Hatefully Yours

by Callahan, Kelli

  “You still haven’t told me what really happened in Carson Cove.” Boone took the joint and lifted it to his lips.

  “The company my dad was working for—Devereaux Properties. They got raided by the cops two days after he started.” I shook my head and sighed. “I’m surprised you didn’t see it on the news.”

  “I don’t watch the fucking news.” Boone shrugged. “Damn man; that’s some bad luck.”

  “No, that’s just my dad’s luck.” I took the joint and hit it. “He had a good job here, but he didn’t want to put in the work to get ahead. He wanted a shortcut. Do you think he asked anyone who he was going to be working for? Fuck no. I knew more about Devereaux Properties on my first day of school at Carson Cove High than he did before he took the damn job.”

  “Were the girls in Carson Cove hot?” Boone took the joint from my hand before I could decide if I wanted to hit it again. “Gotta be better than the girls here, right?”

  “I didn’t even get a chance to look at them before it was time to pack up and leave.” I shook my head. “Then we ended up in the city—just a total fucking nightmare.”

  “So what are you going to do now that you’re back?” Boone rolled down the window and tossed what was left of the joint. “Pick up where you left off with Sarah?”

  “I think that ship sailed the day I left. It’s not like we were that serious to begin with.” I shrugged. “Honestly? I don’t know what the fuck I’m gonna do now.”

  Graduate high school and get the fuck out of this town again is definitely at the top of my list…

  Cabot Beach was paradise to most people. Not only was it a popular vacation spot, but it was also where a lot of the rich and famous bought summer homes. It wasn’t that strange to run into an actor, actress, rock star or pop princess—walking through town like they were just an ordinary person. Sometimes they even crashed our parties. Boone thought he was some sort of ambassador between the locals and the celebrities. He made a point of trying to spice up the parties by inviting someone interesting. I was kind of glad he failed to find anyone important enough to invite when we were at the beach because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with that shit. I just wanted to get a drink, relax, and catch up with the few people I considered friends.

  “I heard you were back in town.” Maurice, the quarterback of the football team, walked up and offered me a beer. “I hope you’re gonna be on the field this season—we’ve been getting our ass handed to us the last couple of years.”

  “We got our ass handed to us the last time I suited up too.” I scoffed and took the beer. “I’ll be there—maybe this season I won’t throw up on the sidelines and forget a week of my life after one of those fuckers from Penny Grove stomps my skull into the turf.”

  “Aw man.” Maurice threw his head back and sighed. “That fucking game. It was even worse last year. They broke Billy’s arm in the first quarter, and Dale spent three days in the hospital after he got hit so hard he landed on the other side of the fucking post during a goal line stand.”

  “Damn.” I shook my head back and forth. “When are we playing Penny Grove this season?”

  “Week four.” He grimaced.

  “Fuck.” I exhaled sharply. “Some of us might not even make it to the Homecoming Dance this year.”

  “I’m just hoping I live long enough to see a college field next year.” Maurice laughed. “You still gonna try to play football on Saturdays after you graduate?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I guess I’ll see what kind of scholarships come my way.”

  Getting to suit up with my friends was one of the only things that excited me about coming back to Cabot Beach. Graduating with people I knew instead of a bunch of strangers was a nice bonus as well—even if I didn’t really like most of them. There were just too many entitled assholes in my hometown that thought they were better than everyone else because they were born with a silver spoon shoved up their ass. If it wasn’t for football, I would have been at the bottom of their totem pole. I never forgot that, no matter how many of them called me brother when I put on a fucking helmet.

  “Trent! Oh my god!” I turned the corner and was nearly tackled by a girl with long blonde hair. “Brooke told me you were back in town, but I thought she got too much sun or something!”

  “Hey—Keely.” I finally realized who was trying to hug me. “How have you been?”

  “Good! Great, actually!” She took a step back and smiled. “I’m finally old enough to get invited to a party that you’re at!”

  “I guess you are…” I looked around and realized that she wasn’t the only newly minted Freshman holding a drink.

  “Thank goodness, right?” She grinned. “Now we can hang out!”

  “Uh, yeah—maybe.” I nodded while I continued to scan the room—looking for someone other than the girl that was right in front of me.

  “What are you planning to do tonight?” She looked up at me. “Do you want to go somewhere private and catch up?”

  “I’ve got a lot of people I need to catch up with.” I gave her a polite smile.

  “Later then?” She tilted her head slightly.

  “Yeah.” I nodded aimlessly. “Is the rest of your crew here with you?”

  “Of course.” She pointed to the corner of the room where I saw a group of Freshmen girls watching our exchange and giggling. “Well, everyone except for Brooke. She never comes to these things. She doesn’t like parties.”

  “Ah…” I turned my attention back to Keely.

  Too bad. That’s who I was hoping to run into again—even if Boone would skin me alive if he saw me talking to his little sister.

  Chapter Three

  Brooke

  Three years later

  “Where do you think you’re going dressed in that outfit, young lady?” My father walked into the kitchen and immediately stopped in his tracks when he saw me.

  “I’m just hanging out with some friends…” I turned to him and shrugged. “All of them dress like this.”

  “My daughter doesn’t.” He pointed to the stairs. “Go upstairs and change.”

  “Okay, dad.” I looked down and sighed. “Fine…”

  “That outfit is bullshit, Brooke.” He growled under his breath. “Don’t let me catch you wearing something like that again.”

  It wasn’t the first time my father had sent me back upstairs when I tried to leave the house in something that I used to wear without him even batting an eye. Of course, that was before the t-shirts I used to wear when I was fifteen got pushed to the limit when I stretched them across my chest—and before I sliced a couple of inches off the jean shorts that I could barely squeeze myself into.

  I was a late bloomer, but it finally happened—and I was excited to have the kind of attention my friends had been getting since they were old enough to drive. Guys finally noticed me—I had been on a few dates—I was no longer the girl that sat at home alone on Saturday night. I might have been the same person I always was underneath the skin that was finally appealing to the opposite sex, but I just felt different.

  I’ll throw something on over this and change when I get to the party…

  * * *

  “Damn girl…” Keely’s face lit up when I walked through the door. “How the hell did you get out of the house in that?”

  “I wore something over it.” I laughed and tossed my duffel bag into the corner of the kitchen. “Where can I get a drink?”

  “I’m almost done making Jello shots, but if you want a beer, head that way.” She pointed. “That’s if you can even make it to the keg before the guys are crawling all over you.”

  “Maybe I’ll actually get drunk enough to let one of them crawl all over me before the end of the night.” I bit down on my bottom lip and grinned.

  “Oh please, you’re going to die a virgin.” Keely rolled her eyes. “You love to tease them, but everyone knows you don’t put out.”

  “Tonight could be the night.” I shrugged. “Or maybe no
t…”

  “It won’t be.” She laughed. “I know you too well!”

  What Keely said was the truth—for the guys that were currently at the party. I had spent so long being ignored by all of the ones I went to high school with to sleep with any of them just because I finally had boobs. I remembered how they treated me before I could fill out a bra—before they made comments about me having a nice ass when I walked by.

  “Where’s the keg?” I nudged a girl named Brittany, that I recognized from one of my classes. “Keely said it’s in here.”

  “Next room.” Brittany motioned towards the door. “Just follow the scent of Axe Body Spray and teenage desperation.”

  “I take it you’re not having fun.” I raised my eyebrows in surprise at her response.

  “My boyfriend threw up in my car last weekend, and he promised he wasn’t going to get drunk tonight—I bet you can guess how well that’s going.” She exhaled sharply.

  “Sorry…” I looked down and stifled the laugh that almost came before I was able to stop it.

  I made it to the keg, pushed a couple of hands away from guys that tried to touch me, and got a cup of beer. I knew my outfit made me look like a slut, but that didn’t mean they got to feel me up without asking first—the result would have been the same whether they asked or not, but some common courtesy would have been nice. There was a reason that I was dressed in the most revealing attire I had ever worn, and it wasn’t because I wanted to get touched by a bunch of high school boys.

  I really hope he shows up…

  “Look who just pulled into the driveway. Holy shit…” Boyd, one of the guys on the football team, pointed towards the window. “It’s fucking Trent Rigsby—the legend!”

  “Are you serious?” Mike, our star running back, walked to the window. “Damn, you’re right. What the fuck is he doing here?”

  “He’s probably going to make sure none of us get laid tonight.” Brody shook his head and laughed.

  “He didn’t come alone.” Mike looked towards his buddy. “Boone Parker is with him too! Shit is about to real!”

  “What?” I felt all of the oxygen get sucked out of my lungs in an instant.

  My brother’s here!? Fuck, I have to change!

  I put my cup of beer on the table and made a dash for the kitchen. I didn’t even have time to tell Keely why I was so panicked. I grabbed my clothes, ran into the bathroom, and changed as fast as humanly possible. I didn’t care if the people I went to high school with saw my outfit, but my brother was an entirely different story—he would make sure to bring it up at the most inopportune time—probably when we were at the dinner table if his visit lasted long enough for him to sit down with the family.

  Fuck, that was close…

  “What happened?” Keely gave me a confused stare when I walked back into the kitchen.

  “Keely, you bitch!” I walked over and pushed her shoulder—not hard, just enough to show her that I wasn’t happy. “You said Trent might show up. You didn’t tell me that my brother would be coming with him!”

  “Oh, did I forget to mention that?” She raised an eyebrow. “I figured you knew—he’s your brother.”

  “My brother and I talk as little as fucking possible.” I glared at her. “Damn it…”

  “You were wearing that outfit for Trent?” Keely started laughing. “Come on, Brooke. He’s in college now. He’s not here to pick up girls.”

  I hadn’t seen Trent in two years, but the feelings I had for him never went away. After he returned to Cabot Beach and I saw him by the rocks, we talked pretty regularly when he was at my house—whenever Boone wasn’t dominating all of his time. There seemed to be a spark, even before I had a body that guys noticed—and one night, by the pool, I could have sworn there was a flicker in his eyes. I thought he was going to kiss me before Boone interrupted us. That was the very last time I saw Trent—he went away to college, and I tried to forget him—but I couldn’t. That night was simply seared into my soul.

  “Runt!” Boone walked into the kitchen. “You’re going to parties now? What the hell?”

  “They keg is that way.” I pointed behind him.

  “What’s up, Keely.” Boone turned towards my best friend and smirked. “Why are you hanging out in the kitchen with my sister when there’s a party going on in your living room?”

  “Well I’ve been trying to make Jello shots—but people keep interrupting me.” She shot a glare at me.

  “Jello shots? Fuck yeah.” Boone walked to the counter. “Let me get a couple of those.”

  “Do one with me?” Keely put a shot in his hand lifted one of her own. “Brooke, do you want in on this?”

  “Nah, I’m fine.” I shook my head and walked towards the door.

  “I bet you don’t even drink beer.” Boone scoffed and did the shot.

  Fuck off, Boone. I’m not going to let you ruin my night—again.

  Trent was a legend at Cabot High, so it was no wonder that all of the football players were gathered around him when I walked back into the living room. The touchdown run he did to give us the lead—and the win—against Penny Grove High during his senior year was something that everyone would remember for the rest of their lives. Not only did it make him a hero, but it was good enough to land him a scholarship to keep playing football. It was no surprise that my brother suddenly decided the University of Michigan was where he wanted to go to college shortly after Trent committed there.

  It was almost an hour before the crowd gave Trent a break from sharing tales of his football heroics. He refilled his cup of beer, pulled out his phone, and walked into one of the side rooms that Keely’s mother used for her arts and crafts. I had to act fast if I wanted to catch him alone—it was only a matter of time before Boone went looking for his best friend or someone else wondered where he went. I walked into the room right as he finished sending a text message and pushed his phone into his pocket.

  “Hi…” I looked down and smiled.

  “Oh am I not supposed to be in here?” He looked around the room. “Sorry.”

  “No.” I shook my head back and forth. “You don’t recognize me?”

  “Um.” He narrowed his eyes. “Wait—Brooke!?”

  “The one and only…” I tried to mimic the smirk I saw on his face at the beach when he said the exact same thing to me.

  “Oh my god!” He walked over and gave me a hug. “How have you been?”

  His arms feel as amazing I thought they would.

  “I’ve been good.” I tried to linger in his embrace, but he pulled away before I was ready for the hug to end. “Better now that you’re here—this party was getting boring.”

  “Wow.” He took a step back. “You’re all grown up now…”

  “A few years will do that.” I looked down and blushed.

  “Hold on…” He exhaled sharply, and I heard a buzzing sound. “That’s probably my dad. I told him I would meet him for dinner—after I stopped by here.”

  “You’re not staying?” I felt my heart drop into my stomach.

  “No, honestly I didn’t even plan to come.” He pulled his phone out and stared at it. “Your brother talked me into it.”

  “Oh…” My voice obviously reflected my disappointment, but I didn’t care.

  “Yep, he’s asking where I am.” Trent sighed. “I have to go.”

  “How long are you in town for? Maybe we could catch up…” I felt like I was fumbling over desperate words, but they were all I had.

  “Maybe.” He nodded. “It was good to see you again.”

  Just like that—Trent was gone. For two years, I played out how things would go if I ever saw him again, and none of the conversations in my head ended with him walking away—but I didn’t even get a chance to start one of them. I wondered if he would have paused if he saw me in my tightest shirt—or my jeans that showed the curve of my ass—if he could have seen just how much I had changed. All I could do was wonder because the spark I thought we shared didn’t have a
chance to flicker—it was simply extinguished.

  I waited two years—for that?

  Chapter Four

  Brooke

  Trent and I never had a chance to catch up. I didn’t know what happened exactly, but Boone told me there was some sort of fight between Trent and his dad—and Trent probably wouldn’t be coming back for any more weekend visits. They were rare enough before that. He didn’t even come back for the summer. He got a job in Michigan and avoided Cabot Beach entirely until the party at Keely’s house—or maybe he had been back a few times before that, and I just didn’t know. Either way, the only choice I had was to forget him and try to move on.

  “We made it!” Keely came running up to me with her diploma in hand.

  “We did!” I smiled and hugged her.

  “A few more months, and then we’ll both leave Cabot Beach behind forever.” She smiled, and I saw a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

  “I don’t know about forever…” I shook my head back and forth. “We’re just going to college. I’ll still come back on the weekends.”

  “Yeah, but it won’t be the same.” She shrugged. “This is the end—and the beginning. We’ve got the rest of our lives in front of us.”

  “That’s true.” I nodded. “We still have the graduation party though.”

  “One more night.” She smiled and nudged me. “I’ll see you later. I need to go take some pictures with my family.”

  “Okay. I’ll text you before I head to the party.” I waved goodbye.

  It really did feel like the end of my time in Cabot Beach, even if I did plan to come home when I could. I doubted it would be where I settled down after college. There was nothing left for me in my hometown. I had to forge my path towards the future, and I was pretty sure that would be in New York. My dream was to work in marketing, and while there were a few opportunities in Cabot Beach, there were a lot more in the city.