Rosewood High #0: Locke

by Tracy Lorraine

  “It’s normal. You’re leaving the only place you’ve ever known to embark on a new life.”

  “Not helping.”

  “Sorry,” he mutters, amusement filling his voice as he backs away from the house we’ve both spent so much time in over the past few months.

  As soon as our lockdown was lifted after the scary numbers from the virus started to decline, we spent what was left of the summer enjoying time for just the two of us. We spent hours walking on the beach, chatting about what college life might hold for us. I’d managed to submit everything that needed doing and my application to go to Maddison to study art was accepted. Everything was about to change, but it all seemed so much easier knowing that he was going to be there.

  I wasn’t the only one heading to Maddison. I had plenty of friends going to the same university, so I knew I had support.

  Emerson chats about what to expect for my first few weeks as a college student. He talks about the parties, the drinking, and briefly touches on classes.

  “Emerson, aren’t dorms that way?” I ask when he sails past what I thought was the turn to my new home.

  “Yep. But we’re not going down there.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  Ten minutes later and we’re pulling into a small car lot behind what looks like an apartment building.

  “What’s this place?”

  “Just wait. Come on.”

  He jumps out of the car and my curiosity ensures I follow him.

  Pulling keys from his pocket, he opens up the front door and then pulls me toward a set of stairs and up to the top floor.

  “Here,” he says, coming to a stop in front of a door. “Close your eyes.”

  “What?”

  “Ugh, fine.” His large hand wraps around my face, efficiently cutting off my sight.

  “Emerson, what the hell is this?”

  The sound of the door opening fills my ears before he pushes me forward.

  “Welcome home, baby.” He pulls his hand from my face and after blinking a couple of times, a fully furnished living room comes into view.

  “What the hell?”

  “Surprise.”

  “Wha…”

  I spin on the spot, taking everything in. But it’s not until I spot a couple of photographs of the two of us on a shelf that things start to register.

  “This is our house?”

  “It sure is, baby.”

  “What about dorms?”

  He shrugs.

  “What about my parents?”

  “In on it.”

  A laugh falls from my lips. “So… this is where I’m living? With you? Just the two of us?”

  “If you’ll have me.”

  “Oh my god, this is incredible, Emerson. Thank you.” I launch myself at him and crash my lips to his, and right there in the center of our new living room, we embark on our future together as a couple. I can see a few more days of lockdown together in our future.

  * * *

  Need more ROSEWOOD HIGH?

  Start the series with THORN now.

  Acknowledgments

  Locke was written durning a part of our lives that I don’t think we’ll ever forget. Even writing this now six months on from when it stared, it’s hard to believe we’re living through it.

  As the pandemic started and we all saw the incredible things people were doing around the world to help, I knew I needed to do something.

  I was lucky, I work from home anyway, I was able to look after my daughter, and with my husband being an essential worker, life kind of carried on fairly normally for us, aside from the obvious hunt for toilet roll in the early days and queuing to get into a supermarket.

  The idea for Love in Lockdown hit me in the shower one morning and the second I mentioned the idea to Andie M. Long, it was happening. We wanted to do our bit to help.

  Would I have written a love in lockdown story if it weren’t for wanting to help? I’ve no idea, but I found myself inspired to discover love and happiness when we least expected it, because even in the hardest of times, incredible things can happen.

  Alyssa was never meant to have a story, but suddenly, there she was, shouting from the rooftops, demanding a story. So Locke was born!

  I hope you enjoyed this little bit of escape while the world turns into chaos around us. And I hope you find a little bit of happiness throughout all of this, because after all, love always wins.

  * * *

  Love and hugs,

  * * *

  Tracy xx

  About the Author

  Tracy Lorraine is a M/F and M/M contemporary romance author. Tracy has just turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.

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  THORN SNEAK PEAK

  Chapter 1

  Amalie

  * * *

  “I think you’ll really enjoy your time here,” Principal Hartmann says. He tries to sound cheerful about it, but he’s got sympathy oozing from his wrinkled, tired eyes.

  This shouldn’t have been part of my life. I should be in London starting university, yet here I am at the beginning of what is apparently my junior year at an American high school I have no idea about aside from its name and the fact my mum attended many years ago. A lump climbs up my throat as thoughts of my parents hit me without warning.

  “I know things are going to be different and you might feel that you’re going backward, but I can assure you it’s the right thing to do. It will give you the time you need to... adjust and to put some serious thought into what you want to do once you graduate.”

  Time to adjust. I’m not sure any amount of time will be enough to learn to live without my parents and being shipped across the Pacific to start a new life in America.

  “I’m sure it’ll be great.” Plastering a fake smile on my face, I take the timetable from the principal’s hand and stare down at it. The butterflies that were already fluttering around in my stomach erupt to the point I might just throw up over his chipped Formica desk.

  Math, English lit, biology, gym, my hands tremble until I see something that instantly relaxes me, art and film studies. At least I got my own way with something.

  “I’ve arranged for someone to show you around. Chelsea is the captain of the cheer squad, what she doesn’t know about the school isn’t worth knowing. If you need anything, Amalie, my door is always open.”

  Nodding at him, I rise from my chair just as a soft knock sounds out and a cheery brunette bounces into the room. My knowledge of American high schools comes courtesy of the hours of films I used to spend my evenings watching, and she fits the stereotype of captain to a tee.

  “You wanted something, Mr. Hartmann?” she sings so sweetly it makes even my teeth shiver.

  “Chelsea, this is Amalie. It’s her first day starting junior year. I trust you’ll be able to show her around. Here’s a copy of her schedule.”

  “Consider it done, sir.”

  “I assured Amalie that she’s in safe hands.”

  I want to say it’s my imagination but when she turns her big chocolate eyes on me, the light in them diminishes a little.

  “Lead the way.” My voice is lacking any kind of enthusiasm and from the narrowing of her eyes, I don’t think she misses it.

  I follow her out of the room with a little less bounce in my step. Once we’re in the hallway, she turns her eyes on me. She’s really
quite pretty with thick brown hair, large eyes, and full lips. She’s shorter than me, but then at five foot eight, you’ll be hard pushed to find many other teenage girls who can look me in the eye.

  Tilting her head so she can look at me, I fight my smile. “Let’s make this quick. It’s my first day of senior year and I’ve got shit to be doing.”

  Spinning on her heels, she takes off and I rush to catch up with her. “Cafeteria, library.” She points then looks down at her copy of my timetable. “Looks like your locker is down there.” She waves her hand down a hallway full of students who are all staring our way, before gesturing in the general direction of my different subjects.

  “Okay, that should do it. Have a great day.” Her smile is faker than mine’s been all morning, which really is saying something. She goes to walk away, but at the last minute turns back to me. “Oh, I forgot. That over there.” I follow her finger as she points to a large group of people outside the open double doors sitting around a bunch of tables. “That’s my group. I should probably warn you now that you won’t fit in there.”

  I hear her warning loud and clear, but it didn’t really need saying. I’ve no intention of befriending the cheerleaders, that kind of thing’s not really my scene. I’m much happier hiding behind my camera and slinking into the background.

  Chelsea flounces off and I can’t help my eyes from following her out toward her group. I can see from here that it consists of her squad and the football team. I can also see the longing in other student’s eyes as they walk past them. They either want to be them or want to be part of their stupid little gang.

  Jesus, this place is even more stereotypical than I was expecting.

  Unfortunately, my first class of the day is in the direction Chelsea just went. I pull my bag up higher on my shoulder and hold the couple of books I have tighter to my chest as I walk out of the doors.

  I’ve not taken two steps out of the building when my skin tingles with awareness. I tell myself to keep my head down. I’ve no interest in being their entertainment but my eyes defy me, and I find myself looking up as Chelsea points at me and laughs. I knew my sudden arrival in the town wasn’t a secret. My mum’s legacy is still strong, so when they heard the news, I’m sure it was hot gossip.

  Heat spreads from my cheeks and down my neck. I go to look away when a pair of blue eyes catch my attention. While everyone else’s look intrigued, like they’ve got a new pet to play with, his are haunted and angry. Our stare holds, his eyes narrow as if he’s trying to warn me of something before he menacingly shakes his head.

  Confused by his actions, I manage to rip my eyes from his and turn toward where I think I should be going.

  I only manage three steps at the most before I crash into something—or somebody.

  “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” a deep voice asks. When I look into the kind green eyes of the guy in front of me, I almost sigh with relief. I was starting to wonder if I’d find anyone who wasn’t just going to glare at me. I know I’m the new girl but shit. They must experience new kids on a weekly basis, I can’t be that unusual.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “You’re the new British girl. Emily, right?”

  “It’s Amalie, and yeah... that’s me.”

  “I’m so sorry about your parents. Mom said she was friends with yours.” Tears burn my eyes. Today is hard enough without the constant reminder of everything I’ve lost. “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  “It’s fine,” I lie.

  “What’s your first class?”

  Handing over my timetable, he quickly runs his eyes over it. “English lit, I’m heading that way. Can I walk you?”

  “Yes.” His smile grows at my eagerness and for the first time today my returning one is almost sincere.

  “I’m Shane, by the way.” I look over and smile at him, thankfully the hallway is too noisy for us to continue any kind of conversation.

  He seems like a sweet guy but my head’s spinning and just the thought of trying to hold a serious conversation right now is exhausting.

  Student’s stares follow my every move. My skin prickles as more and more notice me as I walk beside Shane. Some give me smiles but most just nod in my direction, pointing me out to their friends. Some are just downright rude and physically point at me like I’m some fucking zoo animal awoken from its slumber.

  In reality, I’m just an eighteen-year-old girl who’s starting somewhere new, and desperate to blend into the crowd. I know that with who I am—or more who my parents were—that it’s not going to be all that easy, but I’d at least like a chance to try to be normal. Although I fear I might have lost that the day I lost my parents.

  “This is you.” Shane’s voice breaks through my thoughts and when I drag my head up from avoiding everyone else around me, I see he’s holding the door open.

  Thankfully the classroom’s only half full, but still, every single set of eyes turn to me.

  Ignoring their attention, I keep my head down and find an empty desk toward the back of the room.

  Once I’m settled, I risk looking up. My breath catches when I find Shane still standing in the doorway, forcing the students entering to squeeze past him. He nods his head. I know it’s his way of asking if I’m okay. Forcing a smile onto my lips, I nod in return and after a few seconds, he turns to leave.

  DOWNLOAD NOW to keep reading THORN now.

  Also by Tracy Lorraine

  Falling

  Falling For Daniel

  Never Forget

  Never Forget Him

  Never Forget Us

  Everywhere & Nowhere

  Rosewood High

  Locke

  Ruined

  Ruined Plans

  Ruined By Lies

  Ruined Promises

  Ruined: The Complete Series