Here is a sneak peek at the next book in the “Damaged” series “Awakened“. Coming soon!

Chapter One: Suspicions

On Monday morning, Taylor opened the passenger side door for me, reaching to help me from the car. We stood in the parking lot of the school, and he smiled down at me, drawing my face between his hands. He bent and slowly brushed his lips to mine. 
I stood frozen. Since the night of prom, he had simply been unable to stop kissing me. And there was no way I was going to protest. I was so blissfully and unequivocally happy, I felt like I could explode.
I smiled up at him as he pulled away, smiling down at me. 
“You look beautiful today, Emma.” He murmured, pressing his lips again to my forehead and releasing me. 
I glanced down at my simple faded jeans and white t-shirt. “I think you need to get your eyes checked, Taylor.” I teased. 
He laughed softly, removing our school bags from the back seat of his car. 
He reached out for my hand, and I immediately took his. 
A bright smile crossed his face. “You’re still wearing my ring…” 
“Of course I am. I’ll never take it off.” I replied earnestly as we crossed the lot. 
“I know, you said that… but at school… everyone will know.” 
I frowned. “Did you want to keep it a secret?” 
“No, no… If you can handle the rumors, so can I.” He grinned. 
I swallowed thickly. I hadn’t even thought of that. 
“Emma? You look worried… everything okay?” He asked, pulling me to a stop just before we reached the doors. 
I forced a smile. “Fine. I’ve handled worse rumors, I think I could handle four more days of them. There’s nothing that they can throw at me that they haven’t already.” 
Taylor chuckled. “That’s the spirit.” 
We walked together into the school. I glanced around frantically, but everything seemed normal. 
I smiled up at Taylor, realizing he was studying me just as carefully as I was studying everyone else. 
We reached our lockers and stood organizing our books for our first classes. 
“There you are!” A voice shouted over the dull voices of everyone else. 
I turned sharply and glanced worriedly at Taylor. He rolled his eyes. 
Lisa was quickly moving toward us, towing Derek close behind. 
“Umm… hi.” I smiled awkwardly. 
“I heard! Oh my gosh, let me see it!” 
Before I could even ask what she was talking about she gripped my left hand and held it up. 
“Holy hell! How do you not fall over with that thing?” She demanded. She turned my hand in the light to examine the engagement ring.
I glanced worriedly at Taylor again. 
He sighed and glanced at Derek. “I should have known you’d tell her.” 
Derek shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t want to tell her. She can be very persuasive when she wants to be. She has ways of making me tell her things.” 
Taylor pulled a disgusted face. “Gross.” 
“God, I can’t believe I actually know someone my own age who’s getting married. How weird is that? I mean, this isn’t the eighteen hundreds any more, people don’t get married at eighteen anymore. Though don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, it’s just that people don’t usually get married so young in this day and age unless there’s a reason…” Lisa stopped suddenly. 
I stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue her tirade. 
She studied me carefully and I began to feel uncomfortable. 
“You’re not… pregnant are you?” 
My jaw practically hit the floor and a simultaneous blush crossed my cheeks. “What? No! No! I’m not! Honestly!” 
I felt my face burn with embarrassment.
“Just checking!” Lisa shrugged. “You never know.” 
Derek rolled his eyes.  “Uhh… Come on, Lisa. We’d better give them some time alone.” Derek said, moving his arm around her to drag her away. 
“What? No! I still want details!” She cried. 
“I’m sure she’ll tell you later.” Derek smiled, “We’re going to be late for our exams…” 
Lisa began to protest, but finally nodded. She let Derek lead her away, but continued to stare at me over her shoulder. 
I felt myself blush, but turned to Taylor. 
“That was horribly embarrassing!” I gasped. “People aren’t actually going to think that are they?” 
Taylor smiled. “No, probably not.” 
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” I sighed. 
He lifted my books from the shelf in my locker, moving them into the same arm as his books. He closed both of our lockers, and moved his arm around me, placing a hand squarely on my lower back, ushering me toward our first class. 
The warning bell sounded loudly above our heads. “We’re going to be late.” He mused.
I sighed irritably. 
He smirked. “No pun intended.” 
“Yeah, thanks. That’s hilarious.” I rolled my eyes, marching off toward the classroom.


My first exam was my only class without Taylor. I despised this class. Not just because it was nearly an hour without Taylor, but because I had to share the hour with Paige and her two idiot friends. 
I found a seat at a desk and pulled a handful of pens and a sheet of scrap paper from my bag. I began to mentally count down the minutes until I could see Taylor again. 
I tried to focus desperately and ignore the dull roar of voices blending together, but three voices stuck out.
“Did you see the size of that ring?” I heard Britney gasp nearby. 
“I can’t believe he chose her over you.” Nissa replied, “I mean, you’re so much prettier than her.” 
I rolled my eyes. As if Taylor was really that shallow. 
“And I’m sure you’re a lot better at a lot of things than she is.” Britney added. 
Paige sighed loudly. “Yeah, thanks.” 
“I didn’t mean that…. Just you’ve got a lot more practice-”
“Not helping!” Paige hissed. 
I grinned. I was kind of enjoying this. 
“I just meant that you know him really well, you know what he likes.” 
I frowned. Paige didn’t know him at all. Not the same Taylor I knew. 
Paige sighed. “This is just plain insulting that he would choose her over me. I’m way prettier than she is and he was with me a lot longer than he’s been with her. I don’t think this is permanent.” 
“She has a ring on her finger. I think it’s pretty permanent.” Britney replied. 
“Trust me, honey. It’s not permanent until it’s legal. I’m not done fighting for him. I’m just going to have to work a little harder.” 
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to force their conversation from my head. I pinched the bridge of my nose in irritation. 
The teacher called the class to order and began handing out exams. I was beyond happy for the exam to be dispensed. If not just to get the exam over with, but to shut up the annoying gossip surrounding me.

I finished my exam quickly, with more than enough time to double check my answers. I handed in my test and gathered my belongings. 
I made my way towards the lockers with surprising speed. I weaved in and out of bodies as if I were running for my life. 
Taylor was waiting patiently for me, near our lockers. 
“Hey, there you are.” He smiled. 
I collapsed into his arms with a huge, heavy sigh. It felt like I was returning home after an extended trip. I felt safe and warm, and the sound of his heart beating as I laid my head against his chest was exactly the sound I had been longing to hear all day. 
“Uhh… okay. Everything alright, Emma?” He asked, his arms forming a protective barrier around me. 
“Yes, fine. I just… missed you.” 
He chuckled softly, bent and lightly kissed the top of my hair. “I missed you too.” 
I sighed again. “Okay, maybe there is something…” 
“What is it?” He asked immediately. 
“Paige was in my exam and she said some things…” 
His arms tightened instinctively around me. “What did she say to you?” He demanded. 
“Nothing. She wasn’t really talking to me; I just… overheard her conversation. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop or anything… it just happened.” 
“What did she say?” He repeated.
I sighed. “Nothing. Just that she’s not giving up on you and her getting back together.” 
“Emma…” He sighed, leaning back against the lockers. His arms slipped from around my body until only his hands were resting on my sides. “She and I were never really together. And even if we were it wouldn’t matter, because you’re the only one I want. You’re the only one I could ever imagine myself being with… I couldn’t imagine my life without you. I love you more than anything else in the world.” 
I smiled. “I know that.” I replied. “I’m not worried about that… I’m just… worried about the constant inconvenience she’s going to pose.” I sighed softly. 
Taylor nodded knowingly. “Okay, why don’t we do something to get our minds off it?” 
I nodded. “Like what?” 
“We could go to the mall and wander around for a bit, and maybe we could grab dinner before we go back to your place.” 
I smiled. “You know, I think I’d like that. I haven’t been to the mall in ages. I could probably use some new clothes.” I glanced down at my current worn jeans and white t-shirt. 
“Sure.” He smiled. “And there’s a bookstore nearby.” 
My eyes lit up excitedly, which caused Taylor to chuckle. 
“Come on, let’s get our stuff and make it out of here before the rush.” 
I nodded and moved toward my locker, quickly removing the lock. I piled my books into my book bag, but before I could sling it over my shoulder, Taylor slipped the strap from my hand. “Let me.” He offered with a huge grin. 
“Okay.” I nodded, knowing that arguing with him was pointless. 
He moved my messenger bag onto his shoulder, and I couldn’t help but sigh softly. How could something that looked so mediocre on me look so incredible on him? 
He extended his hand to me and I eagerly took it.
The cold ring in my hand pressed into his palm and a massive grin snuck onto his face. Something that seemed to happen each time he was subtlety reminded of the ring on my finger. He leaned forward and softly kissed my lips before leading me from the school.

(c) 2023 J.L. Benson