by J. L. Beck
I mumble a half-hearted apology and continue in search of a bathroom. I open one door to find an empty bedroom with a large inviting looking bed in the center. How bad is it that I would rather curl up in that bed and read a book than go back downstairs and party with the other students?
When I pull the door shut behind me, a familiar scent coming from inside the room tickles my nose. I can’t quite place the unique smell, something like a forest after a rainy day.
I keep walking down the hall and the next door I open is actually a bathroom. I disappear inside, locking the door behind me. It is almost as big as my dorm room. I shake my head at the size and fanciness of it all.
I use to think this is all that mattered, money, pretty things and people who look up to you. That’s what my family taught me to think and there was a time when I didn’t question anything my parents told me. That time is over. Now I know better.
I’m still thinking about the familiar scent in that bedroom as I wash my hands. Something about it is nagging me but I just can’t put my finger on it. Looking in the mirror, I give myself a once over before exiting the bathroom. I really should act more like the other people around here. Have fun and enjoy college life. This is what I wanted. I got away from my family to be normal. All I have to do now is get out of my own head and enjoy this.
I walk back down the hall, forcing myself not to think about the bedroom with its tempting scent. I fight the urge to take another peek inside. Just as I pass it I hear the soft click of a door opening, but before I have the time to truly comprehend that someone is behind me, I’m grabbed by my arm and yanked into the room.
Screaming like someone is about to kill me I stumble into the room, losing my footing as I go. Arms flailing, I prepare myself to land hard on the ground but I’m shocked when a pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind pulling me flush to a firm, warm chest.
Momentarily I'm stunned, like a doe caught in the headlights of a car. My screams cut off, the air stills in my lungs. I can’t do anything. I’m frozen in place. What's happening?
All I can hear is the swooshing of blood in my ears, my chest heaving up and down with panic. I open my mouth to scream again, but nothing comes out. Suddenly I'm dizzy, the smell of rain fills my nostrils once more and I realize immediately who that scent belongs to.
“Did you miss me? Is that why you're here, in my bedroom? Eager to see what we have in store for you?” Sullivan’s dark voice fills the room, and a cold shiver runs through me. I notice then that he's standing a few feet away from me, but his voice affects me as if he is right beside me whispering in my ear. It doesn't matter that I can't fully see him. I don't need to. I know he's looking at me with disgust.
His room? Blinking slowly, I try to digest what he's just said? Confused I'm about to ask him what the hell he is talking about when I realize someone is still holding on to my waist. Their warm hands burning into my skin.
Spinning around I shove at the firm chest in front of me, realizing quickly its Banks, the middle Bishop brother. A sinister grin spreads across his face as he licks his lips. “I think she just missed us, why else would she come here, to our house?”
“Your house?” I finally find my voice again. It’s shaky but at least I got the words out.
“Yes, our house.” A third voice drawls, and my gaze travels across the room and collides with Oliver’s chocolate brown eyes. “We bought it recently, figured it would be nicer than living in the dorms.”
Dorms? Why would they be living in the dorms?
Nothing makes sense right now. This has to be a dream, no scratch that, this is a freaking nightmare. I shake my head as if I can wake myself up from it. Then I try and take a step towards the door, but Sullivan slaps a hand over the handle halting my movement.
“Not so fast,” he growls, his muscled form towering over me. He’s bigger than he was the last time I saw him. Taller, scarier, even more disgustingly handsome than I remember. “Let’s talk. We want to tell you how this year is going to go.”
What does he mean? How this year is going to go? He can’t really be saying what I think he is? The Bishop brothers aren’t… they can’t be… My chest starts to heave, even though no air is filling my lungs. Lord, please tell me they aren’t attending college here.
“I don’t think she gets it,” Banks taunts, devilishly.
“It's not hard to figure out. I mean, we’re laying it out pretty clearly. It’s a shame really. All that money and her daddy couldn’t even get her a proper education.” Oliver sneers.
“I'm not stupid.” I try and make the words sound strong, but they come out like a soft breeze whispering through the trees.
“Right, you’re only a liar,” Oliver responds, his words like a slap to the face.
Gritting my teeth, I let the insult sink in. He’s not wrong, I am a liar. Because of my father I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of. I followed him like a lamb to the slaughter, believing him with blind faith. I knew someday karma would catch up with me. That eventually, I would pay for my wrongdoings, I just never expected it to be so soon.
“Let me put it into words even someone like you can understand,” Sullivan leans in so closely, I can feel the heat of his body. I can feel all three of them, their bodies drawn to mine like a magnet.
“Remember when I told you I would make you pay for what you did that night?”
Saliva sticks to the inside of my throat—like honey—making it hard to swallow. Every nightmare I’ve had over the last year would never have amounted to this. All three of their faces have haunted me in my sleep since that night. I regretted doing it as soon as I did it, but there was no taking it back, there was no changing the course we were headed on. It was like a bad accident, that you couldn’t look away from.
As if he can see the worry filling my features his smile widens, perfectly straight white teeth gleam in the moonlight filtering in through the window blinds.
“That little stunt ruined his senior year. Got him suspended from the team. You tarnished our family name, but that was the point, right?” Oliver hisses, his eyes narrowing, his angular jaw—sharp enough to cut glass—clenching.
The Bishops’ had money, but nothing could stop the local papers from printing an article about their son doing drugs and getting booted from the team. My father had hit his mark and made them bleed, and worse he’d used me to do it.
“Well, now that our family business is ruined, there is nothing for us to take over, so I guess we all have to go to college after all,” Banks explains, and I finally get it. All three of them will be attending Bayshore. This can’t be happening.
“Please… look….” An apology is sitting on the edge of my tongue, but a hand comes out of nowhere from behind me and presses against my mouth—another at my hip—effectively cutting off the words before I get a chance to say them.
I know who it is that has ahold of me, and I try to wiggle out of Banks’ hold, but he just pulls me closer, until my back is pressed firmly into his muscular chest. Panic, and something else, something warm, and euphoric swirl in my belly.
No. I won’t be attracted to them, and their stupid muscles, hard abs, and devilish smiles. They’re the enemy, my rivals.
“Shh, Princess. We didn’t say you could speak. Keep your mouth shut, otherwise, we’ll find a better use for it.” Banks’ smooth voice tickles my ear as he pulls his hand away from my mouth. His body remains close to mine, too close, but for some reason, I don’t move right away. One of his hands remains on my hip and I just stand there for a moment, letting his body heat seep into me, trying to warm the icy cold blood running through my veins.
“I told you… I promised you, that you would pay, and now it’s time. It’s time to pay your dues.” Tears sting my eyes. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. I will not cry in front of them. I won’t.
Finding a sliver of strength, I jab my elbow into Banks’ ribs. He releases me, even though I know I didn't hit him hard enough to hurt.
“Is t
hat all you’ve got?” he snickers.
I step toward the door that Sullivan is now blocking with his body.
“Let me go,” I grit out through my teeth.
No one moves, or says a single word, it’s almost like they’re waiting for Sullivan to make a choice and that terrifies me. After a long second, he finally moves out of the way, a smug grin painted on his face. Waving his hand over the door and motioning me to leave, he says, “You may leave tonight, but you can never get away from us. We’ll find you wherever you go, and we will make you pay for what you did.”
Chapter Two
Running down the stairs as fast as I can, I almost trip, missing the last step. I can’t form a single thought besides the one telling me that I need to get out of here. Scanning the crowded room I look for Shelby. She isn’t anywhere to be found and I grow increasingly worried with each second that passes.
I can’t breathe. I need to go, get as far away from this place as I can. My feet start to move on their own, and I find I’m moving through the crowd of people, pushing some out of the way as I go. Before I know it I’ve made it to the front door. I suck in a greedy breath of fresh air, my heart racing so fast inside my chest that it feels like I’m having a heart attack.
What the hell just happened?
Reaching into my back pocket I pull out my phone so I can send Shelby a text telling her that I’m outside and ready to go. She appears in the front yard a minute later shaking her head at me.
“What the hell, Harlow? We just got here,” when she sees my face her expression sobers. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Do you know who owns this house? Who invited you to this party?” As soon as I ask the question her lips curl into a deep frown.
“Well, I didn’t at first but I kind of figured it out. I didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal. They just want to be friends. Is that really so bad?” She doesn’t have the first clue what she’s talking about.
“You told them I was going to school here? When? How? And why?” I yell, threading my fingers through my long blonde hair. The rational part of me knows it’s not her fault. She doesn’t know about all of the things that have happened between the Bishops and my family, no one does besides the people involved.
My father made sure of it. He kept our name out of the whole incident not wanting to be tarnished and the Bishops didn’t dare accuse me of planting the bag even though they knew it was me. Still, at this moment, I can’t help but release my anger on her.
Her hazel—more green than brown in this light—eyes go wide, and she holds a hand to her chest.
“You’re supposed to be my friend. How could you do this to me?” Shock and confusion are written all over my best friend’s face as I scream the words at her. She has no idea what she’s done wrong, and truthfully, I can’t blame her.
Right now, I just need to leave. To get away.
Turning around I start to walk away from her, the house, and most importantly away from the Bishops. Everything is ruined now. They’ve come for their revenge and there isn’t a damn thing I can do to stop them. I have no one to protect me now. After all I did for my father, I have no one to blame but myself. I’m the one who needs to suffer the consequences. Tears start to fall and I swipe at them with the back of my hand. I knew coming to this party was a mistake.
“Harlow,” Shelby calls after me once, but I continue walking not paying her an ounce of attention. I’ll have to apologize later, but right now, I just can’t deal with it. Walking down the long driveway I kick at the dirt. Stupid. I was so stupid to think that I could move away, and that my problems would never find me. A slight breeze blows off the ocean and whips my hair in a million different directions, chilling me to the bone. Wrapping my arms around myself I try and forget about all that’s lead me here.
All the mistakes I’ve made, the things I’ve done. I don’t know how long I walk but eventually, I reach the end of the long driveway, just as a car is pulling into it. I don’t look up from the ground and hope that the car will continue driving but I’m shocked when it comes to a halt a few feet from me.
To make matters worse the driver's side window rolls down a moment later.
“Hey, you okay? Do you need a ride?” I look up to find a girl around the same age as me peering out the window, a smile on her lips. When she sees my face her smile turns into a frown.
Do I look that bad?
“I don’t know,” I say more to myself than her. Really, I don’t know. I thought coming here would save me, but it seems, it has only trapped me further.
“Come on, let me take you wherever it is that you’re walking.” I should say no, should just keep walking. I don’t know this girl. She could be a serial killer for all I know. But her offer is tempting, and I don’t want to overthink it. I’ll take my chances of being kidnapped or killed over staying here.
“Sure. I just need a ride to the dorms,” I tell her, walking over to the passenger side. She’s driving an older jeep, something that, in my old town, no one would be caught driving.
Opening the door I climb in, the small overhead light turning on, casting a yellow glow over both of us. I pull the door shut behind me and grab the seat belt clicking it into place.
“I’m Caroline.” She offers, as I get in the car and click the seat belt into place. She gives me another harmless smile that I can only make out because of the giant moon hanging in the sky.
Turning in my seat I take her in. She’s young, like me, with short brown hair, she almost reminds me of a brunette tinker bell.
“Harlow,” I say, trying to hide the sadness from my voice.
“Well, Harlow, you look like you could really use a drink. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just ran into some people from high school. Things didn’t end well between me and those people so…” I trail off, staring out of the window.
“Ah, I get it. An old high school flame? Did you see him with another chick?” I almost laugh at her words. I wish it was that simple.
“No nothing like that. It’s complicated,” I sigh.
“If you want to talk about it I’m a great listener. Hey, which dorms are you in, you never said?”
“South wing, freshmen dorms,” I mumble absentmindedly.
“I’m a freshman too. I live in the dorms across the street from you. I don’t really know anybody here yet, so seriously if you ever want to hang out, I’m your girl. No pressure though.”
“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind,” I say when we pull up into the dorms parking lot. “Really, thanks, I appreciate it, and for the ride too.”
“No problem. I’ll see you around, Harlow,” I give her a half-hearted wave and walk towards the entrance of the dorm. My mind is so consumed by my encounter with the Bishop Brothers that I don’t realize how weird my encounter with Caroline was. I didn’t even ask her why she was so late for the party, or why she was quick to bring me home when she hadn’t even stepped foot in the party herself? Does she always pick up random people?
I shove my thoughts about her to the back of my mind and decide to digest them another day. Right now, I have to figure out how I’m going to remain going to school here with those assholes. When I get back to my room, I change into a pair of sleep pants, and an oversized T-shirt. I rid my face of the makeup painted on it, and sag down onto the small twin sized bed.
Tears sting my eyes once again and this time I let them fall. They cascade down my cheeks gently. I’m such a horrible friend. In my fit of panic and rage, I lashed out at the one and only friend I have here. I left her at that party without even thinking. Balling my hands into tiny fists I slam them against the blue comforter. I let those stupid assholes win by leaving, by running away. I want to scream. I’ve never been the type to run, to hide, but I don’t want to fight them. I’m done fighting, done with the lies, with all the drama.
My eyes drift closed and I beg for sleep to come. Instead, images of
the brothers filter through my mind. Tall, tan, handsome as hell. It would be so much easier to hate them if they weren’t gorgeous and if the things my father had told me were true.
The memory of that night, haunts me, looming over me like a ghost. It’s one of the worst and also, one of the best nights of my life all wrapped up in one.
The worst because I ruined the Bishops.
The best because I got my first kiss, even though it was with Sullivan Bishop.
I don’t know how I’m going to get close to him. Bethany Kingston’s house is packed making it hard to work my way through the crowd, and it doesn't help that I have no idea where he is. Parties aren’t my scene and I’m sure I’m drawing attention to myself since I keep stopping and scanning the room, especially since I don’t have a drink in my hand. A knot of worry fills my belly. I want to be at home, not out doing my father’s dirty work.
The packet feels heavy in my pocket even though it’s as light as a feather. All you have to do is put it in his pocket, I tell myself, surveying the room once more for his russet brown hair. The Bishop Brothers stand out amongst the other guys, not just because of their looks but because of the air that surrounds them. They walk with a chip on their shoulders, one that says I’m better than you.
“Come out to play, Princess?” A deep voice says from behind me, vibrating through me, and sending tiny rivulets of heat to my core. I shouldn’t be attracted to them, but much like the rest of the female population I am and I hated myself for it.
“Not with you,” I sneer, twisting around, coming face to face with Sullivan. Eyes as blue as the sky peer down at me. They’re framed by thick lashes that most of the women at my school would die for. I clench my teeth together as I let my gaze roam over his face. High cheekbones, dimples, and full smooth pink lips.
Him, Oliver, and Banks look almost identical, though Oliver has brown eyes that remind me of melted chocolate rather than blue like Banks and Sullivan. They are close in age, Oliver is two years older than us, Banks only a year.