1. Brook
September 12, 2020.
The light of dawn seeped into my room. I rubbed my bleary eyes and shifted on the bed, only to hit a wall. Wait, a wall? Since when? And fuck, why did my head hurt so much? A groan beside me made my eyes snap open and I realized that I was not in my bed and that what I hit was not a wall, but a back. A tattoo-covered back, to be more precise.
What the fuck?
I looked around the room, realizing that this room was not mine but someone else's. That someone was the male beside me. I jumped when my phone began ringing and quickly sat up before realizing that I had a flimsy sheet covering my very naked body and froze.
What the fuck?
What happened last night?
And where the hell am I?
My phone stopped ringing for a second before it started up again. This time, the stranger spoke up.
"Shut the thing off before I throw it out the window."
I froze, my eyes wide at the sound of the stranger, who was no stranger at all. It was fucking Jacob Rodriguez, Riverside High School's resident bad boy.
Can this day get any worse?
Not considering the caller was my father.
I closed my eyes and pressed the answer button before pressing the mobile to my ear.
"Brooklyn Addison Payne, where the hell are you?" My dad asked, anger clear in his voice, and I swallowed the knot in my throat.
"Um," I stuttered just as a cry on the other end made my heart break as a little voice called for me. "I'm sorry, Papa, I didn't mean to stay out this late."
I scurried around the unfamiliar bedroom in search of my clothes, ignoring the eyes burning holes in the back of my head. "I'm very disappointed in you, Brooklyn."
My heart shattered at his words before the call ended with him saying that he'll see me at home when I got back.
"Please tell me that what I think happened didn't happen," I said, looking at Jacob, and he raised a brow as he sat on the edge of the bed, sheets covering his lower half. It was wishful thinking, seeing as he, too, was naked. Not only that, but he had love bites all over his neck and chest.
"Then I'd be lying, and you know I don't lie," he stated, and fuck him for being so freaking hot. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.
"Di-Did you at least use protection?" I asked, and he again raised a brow. I sighed before shaking my head and getting dressed in the dress I had worn last night.
I'm going to kill Wynter.
"Hey," I looked over my shoulder at Jacob to see he had thrown on a pair of pants. "I'm sorry, about last night, I mean. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you even if I was drunk myself."
I was stunned that he'd apologize for something we had no control over, seeing as when you drink a little too much, you lose control of your senses and actions. Even more shocking was the fact that Jacob never apologizes for sleeping with someone after a party.
"Um, why are you apologizing? I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, but why? You never apologize after sleeping with someone," I asked, and he shrugged as a reply. I sighed before shaking my head and leaving his room.
I made my way down the hall towards the stairs and noticed the photos lining them. They were photographs of Jacob and whom I'm guessing were his mother and sister. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep, homely browns, and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. The banister was a twirl of a branch, tamed by the carpenter's hand, its grain flowing as water might in waves of comforting woodland hues. Under the lamp-shine, it was nature's art, something that soothed you right to the soul. I was utterly blown away by how beautiful and simple this house was compared to my own.
And no, I'm not boasting either.
My family is rich. But that didn't mean my siblings and I were spoiled and given whatever we wanted. In fact, our parents had us work for the things we wanted. We're not like those other rich people who love showing off their money with expensive cars, top-of-the-line designer clothes, and expensive vacations.
I slowly and gently opened the door and exited the quiet home before making my way to my car.
"What the hell was I thinking?"
Having sex with him of all people? Seriously, Brooklyn? Why are you so dumb?
I slammed my head on the steering wheel and yelled.
"Fuck!"
I felt tears burn my eyes as fear invaded my stomach at the thought of possibly getting pregnant again since clearly neither of us was thinking about covering it up before doing the deed. I wasn't ready for another child. I still had five months of senior year left, and after that, I was thinking of going to LACM to study music composition and songwriting.
I took a deep breath and turned the engine on before pulling out of the driveway and making my way toward the other side of LA. To my home.
"Mama!" A tiny voice wailed as soon as I stepped foot into the house, and all of my fears evaporated at that moment. All I could focus on was him. That tiny little human that had made me a mom. Even if he wasn't planned, he, with just a toothy smile, makes my dark days bright. That same little boy that stole my heart away the very second he was placed in my arms two years ago.
"Hi, cub," I whispered as Mom handed him to me. He wrapped his tiny little arms around my neck as he sniffled while I rubbed his back, shushing him as I cradled him against me. "Shh, it's alright, baby, I'm here, shh."
I looked at Dad, and he sighed, shaking his head. I'm sorry, I mouthed, and he nodded before nodding his head to the stairs, indicating that I could go to my room with Grayson. Which I did. But I knew that I had a long lecture coming from not just Dad, but Mom as well.
"It's okay, baby, shh, I've got you," I murmured as I climbed the stairs with a sniffling toddler who refused to let go even when we got to the room we shared. I climbed into the bed, not caring about changing out of the dress I wore. Grayson buried his little face in my neck before his cries slowed and he was fast asleep.
This is why I had refused to go to that damn party last night. But of course, my dear ole sister convinced my parents to let me go even though I didn't want to.
"I promise to keep an eye on her all night. Can she please go with me? I don't want to go alone," Wynter had whined, begging our parents, who had looked at me. Damn it, I should've been persistent with my answer instead of letting her convince me with those damn puppy eyes that she knows always work on not just me, but on our parents and brother.
And no, I'm not blaming her for what happened last night between Jacob and me, because like he said, we were drunk and weren't thinking straight. But then again, she did leave me behind instead of looking for me.
Before I keep going, let me formally introduce myself to you. As you have already guessed, my name is Brooklyn, and I have a twin sister named Wynter, an older brother named Victor, a future sister-in-law named Michelle, and my parents are Damon and Heather Payne. I'm 18 years old and have a two-year-old son named Grayson. I go to Riverside High School in downtown LA. I'm in my last year of high school.
My family is well-known in LA, and it's no surprise considering my parents are celebrities, along with my brother and his fiancée. Dad is a former singer, actor, and model, while Mom is the CEO and Producer of one of California's biggest music labels, Diamond Records. Vic and Mickey are both models and MMA champs.
Despite that, my parents taught Wynter and me to be humble. Meaning that if we wanted something, then we had to work for it. Yes, they had both been devastated and very disappointed when I told them about being pregnant with Grayson, but were also very supportive. Grayson's father wasn't in the picture, and I know one day he'll ask for him. I'll tell him, but until then, I'd rather not have him anywhere near that man. Or his family, for that matter.
A knock on my door brought me out of my thoughts and I looked up as it opened to see Dad poking his head in. "I'm guessing he's asleep?"
"Yeah," I whispered, and he nodded before walking further in.
"I'm sorry," we said in unison and smiled, with Dad sighing.
"I shouldn't have said what I did," he said, but I shook my head.
"You're right, and I'm sorry for not coming home sooner," I murmured.
"No, you're not a disappointment, Brooklyn," he said as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I said that out of worry because we feared the worst when Wynter got home and you didn't."
"How did she even get home? We went in my car," I asked.
"Apparently, she ran into one of your friends at the party and got a ride with her when she couldn't find you."
"Awesome, and she didn't think about calling or sending me a text?" I grumbled.
"She said you left the party with a boy," he said, raising a brow, making me bite my lip. "Brooklyn?"
I just nodded, not wanting to tell him what happened even though I'm sure he can piece them together. He groaned. "What have we told you about drinking?"
"Not to do it since it makes me do stupid things," I said, and he sighed.
"At this rate, I'm going to grow gray hair before the end of the year," he muttered, making me smile.
"Don't worry, there won't be any more parties," I said, making him raise a brow. "I think I've had enough fun to last me a lifetime."
"If only Wynter felt that way," he commented, making me smile.
"We're talking about Wynter here, Dad. That girl will not stop until she's partied out," I said, and he shook his head, muttering under his breath about her being the death of him, before he leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of my head.
"Get some rest, Brook. You've had quite a night."
And a night I did.
I have a feeling that this little mishap was only the beginning of something. What that something is, I had no idea, but I was actually looking forward to it. Believe it or not, I was excited to see what will happen. And I know that whatever it may be, I'll have my family's support. For that, I was glad.