Hate Struck: (Maddison High School Book 1)

by Nikki Ashton

  As they did a mix of gymnastics and some classic street dance hip hop moves, the team and Mr Jameson watched in rapt silence, their heads bobbing to the music or moving to look up as Chloe flew through the air. When the girls did a synchronised twerk in the middle, where Alannah and I had cut in forty seconds of Bring it Back by Travis Porter, a few mouths dropped open and almost all of them fell around groaning and clutching their crotches, muttering about how hot it was. Almost all, except for Adam; he remained calm and turned his head in my direction. I was afraid that he might have seen me but had no idea how he could have. I was hidden by the high tower of mats with my back against the wall.

  His gaze stayed in my direction and I knew without doubt that it was me he was looking for, that he’d sensed I was there. That thought made me fizz with excitement even though my short time at Maddison High School had already taught me that I should have been afraid. He was a boy who could slice at my skin with his vicious words.

  I knew that being attracted to Adam Hudson was wrong and it would only end with me being hurt and betrayed in some way. I should have wanted to stay away from him, but I was a moth to a light bulb; I knew it was going to burn like hell, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting it, because the pain and suffering were deserved.

  I held a burden of guilt at putting myself in a vulnerable position with Mr Mills. I’d been the one to suggest I help him clean the art room after school. I was the one who didn’t report him the first time he forced himself upon me. I would take whatever agony the boy with the dirty blond hair and full lips would force onto me if I stayed within his sights.

  It would be my relief.

  It would be my release.

  I would relish the scars he inflicted on me much more than those I had inflicted on myself because the thrill was more empowering than the fear.

  Adam’s gaze moved back to the girls dancing in front of him and I let out a long breath. My heart kick started itself and thumped wildly as the music came to a stop and the girls held their final poses.

  The boys watching all clapped and some whistled, and I was relieved to see all Alannah’s hard work had paid off. Then my eyes went to Adam, who was lounging back with his hands behind his head.

  Something about the smile on his face and the tilt of his head told me he was going to say no, and when his eyes flashed in my direction again, I knew I was right. Lori must have told him I was the new dance teacher at Starline, and that alongside the street dance moves the squad had performed, he must have realised that I’d helped Alannah.

  Saying no was going to be his first action of damnation towards me.

  “Lads,” Mr Jameson said. “What do you think?”

  Alannah didn’t look worried she knew she and the girls had done a great job, so she stood poker straight with an air of confidence. I held my breath waiting for her to be disappointed and for the affliction of blame to land on my shoulders.

  “I like it,” Adam said and sat up straight. “Something different and entertaining; a change from the usual boring stuff you bring us.”

  My stomach turned at the harshness of his words and how they would no doubt hurt Alannah. It was his way of trying to cause shit between us. He wanted Alannah to feel resentful of me, but she surprised me and probably him too.

  “That’s because I’ve had some help,” she replied and looked directly at Adam. “I haven’t been doing this for long and only know so much, so thought it best to bring someone in who can turn us from a good cheer squad to a great one.”

  “Well job well done,” Mr Jameson said. “It’s takes a big person to know when they need help, so that was a good call.”

  Adam’s eyes narrowed on Alannah, who quickly looked over her shoulder to where I sat in the shadows, giving me a quick thumbs up.

  “Well, if you want my opinion,” a tall rangy boy with a shock of red hair said. “I think it makes you look cheap.”

  “Davies,” Adam roared. “Shut your fucking mouth.”

  Adam was halfway up from his seat, when Ellis dragged him back down.

  “Yeah, Davies. Shut up, you dick,” said a boy I didn’t recognise, as he threw a plastic bottle at Davies.

  “Thank you, that’s enough.” Mr Jameson sighed and pointed at Adam. “Watch your language otherwise I’m going to send you out.”

  “Me?” Adam protested. “He’s the one being shitty about the girls.”

  “The girls,” Davies said with a laugh. “Since when did any of us care about, the girls?”

  “Oi, Davies,” a boy wearing huge goalkeeper’s gloves shouted across the room. “Just because you’ve been dropped the last few games, doesn’t mean you can act like a dick.”

  Davies stood up and pointed at the goalkeeper. “Ah thinking about your sister were you, Walker. Thinking about how she dances around dirty old fucking men for money, were you?”

  In an instant, before Walker was even out of his seat, Adam had launched himself to land on top of Davies. He threw a punch to his kidneys and then to his side all before his teammate could retaliate.

  “Hudson,” Mr Jameson barked. “Get off him now.”

  Mr Jameson ran to them while Adam kept on going, like a terrier dog on the attack. Red mist seemed to have fallen, and he appeared to hear nothing as he ignored Mr Jameson’s angry cries and continued to rain punches on the leaner Davies. As he pulled his arm back to punch him again, Mr Jameson pushed through about four other boys who had surrounded Adam and Davies and put an arm around Adam’s neck to pull him away.

  “That’s damn well enough,” he bellowed and pulled the two boys apart.

  “Apologise you fucking twat,” Adam cried as he literally spat the words out, trying to tear free from Mr Jameson.

  Davies reared back and I was sure he was going to try and head butt Adam, but before he had a chance Ellis appeared and got him into a headlock. As he did, Adam got free and landed a punch right in Davies’ eye.

  “You fucking bastard,” he sneered and then staggered back against Mr Jameson, breathless and red faced.

  Anger poured out of him. The way his rib cage heaved, and he clenched his hands in and out of fists, created a swarm of excited butterflies in my belly. His power and determination to get to Davies was intoxicating and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

  “Get out of here now,” Mr Jameson roared and pushed two hands in Adam’s back, forcing him away from Davies. “I don’t give a shit what he said, you do not damn well set about your teammate and you certainly don’t ambush them. Byron, you get out too.”

  Ellis let Davies go and threw his hands in the air. “What did I do? All I was doing was trying to stop him head butting Adam.”

  “Yeah just so Hudson could punch me.” Davies groaned and held a hand over his eye. “That’s a fucking dirty coward’s trick.”

  “Call me a coward again, Davies,” Ellis hissed. “And I will finish off what he started.”

  “Both of you, out. Davies you too.”

  “Sir, I’m not going with them,” he yelled. “They’ll kill me.”

  As I continued to watch the confrontation from my spot against the wall, Alannah appeared at my side and dropped down to sit next to me.

  “You okay?” she asked, her eyes still on the argument going on.

  “Yeah and you did great by the way,” I replied, my breathing a little ragged from the excitement of the fight.

  Alannah smiled tentatively and then looked back to the girls. “Do you think we look cheap?”

  I gasped. “No way would I give you choreography that makes you look like that. Davies is a dickhead.”

  She nodded and as we looked back over to the argument, we saw Adam striding across the hall and straightening his shirt.

  “Shit,” Alannah said. “He looks about ready to maim someone.”

  She was right, he looked homicidal as he strode across the sports hall towards the doors and pushed them open.

  “Alannah get back over here,” Mr Jameson cried as he shot Davies a hard look
. “We’re going to vote, everyone except for Davies and Hudson. Davies apologise to Walker, now.”

  “I’d better go,” Alannah whispered. “We might be a while, the last time it took them almost an hour to agree. Will you be okay to get home?”

  Alannah had decided as I’d helped her with the routine that a favour deserved a favour, so she was going to be my lift to and from school. It suited me as I had no car and lived just over three miles from school, but I really didn’t fancy hanging around while a bunch of self-entitled footballers argued over whether my moves made the girls look cheap or not.

  “I’ll be fine, but listen, if anyone doesn’t like it, I won’t be offended if you drop some or all of the moves.”

  Alannah shook her head and pursed her lips. “Not a chance, we love your moves. They’re staying.”

  I smiled and leaned in for a quick hug, which surprised me. I hadn’t instigated a physical embrace with anyone but my mum for a long time.

  “I’ll pick you up in the morning,” she said as she pulled away from me, ignoring the shocked look on my face. “And thank you so much for your help.”

  I gathered up my stuff, leaving her to head back to Mr Jameson, and shoved it into my backpack before I sneaked out of the door to corridor which led to the changing room and the main exit.

  I closed the door behind me and turned, almost screaming as I came face to face with Adam leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his broad chest.

  “Oh my God,” I gasped. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

  “So, you were in there.”

  “Well good for you.” I made to move past him. “Aren’t you the clever one.”

  “Were those new moves yours?” he asked and pushed off the wall, falling into step beside me.

  I shrugged. “So?”

  “They’re good, like I said it made it entertaining. Better than the usual boring routine she puts together.”

  His cheek was a little red and I guessed Davies must have got a punch in.

  “He caught you,” I said, pointing at Adam’s face and ignoring his shitty remark about Alannah’s cheer routines.

  “Lucky fucking punch.” He sighed and reached for the door. “You need a lift?”

  “What?” I asked and my breathing faltered.

  “I’m guessing Alannah usually gives you a lift, and if I know anything that vote in there is going to go on for at least an hour.”

  “But you said yes, you’re the captain, the king of the school. They’ll say yes, right?”

  Adam rolled his eyes. “Of course they will, but doesn’t mean they won’t try and act like a bunch of pricks and make the girls sweat. I promise you it’ll be a while.” He opened the door and waved for me to go through, but I hesitated. “Look, Sarah, I’m not about to let you walk home alone in a town you barely know, on a route you have no idea of, so come on.”

  “I’m not stupid. I can find my way home.”

  “Maybe you can, but I’m not letting you, so let’s just get the fuck out of here.”

  He sighed impatiently and pointed towards the corridor. Every brain cell I had told me to say no. If I went with him, he would find some way to hold it against me, to hurt me, because that was what he did. If I was sensible, I would call my mum to come get me on her way home from work. I knew I should say no, and I would have done had I not seen the love and tenderness he’d given to his sister or hurt and shame he’d felt at his mum’s words.

  If I hadn’t seen a different Adam Hudson, I wouldn’t have allowed my brain to let my body know that it was attracted to him; but I had, and it did.

  I nodded and walked past him through the door and into the corridor, hating myself because I loved it that his eyes were on me with every step.

  I swallowed deeply as I realised I was going to be just like Alannah and Amber. I was probably going to become one of those girls who sat alone in the school dining room but at that moment I didn’t care.

  15

  Adam

  As I watched Sarah walk down the corridor in front of me, I couldn’t think of a single reason why I’d decided to be nice and offer her a ride. Well I could and it was her damn pussy. I’d done nothing but think about getting inside it since she’d walked away from me at the shopping centre on Saturday.

  I’d met up with Mackenna and I’m not going to say I couldn’t get it up, or didn’t blow my load, because I did, I’m a seventeen-year-old lad, but I did wonder how it would feel being inside Sarah instead. Mackenna was a good shag for now, but when I’d had enough of her, I’d make sure she never bothered me again. If I was honest, it was getting to that point. Whenever she spoke or touched me, it felt like thousands of tiny needles were piercing my skin and her voice was fingernails down a chalk board. Her time had nearly passed.

  “Get in,” I snapped at Sarah as we reached my blood red Volkswagen Golf and she hesitated by the passenger door. “Because if you think I’m the sort of person that opens the door for you then you’re fucking mistaken.”

  “I don’t. I’m just not sure I should be getting in with you.” She reached inside the sleeve of her thick jumper and started to rub. “I think I’ve lost my bloody mind.”

  “It’s up to you.” I shrugged and opened my door. “But it’s dark, so if you want to walk the three miles back to your house then go for it.”

  “How do you know how far my house is?” Her brows arched and she took a step back from the car.

  Fuck, I’d let my guard down. I either had to admit to Kirk hacking the school computer system or think quick about how I knew that she lived on Cedar Avenue with only her mum.

  “I’m guessing you live on the new estate a couple of miles from where I live. I saw you going that way with Alannah. Most people who move from out of town move there.”

  It wasn’t exactly a lie. I had seen her and Alannah go past my house in that direction, in Alannah’s car with the stupid flower on the side, plus it was true that most people who moved from out of town moved to the new estate; unless they rented one of the many terraced houses around Maddison Edge. We’d been lucky that an old friend of my mum’s, from years back, knew someone who knew someone who had gone to work in China, so had let us have his detached house at a pretty cheap rent. Then, a year and a half ago he’d dropped the bomb that he was finally selling up because he wasn’t coming back and needed the cash. Mum had tried to find us something else to rent, but whatever was available was either too small, too shitty or too expensive. And then, as luck would have it, Roger came along and before we knew it, we were moving in with him. It wasn’t that my mum didn’t love him, because I knew she did, but was he the great love of her life? I doubted it. Was it a love that came from anything but gratitude? I sincerely doubted that too.

  “Well, okay, thank you.” Sarah’s hand reached for the door a little tentatively, but once she had it open she quickly jumped inside and buckled up before I’d even got comfy.

  I started up the car and glanced at her. She’d moved right up to the door and had her back pressed against it; her knuckles were white as her tiny hands clutched the strap of her backpack.

  “What do you actually think I’m going to do to you?” I asked, unable to keep the anger from my tone.

  Did she think I was some sort of fucking deviant who would force myself on her? Manipulate maybe, but never that.

  “N-no,” she stammered, her damn hand disappearing up the arm of her jumper again. “I just wonder why you’re doing this. You actually seem to hate me.”

  I laughed out loud and shook my head. “I hate every fucker. Please don’t think I’m giving you any special attention.”

  “You don’t hate your boys.”

  Her words were heavy with sarcasm, but she was still rubbing her fucking wrist with one hand, while the other hung on tight to the backpack. Yet again, she was desperate to appear brave, like me even breathing in her direction didn’t scare the shit out of her, and it made my chest feel tight. It made me want to protect her and as
ide from Lori that wasn’t something I ever felt about anyone. I protected myself and fuck everyone else, but this tiny girl with the golden hair made me feel things that I wasn’t comfortable with. She made me feel like I was being worked and controlled to do things that I wouldn’t normally. Like my life had suddenly become the fucking Truman Show.

  As we drove through Maddison Edge, the streetlights were starting to come on and the traffic had started to get heavy with people traveling home after work. When I pulled up at a red traffic light, in my peripheral vision I noticed Sarah’s body had relaxed a little.

  “My sister thinks you’re amazing by the way,” I said as I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. “She said you showed them some of your dance moves when you were introduced to them.”

  Sarah shifted in her seat and when I looked at her, she was smiling, and fuck, it lit up her face. Even in the half-light of the car, I could see how it sent her from pretty to beautiful.

  “Yeah,” she sighed. “Only a couple of little things, but they all seemed keen to learn more in a couple of weeks.”

  “A couple of weeks?”

  The light turned to green and I put my foot down, burning off some old bloke in a Focus next to me.

  “I’m excited to get started but Clarice wants me to get my fitness levels back and prepare properly first.”

  I frowned and manoeuvred the car to turn right towards the area where we both lived.

  “Why the hell do you need to get fit?” I took a tighter grip of the steering wheel.

  I had watched her arse and seen her tiny waist when she occasionally uncovered from those big, baggy clothes. I had no idea what Lori’s dance teacher was talking about.

  “I-I haven’t danced in a while,” she replied and moved to flatten herself against the door again.

  “How come?” I glanced at her and felt anger rise that she’d gone back to feeling threatened because I couldn’t help but open my big mouth. “Sarah, you really don’t need to sit practically outside the car, I’m not going to fucking do anything.”