Page 2 of It Was Always You

Growing up as the son of the underboss starting St. Theresa’s was always the plan. After all, nearly every Four Points man started as a St. Theresa’s boy including Headmaster Smith who used to be a member, up until he lost his left arm in an attack- making him a lousy shot. After that, they set him up with a cushy job as Headmaster here with one rule: turn a blind eye to any Four Points related activities or injuries.

Hear no evil, see no evil.

Starting a new school is scary as shit. So when I see the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, with long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, I pretend we’re in the same class and lead her to it before dashing to mine. Although I’m late, seeing her face light up as she grinned at me makes it worth it.

Matt, my best friend since before I could crawl, spends the rest of the morning quizzing me about why I was late, and while I normally share everything with him, this time, I don’t.

Something about my mystery girl feels too precious, too fragile to expose to his ribbing.

Instead of telling him about the girl with the smile fit to break a million hearts, I smirk and change the subject to his current obsession—rugby tryouts. Fuck knows why he wants to join, but I lost a bet, so here we are.

The day passes in a blur of wondering how I can track my mystery girl down while Matt goes on and on about when we’ll find out if we made the rugby team and what prank he wants to plan first. It’s only when I’m in the canteen that I get my second glimpse of her, being dragged along by the bundle of energy that is Abigail. Before I can even think of an excuse to make my way over to them, Abigail is throwing herself at me and doing the introductions.

Cora Montgomery has a sweet ring to it, but Cora Jameson sounds better.

Abigail fills the silence with a rundown of her day and plans for the weekend. Cora looks like a deer caught in headlights, not meeting my gaze. But that’s okay. I’ve already memorised my new favourite colour: sky blue with a darker ring around the outside.

“Hey Owen, maybe you and Matt could join us on Saturday?” Before either of us can respond, a rugby ball comes flying towards Cora. With a shout for her to duck, I jump up and intercept it, glaring at the guy who nearly just whacked her.

“Watch what you’re doing, dumbass,” I growl, but my atten- tion shifts back to Cora. Even as I glare at him, I can’t ignore the ache in my chest from losing her attention.

From that moment, I made it my mission to spread the word that she was off-limits, and if anyone dared hurt her, they’d have me to deal with. All the while, I did everything I could to keep her attention where it belongs—on me.

Four Years Ago

With war brewing, Dad has made it clear that under no uncertain terms will I be allowed to leave for university or take the long route in claiming my spot. Not after the increased attacks over the last two years, and especially not after he was shot last summer. Thankfully, it was just a flesh wound to his shoulder and he’s fine now. Everything feels pointless this year; no matter my grades, my path is set— it’s time to take my place in the Four Points.

There’s no time to fuck about any more. Which, fine. I can accept that. After all, I always knew this would be my fate.

Someday.

But what’s proving a harder pill to swallow is the reality that now isn’t the time to pursue Cora. As much as I want to make her mine with every fibre of my being, bringing her into my violent world makes me nauseous.

Instead of drawing her closer, I’ve been pushing her away, protecting her from my reality. It’s tough, especially as she grows more beautiful each day. I’ve had to fight off half the school, but she’s worth every confrontation. Fucking Corey transferred in while I was at home for a few weeks recovering from a stab wound to my abdomen, and by the time I was back, he was glued to her like a bee to honey, and no number of warnings from me or Matt deterred him.

That was nearly three years ago, and since then, I’ve made sure to hammer home exactly what awaits him the second he does wrong by her.

Personally, I’m counting down the days until I’ll be able to make good on that promise.

Bringing her into this world of violence and bloodshed right now would almost certainly end horribly. So as much as it pains me, I’d rather chop off my own arm than bring her into the middle of this mess.

For now, I’ll keep her at a distance until this shit show is under control and I can get rid of that distraction she calls a boyfriend. Then I’ll make her mine. Officially, anyway.

Four Years Ago

Finishing school in a few weeks feels so surreal. I came here without a friend to my name and crippling anxiety about talking to boys, yet here I am, leaving it with Abbie, my best friend for life, and my boyfriend, Corey.

He may not be the love of my life, and our relationship probably won’t last, but after feeling consistently rejected by Owen, I figured why not give Corey a chance. After all, Owen had made his stance on my feelings towards him crystal clear. But despite hoping my feelings for Corey would grow, they’ve faded to nearly nothing. Abbie has told me a hundred times to “just cut the dead weight and dump his ass” but considering we’re knee-deep in exams, dumping him now would feel like a bitch move. Instead, I’m just palming him off as much as I can for now and hoping that either something happens to make dumping him easier or that he does the honour, saving me the hassle of being the bad guy.

He works as a great distraction from where my heart really lies—in the hands of a green-eyed devil. Seeing girls panting after him, thanks to the combination of him being hotter than sin, a star player on the rugby team, and the aura of danger that clings to him like a second skin, has been hell.

And hearing the rumours of what happens at the team parties? I’d rather stab forks through my eyes than hear that shit.

Chapter 1

Turns out that adjusting to being single is lonely as hell, regardless of how little love there was at the end.

I don’t miss my relationship itself but fuck do I miss the things that come with being in a relationship.

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