His Teen Dream

By Devon Vaughn Archer

From the bestselling author of the coming of age novel, Her Teen Dream, is an exciting and powerful new young adult novel, His Teen Dream. First in a series, it explores such contemporary issues as teen romance, friendship, relocation, and dating violence.

Lex Haskell, sixteen, moves to Lake Charmanie, California, with his mother and stepdad, while still trying to come to terms with his parents' divorce. On his first day at Charmanie Hills High School, Lex is stunned to see Taylor Clawson, his grade school girlfriend whom he had not seen in six years. She is gorgeous. He is disappointed when she appears not to recognize him by name or appearance.

Later, they do reconnect, sort of. Taylor has a jealous boyfriend, Blake Reed, a school football star. Lex senses that Blake more than Taylor wants to keep their friendship at a distance. Fortunately, Lex is distracted as he begins dating Greta Holden and joins a band.

However, Lex soon begins to suspect that Taylor is being physically abused by her boyfriend. But can he prove it amidst her denials? And, if so, at what price to their friendship and whatever might have come of it?

Taylor Clawson is bright, beautiful, and dating Blake Reed--one of the hottest guys at school. But she's also keeping a secret. He hits her, often without warning, when he's angry, jealous, or simply having a bad day. Her parents think he practically walks on water, as do most of her friends.

Except, that is, for Lex Haskell, the boy she shared her first kiss with at age ten. She never expected to see him again after Lex and his family moved from San Bernardino. Now he had also ended up in Lake Charmanie and was even hotter as a teenager.

But she would do well to keep her distance from him, for Blake hated to see her around other guys, even for friendship. She feared what he might do to her or Lex if they were they to become close again. Then there was the fact that Lex was seeing another girl. Taylor didn't want to mess things up for him. She couldn't deny, though, that the connection between her and Lex had not gone away. But maybe it should, for more reasons than one.

This realistic coming of age tale of nostalgia, conflicting emotions, attending a new school, budding romance, friendship, teenage abuse, and dealing with it will resonate with teenage and young adult readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Devon Vaughn Archer
• Release date: Oct 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465792877

Devon Vaughn Archer

DEVON VAUGHN ARCHER is the bestselling author of more than a dozen Harlequin romances. He was the first male author to write for Harlequin's Arabesque line with the moving love story Love Once Again. To keep up with his latest news and upcoming books, follow, friend, or connect with Devon Vaughn Archer on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube.     

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Lex Haskell stared vacantly out the window as his mom drove him to school. It was like the third time they had moved in five years and he wasn't very happy about it. This time it was to some place called Lake Charmanie in Northern California. His stepdad had gotten a new job there as district sales manager for a software firm, forcing them to leave San Bernardino behind, along with his friends. Though his mom swore this was the last time they would move before he went off to college, Lex had heard it all before. And since he was only sixteen, it could be agonizing waiting to see if he would be pulled out of another school for who knew where.

I know it will take some time, but you'll like it here, his mom, Linda Montoya, promised, as though reading his mind.

Yeah, whatever. He wasn't sure he would like living anywhere that didn't include his real dad. But since his parents had divorced two years ago, and were both remarried now, Lex had pretty much given up hope they could put their problems behind them and get back together.

All I'm asking is that you give it a chance.

And what if I hate it? Lex challenged her. Can we move back to San Bernardino? Or San Jose? The latter was where he'd grown up and had the most fun, even if it seemed like a lifetime ago.

You know we can't do that, Linda said, frowning.

So what difference does it make whether I like it here or not, since my vote doesn't seem to count for much?

Because I love you and want you to be happy. Will you at least try for me?

Lex said nothing as she pulled up in front of the school. I have to go.

I'll pick you up this afternoon.

Don't. I'll walk home, he said.

It's a pretty good walk.

Lex shrugged. It's no big deal. In fact, he'd walked farther when they lived in San Jose. This would give him a better chance to get used to his surroundings, for better or worse.

He got out of the Subaru Legacy his mom had bought last month and watched briefly as she drove off.

Carrying his backpack, Lex looked at the sign on the main building: Charmanie Hills High School. It was smaller than his last school, but had a more modern look about it.

He passed by other students, trying not to stand out too much as the new kid in school. But he imagined that would be difficult, given that he seemed to stand out wherever he was. Probably because he wore his short dark hair parted on the side and had slightly crooked brows. Or maybe it was his height, since he was already six-two. Even his clothes, which weren't always the most trendy, set him apart.

Still, he just wanted to fit in as much as possible. He stepped inside the assistant principal's office.

The red-haired woman in her forties stood. Hi, you must be Lex Haskell.

Yeah, he acknowledged.

I'm Mrs. Perone, the assistant principal and academic liaison for freshman and sophomores. I'll help you with your schedule, and I'm also available for counseling.

Lex cracked a grin. Looks like you do everything.

She laughed. Pretty much.

He got a quick orientation, having missed the formal one, then picked up his student identification card and schedule, got his locker information, and was ready to give it a go.

If you have any problems, I'm always here, Mrs. Perone told him.

He didn't anticipate needing her for anything. Okay.

In the hall, things had picked up with students freely moving about in both directions. Lex easily joined the flow and went to look for his locker.

He was stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a girl approaching who looked an awful lot like Taylor Clawson, a girl he used to know in elementary school. But that was like what, six years ago, when he last saw her. They were both in fifth grade and he was crazy about her, having shared two kisses and lots of hand holding when no one else was looking.

But that all came to an end when he and his parents moved, leaving behind Lex's first love, whom he never saw again. So was this her? In Lake Charmanie, of all places?

If so, she had changed a lot and all for the better. She was beautiful. He guessed she was around five-six, definitely shapely, and had long black hair. Was it really his Taylor?

Or just a pretty good imitation of what she might have looked like after six years?

Only one way to find out...

He veered off course to step in front of her. Excuse me, but are you Taylor Clawson?

She batted curly lashes at him above big sable eyes, showing no sign of recognition. Yes, who are you?

It's me—Lex Haskell. We were in grade school together.

She cocked a brow. Sorry, I don't remember you.

Lex found that hard to believe. Yes, he looked different from when he was ten, but not that much different. And his name hadn't changed. He was just about to try to jar her memory when a guy about his height, but more muscular, with a shaved head, walked up to them and put his arm around her shoulders.

Hey, he said to her.

She looked up at him. Hey.

He kissed her on the mouth and glared at Lex. Who's he?

No one, she said coldly. He thought he knew me, that's all.

I'll walk you to class, he told her, as though she needed a bodyguard.

All right. Taylor glanced briefly at Lex before she turned and walked away with the guy.

Feeling stung, Lex wanted to go after her, but chose not to stir up trouble on his first day at school.

If you're looking to hook up with her, dude, forget it, a thin, lanky boy with curly brown hair said, after witnessing the interaction, or lack of. She won't look at guys like us twice. Not when she can be with a football star at Charmanie Hills High.

Lex bit his tongue. Was she really so caught up in a football player that she didn't even want to be associated with someone she used to care about?

Her loss, Lex muttered, even if he didn't really believe that.

I feel the same way. I'm Jimmy Nye.

Lex Haskell.

First day here?

Yeah. I was just headed to my locker when— Lex looked over his shoulder as Taylor and her boyfriend were just about out of view.

I understand, Jimmy said. Same thing happened to me when I first got here and laid eyes on Julie Kellogg. I didn't get very far either.

Guess some things aren't meant to be. Lex wished the words weren't such a bitter pill to swallow. Particularly since it now seemed as though he had lost, found, and lost again his one true love.

* * *

Taylor Clawson sat in her algebra class, but her mind was absorbed with what had happened in the hall five minutes ago. She was shocked to see the first boy to ever kiss her actually standing before her at Charmanie Hills High. It almost seemed like yesterday that he and his family moved away, leaving her depressed for what seemed like forever. She had written to Lex a couple of times, but never got a reply.

Now he shows up at her school, as if they could somehow turn back the hands of time. Well that wasn't going to happen. She wasn't the same ten-year-old with pigtails and braces anymore. And he clearly wasn't the messy haired, skinny boy next door anymore. He'd filled out nicely over the years and was easy on the eyes.

But she had a boyfriend. Blake Reed was seventeen and a star wide receiver on the varsity football team. Every girl in school wanted him and she had him. She wasn't about to jeopardize that for some guy from the past. And even if she was interested in rekindling a friendship, Blake wouldn't be very happy about it. He hated it when guys on the football team eyed her. Or vice versa. So he certainly wouldn't want to think, even for a moment, that she was interested in someone else.

Yes, she did the right thing pretending that she didn't remember Lex Haskell. It was best all the way around. She hoped he would just leave it at that and ignore her.

* * *

Lex was late getting to his first class, still stung by Taylor's memory loss where he was concerned.

"I expect all students to be on time," Mrs. Driscoll, the teacher, said in a stern voice.

Sorry, was all Lex could think to say in response.

And you are...?

Lex Haskell.

You're the new student? she confirmed.

Yeah. It was only then that he locked eyes with Taylor. She quickly turned away.

Well, welcome to Charmanie Hills High.

Thanks.

You may take a seat, Mrs. Driscoll told him. And see me after class to discuss catching up on what you've missed thus far.

Lex nodded and made his way down a row till he came to an empty seat, which happened to be next to Taylor. He sat down and looked at her. She didn't look back.

Was she going to continue to give him the cold shoulder? Had he done something to offend her way back then?

Or was what he remembered about them a lot stronger than what she remembered?

Either way, it was nice to know someone at this school. Even if the feeling was clearly not mutual.

* * *

After school was out, Lex hung around waiting to see Taylor. But she must have ducked out a back entrance or something, as she was nowhere to be found. Not that he knew what he would say to her if she chose to simply ignore his existence. Was it possible that she really didn't remember him? And what they had meant to each other for a short time?

He headed home.

Hey, hold up, Jimmy said. I'm headed that way, too.

Cool, Lex said, glad for the distraction.

What street do you live on?

Appolina Drive.

That's just one street over from Stallion, where I live, Jimmy said.

It'll take me a little while to learn all the local streets, Lex told him as they walked along the sidewalk.

Yeah, probably. Jimmy tucked a hand in his pocket. So have you gotten Taylor Clawson out of your system yet?

She was never in my system, Lex said, only wishing that were true. She had never been out of his system, even if they had lost contact years ago.

Good answer, Jimmy said.

They stood before Lex's house. Well, this is my place, he said.

Jimmy admired the large home. Nice.

It's okay, I guess. Lex liked the house they'd lived in previously better. He thought about inviting Jimmy inside, but wasn't really in the mood. See you tomorrow.

An hour later, Lex was at the dining room table with his mom and stepdad, Tucker. He would have preferred to eat in his room alone, but they'd insisted otherwise.

So how was your first day at school? Tucker asked.

Like any other day, Lex answered, rolling some peas around his plate.

Is that good or bad?

Lex frowned. You figure it out.

Lex! Linda raised her voice. Let's not do this.

Do what? He glared at her. Say what I feel?

We're trying to make this work, she stressed. Why can't you?

"Because it's NOT working. You married him, not me. Don't blame me if I'd rather have my real dad around."

It was his choice, Linda snapped.

Lex didn't really want to hear that, even if he knew it was true. His dad chose to have an affair and then left them to be with the woman he ended up marrying. It was his fault that Lex's mom found someone else to be with. Still, Lex couldn't help but wonder if maybe his mom had tried harder to keep him, things might have turned out differently. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part?

Lex stood, his food only half finished. I lost my appetite.

He expected his mom to object, but she didn't. Neither did Tucker. Maybe giving him his space was the first step in somehow learning to accept this situation.

* * *

Lex went to the basement and grabbed his electric guitar. He'd been playing the guitar since he was eight, having learned from his dad. It was something Lex did to relax and take his mind off things. Like Taylor and her blowing him off. He had been in a band once, but he was the only one serious about playing and it quickly broke up. He hoped to be in a band again someday, even if it never led to anything big.

His mom came down. Are you all right?

He stopped playing. Yeah, I'm fine.

Tucker's trying hard, honey, she said softly. He doesn't want to replace your dad; he wants to be there as a father figure, if you'll let him.

I know, Lex said, regretting the way he'd left the table.

If you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here, she said.

Do you remember Taylor Clawson? he asked.

Linda gave him a thoughtful look. Of course. Taylor and her parents lived down the street when we were in San Jose. Why?

Lex paused. She's here.

You mean in Lake Charmanie?

Yeah. I saw her at school today.

How nice, Linda said. I'm sure that was a surprise for both of you.

Not really, Lex said, frowning. She said she didn't remember me.

Hmm... That's odd. I seem to recall you two were pretty close.

Lex thought the same thing. Guess we weren't. Not in her book anyway.

He went back to playing the guitar, still thinking about Taylor and what might have been.

CHAPTER TWO

The next day at school, Lex spotted Taylor in the middle of a group of girls. He decided to confront her before he lost his nerve.

I need to talk to you, he told her tersely.

She gave him a weird look. There's nothing to talk about.

I think there is.

Taylor faced her friends. I'll catch up with you in class.

They left reluctantly and Lex wondered what he would or should say to her. He had an idea for starters. Why are you blowing me off?

I told you. I don't remember you, she said.

I don't believe you.

That's your problem. Now I have to get to class.

Lex didn't want to leave it like that. And neither should she. We were friends once, he reminded her. What are you afraid of?

She fluttered her lashes. Certainly not you.

Then talk to me...

Taylor gave him a thoughtful look. Fine. Meet me during the break in the library.

Okay. Lex considered that a victory of sorts, small as it was.

She sashayed away and he headed to his class, wondering why he should be pressing someone who had been out of his life for six years now.

* * *

Taylor slid into a seat in her ancient cultures class. Lex Haskell was ancient history as far as she was concerned. The sooner he got that, the better. But he seemed determined to go down memory lane, even if whatever she'd felt for him as a ten-year-old had died back then. What on earth was he even doing in Lake Charmanie?

So what did he want to talk to you about? Hazel Metcalf asked after class.

Taylor gazed at her blonde-haired best friend. Not sure really.

"He seemed