No Going Back [sample] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPQXKQP3 [sample]

Chapter One Ebony

 Finally back in my comfort zone, I'm relieved to see my buddies Sasha and Nathan are already here when I arrive, and I scoot up next to them happy to see some friendly faces after the long night I endured. "Jeez girl you look wiped out what happened to you, did you run here or something?" Sasha puts her hand on my forehead to check for a fever. She is like the Mom I never had, and I love her for it. She will make a badass lawyer one day; she is loyal and kind but she doesn't take any crap. I smile affectionately taking in her outfit choice today, a pair of orange crocs, a tiny fluffy crop top and Animé t-shirt. Yep she's one of a kind and also the biggest Animé fan ever. "Don't ask, I just had psycho Barbie chasing me down the hallway plus I've been up all night at Carters." "Oh, so that's why I can smell beer." Nathan chimes in scrunching his nose. "Shut up Nathan, any beer you can smell is on you." Nathan is my other bestie, I'm pretty sure his IQ is like 160, he never studies, and he aces every test. I love him and hate him for it, love him because he is the best most entertaining friend, hate him because I'm jealous as hell. Nathan squints his eyes up zooming in on my face, "You do realize you've got laptop key indents on one side of your face." I grab for my phone putting the selfie camera on and sure enough I've got square indents down one side of my face. I groan, "Oh god, that must be when I fell asleep on my laptop in my new elective class I just had." No wonder Zac looked so amused by me as I was escaping. Nathan spends the next few minutes hysterically bursting into sporadic laughter every time he looks at my face. Sasha is far too kind for that, she gently rubs the side of my face with her fingertips trying to iron the indents out. "Just ignore him Ebs, how was your elective then?" "It sucked, it's one of those group projects with a joint grade. Literally had to run here with pyscho Barbie chasing me down the hall, probably trying to rope me into joining her group. I'd rather change option than have that parasite picking my brain." "Oh, you should join my one, it's really easy plus it's just a single assessment at the end." "Sounds perfect I'll need to go to the office to check if there are any spaces on it." A girl turns around in the row before us and impatiently shushes us pointing at the law professor. Nathan rolls his eyes like she is the most irritating thing ever; he doesn't understand that other people have to study to get on in life. I manage to stay awake thanks to my previous nap and it ends up being a very productive session. Feeling revitalized, I'm ready to face the rest of the day. Thankfully I have a couple of free periods now, so I head off to the library for some quiet study time. Sasha decides to tag along as she has some free time. We wave Nathan off as he has another lecture to get to. I can't lie, I'm secretly pleased as whenever he comes to the library with us, his main objective seems to be distracting us from anything but study. Sasha links her arm in mine, and we set off across the courtyard. I'm so petite Sasha towers above me at five foot seven inches to my five foot two. "So how's life treating you Ebs you sure you can handle all these late nights, like when do you even get a chance to eat." "I get by. Please don't worry yourself. I would be more worried if I didn't have a job because then I wouldn't be able to afford to stay in college and that's way scarier to me." "Yeah, but if you don't have your health, you won't have anything." "Don't worry super mom, I'm a big girl now, I'll be fine." I put my head on her shoulder and close my eyes for a second feeling the warm Texas sun on my face, quickly changing the subject, "So, how's your latest Animé coming along?" Sasha loves to design Animé comics in her spare time, she's a talented artist too. "Oh, I've designed a new character, she's a bit like you actually. She's totally badass with a jet black bob and she's tiny and agile with frightening ninja skills." "Right totally like me like me then." I deadpan. "You'll have to come round later; I can show you the designs on my laptop. Come round for dinner if you like later?" "Sure, that would be awesome." Not that I would admit it, but I'm super stoked she asked me. I'm starving and so sick of existing on packet Ramen plus Sasha's Mom is the best cook. 

As we round the corner the impressive library comes into view, immediately lifting my mood. The entrance is partially covered by a huge oak tree, the sun rays peeking through the branches, the leaves shimmering and dancing in the morning breeze. Right here, is my happy place where I feel safe, filling me with hope for the future. In my periphery I catch a glimpse of the familiar football varsity jacket from earlier twinkling at me in the light. Following my line of sight up and it's the same luscious dark locks of a certain Quarterback, the sun surrounding him in a golden halo. He's laconically leaning against the wall outside the library, not a care in life, looking like he owns the whole goddamn world. He is accompanied by his usual accessory, a drooling groupie hanging off his every word. There's practically love hearts coming out of her eyes as she primps and preens herself for his benefit. Gross. You wouldn't catch me going all gooey eyed over some jock. Once again, he meets my eye returning my glare with a dazzling smile. And oh boy I'm not prepared; it's as though someone knocked the wind right out of me. There are no adequate words to describe Zac when he smiles. A perfect cocktail of heaven and hell with a sprinkle of sex on top. It's a lethal weapon of dimpled white teeth perfection. I swear you can hear violin and harpists playing while the world moves in slow motion when he levels you with that godlike grin. Sasha nudges me out of my stupor whispering at me, "What the fuck, did Zac Hudson just smile at you?" I look over my shoulder expecting to see someone behind me but there is no one else around. Then reality smacks me in the face with the force of a sledgehammer, "If he did it's because of the group project." I whisper back blanking him. If he thinks I'll fall for that he is as dumb as I imagined him to be, and as a rule I don't like to stereotype. "Oh, you mean that elective before you told me about, you never mentioned Zac was there. I would have thought it would be worth staying in the class just for the view." "I'm not that sad, give me some credit." "Nope nobody can accuse you of that, that's for sure." I'm not ashamed to admit that it gives me a little feeling of power to walk on past him pretending to be unaffected by his supernatural exterior. 

 Hopefully this will be my life in the future when I'm a successful lawyer, not feeling inferior to anyone anymore. "Sasha, will you stop gawping!" She's still rubbernecking him and I really wish she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "Alrighty keep your hair on, he's going now anyway, with one of his fan club in tow. Man he is so good looking surely he is some artificial intelligence creation and not real. Are you sure you're not down for this group project, maybe I'll switch into your option instead." "Be my guest, if you want to do the grunt work for him and Chloe and get zero in return, you're welcome." "Ok ok, I get the point, come on let's get to the library, these assignments aren't going to write themselves." My cell ringing has me jumping out of my skin, it's annoying how Zac's mere presence has thrown me off kilter, I rummage through my bag trying to locate it and just as I fish it out it rings off. "Damn I hate it when that happens." I mutter to myself. Immediately it starts ringing again, whoever it is must be keen. My stomach falls when I see it's my creep boss from Carters. What the hell does he want. I contemplate ignoring him, but I know he will keep hounding me until I answer. "Mr. Connor, what can I do for you." It's a monumental effort to keep the disdain out of my voice. I saw way too much of him last night, I don't want him invading my daily life as well. "Ebony I'm short-staffed tonight. Charlie called in sick, I need you to work." He barks at me not a hint of a courteous greeting. "Sorry Mr. Connor, I've been invited to my friends for dinner, and I'm still exhausted from last night's shift." He sighs impatiently as if it's my responsibility that someone called in sick. "Well don't come begging to me when schools out and you need the extra shifts. This is the kind of attitude that I will remember." I open my mouth ready to fight but stop myself, it's not worth it. I fantasize about telling him to go fuck himself, but I need the job too much so as per usual I bite my tongue. "I'll give you time and a half," he finally concedes. I hesitate for a moment imagining one of Sasha's Mom's homecooked meals and I ball my fist. My stomach wants to tell him no, but my head is screaming at me that I need the money, so I finally succumb the words falling grudgingly from my lips, "Ok Mr. Connor, I'll be there for the evening shift." He doesn't bother to say thank you or bye just clicks off the phone when he's got what he wants. "Argh fuck you asshole." My cell takes the brunt of my frustration. Sasha throws her arm over my shoulder in sympathy. "I take it you have to work tonight now?" "Yep, sorry I won't be able to come to yours now." My mouth waters when I think of the missed meal on offer. "One day this will all be behind you when you are a kick ass lawyer and Mr. Connor will just be a bad memory." Comfortingly, she strokes my hair back of my face, she always makes me feel better. 

 The hard truth is that I'm already exhausted and I don't know how I'm going to physically get through another night, but I'll just suck it up like I always do. "No rest for the wicked", my Momma always used to say . If that's true why is she in prison and my dad is dead. There's no rest for the people who've nothing in life, no rest for the poor and downtrodden is closer to the truth.