"Hit me with it," I say, dropping down onto Ellis's bed, ready to embark on this whole college thing.
I sit bolt upright in bed the next morning the second my alarm starts blaring from my cell on the nightstand.
It's still dark and my brain fights to come to life and remember why the hell I need to be awake so early.
Hell, right now I don’t even know where I am.
It’s not an unusual feeling after the past couple of years, and one I’m hoping to see the back of soon.
Glancing around in the darkness, realization sets in and a smile begins to twitch at my lips.
Today’s the first day of the rest of my life. The first day of putting Victor Harris and his demanding, controlling ways behind me and embarking on the life I’ve always dreamed of.
With my body suddenly on board with the situation, I throw the covers off, drag on a pair of shorts followed by the MKU Panthers jersey I ordered when all of this was set into place. I needed a reminder that everything could turn out as it should after all the shit.
Shoving my feet into my sneakers, I throw my duffel over my shoulder and make my way down to the kitchen.
I make myself a quick protein shake and throw a couple of bottles of water into my bag before heading out.
The house is still in silence behind me as I pull the front door closed.
Turning the key in my old Nissan Skyline, I turn the volume up and back out of the driveway, my thumb tapping the wheel along with the beat.
There’s a lightness to my body that I haven’t felt in… forever.
I know what’s to come isn’t going to be straightforward. I’m aware that the chances of being welcomed to the team with open arms and wide smiles is unlikely but knowing there’s fuck-all Luca Dunn or any of the others can do about it makes it that much sweeter.
The drive to the training facility is short and by the time I’m pulling to a stop beside the other cars already in the lot, excitement is buzzing through my veins.
I jog to the door and wrench it open, stepping through and breathing in the scent of the slightly overpowering air freshener they use, I assume to cover up the smell of the sweaty guys who are constantly filling the space.
The entrance is empty but as I get closer to the locker room door, the sound of muffled voices filters down to me.
I clench my fists as my excitement almost becomes too much to bear.
I slow to almost a complete stop outside the door, suck in a few deep breaths and run my fingers through my hair, pushing it back from my brow for a few seconds.
I want to remember this moment. The moment I show those assholes on the other side of the door that I’m not the nobody they think I am. That I’m not the loser captain of the Harriers who bombed out of the division every single year. That I’m not forever going to be held back by the shithole place I was unlucky enough to be born into.
I’m Kane fucking Legend and the Panthers have no clue what’s about to hit them.
I nod to myself and widen my shoulders and slam my palm down on the purple door.
The chatter gets louder for a few seconds as I step into the room. The scent of the air freshener dies out and is replaced by the familiar scent of sweat, mud and deodorant as slowly, almost every set of eyes in the room turn on me and the silence and tension becomes almost overbearing.
I look from each face to the next. Most are oblivious as to who I am and the importance of this moment but then I find a familiar set of eyes. They’re narrowed and filled with an anger I’m all too used to.
We’ve hated each other on and off the field for years. Despite the fact we’ve never actually spent any time together outside of a stadium, we both know that the mutual hatred and rivalry that festers inside of us will always stop us from being friends.
“What the fuck?” Luca barks, his lips curling in disgust as his fists curl at his sides.
“Don’t tell me Coach didn’t tell his beloved starting quarterback that he’s expecting a new wide receiver any day now.” The smugness in my tone rings out loud and clear through the locker room.
There are a couple of gasps from the few guys who know who I am, one in particular over Luca’s shoulders looks about ready to murder me right here on the spot—rightly so after the shit I’ve put his sister through, I guess.
“You’re lying,” Luca grits out as his sidekick and twin brother steps up beside him.
I smile at Leon although it’s totally insincere. I have no intention of making friends with any of these assholes.
I’m here for one reason and one reason only.
To play fucking football.
I was scouted during my first attempt at senior year. Our team might have been beyond abysmal, but I never was. I was the best thing the Harrow Creek Harriers had seen in a very long time, but even as good as I might be, my skill can hardly carry an entire team.
I did my best, and it was helped when Kyle, my little brother, stepped up to play with me but still, we were never going to turn the rest of the pilled-up, hungover, trailer trash that surrounded us every practice into a real team of winners, it just was never going to happen.
But without enough credits to graduate, I couldn’t accept my place as a Panther. So I retook the year, fucking bossed it, and was ready to make the move to Maddison until my little fucking brother got himself locked up.
But I guess, like they say, everything happens for a reason, because here I am about to claim my rightful place right alongside the Dunn twins as first string wide receiver. A position I’m sure many guys who are staring at me right now would give their left testicle for.
“Am I?” I ask, throwing my duffel down on the bench before me and unzipping my hoodie to reveal my Panthers jersey beneath.
“Y-you have to be. You can’t just turn up like this. That’s not how shit works.”
“Not in your world, maybe. But in mine, I’m right where I should be.”
Turning back to him, I find Luca’s lips pressed into a thin line, the muscles down his neck and across his shoulders straining to the point I wonder if they could snap, and his fist clenched, ready to throw a punch that I know he’s been desperate to land for a few years now.
My smile widens as my eyes hold his.
I take a step closer and I swear everyone around us sucks in a deep breath, preparing for us to go up against each other.
“Do you happen to know which locker is mine?” I ask innocently.
“This is not fucking happen—” His words are cut off as the door at the other end of the long room swings open and crashes back against the wall.
While some of the others around us go back to what they were doing before I entered and interrupted things, Luca and Leon don’t move, and neither do I. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I cower down to the fucking Dunn twins. So what, their daddy is ex-NFL. So what, they’ve got more money than I’d know what to do with.
“Ah good, I see you’re getting to know our new receiver.”
Luca’s eyes narrow to slits before he turns to Coach.
“Yeah, about that—” Luca starts marching toward the man in charge. “Do you know who he is?”
Silence once again descends on the locker room, most of them probably wanting to know the answer to that question.
“Yeah, the best damn receiver in the state. No offense, Dunn,” he says, his eyes briefly flicking to Leon.
“I don’t give a shit how good he is, he shouldn’t be here,” Luca barks, trailing after Coach when he turns toward his office.
“Get in there, Dunn,” he chastises. “Get your asses in the gym, ladies. Your muscles ain’t gonna strengthen themselves.” At his word, everyone jumps into action. “Legend,” he says, tilting his chin up in greeting. “Good to see you’re feeling better. Welcome to the team, son.”
I smile at him, it’s the most genuine one I’ve given anyone in a pretty long time.
I might not be wanted here by many, but fuck, I feel more at home here already than I have in years
, even with the hate stares still being thrown my way from a few, mainly Zayn Hunter.
4
Letty
Everything feels different when I wake the next morning. I feel lighter, the tightness in my chest that I’ve become all too used to has lessened.
The guys took me to a bar and grill off campus and we spent the evening laughing and eating. It was the most normal night I’ve had in a very long time.
Every time one of them made me laugh, I felt the stress and loss of my past begin to melt away. It was such a freeing feeling after drowning under the weight for such a long time.
Flicking my bedside light on, I look around my room. It’s not unlike my dorm room at Columbia and that’s kinda comforting. The walls are an off-white with dirty marks where the previous occupant must have had posters up. As well as the twin bed I’m curled up in, there’s a single closet, a chest of drawers and a desk. Plus, and I’ve no idea how Mom managed to secure it at the last minute, a private bathroom.
I curl back up and think of how incredible yesterday was. From bumping into Luca and Leon, my classes, my roommates and the possibility of actually being happy here.
I can’t wipe the smile off my face as I finally throw my sheets off and plod through to my bathroom. The tiled floor is like ice against my bare feet and I hop around as I brush my teeth and wait for the shower to warm up.
The second I’m ready, I don’t hesitate in pulling open my door and joining whoever is already crashing around in the kitchen for breakfast. The scent of frying bacon is too much to resist.
“Good morning,” Violet sings from her spot by the stove.
“Morning.”
“I hope you’re hungry.” My stomach rumbles right on cue.
“You have no idea.”
Panic flickers inside me as I look down at myself but I quickly talk myself down because there’s no way anyone here would know that I’m two dress sizes down on what I’ve always been, thanks to the stress of the past year.
“Grab yourself a coffee and it’ll be ready in a few.”
“I can help,” I offer, heading for the coffee machine.
“We have a food rota. You’re tomorrow and Friday. The guys luck out during the season, but we’ll ensure they make up for it once it’s over.”
“You’re assuming I can cook.”
“You don’t have to cook. Buy a box of cereal if you like, order something. You’re just in charge of those days.”
I smile at her, loving how the six of them work like a well-oiled machine. If I’d have known about this before I moved in, I might have been intimidated about joining them, but they’ve welcomed me as if I’ve always been here and I couldn’t be more grateful.
They're the family I didn't know I needed and it's only day two.
I'm sipping on my coffee when Ella and Micah join us and Violet begins plating up.
"Still here then?" Micah jokes.
"Yeah, you didn't all put me off too badly last night."
"And here I thought West and Brax's jokes might have been the end of you."
I laugh, recalling some of their worst pickup lines last night. "They're harmless."
"There are a few broken hearts walking around campus who probably wouldn't agree with you."
I roll my eyes. "Football players. I know all about them." I think of Luca and his ways with women over the few years I've known him.
"Oh, so…" Ella pipes up. "You never actually explained how you know them," she digs.
"You need to get over yourself. They don't want you," Violet groans as she sits down with us to eat. "She's been chasing them around like a lost puppy for two years. It's becoming pathetic."
"I haven’t chased anyone. And…" she points out, poking her knife in Violet's direction. "As you well know, I was with Sawyer for most of freshman year."
"Ugh," Micah complains. "We know. No need to remind us."
I watch as the three of them bicker like siblings and I realize why the vibe in this dorm works so well, they really are a little family.
"So, the twins," Ella prompts once again, ignoring the others and their attempt at a topic change.
"I moved to Rosewood when I was sixteen. Luca was my lab partner in my first week and we just hit it off. The rest is history."
"You slept with them?" she asks, leaning forward on her elbows and soaking up my every word.
"Err…"
"Oh my God, you have. Tell me they tag teamed you, please." The excitement in her eyes is amusing as hell and I realize that I'm going to have to introduce her to them for the comedy value alone. She'll lose her shit.
"No, I haven’t been in a Dunn sandwich, so I can't feed your fantasy, sorry."
"Ugh, what kind of use are you?" she sulks.
"I'll introduce you next time we see them."
"Yesss," she hisses. "Oh, maybe I shouldn't eat this. If this happens today I don't want to be all bloated and gross."
We all stare at her. "For real?" Violet asks, her brows raised.
She's got a point, Ella's got a banging body and the most insane curves. Any guy would be lucky to get their hands on her.
"Just eat the damn bacon, El. No guy wants a skinny bitch anyway."
None of them look my way, and I know that the comment isn’t in any way directed at me, but still, I feel myself retreat a little. I hate how I look right now. I hate that when I look in the mirror, my ribs and hip bones are so visible. I miss my curves, my breasts, my ass.
Silently, I cut into my breakfast and pop each bite into my mouth but I don't taste any of it. Thoughts of my body take me back there and I'll do anything to keep my head in the present.
"So what do you say, Letty? You in?"
"Uh…"
All three of them are staring at me but I have zero clue as to what they're talking about.
"Party Friday night. You in?"
Dread sits heavy in my stomach at the mention of a party. I should say no. I should make an excuse about the amount of work I have to do and hide in my room.
But as I look between them and the hope in their eyes, I realize that I can't be that scared little girl anymore. I'm here and it seems like I might have already landed some incredible friends. I need to embrace it.
"It's a football party at the Dunn's place," Ella adds. "They'll probably invite you anyway."
"Oh, um…" The thought of Luca and Leon being there makes me feel better and I quickly find myself agreeing.
"Sweet. We'll get ready here, head over fashionably late, hopefully, catch some eyes." Ella wiggles her brows.
"Girl, the twins don’t want you," Micah spits, sounding totally exasperated by her.
"I wasn't talking about them. I'll take any athlete. I'm not choosy."
"We know. We have to listen to you, remember."
"Aw, Micey." She pouts while his face hardens at the awful nickname. "You're just jealous because you haven’t gotten laid in…" She starts counting on her fingers as if she has actually worked it out.
"Fuck off, El." He pushes his thick-rimmed glasses up his nose and stands with his empty plate in hand. He turns his dark eyes on me. "Sorry, Let. I hope you have a good day."
He damn near throws his plate in the sink, drills a hate stare at Ella and storms from the room.
Interesting.
"Girl, do you have to push his buttons?" Violet snaps at Ella who just shrugs innocently.
"Not my problem that he can't get over his ex."
"He's over her and you know it. Cheating bitch doesn't deserve any more of his thoughts."
"Amen to that. Chloe was a bitch with a capital b."
"You finished?" Violet asks me, glancing at my empty plate.
"Yes. Thank you, it was delicious. Feeling the pressure for tomorrow."
"It's not a test, Let. Just make sure there's something to eat and we're all good. Ah, here come the boys. Get that pan on the go, Vi."
The booming sounds of West and Brax's voice filter down to us a few seconds before they c
ome bounding through the door.
They're both freshly showered by looking at their hair. They throw their duffels in the direction of their bedrooms and simultaneously pull out a chair each and sit down.
"Where’s the food, Vi? Two starving athletes here."
"You're back early," Ella mutters. "You might even get to class on time today."
"Session was cut short. New guy turned up and caused havoc." West waves it off as nothing as the sizzling of bacon fills the room once more.
"I'm just gonna get sorted," I say, pointing to my room and then quickly head that way to gather my books ready for class.
I'm not really interested in the football drama. I did my best to stay away from it all in high school—which was easier said than done when my best friend was the freaking captain and best quarterback in the state.
I roll my eyes at his undying love for the game and pack everything up. If there's one thing I intend to do during my time here, it's to stay as far away from football, hell any athletes, aside from those who are already my friends—or quickly turning into my friends. Nothing good comes from football players.
"You heading in?" Ella asks me when I meet her out in the living area also with her bag over her shoulder ready to get to class.
"Yep. Sociology, you?"
"Marketing. I'm in the next building to you so I'll walk you."
"Let's do it."
She links her arm through mine and together we leave the others behind.
"Just so you know, I'm not some sex-starved whore," she says a little too seriously as we make our way across the quad.
"I didn't think that," I say lightly. "I know they were just ribbing you."
"I'll admit, I've had my fair share of less than memorable relationships and one-night stands. They seem to forget that they're the same. Well, apart from Micah, he's quieter than the rest of us.”
"He's got the nerd look down."
"Yeah, girls at MKU generally pine after the athletes."
"You say that like it's different at any other college. Columbia was exactly the same."
"I blame books."
I snort a laugh. "How so?"
The Revenge You Seek: A Dark College Bully Romance (Maddison Kings University Book 1) Page 3