Unwritten: A High School Bully Romance: The Longlake Duet, Book 1

by Hattie Jude

  “Well, yeah. He could have anybody, as many times as he wants, and he is hot after you.”

  “I still don’t know how this little game you’re playing is helping anything.”

  “Maybe it’s a distraction for me too,” he says, leaning against the counter. “Maybe I need to see how much he wants you.”

  All of the energy is sucked out of the room and Ashton sags, like the weight of the world sits on his muscular shoulders. I lean over and put my hand on his arm.

  “Ashton? What is it?”

  “I love him,” he says simply.

  When I step closer, he avoids looking at me and I shift so he can’t avoid me. His eyes fill with tears.

  “Oh,” I whisper.

  “Yeah.” He presses his lips together and stares up at the ceiling, blinking fast. “Oh.”

  “So all those times you were checking me out, you were just playing a part?”

  “I can still appreciate an incredible rack.” He shrugs, laughing when I flick him. “It’s hard not to look at your chest, and I have felt more stirring with you than I ever have with any other girl, but yeah…still not like I feel when I see Raf.”

  I step back and fall into the closest kitchen chair. “I didn’t see that coming.”

  He snorts again and moves to sit next to me. “If I can’t have him, I at least want to see him happy. The guy is straighter than a ruler. And he can never know about me. No one can.”

  “Why not? What would be so bad about everyone knowing?”

  “I want to play football professionally. There are a few out men playing, but none of them were out when they were signed. You think anyone would take me if they’re afraid I’m gonna bring that press to the field? There’s a reason it’s kept quiet until a career is established.”

  “I don’t like that at all, but I understand why you’re protective of your career. You have every right to handle this exactly as you want to. But with Raf…I think you’re going about his happiness the wrong way. I don’t believe he’s interested in me. Fucking me? Maybe. He’s a guy. Fucking me over? Absolutely, no question. He wants me out of here, Ashton.”

  He frowns and props his elbows on the table. “But why?”

  “That’s what I keep asking him. If he ever tells me, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Chapter Eleven

  I get a text from Ashton later that night. We talked for hours and I think I officially have my first friend at Longlake. All reservations I had about not trusting him left the minute he confided in me.

  Ashton: You never did tell me who the flowers are from and I’m worried about you. You’ll tell me if you’re in trouble, won’t you?

  It takes me a moment to think of what to say and I don’t come up with a clever response.

  Don’t worry. I’m fine.

  It feels like a lie and I hate that I’m lying to him so soon after his confession to me, but I’m not ready to face what the flowers could mean just yet.

  My phone rings as I’m staring at the phone and I sit up, fumbling to hit answer.

  “Laura?”

  “I’m so sorry I haven’t called you back before now. I’ve had some family things going on…I should’ve set up another sponsor for you in the meantime, but I’ve just been…” She lets out a long exhale. “There’s no excuse. Are you okay?”

  “I will be. Question is, are you?”

  “No.” Her voice trembles when she says the word and it reminds me that Laura is not that much older than me. She sounds incredibly fragile right now.

  “What’s going on, Laura?”

  “My brother is in the hospital, but he’s turning the corner. It’s been scary. I’ve had to talk with my sponsor more than ever…” She exhales a shaky breath. “This is more personal than I’m supposed to be talking with you, but we’re friends, right?”

  “Of course. I’m so sorry about your brother. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Just please talk to me and tell me what’s going on with you. You haven’t been drinking, have you?”

  “No, but it’s been more tempting lately. My school…it’s a hard place to fit in. They don’t want me there. There is this one guy will do anything to get me out and I don’t know why.”

  “Have you ever thought he might have a reason for getting you out of there?”

  “Uh…no? What possible reason could he have?”

  “I don’t know…just, uh…just trying to talk it out with you,” she stutters.

  I frown into the phone. She’s acting strange. “You sound like you need a long break, Laura. I’m worried about you. Don’t worry about me, okay? Just take care of you and your brother.”

  “Thanks, Gabriela. Listen, I’m going to text the number of another sponsor…so there’s backup if I can’t be reached. You’ll like her. A nice lady named Jill and she knows I’m giving you her number.”

  “I’m not losing you as a sponsor though, right? Just right now, when things are crazy for you.”

  “Yes,” she says emphatically.

  But when we hang up, I’m shaken by the conversation. I should’ve made sure she was okay.

  Last night, I told Ashton to back off with the touchy-feely approach at school, so I’m curious to see how he’ll be today. I think I convinced him that making Raf jealous wasn’t the best thing for either one of us, if we don’t want to make Raf even angrier than he’s been. Hopefully I got through to him. We’ll see.

  My mom is extra perky as I’m leaving. She’s gone out on another date with the same guy and she’s being quiet with the details, but it seems like she’s excited. I’ve tried to ask about him and she just says she doesn’t want to jinx it by talking about him too soon. The thought of a man around the house doesn’t warm my heart. It was a relief when my dad left. The fighting was out of control, his jealousy was over the top, and the way they dealt with me regarding Luke became a point of contention between the two of them.

  I’ve heard from my dad maybe twice since we moved here. My mom doesn’t talk to him at all. It’s weird how he’s dropped out of our lives. I didn’t believe he ever would, but I’m okay with it. He was never around all that much, and when he was, I wished he’d hurry up and leave.

  With the red lilies showing up and what I’ve dealt with at school, I’ve had enough to think about to give my dad much thought, but all this with Raf has made me wonder if I’m chasing what I know. I grew up with a controlling father. Why wouldn’t I run from a guy who’s trying to pull the same act, instead of obsessing over him?

  I’m disappointed in myself for not being stronger. There are times I give the attitude right back to Raf, but when he kisses me or touches me, I lose all reason. I’m ashamed that I’m this weak.

  I don’t want to think about what my dad will do when he knows my mom is dating again. The fact that they’re divorced might make all the difference, but it’s giving me one more thing to be anxious about. I haven’t told my mom about the flowers and I don’t want to.

  I drive myself to school and park across from Raf’s car. He still hasn’t gotten it fixed and it’s a constant reminder of my first interaction with him. I should’ve run then.

  I’m weary when I reach my locker and again, stand as far back as I can just in case something is waiting to fly out. Nothing does, but this time, there are pictures posted all over the walls of my locker. All sex scenes. A picture falls out and I gasp. It’s a picture of my mom in a horrifying position, every body part on full display. The picture is grabbed before I can reach it and I look up to see it in Heidi’s hands as she studies it, the grin stretching across her face.

  “Well, well, what do we have here? Looks an awful lot like you, but not quite…the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She steps closer and waves the picture around, getting in my face. “Didn’t take long for your little whore pedigree to come to light.”

  Raf stands past her, a few feet away, listening to every word. His expression dares me to turn this into a war.

  “Di
d you do this?” My voice catches so I don’t say anything else.

  Why? Why would he or anyone else do this? Heidi I can kind of understand, but with Raf’s whore comment, it seems more likely that it’s him.

  I snatch the picture out of her hands and shrug, tossing it back in my locker before slamming the door. “My mom still holds the title for the highest paid porn star. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who she is.” I point at Raf and the color drains a bit from his face. “Raf met her when he came over, so looks like the guy you’re wanting so badly has a thing for MILF porn.”

  Heidi glances back at Raf and flushes, not liking the direction this is going. I’m not broken enough for her, not dismayed that the truth is out.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if there are videos of you too,” she says loud enough for me to hear.

  That does get to me, but I hold my head high and lean close enough to see her dilated pupils. “Stay out of my business.”

  Her eyes burn and she doesn’t look scared at all. Ashton comes around the corner then and he hustles over when he sees that Heidi is in my face.

  “Go away, Heidi,” he says. “Quit creating drama where there is none.”

  She cackles. “There’s plenty of drama where this one is concerned.”

  But she walks off and I sag into Ashton as he hugs me. “You okay?”

  “Not really, but I will be.”

  “Come on, let’s get to class. Ignore that bitch.”

  When I pull away, Raf is still standing there watching. He looks like he wants to hit something and I can’t help but grin when I walk by.

  “That didn’t exactly go as you were hoping, did it?” I shoot up my middle fingers and turn around, feeling the heat of his anger on me as I walk away.

  “Well played. I didn’t see the picture, but I heard enough to get the gist. Care to explain any of this to me?” Ashton says.

  “I’ll tell you. Tonight. I think it’s already out anyway.”

  Chapter Twelve

  It’s a long day of pointing and laughing and jeers and pranks and just a general hellishness that feels endless. The worst is when I go to my locker after lunch and find a packet of coke, front and center. I glance around to see who is watching and don’t see anyone suspicious. I take it to the bathroom and flush it down the toilet. When my locker is searched by the principal fifteen minutes later, I hope to God I got it all out in time. Good thing I cleared the pictures out earlier.

  Fuck me.

  “I apologize for this search, Ms. Sinclair. It was brought to my attention that you have drugs in your locker and that you’ve been seen doing drugs on more than one occasion.” Mr. Saunders tries to stare the truth out of me.

  “That’s just not true. I don’t do drugs.”

  His lips are pinched in condescension and I wonder how much he knows about my time in rehab. I’m telling the truth, though. My vice is alcohol. What I wouldn’t give for a water bottle filled with vodka right now.

  “Well, I hope you don’t prove me wrong.”

  He walks away and I sag against the locker, taking deep breaths until I’m somewhat calm.

  If it weren’t for Luci and Ashton, I don’t know how I’d get through this day. Jen and Melanie tripped me in gym and I have a bloody knee from it. The common thread is everyone knows about my mom and they think I must be just as slutty.

  I see Ashton yelling at Jen later and she looks at me guiltily over his shoulder, but she doesn’t apologize.

  Raf stays one step removed, hovering with his watchful eye but keeping his hands clean. I’m sure it’s all his doing. He warned me things would get worse if I stayed. The question is, why does he want me to leave so badly?

  When I reach my car, I’m ready to sink into the seats and have a long cry on my drive home. But my back tire is flat, the nail someone used to do it lying on the ground in defiance. I don’t waste time trying to fix it. I ask my mom to call AAA and I walk to the field to watch Ashton practicing while I wait for a truck to show up.

  I don’t know football at all, but Ashton seems to know what he’s doing. I decide to make more of an effort to come to his games. He’s been a good friend to me, it’s time I do the same in return.

  The AAA truck arrives and they fix my tire. It would’ve taken me forever to do it and I didn’t feel like being on display any longer. By the time I get home, I see my mom and a man talking out on the sidewalk by the mailboxes. He’s tall, so familiar. It hits me as soon as I see his icy blue eyes. Raf’s dad. Has to be. I’ve never seen him before, but I’d know him anywhere. He’s the hot older version of Raf.

  He laughs at something my mom says and she reaches out and holds onto his arm as she laughs. They’re awfully familiar with one another. My eyes narrow on the way he moves in closer to her. They both look at me when I inch the car closer to them, pushing the button to make the passenger side window go down.

  “Oh, J-Gabriela,” my mom says, jumping when she sees me. “This is Stefen, our neighbor. You haven’t met yet.” She swallows hard and looks at me with guilty eyes.

  I lift a hand and Stefen leans into the window. “Hi Gabriela. It’s nice to meet you. Raf says he’s in a couple classes with you.”

  “Did he?” My words come out with more bite than I intended and my mom gives me a sharp look. Maybe she thinks it’s because I caught her flirting, and I haven’t fully worked through that yet—has she already ditched the guy she’s dating?

  They have no idea how much I hate Stefen’s son right now. Especially if he’s pretending like we’re buddies to his dad.

  “He can be a little asshole,” Stefen says, laughing. “Your mom just realized the two of you go to school together.” He runs his fingers through his hair and glances back at my mom. They share a look and I groan out loud. This is definitely not their first time to hang out.

  “I didn’t realize when I met him that he was—” her words trail off. “Raf and Gabi are friends, right?” she asks pointedly.

  “No,” I say between gritted teeth.

  I guess I don’t have to worry about her trying to set me up with Raf anymore. It’s as if the thought makes her sick now.

  “Ah, I’m sorry to hear it. We’ll have to work on that,” Stefen says.

  Hell no, we won’t be working on that.

  “I’ll let you get inside. Your mom said you had quite the day with a flat and all.”

  “Looks like she had quite the day too.”

  He stiffens, uncomfortable. He knows he’s in the middle of something but isn’t sure how to get out of it. He lifts a hand and smiles and I slam my car door and go inside.

  My mom comes in about fifteen minutes later and finds me in my room. Her hand is on her hip before she ever gets a word out.

  “Do you want to explain your attitude, Josephine?”

  “Is that the man you’re seeing?”

  “Why would that matter?”

  “Is he or not?” I yell.

  “You lower your voice. What is your problem?”

  “You couldn’t pick anyone other than Raf’s father?”

  “I didn’t know.” She moves her hair off of her shoulder, her face flushing. Guilty. “But would it matter? Are the two of you dating?”

  “There are so many reasons it matters. And you were dying for me to date him before you knew, admit it. What if I am?”

  “Are you?” she whispers. And for a moment, I wish we were just so I could see what she’d do about it. I sigh.

  “No, we’re not.”

  She sags with relief and I roll my eyes.

  “Does Dad know?”

  Her face changes from relief to terror in seconds. “No. And he can’t know.”

  I take a deep breath, trying to get my panic to subside. No, Dad can’t know. Ever. “I’m assuming Stefen knows about Sookie?”

  “Well, yes. I didn’t want to start a relationship with lies.”

  I groan and throw my backpack on the floor, glaring at the ceiling as I fall back on my bed.
>
  “You’re being overly dramatic, Josephine. If the guy I’m seeing can accept my past, you should be able to too.” She gulps hard and her eyes fill with tears. She still feels responsible for what happened with me, and I know I shouldn’t let her, but I partially blame her for it too. “You can’t hold my career against me forever, sweetheart.” A tear falls down her cheek and I sigh, reaching out for her hand when she sits next to me on the bed.

  “This morning when I got to school, my locker was full of pictures of you in different…positions.”

  She gasps and slams her hand against her mouth. “What? Who would do that?”

  “You’re the only one out of the two of us who has told anyone since we came to town…I’ll give you one guess.”

  My mother fumes and paces across the floor, threatening to go to Stefen’s house to confront his son about his abhorrent behavior and then the school when I refuse to let her.

  “I don’t understand why Raf would do this. I thought you guys were friends.”

  “I admitted in front of his father that we’re not.”

  “But he seemed so nice when he was over here that day.”

  “He’s had it out for me from day one and I wonder if it got worse when you started dating his dad.”

  “Well, you stay away from him. I won’t be going out with Stefen again.”

  “I can tell you like him.”

  “I do, but I won’t have you bullied by his son. I need to talk to him about this…just to give him an explanation.”

  “Not tonight. Okay? Just…let me get through this day. It was awful. My school is the worst.”

  “What about Ashton? He’s such a sweet boy.”

  “He is a sweet boy…who likes mean boys. Particularly Raf Barron.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh.”

  We fall asleep talking and I wake up in the middle of the night as she’s getting up to walk back to her bedroom.

  “I’ll make this right, Josephine,” she whispers. “Don’t worry. I’ll fix everything.”