The Bad Boy’s…What?

Goodbye.

One word with different meanings. It could mean ‘see you later,’ ‘see you tomorrow,’ or ‘see you in a while.’ It can also mean goodbye forever.

For example, when I left my house today and told the housekeeper goodbye I meant it in as a see you after school. Never did I think I’d end up in the situation in which I am now in. You see, I have dealt a lot with that word, goodbye.

Six years ago when I bid my parents adieu on their business trip I was expecting them to come back. I didn’t expect a tall man in uniform to come knocking on the mansion’s door with the unbearable news of my parents’ demise. It was at that time that I secluded myself into a shell of the lively girl I used to be. I mean, I’m still the same person but I don’t let many people in.

In school I’m known as Khloe ‘the nerd’ Mason. Who cares, I certainly don’t pay attention to the comments that run the rumor mill at school. People make fun of you for actually going to school to learn and wanting to educate yourself, okay. Sure, I don’t need a career I have plenty of money that I will inherit in a couple of months when I turn eighteen but my parents loved what they did and I want to find something equally as fulfilling.

In school, I’m not only a nerd but I think you could call me the outcast as well, people take too much time envying what others have that they turn it into hate. You may find this preposterous but yes, I am shunned because I have more money than others.

So, here I was another day and another round of idiotic comments that don’t even make sense because I’m sure calling the nerd ‘stupid’ is very creative, note the sarcasm. I decided that I needed to clear my mind after school, so I went for a walk. There are two parts in this town, the ‘lower class’ and upper class’ which is really stupid no one is extremely poor or extremely rich, well, except for me. I own the only mansion in the neighborhood but my parents chose to live here.

I hadn’t notice my bearings as I walked, I was too lost in thought. I furrow my eyebrows as the street becomes quieter and that’s when I notice dark has completely fallen upon me. People have made their way home and are now enjoying the comfort of their house. I pull my hoodie over my head and hug it closer to my body as the temperature descends with the sun.

After walking for a while I begin to grow weary, I may be the school’s nerd but when it comes to directions I mine as well be a mathlete learning to play football. Utterly confusing. My lungs are practically screaming for much needed air.

I come to a stop in a secluded spot and lean against the wall trying to even my erratic breathing. My head snaps up to my right as a door bangs open in the alley that I apparently was standing in. Two men stagger out throwing punches at the other. I hold my breath trying to remain unseen, invisibility don’t fail me now. Three more men come out to watch the event unravel. Well, I thought they were men, but they are indeed younger. There I say my age. Wow, who knew gangsters came in different shapes and sizes.

As all of this is unraveling I hear a speeding car to my left and I turn to face a black tinted car. They come to a complete stop in the alley that I was standing in. I sink further into the wall if that’s even possible. The three Adonis’s face turn towards our direction but I’m glad to say no one is looking directly at me.

“They came for Lucy!” a man frantically tells the younger guys. That snaps them out of their macho stare down causing them to hurry inside, probably to go check on this Lucy person. For some reason, I scoot down to my right, having the eerie feeling that the people in the car aren’t so nice. Maybe the others know about a thing called mercy.

I am now so thankful for that flickering street light because it’s helping in keeping me concealed. In what seems like seconds later the three guys come out with guns and one holding some sort of package and that’s when the ones in the black car decide to come out. Is this like the door to Hogwarts and I didn’t get memo? I shake my head from my thoughts and focus in on the action once again.

It looks like it’s all happening in slow motion when in reality everything is going so fast. The guys that came from inside begin to chase the other ones down but the leader seems to be looking around frantically. I wish I could say what he looks like but it’s too dark to make out any features. As the streetlight flickers on again he takes notice of my figure trying to remain concealed.

He seems to debate with himself on something but makes a quick decision, a decision that may have changed my life forever. He runs towards me and I back myself further into the wall.

“Here hold this,” I can’t see his eyes, all I know is that he is very tall. I look down at the bundle he put in my arms and immediately shake my head assuming it’s some sort of drug package.

“You will take this,” his voice leaves no room for argument. It’s as if he has authority and a shiver runs down my spine. I will never forget that voice.

“Come on!” I hear the others’ screams. He looks back and turns one last time bending down to the package in my hand.

“I love you, goodbye Lucy,” I tilt my head in confusion but he’s already gone. What kind of drug lord names their drug packages?

I look down at ‘Lucy’ and move the blankets a bit to the side. My eyes widen at the not so little package, it’s not even a thing.

When he said goodbye I didn’t know if he meant it as in ‘I’ll be right back’ or ‘I’ll see you tomorrow’. I stood there holding the blanket close to me.

“Go!” he turns back screaming and I ran, well as much running as one can do.

This is how I was stuck with the bad boy’s… what?

Drugs?

Gun?

No, this is how I ended up with the bad boy’s baby. I hold the little girl closer to me, shielding her from the cold weather.

“Don’t worry Lucy, I’ll keep you safe,” I place a kiss on her forehead and she giggles. As if she understood, a bond is formed.

“Here you go Lucy, eat up,” I coo the adorable little girl in the highchair in the kitchen. She giggles before opening up and taking her food.

It’s been a month since that bastard gave me this little gift. I mean, who would just give away a child? I returned to see if he’d show up but there was no sign of him, nothing at all. I went to the police station to look at any missing child reports but nothing appeared. I took Lucy to get checked at the hospital and she hadn’t even been registered.

I took all of this in and did the rational thing to register her as Lucy Mason, yeah, I gave her my last name. So, technically this little girl is mine. According to the doctor she’s one month shy of a year and is already attempting to walk. She’s been crawling around the huge house eagerly, the house that had to undergo a whole lot of baby proofing.

My nanny and housekeeper, Claire, fell in love with the little girl that I brought home in my arms that eventful night a month ago. Of course, she did state that Lucy would be my responsibility but she helps take care of her when I go to school and such. She can’t deny that the little blue eyed girl captured her heart.

Even my butler, Roger, the stone faced man that handles all of my assets cracks a smile in the presence of Lucy. And these are about the only people I come in contact with. Like I said before, not many people favor me in school. Well, nobody really with the exception of the teachers. But, the three of us will be enough to provide Lucy with everything that she needs.

Lucy is a part of my daily routine now, we’ve grown quite close and she even made me cry a week ago when she addressed me as ‘mama’. She’s been trying out new words but still has some difficulty, I’ve been studying up on babies and it’s these stages where she’s developing her speech. The process takes place in her first two years of life, so she definitely has a long way to go.

She loves her room and crawls and staggers around there all the time. I decorated it with lilac patterns, not too flowery and not too plain. I bought her a beautiful mahogany crib, I had a changing table brought in. I think that’s the only down side to being a new mom, changing diapers. Not so fun and easy, well at least Lucy isn’t a boy. I heard that can be quite the experience. I also had a rocking chair brought in for the nights when she can get a little testy or I just want to keep an eye on her.

It can get hard because I’ve grown attached and sometimes I find myself looking over my shoulder, wondering if someone’s after her. Many times I recall the night that brought us together and I wonder if someone could be as ruthless as to actually be going after her. But, why would that guy with the unforgettable voice give her up, just like that? These are questions that may never be answered.

“Khloe, you better get ready for school or you’re going to be late!” I hear Claire yell as she descends the back staircase into the kitchen. I straighten up and spare her a quick glance before turning my eyes on Lucy once again. She’s sporting one of her new purple outfits that I bought her.

“I don’t want to leave her,” I pout at my nanny. She rolls her eyes making her way towards me, taking the baby food out of my hands and taking over feeding the adorable little girl. Lucy is undergoing the transition from bottle to cup but still has the occasional bottle. Roger has taken it to him to prepare a variety of healthy food for Lucy that are ready to either heat up or just feed her.

“You say that every day but you need your education,” she shoos me out of the kitchen and up the stairs, where I reluctantly head to my room. I choose a casual outfit and step into my en suite bathroom. I quickly take a shower and get ready for another day in the hellhole we call school.

Don’t get me wrong, I love school, it’s the people in it that takes away from the place’s appeal. People can be so, I don’t know, there are so many ways to describe people. You have the superficial ones who only care about looks and materials. You have the ones I appointed ignorant because they will just about make any comment about anyone according to stereotype. They also are the homophobic assholes who take it upon themselves to bully and torture somebody because of their differences.

Yes, the ‘oh so lovely’ building really is more of a torture chamber. I shake he thoughts away and make my way downstairs.

“Okay Clare, remember to put the guards on both staircases and by the doors so Lucy doesn’t crawl anywhere that’s not safe. Oh, and if you take her to the park make sure to put on some sunscreen to protect her from the sun. Make sure to burp her after you-,” she raises a hand to stop my rambling.

“Do you forget that I helped raise you, we go through this every day, we’ll be fine,” she assures motioning for me to be on my way.

“I’m sorry, just take care and be careful,” I sigh as I make my way towards the front door. I step out into the cool air. Roger’s waiting outside in the car, he insists on driving me to and from school, at least it’s not a limo. But, it will all change in one month on my eighteenth birthday where I get my money and I get to buy my dream car.

“I can see the glorious glint in your eyes at the thought that I won’t be driving you anymore, am I really that horrible?” he places a hand over his heart as I climb into the passenger’s side. I shake my head at his theatrics.

“Of course not, you know I love you but it’s the thought of freedom that makes me smile,” I explain as he pulls out and we begin the dreadful ride to school. I lean my head on the cool glass of the window, just watching everything pass by.

“Khloe, we’re here,” Roger snaps me out of my thoughts after a while and I notice that we have indeed pulled up to the forsaken two story building. I turn to look back into the brown depths of my butler who’s been more of a father figure throughout the years, silently asking the impossible.

“No you cannot skip, now go on,” he waves me off and practically drives off while I’m still in the process of removing my body from the car. I turn back around to glare but the car has long gone, speeding out of the place. I swear he can feel the bad vibes coming from this place.

With a heavy sigh, I turn towards the front and make my way to the entrance. I can feel several pairs of eyes on me, the usual but it seems as if the whispers filling the place are not revolving around me. God, I hope so, if for only a little while to divert the attention from me.

I move along the hallways, staring blankly at the pale beige color of the walls that could have been white in the beginning, guess we’ll never know. I stop at the black locker in which I deposit some books and take some out for my early classes. As I was rummaging through my bag I feel a slight change in the air. The girls begin to open their locker doors taking quick glances at their mirrors. Must be fresh meat, these girls are like vampires sniffing for blood.

The girls begin to giggle as their obvious target begins to walk down the hall but I don’t bother to look up, it’s not like I’ll be socializing. They won’t be any different than anybody else. I feel a shiver run down my spine as I feel eyes boring into the back of my head but I ignore it. I stick to blending in and trying to remain invisible. I glance up curiously but no one important sticks out.

I close my locker door shut and resume my way to my first class. English, the best class of the day. I make my way towards the classroom fifteen minutes too early but the teacher knows me and my nonexistent ‘social’ status. Sometimes he’ll just have me run some errands before class. He’s a very great teacher and definitely knows how to delve into the great world of literature.

I step inside Mr. Pine’s classroom which happens to be in complete darkness, not random. Since it’s the first class of the day sometimes he does arrive late, much to the girls’ dismay. Mr. Pine is one of the cutes teachers in school with his grand stature, brown hair trimmed neatly bringing out his blue eyes. Yep, he’ll definitely have you attempting that whole student/ teacher forbidden relationship thing.

I head to the back of the class and take my usual seat at the corner. I take out my new copy of Divergent and begin to read as I wait for the class to start. A couple of minutes later the teacher walks in looking as fresh as ever, and no, I don’t have a crush on him. he gives me a small wave but makes no move for conversation as to not break my focus on the riveting book in front of me.

In no time the class has completely filled and the tardy bell has rung. I put my book back into my bag, albeit reluctantly, but do so nevertheless.

“Okay class,” Mr. Pine clears his throat immediately silencing the room. He leans on the front of his desk and begins.

“Today we’re going to begin on our new unit which is poetry,” he informs followed by a few groans from the guys. I, on the other hand, am ecstatic to be learning about some of the best poets of all time. Although, I do have a slight preference for Shakespeare and Alfred Lord Tennyson.

“Today you’re just-,” he’s cut off by the classroom door banging open. I turn to glare at whoever interrupted the class but am surprised as I don’t recognize the face.

“Yes?” our teacher raises a brow.

“New student,” the guy holds up a pass in between two fingers as he moves further into the classroom. The girls already begin to swoon over his ‘bad boy’ attire consisting of black pants, white v- neck, and the famous leather jacket and combat boots. He scans the class for all I can think of to be new prey and I glance down and begin the assignment the teacher now wrote on the board.

As I continue to work quietly I begin to feel eyes boring into me from everywhere. I look up to find many glares directed at me, I stare confusedly until I look beside me and take in the boy leaning in closer to my desk. His brown eyes lighting up with amusement at my ignorance. I spare him only a quick glance before looking back down at my work and refusing to pay any attention to him for the rest of the class.

Once the bell rings, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and rush out of class as if my ass were literally on fire. Once I’m an enough distance away I slow my pace down to my next class. My heart beat has just calm down from its erratic breathing when I feel an arm being draped over my shoulders. I look up and am met with the same black hair and brown eyed guy from before, sure he’s hot but I’m just not interested but obviously someone can’t take a hint. I shrug his shoulder off and quicken y pace which he easily matches.

“Hey, I’m Lucas,” he introduces. I nod and continue on my merry way. His voice is very deep and I’m sure any girl would give anything to be on the other end of this conversation, every girl except me.

“So…,” he trails off as f expecting me to keep up with this conversation. I ignore him and continue to stare straight ahead. I can feel his eyes on the side of my head, he’s obviously not rejected often if ever. He drapes his arm over my shoulders once again and I was just in the process of brushing him off when a voice stopped him.

“Lucas, what do you think you’re doing?” that voice fills me with dread. I feel something at the pit of my stomach, something akin to fear. At the sound of that voice it’s as if someone poured a cold bucket of water over me and I can literally feel the chills.

I feel Lucas turn around to face the owner of the demanding voice as where I just stay in my spot staring straight ahead. I try to move and haul my ass out of there but it’s no use. I’ve lost control of my limbs.

“Who’s you friend?” I hear another voice question. I shake myself out of this odd state and turn around to face two people. A brown haired brown eyed boy with broad shoulders and the same handsome looks as Lucas. Next to him, is a very cute guy with his arms crossed over his chest, scrutinizing me? His light brown hair framing very strong and rugged features, but the one thing that pulls me in, are those cobalt blue eyes. The same blue eyes I left back home on a certain little girl named Lucy.

I gather my strength and with one last glance, run out of their sight. It can’t be, what are they doing here? It can’t be just a coincidence.