The Perfect Love in my Not So Perfect Life

By Wildfires mane

Lexi is a young girl like any, her past haunts her and she finds it hard to move forward. She meets the boy that steals her heart and life seems to be perfect as she believes it's what happily ever after's are written about. Follow Lexi on her journey as she falls head over heels in love with the popular boy in school and all is right in the world, until it isn't. Her life begins to sprial out of control again and she has but only one thing to do, tell him everything and put him and her family in danger, or make a run for it and save them all.

 

The Perfect Love in a Not so Perfect Life is the first of the series. There are two more books in the works and will be released soon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wildfires mane
• Release date: Apr 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201368531

Wildfires mane

 I have had a passion for writing since I was a young child in school, and over the years that love has only grown. I don't like to label myself to only one genre, My only hope is that I can bring the joy to those that read my stories as all of my favorite authors have brought to me over the years. My favorite part of reading is the story line and being able to completely get lost in the realm of a different world with the characters, it allows me to decompress and if for only a few minutes in a day, the stress of the world we live in right now, disappears. I only hope that I can bring that to you too. Truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for deciding to take this journey with my book.

Book preview

Prologue

Dear Diary,

I had never given much thought about small town living, but due to my crappy teenage decisions, that’s exactly where I ended up. And now, now I have to deal with the consequences, get thru two more years of high school and then my life might get back on track, then I can go back to a life that I know, a life full of luxury and everything within a walk from my home.

If only I had listened to my parents when they told me that I was headed down the wrong path, I might still be back in my old home, with my old friends and my old school and the much-loved life I left. Instead, I had to rebel against what they told me, I had to do it or die, and for what; for a love that I thought I had for a boy that would rather spit on me and see me harmed then to protect me and love me back.

Looking back on it now; I admit I was stupid and blind to his ways and my parents were absolutely right in everything they said, I am only glad that I didn’t give him anymore of myself than a part of my heart, a kiss or two and time that I can never replace. When we fled, I fled with the rest of my heart, I fled with my dignity, and I became wise and much smarter.

I have sworn off boys, I have promised to focus on my studies and better my life, and I have vowed to never return to that life, to that place, and to never see him again. Admitting to myself is one of the hardest things in the world I have found to do, admitting that I am pretty sure he was my first love, and I am pretty sure that given the opportunity I would reach out to him, but I know deep down that it would not only endanger my life, but my mother, and Nana’s as well.

Today is day one of a new life, today is the day that I begin to look forward and quit looking back, today is the day that I close my heart to the outside world, I put my head down and I push forward with everything I have. A seventeen-year-old girl should never have to go through things that I have, she should never have to be put in a situation where not only her life, but her families depend on her decisions.

So here is to today, to a new beginning, to a new life, to more smiles, new memories, and a new home.

Sincerely, Lexi

That was my journal entry for the day, something the therapist said would help me to cope with everything that had happened in my life. At first, I had put it off, I never wanted to admit that things were my fault, I didn’t want to admit, that because I opened my heart to Tyler Smith my freshman year that I had fell into a dark hole of secrets, danger, and control.

My first day of school my first year at little Sandy High School was a day I would never forget. Tyler was the quarterback, he was the cutest guy in school with his black hair, pecan-colored eyes, his baby face with a smile that would make any girl swoon, a senior, and his eyes were set on me the day I walked through those doors. His little sister Amy quickly became my friend, but little did I know at that time that she was only my friend because Tyler wanted her to get close to me and introduce us. Tyler’s family was one of the most prestigious and well-respected families in Seattle, but not because they were wealthy. They were wealthy but they were also the leaders in the underworld there; drugs, human trafficking, illegal firearm sales and so much more, but to look from the outside in, they looked like the everyday American family.

The day Tyler asked me to the Halloween dance my freshman year was the day my life took a road that would forever change it. For the first couple of months everything was perfect, he was a gentleman, I was the envy of all the girls, and he made me fall in love with him. That Christmas when he took me home to meet his family was the day my life started to spiral, and I didn’t even know it at the time. Tyler graduated that spring, but that didn’t separate us. That summer was one of the most memorable of my life, we did everything together; we spent time at the beach, we went on dates and the more my parents tried to put space between us, the more we fought to be together. Tyler had decided to take a gap year before going to college so that meant he would be close the whole time I was still in school; it made my heart happy to know that he didn’t want to leave me just yet.

The night before my first day of sophomore year was the night my spiraling life began to get out of control. That was the night that he took me along on one of his family business meetings, or that’s what he called it, anyway. That was the night I saw the drugs, I learned of the human trafficking, and there were firearms everywhere. The fight that night as he took me back home should have been the mark of us being over, but sadly it wasn’t.

For the first three months of my sophomore year Tyler was perfect and seemed to be trying to pull away from his family’s business. He picked me up every morning and took me to school and was waiting every afternoon to pick me up. His sister and I got closer since she was really the only friend I had in school, and we were the same age, but what I didn’t know was she was the only friend I was allowed to have, Tyler made sure of that. Amy let the cat out of the bag about the whole friend thing over Thanksgiving break and when I confronted Tyler about it, that was the first time he slapped me and shattered my heart. He apologized and made me believe it was an accident and of course I forgave him. That wasn’t the last time though, and it all escalated after that. I started wearing make-up to cover the bruises on my face and hide them from my family, the hoodies and turtlenecks barely covered the bruises on my neck, and I was only thankful that no one had to see me in shorts or a bathing suit, the bruising on the rest of my body was sickening. The more I tried to distance myself from him at that point the more the bruises came and the more controlling and possessive he became.

My grades began to fall and soon I was failing in school, I pulled away from my family and I honestly prayed every night for a way out safely, or to just die. Tyler had no problem threatening my family and had even had his father threaten them in front of me. My mom and dad had no idea and neither did Nana, so I was all alone in my battle, all they knew was he was bad for me, and they wanted us to separate.

My prayers were answered on Good Friday my sophomore year when I had gone to a business meeting with Tyler. I had decided I would do whatever it took to get out of that relationship and had little regard for my life that night. I hid behind the cars parked in the middle of nowhere while they did their business deal and I filmed it all with my camera. I never went back and watched the footage myself, but I was sure that night my heartbeat could be heard in that footage. My family had made plans for Easter Day, and it was my window to get away from Tyler because he would not be with us, or anywhere around. That was the day my life changed, that was the day I took back control and I sung like a bird when I walked into the police station with my phone and my bruises on display.

Little did I know that was also the day that my father would die in a horrible car accident, and with him Alexandria Marcel, her mom, and Nana. They couldn’t bring my dad back, but I was reborn as Lexi McMillin, along with my mother and Nana. When the detectives worked the accident and recognized me, they started investigating and found that someone had cut the brakes. That’s when they put us in witness relocation as soon as we were stable enough to move from the guarded off-site medical facility, they had taken us to. We lived in a small town in Texas for a year; I had to have extensive physical therapy because my back was broken in the car accident, so while I was laid up, I redid my sophomore year online in the safety of our home.

Once I was back on my feet and the trial ended with Tyler and his father, witness protection released us and told us we could go anywhere we wanted but to stay away from Washington. Tyler got fifteen years in prison and his father got fifty years, so they didn’t believe we were in danger any longer. The team that worked with us through the whole ordeal made sure to wipe away any trace of our existence. And that’s how we ended up here, Stillwater Georgia, a small town, an hour or two from any big town. A different life than I once knew, a new beginning. And even though I try to hold my head high and look forward, I knew it was all my fault, if I had only listened to my parents maybe my dad would still be alive, I would still be in Seattle, I would be starting my senior year not my junior and everything would be like it once was.

Chapter 1

H oney, you ready to go? Mom asked as she entered my room to find me sitting on the bed staring into space. Lexi, honey it’s your first day I don’t want you to be late.

I shook my head trying to lose all the thoughts that had been rambling through my mind. I turned over my shoulder to look at her and offer her a smile. Five minutes mom, I will meet you downstairs.

Okay, five minutes. She smiled and turned back toward the door, Stop in the kitchen and get you some cinnamon toast on your way out. Nana, has it sitting on the counter for you. And those were her final words as she disappeared into the hallway.

Okay Lexi, you can do this. I chanted to myself as I jumped up and stepped in front of the mirror.

I wasn’t really a girlie girl; jeans, a plain t-shirt, and my favorite white tennis shoes was perfect for me any day of the week. I had let my hair grow out and turn back to its natural color, but I preferred to keep those mocha-colored curls like moms in a ponytail most of the time. And I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, so I definitely didn’t want to wear any make-up, my baby blue eyes like my dads were enough to stand out on their own. All I wanted to do was get through the next two years unnoticed and with good grades.

With one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my bag off the chair and skipped to the kitchen. Nana was nowhere, but she had two pieces of cinnamon toast sitting on the counter on a napkin waiting on me. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as I grabbed the toast and a bottle of water and skipped out to the car where mom was waiting on me.

Wasting no time, I jumped in and buckled up, but then I realized we weren’t moving, and when I looked over at mom, she was deep in thought with her eyes locked on the driveway. Mom you, ok?

She never moved her eyes she only halfway smiled, We need to talk before I take you.

I knew where this was going so, I decided to speak first. I know mom, no boys, no friends, go to school, do my work and come home. We had only had this conversation five hundred times, the best thing for us was to just get through graduating.

She turned her head slightly to me and exhaled slowly, I know that’s what we talked about Lexi, but I have been thinking. That got my attention, and I turned all the way around in my seat to face her head on. What happened to you is one of those fluke things. We can’t think that every situation is going to be that way. We have already lost so much, and you have already been through so much hell in such a brief period of your life that you deserve to be happy honey. You need to make friends, you need to make memories, you need to experience being a teenager and doing teenage things. I want you to live Lexi. She laughed slightly before a frown made its way across her lips, You still have so much to experience; your first love, first true love, prom, football games, bonfires, movies, dinners, girl’s night. So much Lexi and this is your chance to start fresh and try it all.

I turned back in my seat and stared out the window, yes, I was strong, yes, my head was high, and to look from the outside in I probably looked like a normal teenage girl, but deep down I was terrified, especially with everything she had just said. I finally exhaled a breath I didn’t know I was holding in, I don’t know mom. While that all sounds normal, it sounds scary as hell to these ears.

She started the car and put it in drive pulling out onto the road. Just promise me you will open yourself a little to life experiences. This is time you will never get back; you never get to rewind and have a do over. You have already lost so much; I just want to see you be happy. She chuckled loudly, And I am okay with leaving those first love experiences out. I don’t think any of us are ready for that.

That caused me to spew the water out I was currently getting a drink of, once I finally caught my breath, I couldn’t help but laugh with her. I will think about it. First let’s see what kind of kids they are, you know Little Sandy was full of jocks and preps, I didn’t really fit in anywhere. I swallowed another drink of water to ease my tingling throat. So how do I get home today? I needed to change the subject, all those memories were trying to race back through my head, and I needed it to be clear before walking into a new school.

I start my new job at that doctor’s office you went to with me the other day as their secretary. You can either come there and wait for me to get off, catch the bus or call Nana. I would say walk, but I think it might be a little far in this heat.

I’ll just walk over to the office after school and wait on you. She was right it was quite humid out, and we lived about twenty minutes from the school by car, not sure how long it would take to walk it. And I didn’t want to bother Nana, she had been a mess since dad died, he was her only son, and she still was having a tough time with him being gone. It’s just a couple of blocks from the school so shouldn’t be so bad. I added.

Okay honey that, sounds perfect. And after I get off, maybe we can stop and get some take out before we go home. What do you think?

That actually sounded great, we never went anywhere and done anything, and poor Nana was wearing herself down around the house, this was a new day, new life, and time for stepping out of our safety zone just a little. Sounds great. I reached down and turned the radio up just a bit. Now I need some therapy, so if you don’t mind mom, I would like to sing a little and get lost in the music.

Go right ahead, She sung back causing me to giggle as I started to belt out some tunes to the music and she only cranked it up louder.

Chapter 2

Walking from the lower end of the parking lot up the sidewalk toward the school I felt all kinds of emotions trying to break through. Fear, I was afraid of this new life, I was afraid of who I might meet, what would they be like, would they have dark hidden secrets too. Excitement and anxious, a new life, new people, new school; would they like me, would I make new friends, what would the curriculum be like? Those emotions were all there, and at the same time, I felt a sense of calming; it was a new life a new beginning, and maybe I should take mom’s advice, make friends, real friends.

I stopped at the end of the walkway where it met the steps to lead to the school door. It looked like any other school I supposed; two story brick with white vinyl windows on each floor. The lawn had huge trees shading it and the lawn was freshly cut. There were students everywhere; some tossing a football, some playing on their phones, some sitting on the lawn with their books or friends. No one seemed to notice the new kid standing there, as out of place as I felt, I also felt a sense of comfortableness.

Here goes, I told myself as I took a deep breath and began the climb to the front door. It didn’t take long to reach the two large wooden doors propped open. Looking inside I could see halls, and students everywhere like outside, but like the students outside no one seemed to even notice me as I stepped inside.

Hi, a deep voice chirped from beside me causing me to jump out of my skin. I turned quickly with me hand on my chest as I tried to calm my beating heart. The smile on the boy’s face quickly fell and he reached out to touch my shoulder and I stepped to the side as quick as possible. I am so sorry; I really didn’t mean to startle you. He almost whispered his voice was so low.

I let my eyes wonder just a bit, judging by my own height of five foot three, I assumed he might have been five, five, or five six, his perfectly cut dirty blond hair and brown eyes looked great on his slightly tanned skin. He dressed about like me, with his jeans and t-shirt, and I was betting he was a jock the way his muscles laid under his shirt.

I watched his smile slowly start to creep back across his face and I shook the thoughts from my head and placed my hand back to my side. It’s okay, just didn’t see you there. I finally whispered.

He held his hand out, Everybody calls me Art.

Staring at his hand for what felt like an hour but was really only a few seconds, I finally shook it as quick as possible and then stuck my hand in my pocket. Lexi. I glanced over my shoulder looking for an exit as soon as possible, Can you tell me where the office is? On the outside he looked harmless, and I didn’t really feel threatened, but then again, I couldn’t really trust my judgement.

He stepped out to the side of me and placed his hands in his pocket as he motioned his head backwards. Follow me. And then he turned to walk down the hallway.

I followed silently behind him as we walked down the extremely long hallway. Everybody greeted him and he greeted them back, but none of them seemed to even notice me, which was fine with me. Before I knew it, we were standing in front of a set of glass doors, and inside I could see the receptionist and students in a line.

Thanks, I whispered as I stepped around him and opened the door only to feel his hand on my shoulder making me immediately tremble to his touch.

Want some company? He asked as he dropped his hand and I turned to face him. My face must have shown the fear I felt whether I wanted it to or not, because he held his hands up in mock surrender and offered me a sympathetic smile. Easy, I mean no harm. I am just trying to be a friend; every kid could use a friend in a new place.

My mom’s words rang out in my head; make new friends, and I knew whether I wanted to or not, I needed to. I just didn’t understand why it had to be a guy, why couldn’t any girls approach me. I took a deep breath and put on the best smile I could muster up. Sorry, Art. I looked at the door I was still holding open and then back to him. I could use a friend. I finally admitted.

He stayed by my side silently as I collected my schedule from the secretary and made all the adjustments I needed to. When I had done my online studies, I had done most junior classes with my sophomore classes, so my junior year I could do senior classes, and then my senior year I could take dual credit classes and be one step closer to getting into a prestige college. I wanted to be a doctor like my dad, and I had almost let my sophomore year ruin me, so now I had to make up for it all.

Wow those classes are intense for a junior. Art gasped over my shoulder as he looked at my schedule.

I know, but next year I want to take some precollege classes so they will all look good on my college admissions.

Good thing for you, great minds thinks alike. He tapped his temple with his finger, We have a lot of the same classes, like you I want my high school career to look good on my college resume. He laughed as we turned and exited back into the hallway. He pointed to the paper in my hand which held the list of my classes. Most of these will be like a deserted town for the next couple of weeks.

How come?

Our school does things a little different when you are a senior. Seniors don’t start school back until after Labor Day, so since most of these classes are senior classes, there will only be a handful of students in each. Mainly juniors doing the same thing we are, or those seniors that feel like they are struggling and want to get in some extra class time before graduation. I didn’t really understand the logic behind it all, but I nodded nonetheless like I understood. Maybe it would be a good thing and it would give me time to adjust before the seniors returned.

Okay, well I guess I need to find my locker and then head to my first class. I said it aloud before I thought, maybe a small part of me felt comfortable around him, but another part of me was picking the flight mode and I was ready to lift off.

He laughed and pointed down the hall, Good thing for you, your locker is near mine and Lilly’s, and all but two of our classes are the same.

I raised a brow at him, something about the way he said the girl’s name made me suddenly aware that he had a huge crush on this girl. He started to walk down the hall and I quickly caught up to his side and matched his stride, So Lilly huh?

He looked over at me and his cheeks were immediately red as an apple as he scratched the back of his head, That obvious? He questioned and I only shook my head. She’s a senior, cheerleader, most beautiful girl in the world, my best friend, and I am pretty sure the love of my life. He said all in one big breath.

So not girlfriend? He shook his head and I smiled, Then I think we should change that this year. I instantly had a project and maybe, just maybe a friend.

I don’t think she would ever look at me like that, but thanks.

I stepped out in front of him and placed my hand on his chest stopping him in his tracks, Listen, I know we don’t know each other very well, but consider me a friend, and as a friend I am telling you, life is short you need to go for it.

His smile matched mine and I knew right then I had him hooked, and project Art and Lilly was already forming in my head. He quickly showed me to my locker which was only two doors down from his and then he showed me Lilly’s which was two doors the other direction of his.

The rest of the day we spent going from class to class, and the two classes we didn’t have together, he made sure to walk me to mine before going to his. In each of our classes we were assigned seats for the year next to each other which meant I didn’t have to acclimate myself to a strange senior when they returned from break. He talked all day long and I learned all kinds of information about the school, the clicks, who to befriend and who to avoid. I found it interesting that Lilly was part of what he called the school’s mean girl click but he kept saying she was nothing like them. He also made it clear that of all the seniors, Lilly was the only one I wanted to try and befriend, he said the others would just ignore me. He spent the day introducing me to all his friends, which in hindsight I was sure was the majority if not all the students. As the day went on, I found myself getting increasingly comfortable with Art, he wasn’t anything like Tyler or Amy; he wasn’t possessive or stingy, he wanted me to make friends and helped me to learn to say hello. I didn’t ask him much about his life and I was thankful he didn’t ask me about mine, as much as I was beginning to feel comfortable around him, I wasn’t ready to tell anyone about my life, honestly that person didn’t exist anymore, and I didn’t want to ever tell anyone.

My final class of the day came and went, and it was one that I didn’t have with Art, so when the bell rung, I debated whether to find him or leave. Peering out into the hallway at the hustle and bustle of the kids moving around I quickly decided to just leave, I was feeling mentally and physically exhausted from the day. It didn’t take long for me to make it to the exit and step outside onto the steps and take a deep breath. Without any thought I found my feet moving to their own accord as I followed the same path down the steps and onto the sidewalk, I had walked up that morning. I truly believed when I had arrived that morning that by the end of the day I would be running as fast as I could away from that building, but somehow, I felt myself comfortably strolling down the walkway enjoying the sunshine, I even found myself smiling and waving at those kids I had met that day who were leaving and waving at me as they passed me.

Heavy steps pounding the ground behind me brought me out of my peace and I immediately felt myself tense up as my eyes began to search in front of me looking for an escape route. My pace picked up a bit and I felt myself shrink into myself as I ducked my head down toward my chest and took a deep breath.

An arm snaked around my shoulder and heard labored breathing beside me, freezing me in my steps. I looked over to only see Art smiling back at me as he tried to catch his breath. You alright Lex, you look like you saw a ghost. All I could do was nod my head, I didn’t trust my voice or anymore of my body’s movements in that moment. Where you headed?

I swallowed the lump in my throat that felt like it was going to close my airway any minute and tried to force a smile across my face. My mom started a new job today; I am walking there to wait for her to get off work and then I am headed home.

He started to walk and having his arm around my shoulder pulled me right alongside him to match his steps. I was glad, otherwise I might have frozen in one spot for who knows how long. I’ll walk with you, I have to stop by my mom’s office and then I am headed to the pool hall with some friends, want to come?

A part of me did want to go, a part of me wanted to break out of my shell, but another part, the bigger part of me was screaming no, I wasn’t ready yet. Not this evening, rain check? I asked, trying to sound convincing.

Deal. Now where we headed? He laughed as we turned on the sidewalk headed off school premises."

Dr. Malone’s office. I said matter of fact.

What a coincidence me too. He laughed as we continued our stroll.