Blinded: A High School Bully Romance (Del Sol High Book 1)

by McKayla Box

  “That's the greatest T-shirt I've ever seen in my life,” I blurt out.

  The girl next to her says, “Don't encourage her.”

  “If you are Nola, then you are welcome as fuck at this table,” the girl in the T-shirt says. She sticks her hand out over the table. “I'm Dylan. Ignore grumpy ass Brooke next to me.”

  I shake her hand. “Hi.”

  “I'm not grumpy ass,” Brooke says. “I just don't wear shirts with my internal organs on them.” She smiles at me. “I'm Brooke. Not the grumpy ass.”

  I laugh and nod. “I'm Nola.”

  “Yeah,” Dylan says. “Mercy has already told us all about you. We heard you got a face full of Reese McBitchface this morning and that you managed not to pee your skirt. Which is very cute, by the way.”

  “Thanks,” I say. “She was supposed to give me a ride to school.”

  The three of them look at me.

  “My grandmother is friends with her grandmother, I guess?” I say. “I'm not sure, but she was supposed to pick me up and give me a ride. When she didn't, I got a ride with the man who takes care of my grandparents’ property. She thought that was hilarious.”

  “She would,” Brooke mutters, shaking her head. “She is like a tumor. She won't go away and she makes everything worse.”

  Mercy throws her arm around me. “Well, we are happy to have you and I am happy to give you a ride to school if you need one in the future.”

  I'm not sure why they're being so nice to me. I'm on guard. They seem genuine and like they mean what they're saying, but my experience with Reese has already made me wary of everyone. Still, it's nice to be having lunch with girls who are, at the very least, pretending to be nice to me. I'd envisioned sitting by myself in some hidden corner, so this is infinitely better.

  “What sounds good?” Mercy asks. “All of the trucks are pretty cool.”

  “We ordered tacos,” Dylan says. “Just waiting on our number now.”

  “They have vegetarian,” Brooke says. “If you're into that. Which I am.”

  Dylan pretends to stick a finger down her throat. “Why the fuck even eat, then?”

  “Why the fuck do you even eat cows and chickens?” Brooke asks.

  “Because they taste yummy.”

  We all laugh and Mercy and I walk toward the trucks. There are tacos and barbecue and empanadas and burgers and sandwiches and a ton of other stuff. Decidedly better than the trays of slop in the cafeteria at my school in Florida.

  We settle on sandwiches, pay, and get our numbers. By the time we get back to the table, Dylan's and Brooke's tacos have arrived and they look and smell delicious.

  But the end of the table does not look or smell delicious.

  Because Reese and her friends are sitting there.

  “I told them this was a no-bitch zone,” Dylan says. “But they are dumb and hard of hearing, apparently.”

  “If it's a no-bitch zone, then what are you doing here?” the one across from Reese says. She has blonde hair to her shoulders and boobs that look fake.

  “Good one, Fallon,” Brooke says, lifting one of her tacos from the paper. “I remember when you used it the first time. In third grade.”

  “Fuck off,” Fallon mutters.

  Reese is smiling at me, but doesn't say anything.

  “Nice shirt, Dylan,” the girl next to her says. She's thin, with reddish orange hair and the longest fake nails I've ever seen.

  “Nice extra ten pounds you put on this summer, Bree,” Dylan says. “Hope you fit in your cheer outfit this year.”

  Bree's face reddens.

  Dylan smiles at her.

  “Why the fuck is she sitting here?” Reese says.

  It's clear who she means.

  Me.

  “Because we invited her,” Mercy says. “And because we wanted a 4-3 ratio.”

  Reese frowns. “A 4-3 ratio?”

  “Intelligent human beings to fucking hags,” Mercy answers.

  It takes a moment for Reese's cheeks to color with embarrassment.

  I could hug Mercy.

  Our numbers are called over the P.A. system and Mercy and I get up to go get our food.

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “For what?”

  “For being nice to me,” I say. “For including me.”

  She touches my arm. “Don't thank me. If Reese already doesn't like you, that tells me you're friend-worthy. It's like a reverse signal.”

  We laugh, grab our food, and walk back to the table.

  The sandwich is terrific and better than any single meal I've ever had during the school day in my whole life. Dylan, Mercy, and Brooke chat easily and I mostly stay quiet, listening, laughing, feeling better by the minute. I hadn't realized how much I was dreading being alone on the first day and I'm so grateful to not be.

  The loud roar of an engine and the thrum of heavy bass draw my attention toward the parking lot.

  “Oh, here we go,” Dylan says, shaking her head.

  A black Cadillac Escalade roars into the parking lot and screeches to a halt right at the curb in front of the fire hydrant. Music pours from the windows and I think I can almost see the huge SUV shake from the bass. The body of the car has been lifted so that it's taller than normal and the tires beneath it look they belong on a tractor rather than an SUV. The chrome bumpers gleam in the sunlight and the engine rumbles for a moment, sounding like a racecar. Then the engine cuts off and the lack of music and rumble almost makes it seem quiet.

  “Looks like someone got a new car,” Brooke says.

  “Daddy aims to please,” Dylan says.

  “Ugh,” Mercy says, shaking her head.

  The doors to the SUV open and the occupants get out.

  And my stomach drops. “Oh, shit.”

  The three of them look at me.

  I feel my face warm. “Sorry. It's nothing.”

  Archer, Aidan, and Nick stride across the area with the picnic tables. Aidan grabs a handful of someone's fries as they pass, chuckling as he shoves them into his mouth. He's wearing long canvas shorts and a red T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, sunglasses pushed up on top of his head. Nick is in a navy T-shirt stretched across his arms and chest, gray shorts, and mirrored aviator shades over his eyes. He looks in our direction, then leans forward to say something in Archer's ear as they walk.

  Archer turns.

  And looks right at me.

  He's wearing a black T-shirt and it's snug in exactly all the right places. He's got these narrow black and silver sunglasses on that look like space age. His white shorts are blinding against his tan legs.

  Then he stops, pushes the glasses up on his head, and winks.

  At me.

  “The fuck?” Dylan says looking from me to him, then back to me. “Do you know Archer?”

  I shake my head. “No. I mean, yes. I mean, no. They came up to me on the beach.”

  The three of them keep moving toward the barbecue truck and they seem bigger than everyone else there.

  “Oh god,” Brooke says. “Let me guess. They wanted a foursome?”

  I laugh and shake my head. “No. At least, I don't think so. They just came up to me and were...I don't know.”

  “Running their shit,” Mercy says. “Like usual.”

  “Who are they?” I ask.

  “The would-be kings of Del Sol High School,” Dylan answers. “They've crowned themselves.”

  “Not of the school,” Brooke says. “Of the whole damn town.”

  “Nick plays football,” Mercy says. “Aidan is a goof off. And Archer is just...Archer.”

  “The biggest assholes in the school,” Brooke says. “Because they can be.”

  “But also the best-looking and the richest,” Dylan says. “Isn't that the way it always goes?”

  I watch them for a moment at the truck. They've cut to the front of the line. Aidan is jawing with another kid in line. Archer and Nick are standing next to the truck, leaning into the window.

  “You
don't have a fucking chance,” Reese says.

  I look at her.

  “With Archer,” she says, smirking at me. “With any of them, really, but especially not Archer. Keep on dreaming. They won't go near your skanky ass.”

  “Arch went near you,” Dylan says. “So I think that proves he'll go near...anything.”

  Reese gives her the finger and Dylan smiles back at her.

  “Someone might still be hung up on Archer,” Mercy whispers to me. “He dumped her at the beginning of last year and she still can't get over it.”

  “He's amazing-looking,” I whisper and then wince, surprised I said that out loud.

  Mercy laughs. “He really is. But attitude for days.”

  “And the other two just feed off of him,” Brooke says. “Trust me. You don't want any part of them.”

  “Well that's not entirely true,” Dylan says. “I had part of Nick and I have to tell you.” She leans across the table toward me. “It was fucking awesome.”

  The four of us laugh, even though I'm not even entirely sure what she means.

  “Seriously,” Reese says again. “Stop looking.”

  Her friends glare at me.

  And I'm really already tired of it.

  “I'm sorry he dumped you,” I say before I can think better of it.

  “Fuck yes,” Dylan whispers.

  Reese's face morphs into a mask of anger. “You don't know what the fuck you're talking about, bitch. So I'd shut my mouth if I were you.”

  “I'd shut my mouth if I were you because nothing good seems to come out of it,” I snap back. “And if you keep staring at me I'm going to come over there and yank out your fucking extensions so hard your skull bleeds.”

  Brooke smiles at Fallon and Bree, amused.

  Dylan rubs her hands together, grinning.

  Mercy has her hand on my arm, her fingernails pressing against my skin.

  Reese's mouth quivers and her hands ball into fists on the table.

  If she wants a fight, I'll fight her. I've got one chance to make a reputation on the first day of school and there's absolutely no way I'm going to back down from some vapid cheerleader with an attitude. I've done enough backing down in the last year and I am done.

  “Otherwise, shut the fuck up and leave me alone,” I say.

  “I think I said the same thing to you, Reese,” a voice above me says.

  We all turn.

  Archer is smiling down at me.

  Chapter 8

  He seems even bigger standing right next to me.

  “Fuck off, Archer,” Reese says, but there's less heat behind it than when she was talking to me.

  Archer chuckles and looks down at me. “At least you're pissing off the right people on your first day.”

  I don't say anything.

  Aidan puts his hands on Brooke's shoulders. “Brookie. Thanks for saving me a seat.”

  “I did,” she says, pushing his hands off her shoulders. “It's over there. In the garbage can.”

  Aidan laughs.

  Dylan looks at Nick. “Don't even think of sitting down here.”

  Nick turns and looks at the kids sitting at the table next to ours. They quickly gather up their food and take off. Nick slides onto the bench, sets the bag of food down, and looks at Dylan. “If I sit here, you'll have a better view of me anyway.”

  “Someone throw acid in my eyes,” Dylan says, turning back to her tacos.

  “Hey, Noob.” Aidan smiles at me. “Why are you sitting with these sorry chicks? I was hoping you might have better taste than that.”

  “My taste is fine,” I tell him. “I'm sitting with my friends.”

  He smiled, undeterred, and turns his attention to Mercy. “Merc. You and me. We should hook up this year.”

  “I'll pass,” Mercy says. “Not a big fan of dicks that need magnifying glasses.”

  We all laugh.

  “Someone was lying to you,” Aidan says. “Be happy to show you.”

  “Vomit,” Mercy says.

  He cackles and goes and sits down across from Nick, grabbing one of the huge barbecue beef sandwiches.

  “I didn't introduce myself the other day,” Archer says. “When you were being rude.”

  “You were the one being rude.”

  “I doubt that,” he says. “I'm Archer Hays.”

  “Good for fucking you.”

  “Oh, it would definitely be good for you,” he says, grinning. “You can bet on that.”

  Blood rushes into my face.

  “What's your name, sweetheart?”

  “Jesus, Arch,” Dylan says. “Fuck off, would you?”

  “No, I won't,” he says.

  His voice is like a cat's purr and it's tying my stomach in knots. And I wish he'd put his sunglasses back on because his eyes are almost hypnotizing me.

  “Nola,” I finally say.

  He smiles and nods. “Right. Nola. Nola Murphy, correct?” He smiles again because he already knew before he asked.

  “Yeah.” I turn back to my food to avoid his eyes.

  But he stays right there next to me, hovering.

  “Where are you from, Nola?” he asks.

  “None of your business,” I say.

  He laughs.

  “From fucking Florida.” Reese wrinkles her nose. “She's from fucking...Florida.”

  She makes Florida sound like a sewer.

  “That right?” he asks. “My dad has a house down there. In Miami.”

  “Good for him,” I say.

  “Why'd you move here anyway?” Reese asks.

  “Give it a rest, Reese,” Mercy says, shaking her head. “Jesus.”

  “What? I'm just making conversation,” Reese says. “I'm curious as to why she moved here without her parents and is living with her grandparents and taking rides from the lawn jockey to get to school? I wanna hear all about it.”

  Her friends snicker.

  My entire body goes tense at her questions. She's prying and I feel like she's trying to expose me. My family.

  And I know that'll change everything.

  I look at Archer. “Can you move, please?”

  “Why so angry, Nola?” he asks, ignoring my request. “Did these girls tell you bad things about me?”

  “They didn't have to,” I tell him. “I saw all I needed at the beach the other day.”

  “Oh, I've got more to show you,” he says, grinning. “A lot more.”

  His smile is crooked and perfect and I want to dive into his mouth.

  And I hate myself for thinking all of those things.

  “Well, I've got nothing to show you,” I say. “So maybe go sit down over there with your playmates?”

  Aidan cackles. Nick smirks and shakes his head.

  Archer's grin fades just a bit. “I'll go sit for now.”

  He leans in closer.

  My heart pounds inside my chest.

  “But don't worry, Nola Murphy,” he whispers, his breath tickling my ear. “I'll be back.”

  Chapter 9

  The rest of the afternoon drags. My classes are slow and I find myself watching the clock, waiting for the bell to ring so I can escape.

  All of the attention at lunch unnerved me. I don't want people wondering about me. I don't want them asking questions. Because I'm not going to answer them. I just want to fly under the radar and now I'm afraid that's going to be impossible.

  And that's not a good thing.

  I'm standing out near the parking lot after school waiting for Mercy, who offered a ride home, thinking about all of those things, when I see Reese strutting toward me. I'm stuck in place and can't move fast enough to get away from her.

  She folds her arms across her chest and purses her lips for a moment. “Look. We got off on the wrong foot.”

  “Did we?” I ask. “I thought you just bailed on giving me a ride to school, made fun of me for then finding a ride, and then have been a dynamic bitch to me all day. Which part am I getting wrong here?”

  “
Jeez,” she says, rolling her eyes. “So sensitive.”

  “I think you mean perceptive,” I say. “I know an asshole when I see one.”

  She shifts her weight from one expensive sandal to the other. “You didn't answer my questions at lunch.”

  “Didn't I?'

  She shakes her head. “No. Why did you move here?”

  I don't say anything.

  “I mean, it's senior year,” she says, studying me. “Who moves at the beginning of their senior year? Who leaves all of their friends behind in another state and just shows up out of the blue?” She pauses. “Without their parents, too.”

  My chest tightens.

  “I mean, it's weird, right?” she continues. “You just move here, move in with your grandparents, and your parents aren't here? For your senior year?” She eyes me. “Feels weird to me. Nola.”

  “It's none of your business,” I tell her.

  She smiles at me. “Oh, but I'm making it my business.” She leans closer to me. “Is there something you want to tell me, Nola?” Her smile broadens. “Or...don't want to tell me? Is that more accurate?”

  I want to smash my fist right into her pretty little face.

  Reese leans away. “Ah, okay. I guess you really aren't going to tell me. That's okay. It'll make it more fun this way.”

  My heart beats faster.

  “Because I'm going to find out what your story is,” she says. She slides her sunglasses over her eyes. “And trust me, I will. And then everyone will know your story. Whatever it is. Whatever you don't want me to know, I'll make sure everyone knows your story.” She points at me with a pink fingernail. “Because I'm betting that there is a really good one, Nola.”

  Chapter 10

  “Don't let her get to you,” Mercy says. “Don't give her that power over you. She's so not worth it.”