The Replacement: A Reverse Harem Bully Romance (The Thorns of Rosewood Book 1)

by Cassie James

  Stan fixes a smile on his face as he glances between me and the computer screen before settling his gaze on Mom. “Jackie, would you mind stepping out for this next part?” She starts to protest, but Stan shakes his head. “I’m afraid I have to insist. We’ll be discussing something sensitive. It really would be better for you not to be in the room, just like a regular doctor’s appointment,” he says pointedly.

  Mom stands reluctantly as I smile at her to help ease her nerves. The smile does nothing for my nerves, it turns out, but it’s a nice gesture, nonetheless. She rounds the bed, shooting Stan a stern look, and she runs a hand through my hair before resting her hand on my cheek. “I’m just downstairs if you need anything, Piper.” I nod, and she strokes my cheek one last time before leaving the room.

  Once she’s gone, Stan makes quite the show of pulling his chair around to the side of the bed. He settles into it, crossing one leg over the other, his bare ankle pressing into the crisp material of his pants. He folds his hands and rests them over his bent knee before fixing me with a long, probing look. “Piper, how’s school?”

  “Redundant?” I offer, and the gentle look on his face gives way to a stern, stony facade. My stomach leaps as I struggle to come up with more of an answer. “I find that I have no issues with my STEM courses, but I do struggle a little with my humanities based courses. My English teacher seems to think it’s because I can’t quite grasp the nuances behind the emotions involved with the subject matter, but honestly, I feel like I have a pretty solid grasp on emotions. It’s just that I find poetry to be incredibly boring.”

  “That’s not what I mean.”

  “Oh?” I ask, feigning ignorance. Of course Stan isn’t concerned with my coursework. He designed me to be intuitive and to learn; I would be surprised if he didn’t already have an idea of how school was going to go for me. No, he’s asking about the rest of the school experience—the human interaction, the time spent dodging my old group of friends and their taunts and teases. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” I lie, and the hard look he fixes me with tells me he knows I’m not being truthful with him.

  “I mean the interactions with your peers, Piper. Your log shows some troubling things, honestly.”

  “I’m fine.” My tone leaves no room for argument.

  Or at least, I thought that’s the message I was sending. Stan shakes his head at me and runs a hand down his face, pulling the skin taut for a moment before dropping his hands back into his lap. “It seems as if you’re enduring some rather degrading taunts from your classmates. And with a quick glance through your files, it seems as if a young man groped you against your will.”

  My mind spins. “No,” I say slowly, dragging the syllable much longer than needed. Nothing that serious has happened since I’ve started school—I mean, Jude did cop a handful of my boobs, but I chalked it up to human curiosity and moved on. He didn’t hurt me, and I could’ve stopped him if I wanted to. Plus, would I not be equally curious if something new, something that completely rocked my understanding of the world around me, showed up one day out of the blue? My mind wanders for a moment, remembering that heated kiss in the hallway, and I feel the blush that heats my skin. “I’m honestly fine... And I’m a teenager, right? Some of these experiences are expected. I’m as curious about my peers as they are about me. I...” I bite my lip and fall silent, having come way too close to mentioning how much I enjoyed that kiss.

  “What about the pejoratives?”

  My eyes narrow as I roll some of the more popular terms around in my head. It. That thing. Robot girl. Silicunt. Fake Piper. 2.0.

  Honestly, they don’t bother me anymore. “You gave me Piper’s personality traits, Stan, and one of those traits is that I’m tough. Tougher than the girls that cry in the bathroom because someone said something mean. Piper became who she was because she decided the opinion that mattered the most was her own.” I take a deep breath, just to give myself a chance to gather the last of my thoughts. “There’s more to it, of course. There’s more to me than just old Piper—I’m not just a replacement, Stan. You built me to be a better human, and I’m going to uphold that even if it’s the last thing I do.”

  “You’re sure?” he asks, a cloud of uncertainty hanging over this conversation.

  “I’m positive, Stan. Trust me, I’ve got this.” And I do have this. The Thorns and The Roses might not be ready to accept me yet, but they will. What I told Stan was the truth. I’m going to be the best damn version of Piper possible, and I won’t let my peers at Rosewood stand in the way of that.

  7

  Brennan

  I’m only half listening to the chatter around me as I gulp the foamy beer Tori handed off to me a few minutes ago. The bonfire we’re all sitting around crackles, sending sparks flying high into the dark night sky. We’re all hanging out on the beach just behind the Alton family beach house to celebrate the end of August.

  I chug the rest of the lukewarm beer as I watch Tori and Chelsey chasing a couple of guys around the fire, laughing and shrieking as they try to sink their nails into their prey. Thank fuck it’s not me or one of the other Thorns tonight. There’s nothing worse than spending an entire party trying to chase those girls away from my junk all night.

  These parties used to be the best part of school starting back up, but it seems more than a little lackluster this year. I keep looking for someone to blame. Maybe it’s because Tyler, usually the life of the party, is off on his own in the dark, propped against some driftwood and brooding. Maybe it’s because Jude’s standing at the edge of the fire, chugging beer after beer and staring in the direction that Tyler disappeared instead of encouraging the debauchery of our peers.

  We should be louder. Considering most of these homes are vacation places already abandoned for the fall, we could be as loud as we wanted. Besides, Jude’s name carries some serious weight around here. His actress mom isn’t just a MILF, she’s also a household name, and anyone who watches action films anymore knows his dad, the director. The Altons are impressive, a Hollywood power-couple that have stood the test of gossip-rags, the paparazzi, and time, and Jude—charismatic as any other young up-and-comer—is following directly in their footsteps. The last time the cops were called on us, the younger cop recognized him from his semi-recurring role on her favorite sitcom, and he sent her away with a smile and a spoiler. Point is, dude’s a fucking superstar in the making, and we haven’t had to worry about the cops since.

  Wanting to think about something else, I stand and stumble my way toward the keg that’s sitting in the back of a truck that belongs to one of the soccer players. I can never keep them all straight, mostly because I just don’t give a shit. Tyler’s the captain, the others do what he tells them to do, that simple. I fill my cup, pausing long enough to scoop some of the foam out onto the ground before kicking sand up the entire way back to the fire.

  Piper was always the center of these parties. It’s not the same without her.

  The music, in particular, was her personal area of expertise. She could keep the party going long after everyone was ready to quit with a well-timed pop song. I sneer in the direction of the junior-girl that’s trying—and failing spectacularly—to keep the mood upbeat and the party going with the music. Some shitty techno remix blares through the speakers set up in the back of someone’s Jeep, and it doesn’t quite hit the way something Piper chose would.

  As much as we fucking miss Piper, inviting her... replacement was never an option.

  When Tyler told us the Hawthornes found some company to build them an AI replacement daughter, I didn’t really believe him. I’m the tech-nut of the group, well on my way to Silicon Valley sooner rather than later, but even to me, it seemed impossible. Like a desperate fucking pipe dream.

  Then the first day of school happened, and that thing showed up looking and sounding like our lost friend. It turned out to be more of a nightmare than a dream. There’s something not quite right about the replacement. A sense of uncanny val
ley that I just can’t manage to shake. 2.0 isn’t our friend, and as hard as she tries, she never will be. We would all be much better off if she would stop fucking coming to school altogether.

  “What’s on your mind?” I glance up to see Tori swaying from side to side from her spot in front of me. Her bikini top is gaping, and I roll my eyes before peering over her shoulder. I know her well enough to know she’s thirsty for a good dicking, but I’m not gonna be the one to give it to her.

  Tori Pruitt may be hot, and she may have risen to the top of the social ladder when Piper died, but I don’t need or want that kind of crazy in my life. I shrug as I drop back onto the log in front of the fire. Tori moves a few steps closer, blocking the fire from view as she drops her hands on her hips and scoffs. “What the fuck is wrong with you guys tonight? Tyler’s off somewhere playing with himself or something, Jude’s standing around staring in the dark like some kind of lovesick puppy, and you...”

  I sneer up at her. Tori brushes her long blonde hair over her shoulder and sighs before glancing over her shoulder in Jude’s direction. She’s rolling her eyes when she turns back to me. “What’s going on, Brennan? You know you can talk to me.”

  “What are you really looking for, Tori?” I challenge, but before she can even open that pretty, idiotic mouth of hers, I cut her off. “Do you want to talk, or are you just looking for a fuck?”

  “Well, I’m game if you are,” she answers with a sly smile I’m sure she thinks is sexy. Goddamn, she’s actually deranged. She somehow doesn’t get it. She’s hot, sure, but she’s all empty space between the ears. She and Chelsey are still around because we’re too lazy to do something about them, not because we actually fucking care. It’s bullshit not having Piper around anymore to keep the two of them in line.

  “I didn’t want to fuck you when you were Piper’s second.” I stand and shove around her, heading in Jude’s direction. “I sure as hell don’t want to fuck you now, either.”

  “What, are you trying to fuck 2.0 instead?” she taunts, and my shoulders aren’t the only that stiffen at her words. Jude and I turn in unison, and I can only hope that the disgust on my face is as pronounced as it is on his. It’s almost like drama scents the air, and it’s not long before the sharks are circling.

  Chelsey shoves her way into the inner ring as I circle around behind Tori and spit, “What the fuck did you just say?”

  I can see Tyler’s looming figure lumbering our way in the dark, and I grit my teeth. Piper was shrewd, and she could out-bitch the best of them, but she never needed an audience like Tori does. The plastic cup in my hand starts to crumple in my grip, and the scowl on my face hardens as beer sloshes over the edge onto my hands.

  “It just seems that you’re all weirdly obsessed with that thing,” she says, and even the shadows of the night don’t hide the way Jude’s eyes darken. I feel the heat of the fire pressing against my back, and I lock eyes with Tyler as he moves to stand next to Jude, directly behind the idiot girl. She lifts her hands from her hips long enough to point between us as she sneers. “Why would you even think about a plastic girl when you can have the real thing?”

  “Nobody wants to fuck Piper’s replacement!” Tyler snaps, causing Tori to startle. She jerks around in time to see Jude shooing the rest of the curious on-lookers on their way. Chelsey begins to move back toward the keg, but he reaches out a hand to catch her by the arm, fingers digging in enough to make her wince.

  Tori’s shoulders crumple at the sight of her audience dispersing. Her voice is much less accusatory when she replies, “Could’ve fooled me.”

  I grit my teeth, chugging back the rest of my beer before smashing the cup completely and tossing it aside, forgotten on the sand. I take a couple steps forward, and she backs up quickly, squeaking when her back hits Tyler’s chest. He drops his hands to her shoulders, and I stalk forward as the girls squirm in Tyler’s and Jude’s grasps.

  “We. Want. Her. Gone.” Each of my words is punctuated with a step forward and within seconds I’m looming over her. She bites her lip, offering me a smile, and I scoff at the hopeful expression in her eyes. “We don’t have time for poor replacements of Piper, and you’ll do really goddamn well to remember that.”

  Recognition seems to spark in her eyes as she takes in the double meaning behind my words. Chelsey squeaks at Jude’s sudden rumbling of laugher, and the tension in the air thickens when he shoves her toward her cowed friend. “Well said, Brennan,” he offers, and I nod once as Tyler releases Tori and takes a step back. She stumbles before catching herself with a gasp. Jude’s laughter darkens before he adds, “We don’t have time for your shit, Victoria. Consider The Roses sheared, we don’t fucking need sniveling cunts like you around.”

  She’s completely stricken, the look on her face as horrified as if someone just told her that her daddy was taking away all her platinum cards and allowance. There’s nothing in the world she hates more than being called Victoria, something all of us know. Nothing affects her as quickly or as deeply as being called by her full name. It’s one of Jude’s favorite tricks with her, and she never fails to react. I can’t help but laugh as Jude and Tyler give the girls a wide berth, treating the blondes like the social pariahs they’re sure to eventually become now that they’ve lost favor with Jude Alton, the King of The Thorns. We’re well on our way back to the keg when Tori’s desperate voice stops us in our tracks.

  “What if 2.0 knows our secrets?”

  “What?” Tyler snaps, jerking back around. I turn in time to see him taking furious steps back toward the girls. Tori throws her hands up in front of her in a clear sign of surrender. Sand sprays over her feet when he stops, chest heaving. “What the fuck does that mean, Victoria?”

  “Macie said something to me the other day...” The mention of her step-sister piques my interest. Macie Wharton snubbed us all when she chose to not join The Roses, but even I could appreciate that the girl knew her tech. She was the only other person at Rosewood beside me that was considering CalTech, and I don’t doubt for a minute that she’s a real contender. If she knows something about 2.0...

  “What does 2.0 know?” Jude asks as he, too, storms back toward the girls. I roll my eyes, certain that whatever Tori’s cooking up is going to be a massive fucking waste of time, but I follow after them anyway.

  “Well, it’s just that Macie says that the robot—”

  “Android,” I correct her, and Jude shoots me a dark look. Not the time for it, got it.

  “Yeah, whatever it is,” she snarks back to me. “Macie said it should be impossible to do whatever they did with it. 2.0 knows way more stuff about Piper’s past than it should. What if the guy that made her found a way to, I don’t know? Upload Piper’s consciousness into it?”

  I bark out a laugh. “That’s literally fucking impossible.” Jude shoots me another look, but I puff my chest as I step forward. Seriously, what Tori’s suggesting is impossible, and I need them all to realize it before they get too caught up in what crazy bullshit she’s getting ready to suggest. “I cannot stress enough how literally impossible that is. I’m not sure how they programmed 2.0, but it didn’t get Piper’s consciousness. That’s not a thing anyone can do.”

  “Whatever, Brennan.” She crosses her arms over her chest, pushing her tits impossibly high as she turns wide eyes up at Jude. I might be the only person in the group that actually knows what the fuck they’re talking about right now, but it’s his opinion that matters, and she knows that. “I just can’t help but think that 2.0 knows more than she’s letting on. Do you see the way she looks at us every fucking day at school? It’s creepy! Jude, you know how I feel about Macie, but I really think she’s on to something here. I think 2.0 is going to try to take us down.”

  “What do you propose we do about it?” he asks, and I have to swallow the groan that’s bubbling in my throat. Jude crosses his arms over his broad chest, turning his head down to stare at Tori’s tits—because there’s no way he’s actually looking in her eyes
and fucking taking her seriously right now. “Because if you’re right—which I highly doubt, Victoria—then it’s time we get rid of 2.0.”

  “We make her think we’ve accepted her. Start letting her eat lunch with us, talk to us, whatever it fucking takes. We find out what she knows.” Tori is breathless as she stares up at Jude with a simpering smile. “Then we figure out what makes her run, and we crush her. Do it my way, and we’ll be rid of her for good.”

  I cross my arms over my chest and shake my head as Jude considers her words. Tyler looks over his shoulder, shooting me a look that asks how I feel about the entire situation. I shrug in response. How the fuck am I supposed to feel about it? I don’t like 2.0, and I want her gone as much as the next person. Tori’s logic is seriously, seriously flawed. Whatever understanding she has of artificial intelligence is as wrong as it possibly can be.

  “Do it,” Jude finally says, and I heave a sigh.

  There’s something swirling in my gut that I don’t really understand. Probably the combination of being borderline drunk and forced to listen to this nonsense. But hell, who gives a shit if Tori doesn’t know what she’s talking about? All that matters is that we’re finally going to do what we should have been doing all along—getting rid of 2.0 for good.

  8

  Piper

  “I’m not saying not to trust them,” Macie starts as she turns out of my neighborhood behind Tyler Hamilton. Her eyes narrow and my hand shoots to the handle above the door when he suddenly hits his brakes. Macie slams her brakes in return, avoiding plowing into the back of his Mercedes by inches, and her hand shoots out the sunroof, flipping Tyler off as he peels away. “Actually, yes I am saying not to trust them. They’re up to something, Piper.”