The Princess and the Bully (Goldsworthy University Book 1)

by Tiffany Ransier

  Wiping my mouth on my arm, I stare her down. “Is that so?” I move to the counter, a little slower than before, as things start to feel further away. The volume in the room is a lot higher.

  I grab the last bottle of Jose Cuervo and gulp more down.

  “Wil!” Callan yells, reaching for the bottle. I change hands and push him away.

  My head feels so heavy. I gasp as I pull it away and set the bottle on the counter. Half of it is gone. “His dick is mine.”

  “Bitch!” she yells loud enough for anyone to hear over the blaring music. And hear, a lot of people do as they turn around to look.

  I slump back against the counter. “No. You’re the bitch. He’s mine,” I slur.

  “I’m not doing this game anymore with you Ginger. In fact, I don’t want to see your face again.”

  Ginger hiccups and tears leak from her eyes. “No.” She hiccups again. “No, you can’t do that. Everything I do is for you, Callan. It’s always for you.”

  Callan’s arm goes around my back as he lifts me up to his side. We walk into the living room. He looks around and booms, “Cut the music. Someone cut the fucking music now.”

  All of a sudden, the music is gone, and I glance around to find everyone staring at us.

  “No one better fucking approach me again with a bottle of Jose Cuervo expecting me to take them to bed. It’s not going to happen.”

  “Yeah!” I yell, throwing a random hand up and moving my hand, pointing at everyone. “Try it and I’ll kick your ass. And then I’ll ban you from my country.”

  Somewhere off in the crowd, I hear Noel clap his hands. “Woo, yeah. Mera!”

  “Play the music,” Callan barks, turning around and urging me up the stairs.

  The music returns as he pushes me inside my room and closes the door.

  I stumble back until my legs meet my bed, and lay down on it with my legs hanging off the edge.

  “Don’t do that again.”

  I tilt my head down to look at him to find him crossing his arms and staring at me coldly.

  I did it so that the orange haired bimbo would leave, yet he’s acting like I did something bad.

  “Why?”

  “I had it handled. I didn't need you to do that, Wil.”

  He glares and I’m so sick of it, I look back at the ceiling. “Whatever. I could, so I did.”

  “I’m going to drink more.” I hear the sound of the door being pulled open and the click of a lock.

  He’s locking the door?

  It slams closed, shaking the room, and I stare at the ceiling, watching it, when something clicks.

  The locking of the door.

  The slamming.

  It replays in my head, over and over, until I suddenly remember.

  Holy shit. I sit up way too fast and stare at the wooden door. I know what happened that night.

  “Tonight’s going to be fun, roomie,” Brandie says, putting a Maroon 5 poster on the wall.

  The wall her bed is against and the walls on her half of the room are decked out with posters, I almost feel like I’m back in my own room at home.

  I didn’t bring any with me.

  “It is.” Heath had some errands to run, but he should be here soon.

  “You and Heath look so adorable together. What did he think about what his brother did last night? Is his brother into you or something?”

  I move the strands of hair sticking to my face. “He wasn’t happy.” Shit, that doesn’t sound convincing enough does it?

  “He was super angry and furious. I haven’t seen him so mad before. He said he was going to punch him right in the face the moment he saw him.”

  She smiles. “Wow. What a guy, willing to fight his brother for you. I hope Callan doesn’t try and get in the way of your happiness. He’s always seemed bitter, even in high school.”

  “Oh you went to high school with him?”

  She nods. “Yeah, I think quite a few of us in this sorority did. The older girls with Heath of course.”

  Outside the door, the music starts, signaling our cue to go out and join the party.

  I can’t drink a ton, but that doesn’t mean I can’t drink some.

  “Oh! And if you and Heath, uh you know, decide to do the deed, and you want to use this room, just text and let me know okay?”

  My cheeks heat up at the thought of Heath and I in bed together. That thought feels so wrong. “I’ll definitely let you know,” I say slowly.

  She smiles. “Now come on, let’s enjoy the party.”

  She opens the door and I follow her out.

  Some EDM song is playing as we walk to the stairs. There’s a ton of people dancing and drinking together. I don’t see Scar or Peyton yet. They should be here soon. Brandie waves and mouths ‘see you later’ when she gets wrapped up in the arms of a tall blond guy.

  Maybe, I’ll head for the drinks first.

  When I walk into the kitchen area, I spot a familiar face in the corner of the room, sipping from a red cup and scrolling through her phone. Gemma!

  “Hey!”

  She glances up. “Hi, Mera.” She glances back down at her phone.

  I grab a cup of beer and walk over to her. She straightens with a look of surprise in her eyes. “What’s up?”

  I shrug. “I’m just waiting around for Heath. He should be here any minute.”

  “Hey, thanks for what you said last night,” she says, tucking a hair behind her ear.

  “No biggie. I meant it.”

  Her eyes widen as she looks past me, and I turn around to find the same guy who took her back here last night coming toward us.

  He walks slowly, in an exaggerated way that lets me know he thinks highly of himself. Too highly. With a bottle of Absolut in his hand.

  “Princess.” That’s the only greeting I get as he zeroes in on Gemma. “Nice to see you again, Gem.”

  She ignores him, still facing me. “I have to go, Mera.”

  She walks between him and I, walking to the living room.

  “Where are you going, nerd?” he turns and follows her as she walks back into the living room. I follow behind him, and almost run into him when he stops.

  He’s got Gemma’s wrist and refusing to let go.

  “Just hear me out. Let’s go out once. Anywhere you want, my treat.”

  Gemma squares her shoulders and fixes him with a look of pure annoyance. “Not interested.”

  “Just give me a chance, I’m a pretty cool guy,” he insists. “I’m not asking us to fuck on the first date if that’s what you’re afraid of.”

  She clenches her jaw, closing her eyes for a second and pushing her glasses to her face before opening them. “No. How many times do I need to say it for you to understand?” It’s yelled so loud, the entire party around us stops to stare.

  I can’t see Noel’s face, but Gemma’s face pales a little as she stares at him and tries to wrench his hand off her wrist.

  “We’re going to talk somewhere private,” he says, in a tone so much like Callan, it makes me jump in on her behalf.

  “Let go of her. She said no.”

  He turns to me with a murderous expression and I back up a little.

  “Hey, I thought this was a party.”

  I glance around them to see Heath looking around the room puzzled. When he sees me, he smiles and the dimples on his cheeks show. “There you are.”

  I move around Noel and Gemma and walk over to Heath, who puts an arm around my shoulder. “He won’t let her go,” I whisper.

  He squeezes my shoulder before walking over to Gemma and Noel, stepping between them. “Why don’t you let her go, man? She’s just one girl. There are plenty of other girls interested.”

  Apparently his grip loosens, because Gemma wrenches her arm away. She scowls and rubs her wrist. “I’m not interested in going out with anyone. If I was, I’d go out with…” she trails off, “someone like Heath. Too bad he’s taken.”

  Heath smiles, and I know him well enough now to kn
ow he’s uncomfortable with her statement. “You’re sweet, Gemma.”

  The rage on Noel’s face suddenly lessens, and he’s back to smiling. “My bad, Gem.” The tension in the room lessens and everyone starts paying attention to the music again.

  He looks from me to Heath. “Sorry.” He turns around quickly for a moment, shuffling around and holds out his half drank bottle of Absolut. “Here, have the rest, I wiped the top off. No germs.”

  Heath doesn’t look like he wants to take it, so I step up to Gemma’s side and accept it, handing it to Heath. I just want things to stay calm so they don’t escalate. “Thanks Noel.”

  Heath takes several swigs and Noel smiles. “Have a nice night.” He leaves after glancing at Gemma once more.

  She turns to Heath and then me. “Thank you both. I’m uncomfortable with men. Mera knows that.”

  Heath hands the bottle to me. Only about a fourth of it is left, so I finish it off.

  It feels so good to drink again. I need more. “Let’s go to the kitchen. See you later, Gemma.”

  She gives us a wave, and when we get to the kitchen, people are all over the place, more so than before. Tons of people are gathered around the beer tap, guzzling it down.

  “Heath! There you are!” a voice yells over the music.

  It sounds only vaguely familiar, but when she bounds over, I know exactly where I remember her from. The very first fucking day. The freshman dorm. What’s her name?

  “Hey, Jenny,” Heath responds.

  She smiles widely, completely ignoring the fact that I’m standing right next to him.

  “Let’s play that game of yours. I prepared all summer for this.” She grabs a big bottle of Absolut and unscrews the cap.

  Heath shakes his head. “No. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m off the market, Jenny.”

  “No,” she voices, “you aren’t.”

  “Standing right here, bitch,” I say, waving my hand in front of her face.

  She laughs. “Then let’s see you do it. Drink that bottle.” Her eyes move to the other full bottle of Absolut on the counter.

  A smile spreads across my face and I hold in a laugh. She thinks she can beat me? With Absolut?

  “Mera, you don’t have to do that. I’m not going to fuck anyone but you,” he says, loud enough for her to hear.

  She shakes her head, “No. See you didn’t announce it before the party like you usually do if you’re in a relationship. This is valid.” She puts the bottle to her mouth and tips the bottle high enough for the vodka to go down.

  “It’s going to be fine, Heath.” This is my job right now, as your girlfriend, to fight off the other bitches trying to steal you away.

  I tip the bottle back and as soon as I feel that burn, I feel like I’m back in George’s bar in Kardenia.

  “Your parents didn’t want you to drink a lot,” he whispers.

  But I don’t let that stop me. I never have.

  Even if it’s a bad idea, I have to do this.

  It takes about ten minutes for me to get it all of it down, but I do. And before her at that. My face might feel hot and the room might be spinning a little, but I did it.

  And Jenny is pissed.

  A fourth of her bottle is left and she slams it on the counter. “It’s fine,” she snaps. “Because pretty soon, Heath will dump you. He’ll find someone better. He always does. Isn’t that right, Heath?” She says looking pointedly at him. “You fuck until it gets serious and then it’s over.” Her gaze shifts back to me. “So be careful, princess. Don’t let him too close. He might look sweet on the outside but he’s a monster underneath.”

  "And yet you still want him?” I ask, confused by her obvious lust for him.

  “Sometimes it’s the monsters that draw you in. And once you’re in, you’re held captive. Forever.” She grins. “So I’ll wait my turn. Remember Heath, I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”

  “Let’s just go up to your room.” He moves a hand over his face.

  We go up, passing people in the hallway making out.

  When we finally get inside, I sit at the edge of my bed and he sits with me.

  “You know, she’s right,” he murmurs.

  “What? About you being a monster?”

  He nods. “I did something horrible just last year.” His face is so conflicted, and sad, I feel like I have to ask.

  “What happened? You can talk to me, you know. I am your ‘girlfriend’ after all.”

  A slow smile spreads on his face. “It’s better you don’t know. Let me keep that good guy image up in front of you.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes Heath.” I know that better than anyone with all my drunken escapades and the messing up of ceremonies at home. I’m not that great at being a princess. “All you can do is do the best you can. You’re only human.”

  He stays silent as he lays back on my bed and I lie next to him. “It’s good to see you again, Mer. This time, I’m allowed to be your friend.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, turning my head to him quickly.

  He chuckles. “We met once before when I went to one of your castles. I was about nine and you were this spunky five or six year old with bright pink hair.”

  I laugh at that. I had to beg Mother to let me and the day she did, I remember being so excited I showed it to everybody who worked at the castle at that time. “What? How come you didn’t tell me before?”

  “I wanted to see if you’d remember on your own. You haven’t so I thought I’d bring it up. You invited both Callan and I to play with you. He didn’t look too happy and my father didn’t. He wanted me to stick around and play with your sister.”

  I giggle. “Cate never wanted to play, though. Not even with me. She’d rather read or write. Learn about our country’s history. I had to beg her to play.”

  “She didn’t like me very much, I could tell. Every time I went to say something she’d react like she didn’t want to hear it. We ended up not saying anything to each other at all. Then…I think…Callan had an accident.” Abruptly, Heath’s head lulls back.

  “An accident?” I ask and gasp when I remember. “He’s Rain Boy. Oh my God. He’s Rain…Boy.” I peer at Heath and find him passed out on my bed.

  What the fuck?

  And why do I also feel myself getting so drowsy–

  Everything goes black.

  Dimly, I hear the sound of someone muttering and pop an eye open to see Heath sitting at my bed, clutching his head. “I have to get back to AAA."

  “Heath?” I rasp.

  He turns his head to look at me. “Mera? Are you okay?”

  “I think I drank too much,” I slur, “I feel funny. What time is it?”

  Rubbing a hand over his face, he checks his phone, “Just after two. I have to go.” He leans over me and presses a chaste kiss to my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  “Mm, see you,” I murmur, leaning up to see him open the door, lock it quickly, and close it behind him.

  My eyes feel so heavy, I just want to go to sleep. I need to turn the light off.

  I pull myself to the top of the bed, reaching over to my nightstand for the light. My arm is stretched as far as it can go, can’t it? So why can’t I reach the light?

  I flail my hand forward and that momentum carries me forward as I reach the light switch and yank it. The lights go off and I sigh happily at the darkness when I go to roll over and over extend myself, colliding with my headboard, and passing right out.

  The next sound I hear is the sound of someone pounding on the door urgently.

  I call Callan’s phone immediately to tell him the good news. He comes back with a cup of beer and listens as I tell him exactly what happened.

  When I finish, I expect something. A ‘thank you,’ or at least a ‘finally’ since it took me so long. But he doesn’t do any of those things.

  His eyes are colder than ever, and when I’m done, he turns around and leaves, telling me he’ll see me later.

  Thi
s is the one thing that’s been torturing me for months.

  I do feel bad that I don’t know more. There’s nothing I can do about that though. The only useful thing that was locked away in my memories is that Heath left here just after two. Between two and eight AM, someone killed him and he and his car disappeared, never to be seen again.

  I lie back on my pillow and move my hand underneath it to push it further into my face when I feel a piece of paper.

  Not this shit again.

  I pull it out to find a picture with a note wrapped around it.

  The picture makes my stomach drop.

  It’s me. What I think is me?

  That platinum blonde hair has to be mine. It stops right in the middle of my back like mine. And that’s my pink hoodie that hasn’t been seen since that night. That’s not the most horrifying part. The most horrifying part is the date. That’s the night he went missing and…I’m standing in front of Heath’s car with the door open and what looks like Heath inside?

  Tossing the picture away, I stare down at the note.

  I told you, guilty. Want that hoodie of yours back? I’ve been holding on to it, just for you. You’ll have to wash it first before using it again since it’s covered in his blood.

  No way. There’s no way. I remember it all. That can’t be me. I didn’t do anything to Heath.

  Chapter Twenty

  Callan

  I haven’t been feeling anything since Wil told me what she remembered two weeks ago. I’ve been going about everything on autopilot. School. The fraternity. Basketball.

  Coach forced me to run laps because of how reckless I was with the ball.

  And Wil… Wil and I have been on autopilot too. We spend time together, yet apart. Too content to sit in silence together. We haven’t fucked since the day before Valentine’s Day.

  It’s not her fault that all of this happened.

  I do feel guilty for assuming she did something to him at first.

  Something has been on her mind since the night she told me. Every time we’re together, when she thinks I’m not looking, I see her looking over her shoulder. Is she afraid of the person who broke into her room and destroyed her clothes?