Page 2 of Rules

That people are good and those who are closest to you will love you and protect you above all else.

They won’t.

That fairy tales do exist and everybody will eventually get their happily ever after.

We won’t.

Life’s a cheating son of a bitch, and hope is just an illusion. And sooner or later, the reality will catch up to you and show you just how ugly it really is.

Some people keep holding on to hope that fairy tales are real.

Not me.

Not anymore.

For as long as I can remember, my life was a fucking nightmare. I tried to resist it, I tried to rise above it, but it beat me to the ground. Over and over again. Robbing me of everything I held dear.

Everything that mattered.

And I wasn't naive enough to believe there was actually a way out.

So when my life fell to pieces, I did the only thing I knew how to protect myself. I built the walls, pushing everybody out.

A “Leaving Greyford” sign passes by, and I watch it blend into the background, another sob ripping out of my lungs.

I created the rules, three golden rules to keep me alive.

Three golden rules tosurvive.

And then… then I broke them all.

And now, I’m paying the price.

Chapter One

BROOK

OCTOBER 31st

“Well that was interesting.” I lean against the wall next to Jeanette standing stoically in her Wonder Woman costume with a water bottle in her hand. Amelia tried to call her to join us on the dance floor on various occasions, but Jeanette was no fun.

“I thought you’d rip him a new one for sure,” she says, not even looking at me, her tone almost as cheery as a heart without a beat.

“What would be the point?” I wave my hand, taking the last sip of my pinktail. “Derek was adamant to make things right, and no matter how much Lia repeats she hates him, we all know she’s lying. She’s hurt, and the last thing I want to see is her suffering more than she already is. Besides, we all know nothing happened.”

A few weeks ago, Lia found her forever crush turned best friend of her bully turned, in the last few months, somewhat of a boyfriend standing basically naked on his front porch kissing another chick. Hurt beyond belief, she ran away, not giving him a chance to explain. Should she have? I’m not the best person to answer that question when it comes to forgiving and forgetting, but what I do know is that Derek is trying. Has been trying since she ran away and closed herself off from everybody.

“Do you think she’ll forgive him?”

I look at the two of them standing chest to chest on the dance floor. The sparks are flying between them as they push and pull, their lips moving rapidly.

“I think she’s ready to listen,” I say with a shrug.

Yes, Amelia is my best friend, but even I don’t know what’s hiding in that thick head of hers. She’s one of those rare people who’s genuinely good. A caring friend, with an innocent, pure soul, understanding and forgiving, but she was hurt badly by what happened.

“I just hope that once she makes her decision, she sticks to it.” My eyes snap to Jeanette’s face, a deep frown between her brows as she looks over my shoulder. “I don’t want to see anybody else get hurt.”

Even though I know I shouldn’t, I can’t help myself. Tilting my head to the side, I glance over my shoulder, my gaze landing onhim.

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