Fall: A High School Bully Romance (Sunset Beach High Book 1)

by McKayla Box

  Music pumps through the air and laughter drifts along with it. I can smell the bay on the other side of the house. And I'm immediately aware of people looking at me.

  “Don't worry about it,” Shanna says, popping her trunk.

  “Worry about what?” I ask.

  “The looks,” she says, glancing at me. “They all know you're on suspension, so they're curious.” She smiles. “Probably a little afraid, too.”

  I laugh and her words put me a little more at ease.

  The trunk contains several boxes that hold bottles of different vodkas. She grabs two bottles and Jessica does, too. Lisa hugs the bottle she had in the car. Shanna closes the trunk and nods toward the house. “Let's go.”

  The inside of the house is packed with people and we squeeze into the kitchen, an open square space with stone countertops and silver appliances. Shanna finds a tower of red cups, pulls two down, and fills them both. She hands me one and holds it up. “Cheers to getting out of the house.”

  We touch our cups together and I take a drink. The grape vodka is actually better than Lisa made it sound. It's like Kool-Aid with a kick.

  I look around. “Where did Lisa and Jessica go?”

  “Probably off to find boys,” Shanna says. “Come on. Let's go out front. Or back or whatever the hell it is.”

  She leads me through the house. It's older, but it just feels like a beach house, with pictures of the ocean on the walls and light colored furniture everywhere. We make it to the other side of the living room and the massive glass walls that function as doors have been pushed wide open, so that the entire house is now open-air. There's a wide lawn that runs down to the sand and the bay sparkles on the other side. There's a pool off to the right and a small house on the other side of that. People are standing and drinking in small clusters on the grass and on the lawn. People are jumping in and out of the pool, splashing and yelling. It's not as opulent as Trevor's, but it's close.

  “Wow,” I say, taking it all in.

  She takes a sip from her drink. “Told you, right? Sick.”

  “It's pretty crazy,” I tell her. “I feel like I'm the only person at this school that doesn't live on the beach.”

  She shrugs. “Maybe you will someday.”

  I doubt that, but don't say it. I start to ask her where she lives, but I stop when I see Bridget down by the water.

  She's with Maddie and Gina. Maddie is saying something, Gina is laughing, and Bridget is nodding, looking into her red cup without much interest. She looks down the beach for a moment, then turns back to the other two again, nodding some more, looking preoccupied.

  My throat tightens.

  I should be standing with them, laughing at whatever Maddie is saying. I should be listening to them rip the stupid boys at our school. I should be with my friends.

  “You okay?” Shanna asks.

  I take a drink from my cup, the vodka sliding into my stomach. But Bridget let me down. She didn't even listen to me. That hurt me, especially when I wasn't expecting it. I know I'm being overly sensitive, but I'm not over her accusing me of having an ulterior motive in going to Trevor's.

  “I'm fine,” I say.

  “You sure?”

  I tilt the cup back and drain the vodka. I smile at her. “Yeah, except I need more to drink now.”

  She stares at me for just a fraction of a second, then a smile spreads across her face. She takes the cup from me. “Well, wait right here and I shall return.”

  I watch her disappear into the house.

  And I suddenly feel naked, standing alone at a party, by myself. I look down to the sand, but don't see Bridget or Maddie or Gina. I can't make out Jessica's or Lisa's face in the crowd. I don't recognize anyone in the pool.

  Awkward.

  “You came,” a voice says behind me.

  I turn around and Derek is standing there, smiling.

  I have to admit – he's more than just good looking. He's wearing a weathered gray T-shirt, stretched tight across his broad shoulders and chest. There's a tiny dimple in his chin and it gets deeper when he smiles. There's a thin layer of stubble on his chin and cheeks and his hair is windblown.

  More than just good looking.

  “I wasn't sure you would,” he says.

  “Believe it or not, Shanna talked me into it,” I tell him.

  He smiles, then raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

  I nod. “Yep. Came to my house and wouldn't take no for an answer.”

  “Maybe that's what I should've done,” he says.

  “She did it for you.”

  He nods. “Guess so. Well, cool. I'm glad you came.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “You need something to drink?”

  “Shanna's getting me more,” I tell him.

  His smile widens and he nods again. “Right on.”

  “Your house is awesome,” I say. “Seriously awesome.”

  “It's cool,” he says, looking around. “My dad wants to sell it and get something newer, but my mom won't let him.”

  “I wouldn't let him, either.”

  He shrugs. “I guess.” He points at the pool. “You bring your suit?”

  I shake my head. “No. And I honestly can't stay long.”

  He eyes me, then recognition flashes through his eyes. “Right. You're grounded.”

  I nod.

  “Bummer,” he says. “I would've liked to have seen you in the pool.”

  Heat rushes to my face and I look away.

  “Sorry,” he says immediately. “Didn't mean to embarrass you.”

  “It's fine,” I say.

  “Maybe another time,” he says.

  I smile at him. “Maybe.”

  Shanna walks up behind him, gives me a thumbs up, then gyrates her hips for a second before coming up next to us. She hands me a refilled cup. She eyes Derek for a moment, then looks at me. “I see the host has found you.”

  I take another drink and nod.

  “Yeah,” he says. “Thanks for getting her here, Shan.”

  She pats his arm. “Of course.” She wiggles her fingers at me and winks. “You two have fun.”

  She's gone before I can tell her not to leave.

  Derek shakes his head and laughs. “She's a trip.”

  “Is it weird being friends with your ex?” I ask.

  He takes a long drink from his cup, then licks at his lips. “Kind of. I don't know.” He points toward the far end of the pool. “Did you see the pool house?”

  I shake my head. “No. Shanna pointed it out.”

  He scoops my hand into his. “Come on.”

  He pulls me along before I can object. Not in an awful way, so I don't pull back. Instead, I drink more from the cup, hoping the vodka will settle the butterflies in my stomach.

  He leads me around the edge of the pool and I'm sure people are looking at us, but I keep my eyes downward, trying to avoid the puddles on the deck.

  The pool house is a freestanding building that looks like a small guest house, with a chalet-like roof and small windows in the front. He pushes open the door and we step inside. He flicks on the lights.

  We're in the main room and there's a pool table in the middle, with a flat screen TV on the far wall, and bar stools beneath a wet bar. It smells like chlorine and deodorizer. My feet squeak against the wood floor.

  “We sort of use it as a combo game room and pool house,” he says.

  I start to say that I like playing pool, but a wave of dizziness washes over me, and I have to steady myself against his arm.

  “Are you okay?” he asks, looking down at me.

  It passes and I nod. “Yeah. Sorry. Just a little lightheaded.”

  “Maybe slow down on the vodka,” he says.

  “For sure.”

  “You need to sit?”

  “Yeah, maybe for a sec,” I say.

  He walks me over to sofa along the long wall and I sit. I look inside the cup and it's nearly empty.

  Stupid.

  I drank too fast
because I was nervous.

  I take a deep breath and exhale. “Sorry. I'm a lightweight.”

  He laughs. “It's okay. Sure you're good?”

  I stand up. “Yeah. I'm okay.”

  He reaches for my hand again. “Come and see the other room.”

  I take his hand and he leads me down a short hallway, past a bathroom, and into the room at the back of the house. It's a bedroom with a king bed against a one wall, a small futon against another. The window on the far side of the room makes up half the wall and the dark bay shimmers in the distance.

  “My dad sleeps out here sometimes when my mom's mad at him,” he says, but he's smiling when he says it.

  “Not a bad place to have to spend the night,” I say, looking around the room.

  There are small, surround sound speakers in the corner of the room. One of them has a red eye and it's glowing, like a cyclops or something. I start to make a joke about it when another wave of dizziness crashes through me, heavier this time, and I actually stumble to my left.

  Derek catches me by the elbow. “Whoa, whoa. How much did you drink?”

  I try to answer him, but I can't find the words. My tongue is thick and heavy and won't do what I want it do. Another wave washes through me and it's like the floor tilts underneath me. I stumble again, but he hangs onto me. If he doesn't, I'll crash to the floor.

  “Sit,” he says and he guides me to the foot of the bed.

  I feel the bed underneath me, but I'm spinning. I reach back to hold myself up. I say something, but it just comes out as a bunch of weird mumbles.

  He laughs. “Wow.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut for a long second, then re-open them, squinting at him, trying to get my vision to focus. I see three of him in front of me and I'm not sure which is the actual him.

  “That shit works,” he says.

  I'm so confused. I'm so dizzy. And I'm so tired.

  “Home,” I manage to get out of my mouth, thinking I need to get home.

  Derek laughs and it seems to go on forever.

  I assume I sound funny as the room starts moving.

  Then I hear a door.

  Voices.

  My hands are flat on the bed, trying to stop everything from moving.

  My eyes are so heavy.

  How much did I drink?

  “She out?” I hear someone say.

  I want to turn but I'm afraid I'll fall over if I do.

  “Almost,” Derek says.

  I squeeze my eyes tight again, my fingers gripping the comforter on the bed. Even with my eyes shut, it feels like I'm moving, like I'm sitting on a spinning top in the middle of the ocean. I open my eyes as wide as I can.

  Someone is standing next to Derek.

  A girl.

  She laughs. “Oh, New Girl. You are so fucked.”

  FIFTY ONE

  Shanna.

  It's Shanna.

  She's the one standing next to Derek.

  Why is she calling me New Girl?

  My head is pounding.

  I try to say something, but it comes out like I have a mouth full of marbles.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  “She sucked it right down,” Shanna says.

  I'm trying to look at her, but there's three of her, too.

  “She was already feeling it when we got in here,” Derek says.

  Feeling what?

  All three Shannas lean down so they are right in my face. “You messed with the wrong bitch, bitch.”

  “What?” I say, but only the first half comes out.

  She laughs. “Yeah. You're totally fucked.”

  I try to stand up, but fall over on my side.

  They both laugh.

  My heart starts to race. I can barely move, I can barely keep my eyes open, and I'm confused.

  But I know I'm in trouble.

  I can hear it in their laughs.

  I hear the door again.

  More voices.

  “Oh, lookie lookie,” a female voice says. “Someone is a little fucked up.”

  I squint.

  It's Jessica. Lisa is next to her. They are both blurry, but I can tell it's them.

  “More than a little,” Derek says. “Whatever Shan dropped in that drink did the trick and then some.”

  Dropped in that drink.

  Shanna drugged me.

  Someone pulls me upright again, sitting me up straight. It's Shanna and her hands are on my shoulders. Her nose is a few inches from mine.

  “Ready for some payback, New Girl?” she asks, smiling.

  But there's something evil in her smile.

  My heart hammers against the inside of my chest.

  “Look at me,” Shanna says, patting her hands against my cheeks. “Look at me, New Girl.”

  Adrenaline spikes in my veins. Panic is building inside of me. My fingers tingle against the bedding.

  “You looking at me?” she asks, still nose to nose with me. “Good girl, New Girl. You think you can walk into my school and hit on my boyfriend? Treat me like shit?” She waggles a finger in front of my face. “Bad move, New Girl.”

  My vision sharpens. I'm not sure if it's the adrenaline or if whatever she gave me is wearing off, but I can see her clearly now. I can see Derek behind her, grinning. I can see Lisa and Jessica smirking, next to him.

  They all played me.

  And I let them.

  I never saw it coming.

  “Because I'm going to ruin your life,” Shanna says.

  I try to take a swing at her, but my arm is heavy and limp and never reaches her.

  She laughs. “Nice try.” She steps back. “Where the fuck is she?”

  “Just texted,” Jessica says. “She'll be here in thirty seconds.”

  Where the fuck is who?

  “You really think I was going to take you to some stupid dance?” Derek asks. “For real?”

  Yes.

  No.

  His invitation to the dance.

  Shanna being nice to me.

  It was all a ruse.

  To get me to let down my guard.

  “You really think I was gonna let you get your paws on my ex?” Shanna says, frowning. “Are you really that fucking stupid?”

  I really was that fucking stupid.

  I should've known.

  “Dumb bitch,” Jessica mutters.

  “What the fuck does Trevor see anyway?” Lisa asks.

  I try to push off the bed again and I stumble forward, crashing to the ground.

  They all laugh.

  I'm shaking and spinning and I don't know what's happening, except that I'm in trouble.

  Derek picks me up and it's like I weigh nothing. He puts me back on the bed.

  The door opens again, then closes.

  “Hello?” a voice calls out.

  I know that voice, but can't place it.

  “In here,” Shanna calls.

  I try to turn my head to see who's coming, but I can barely move. My entire body feels like cement.

  “You're late,” Shanna says. “I told you to be here five minutes ago.”

  “Sorry,” the voice says. “I couldn't get away from people. They all wanted to see me.”

  An iceberg forms in my stomach.

  I know that voice.

  She steps in front of me.

  Holly Nichols licks her lips. “And they're gonna wanna see what I do to you.”

  FIFTY TWO

  Thick, black circles ring Holly's eyes. There is a white butterfly bandage across the bridge of her nose. Her nose is swollen. It's like she's wearing a mask.

  But she's just wearing the damage I did to her face.

  “Get your fucking phones ready,” Shanna says, holding hers up. “Because we are gonna broadcast the shit out of this. So everyone can see it happen.” She looks at me. “We were going to fuck you up at the dance, but then this opportunity presented itself tonight, so we got to speed up the process.” She smiles. “And Holly was more than happy to hel
p.”

  My heart is still racing and I'm breathing heavy. I see Derek and the other two girls pull out their phones.

  “I am gonna beat your ass,” Holly says.

  She means it. I hear it in her voice. There is menace and violence in her words.

  And I am scared.

  I am drugged.

  I am defenseless.

  And I am crying.

  “Oh my god,” Shanna says. “New Girl! I'm so disappointed. Crying? For real? I thought you were tougher than that.” She looks at the others. “Remember. No sound and nothing but her face on the video.”

  I hate her. Right at that moment, I hate her more than I've ever hated anything or anyone in my life. I know that no matter what happens to me, I will get her. No matter what I have to do, I will get her for what she's doing to me. I know that one fact like I know my own name.

  Holly's open palm smashes into the side of my face. My vision blurs again, stars exploding inside of my head. The sound of skin on skin echoes in my ears.

  “Holy shit,” Derek says, holding his phone on me. “This is gonna be amazing.”

  “Should break her nose,” Jessica says. “Just like she did yours.”

  “Oh, I'm going to do more than that,” Holly says. “Way more than that.”

  Her palm smashes into my face again and my skin is on fire. I fall over on my side, trying to get my arms up over my head, to protect myself.

  “Oh, no no,” Shanna says. She pulls me back into a sitting position. “No cowering, New Girl. You're going to sit here and take your medicine.”

  The third slap comes from the other side, pain radiating through my cheek, into my jaw and up into my temple. It's like she's hitting me with a shovel.

  She takes a step back and she's breathing heavy now. She comes at me again, but I manage to get my leg up and shove my foot into her stomach. It's not as hard as I'd like, but it's enough to shove her backward. Derek catches her and her face is filled with rage, making the mask even uglier.

  “You fucking bitch,” she whispers. “I'm going to destroy you.”

  And then the door opens again.

  My stomach drops.

  Who else? Who else hates me so much that they are coming to beat me?

  “Hey,” someone says. “Anyone in here?”

  I know that voice.

  And my heart leaps.

  “Oh shit,” Shanna whispers. “What the fuck? Did you not fucking lock the door?”