“How many frogs can you catch in five minutes,” he snickered.
“That’s it? I’ll beat you in a heartbeat.” Chelsea grabbed one of three nets beside me then ran to the opposite side and sat on her knees. “I’m ready.” Her pretty eyes lit up.
Tearing my eyes away was a must. Didn’t want Mason staring between us. I loved how she barely backed down from a challenge. Even if the end result was torture.
Mason smirked, peeking at his watch. “Get into position, Tate.”
Mason and I laid in the grass, hanging over the pond, net in hand.
“Chelsea, you’re going down,” Mason warned.
An evil smile took her face.
“Go!” Mason yelled.
Slamming my net into the water, I swished around until my net covered a frog. Never peeking at Chelsea or Mason, I filled my bucket.
“Times up,” Mason shouted.
His blue eyes glinted. “Chelsea come over here. Let’s count out the frogs.”
She ran over sitting between us. Mason counted the frogs in her bucket.
“Chelse.” Mason’s sneaky smile curled his lips. “Only three frogs.”
His hand fished around in my bucket. And I reached inside his.
“Number, Tate?”
“Five.”
“Mason?”
“Five. It’s a tie. Fricking twin jinx.”
I fell on the ground, holding my belly. My cheeks hurt from laughing so hard.
“Not cool,” Mason groaned.
Chelsea shook her head, overturning her bucket, releasing the frogs back into the pond. I tossed my frogs in too.
“Ah!” Chelsea shrieked.
I turned to her. She jumped around hands flopping in the air.
“You like that, Chelse.”
“Tate, get the frog off of me,” she demanded.
I laughed. “Do it yourself.”
There was no way I could come to her aid.
“Mason, I can’t believe you did this.”
She held the bottom of her shirt out, leaning back. The frog leaped a few times, splashing into the pond.
“Relax Chelsea, you love it when I surprise you. Come on.” Mason smiled from ear to ear.
I fell in line behind Mason. Peeking over my shoulder, I watched her shake her body a couple of times before following us.
“Where are we going?” she asked, arms folded.
“You know the rule no questions or I’ll throw you in the lake.” Mason said, trekking through the tall grass.
Chelsea caught up with me and slammed her foot into my calf.
“What the hell,” I mouthed.
Her eyes narrowed as she widened the gap between us.
“Mas, tomorrow night I bet we can collect a jar full of fire flies.” I grabbed wheat off a tall stem. My eyes danced between the two large houses on the other side of the lake.
“Tomorrow we should head over to old man Jimmy’s house before he arrives for the summer.” Mason tossed a rock in the lake from the ledge.
We sat on the edge. “This is the best spot,” I stated, staring to the left. “The main road is clear.”
“I wonder who will rent the house next to old man Jimmy’s this summer,” Chelsea said.
“I bet a group of college guys and random chicks.” Mason laughed, whipping his fingers through his short dark hair.
“You’re disgusting, Mason,” Chelsea groaned.
Rain poured from the sky without warning. The sun was still shining bright.
“Feels good.” Chelsea chuckled.
“Warm rain always feels good.” I smiled.
Those cute heart shape lips held my attention a moment longer. She looked so damn perfect.
“Let’s go. Your mom told us to return before it starts raining.” She stood dusting off her bottom.
Mason hopped up. “Chelse, come here.”
My eyebrows wrinkled. “No worm tricks today?” I stood.
She stepped back, waving her hands. “Mason, no games.”
“Oh, I’m not going to do that.” Mason smirked.
Lighting flashed, and the sky darkened in an instant.
“Guys, let’s go,” I yelled.
“Mason, come on, Hurry get down the hill.” Chelsea urged.
It was time to get out of the rain. Our hair and clothes stuck to us.
“Just one sec and then we’ll leave I promise.” He waved her closer.
Chelsea met Mason under the large oak tree.
He pressed her back against the tree. “Mason, what do you want?” I heard in ear shot.
His lips fell upon hers.
My heart sank.
Chelsea’s eyes widened. She shoved him back. He stumbled.
“You didn’t like the kiss?”
“Mason, I-I like Tate.”
Shit. My eyes grew.
He turned to me, clutching his fists at his sides.
I stepped closer. “Mason, I tried to spare your feelings. I can’t anymore. She’s my girl.”
Her sad eyes met his sinister gaze. “I’m sorry, Mason.”
I firmly pushed her behind me. “Mason, let’s go.”
“No, you knew I liked her. How could you steal my girl?” He rammed his palms into my shoulders, I bumped into Chelsea. She slid down the muddy hill, screaming.
“Look what you did.” I pushed him against the tree and punched him in the face.
His chest heaved and his jaw twitched. He kicked me in the stomach. I slid backwards, falling down the hill too.
“She’ll never be yours,” he roared.
Lightening cracked the tree. The large branch dropped on Mason’s head.
“No!” I wailed in horror. I tried breaking my fall so I could help my brother, but I couldn’t.
Chelsea released a blood-curdling scream. Covered in mud, I ran toward the lake. I could barely see in front of me.
“Mason! Mason!” Rain thudded my skin as I ran toward him. Mason laid on a rock. He wasn’t moving.
Chelsea and me shook his unconscious body.
“Mason, wake up,” I begged.
His head fell to the side and blood gushed from the back of his skull.
“No. No. No. Mason,” I cried, yelling at the top of my lungs.
“Mason!” I heard dad at my back.
He dropped beside me, checking Mason’s vitals.
“He’s not breathing.”
Our mothers appeared and flew into action, working to save my brother. Chelsea’s father stood beside her.
Lips moved, but no sound could be heard from anyone. It was like my brain disconnected from my ears. Tears poured down my face.
Peeking to my left, I snarled. “It’s all your fault. You’re to blame. He’s not moving because of you!” I shrilled, stepping closer.
Her eyes widened. “What?” Chelsea stumbled back.
Her beautiful blue eyes dimmed as she stared back at me.
The girl I once loved, I now hated.
Dad grabbed my shoulder and shook me. “What happened, Tate?”
I told him the three of us argued and Mason fell. Dad didn’t ask at that moment why Chelsea was to blame. I think everyone was in shock, scrambling to rush Mason to the hospital.
The hallway was quiet. A blanket draped over my shoulders as I sat on the cold plastic chair, staring at the floor. The image of my brother lying on the rock was stained in my memory.
“Tate?”
I glanced at grandfather and ran into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Everything will be fine.” He held me tight.
“I need an update from your parents on Mason’s condition. Have a seat. Hilda will sit with you and get you anything you need.”
I stepped back. A team of doctors and a lady wearing a bright red suit came into view. Everyone followed grandfather into the hospital room except the woman. She stood before me, clutched my shoulders, guiding me back to the chairs. Her red hair was pulled into a bun. She smiled.
“I’ll grab a cup of hot chocolate for you.”
I didn’t answer.
Mason was in a coma for a week then he died.
Glaring at the person in the bleachers brought me back from my thoughts. I halted on the sidelines and grabbed a water bottle from my duffel bag. My gray athlete shorts swayed in the hot breeze. Sweat dripped down my face. I dabbed a towel against my face, then tugged it around my neck. I held my hand above my brow, blocking the sun.
“What the fuck are you doing out here? Get to class.”
She flipped her middle finger at me.
“Don’t make me come up there and smack that pretty little ass of yours.”
Her cheeks flushed.
I loved the effect I had on her.
Arms crossing her chest she walked down the bleachers toward me.
“Why aren’t you in class?”
“I don’t answer to you. None of your fucking business.”
“Something’s bothering you. If it wasn’t, you’d be in class.”
“You don’t know shit.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Have you seen Matt?”
“Nope. Do we look attached at the hip to you?”
“You’re such a smart ass.”
“Get to class before I bend you over my knee,” I smirked.
Her thighs shot together.
I wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her close. “Sexually frustrated, huh?”
She slammed her fists into my chest. “I hate you.”
“I know. Feelings mutual, Chelse.”
Our eyes locked. Chelsea’s lips parted. I slid my tongue between her soft lips. She tasted like fucking strawberry bubble gum. Our tongues twisted, and she moaned into my mouth. It was so sexy. I was hard as a rock for her. Her fingers twisted in my wet T-shirt. I gripped her waist tighter, sliding my hard cock across her stomach. Shit, I had to stop. Didn’t want to take her virginity under the bleachers or in the locker room. Reluctantly, I separated our lips. “To class, Chelsea,” I whispered staring into those big beautiful eyes.
She licked her lips.
I traced my finger over her chin. “Don’t tempt me. I’ll eat your pussy right behind us on the bleachers. Is that what you want?”
She visibly swallowed, shaking her head. “No.”
“Such a liar.”
“Don’t show your face at my house later either.”
She pivoted on her heel and scurried toward the school.
My eyes were glued to her ass in that tiny pleated uniform skirt. Now that I touched and kissed her, I wanted to… fucking needed to taste her.
I pinched my eyes with two fingers. Snap out of it, Tate. Nope, I had other chicks waiting to be with me. I’d use one of them to get my mind off of Chelsea. Problem solved.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHELSEA
Tate ran around the track at top speed. He was deep in thought about something. Of course, he wouldn’t tell me. Why did I think he would? The halls filled with students pouring out of classes. I was swallowed into the crowd. That kiss Tate and I just shared, lit every part of my body on fire. I needed to stop falling under his spell when we were close. If I couldn’t sleep tonight too bad. No more Tate.
I sent Matt another quick text.
Me- Where are you?
I slipped into my seat in calculus class.
Students filled in around me. Class was a complete blur. All I could think about was Tate’s head disappearing between my legs. I squeezed my knees together and sighed internally.
My cell buzzed. I peeked at the screen.
Matt- Hey doll, we’ll talk later. I’ll drop by your house after school.
Me- K.
A couple of hours later, I sat beside Connie at our lunch table.
“Hey, guys.” I placed my tray filled with carbs on the table.
“There you are,” Connie chimed.
“You and Tate were absent yesterday,” Megan peeked over her shoulder at him.
“Was that just a coincidence?”
A new girl sat in his lap, whispering obscene shit in his ear I bet.
My heart plummeted to my feet. Careful, Chelsea don’t show your claws.
My lips tightened as I rubbed my injured hand. Tate smile dropped as our gazes locked. He whispered to Stephen.
“Oh no, he did not.”
“Chelsea, what’s wrong?” Rocco’s forehead creased.
Stephen’s brooding stature stalked toward our table.
He hovered over me. “Tate said don’t even think about acting rash.”
I folded my arms staring into Tate’s dark eyes. He placed the girl on her ass in the seat beside him. She rolled her eyes and glared at me.
I didn’t give a shit about sparing her feelings.
“Tell Tate to focus all his attention on his playmate. I am none of his concern.”
“Chelsea, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but he’s serious. You don’t want him to come over here.”
“Your royal highness will not leave his latest conquest to talk to me at the outcast table.” I laughed hysterically.
“Bye, Stephen.”
He stood, sweeping his hand over his almond complected face. “I wish you two would fuck each other’s brains out. It’s getting old already, and you just returned to Haven River.”
I turned mouth gaped.
He shrugged and walked over to another table filled with eager girls. I crossed my eyes and stuck my finger in my mouth. My friends laughed.
“Trevor, can we switch places? If I have to look at Tate any longer, I will snatch his eyeballs out of his head.”
Rocco snorted, motioning me over to the other side of the table. I sat between Trevor and Rocco. Tate was probably shitting bricks by now. Good.
“I’ll make this short as I can. The lunch period will be over soon.”
Their eyes were glued to me as I spoke of the events that took place. Well all the events except for the intimate moments between me and Tate. Megan hopped out of her seat and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“I am so sorry that happened to you. I was hoping I was wrong about him.”
“Tate came to your aide. Happy he was there.”
“There’s more.” I didn’t know how to tell them about Marisa without letting them in on my secret. My relationship with Tate was twisted and dark. Exactly why we could never be together.
“Marisa was my best friend years ago. She told Ethan something he repeated to me during the assault. Something only, she knew.”
Connie’s eyes widened. “What was it?”
I sighed. “I can’t discuss it here. Has anyone seen her today?”
They glanced between each other. “No,” they said one after the other.
I slid a forkful of chicken cordon bleu into my mouth.
“Chelsea Culver to the nurses office.”
Chatter and laughter continued from the tables around us. No one cared but me. Tate wouldn’t call the nurse, would he?
“Rocco, I need your help with something. I’ll text you later.”
He nodded drinking his grape juice.
I waved goodbye to everyone. No way I’d give Tate the satisfaction of meeting his gaze.
~
Hunched over my laptop on my bed, I pecked away at the computer keys. The course load at Haven Saints High was brutal. I missed one day of school and it felt like a week worth of homework.
Tate crossed the line. The nurse said she heard I re-injured my hand at lunch. After my exam, she told me the gash was healing nicely. Mr. Football Captain couldn’t be seen at the reject table. So, he dropped a line to the nurse. My lips curled into a sneaky grin. Payback was in order.
Rocco and I texted back and forth the moment I walked through the door. I logged into my fake social media account.
Me-What was the girls name sitting with Tate?
Rocco- Lena. She’s the fastest swimmer on the swim team.
Headline: ‘Tate gave Lena crabs.’
It was the perfect revenge. Slander Tate’s saintly name.
Me- I am posting on our account in an hour. I can’t wait to see the look on his face.
Rocco- Who?
Me- You’ll see. Hey, I need you to look into Marisa Brauner. I want anything you can find.
Rocco- She’s queen elite. Are you sure you want to risk crossing her?
Me- Absolutely. She messed with the wrong chick. TTYS.
Rocco- All right.
I continued typing my post.
This report is brought to you by Haven Saints High news.
#HSH #keepingyouintheknow
I scheduled the post.
Hopefully, Tate’s at football practice when the post goes live.
“Hey Chelsea.”
My lips tipped upward. “Matt, you’re here. Where have you been all day?”
He plopped into the chair Tate slept in half of last night.
“Following my sister. I was supposed to meet Tate this morning, but I wanted to see what she was up to.”
I slammed my laptop closed. “Tell me everything. Was she adopted at birth? You can tell me. She’s all for team self.”
He threw his head back in laughter. “No, she’s not adopted.”
“She set out to hurt me. Break me down more than I already was. Did you tell her about what I’ve gone through over the years?”
“No, but you have to remember she’s evil and bitter because she lost her first love too. Hers was permanent. Yours temporary.”
“Mine is definitely permanent. Tate continues to act as if he can never talk about what happened that day. Did he ever tell you?”
“Yeah, he said Mason kissed you and you rejected him. Mason fell off the hill and his skull cracked open.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Yes, he kissed me. I told him I liked Tate. I pushed him but he didn’t fall off the hill. Tate stood up to Mason head on. Mason lost it. He accused Tate of stealing me from him. Mason pushed Tate into me and I fell down the muddy hill. I don’t know what else happened. Thunder cracked the sky and Mason fell. Tate rolled down the hill too. He didn’t push him either. It was an accident. I remember his words before he fell. “She’ll never be yours.” He was right. Tate was in shock, then he turned on me. He said, “You’re to blame.” I sniffled. “He was right I was.”
“Chelsea, it wasn’t your fault. They were bound to fight over you. Rather it happened on the hill or not. He might blame you because he lost his brother or that he had to fight his brother. They weren’t on good terms when he died. Tate had to live with that burden for years. He’s a bitter guy because of it. He needs to lie on a shrink’s couch because deep down I think he blames himself for the turn of events. I’m speculating. Maybe one day he’ll talk about how he feels. I just know he never forgot about you. Last year he admitted he paid some kid to keep an eye on you at your school.”
You're To Blame: A High School Bully Romance (Haven Saints High) Page 10