Let’s get started shall we?” he sighed. Malia sat down and threw me a wink. Immediately, this had a few of the girls in class whispering, considering everyone was watchi
ng her since she spoke. This was going to be an interesting year, for sure.

  5.

  Screeching Banshee

  Malia

  My day was going by quickly. We were on our way to lunch and I must have been thinking in my head for far too long because Asher grabbed my hand and asked quietly, “You alright, gorgeous?”

  I snapped my head in his direction, “Yeah Asher, I’m fine.”

  There was just so much I had on my mind, with having to get a job, and dreading going home to my drunk father. Out of nowhere, a flash of blonde hair whipped in front of my face.

  “Oh, if it isn’t Ryder’s newest plaything.” Skylar tried sounding intimidating, while throwing me a smirk. Her gaze traveled down to where Asher was holding my hand.

  “So are you sharing with each other now Asher?” I tried to pull my hand out of Asher’s hold, but he gripped it tighter.

  Feeling on the spot, my defense mechanism kicked in and my sarcasm was back in a wicked way. “Sounds like someone is jealous. Why, did you want Asher too? Ryder wasn’t enough to handle your needy ass? Or, is it because you really wanted Asher all along? You know what, never mind, go deep throat a cactus or something. I’m hungry. Let’s go Asher.” I grumbled, while dragging Asher down the hall to the cafeteria.

  Finally getting to eat, I barged through the open doors and found everyone’s eyes on me. Whoops. Well, now that I made a scene, I looked back in search of Asher. At some point, I lost him on my way to eat. Honestly, I just wanted to get as far away from the screeching banshee, Skylar. I found Asher a few feet behind me and grabbed his hand to continue the search of the other guys.