Reckless Hate: A Bully High School Romance (enemies-friends-enemies-lovers-enemies) (Westbrook Blues Book 1)

by Thandiwe Mpofu

  “He’s weird as fuck, is all.” She says as we watch the entrance where he just left. “So, party?”

  “What about it?” I question, knowing exactly where this conversation is going by the tone of her voice.

  “Are we going or what? I heard the estate parties are the best around here but the valley parties are alright.” She explains.

  “Gosh, where do you hear all these things? I mean I grew up here and I don’t know all this information.”

  “That’s because you are an ice princess who keeps to herself.” She says with a laugh and I gasp.

  “I’m not an ice princess!” I say with shock. Do people say that about me at school? I’m not some damn ice princess.

  Kim laughs at my expression as we get up to go. “I’m joking, you should have seen your face.” She says in between laughter.

  “It’s not funny.” I say but she continues laughing.

  “I’m sorry okay. People don’t say you are an ice princess. Honestly, I think they are trying to figure you out. Some say that you went away because your parents kicked you out and others say it’s because you were pregnant. . .”

  I freeze in my step and turn around to look at her as dread starts to once again course through my blood stream. My vision blurs for a bit and I feel like my throat is being strangled by a tight fist.

  “What?”

  “Hey, they are just rumors, they don’t matter.” Kim rushes to explain as she tugs my hand. “Come on, let me drop you off at home. I need to get somewhere.”

  “Yes of course. Thank you.” I mumble but I’m distracted. Pregnant, they think I got pregnant?

  “So, we are going to this party, right?”

  “I’ll let you know.” I tell her as we get into her car.

  “Alright then, let me know what’s up. Here is my number.” She says as she jots it down below Dereck’s number. “Call me.”

  I accept the paper and I don’t say anything else after that, my brain now buzzing with the information Kim just told me about what people say about me at school.

  It’s just a rumor. It’s just some chatter. They know nothing. Everyone else has their speculations.

  It’s just a rumor.

  By the time Kim drops me off by the estate gates and I make the long walk up to the house in the hopes of clearing my head. I arrive home with an intense headache and sweaty palms.

  I’m a mess by the time that I get there that I don’t even notice the beautiful, German car in the circular driveway until it’s too late.

  AS SOON AS I NOTICE the fancy car, the front door opens right there and then like some voodoo magic. I whip my head up only to be met by a very familiar stare that sends another type of chill down my spine.

  “Astraea.”

  “Mrs. King.” I respond after a bit as our gazes are locked. I hate this witch.

  “Oh, hey honey.” My mother’s voice breaks the silence that had settled after my cold, cryptic greeting to Denise King, Ace’s mother. “I wasn’t aware that you were back home already. Mr. Trumbull is still here. Was he late in picking you up?”

  “No, I got a ride back.” I say as I start going up the stairs that lead to the front door, my gaze locked on with Mrs. King. I’m not so sure what it is about her exactly. I don’t know why she looks at me like that nor why she gives me the chills but she just does. Then there is the fact that she came to the hospital for the sole purpose of telling me to stay away from her son.

  Something about her. . .

  “Denise was just here to extend an invitation for dinner.” My mother announces with a joyful, glee filled note in her voice that just brings dread to me.

  An invite? For dinner? With the Kings?

  I can’t remember for sure, but I know for a fact that for as long as we have lived here in this estate—sans the years that I wasn’t here—we have never, not once, been invited to have dinner at the King’s huge sprawling estate.

  Their mansion sits at the highest point of the mountain, in essence, it overlooks literally everything. Our estate as well as the rest of the mansions at the bottom of the mountain, what more the houses in the valley.

  The King’s family estate is also the largest one and it sits on prime land—fitting for the name that adorns the crest of their gate.

  As far as I can remember, the Kings always separate themselves. Their guests are always some kind of high profile dignitaries, heads of state and even underbelly heads. Once when we were younger, the President of the United States visited the Kings up there.

  And now, Mrs. King has not only just been in our mansion but, she just extended my mother an invite to dinner at her estate. Just like that, huh?

  “Isn’t that something?” I know I’m being sarcastic but I would trust a snake before I trusted Denise King. There isn’t much difference between a snake and Denise but at least with a snake, I can see that it’s about to strike. As for Denise King, she is calm, collected and cold.

  “How nice of her.” My voice is cold. I’m trying to read this woman but her expression and gaze gives nothing away. She has a poker face just as good as her son’s and it makes me a bit nervous.

  “It’s high time we got together dear and you can tell us all about England.” Denise says with a small smile on her face but her eyes are calculating, watching me as I watch her back. What is going on behind those blue eyes?

  “Oh, thank you for your kind invite but I don’t think. . .”

  I’m just about to reject her invite, because I really don’t want anything to do with this woman. I want to make damn sure she knows that I don’t fuck with her and that I won’t be setting foot anywhere near her home but my mother quickly steps in, cutting me off.

  “Astraea, you look tired dear. Did you walk all the way from the gate?” My mother questions as she steps closer to me, extending her hand towards me which I stare at pointedly.

  She quickly drops her hand but I know Mrs. King caught that too. Her gaze is too keen not to let any movement slip past her notice.

  “Yes, I did.” I flatly say as my pounding head begins to throb once more, gaining my attention.

  “I told you that you should have done those driving lessons.” My mother says with a fake smile that’s only there for Mrs. King’s benefit.

  “Yes, you did.” I say in a bored tone. All I want right now is to be away from both these snakes and this conversation. “Mother, you are right. I’m hungry and tired so if you’ll excuse me.”

  I go to step away from the two women but Denise steps with me, blocking my path to the open door.

  “Mrs. King, it was lovely to see you.” I tell her, hoping she will get out of my way but she only smiles. Fake smile too.

  “Astraea, I do hope to see you at dinner Friday.” She says and we stare at each other.

  What is it about this woman? What does she want from me?

  “Of course, Denise. We will all be there.” My mother cuts in with a light, fake little giggle that grates at my nerves.

  Ace’s mother only looks at me one last time then she steps away. Leaving me with a fast having chest, sighing in relief. I hadn’t known that I was holding my breath all the while she was staring at me with those frosty eyes.

  “I have to get going now. I need to see my son before I leave for a development and social outreach in Zimbabwe.” She announces, going down the stairs.

  “Zimbabwe?” My mother questions and I roll my eyes, of course she is one of those people that doesn’t know that there is a country called Zimbabwe. I bet she thinks Africa is a country.

  “Oh yes. It’s only one of the countries with a rich array of minerals and has the brightest and most intelligent people I have ever met. It’s beautiful there.” Mrs. King explains. “Have you ever been to any country in Africa, Amanda?”

  My mother pauses for a bit and I can just make out the expression on her face. She must look like she is somewhat disgusted or appalled at the idea of going to a continent she thinks is ‘infested’ with diseases.
/>   “Oh, uh. No. I haven’t.” My mother says in a low voice.

  “Oh, that’s a shame. You could learn a thing or two there about human decency and loyalty.” Denise stares at my mother for a long second.

  Human decency and loyalty? What does that mean?

  “Anyway, have a good day.” She calls out as her driver who I hadn’t noticed opens the backdoor to the Maybach and she settles herself inside. Next thing we know, her car is gone and she never once looks back.

  As soon as her beautiful car is gone however, my mother’s pretentious smile fades away.

  “How dare she think I’m a shame? Just because she does a lot of outreach with all her wealth doesn’t mean I don’t do anything!” My mother spews angrily as she gingerly walks up the stairs.

  Bitter much?

  “What is it that you do exactly?” I question her because I know for a fact that my mother never lifts a finger for anything.

  She used to do everything once though. She used to clean the house, do the laundry and she made the best apple pies in the world but ever since we moved here it’s almost like she is incapable of making her own bed. Like she is a different person all together.

  “I have foundations that help people, that’s what.” She responds harshly but I know it’s not at me. It’s because she has always been envious of Denise King. Almost green with jealousy.

  Denise King has the bigger lifestyle. She is the wealthiest woman and she has businesses of her own and now her reach stretches to Zimbabwe? Yeah, my mother is jealous alright.

  “Really?” I scoff as I follow her into the house. I think I’ll just grab a quick bite from the kitchen and then go up to my room for the rest of the day. I have a lot to think about. A lot has happened today that confuses and scares the hell out of me.

  “Yes, I just need to develop a program, a scholarship or something that reaches the people of Zimbabwe or whatever country that bitch hasn’t charmed her way into!”

  “Hmm, you do you booboo.” I say, she looks at me, huffs as if frustrated with me.

  And with that, she charges straight for whatever part of the huge mansion that will magically make her equal or superior to Denise King.

  As for me, my mind is buzzing and I feel so spent. I don’t think I can hold it any longer and I don’t think I can fight the restlessness that I feel. Not tonight.

  So later, after numerous failed attempts as watching movies, or trying to read novels on my Kindle—I reach over and take out the bottle that has my pills and shake one out.

  Tonight, I don’t want to think about the rumors circulating at school about me.

  I don’t want to think about Dereck and the party that he invited me to. I don’t want to think about all my issues that affect me when it comes to social settings and the trauma that hits me square in the chest whenever someone invites me to a party.

  I don’t want to have the recurring nightmares that have plagued me since the first day I arrived here.

  But most of all, I don’t want to think about a particular pair of frosty blue eyes—not Denise King’s enquiring gaze—but the eyes that I have seen every night since before I was sent to London.

  The eyes that belong to the boy—no—the young man, that wiped my tears away today.

  I don’t want to think about him.

  Not tonight.

  But my brain has something else for me tonight.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ASTRAEA

  “GEORGE!”

  I’m running as fast as I can, my heart is pounding. No way, he did not just. . .

  “George, where are you?” I scream his name in the hallway of our newish home. I mean, it’s not new, we have been living in it for a few years now. It’s still feels odd that George and I have separate rooms.

  But that doesn’t mean he has to take my stuff from my room! I’m so angry!

  “George I’m going to tell Daddy!”

  I run as fast as I can, passing the new paintings that my Dad hung on the walls last night with my Mum smiling as she directed him. They were so happy, looking like they just accomplished something. It’s just a freaking painting with ugly colors on it. Grown ups.

  “George! I’m not playing with you!”

  I shout again running down the stairs, stopping to check the various rooms along the way. Who needs a sun room? Can’t people just go outside? But Mom loves the sun room and George is always with Mom but nope, he isn’t there either. I run back to the front of the house, passing the foyer as I go.

  Maybe he’s in the basement.

  Urgh, I’m going to kill him!

  “If I call your name one more time, I pinky promise that I’m going to hurt you and I won’t ever be sorry either!”

  Where is he?

  I screech to a halt in my tennis shoes when something catches my attention from the corner of my eye. Backtracking I notice the large open windows, but that’s not what catches my attention.

  It’s him. He is here.

  Ace is here and he is playing with Noah, Emmett and George. And they are all laughing, and playing with my toy plane! The one George stole from my room.

  “Ahhh!” I scream and I watch as Ace glances up and notices me standing by the window, feeling like I’m about to burst like a balloon. As I watch, he takes the little plane from Emmett’s hands, throws it down to the grass and begins kicking it.

  They all start laughing. Including George. I can feel my entire frame shaking as I watch them through the window in the living room. I’ve had enough of this!

  I reach up to try and open the windows but the thing is too far. So, I look around and notice the stool that Mom just bought this morning when we went to the fancy furniture store this morning. I quickly run over to it and push it back to the window.

  Yes, I could have used the front door but I don’t have time for that. He is kicking my plane!

  I get on the stool and reach up to unlock the window. It opens on my first try and then I push it open.

  “George!” I scream a battle cry and immediately charge for him, but I fail before I can even start.

  See, what I had failed to realize is, although I was on the ground floor of our house, there was still a little distance between the window and the sprawling lawn outside. So, although I was at eye level with the boys, I was a bit higher from where they stood.

  As I jump off the stool, I hadn’t noticed the distance between the window and the ground outside—so deciding to take a leap instead to rescue my plane, I tumble straight to the ground.

  There is a pause in movement and then the boys all start laughing. My cheeks warm in embarrassment as pain shoots from my knee and then the rest of my leg.

  “Oh Raea, are you okay?” That’s George but I ignore him as I turn over onto my back, pain making it impossible to get up. But I won’t cry. I won’t ever cry not in front of him. Never again in front of him.

  But the pain is too much, I try to grit my teeth.

  “Raea, get up. If you want to play with us all you have to do is ask.” Noah calls out and then he starts laughing.

  “Raea, are you okay?” I hear my brother’s voice as he comes closer. He has a frown on his face and then as he notices the expression on my face, he runs the rest of the distance over to me.

  “Astraea! Are you okay?” He frantically asks and then begins probing away my fingers from where I’m clutching my knee, trying to somehow stop the pain.

  “Go away, George. How could you! You knew that plane was important to me!” I scream as the pain shoots again.

  “What are you talking about? Let me see your leg.” He tries again, but I refuse.

  Noah and Emmett have also come closer and are now kneeling by my side. “Come on, Raea, let us see.” Emmett softly pleads, his voice is so gentle, slow with a stammer that he is trying to fight for me. His pale green eyes plead with me so softly that I let go of my knee and immediately, cool fingers start probing.

  “You know, you could have just used the door, right?” N
oah tells me as he helps me to sit up.

  “George and Noah, go get some ice from the kitchen. This might be serious.” Emmett demands and they both look at me with uncertainty because for one, Emmett has never really strung a long sentence like that before. I’m proud of him but the pain shoots up my leg and I scream, fighting the tears.

  “Ouch, stop it that hurts!” I shout, tears pricking my eyes as Emmett touches my knee.

  “I’m sorry Raea, but this looks bad.” He says and then he speaks but not to me, “Looks like she has to go to the hospital.”

  “No.” The voice is cool, disinterested and close. So close to me, I shiver.

  I don’t know how it’s possible but he gets bigger each time I see him And now as he stand in front of me, he doesn’t bother smiling or kneeling down to check out the damage.

  No, he just stands there, looking like some kind of dark knight or like what he really is. . .an evil king.

  “Come on Alex, you can’t be serious.” Emmett tries, “Look at her.”

  “Go check on what’s taking long with the ice. I bet it’s the only thing that she needs right now.” Ace instructs Emmett but his evil gaze is still on me.

  “Alex. . .”

  “Now, Em.”

  Emmett looks at me with uncertainty but he gets up anyway, the weight of Ace’s instruction too heavy and hard to ignore. “I’ll be right back Raea.” He says softly, his stammer back. Then he is gone.

  As soon as he is gone, Ace kneels down then and reaches over to touch my knee. I flinch away but he shoots his eyes back up to mine with irritation.

  “Don’t touch me!” I say but my voice is filled with fear. I’m scared of him. He terrifies me.

  “You caused your own pain.” Is all he says and then in one move, he reaches over and presses down on the scraps of my bruised knee and I scream.

  “Don’t you dare, or I’ll make it worse.” His voice is hard, too hard for an eight-year old boy.

  The tears that I tried so hard not to shed start falling like an endless stream but I don’t make a sound. I don’t hiccup and I don’t look away from his compelling blue eyes.