I walk down the town square till I see the library. I walk up the paved steps towards the enormous wooden doors, pushing gently. I walked in, entering the familiar sanctuary.

I gave the receptionist a quick, friendly smile before I walked towards all of the books.

My mom used to read to us growing up; countless of fairy tales, no matter what it'd be, she'd read them to me. Even when Jo was young, and I was in my preteen years, I'd still climb into bed with her and listen to the stories I'd heard growing up, just because I loved to hear the way she told them.

Once Upon a Marigold was my absolute favorite story growing up; this guy named Christian lived in a cave with a troll, but was totally in love with the princess Marigold. But he heard about Queen Olympia's plan to take over the kingdom, who had no problem taking out her own daughter in the process. Of course, he couldn't let the girl of his dreams be hurt. So he set out to help Marigold and take down the Queen.

The story was, and always will be, my favorite. My mom just told it in such a manner that made me feel like when I closed my eyes, I could picture it as a movie in my head. I was five when the story first came out, so I had grown up always begging her to reread me that story. When the sequel to the book came out, and my sister was almost five, I begged beyond belief for mom to read it, then read us the second part.

Then the third book came out, the year before my mom's death. I'd heard about it, but I hadn't been able to read it, or ask my mom to get it yet. I wanted to hear her read it to us, even though I was sixteen and my sister was eight...you're never too old for a good story.

But, she died. She never got to tell us the ending of the story for Christian and Marigold and their baby. And I haven't built up the courage enough to bring myself to do it myself yet.

I walk around the fiction section, my eyes scanning the authors, searching for Jean Ferris. My fingers lightly skim over the books as I come across the F's, tilting my head to get a better look.

"Psst, hey loser."

I turn my body, my eyes landing on my sister. My sister and I looked completely different; I had gotten my mother's features, while she had gotten hers from her father. Her green eyes, brown hair, wider nose. But still stunning. We both had the face shape of our mother, high set cheeks and slim jaw. Our eyebrows were similar, too, but that was about it. Her dad was Italian, I believe, which is where she gets her beautifully tanned skin, whereas I got fair, pale skin.

Her brown hair came past her chest, straight, and her straight teeth bared a beautiful smile. Of course, Jo was always skinny. She never had to battle weight gain like I did; she was active in sports and modeling on social media. She had the features and body for it, so I always support her on it, just always warn her to be careful.

"Hey." I smile back at her.

She walks towards me, wrapping her long arms around me. I chuckle against her shoulder, hugging her back.

"I missed you."

"And me, you." I pull back to look at her. "How'd you get away?"

"Told them that I'm doing a summer project about the stars," she looks up, putting her hand over her chest. "How fascinating they are, yadda yadda. I know how you're obsessed with that kinda stuff, figured you'd help me fake a quick project, need be."

I sit in a chair, shaking my head at her. "You're insane. But I love it."

"Yeah, but I scored us some time together this summer. Before softball camp and all that."

I smile at her encouragingly; Josephine loved her softball.

"That sounds great to me."

She pushes her hair behind her ear, her smile faltering a bit.

"So...have you heard anything yet?"

I gave her a tight-lipped smile; once her father started getting manipulated by the she-monster that is her step mom, the verbal and mental abuse started. She puts her Joey down all the time, threatens her, always guilts her into doing whatever she wants. It's been a nightmare for Joey, so I told her that I'd fight for custody of her.

Of course, working double the past year has been killing me. Saving everything so that I can afford a place big enough for us both, prove I'm stable enough for her and can provide her with the environment she needs. Plus, Joey's been working on the DL to record her step-monster when she's verbally bashing her, putting her down, calling her stupid and telling her she'd never amount to anything.

Joey's dad is a city councilman, so his reputation is everything. Marsha, her step mom, loves the image and benefits that comes with it. It's why she forbade Joey to see me, since I'm 'from the wrong side of the tracks'. It wouldn't be good for their family.

Nobody knows what a witch she is, not yet. They will soon enough.

"I'm still working on saving up, so I can find us a place. You know how expensive it is to live on your own and pay your own way." I force a smile.

My father has a job, the manager of the bar and grill he works at. But I still help him pay half the bills, since he can't pay it on his own—most his money goes on drinks.

"But it shouldn't be too much longer, Joey." I smile.

Mom used to tell us we were her princesses; that's why she'd named us with such elegant names like Josephine and Maddison. Joey just liked to go by the nickname I gave her.

She smiles, but it doesn't meet her eyes. "Okay."

"Soon, it'll just be us. And you'll be free of that evil wretch and everything will be the way it was supposed to be, I promise you."

She takes my hand and squeezes it. "I know, Maddi. I know." She sighs longingly. "It's the waiting that sucks. Marsha just, she knows how to push your buttons, you know? Can't stand her."

I laugh. "Neither can I. But we have to play along, just a little longer."

She twists her lips downward. "This sucks."

"When I was a sophomore," I start. "I wanted to go to the spring formal so bad. I was just begging for Josh Richland to ask me; he was the most handsome boy in the school, and I'd been crushing on him all year."

Joey's eyes were on me as she leaned forward, placed her elbows on the table and crossed her arms.

"But he asked Blaire Yuri to the dance and I was devastated; I ran home and locked myself in my room and cried. Mom came in and I told her what had happened. You know what she said to me?"

This piqued her interest, because anytime I told a story about mom, it was like she couldn't get enough. I knew she only had good memories of mom, so I told good stories to keep that memory alive.

"While we may come across circumstances that may suck," I smile. "It's not gonna be this way forever; how we go about our hard times is what proves who we really are. In the end, life is what we make it. We just gotta hold on a little longer, keep the faith."

Joey smiles. "I miss her; she'd never let this happen to our family."

I felt the urge to cry, but I remained strong, for Joey. "Don't I know it. But it's not gonna be this way forever. We just gotta hold on a little longer."

Tears brim Joey's eyes, which makes my heart pull. I lean forward and hug her again, not just for me, but for mom, too. It's what she'd do, even though her hugs was the warmest type of hugs.

When her phone dings beside her, Joey grabs it and she shakes her head.

"Marsha's on her way. God, she even limits my time I'm not around her."

"Probably so you won't sneak out and see your lowly, dirty sister." I tease.

"Hey," Joey frowns. "You know if I could, I'd be living with you and not them."

"I know. Just, it amazes me how one judges someone based on where they came from, how they were raised."

"Marsha's an idiot, don't let her get to you." Joey gives me a warning look.

"I'm not." I smile, to reassure her. "But, you might wanna go and check out some kind of book, make it look like you're actually starting on a project of some sort."

Joey stands. "You're right." She engulfs me in a hug one last time. "See you soon?"

I nod. "See you soon."

Joey walks towards the other side of the library, disappearing for a few minutes before she reappears at the front desk. I watch her check out a couple books then walk to the front door. She stops, looks back at me and gives me a final wave before she pushes through the door, disappearing for who knows how long this time.

I sigh, waiting about ten minutes so Joey can leave undetected before I leave the library. I walk out into the summer air, the wind picking up. It's obviously going to rain soon. I should probably get back home soon, but I'm getting hungry. I'll grab a quick bite to eat and then head home.

I walk down the square, stopping back inside Treeline. If I'm being honest, I may just be a tad bit addicted to their mochas and waffles. When Jeremiah sees me, he smiles kindly.

"Hey, Mads."

"Hey," I chuckle.

"What can I get for you?"

I grab the menu, skimming through it. I don't know why I act like I don't know what I want when I order the same exact thing every single time. I sigh and set it down, folding my hands over it.

"Just my Belgian waffles to go, please. Oh," I smile. "And another mocha."

"You got it."

I insert my card, paying for my small meal as Jeremiah turns behind him, starting on my coffee. I graze my fingers across the dark oak, always admiring the natural simplicity of this place. Floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden tabletops that look like it was ripped right off a tree, and dark linoleum floors. The little bar-slash-nook I was at had a square rack of hanging lights above me, open and free. Everything was just open and light here, which is why I usually always came here.

I lean my back against the counter, spotting a couple walking down the sidewalk. They were talking, so engrossed with one another that they weren't aware of the people—including myself—watching them. She was laughing, hard, and he was, too. But he was just watching her, like she was the center of his entire universe. As they kept walking, the man pulled her to him, placing a kiss on her hair and then disappeared.

I sigh. When was I gonna be the center of someone's universe? When was someone gonna look at me like I was the only girl who existed? When did I get my turn?

"Here you are, Maddi." Jeremiah pulls me from my self-pity.

I turn and force a smile. "Thanks, Jer." He hands me the bag, staring at me for a moment too long, making me uncomfortable. "See you next time."

I nod at him once more before I turn on my heel and walk out of the door. The rain was slowly starting to fall, which I didn't mind. I'd keep under the shop canopy's until I couldn't anymore, then fast-track it home, before the pouring rain.

I turned the corner, lifting my cup to my lips, but freezing when I saw Ryker's car. I knew that freaking amazing car, windows tinted so dark it should be illegal. He probably just got here, I can probably just back away and go in the other—

I screamed as I felt hot coffee pouring down my shirt.

I tried to just turn and get the heck out of here, but I bumped into someone—Ryker freaking Brooks, to be exact.

"Whoa, princess," Ryker's arms are out to his sides "You gotta watch where you're going."

I glare at him, pinching a piece of my shirt and keeping it away from my body.

"Maybe you should be the one watching where you're going. You ran into me."

Ryker lifts his brow. "Me?"

"Yeah, you." I mock. "Freaking idiot." I mumble as I look down at my shirt and start walking away.

"How exactly is it my fault?" Ryker calls, making me halt. "You're the one who ran into me."

I turn to him with narrow eyes. "Because it just is. You made me waste a perfectly good mocha, good money, and my shirt."

"Mhm, still not seeing how it was on me."

"You wouldn't," I snap. "Because you're brain is the size of walnut, if that. God," I shake my head and walk away from him, still clinging my shirt off my body.

If there was one person I could choose to be struck by lighting, it'd be Ryker Brooks.

I lap the square, making sure he'd be gone by the time I come back around and start walking home. Of course, Ryker had taken up most of my walking time, so the rain was picking up. I crossed my arms over my chest as the cold droplets kept hitting my body, keeping my head down.

When I saw a car slow to a stop beside me, I take a quick peek and roll my eyes as the window goes down.

"Let me give you a ride, Maddison."

I pause, just for a brief moment, because hearing my name come from his lips was foreign, yet attractive.

"No." I walk faster, but he stays beside me.

"Don't be such a stubborn ass."

"Don't be such an ass, period." I retort.

I hear the car go into park. I try to pick up my pace, but I feel a warm hand wrap around my wrist, spinning me towards him. The feeling sent a weird, electrical feeling up my arm and straight to the butterflies in my stomach, but I wouldn't let them win.

Ryker is just a pretty face. That's it.

"Get in the car, Maddison."

"No." I hold his challenging gaze.

His chest rises and falls, and it takes a lot for me not to look at it.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He finally breaks the silence. "It's pouring; just get in the car."

All I can focus on is the fact he's still holding my wrist, the grip not too tight anymore, but still there.

"Are you not used to women telling you no? Is that why you won't just let me go?"

"What?" His brows furrow together for the slightest moment before he looks at his hand and drops my wrist. "No, good Lord. Just get in the damn car already."

I smirk. "No."

Then I turn and take one step before I feel Ryker behind me. His whole body is pressed on my back as he wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me up. I would've protested by kicking and screaming, but I swear I could feel his nose muzzle against my neck for just a fraction of a second and it made me freeze.

My whole body was on fire by his touch.

"Ryker!" I grip at his wrists as he walks around his car and opens the passenger side, bending down to sit me down.

I hit the seat with an 'oomph' and glare at him as he slams the door shut and runs around to his side and gets in.

He looks at me as he puts his seatbelt on. "I told you to stop being a stubborn ass."

A/N

Happy update dayyyy <3 I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and just the beginning of this epic love story 😌

Also, when I wrote this book previously, I had done a kinda 'song of the chapter' type of deal, where I'd link and write the name of the song that was kinda inspired for each chapter. Idk if y'all would still be interested or not??

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <3