Chapter 1

“Amelia! Wake up!”

I rolled over, praying to get five more minutes of sleep before my first day as a freshman. It wasn't that I didn't like school. I lived for it. But sleep was more important to me.

“Amelia, are you awake yet?”

My mother. Always had to make sure I was doing my job.

“Yes, Mom. I'm awake now,” I lied as I rolled over again to sleep more. Just then, my alarm clock went off. Perfect. I got out of bed and searched for my favorite top. It was red with silver guitars and golden guitar picks. I trotted over to my mirror to see what it looked like. I looked hot. Now I had to find the jeans that went with it. I searched for a few minutes, until I found what I was looking for. The black, destroyed denim complimented the blood red of my shirt. After I located my black guitar earrings and necklace that Danny had given me for my Christmas present, I slipped on my red Converse, grabbed my backpack, and walked out the door to catch my bus. As usual, Jaime was there, waiting for me. Jaime was wearing what she always wore: black denim jacket, black tank top, black miniskirt and tights, and black Converse. Her star necklace and earrings were black, of course. In all my years of being her friend, I had never seen Jaime wear anything but black.

“Hey Jaime.”

“What's up, Amelia?”

“Hey Amelia!”

Danny sidled up to us, putting his hands around my waist. I could smell his cologne, the scent of ocean spray and pine trees. Ocean forest. He knew I loved the smell, so he always wore it for me. “Hi, Danny,” I said with a grin. I only called him Daniel when we were alone. It was our thing. “Hey Amelia, are you coming to school? Or are you staying home?” Jaime asked, bringing me back to reality. I got on the bus, laughing at myself.

Danny and I always sat together. It gave us a chance to talk.

“So, Amelia, are you still tired from your crazy night of partying?”

“Of course not, Daniel. You know I don't get tired after partying.”

Danny smiled, showing his perfect white teeth. His eyes were a caramel-brown, which contrasted with his coal-black hair.

I laid my head on his shoulder as he stroked my hair. Danny loved the auburn color that brought out the copper in my eyes. I wanted to change it, but somehow I couldn't get myself to find another color Danny would love. So I kept it the same.

“Hey, Amelia? I forgot to say you look beautiful today.”

“I love you, Daniel. And thank you.”

“Anytime, babe. Anytime. And by the way, I love you too.”

I looked up at him, smiling. I was ready to face high school.

My first day at Southern High. It was a humongous school. I didn't think I would be able to find my way around, but Danny and I had most of our classes together. The first half of the day went by in a blur. By lunch, I was ready to go home. All of this was running through my head as I collided with someone. I looked up. All I saw was a pair of emerald-green eyes looking down at me. I stood up.

“Sorry. That was my fault. I'm such a klutz.”

“It's fine. I guess I had my head somewhere else.”

I laughed. “My name is Morgan Straiter,” the boy said, holding out a hand to help me. His coal-black hair shined under the glow of the fluorescent lights.He was amazingly beautiful, even for a freshman. I was dazzled, and took a moment to form coherent words.“I'm Amelia, Amelia Beckett.”

“What an awesome name. So did your parents choose your name online? Or were you just lucky?”

“I guess I was lucky,” I said, laughing slightly.

Morgan chuckled. Just then, I saw Danny coming toward me. He was looking at Morgan and ready to kill.

“Amelia, where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere.”

“Sorry,” I said, taken aback by Danny's tone.

“Who is this?”

“This is Morgan,” I said while glancing at Morgan slightly.

Danny was looking Morgan up and down. I was nervous.

“Well, I better get to class. See you guys later.”

I ran to my last class of the day.

This is just perfect, I thought to myself. ''Why did I have to walk with Morgan? Why didn't I just go to class by myself after I ran into him?''

When class ended, I ran to my locker.

I got around the corner just as my cellphone buzzed.

''Fight in main hallway. Danny and new kid.''

I turned around and headed back.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight,” the entire sophomore class chanted. There were freshmen on the outside, and Danny and Morgan were in the middle of the circle, staring. I saw Jaime chanting near the middle. Pushing past the crowd, I joined her.

“Jaime, what's going on? Why is Danny fighting with Morgan?”

She looked over at me, staring.

“You know his name?”

“Yeah, we collided in the hall, so...”

“Amelia, they're fighting because of you. Don't you get it?”

I stared at her. “Morgan doesn't even like me. Why would Danny be jealous?”

“I don't know.”

It was a madhouse. Everyone was yelling, Danny was hitting Morgan, and Morgan was just taking it. I had to stop it.

“Danny!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I made my way to the edge of the circle.

“Danny!” I yelled again. “Danny, stop this! Stop it now!”

Danny turned sideways at my voice, surprised. It was enough to give Morgan a 30 second head start out of the circle. I walked toward Danny and put my hand in his.

“What were you thinking? You could have gotten hurt.”

He turned. It was then that I saw it. Danny's mouth was covered in blood, pouring out from a broken nose.

“Amelia,” he whispered, trying to grab my arm.

“Danny, are you okay?”

His eyes searched mine, trying to send me a message. Then, Morgan came back and pushed him. Danny fell to the ground, his head bouncing off the linoleum.I ran out of the school into the crowd, going so fast I thought I would trip.

Morgan followed, catching my wrist as I got on the bus, and pulled me away.

“Amelia, we have to talk.”

I wheeled around, anger bubbling.

“Amelia, what you saw? It wasn't supposed to get so violent. I just-”

“You knocked my boyfriend unconscious, broke his nose, and ran.”

Morgan stared at me, trying to speak.

“Amelia, I thought he was going to hurt you. I was trying to help.”

His eyes were pleading, trying to make me understand.

“Morgan, he's my boyfriend. He would never hurt me. At all.”

I turned and proceeded to climb up the steps, avoiding Morgan's eyes as I went.

My day was ruined. And all because I collided with trouble.

I fell in love with that trouble.

With no way out.