Bittersweet Symphony (Bittersweet #4)
J.L. Beck
Prologue
One year earlier
“Why can’t we be together Kennedy?” Sam asked, his voice just above a whisper. How I had allowed myself to be trapped in a corner by him yet again was starting to make me second guess my choices.
“Because I don’t like you like that,” I retorted, smashing my lips together and giving him a dirty look. His hands pushed into my shoulder blades, forcing my back against the brick wall. A fury was igniting within me. Why do I allow myself to be treated like this?
“But you do. The proof is in your panties,” he said, growling in my ear as his hands headed south. He was fast, but I was faster. I pushed his hands away with a strength I wasn’t aware I possessed.
“There is no proof in my panties; you’re disgusting,” I spat at him. My eyes met his, and I was startled by the anger that reflected back at me. It sent a zing to my brain warning me that this could get ugly really fast.
In an instant, his hand reached up, his fingers threading deeply into my hair. There was a pulsating pain at my scalp as he pulled harshly. Gritting my teeth, I pulled away; pieces of my precious hair fell from my head into his hand.
A cruel smile showed on his face as he examined the blonde strands in his hand. He was sinister and evil. There was a special place in hell for someone like him.
“You think telling me to stop will… stop me? You think telling me no will end this? If so, you’re wrong… so wrong…” His finger trailed over my cheek, and the need to reach out and bite it off was strong.
“See, your little tirade of saying no just makes me want you more. You pushing me away and telling me to stop makes me push harder. You might not want me now, but someday you will. When that time comes, you’ll beg and plead to be mine.”
The light in his eyes evaporated, leaving the shell of a person I had known my whole life. We used to be best friends; we used to hang out every summer and go swimming and camping together. That all changed once we hit our sophomore year of high school, and he admitted to having feelings for me.
That’s when it all went to shit: when I had to tell him I didn’t love him like he did me. Since then, I had lost touch with who Sam was.
“I will never want you. You’re dark and evil, and if you keep down this track, no one will ever want you.” It was a low blow, and even though I knew better than to say such harsh things to him, it was true.
How telling someone the truth could result in not only losing your best friend, but being bullied and harassed, was beyond me. I was lost, lost at how being honest could cause a roller coaster of emotions to occur.
His fingers dug into my cheek, and I cried out in pain. My eyes were begging to see something, anything, in his when it happened: a flash. I couldn’t tell if it was anger, sadness, or guilt, but it was there, and then it was gone.
“Kennedy, I promise you that one day, when you realize no one wants your pitiful ass, I will be there to pick you up and be the man you need.” And just like that, he released his hold and turned away from me.
Even if I had tried, I couldn’t stop myself from responding. “What did I ever do to you? What made you such a dark, horrible person?” I could feel tears streaming down my face. I didn’t even care that I was showing that I cared; I didn’t care if he could see how much it hurt me to go through this with him. I was done.
His footsteps faltered as he turned around, staring at me. His face didn’t have an ounce of emotion on it. Right then and there I knew-I knew there was no saving him. There was no saving someone who didn’t want to be saved.
“It’s not about what you did, Kennedy, but more about what you didn’t do.” My head was spinning with how many different directions that could go in.
Then he let out a laugh, a dark, quiet laugh. It sent shivers down my spine, and made my heart beat faster.
“What’s meant to be will be… I’ll make sure of it.” He walked away from me, leaving me with my heart in my hands. Anger raged through me, far more than it ever had. Someone like him couldn’t hurt or hate me for something that I didn’t do. He was wrong, and I was certain of it. I would never bow to him. Ever. I would never bow to anyone. I walked down the front steps of the school, knowing there was no going back from what just happened.
Kennedy
You know what I hate more than being late for class? Assholes who make me late for class. Sam Wickes knows he is an *; he is the epitome of *s. Once upon a time, he had been my best friend; now, he is the biggest mistake in my life. Simply saying I know him at all bothers me.
I push my glasses up the bridge of my nose, willing myself not to lose my shit. Literally and figuratively. My pens and papers are sprawled across the floor in what seems to be a mile radius. Yup. Late. That’s what I am going to be because of him.
I glare up at Sam who is obviously still a bully. I never would have thought that in college, people can still be so immature and self-centered that they feel the need to hurt others. Turns out some people never grow up; sometimes they let their black hearts swallow them whole.
“Looks like you made a rather large mess here, Kennedy.” Sam’s voice is menacing, like nails on a chalkboard. All I can do is talk myself through this as I cautiously pick up my stuff.