Better Than Now

By C.G. Coppola

With the talent show behind them, Autumn and Alex can finally begin their relationship. It took a school assignment, but they’ve managed to move beyond their awkward past to become one of the most popular—and gossiped-about—couples in school. Dating was supposed to be the easy part, but now that they’ve been plunged into the spotlight, Autumn isn’t sure she can keep up.

Things at home aren’t any better. Being grounded already sucks, but when her mom outright refuses the idea of Alex, things only get worse. It isn’t until a family secret is exposed that Autumn understands the depth of her mom’s disapproval, and the role it plays in her future with Alex.

With all the attention at school and her lack of support at home, Autumn fears for her relationship. She knows that for everything to work out, something drastic will have to change, and when it does, she’s faced with a choice that determines the rest of her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.G. Coppola
• Release date: Aug 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463442067

C.G. Coppola

C.G. Coppola is the author of the fantasy adventure series, Arizal Wars, and the contemporary romance series, Better Than This. In addition to short stories that explore magic and the paranormal, she writes books that involve a lot of kissing, kickass heroines, and fighting alongside best friends. When not writing, C.G. Coppola can be found watching Netflix, playing with her dogs, Appa and Regis, or dancing to Meghan Trainor in the kitchen.

Book preview

ONE

WILL WE EVER KNOW?

By Joe Smith / New York Times

June 23rd, 2011

With their upcoming tour, Better Than Decent is unquestionably the most talked about band in the world. They kick off this fall in Seattle, continuing across the United States for seven months, and then onto Europe for an additional five. Tickets are already sold out with only a few VIP spots left to grab, and, although the tour is yet to begin, many say it will be their best yet.

‘The Broken Hearts Tour’ is significant for one reason: Rhythm Guitarist Alex Wolf may be putting an end to his iconic love songs dedicated simply to the mysterious A.M.S. With a serious relationship in the works, many believe ‘The Broken Hearts Tour’ will be the end of an era for the musician, and the beginning to what some hope may be the relationship to heal his broken heart. Nothing has been confirmed by Wolf, who remains silent on the matter, but fans have begun to speculate.

If this is, in fact, the end of the A.M.Ss, will we ever find out who the mysterious girl is? Or what happened between the two? And if not, will Wolf continue to create iconic ballads for the new love in his life—songs that we’ve come to not only expect but to which we all eagerly await?

Better Than Decent fans are in a tizzy with the tour and Wolf’s burgeoning relationship, but many won’t let the question go. Many still need to know the reason behind the hits that have rocked the romance world—the question we’ve all been dying to have answered for five years:

What happened?

Part 2:

Beginning

I BRING MY BRUSH TO the canvas.

It’s the only thing I’m allowed to do since I’m grounded for two weeks.

Paint.

School and back and painting in my room. It probably could be worse. Aunt Milly could be moving in, and my world would be ending, so at least mom was rational when dishing out the punishment for walking in on Alex and me making out earlier.

I’ve been replaying it for hours and I’m still a total mess each time I think about it. I knew what would happen when I invited him in. I knew we’d end up on the bed or the couch and there would be some serious, serious kissing. I just didn’t know my mom would show up a day early.

A gentle knock pulls me from my thoughts.

I turn as the door opens.

Mom stands in the entry, comfy in her pajamas. Her blonde hair is pulled into a ponytail, and her freckled complexion is more visible now that she’s removed most of her makeup. After Alex left, she shouted the two-week punishment and sent me to my room. That was this afternoon, and I haven’t seen her since. She’s been too angry to talk. All she knows is a surprise visit home resulted in finding her daughter on the couch with some boy. Some random teenage boy.

How’s it going? she asks.

Fine.

She lets out a loud sigh. I want to talk about earlier.

I put down my brush.

Mom walks in but doesn’t head straight for me. She gives herself a tour of my room, distracting herself with art supplies and band posters. After a moment, she pauses by my dresser. She looks over. I’ve had a couple glasses of wine, so I think I’m a little calmer now.

Okay.

So. She folds her arms, and I can still tell she’s trying not to yell. She’s not happy about what happened but at least she’s willing to talk. That was your boyfriend?

Alex. Yeah.

When did you start dating?

Today. Technically.

Her eyes pop. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing, but then she walks over and sits on my bed. I can tell she feels a little guilty about how she reacted, but on the other hand, she knows she’s also in the right. Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, she looks up at the ceiling. Autumn, when I was your age—

I wasn’t going to have sex with him.

You don’t know that.

True.

Even if you’re right, even if that was your first time alone with him in the house—I don’t like it. It’s not something I’m okay with. At your age, with your hormones all over the place, you need to have parental supervision. Things happen that you’re not—

You’re right, I agree because she is. I shouldn’t have invited him over. I’m sorry.

Mom nods, accepting my apology, but the conversation is far from over. It’s not because I don’t trust you—or him—but in the heat of the moment...sometimes...even when you have the best intentions...things just...happen.

She doesn’t have to tell me.

The first time Alex and I made-out was last Saturday at his concert, after a little light kissing turned into a full make-out session on a bed. And that was while he was still dating Jessa. It was wrong, but I couldn’t stop. My brain shut off and my body took over, so I completely understand how things can get too far without meaning for them to.

So...was this the boy you were so upset about earlier?

Yeah.

You sounded heartbroken when I talked to you. What changed?

What changed was what Alex did for me.

I was so hurt that he didn’t know who he wanted—Jessa or me—that I made the decision for him. Friends. We were only going to be friends. But then he ended his relationship and even got in the first fight in school history over it, only to be suspended for three days. The next time I saw him, he was singing to me at the annual talent show.

And the song was good. Actually...it was kind of perfect. And he was perfect when he sang to me. I lift a shoulder. He just...fixed things.

How?

Do I tell my mom the entire story? Or do I fill her in with the SparkNotes version? She’s kind of like Savvy in that she’ll settle for the headlines now, but she’ll need—and ask for—the details later.

Okay. I take a breath. Don’t freak out or anything...but he’s a musician.

Mom’s face falls. In fact, it turns pale. Like really pale. So pale in fact that it makes me a little nervous.

What?

Tell me he plays the Tuba.

Guitar.

If possible, she grows even whiter. I know mothers probably don’t want their daughters dating musicians, but she seems to be taking it a little overboard. She doesn’t know anything about him. Other than what she walked in on...but hopefully, we’ll move past that quickly.

Well, we had a talent show at school—you know, that annual one I told you about last year? He entered it...and wrote me a song.

He wrote you a song?

And sang it to me.

Her brows pinch. Was it any good?

"Oh, yeah."

Mom considers this. Then considers the look on my face. By the sounds of it...he’s fairly decent?

He’s better than decent. Mom, I stand, feeling the urge to spill everything, "he’s amazing. Like, pretty much a prodigy. People say his band is going to—"

He’s in a band?

Yeah.

Her worry returns. Where’d you meet him?

We go to school together.

And you two have been friends for a while?

Actually, no.

Alex and I only started talking two weeks ago. Before that, we barely acknowledged each other. We were trapped in an uncomfortable backlash of what happened in seventh grade—when Leo Warskowski exposed Alex’s sketchbook filled with pictures of me. It was horrible when it happened, and it’s been awkward ever since—up until two weeks ago when Mr. Mitchell assigned us partners in the Family Planning and Development class that we share.

Then everything changed.

Not...exactly.

Mom waits for me to go on.

It’s...kind of a long story.

She considers this, and then glances at the clock on my nightstand. It’s already past ten and I can tell she’s ready to put an end to the day with some much-needed sleep. We can always pick this up tomorrow. Mom stands with a half-smile, but she’s not ready to leave just yet.

He’s a good kid? What’s his name again?

Alex. And yeah. He’s a good one.

She nods. I can tell she has more questions, but she knows anything else will lead to the long story that neither of us has time for tonight. Finally, she offers the kind of smile she’s been holding back, the one that says she’s happy—really, genuinely happy—to be home, despite what she arrived home to.

We’ll talk more in the morning. She walks to the door and grabs the handle, but turns around one more time. I’m glad to be home, baby. I’m happy to see you.

I’m happy you’re home too.

Mom leaves the room and closes the door behind her.

Once she’s gone, I reach for my brush.

I keep painting.

AUTUMN—WHERE’S YOUR car?

Walking into the kitchen, I wipe my eyes, still not fully awake. Mom perches at the table, pegging me with an accusing stare, the same one from yesterday afternoon. Not the kind, wine-soaked one she talked to me with last night, when she was more understanding of what happened. Tapping her nails on her coffee mug, she waits for my answer.

Oh. Right.

My car.

It’s...at a friend’s house.

Why is it at a friend’s house and not here?

I slide into the chair across from her. My Toyota Camry was in rough shape to begin with, and then things stopped working immediately. It sat unused in my driveway for almost six months, so Savvy, my best friend, has been driving me to school and home. Mom has been harping on me to get the thing fixed or sell it and use the money to buy a new car, but it’s never been a priority. Not when I could use that time painting.

I wipe my eyes again, fighting off a yawn. Because I’m having a friend fix it.

With what money?

He’s doing it for free.

Why?

Alex asked him to.

Uh-oh.

Not the right thing to say, apparently. Mom pegs me with another look. Brows crinkled, she brings her coffee mug closer, pausing before she takes a drink. And what is he asking for in return?

Nothing.

Nothing?

I shrug. He just offered Corey to fix it. But even if he doesn’t, I stretch my arms over my head, it’s not like he’s going to break it. It’s already dead.

Mom takes a sip of her coffee. Normally, she does her crossword with the breakfast beverage, but I don’t see it in front of her.

No paper?

Haven’t gotten it yet.

I’ll grab it. I jump from my seat and head for the front door, hoping to win some points. I almost take a step when I notice something large and white sitting on the welcome mat: an envelope with two small handwritten words.

For Autumn.

Excitement fills me.

Snatching the envelope, I hear mom walk up.

What’s that?

I don’t know. I flip it over and open it, delicately slipping out the contents.

My heart stops.

It’s a charcoal drawing of Alex and me, holding hands. It’s what I imagine we might’ve looked like yesterday after he won the talent competition, after he asked if he’d fixed what happened. I didn’t have the words to tell him how much what he did means to me. I still don’t. But I slipped my fingers through his, hoping he could feel it with the gentle gesture.

Now he’s captured the moment.

He drew this? Mom asks, genuinely surprised.

Biting my lip through a fierce smile, I nod.

He’s pretty good.

I nod again.

"And he plays guitar? He must be very talented."

I can’t stop staring at it. When did he leave it? Looking around, I scan the neighborhood, hoping to catch a glimpse of him somewhere. I’m dying to see him. Dying to talk to him. I haven’t done either since yesterday, in this very spot. No texts, no calls, no AIM. He must’ve known I’d be busy with my mom all night, but today is a new day, and he’s already stopped by.

Can I call him? I spin around. Please?

She shakes her head. You’re grounded.

I want to let him know I got this—thank him for it.

You can thank him on Monday. Now come on, she gestures to the house, if you’re getting the paper, get it. Then come back inside. We’ve got some more catching up to do.

She heads into the house, but I twist around, still searching the neighborhood. There’s a slight chance he just dropped it off and could still be nearby. My heart quickens at the thought. I do another scan but don’t see any black trucks. Everything is quiet. Retrieving the paper, I head back inside, the white envelope tucked close against me.

REMEMBER, STRAIGHT to school and back. No stops.

Yes, Ms. Sommers. Savvy smiles brightly, putting on her best innocent face. You got it.

I’m surprised my mom isn’t driving me herself. From the way it sounded, she still wasn’t entirely convinced Savvy wouldn’t take a short-cut and pick up Alex. Or take me to his house and pretend we were staying afterschool for extracurriculars. But I told my mom that I wanted to get my punishment over with as soon as possible and wouldn’t risk lying and having her find out. Besides, I think she has errands to do today. She’s only home for a limited time, and she needs to get as much done as she can.

I know what time school ends, she adds, looking between me and my bestie. When neither of us says anything, she nods. Alright you two. Have a good day.

Bye, mom. I kiss her cheek.

Bye, Ms. Sommers. Savvy waves and I follow her out of the house to her car parked in the driveway. My mom watches the entire time, as if suspicious we might run off the moment she turns her back. As we pull out onto the street, I offer her a final wave, and she heads back inside the house.

"Geez," Savvy laughs.

Think she’s serious about this grounding thing?

"Yeah—can we go over that? Because with no phone privileges, I still have no idea what happened and I’ve been waiting two days to find out!"

Normally, I tell my best friend everything, but with mom dropping by my room every hour to make sure I’m not on the phone or AIM, it’s been impossible to catch up Savvy.

She, of course, is dressed for school like a Rockstar: red tank with a black mini-skirt and matching fishnets. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail with the top half platinum blonde and her natural brown beneath.

I don’t look quite as hot.

Mom approved an eighties-inspired off-the-shoulder gray sweater with a pair of jeans and white tennis shoes. My straw-colored hair sits in a bun on top of my head with frizzy bits already falling out. I could—and probably should—look a bit cuter, but I don’t want anything to rock the boat. She already gave Savvy’s brazen outfit a once-over, but my mom knows that my best friend is going to do—and wear—whatever she wants.

Oh, you know, I buckle my seatbelt, typical story. Girl and boy fool around on couch. Mom walks in. Loses her shit.

What’d she walk in on?

I redden from the memory. Alex feeling me up.

Clothes on? Savvy shoots me a wicked grin.

Yes. Thank God.

"Were you guys, like, really into it?"

We’d just started making out. It probably would’ve gone a bit further, but then mom screamed, and Alex jumped off of me, and it was like... I shudder, "...so awkward after that. For all of us. Anyway. I look over. How was your weekend?"

Savvy scoffs like it doesn’t matter. My weekend was filled with keeping others up-to-date with gossip about you and Alex. How long you’ve been secretly dating. If you’re going to Homecoming together. If you guys have had sex yet. You know, basically your personal life.

Great.

I told everyone the truth—that Alex is head over heels in love with you, and y’all two just started dating. They didn’t seem to like that answer, but oh well.

This is going to be interesting.

No. This is going to be intense. I know you’ve been cut off from the world for the last forty-eight hours, but people are obsessed with what happened on Friday. And I mean that. Obsessed.

Why?

She pulls us onto the main road that leads to Grant Senior High. "Probably the fact that the best act in talent show history was an amazingly incredible love song for you. Not to mention it came from the same person who was in the first fight in school history. So, she shoots me a worried look, you better be prepared for more road bumps along the way. Because they’re coming."

Great.

You know girls are going to want him now.

I know.

They’re going to go after him, especially because he’s taken.

Don’t tell me this. I don’t want to know.

Sure, you do. You want the entire school to know he’s off-limits so when we get there, you need to find him immediately—and I mean, like, in the parking garage—and y’all two need to have a dangerously sexy kiss where everyone can see it, and then walk in together. Set the tone early.

Set what tone? That we’re dating? Everyone knows we’re dating.

The tone that he’s off-limits.

I look out the window.

Hopefully what happened Friday will blow over. It’s wishful thinking since nothing exciting really happens at Grant, and with the fight followed by the talent show last week, people will be clinging to this for a while. I wish they wouldn’t. I wish we could just be together and not have anyone in our business. But they’ve been in our business since seventh grade—why stop now?

You know I got your back in this, Savvy adds.

I know.

"If I see any girl—and I mean any—trying to go after your man, I’ll set ‘em straight."

This makes me smile. I love Savvy. I love that she’s so fierce and so strong and wonderful. And I love that she’s my best friend.

When we get to school, I take a deep breath, my heart drumming faster. I’m nervous about what Savvy said, but also about seeing Alex. I haven’t seen him since Friday. And even though he dropped by at some point early Saturday to deliver my now-favorite picture, today will be the first time seeing him—and that has my stomach in knots.

Alright, Savvy looks at me. Show-time.

We get out of her car, and I immediately look for his truck. Except it’s not there. Strange. Savvy and I exchange glances but she assures me with a calming smile. It’s fine. Everything is fine.

After waiting a couple of minutes, I realize we’ll be late if we don’t leave now, so I follow her down the main stairwell and out of the garage before heading toward the main building. Honestly, I’m disappointed. I was hoping to see him up there, waiting for me. But maybe he’s not coming today. Maybe something happened, and I don’t know about it because I haven’t been allowed to talk to him.

When first period ends, I head to my locker to switch out books. I’m about to close the door when I feel someone next to me.

I look up.

My heart stops.

There he is. Alex. Smiling and perfect and wonderful. My stomach does flips as I take him in—his usual gray hoodie with jeans and Converse, his short dark hair hidden beneath the hood. But I’m focused on his eyes, which are staring at mine.

I can’t help the smile it causes or the blush racing from my head to my feet. Hey.

He’s grinning back just