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

  I laugh at her and we move down the rest of the junk food section where she loads her plate. “It’s not funny, Raea. I mean, have you seen that hunk of a man? I would be stuck on a sinking boat with him anytime, anyplace.”

  “Really? You found the Titanic romantic?” I question, watching as she adds some fancy looking tacos on another plate, that with a burger and fries. Where does it all go? Like seriously.

  “Seriously, where do you put all that?” I have watched Kim eat junk food for lunch for five days now and she doesn’t seem to have any extra pound anywhere. Not an ounce of fat and it amazes me to no end. Where does it all go?

  “It goes where it’s meant to go.” She says with a wink. “Wait, you didn’t think Titanic was romantic? Didn’t it give you the feels?”

  We walk over to the very back of the fancy cafeteria. I do my best to ignore the looks and the whispers that have followed me for as long as I have been here. I can’t say it’s not getting to me because it is. I find it hard to sleep at night, my anxiety level is always high. I can’t afford to take my pills right now because I have decided to keep them for their intended purpose—an emergency that I can’t get out of. That being said, the bottle is always with me.

  So, in a nutshell, my life sucks right now. I feel sucky too, but whatever.

  “The feels? I never watched that movie.” I respond when we reach the table we have been using ever since we started school. I see why other students don’t particularly care for this table.

  It’s small and has only six seats but right behind it, there is the entrance to the kitchen and it’s really loud in there. I guess you can’t exactly gossip with all the ruckus that goes on in there, but whatever, it works for Kim and I.

  “What the loving hell, Raea. Do you live under a rock too? You haven’t watched Titanic?”

  I raise my shoulders, popping the juiciest grapes in my mouth.

  “I can’t believe this.” She says in disbelief.

  Just then, a hush falls over the entire cafeteria. From our view from the back, we watch as Ace, Noah and Emmett strut into the cafeteria as if they are on some kind of fashion runway. And why not? They are treated like they are on display or something. Insert eye roll here—give me a break please!

  The girls fix themselves up, retouching their makeup in what is supposed to be in a discreet manner but it’s not. The guys sit up straight and try to be manly as Noah and Emmett walk past them without sparing anyone a glance.

  “What are they doing in here?” Kim questions.

  “What do you mean, it is lunch time and they are students too.”

  The way these three are treated around here almost makes me sick but it doesn’t at all surprise me. They have always been at the helm of power, attention and envy for as long as I can remember. These three boys would get into trouble, cause trouble and in most cases, they would be THE trouble—and would get away with it.

  They have been literally worshipped by what seems to be hordes of females, respected by the guys. But these three boys are ruthless, cruel, hard and evil. I know George was part of that shit, but somehow it worked—until it didn’t.

  When we moved, they accepted my brother into their fold, but as for me, I was theirs to toy with and terrorize. Now that I’m back, I can’t help think they are planning something. Especially after what Ace said in Chemistry on Monday.

  “Uh, nope.” She says, popping the ‘p’. “I heard that the Blue Boys don’t have lunch here at all. They leave campus like all the freaking time.” Kim explains with a roll of her eyes.

  “Well, that’s their business. And where did you here this anyway.” I really don’t want to talk about Ace and his boys, what I really want is to see is how the gossip mill works.

  I have only seen and actually talked to Dereck once in Chemistry that day, but now I can’t seem to find him anywhere. One way to find out about anything in a certain place, get the gossip going, you’ll get all the info you need.

  “It’s the only thing they ever talk about here. Them and you.” She says and I whip my head in shock to look at her.

  “What?”

  “Yes, they talk about you. A lot.” She says, taking a bite of her burger. Ace, Noah and Emmett long forgotten.

  “What do they say about me?” I question, my tummy now doing a violent dance, threatening to give the floor the gift that is the grapes that I just ate.

  “Oh, some stuff that I thought by day five of being your friend I should at least know about.” She says casually, after sipping her water.

  “Kim, you are not helping. What are they saying?”

  “You really are an oblivious one huh?” She says and I just shrug. “You know, I somehow think that the oblivious persona that you show each day is a front. You are much smarter than you want these bratz to realize.”

  Hmm, not really true. I like being oblivious, it protects me from things like gossip, until it doesn’t. . .

  “Kim, what are they saying?” I question with an urgency that attests to the impending doom I can see in her eyes. In all the rumors, there is always some useful tit bits of information and I intended to find it out.

  Kim starts rambling. She never rambles, like ever.

  “Well, I have heard a few things that I thought—since I’m your friend and all that—that you would have told me. For one, that you had a twin brother who passed away a week ago. That your brother is the only reason why you came back from wherever your parents stashed you and that your brother and the Blue Boys were at war when he died.” She says in one breath and I suck in a shaky breath.

  George was ‘at war’ with Ace?

  “I thought something was up after Monday. The way that other guy, Noah is it—and his brooding friend, who so happens to be my partner now—where looking at you.” Kim watches me. I know she wants me to say something but what can say?

  “Raea, you have to give me something here. They are saying that you are going to die next.” She warns and I look at her again. I frown.

  “Why would they say that?”

  “Well.” She starts uncomfortably. “There is a rumor that the Blue Boys know people and that they are able to dispose of anyone and that. . .”

  Well, they do have the means but still. . .

  “Stop rambling, Kim. What are they saying?” I demand, my voice shaky, my heart is thumping painfully. What happened in this school? Damn you George and all the secrets you kept!

  “I’m sorry Raea, but there is a rumor that the Blue Boys killed George.”

  In that moment, it feels as if the world is a sudden blur and I can’t breathe at all. Everything else is now a haze. I can’t make out what’s what or what is going on around me as my vision darkens, the world getting dimmer and dimmer as Kim’s words soak into my subconscious like poison.

  “Astraea! Astraea, are you okay?”

  George told me that he wasn’t friends with Ace, Noah and Emmett anymore. George never told me that he had new friends. George never told me that he was at war with Ace, Noah and Emmett. He never told me just how bad things were between him and the boys.

  But Ace, he is a cold blooded asshole who has burned down houses, violently threatened his enemies and I know he has the capability of doing something as fatal as. . .but no.

  But Ace can hold a grudge like no other and he won’t let it go unless he deals with it. . .permanently. He once sent an entire family away from Westbrook just because they displeased him. Then he made sure they would be financially destroyed. And he was only fucking twelve years old! Just twelve! Now he’s older.

  “The world is small, but my reach is longer.”

  He just said there was bad blood there. Ace threatened me not to talk to Dereck. Noah literally sent some kind of warning to Dereck that day. Could it be that they did kill George, Dereck knows and they are all trying to cover up the tracks by making sure that Dereck never talks? I haven’t seen the guy the entire week and Ace knows I’m wondering what happened to my brother.

  “Astr
aea!”

  Ace said that George’s recklessness killed my brother. Could it be that he ordered a hit of my brother? His own brother in all intents and purposes of a friendship and bond that the Blue Boys can pull off.

  Ace killed my brother?

  Without even realizing it, I’m up and out of my seat and my sight is in search of one of them. Any of them. I fucking want answers right now. I know I’m jumping to conclusions right now but I’ve felt nothing but weird vibes the entire time I’ve been here.

  From being monitored and watched by Ace. The way my parents refused for me to go back to London, the fucking police report. George dying alone. It’s not like there was a collision with another car or anything, they are saying George lost control of the car all by himself on an empty freeway.

  What the fuck kind of bullshit is that?

  I completely snap in that moment, ignoring the pounding of my heart as I stand, scanning the cafeteria, in search for them.

  “Raea. You are scaring me, are you okay?” I can hear Kim’s inquiring voice but I don’t care. My entire body is vibrating with tense anger and frustration.

  I scan the entire room, knowing that everyone’s attention is on them. I follow their enamored gaze and right there at the center table where Brittney and her minions are busy fawning and opening their blouse buttons to give their best cleavage view, is Noah and Emmett, talking to a cool, unbothered Ace whose eyes are strangely on me.

  Fuck you asshole, I’m coming for your blood!

  I push my chair away and I march over there.

  “Raea, calm down.” I can hear Kim’s voice behind me but I’m past rationality right now.

  My entire focus, my attention has all zeroed in on Ace and with steam that I never knew I had, my palms ball into fists, a chill going up and down my spine, I march over there, directly in their line of sight.

  They see me coming. Noah and Emmett straighten up, watching me with wary looks. They know they are about to get it.

  Everyone else is a blur around me as I quickly pass through, blind in my rage. The hue around my vision is a shade of bloody red with sparks of blue but that doesn’t matter because I can see him perfectly.

  He is right in front of me and I watch as his entire body tenses. I don’t care if he can sense me, I don’t care if he knows I’m coming.

  Brittney sees me coming too. She tries to block my path but I push her out of my way and since she is wearing those damn six inch heels, she wobbles on her heels and after her failed efforts of remaining upright and steady, she falls down with a cry to the tiled gleaming floors. Wrong day, bitch.

  As she falls, I’m cognizant of the domino effect of her fall as one of her follower’s juice spills all over Brittney and her other friends scramble to help but they start falling as well, slipping over the sticky and wet floor.

  I’m unaware of the silence that has fallen over the cafeteria but I watch as both Noah and Emmett get on their feet and watch me with hooded, sharp gazes but I don’t pay them any mind because he is right there, his gaze now locked on me.

  “You stupid, pathetic son of a bitch, what did you do?!” I think my voice is a cross between a roar and a cry. My chests twists painfully, images of George flashing in my head.

  I’m unaware that tears are falling down my cheeks as I watch Ace’s hardened gaze. I’m unaware of the way my body is shaking because Ace just sits there, looking at me like he is completely unfazed by everything. Unbothered by me.

  That hurts. That hurts more than I can process right now.

  “Raea, I think you should calm down.” Noah says softly as he walks closer to me but I raise my palm, halting his movements.

  “Don’t you fucking talk to me, you damn murderer!” I shout at him. His gaze hardens and his brow furrows, he shuts his mouth and his lips form a firm unhappy line.

  “How could you do that to him?” I look at Emmett as I say that because for fuck’s sake, Emmett and George would work on cars all summer long and they were really close. George ALWAYS had Emmett’s back when I couldn’t, and fuck me sideways, I made sure that George would always be there for Emmett. Now look at what they have done.

  I can’t shake the feeling that these boys are responsible for my brother’s death. I just can’t move past it and my instinct is always on point. I never ignore it.

  My heart has completely shattered now.

  I didn’t know it before but I was holding on to some kind of hope. I thought that the police report was correct, that I was the one being paranoid for nothing but hearing the rumors from Kim, and looking down now at Ace’s hard, frosty and unyielding gaze—I know he did it. I know he is behind everything.

  “You can hate me. You can torture me all you want but you killed my brother!” I shout, feeling breathless like the wind has just been knocked from my lungs.

  I don’t care who is watching. I don’t care who hears what I’m saying but for this one, I step closer to Ace and lower myself so that our gazes are aligned. So that I’m in his face.

  “You killed my only reason to live.” I spit out the words with so much anger and pain but he doesn’t flinch, doesn’t turn away as would a guilty person being confronted so publicly. No. He matches the heat of my glare. “For that, I’m going to light your spoilt and entitled ass up.”

  I make sure he sees everything that’s going on inside me, because he can read me like no one else in the world. I make sure that he can feel the rage in me like I fell the tense hate in him.

  “Baby, I’m going to blow you away.”

  I watch him but his eyes give nothing away about what he is thinking but I hope to hell that my own eyes tell him just how serious I am. As we stare at each other, with tears falling down my cheeks, he reaches over with a careful strong hand. I hear an audible loud gasp rock throughout the room. No one bothers to make a move but all eyes are on Ace’s large arm as it raises higher and high.

  I don’t know if Ace is going to strangle me to death right here or not but I’m ready for whatever he does. Whatever happens, we are going to go down together.

  But what he does shocks the whole room but it makes me tense as dread fills me entirely. He lifts his hand and brings it softly, in a measured way, to my right cheek and proceeds to wipe away my tears. Softly, like a light whisper over my skin in a sensual way like he understands my pain but the look in his eyes—it says that he is going to intensify that pain.

  My entire being freezes right there. Then my breath stops soon after. I know this move. Just like the grip on my thigh on Monday morning, this touch from him is also one that I remember well. A shudder rocks through me as his thumb wipes away the tears that keep falling.

  When we were younger, after Ace would have done horrors to me for his enjoyment. I would go somewhere, anywhere really and just cry. He would find me, he would always find no matter where I was. Then he would corner me somewhere were nobody would see and he would softly and tenderly wipe my tears away.

  But not for the reasons that tender gesture are meant for. No, not Ace.

  Ace wiping my tears away meant he was going to destroy me even further, but this time, he was going to do it to a degree that I would never recover from.

  I know this because the last time I cried and he wiped my tears, I was pulled out of a burning house. He hates my tears like nothing else in this world and him wiping them now, I know I’m fucked.

  “Bring your best, Blue Star.”

  That’s all he says in a low, deep voice that is meant for me to hear.

  We stare at each other and I move away from him as if I’ve just been burnt by scorching fire. My knees are now weak, I can’t stand up straight, but my eyes are still on him.

  I’m completely destroyed already and I don’t know if I’ll make it out of here but Kim is right there. She sweeps in and wraps a hand around my waist.

  “I got you.”

  Without another look, not another word, Kim gets us out of that cafeteria as quickly as possible with all eyes following my messed u
p state in utter silence.

  Ace is going to destroy me, but not before I destroy him first.

  And I will.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ACE

  I WATCH AS STAR AMBLES out of the dead silent cafeteria with the girl she was with all week holding her upright.

  Fuck.

  Everyone is watching her and her friend go through the exit doors. As soon as they pass it, pandemonium breaks out in the cafeteria. The whispers and glances start, every one of these losers and social grabbers looking our way. Wondering what we will do next.

  “Show’s over. I suggest you get to minding your damn pathetic business!” Noah shouts to the rest of the cafeteria. Like rats caught in the act, they all scatter away, unable to outrightly look at us.

  Pathetic.

  But the damage has already been done. Coming to the cafeteria today was a strategic move, we needed to see just how much Star had learned or heard during the week about George and the boys. Just as Emmett predicated, she did not disappoint. Or rather, her gossip of a new friend did her thing.

  It’s amazing just how much you can get out of a person just by having the right seeds and tools to get your intended result. The gossip around the school? Yeah, we planted that shit a long time ago—we just needed a way to get it all going. We didn’t have to do anything at all though, just her mere presence in this school started the rumor mill. Then there is her friend, Star found out what we wanted her to find out.

  Now the game is resumed, with a player I never wanted in there because she is the fucking queen. If anything happens to her. . .

  “Holy fuck.” Noah whistles as I stand up to leave this wretched place.

  I have no desire to stay here when she isn’t here. There is a reason why we never come here in the first place, much preferring to have lunch off campus. Today I’m reminded why as I catch gawking eyes and dropped jaws from students with their eyes are trained on us.

  Heavy sigh.

  “Yeah, she is different alright.” Emmett says as we start walking towards the same exit that Star just used. “I wasn’t expecting her to just go off like that though.”