Relive (Fresh Start Series, Book 1)

By Nicole Louise

Ali Galvez has been through hell and back. Running from her home town after a horrible tragedy she hopes to start fresh, along with her best and only friend Vane. She now lives her life with one goal to be invisible, and has been doing a fine job at it. Six months into her self imposed exile her luck runs out and she gains the attentions of Gio Cardona. Gio Cardona is everything she would’ve jumped at before – a lean, cut, bad boy with the tattoos and sexy smirk to match. She has every intention to steer clear, only Gio has other ideas.

Gio Cardona has been given a new lease on life. Given the opportunity to be the first in his family to go to college; Gio feels the pressure to succeed. Struggling through his Bio class he is faced with two choices get a tutor or fail. Luck would have it that his tutor ends up being the girl mysteriously intriguing girl from his class. He can’t seem to get her off his mind and her reluctance to even speak to him leaves him more fascinated than ever. Gio more determined to gain her attentions devises a bet. If Gio loses he has to rebuild Ali’s pride and joy Mustang. If Ali loses he gets three dates.

Can he convince her to take a chance on him? Can Gio get Ali to open up about the darkness of her past or will she continue to run? Either way Gio’s life will never be the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicole Louise
• Release date: Mar 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301992638

Nicole Louise

Nicole is a mother and nurse.She is a lifelong Floridian who spends her time chasing after her rambunctious son, reading, spending time with friends and family, and writing. She is currently writing the first book, Foretold in a paranormal romance series.

Book preview

Prologue

Atlanta, Georgia 6 months ago

GIO

Damn Bro ya did it! my older brother Javier, shouted to me, elbowing his way through the crowd with mi Mami in tow. Yeah I did. Didn’t think I would make it did ya, I called back. While I stood there surrounded by my graduating class; my brother and Mami just caught up to me." I’m so proud of you, mijo," mi Mami tells me. I had done it. I really didn’t think I would make it. For a while they, mi familia didn’t expect me to make it anywhere but in jail or dead like my cousins, like my friends. But I made it!

Mi Mami stood to the side with tears in her eyes, clutching her bag in her hands like the hold on it was her hold to this reality and if she let go this version would disappear to the outcome she always feared for me. I feel bad for worrying her, for causing her pain, for her thinking she would get a call in the middle of the night that I wasn’t going to make it back home. This day is more for her than anything else; at least it used to be… Till my best friend Miguel got caught up in a case and is facing hard time. He was more serious about school than I was, I never saw myself getting out of the situation I was born in - not anymore. Now Mig says I gotta take this shit seriously ‘cause he can’t be here to do all that he wanted to do. Kinda hard behind bars…

So here I am in my cap and gown in a nasty yellow color that’s suppose to be gold- if gold was thrown into a tub of mustard. But I’m here I graduated and I realized I can do it all, all that corny shit they say; I could make something of myself. So right there in my high school gym that smells like floor wax and lingering sweat did I decide to turn my life around. Really go for it. What? I had no idea but I was going to find out and this time it was for me.

Chapter One

Starting Over

South College, Present day

GIO

Anyone? Mr. Reyes calls out. The class sat there with that please don’t call me look on their face. Mr. Cardona what do you think? I just sat there looking like I didn’t know he was talking to me even though the whole class was looking at me. Nothing. Huh… students please, we just went over this! He called out sounding exasperated it’s quite simple does anyone even have an inkling of an idea. Miss Galvez? He pointed towards the back.

She sat in the last seat headphones on, hood up, eyes down. The SA node, she responded in a cold quiet voice sounding bored. Thank you, Miss Galvez you see class it is not…, I tuned him out looking at the girl in the back. You would think because she had the headphones on that she wouldn’t know the answer let alone the question but that’s the thing about her, so strange, she never looked like she was really here but she always knew the answer.

I remember seeing her that first day a few weeks ago. She looked like she wanted to blend in with the walls hood up headphones on this tiny thing maybe about 5 ‘2’’ at the most. But this girl only had height and clothes on her side when it came to blending. She was beautiful in that exotic way that only a Hispanic girl would be curvy, honey colored tan skin, full pouty lips, and chocolate eyes with flecks of gold in them. I could only imagine her hair since it was hidden away but I’m sure it’s dark and cascades down her back. It’s probably the kind of hair you wanna run your fingers through.

Yeah she was banging as long as you didn’t notice the fuck off she practically had written on her forehead. Her eyes were always wary and closed off as if she had seen far too much in her short life. She didn’t smile. She never spoke unless it was to the professor. But as much as she tried she could never truly blend, she was made to stand out. Still the way she seemed to go somewhere else inside her head with the headphones on even during class made her unapproachable and a bit daunting. The girl was hot but she was weird. I shook myself out of my strange fixation and turned around.

Before I knew it class was over. I was getting ready to walk out when Mr. Reyes stopped me. Mr. Cardona, He called out sitting behind his desk.

I held back the sigh and turned Yea, I said back come here please.

I walk over real slow with a feeling in my gut that I was really gonna hate whatever he had to say.Mr. Cardona…

Gio, Prof. Call me Gio. I told him for maybe the tenth time.

I hate it when they call me by my last name like that. It’s like you’re in boot camp or something. Very well than Gio, you seem to be having difficulties, anything in particular you’re having trouble with or is it just a bore to focus in my class?He asks me in a superior tone, as if my reply was unnecessary because he already decided who I was.

No sir, I tell him no problem.

Well your past quiz grade it was just a fluke then?

Yes sir, I answer him trying not to roll my eyes. Then I expect you’ll make up for it next class correct?

Though he asks me I know he has no faith that I will in fact make up for my grade in the class. Yea Mr. Reyes whatever you say, I tell him so ready to get out of there. Hmm is all he says back, as he leaned back in his seat, he said so much with it though. It said he had no faith that I would make up for it. This is going to be a long week, I sighed making my way out of the room, and its only Tuesday morning. Well hopefully it gets better.

Present day. Atlanta Georgia

ALI

Come on!

I shout God I hate traffic. When I left Miami I was hoping to leave that part behind. No such luck. Miami… my mind wanders to a past life.

I left my old life behind there. Many think Miami and they see tan hard bodies, stretches of beaches, club hopping on south beach. While those things are true for tourists that is not Miami at least not the one I grew up in. While I did live a life with the finer things and I did do my fair share of clubbing and partying that was not to say I didn’t struggle with a lot of demons because of it. One day almost a year ago was the last straw. I had to get out, start over, and here I am new life – new me.

The only one who knows of my past here is my best friend who is also my roommate and me unfortunately. Sometimes I wish for amnesia it’s the only way to erase it; that night… my past life, all of it. I cut in front of a soccer mom in a minivan who obviously had nowhere to go. Aaahhh, I sigh. No more traffic it looks ahead. Nothing but smooth sailing the rest of the drive home.

Twenty minutes later I shut the door with my hip while holding my bag, books, coffee cup, phone and keys. Rachael Ray has nothing on me. Honey I’m home I call while setting down my stuff and taking off my coat. Wut up chica? my roommate and best friend Vane calls out while she hops into the living area from her room. How was class? She asks me while trying to decide between two pairs of shoes a pair of brown ballet flats and suede tan pumps to go with a sweater dress and tights she has on. I look at her point at the pumps and say same shit different day.

Really?

She asks she’s not talking about my day she’s talking about the shoes. She puts it next to her dress trying to make sure they don’t clash. Really, I say, flopping down on the couch. She puts them on and tosses her flats into her room.

Where ya going, I ask.

Got an interview at that cake place I was telling you about, she tells me. Vane loves to bake. She’s going to culinary school for baking and pastries. We forever have some kind of cake, pie or concoction here. That’s what I need sweets lets add the freshmen fifteen to my list of worries. Vane doesn’t have those worries she has a thin, lithe figure like a dancers, me not so much. She always says she would kill for my curves... yea sure let’s hear her say that when she breaks out in a sweat just trying to pull her jeans over her hips.

Vane is ready to head out the door. She puts her coat on, grabs her bag, fixes a wavy caramel lock that doesn’t need fixing and gives the mirror a wink with her dark smoky eyes. Then she turns gives me a nervous smile.Good luck, I tell her before she walks out the door she calls out thanks!

Then she’s gone. Home alone at last. Peace and quiet.

The nightmare is always the same. The lights are speeding by while I’m racing down I-95. I’m driving I know I’m not gonna make it, but I still try even though I know failure is imminent. Its gonna be too late, I’m gonna make it there too late. Where will I go from there? Where will we go from there? Ali. I’m calling out no, no, no, I’m shaking. No I’m not shaking someone is shaking me. Ali, its Vane she’s shaking me trying to wake me up. I’m up I tell her as I grab her hands so she’ll stop shaking me. You alright, she asks. Yeah I’m good, I tell her lying back. She doesn’t look convinced but she doesn’t press me either she knows when I wanna talk I will. It’s what I’ve always loved about her she gets me without explanation or question. Ok, she says then walks out my room shutting the door on the way out.

I roll over put my headphones on.

Some listen to classical to go to sleep I listen to rock the louder the better, helps to block my loud thoughts. Nothing says sweet dreams like My Chemical romance screaming I’m not ok. Ten minutes later I’m out. No dreams this time thank god.

Chapter Two

Who’s Teaching Who?

GIO

Hey Gio, Javie yells from the kitchen. I turn over and try to block him out. Better get your ass up before you’re late. I ignore him till I realize…shit its Thursday can’t be late again. Mr. Reyes will never let me hear the end of it plus I got a quiz today. He won’t let you take it if you’re late. I scramble out of bed and run in the bathroom to brush my teeth. I rush back in my room put on a pair of jeans from the floor, pull my arms through a long sleeve t-shirt, slide on my kicks, grab my books, leather jacket and run out the door.

I make it to class and look at the clock, while trying to catch my breath. Whew two minutes to spare. As soon as I sit the class goes back to whatever they were doing before my mad dash into the room. I let my eyes wander the room; I look up towards, Mr. Reyes. He shouldn’t look scary he’s like 5’6’’ at the most with those cowboy boots he always has on. A Hispanic cowboy, I muse… funny, not funny ha-ha funny strange. He’s short with dark hair and eyes hidden behind a pair of thin round gold frames. But something about him makes you anxious to cross him.

He stands everyone looks uneasy, everyone except for her. She looks bored as usual headphones on hood up. She is sitting with her arms crossed over the top of her desk looking down at nothing, till he places the test down on her desk. She takes the buds out her ears looks up at the professor with a small smile and shrug and he walks ahead. She looks down and immediately starts writing. He gets to my desk and places the paper face down. He gives me a look that I’m not sure is either amusement or frustration.

I turn the sheet over… I’m screwed. An hour later I’m getting ready to walk out. That class was a killer I’m the last one to leave. How do you think you did? he asks I can’t even answer. Some people think biology is amazing that the human body is a miracle in of itself. Yes it is a miracle and I am one of those who believe that miracles shouldn’t be butchered by explaining them away. My lack of an answer must have been answer enough.

I have taken the liberty of obtaining a tutor for you.

He gives me a look that says that he knows that I have no interest in being tutored and is expecting a fight. I open my mouth and he holds up his hand to tell me to stop before I even get to start before you say you don’t need a tutor let me assure you that you do. Furthermore I am aiding you in a way I usually do not. Most students are just encouraged to look for their own help if needed. Were not in high school anymore we are all adults here. But it just so happens I have a student who is lacking hours needed to fulfill her requirements in her scholarship. This will give her, her hours needed and you the aid you need. Win-win

Well what could I say? Nothing, that’s what I just nodded and asked so... who is my tutor?

He smiles seeing that he has won this argument. Something I’m sure he gets too much enjoyment out of and says Maria will meet you in the lab at one tomorrow. They already scheduled it? What if I was busy? What if I had to work? I have a feeling this is more a favor for Maria than me. I didn’t see the point in arguing. I only have one class tomorrow it ends in a few weeks, it’s a short elective. I’m off work at my uncle’s shop so I really have no excuse unfortunately; I nod, swallowing down all the different ways I wanna send him to hell, and walk out.

I walk in at two to my Uncle Jose’s shop. He owns an auto body shop. He’s in his office, looking for something. Whenever he’s in his office he’s looking for something, his office is a mess there are papers stacked in precarious piles everywhere. Hola Tio, I say to him. He looks up and says Giovanni por favor ayudame with a frustrated look holding a stack of papers in each hand.

Que buscas? I ask him.

I need the invoice for the GTO’s new seats.

I walk over to his desk and start looking through the piles of papers.

Here, I tell him, handing the invoice to him. He looks at it and nods. Then turns to me and raises his eyebrows wondering what I need. Then realizes and goes to the safe.

Toma, he tells me I walk over and give him a grin. He shakes his head like he’s saying kids today. Guess back in the day people didn’t come in on their day off specifically for their paycheck. I ask him if he needs anything else and he shakes his head. I shout him a bye over my shoulder and walk back to my car.

Some people like bikes, others like imports I am a lover of American muscle cars. My baby, a black 1967 Chevy Impala. She may be old but she’s all mine and I have fixed her up to almost new a few more tweaks and she’ll be perfect. I start her up enjoying the roar of the engine and head home. Luck is on my side and the traffic isn’t so bad.

I turn onto my street I live with my brother, in a small two bedroom apartment a couple miles down from campus. My brother works for a window company. When I told him that I planned on going to South he said I could move in as long as I helped him out with food and rent.

I walk through the door and smell it. Food. The real kind of food, not something from a microwave or a bag. Which could only mean…"Giovanni Antonio, are you gonna say hi to your Mami or no?" Mi Mami came for a visit. I walk into the small kitchen she turns to me and gives me a smile that goes all the way to her eyes and crinkles the corners. It’s only been my brother and Ma ever since my dad went to work one day and never came back; when I was six years old. Mi Mami thought he left her till his familia started looking for him. Turns out he disappeared not from us but everyone. No one knows what happened. Is he alive or is he dead? Who knows…? Mi Mami probably has an idea but she has never let on anything she knows, not to the police, not to his familia, and definitely not us. She is one of those intuitive people who always seem to know things whether she lets on that she does or not.

"Hi Mami."

I say as I walk up to her and bend down to give her a kiss on the cheek. I inhale deep smelling the spices in the air, the smell of home.

"I came to see my boys to make sure my they were eating. No surprise all that’s in here is cervesa and junk food, she turned from the pot she was stirring to look at me. There Javie’s I say. She smirks at me as if to say you don’t fool me". Yeah I admit I drink not like I use to but every once in a while I have a few. I cleaned up. I didn’t turn straight edge.

Hey bro.

Javie walks over from his room to see if the foods done. It is and we make our plates and bring them to our small table, which is really a card table, to eat dinner.

Javie how’s work Mami asks expecting the same answer he always gives.

It’s good busy. He's looking down at his plate usually a jokester until Ma is here then he's stone cold serious.

She nods busy is good.

She turns to me I know its coming I hate this question…y tu Giovanni?

I turn to her give her innocent grin on my face and say schools good, works been a little slow but that’s good gives me more time to study. Her answer is only hmm I could take it as good but I know what she’s saying is the same as always with her she’s saying you’re not fooling me mijo. We finish dinner in a comfortable silence. I don’t know if it’s us or my mom but we have always been a family of few words. We could say with an expression what many needed long discussions for.

After dinner I help wash up and then my brother and I give Mami a kiss goodbye. She drives away in her little gold Camry and it’s just me and Javie, once again. Javie looks at me and walks into the kitchen. A minute later he comes out with two cervesa’s. Looks like it’s gonna be one of those nights. My brother always gets stressed when Mami comes over something about letting her down. I know all about that pressure so I take the beer and sit in front of the TV.

We play Fifa for a few hours. After we each have played a few winning games and drank our fill we part ways and head to our rooms. While lying in bed unable to sleep I remember I have my first forced tutoring session tomorrow for my bio class. I think of ditching it but who knows what The Prof will do if I skip out on his Preciosa Maria, no I gotta go. Great.

ALI

I had arrived in class early to speak with Prof Reyes about hours I needed to fulfill for my scholarship requirements. I really could just have my parents pay for school but I’d rather not have that looming over my head, it gives them or really my father too much control and the last thing that man needs is more control.

He informs me that I can tutor a fellow student in need of assistance in our class. Not really what I hoped for I would’ve preferred filling in the science department but unfortunately I don’t get to choose. He looked really pleased with himself about coming up with the idea. I on the other hand felt like cursing. Which to be honest isn’t that far from the norm anyways; I curse like a sailor supposedly and don’t even realize most of the times when I do. I set up a time and sit down in my seat in the back. Well tomorrow’s gonna be fun…not.

So here I am On Friday afternoon sitting in the lab waiting for Mr. Cardona as Prof Reyes calls him. I call him the one who is always late. Or when my mind begins to wander I call him good trouble. The type that you know you have no business showing interest in. The kind that seems so wrong its right. He screams sexy bad boy from his tan long lean sinewy build to his t-shirt that shows just a hint of his well defined chest and abs down to well worn jeans that hang loose on his hips. Not to mention that face, his hair is so dark its almost black and he wears it in this disheveled way that I think only he could pull off, those eyes that look so dark that you know there are secrets hidden behind them to the well defined nose, chiseled jaw, and his full lips that hide a gorgeous smile. The one that you never see in class but I have seen when he’s laughing with friend’s right after class. Not that I notice him or anything…like I said so wrong its right which means stay away Ali stay far, far away. The old me would have been trying to get closer the new me says maintain indifference or you’re screwed. I’ve learned some hard lessons in my short life.

Its five after one I’m gonna give him five more minutes then I’m out of here I fulfilled my requirement by showing up. I look around while waiting everyone is hunched over in their books. Completely fixated on whatever their reviewing. I begin to wonder what would happen if I screamed or slammed my book down would they startle or would it go completely unnoticed. When you work as hard as I do to be invisible times like this make me want to test how indistinguishable I really am, would I go unnoticed it’s what I want but for some reason it still makes me a little sad. The fact that I could be in a room full of people and still feel utterly alone. This is what I’ve become. Damn you, I shake myself out of my depressing thoughts, him being late has me thinking. I try to avoid that. I’m out of here. I came he didn’t. Maybe now I’ll get assigned something else to fulfill my requirements.

I’m about to stand up when I see him run in the lab. Not even exaggerating he was in a full on sprint and almost knocked over poor Amy the TA watching over the lab today. She gives him a scowl that would melt any other guy into a pool at her feet he simply shrugs an apology and walks around her then proceeds to look around for me.

His dark eyes sweep the room land on me for a second and keep going. He looks confused I realize he is either a jackass or has no idea I’m his tutor. I stand up and wave him over. Catching my windmill arms he cuts his eyes back to me still appearing lost, I roll my eyes. He walks over to me with a strange look in his eye its interest mixed with a little… perplexity?

I’m not sure which, but when he walks over I ignore it and say in annoyed tone your late I was about to leave.

He looks me up and down slowly from my hoodie to the headphones down to my jeans and chucks back up. I suppress a shiver because though he still has a slight look of confusion on his face his eyes held something sensual, the way he looked me up and down. It almost felt like a visual caress if that were possible. Once he reaches my eyes he says you’re Maria?

I wrinkle my nose in response I hate it when people call me Maria preferring to go by my middle name.

Just call me Ali, I say he squints probably wondering where you get Ali from Maria but doesn’t question it. He says I’m Gio or G whichever you prefer.

I know your name. I say with an eye roll, and then think maybe I shouldn’t have said that who knows how big his head is. He smirks, ugh of course. I roll my eyes again. Thankfully he doesn’t say anything.

We sit and I open my book and begin so what is it you have been having trouble in?

He has that odd look again almost like he doesn’t understand what I’m asking than he shakes his head and responds by saying umm I have problems remembering which each name means to each function and percentage of the white blood cells also that whole left shift thing I have no clue what that is. I look at him nod, and give what I hope is an encouraging smile. I start ok so for the white blood cells I have mnemonic device that might help you…

GIO

I was running late again. I really need to invest in a smart phone with a planner because I almost forgot about my tutoring session. I had to run across campus when I had just got to my car. I run in the lab almost knocking over a TA who looks like she’s gonna cuss me out. I shrug as apology and walk around her. Hmph. I hear her say but ignore her. I look around and realize once again that besides a name I have no clue who this chick is. I see the girl from my Bio class she’s looking right at me. I think maybe that’s her but Na can’t be, wouldn’t know if that’s a good or bad thing, gorgeous but weird.

I keep looking I’m about to ask the TA I had almost knocked over when I see her waving me over with an annoyed look on her face. I walk over thinking no way it’s her but why else would she call me over cause she’s not the kind who would just want to chat.

Your late I was just about to leave, she says. I look her up and down damn she can’t dress worth a damn but even with the hoodie, and jeans you can see the curves she tries to hide. Her jeans are just tight enough to curve that fine ass and even with that baggy hoodie you can see where her thin waist dips in and then flares out to her curvy hips. The guys in my neighborhood would call her cola with that coca cola shaped body. Damn. I look back up to her eyes and she was looking up at me waiting for a response. You’re Maria? I ask and she wrinkles her nose at me that seemed so cute and normal. I try not to smile it would probably piss her off. Maybe she’s just shy and not as weird as I thought. Then she tells me to call her Ali ok… where do you get Ali from Maria, don’t know but alright.

We start the tutoring she asks what I’m having trouble in and I space for a minute looking into her eyes mesmerized by the swirl of brown and gold flecks, they seem so wise but still sad and maybe a little guarded. What happened to make her this way? She lifts an eyebrow at me and I realize I’m staring. Right she asked me what I needed help in, I shake off my stupor and I tell her.

She gives me this smile that leaves me lost for the first minute or two of explaining things I’m having trouble with. The smile shows more of the girl she could be sweet and sexy but that little bit of wariness doesn’t leave her eyes. Once I tune back in Ali starts explaining phases and I realize she’s good at this; because I actually understand what she’s talking about she has all these sayings to remember orders and percentages and what each cell does that I feel like I get it.

We finish up a little before three and I realize from just an hour of being near her that this girl is all show, she puts walls up. She isn’t shy just wary, untrusting; but obviously she has no problem giving you shit if you piss her off. She purposely dresses that way to take attention from her and the headphones are just the final piece to tell all those around not to bother getting to know her.

I know about walls I have a few of my own up. I know why mine are there. Mine are there in an obvious way while she puts up a front so well that you could completely miss the real girl underneath the girl I’m gonna find. Cause if there’s one thing I love it’s a challenge and this girl’s definitely a piece of work.

Just got to find the right angle can’t be direct she would shut it down fast. I don’t do friend mode