Dear Diary

by Lacey Heart

  When I do finally catch her eye, I see she looks sad, as though she’s realized she’s allowed her mouth to run away with her and well and truly overstepped the line. She looks somewhat broken, but good old Sharon doesn’t know what that feels like. She doesn’t know what it feels like to lose your whole world, but she will, and soon enough.

  “All right, well maybe we could discuss it later?” Her voice is still shaky but hopeful and she even steps closer to me and opens her arms to give me a hug goodbye. Fortunately, I just about manage to get away and I hurry down the hallway, down the wooden staircase and straight out of the front door.

  “What took you so long?” Jessica asks as soon as I climb inside her truck and she looks wild.

  “Like you even need to ask.” I furrow my brow and she laughs but I don’t find it funny. I’m just happy I managed to escape. “My mom happened.”

  “Avery, it’s totally pointless fighting it, you know.” Jessica tells me as she starts up the engine and pulls out of the driveway. “Your mom’s a stubborn woman. There’s no way she won’t stop hounding you until you finally sit down and talk to her.”

  “But I don’t have anything to say.” I confess truthfully.

  “Maybe you don’t and that’s fine. But I think you’ll be surprised by how much your mom has to say to you.”

  Maybe Jessica’s right, but that doesn’t change anything. It certainly doesn’t change how I feel, and it definitely doesn’t change the fact I have absolutely nothing to say to her. And whether my mom wants to talk or not, I doubt it will be about what she was discussing on the phone. I know she’s keeping something from me, and I’ll find out what it is—because whether she’ll admit it or not, that woman has had ten years of keeping things from me.

  CHAPTER TEN

  COLE

  The school corridors are going crazy today.

  Hushed voices follow me in every direction and the heat of multiple eyes watch my every move.

  Word on the street is Cole Ashford is now single and ready to mingle, and that word would be true. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to do anything about it.

  Why rush things?

  I’ve just ridded myself of one demanding diva and I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with all the bullshit that comes with it anytime soon.

  Maybe I should start playing the field—inside and out of school. After all, that’s what I’m good at.

  “Shit, man. Can you smell all the pheromones? It’s like fucking mating season around here.” Jake nudges me in the ribs, his eyes filled with excitement and judging from the goofy ass smile on his face anyone would be fooled into thinking all the chicks in Riverstone were suddenly hot for him.

  Sometimes I wish they were, and I’d get well deserved break from time to time, but I’d be stupid to even think something like that would ever happen. I’m worth way to much to this town for anyone to pass me by, and every single mother would love nothing more for their daughters to hook up with me. Their fathers not so much, because they’re already busy trying to stop their desperate wives from pinning after my father.

  “Oooh… Mia is super pissed with you by the way. You might want to avoid her for a while.” Tommy Pucker whistles as he comes up behind me and gives my shoulder a firm slap. “Heard her bitching all about it to Marie and half the cheer squad just outside the girl’s toilets. Man, there was mascara everywhere. It was like the apocalypse.”

  “So, let her bitch.” I laugh and both Tommy and Jake snicker beside me. “It’s about the only thing she’s good at anyway.”

  “Hey, don’t go forgetting how she wraps her legs over shoulders.” Jake adds and then splutters when he realizes what he’s just said. “What? I mean being that flexible has to be some kind of talent, right?”

  “Shut the fuck up, Brown.” Tommy and I tell him in unison and he looks like we’ve just sucker punched him to the balls.

  “So, it’s true?” Jake asks me, and his face drops like he’s been kept of the guestlist to one of my parties. “This isn’t some kind of wind-up?” I keep quiet and let him think it over for a few seconds and then he says, “Shit, man. You and Mia are done? She’s like the jelly to your peanut butter.”

  “Oh, we’re done all right.”

  “Jeez, Brown, where the hell has your head been?” Pucker looks at Jake in disbelief and all I can do is shake my head at him.

  “It’s no, joke. Seriously.” I may be many things but when something isn’t right, or it’s stopped working I’m not stupid enough to waste my life trying to force something that wasn’t meant to be.

  I reach my locker and swing it open before pulling out my chemistry books and I notice a couple of chicks slowing down to take a real good look at me. It’s not like they don’t already know what I look like because they do. No, now they feel like they can actually look at me. I’d be lying if I said the attention didn’t feel good because it does, and it always has. I’ve always had heaps of it wherever I go but Mia had a nasty jealous streak. Now the savage beast is no longer in the picture, the rest of Riverstone High doesn’t feel threatened like they did when she was on the scene. It’s clear to see now she’s been removed these chicks aren’t afraid to come closer anymore.

  I slam my locker door shut and all the girls crowded around me suddenly vanish into thin air when I my eyes fall on the new chick. The very same one who covered my jersey in her blood. An act of her carelessness. At least she has her eyes in front of her and she’s watching where she’s going today. I notice there doesn’t seem to be any evidence or lasting damage from out collision yesterday either.

  Her eyes find mine and she falters in her step when she realizes I’m watching her. Her face changes in a nano-second and it’s not a look of awe I’m used to seeing from the girls of Riverstone. Instead, her calm and relaxed expression vanishes, and a frustrated frown appears on her delicate face. Her big hazel eyes narrow and she looks me up and down like I’m a piece of trash.

  What the fuck?

  Obviously, she doesn’t know the rules of Riverstone High yet. I could always teach her, but then why should I when she’s already walking around like she fucking owns the place? I don’t know who she thinks she is looking at me like I’m nothing—like I’m no one, but she’ll soon come to realize that this school is mine.

  “Oh, looks like there’s a new chick in town.” Tommy slaps me on the back again and he looks like an excited little puppy with a brand-new toy.

  Anger consumes me at the thought of Tommy trying to hook up with her and I have no idea why. Shit, this break-up with Mia must have messed with my head more than I initially thought. Either way, I’ve never experienced a chick looking at me the way she just did, and new chick or not, she’s instantly made an enemy of me—and that’s never a good thing.

  “She’s fresh from Los Angeles.” Jake adds, taking me and Tommy by surprise, and he looks far from impressed. A little pissed. Maybe this chick likes to make enemies and the thought of her turning Jake down already fills me with a sick and twisted feeling of relief.

  I bet she wouldn’t turn me down. Not when I get close to her and work my charm on her. Maybe I could make use of my time by pursuing her and find out what she’s about. Not because I want to, just because I can. I love nothing more than a challenge, and like I said. This is my school—my rules. Then, when I’m close enough to lower her walls and possibly her panties, that’s when I’ll make sure her good for nothing, I’m better than you face does more than scowl.

  Yes, Hollywood seems like my perfect target—the perfect distraction.

  I walk straight into chemistry and the whole class goes quiet, just like it does when I walk into any room. Usually the faces of my peers are full of awe and longing, but today it’s something else; disbelief.

  A few hushed voices continue as I make my way to the back of class, to my secluded bench, but there’s somebody already there.

  Fucking, Hollywood.

  It’s common knowledge that I sit at the back of every class—by m
yself, but obviously she didn’t get that memo. I know the majority of people think I like to keep myself to myself because I’m an arrogant son of a bitch, but they’d be surprised to know I actually prefer to work alone off the field. I enjoy my studies and if I have any hope of getting out of this glorified hell hole then I’m gonna need some grades under my belt to take with me.

  But, I’ve got a feeling my concentration levels now might be at an all time low.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  AVERY

  All the air left my lungs when I saw him walk inside my chemistry class, and I knew before he even took on step forward that he’d be heading in my direction. I know it’s not by choice either and purely because he has nowhere else to go, yet that doesn’t stop my heart from beating frantically in my chest, and the heavy thud grows louder for everyone to hear.

  Nervous energy consumes every fiber of my being the second his soulless black eyes find mine and something passes between us—an instant dislike simmers in the air but he still doesn’t take his eyes away from me as he continues to step closer to me, like a predator slowly cornering his prey.

  He’s fixed on me and there’s no denying that I’m totally mesmerized by his dark, mysterious persona. It feels like he has the power to pull me in, leaving me desperate to know all there is to know about this beautiful, sinful creature—right up until he slammed his books down on the desk, narrowed his eyes and broke the connection between us.

  “Move.” He barks down at me and signals his head to the seat next to mine by the window. I hate this arrogant jerk more with each silent moment that passes but he refuses to back down. If there was anywhere else in this room that I could go and work I’d be out of here in a heartbeat, but there isn’t. Instead, it looks like I’ll be spending the next hour trapped at the back of chemistry class sandwiched between tall, dark and dangerous and a solid brick wall, and I don’t know which one I want to punch the most.

  “All right, class. If I can have your attention, please…” Mr. Birch calls out to the class, but it doesn’t sound like anyone is listening to the small bald man down the front.

  It’s hard, but after a few moments and extra dose of some much-needed willpower I manage to tear my eyes away from my new neighbor and I finally shift along into the seat next to me. I open my book and try my hardest to focus, but there’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate now. Not when I can feel him next to me, his eyes burning into the deepest depths of my soul as he tries to figure me out, and his presence is so damn intimidating—which is probably his end game.

  If I’m being totally honest, it feels like this beautiful specimen is weighing me up, calculating my every move so he can figure out my strengths and weaknesses before tearing me apart piece by piece.

  “Why Riverstone?” His deep rustic voice penetrates my ears and echoes around my mind. When I look up, I see the class has finally settled and Mr. Birch is busy scribbling notes down on the board, expecting his pupils to follow his lead, totally oblivious to my internal pain. I’m to busy trying to hold myself together while desperately praying that this period was over already.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Why Riverstone?” He asks again, only this time he emphasizes each word to help me understand him just in case it wasn’t clear enough the first time around. “What do we have to bring you here that the sunny, clear skies of Hollywood don’t?” His face remains impassive, his voice totally void of any emotion and to be honest, he doesn’t look the tiniest bit interested. So why ask? To make pointless conversation? To try and intimidate me some more?

  If I was weary about him before then it has nothing on what I’m feeling right now. My stomach twists in knots as my anxiety starts to take hold and it feels like a festering set of pythons have taken over my insides.

  I decide against answering him, because it sounds like he already knows more than he should about me already. I mean, how the hell does this guy know where I’m from? Nobody in Riverstone even knows me except from Jessica and Jake and I really can’t see me being such a hot topic of conversation in or out of school.

  Then a dreadful thought simmers in my mind and no matter how hard I try to shift it, it won’t budge. Has this guy been going through my files? I guess he’s not content on busting my face open, he now wants to spend his time snooping on my personal life too. Well, he can eat his black little heart out because there isn’t any dirt to find on me.

  The heat of his intense gaze sizzles against my flesh and it’s almost too hot to handle, and after a few moments I’m forced to look at him—to drink in his deadly beauty while he waits for my reply.

  I don’t want to answer him though. I don’t even know who he is and it’s also none of his goddamn business. “What’s it to you?” I demand on a sharp his, both embarrassed and frustrated by his perseverance. A smirk quivers on his lips and the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention again, warning me to stay as far away from this hypnotic God-like creature, because nothing good can ever come of this.

  I jump and almost fall into him when the bell rings out around us and I let out a beautiful sigh of relief knowing I’ll finally be able to escape his spell—at least until my next chemistry class.

  I try to ignore him, keeping my eyes firmly focused in front of me as I pack up my books and throw them into my backpack. Mr. Mysterious stands, and he blocks my exit as his large athletic frame covers my petite frame. I think about punching him hard in the chest before making a run for it but I don’t think my small fist would have much of an impact on him and knowing my look I’d probably break my hand.

  A few seconds of silence pass and then he laughs before finally stepping aside but I don’t mistake the threatening look on his face, warning me that this is far from over. I refuse to rise to him. There’s no way someone like hill will get a reaction from me and that’s because I know that’s what he wants. Instead, I move past him and get the hell out of here before it’s too late.

  I run out the door so fast I almost crash into Emily as she waits patiently for me out in the corridor.

  “Whoa, what’s the rush?” She asks and her glasses are all askew, her ginger hair wild like a lion’s main around her face, but she seems relaxed enough. Nothing seems to phase her at all, and I kind of wish I was a bit more Emily.

  “This isn’t over, Hollywood.” I don’t need to turn around to know whose threat was filtering through the air. I’d know that voice anywhere now. When I do look at him, I’m not too shocked to find his eyes are hooded, and sinister to match his words. Usually I’d be able to brush them off, but there’s something about him which tells me he isn’t the type of guy to give up a fight so easily.

  “Who is that guy?” I ask Emily as we both watch his retreating form disperse into the moving crowds.

  “Oh, that’s Cole Ashford. Believe me, he’s bad news. There isn’t a girl in Riverstone who hasn’t needed therapy because of him.”

  COPYRIGHT

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Lacey Heart holds exclusive rights to this work.

  Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

  Copyright © 2020 by Lacey Heart

  Formatted by Bookaholic Formatting

  Books by Lacey Heart

  Damaged & Destroyed

  Reckless: A Damaged & Destroyed Novella #1

  Amazon UK: https://amzon.to/2HZNCPX

  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2DZzAd8

  Ruthless: A Damaged & Destroyed Novella #2

  Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Db3ieo

  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2DhaZQ5

  Bully Me

  One Night Only – A bully Me Companion Novella #0.5

  Amazon UK:
https://amzn.to/34vDdCR

  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2LqJsQJ

  Bully Me This: Bully Me #1

  Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2YpcmbS

  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2YEAI2h

  Bully Me That: Bully Me #2

  Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2MeV2yX

  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Mcg1lK

  Dear Diary: Tales from Riverstone High

  January:

  Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2MldSD1

  Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2VfTw2n

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  CHAPTER ONE

  AVERY

  Dear Diary,

  Well, January is finally over and I somehow managed to survive. But only just.

  Between hiding from my mom and Cole Ashford watching my every move, I’m a hell of exhausted.

  I’m not even going to pretend everything’s A-okay because it isn’t. It’s goddamn hard. So much harder than I thought it would be. Putting on a fake persona every damn day and trying to keep up with the act is draining me. Physically and emotionally. It’s nothing but soul destroying, and it feels like a chore just trying to push through it. But I know I need to keep going to reach my end goal.