Chapter 1

I am in a contractual relationship because I need the money. Well not necessarily because I need the money, but because I would like to have more money, especially if I someday want to open my own cafe bookstore. Preferably one with a small section where dogs who need to be adopted can roam and have a second chance at life, like those in Japan.

Anyhow, it all started with my neighbor, Leo. Ever since I moved into this little town at the age of five, I have had to deal with Leo's bullshit.

If I was being honest, I envied him. I envied how he always managed to outwit and surpass me. He had everything: the grades, the athletic skills, and the looks. It sucked being next-door neighbors with him considering that he and his family always, and I mean always, held parties every weekend.

My family never really complained because they would happily go to their parties and have the best time while I sat by my window watching them have a blast in their backyard. It wasn't that I was necessarily a party pooper, but I just hated how anxious I felt. As much as I tried to talk to my classmates who were also invited to the party, or make my way to the dance floor to dance my heart out, I would feel their eyes judging me. No one would join me, or if I managed to make an attempt to make conversation, I would constantly be overshadowed by Leo and his friends as they made fun of my stutter every time I talked. Usually, my best friend Beth would be my savior, but like any girl with strict parents, she wasn't allowed to parties unless the occasional times her family had joined along during barbecues and communal movie nights.

During high school, aside from playing soccer, he modeled on the side appearing in magazines and giving small lines in big movies. As much as I tried to get away from Leo, fate always drew us back. He was in all of my AP classes and debate team.

He.

Won.

Every.

Time.

I don't know how he does it. I really don't. It's impressive he could handle everything with his caliber and still beat me, I'll give him that. It only made me despise him more. How effortlessly it was for Leo.

I wanted to escape from him. Somewhere in which the playing field yielded to my liking. The one extracurricular I was free from his grasp was the school's smallest book club consisting of fifteen members. I, of course, was one of the fifteen along with my ex-high school sweetheart who dumped me on the day of graduation. Well, it wasn't necessarily that he dumped me but rather a mutual breakup due to him not wanting to do a long-distance relationship.

I completely understood his side of the story, yet it broke me to pieces. I thought that he would try. Try for us. Try for me.

I was wrong. Perhaps I was asking for too much or lived in the bliss of our relationship. Either way, I've learned my lesson.

Soon after I moved away from home and into Irvine. I had finally been away from Leo. I was working a stable job as an English teacher and living in an apartment with my roommate and best friend, Beth. Aside from getting my Mexican mother off my back about my dating life, all I needed now was to raise money for my retirement and a potential dog cafe slash bookstore.

I was finally at peace until he showed up at my apartment door.