The Bullies Who Loved Me

by Mia Belle

  I give her a look. “You had to stick a guy in there, didn’t you?”

  She lifts her chin. “Yep. Because we both need boyfriends. ASAP.”

  I can’t help laughing. I’ve only had two boyfriends, and they were both in middle school. Freshmen year I was too shy to talk to guys. And I was busy with school. Last year I got close to a guy named Sam, but he moved to Seattle after winter break.

  And now? Forget about it. No guy would dare look my way, unless they’re willing to risk the wrath of the Kings and their loyal subjects.

  Zoe tugs me close. “Early New Year’s resolution: we’re going to get boyfriends.”

  I grab the small stuffed penguin from her dashboard and chuck it at her. “So annoying.”

  She smirks. “I might be annoying, but you’ll thank me after you get your first kiss.”

  I playfully punch her. “I’ve kissed guys!”

  She punches me back. “Seven minutes in heaven doesn’t count.”

  I stick my tongue out at her as she continues to drive. She’s had more experience than me in the romance department, and while of course I’d love to have a boyfriend, I feel like it’s not the right time. And anyway, who’d want to kiss the school outcast?

  “We’re here,” Zoe says as she pulls up before the Kensington mansion and finds a spot to park. “Man, I’ve missed my peeps.”

  I stare at the mansion. It hasn’t occurred to me until this moment that Zoe might find out about the bullying.

  “Come on, Daphne.” She tugs me out of the car. “Why are you hesitating? This is the first party of the year, baby!” She zooms toward the entrance like her ass is on fire and she’s in desperate need to dump it into a lake.

  As soon as I follow her inside, all eyes pin on me. Some fill with disgust, others with indifference. Zoe’s too excited grabbing beer and dancing to pay attention.

  She pushes through the throngs of kids until she finds a spot for us to dance. I’m not really in the mood and am starting to second-guess my decision to come. It’s easy to be determined at home. I didn’t know just how hard it would be to be here with nearly every single person staring at me as though I dragged in dead rats.

  Zoe’s already on her second cup of beer. “Dance!” She bobs from side to side, giggling a bit too loudly.

  “You’re going to get drunk.”

  Laughing, she grabs another cup. “That’s the idea. I’m not going home, anyway, and your mom lets you do whatever you want.”

  I wrench the cup from her stubborn fingers. “That’s because she trusts me. Slow down on the drinking.”

  She seizes the cup back. “No can do. I’m getting drunk tonight.”

  It seems no one cares that she’s associated with the school pariah. They don’t have a problem with my best friend and dance and laugh with her. Soon, I’m pushed further and further away until I bang into something hard behind me.

  “What are you doing here?” a deep voice asks.

  Whirling around, I catch the Kensington heir and Caden standing before me. Scanning around, I don’t see the third King. I’m sure he’s busy with a girl somewhere.

  I relax a little because I figure Eric is the ring leader and these two are a little harmless. But my guard is back up when I note the fury in Ryder’s eyes. Caden is pissed as hell, too, but not as much as his friend.

  “I asked you a damn question.” Ryder’s voice is low but threatening.

  My hands fist at my sides. “Everyone from school was invited.”

  With his dark green eyes glued to mine, he steps forward. “That invitation wasn’t extended to trash like you. Get out of my damn house.”

  I hold my ground. “No.”

  His eyes widen for a second, as though no one has ever refused him before. “What?”

  “I said, no.” I get in his face, ignoring my pounding heart. “What are you going to do about it?”

  His jaw clenches as he continues to glare into my eyes.

  “Oh my god!” a high-pitched shrill comes out of nowhere as Avery leaps to Ryder’s side, draping her arms around his waist. “What the hell are you doing with my boyfriend, skank?”

  Ryder grunts, unlatching her arms from around him. He doesn’t even glance her way, almost like he doesn’t want to deal with her right now. Or ever.

  I’m about to respond, when Zoe buckles over and pukes on the floor. The surrounding kids flee like there’s a fire.

  Zoe groans, falling forward. I quickly catch her before she tumbles to the floor. A loud giggle shoots from deep within her.

  Ryder narrows his eyes. “Take her and get the hell out of my house.”

  I return the glare. “Gladly. This party is crap, anyway.”

  Some kids gasp, a few gape at me. It’s like I broke the law or something. It’s weird how I was just like them last year. Always looking up to the Kings of Leighton High, taking their words and actions as gold. It kind of feels good to speak my mind, to not be afraid of them. It’s liberating.

  I haul Zoe’s arm over my shoulder and turn toward the doorway. She continues to moan and groan as I weave through the kids, who jet out of my way.

  I feel Ryder and Caden’s eyes on me, like they’re burning holes into my back.

  “No,” Zoe groans, twisting toward the entrance to the mansion. “Where are we going?”

  “Home.”

  She tries to pull herself back inside, but I drag her out the front door, down the steps, toward her car. After laying her down on the backseat, I climb in the driver’s side and pull away. I’ve had my license for a few months, and my parents promised me a car last summer. But after everything that happened, a car was the last thing I wanted. Also, I know money’s a little tight for such things. Dad saves the bulk of his money for my college tuition.

  Zoe sings and waves her hands around as I head for my house. It’s a good thing she’s sleeping over tonight, because I have no idea what we would have told her mom. Getting her into my house will be a little challenging because my parents are home, but I’m sure I can pull it off.

  Once her car is parked in my driveway, I tow her up the stairs to my room and lay her on my bed, plopping down at my desk and drumming my fingers on the table.

  I won’t think about tonight, or Ryder and the way he treated me.

  Oh, who am I kidding? Those thoughts are the only ones that run rampant in my mind.

  Screw him and his dumb party.

  Chapter Six

  Caden

  I watch Daphne Pickett drag her drunken friend out of the house. The rest of the kids are enjoying the show, too, how Zoe tries to claw her way back into the house, no matter how much Daphne begs for her to let them leave.

  A few kids laugh. Avery, who’s sitting on the sofa, chuckles the loudest as she flips her dirty blonde hair over her shoulder. She grins widely at Ryder, who squeezes his fists at his sides. He can’t stand her, only deals with her because their families have some sort of arrangement.

  “Ryder,” she nearly sings, stretching her hands toward him. “Come sit with me.”

  “The hell,” he mutters under his breath. “Dude, you have to help me get rid of her.”

  My focus shifts back to the closed door, where Daphne and Zoe disappeared behind. “You think we’re too harsh?” I ask.

  “What?”

  “With Daphne.”

  He stares at me. “Are you serious right now? Good thing Eric’s not here. He’d kill your ass.”

  “I just feel like…” I shake my head. “I don’t know. It’s just a party. You didn’t have to kick her out.”

  His face twists in disgust. “That girl has no business here.” I’m about to argue, but he continues, “She destroyed Eric’s life, man. She took Blake away from him. From all of us. He wasn’t just Eric’s older brother.”

  “I know that. I just wonder if maybe we’re taking things a bit too far. Tormenting Daphne won’t bring him back.”

  He narrows his eyes. “Someone needs to pay for what happened. Man, Eric’s
our best friend. He’s been through shit. And you’re sticking up for the person responsible?”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  He rests his hand on my arm. “He would be alive right now. He’d be swimming for one of the top schools in the country. He’d be happy. Eric would be happy. Phoebe would be happy. She’s like our little sister, too. And now she’s in so much pain.”

  I hold up my hands. “Guess I feel a little bad for Daphne.”

  “Don’t go there. She doesn’t deserve for anyone to feel sorry for her. She brought it upon herself.” His face changes as he studies me. “Holy shit. Do you like her?”

  “What? Hell no. It’s hard for me to…” I blow out my cheeks. “After everything I’ve been through, it’s hard for me to see someone going through pain and not do anything to help.”

  He places both hands on my shoulders. “Exactly. Eric’s got so much pain and anger inside him, and it’s all because of Pickett. She has no right to walk down our school hallways or my house after what she did. And she’s not going through any pain. Bitches like her are heartless.”

  He’s right. Of course he’s right. So why is it so hard for me to let it go? Grandma always claims I have a heart of gold. Right now, I wish I didn’t. I hate that Blake died and my best friend is having a hard time dealing with it. And I feel sorry for the girl who caused it all? That’s bullshit. I need to train my brain into thinking more like Ryder. I need to stand by my friends.

  I shove my thoughts aside and focus on enjoying the party. Daphne Pickett doesn’t enter my brain again.

  “Ryder!” Avery whines. “You’re ignoring me.”

  Ryder shuts his eyes like he’s trying to calm down before he loses it.

  “Just tell her to screw off,” I say. “You don’t plan on taking over the family business, anyway. So who cares?”

  He grits his teeth. “What if swimming doesn’t work out? I need something to fall back on. I just need to do this bullshit to make my dad happy.”

  I clap him on the back. He’s a Kensington—the richest kid in Leighton. When I was little, I used to envy him. He had a mom and dad, had all the money and toys a kid could ever want. But with that money comes sacrifice. Lots of it.

  “Ryder!”

  Cursing under his breath, he stalks over to her, plucking her off the sofa and sitting in her spot, placing her on his lap. She giggles as she whispers in his ear. He bends as far away as he can.

  I dance a little with the rest of the kids, drink a little. Girls run over to me, asking to dance. I don’t know who dubbed us the Kings of Leighton High freshmen year, but the title stuck and we’re the most popular guys at school. I figure a lot has to do with fact that we’re swimmers and that Eric is Blake’s brother. Blake was the king of our school. Everyone wanted to be him, or date him. He was a god. The pride and joy of our school.

  Now he’s gone, just a memory. There were many pictures of him and trophies around the school, but a few parents demanded the principal remove the photos. They don’t want teen suicide to be glorified or whatever.

  Shaking my head, I try to erase these thoughts from my head.

  ***

  “How was the party?” Grandpa asks as soon as I enter the house and drop my car keys on the kitchen counter. He’s reading the paper, same as he does every night. Grandma sits beside him with one of those romance novels she loves.

  I lower myself next to them. “Was good. Like usual.”

  Grandma blinks at me from behind her large glasses. “Were there girls at this party?”

  “Grandma.”

  She shrugs. “I’m just saying it wouldn’t kill you to get yourself a girlfriend. What happened with that girl with green hair? You liked her.”

  I try not to roll my eyes. I’ve had girlfriends, but not stable ones. I guess I’m more mature and sensitive than most guys my age—probably because I had to grow up quickly. The girls at school aren’t really my type. They chase me and my friends like we’re celebrities. I don’t want to be chased. Ryder and Eric are okay with that, but I’m not. Actually, Eric’s not into anything right now. Unless you count making Daphne pay for his brother’s death.

  “Wasn’t she the girl who was caught with drugs in her locker?” Grandpa asks. “They arrested her. I knew that green hair meant she was trouble.”

  My grandparents try to be cool, but they’re old fashioned.

  “She wasn’t arrested,” I tell them. “Suspended. And besides, we never dated. We just hung out a couple times.”

  Grandma pats my arm. “How’s Eric doing? I wanted to pay his family a visit and bring my famous apple pie, but no one answered the door when I rang, so I left the pie at the doorstep with a note.” She sighs. “The poor dears.”

  That’s weird. Ryder told me Eric was staying with Phoebe tonight. I guess they went out. Maybe he’s trying to make her—and himself—happy.

  I lean back in my chair. “He’s fine, I guess. Dealing.”

  Both grandparents nod sadly.

  “I hardly see his father these days,” Grandpa says.

  Grandma sighs again. “First losing his wife and then his oldest son. I can’t imagine what he’s going through. I hope he knows he has the entire town’s support.”

  “He knows,” I say. “They all do. But I think they need some time.”

  Both grandparents exchange a glance. Grandpa averts his gaze. “Speaking of losing people,” Grandma says. “You know what’s coming up.”

  I nod, my gaze on the table. “Mom and Dad’s death anniversary.”

  Grandma nods, lips pressed together. Grandpa flips through the paper, but I know he’s not really reading.

  The room is dead silent.

  I don’t remember my parents. They died when I was two years old. A guy tore through our house with a gun, killing my mom and dad instantly. He didn’t see me in the room next door, which is the only reason I survived.

  Grandma places her hand on my shoulder. She doesn’t need to utter a word—I know what she’s thinking and feeling. She’s always been the strong one, holding Grandpa and me together.

  Slowly getting to my feet, I give her a small smile. Though I never knew my parents, I feel their loss every day. A big chunk of myself is missing, and I’m not sure that hole can ever be filled. My grandparents do as much as they can for me, but it’s not the same.

  I climb up to my room and drop down on the bed, my gaze pinned to the ceiling. I stare at it for a few minutes, trying not to think of everything. But the thoughts are overpowering. Rolling onto my stomach, I open the drawer of my end table and slide out the photo album my grandparents gave me when I was seven. Inside are pictures of my parents in various stages of their lives.

  I’m nearly a copy of my dad, with blue eyes and dark, messy red hair. It spills over his eyes the same way mine does. Dad was a swimmer in high school, just like me. He never pursued a career in that, though, and I’m sure I won’t either. Swimming is something I do because I enjoy it. Besides, I’m not talented like Eric and Ryder. When I was little, I wondered if I’d grow up to be a lawyer like both my parents. They put criminals behind bars, brought people to justice, saved families. Grandpa and Grandma told me they were wonderful people who didn’t deserve to die. I doubt I’ll ever be as good as them.

  After placing the photo album back in its spot, I stare at the ceiling again. I think about Eric, Blake, about everything that happened last year. Of course I can’t imagine how he feels, since I don’t remember my parents, but I kind of understand him. I want to be there for him, in any way possible. He’s pushing Ryder and me away right now, but I’ll wait until he’s ready to let us back in.

  Chapter Seven

  Daphne

  Something whacks me in the face. Opening my eyes, I find Zoe next to me, taking up most of the bed and squeezing me to a corner. She always does this. Acts like it’s her bed instead of mine.

  Wait. What’s she doing here? Then I remember the
party last night. She got drunk. And how can I forget that Ryder Kensington threw me out of his house? Asshole.

  Zoe slides over and I crash to the floor, taking the blanket and my pillow along with me. Zoe half-hangs off the bed, snoring softly.

  “Zoe!”

  Her response is a moan.

  I scramble to my feet and shove her toward the center of the bed, then head to my closet for something to wear.

  Mom and Dad already left for work. Good thing or else they would have heard that bang and come in here. They don’t need to see a hungover Zoe.

  After settling on a nice top and jeans, I get ready in the bathroom. When I come out, Zoe’s still out cold. It’s eight in the morning, too early for a Saturday, but some of us need to get our asses to work.

  I shake her shoulder. “Zoe, you need to go home.”

  She turns over, hugging her pillow like it’s the boyfriend she desperately wants. I shake her again. “Zoe, wake up.”

  With a groan, her eyes flutter open. “Stop yelling.”

  “I wasn’t yelling. You’re hungover.”

  She rubs her forehead. “Huh?”

  “Remember the party? You got drunk and I took you home.”

  She squints as she thinks. “We went to a party?”

  “Yeah, Ryder’s. You wanted to rebel against your parents.”

  She slowly sits up. “Right.” She frowns. “Did I talk to anyone? The Kings?”

  “We didn’t stay long. Anyway, Eric wasn’t there.” Fortunately. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her the truth of what happened—I hate keeping secrets—but I don’t want her to know about the bullying. She’d worry. And besides, I’m handling it.

  “What do you mean Eric wasn’t there? He loves to party. I guess losing Blake really messed him up.”

  I don’t say anything. It’s not my fault his brother killed himself. Why am I letting the guys get to me?

  I gently slap her arm. “My parents already left for the diner and they’re expecting me to show up.” Dad has off from work on the weekends, and helps in the kitchen while Mom and I take care of service.