Destined: A Potential Series Novella (The Potential Series Book 3) Read online

  Thanksgiving has come and gone. I tried to keep a bright demeanor for my parents. They could see right through my facade though neither of them called me out on my fake holiday cheer. I’m sure my mom and dad thought I was still reeling over the bombshell of my unknown adoption but that didn’t bother me. Honestly, how could it? My parents are wonderful people. They show me how much they love me every day. Donald and Sandy Wright have given me the best life. I’ve never gone without in my near eighteen-year existence. They have seen to that. A solid roof over my head, food on the table. Most importantly, I had been given a home full of love.

  No.

  The adoption didn’t matter to me. The people I came from didn’t matter to me. Maybe someone else would want answers, but I’m not that person. I have my answers where family is concerned and I need nothing else.

  I only wish I knew the family names I originated from so that I would know if I come from a supernatural background. I don’t want to find my birth parents or know anything about them. I am not interested in the least on that front. I want to know if I can truly have a relationship with Conner O’Reilly. I crave him. His closeness. His touch. Just the sound of his voice made my chest fill with warmth. When he laughed? Wow. My whole world brightened.

  He has quickly become everything to me. You would think that my instant infatuation with him would be yet another tally mark in the possibly a Potential column, but I didn’t see it that way. I have had a crush on Conner since the first time he crossed my path back when I was twelve years old. The entirety of the seventh-grade female population was in an uproar when the twins and Dane arrived on the scene. They were taller than the other boys. Broad shoulders and muscular builds even at the age of thirteen.

  Looking back now, I can see how otherworldly they truly were even then. Everywhere they went the girls would vie for their attention. It never worked out for those girls. Those three kept to themselves. You would think that they would come off as kind of shuck up, but I never felt that way. I didn’t know if others did, but I knew differently. The first week they were in school I had my first run-in with one of the enigmatic three. I was running late for my English class and had been fumbling with my books when I lost hold of one. Before I could bend down to pick it up, Colton was there. He grabbed my book off the floor and offered it to me with a warm smile. I was shocked at the gesture and it took me a moment to shake away my surprise before I accepted my book. I remember thanking him by name and the look that washed across his face. He hadn’t expected that I would get his name right.

  Colton and Conner are identical twins that have both grown into their own styles. Even now, it seems that most people still can’t tell them apart, but back then it was near impossible to distinguish between the two. Not for me. Oddly, I’d never had a problem telling them apart. To me, they were very different. Even with minimal observation from afar, I could easily pick Conner out from his brother.

  I know, I know. That sounded creepy. Borderline stalker status for sure!

  It wasn’t like that though. I hadn’t even ever spoken to him until the day Aribelle started at Winago Heights High. It was just a feeling I’d gotten whenever he was around. A feeling that had only grown over the time I’d spent with him.

  The only other time I can remember them having any sort of interaction with others was when it was a mandatory classroom project. Even those instances were hard to come by since they did their best to always work together when possible. I was always intrigued by their closeness. How they always seemed to move as one. As if they knew what the others were thinking.

  Crazy that my observation was spot on. I can’t help but chuckle at the thought.

  My phone chimed, alerting me of an incoming text. I grabbed for it off my desk and opened the lock screen. There were two new messages waiting to be read. One was the text I had just received from Ari and the other was my usual morning text from Conner. Ever since he had obtained my number all those weeks ago, Conner has sent me a text ever morning. Sometimes silly, sometimes sweet. It didn’t matter the message. My heart always swelled. My thumb hovered over his name – the temptation almost too much to pass up – but I tapped on Ari’s name before I could give in.

  Ari: Sent the boys on their way. Come get me.

  I sighed in relief, but there was a little despair in the sound as well. The girl was doing me a backhanded favor and I was sure she was aware of what she was doing. Aribelle understood why I was trying – unsuccessful as it may be – to distance myself from the Conner O’Reilly, but she didn’t agree it. That was fine, she didn’t have to. It wouldn’t be her heart that got obliterated when my birthday comes and goes without any epic change. No, that would be all me. That is why, though she didn’t agree, she did respect my decision. She also respectfully told me that I was being an idiot but I digress.

  Regardless, she had my back and knew when to push and when to give me space. Making it possible for us to ride to school separately showed her support. The pain in the ass wolf was relentless. He was wearing me down. I knew it. He sure as hell knew it and I would need the breather before arriving at the school where I knew he would be waiting to strike. He would be striding over radiating confidence, flashing me the sexy grin of his that caused me to swallow my tongue. I hated and I loved it. I’d become a walking contradiction. But really? How much can one girl take before she loses it? I didn’t know, but I was about to reach my limit.

  Me: Be there in a few.

  I went to toss my phone into my bag so I could head downstairs and hesitated. I knew reading Conner’s message would only torcher me. The need I felt for him battled against the need to protect my heart, but my heart was lost to him a long time ago and I was only fooling myself.

  Taking a deep breath, I pulled on my big girl panties, tapped his name, and prepared myself for the inevitable flood of butterflies that filled my stomach any time I read something from him.

  Conner: Good morning, súile donna. I hope you slept well and dreamt about me ;) I’m counting down to the day I won’t need this phone to communicate with you anymore. 12 more days, my beautiful girl. 12 more days.

  The jerk went with sweet and heart wrenching today. I blinked back the tears that had filled my eyes and smiled despite myself. You had to admire his confidence. He was always so sure and I couldn’t stop the glimmer of hope his words sparked deep within my soul. I hope you’re right, Slick. More than anything, I hope you’re right.

  I tossed all my stuff into my bag and headed out the door. I was now running a few minutes behind and I still needed to pick up Ari. Aribelle Weever. This whole emotional rollercoaster ride started the day she entered my life and as highly probable that everything would come crashing down around me, I wouldn’t trade that day back in September for anything.

  2

  MAZIE

  The day that Aribelle Weever arrived at Winago Heights High was the day that my world truly changed forever. It started out just as any other, really. I remember that the weather had been overly warm for that time of year in upstate New York. The trees had begun to turn and the hills that surrounded our valley became a kaleidoscope of color. The area was beautiful this time of year. It was one of the reasons why autumn was my favorite season.

  I didn’t take much notice in my surroundings during that time, though. I had been lost in my own head for the last couple weeks, still reeling from the adoption bombshell that had blown up in my face. I didn’t care. I truly didn’t, but it kind of felt as if I was expected to have an overabundance of questions that needed answers. Every time I sat down with my parents for dinner or we would settle in to watch television, I could feel their worried gazes as they floated over me. They were waiting for some over the top reaction they must have thought was inevitable.

  All I wanted was for things to go back to the way they were before they opened this huge can of worms. I wanted to be able to sit at the dining room table and listen to my father’s over-the-top retellings of his mundane experiences. It was very seldom
that we’d get through a meal without my mother and I tearing up from laughter. Or when we would all lounge around the living room together while Mom and I yelled at the characters of our favorite shows. Dad would tell us to keep it down so that he could watch the show and we would throw popcorn at him. The last couple of weeks had been void of these things. Instead, I watched as my normally over exuberant parents walked on eggshells around me. I hated it and I didn’t know how to go about fixing it.

  I remembered making my way through the school parking toward the entrance. The doors wouldn’t be open yet. It was early still, but I couldn’t stand the defining silence that coursed through my house for one more second that morning. The steps were littered with students chatting away within their cliques. Mostly seniors, but I recognized a few juniors as I scanned each group.

  It wasn’t uncommon for the student body to congregate here before the doors opened. It was a great time to share the latest gossip. Who was dating who? Who broke up with who? Where was that weekends party spot going to be? It was nothing but a bunch of high school politics, though. The amount of information you were privy to was somehow directly connected to one’s popularity. White noise. All of it. I wasn’t the least bit interested.

  Two years ago, you would have probably found me eagerly joining in. You could find me here – a trendy coffee flavored beverage in hand – hanging on to every word as my friends relayed all the dirty details they could sniff out about our other classmates. Back when I thought that the most important thing in life was belonging. That what people – like Stacy Jenkins and her followers – thought of me was truly detrimental, regardless of how listening to them prattle on about others made me feel about myself. Up until that time, I allowed the prospect of popularity to cloud my morals as I stood idly by while I watched those of my peers - that didn’t restrict themselves to fit a certain mold – be harshly ridiculed.

  At the beginning of my sophomore year, I had considered Stacy my best friend. She had done a good job at making me believe that she felt the same, but in truth she only ever cared for herself. Turned out that the only way to stay in her good graces was to continuously bend to her will. There wouldn’t be tolerance for conflicting viewpoints.

  Stacy always got whatever she wanted. It was her way or the highway. A stereotypical “daddy’s little princess.” She had always carried an air of entitlement. With that, she expected everyone else to either fall in line or get trampled under her favorite designer kicks.

  No matter what stance she took – whether it was right or wrong – there would be no opposition. Being that I didn’t have much of a combative personality, I allowed her to have her way and stayed on her good side all through middle school and into high school. She could be stuck up and overwhelmingly conceited, but it was still somewhat easy to look past. That was just her personality and she had her good moments too. I can’t lie and say she never played the role of being a good friend. That wouldn’t be fair. There were times when she would give those closest to her confidence boosts. I had been on the receiving end of those instances more than once. We did have some fun times.

  Of course, those were mostly before we entered the wonderful world of high school. That is when the self-absorbed bug bit Stacy hard. She became even more vain. She would criticize someone’s choice in apparel or how they wore their hair. All she wanted to talk about was fashion and boys. Boys, boys, boys. She was relentless on the subject. It became very tiresome watching her demand all the attention she could. If anyone even attempted to outshine Stacy, she wouldn’t stand for it. That person would become a target and that is exactly what happened to one unsuspecting girl.

  Tanya Ross was another sophomore that we shared most of our classes with. Super nice, crazy smart. She was a little heavy set, but that didn’t take away how pretty she was. She always smiled brightly and her bubbly personality made her easy to like. Friends came easy for her. I always envied that, but her likability is what painted the target on her back.

  She lived next door to a boy named Charlie Strong. They were close – having grown up together – and weren’t shy about their friendship. Some could say that they were borderline flirty at times. I thought they were cute and I could easily see them as a couple sooner or later. Stacy...not so much. Especially when Charlie wouldn’t jump at the chance to blow off Tanya to hang out with her. He was a good guy and was easily one of the cutest boys in the tenth grade by any girls’ standards. All blonde hair and blue eyes that were framed with those thick lashes that guys always seem to be blessed with. He was an obvious pursuit for Stacy and in doing so she began to hassle Tanya. It was subtle jabs at first. Whether about her weight or her choice in style. Soon though, her mockery amped up to full fledge bullying. All due to jealousy and the fact that deep down Stacy was the most insecure person I knew.

  I never realized it until my morals were called into question due to my connection with her. I was not okay with her antics and to this day I still feel guilty over the whole incident. No I didn’t participate, but I didn’t do anything to stop it either. Not until I made myself see what was truly going on – until I noticed the bright light that was Tanya Ross start to dim – did I speak up. In doing so, I turned the princess’s wrath onto myself. Tanya was instantly forgotten. Her pursuance of Charlie was forgotten. I was fine with it. With being the target. After seeing the reality of what kind of person Stacy Jenkins had become I didn’t want to be associated with her anymore. She could lash out and try to put me down all she wanted. It had been a long time since I had felt like myself. No longer was I suppressing my own views. I got to enjoy the things I liked again instead of always settling for whatever Stacy wanted to do. I was honestly relieved.

  Even sitting here alone on the steps. I still felt content with my decision to stand against the self-crowned queen. I would never lower myself to become anyone’s follower again. Listening to her cutesy fake giggle behind me only solidified my position. I can guarantee whatever has her all giddy truly isn’t that funny and I’m sure that her little lackeys don’t believe it is either. They won’t say a word otherwise and will continue to titter along with Stacy regardless of their true feelings. Cammy and Eve didn’t have a complete backbone between the two of them. Never have, never will.

  Suddenly, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck raised and a chill ran down my spine. It was the same feeling I always seemed to have whenever he was near. I didn’t need to see him for my body to react to his proximity. A quick scan of my surroundings only confirmed it. Not fifty feet away - leaning against a monstrous black pickup truck - stood both Conner O’Reilly and his friend Dane Tonalee. They were talking quietly to each other, neither paying much attention to anyone or anything around them.

  That was all well and fine with me. Their obliviousness gave me the opportunity to ogle without getting caught and I wasn’t about to peel my eyes away without getting my fill of my favorite flavor of eye candy. There was something about Conner that drew me in. I could barely make out his features from my stoop, but it didn’t matter. I had long ago memorized everything about that boy. I had studied him so completely without even realizing it. From the unruly dark blond hair atop his head, down to his boot clad feet. I was attuned to ever single inch.

  He had to be at least six foot tall. I knew he would town over my five-foot seven-inch height if I were to stand next to him. Today he wore an all-black t shirt that stretched across his broad shoulders and chiseled chest. Dark wash jeans hung low on his hips and clung to his muscular thighs. Wipe the drool, Maze! His hair was in its usual erratic style. But, in my opinion, the best feature the unbelievably gorgeous boy had going for him were the deep blue eyes that sparked with mischief.

  Looking at him made my blood heat up. I could feel my skin flush and force my attention elsewhere before someone noticed and checked the time on my phone. Five minutes until the doors would open. Only five more minutes. I could keep my eyeballs in check for five minutes, right? Debatable. Before I could throw in the white towe
l and surrender to my hormones once again, a sickly-sweet voice sounded from directly behind me. My whole body tensed at the sound.

  “Hi, Conner!” Stacy sounded like she was standing right on top of me and I couldn’t help but glance at her over my shoulder. She was perched a couple steps above me and all of her attention was on something, or someone, that was in front of me.

  Oh no. My body had tensed so tightly that I was afraid my spine would snap. Or, at least I would have been worried about that if I could form thoughts, or breathe, for that matter. Not now, please. Don’t let Conner O’Reilly succumb to Stacy’s desperation today of all days. Not right in front of me. With everything that had been going on in my life lately, the idea that Stacy of all people could gain his attention would send me spiraling over the damn edge. I shouldn’t feel that way. I shouldn’t allow someone that much control over my emotions. I mean, I’m nothing to him. He has never even looked my way. He has no idea who I am, but rationality was quickly flung right out the window and anger had started to simmer just below the surface.

  I turned away from her perfect smile that had spread across her perfect face and looked to Conner. I knew I was punishing myself, but I couldn’t help it. Even though my heart was breaking for reasons completely unknown, I needed to see his gorgeous face. But, what awaited me when I turned around had the opposite affect than what I expected. My tension drained away and I began to immediately breathe easier. It was a weird sensation. One I couldn’t even begin to explain but I was grateful for it. Relief consumed me when I saw that it wasn’t Conner standing below me, but his twin brother.

  Colton looked to have been walking by when Stacy had hollered out to him. Or who she thought he was. Normally I wouldn’t say anything in a situation like this. I wouldn’t purposefully engage the she-beast, but with all the unusual feelings and emotions swirling around within me and seeing the look of complete exhaustion take over his features as he regarded the over eager blond behind me, I couldn’t help but snicker a little. Whether it was at her or myself I didn’t know, but I felt the remainder of my stress fall away.