The Unexpected Path

Chapter 1 - Lucas

I barely sit down on my bed before the door opens again and Zack stalks in. I grab the first thing my hand touches — my phone — and launch it at his face. He catches it without so much as a blink.

"I don't know why I put up with you," He mutters. "You're such a dick, Cage."

"Then leave me alone," I reply evenly.

"No, because that's what you want," He raises a brow. "You want everyone to leave you alone so you can feel shittier than you already do. You're trying to punish yourself."

"Fuck off," I mumble and try not to bristle. I fucking hate how well he knows me.

"I hate to break it to you but your day is about to get worse," He flops down on my desk chair and spins it to face me.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, while you were busy hiding out at the summer cabin to drink and fuck and feel sorry for yourself, you failed to keep tabs on everyone back home."

"No, I didn't. I'm not that much of an asshole. I was only at the cabin a couple days every week but I was home the rest of the time."

"I don't mean with your family. I meant the rest of us."

"There's too many of you," I snort. I have four other uncles, all of my dad's best friends, and the kids all grew up with each other. There's a fuck ton of us and I'm hardly close to any of them besides Zack.

"Your parents didn't mention anything?" He asks curiously.

"About what?" I snap. Why does he insist on dragging this conversation out and making it unnecessarily dramatic?

Zack frowns and hesitates for a brief moment. "She's back."

My hand twitches. It's my only reaction and I stuff it in my pocket to hide it. I keep my voice bored. "Who?"

"Who else?" He rolls his eyes. "Olivia."

Motherfucker. The mention of her name alone makes me want to punch something. I feel a flurry of emotions but mostly it's anger. I sneer. "And I'm supposed to give a fuck?"

"You really didn't know?"

"No," I lie back against my pillows and look up at the ceiling so Zack can't see my face. I don't know if I can do a decent poker face so long as we're talking about her. "Haven't really been talking to my family these days. I only talk to Mom."

"Landon? Lizzie?"

"Landon is as miserable as I am. Lizzie's pregnant and overly emotional."

"And your mom really didn't say anything?"

I think about that for a moment. "She tried to get me to go the West house for a dinner couple weeks ago. She was adamant but I said no."

"That's when Olivia got back," Zack confirms. "She's done her dance program in Los Angeles, you know? It was only a high school gig."

"I don't care," I say and better believe I fucking mean it.

"You haven't seen her in four years. She's changed a lot."

"Still don't care."

"Luc," He sighs heavily. He doesn't say anything for a huge stretch of silence and I finally sit up on my elbows to narrow my eyes on him. There's something he doesn't want to say. I'm a second away from punching him again when he finally says, "She's here. At Boston U."

"Why?" I immediately demand. I get to my feet, already feeling so wound up. This is what she does to me. Drives me out of my fucking mind. Fuck, I hate her. "She'd never come here if she knew I went to school here."

"Nobody told her."

"My ass."

"No, seriously. Tia didn't tell her and she told the rest of us kids not to either."

"Why?" I demand again. My pulse speeds up with frustration. This can't be happening. She's really here?

"I don't know. I guess her and your mom are hoping you two will make up already."

"Not even when I'm dead," I promise and kick my bed frame. "Fuck! This is just what I fucking need."

"Lucas," He continues in a low voice. "There's more."

"What? What the fuck else could there be?" I barely get the sentence out when I hear it. A laugh. Her laugh.

My breath knocks out of me.

I don't mean for it to happen but suddenly I'm flooded with memories of all the times I used to make her laugh, laugh so hard she would topple over and try to catch her breath. And I'd always watch with a smile because it used to be my favourite sound in the world.

Not anymore.

Now her laugh sounds like nails on a chalkboard and I snap. The last of my patience completely unhinges and I swing my door open, taking long and fast strides out of my dorm. I hear Zack shout out for me in warning but I don't give a fuck. This is a goddamn nightmare and I keep waiting for the part where I wake up.

As soon as I step out into the main hallway I freeze. She's right there. In the dorm across from ours and talking to that chick I saw earlier. Her back is to me but I know it's her. Of course it's her. Her hair is short, she's a little bit taller, and her body is shapely in a way it wasn't when I last saw her, but I know it's her. And judging by her half unpacked suitcase beside her, she's moving in. Right across from me.

Her roommate's eyes flick up to me and they widen again. Olivia's head tilts right before she turns around. My gaze is already on her when she finally notices me.

I see the way she freezes up. Her shoulders tighten almost defensively but that's her only giveaway. Her face is impassive and unamused, like she doesn't care. And she probably doesn't. Because she hates me as much as I hate her. Those grey eyes are already burning with fire.

"That's, uh..." Her roommate stammers and drops her voice to a whisper but I still hear her. I'm too honed in on what's in front of me. "That's Lucas Cage."

"I'm aware," Olivia deadpans and I try not to startle at her voice. It sounds older and has that same twinge of huskiness her mother has. "I also don't give a shit."

Her roommate gasps just as my lip curls back and forms a sneer. "Fuck you."

And without a backward glance, I go back inside my dorm and slam the door shut. Doesn't hold a fucking candle to the way she left me.

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A/N

OK SO DON'T YELL AT ME. My OG readers who've read the original series, I'M SORRY. I know you officially hate me for what I did to Emily. Please don't ask me what's going to happen to her cause I obviously won't answer.

But I love the vibes in this story. I love how it's so dark and edgy and raw. I love that Lucas is an unfiltered asshole. He feels so real to me because of that. And I love that him and Olivia are hardcore enemies.

Told you you're going to hate this story before you love it...

Please VOTE, comment and share if you liked this chapter!

Happy Reading :)