FURY: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rosewood High Book 6)

by Tracy Lorraine

  I feel his eyes burning into me until the door closes behind us, cutting off our connection.

  “Are you okay?” Chelsea asks, coming to a stop in front of me.

  “I’m so sorry.” My bottom lip trembles as I say the words to her.

  “Sorry for what? I’ll go up against the likes of him for fun any day, you don’t need to apologize for that.”

  “No, not that. We lost and it was my fault. He was in the crowd and I—”

  “Whoa, whoa,” she says, holding her hand up to stop me. “We didn’t lose, Rubes. We came second. At nationals. It’s incredible.”

  “I know, but it was your dream and I fu—”

  “No. You didn’t fuck anything up. I watched that entire routine. It was flawless, Rubes. If you think you missed a step or miscounted, then it’s in your head because I can tell you right now that you, all of you, we’re spot on.”

  “But—”

  “It wasn’t our time. The other squad was incredible too. The judges must have seen a bit more spark in them or something. Us not winning is not your fault, Ruby.”

  My bottom lip trembles hard as she looks at me with soft yet determined eyes.

  “You haven’t let anyone down. I’m so fucking happy with second. We’ve all worked our asses off for this, and after the year I’ve had, it’s more than I could have ever asked for. But do you know what?”

  I shake my head, too cut up to speak.

  “Next year, you are going to lead this squad right back here, and I’ll be so fucking proud of you even if you don’t get through prelims because winning doesn’t matter, not really. What matters is this.” She squeezes my hand and the tears filling my eyes finally get to be too much once again and spill over. “You’re all my family and all I want is the best for all of you.” She pulls me into her arms and holds me tight, her bump pressing against my tummy.

  Harley’s arms come around both of us before I feel more people surround me. When I finally look up, I find the entire squad around me, all with huge smiles on their faces.

  “You okay?” Chelsea mouths and I nod because I am with my girls around me, I can take on the world, including Ashton freaking Fury.

  “Good. Now we came in fucking second, ladies. Shall we go and fucking celebrate?”

  A round of cheers and agreement sound out as we move as a group toward the lockers to collect everyone’s things.

  Chelsea pulls me into her side, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “You’re going to be a kickass captain next year, you know that, right?”

  I bite down on my bottom lip to stop me from reminding her that they need to vote me in and instead nod in agreement.

  “And I hate to say this, Rubes. But shit, that boy of yours is fine. Was he good?”

  “Ugh... yes,” I say with a groan, making her laugh.

  “Make him work for it before you give it up again, yeah?”

  “He ain’t getting it again.”

  She looks down at me with her brow raised. “Girl, I love you but please, don’t lie to me. You saw the way he was looking at you, he’s not letting you go anywhere.”

  “But—”

  “Trust me, Rubes. Just make him work... hard.” She winks at me before walking over to the other seniors in the squad and joining in their conversation.

  “What did she say?”

  “She thinks Ash is hot and that I’m gonna give it up again.”

  Harley stares at me like I’ve just sprouted another head.

  “What?”

  “Well, she’s right. He is hot and he’s fucking gone for you. He has been for ages.”

  “He’s not. He hates me as much as I hate him.”

  “Sure. You keep telling yourself that.”

  As a group, we decided against the official celebrations that were being held that Sunday evening and instead after leaving the area we saw our families and went for pizza to celebrate. Then tracked down Miss Kelly to drive us all back.

  All the girls were still buzzing from our success while I was silently stewing on the argument with Ashton. I don’t care what he says, or what Chelsea tries to convince me, if he didn’t show his face things would have turned out differently. Although I can’t deny that Chelsea does seem delighted with our second place. I still would have loved to have seen her with that winner’s trophy. Maybe she’s right, maybe it just wasn’t our time.

  I blow out a breath as I stare at the passing scenery.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  After Harley found me in our hotel room bathroom last night in my underwear inspecting the damage on my back, she demanded to know what had happened. I’d given her the basics but based on the state of my body it shouldn’t have been hard to guess.

  I’d admitted that Ash had found me but that was it.

  She thought it was hot that he’d accosted me and had his way with me in the darkness under the cover of the trees and I let her have her little fantasy.

  “Not really,” I mutter, slumping down in my seat a little more.

  “Rubes, come on. You’re going to have to go home and face him soon. You need to know how you’re feeling about it.”

  “I know how I feel about it. I hate him and never want to see him again.”

  “I get that, but it’s not exactly practical seeing as he lives in your house. Plus, knowing that he made his way out here this weekend just to support you, I doubt he’s going to allow you to avoid him for long.”

  “Har, you don’t believe that shit, do you? He didn’t come to support me, he came to torment me.”

  “Really? I know he’s been cruel, but you really think that’s what this weekend was about?”

  “Yes. I really do.”

  “Even after everything that happened in Seattle?”

  I sigh, my irritation levels with her rising. I pick at my red nails for something to do. “Nothing happened in Seattle. He used me to bury his pain, that was all it was. I was close and stupidly willing.”

  “I know he probably deserves it, but you’ve got a really low opinion of him.”

  “Of course he deserves it. He embarrassed me in front of everyone at Ethan’s party, he’s lied to me, he made it look like I’d had sex in our parents’ bed.” Harley’s brows pull together at that but I shake my head and continue. “And, he claims to have pictures of me on his cell from Halloween.”

  “And you believe him?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? He hasn’t exactly proven himself trustworthy or to have my best interests at heart ever.”

  “No, you’re right.”

  “Why are you all Team Ashton all of a sudden, anyway?”

  She shrugs. “It was just the way he looked at you earlier. The fact he came here. I don’t know. I think you should probably just talk to him, lay it all out on the table and maybe... I don’t know, start over? Things have been beyond tense for both of you. You’ve been stressed about this weekend, he lost his mom. It might be time to put it all behind you so you can start fresh. He’s going to be at Rosewood... tomorrow?”

  “Oh God,” I groan, tipping my head back and staring up at the bus roof. “Did I tell you he plays football?”

  She laughs beside me. “Of course he does. Ruby, like it or not, this boy is about to insert himself into every part of your life. Whether you move forward with him or attempt to cut all ties and live as separate as possible, you are going to have to have it out with him.”

  “I’m scared, Harley,” I admit quietly.

  “Scared of what?”

  “Him. Being in the same room alone with him. How I feel about him.”

  I don’t need to look at her to know she’s got a shit-eating grin on her face.

  “You can say it, you know... I told you so.”

  “Me? No, never. I wouldn’t do that.”

  I laugh at her attempt to sound innocent.

  “It’s a mess, Har.”

  “You’ll figure it out. And I’ll be right here beside you as you do.” She bumps her shoulder against m
ine in support.

  “So... how’s Nathan?”

  Harley actually squeals in excitement at the mention of his name. “He’s coming over later. Wants to take me out for dinner to celebrate our success.”

  “He’s driving all the way from Maddison on a Sunday night? Boy’s got it bad!”

  She swoons. “He’s so sweet. I really think we could have something.”

  I smile at her, wishing my life was as simple with a nice, sweet guy.

  “Want to come back to my house to help me pick something to wear and avoid going home?”

  “Now that sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.”

  After saying goodbye to the squad once Miss Kelly pulls up at school, I climb into Harley’s car that she left in the parking lot over the weekend and we head to her house.

  “Do you know where he’s taking you?”

  “Nope, no idea.”

  She chats away about him, telling me things that I already know, but I don’t have the heart to tell her because she’s so excited.

  “Is he already here?” I ask when she pulls up at her house and there’s an unfamiliar car in the driveway.

  “Nah, that’s not his. Maybe Zayn’s got someone round.”

  She shrugs and climbs out, and I refrain from telling her that almost all of Zayn’s friends are also our friends and we know what they drive. But she doesn’t seem too bothered, so I just follow her inside.

  “Mom, I’m home,” she calls into the silent house.

  Jada was at the arena earlier supporting us, but she had to get back for work. No surprise there, the woman is always working.

  “Oh hey, girls,” she says when she emerges from the hallway where her office is.

  “Hey.”

  Another pair of footsteps sound out behind her and Jada tenses, something that I notice Harley doesn’t miss.

  “Mom?” she asks but Jada just swallows nervously.

  “I... uh... wasn’t expecting you back yet.”

  I’m half expecting some half-dressed man to emerge from the hallway. Harley has never said anything about her mom having a boyfriend but I’m sure she must date. She’s young and hot after all. But when a guy does emerge, I have my suspicions that she isn’t having a relationship with him. He’s obviously older than us, but not by much.

  His eyes immediately land on Harley before they narrow in anger.

  Harley tenses beside me and reaches for my hand.

  What the hell?

  “I was just helping Kane with a few things,” Jada says as a way of explanation as the tension in the room only gets heavier. She turns to him and smiles softly. “I’ll call you once everything is in hand.”

  “Thank you,” he says coldly, his voice rough and... dangerous, much like his appearance.

  His eyes never leave Harley as he moves around us to the front door.

  “Mom?” Harley asks the second the door closes behind us, her voice full of accusation.

  “It’s nothing, Harley. I’m just helping out. Everything is fine.”

  “Really?” she asks, a humorless laugh falling from her lips. “You really believe that after everything?”

  “Yes, sweetie. I do.”

  “I can’t believe you.” She shakes her head at her mom and marches toward the stairs.

  “Harley,” Jada calls as my best friend bolts up the stairs. But it’s too late, she’s gone.

  Jada turns her sad eyes on me. “I’m sorry, Ruby.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure she’ll be fine,” I say, although seeing as I have no clue as to what the hell just happened, that could all be lies. “I’ll just...” I trail off, pointing to the stairs and following behind Harley.

  When I get to the top and turn into her room, I find her pacing back and forth in front of her bed.

  “Har, what’s going on?” It takes a good few seconds for her to look up at me, and when she does my breath catches at the look in her eyes. She looks terrified. “Harley?” I warn, my own heart rate picking up a notch at her obvious fear. “Who was that guy?”

  She looks back down at the carpet and blows out a breath.

  I start to think she’s going to ignore my question and I’m getting ready to ask my next when she finally responds.

  “You remember after Halloween, after what went down with Ash?”

  “Yeah,” I encourage.

  “And no matter what Poppy or I did, you refused to talk about it.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well... this is kinda like that.”

  “You let him go down on you at Halloween?”

  Her eyes widen in shock. “What? No. I didn’t mean like that. I meant that I didn’t want to talk about it.”

  “Oh, I was gonna say, he’s hot, I’d imagine you’d want to scream that from the roof—”

  “Stop. Please, just stop.”

  “O-okay.”

  “I can tell you that he’s not touched me, there’s nothing like that at all here. He just...” She shakes her head. “I can’t.”

  Her shoulders drop in defeat as she falls down onto the end of her bed.

  I watch as she tries to deal with whatever it is that involves the dangerous looking guy downstairs, wishing I could do something to help, and equally appreciating for the first time how annoying it must have been for both Harley and Poppy when I refused to talk about Ash.

  Deciding I need to distract her, she’s got a date to look forward to after all, I turn to her wardrobe. “So... what do you want to wear?” I ask, looking back over my shoulder at her.

  “I’m going to cancel,” she admits quietly.

  “No. Harley, you are not going to do that. Whatever is going on here, don’t let it ruin your time with Nathan.”

  She stares at me for a beat as if she’s battling with her decision.

  “Y-you’re right.” She pushes from the bed and comes to stand beside me. “Thank you,” she whispers.

  “Whatever you need, Har. I’m right here.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into me.

  Thirty minutes later and we’re back in Harley’s car so she can drop me home before going to meet Nathan. I’m pretty sure he was supposed to pick her up, but she changed her mind and insisted that she wanted to drive. Something tells me that she just needed her own company for a bit to digest whatever that was with her mom in the foyer of their house.

  “Call me if you need me,” Harley says before I climb out of her car, my eyes locked on Ash’s bike.

  My stomach twists knowing that he’s inside and possibly waiting for me. But I can hardly avoid my own house.

  I could go to my dad’s. He’s not in town, but I’ve got a key. I could move in with his housemate. I laugh at myself.

  Man up, Ruby, a little voice says in my head as I take a step toward the front of the house.

  Harley gives me a little wave as I turn back before she reverses out of the driveway.

  I let myself in and drop my bags by the stairs as I make my way through to the kitchen to where I can hear Mom and Stephen talking.

  “Hey, sweetie, did you enjoy the rest of your day?”

  “Y-yeah, it was good. We just celebrated,” I say with a wince. Not winning hurts, I can’t deny that. But I know Chelsea is right, it just wasn’t our time. Maybe next year.

  “As you should, you were incredible. The whole squad was.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Would you like some food? I can heat up the leftovers.”

  “No, I’m good. We went out for pizza. I’m just gonna go and do some homework.”

  “Okay.” I turn to leave but her voice stops me. “Ruby?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Ashton is home.”

  I nod, unable to get any words past the lump that has suddenly appeared in my throat.

  “I’ve told him to give you space. I suggest you do the same for him.” She doesn’t need to tell me twice.

  “Sure thing.”

  “He’s starting at school tomorrow,” Ste
phen adds.

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, but don’t worry, I’m not about to ask you to be his chaperone or anything.”

  “Good.”

  “Okay, well...” I back away from them both, not giving them a chance to say anything else before I lock myself in my room for the night.

  They watch me leave, but they don’t say anything else. I’m surprised, I was expecting a lecture about Ashton and what we can’t do under their roof. Although I’ve been so sad and angry the past week, they’re probably pretty confident that I don’t want to be anywhere near him. And they’d be correct.

  With a sigh, I collect up my bags and make my way to my room. My footsteps falter as I pass Ash’s door. I know he’s inside, I can feel it and it annoys the shit out of me.

  But I keep my head high and walk straight past.

  The second I step into my room, I can’t help but smile at the huge bouquet of red and white—our school colors—flowers that are sitting on my dresser.

  Dumping my bags on the bed, I walk over to admire them, plucking the card from the holder as I do. I find a typed message, which is odd because Mom always prefers to handwrite to make it more personal, but I figure it’s Sunday and was last minute.

  You’ll always be my number one!

  XXX

  I smile at her corniness and place the card beside the vase the stems are resting in.

  They’re really beautiful and exactly the thing I needed to make this homecoming a little more pleasant.

  A noise from the room next door stops me in my tracks to the bathroom, and I hold my breath as I wait to see if he’s going to come barreling in here to have it out with me.

  But after a few seconds and no more noise, I figure that he’s leaving me alone and I go back to what I was doing.

  31

  Ashton

  My fists curl in the sheets beneath me as I listen to her quiet footsteps climb the stairs.

  Every inch of me wants to pull the door open and drag her in here so we can finish what we started earlier.

  She can shout, scream, hit me all she wants. I deserve it. Maybe not for showing up to support her this weekend, but for all the other shit I’ve pulled.