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

  “He isn't who you think he is,” Trevor says. “You need to get that.”

  “I'll get what I need to get,” I tell him. “On my own. Not because you told me what to do.”

  He laughs and shakes his head. “Good to see nothing's changed.”

  “Yeah. It sure is.”

  “You just don't get it,” he says.

  “Either do you,” I tell him. “Maybe shut up for a change and listen. You might like it.” I shake my head. “I mean, what the hell else do I need to do to prove to you that I'm not interested in him? Did you just magically forget what we just did? Or am I stupid to think it even matters to you?”

  He glares at me, then pushes the button to start the motorcycle. The engine growls.

  “I thought you might be worth it,” he says, shaking his head. “Guess I was wrong.”

  “And I thought you might be an adult,” I shoot back. “Guess I was wrong.”

  He circles the bike around so it's pointing out of the driveway now. He twists the throttle once, revving the engine. He looks at me. “But you aren't. You're just like the rest.”

  “And you're just an asshole,” I say.

  He laughs and shakes his head. He revs the engine again and the laugh dies away. He glares at me for a long moment and I can't believe we're here again. It's like Groundhog Day.

  “Don't say I didn't warn you,” he says.

  “About what?”

  He gives me one last look, revs the engine so loud again that it hurts my ears, and tears off down the street, disappearing around the corner in a haze of noise and smoke.

  FORTY SEVEN

  I go inside and shower the afternoon off of me.

  There are no tears, just anger at Trevor's arrogance and assumptions. If he'd given me even half a second to tell him, I would've told him that I would cancel with Derek. I didn't even care if Trevor wanted to go, but I would cancel with Derek. But just thinking he could tell me to do it and then I'd just do it?

  No fucking way.

  I get out of the shower, pull on a T-shirt and pair of shorts, and spend the afternoon pacing my house and shaking my head, angry at both him and myself. No matter how I feel with him in the good moments, the bad ones are outweighing those. If he can't grow up, then he's not someone I want to be with.

  Even if it feels like he's the only one I'm supposed to be with.

  I check my phone and there are texts from Bridget, Gina, and Maddie. I ignore them, still harboring the sour taste in my mouth from Bridget getting on my case on the way to school. Just as I set it down, the phone rings and I jump, scared by the sudden noise after the quiet of the house. I don't recognize the number, but answer anyway.

  “Hey,” Derek says on the other end. “Just calling to check on you.”

  “Oh,” I say, surprised that he's calling. “Okay. I'm fine.”

  “I heard about the suspension. That just sucks.”

  I lean back on my bed, my wet hair sticking to my neck. “Yeah. But nothing I can do about it.”

  “Did you really punch her in the face?” he asks.

  “Yeah. Dumb, dumb thing to do.”

  “Wow,” he says. “Why?”

  I think for a moment. “It's a long story and I just don't want to relive it.”

  “Cool,” he says. “I get it.”

  I'm glad that he does because it feels like all I've been doing is reliving that punch since the second I hit her. It won't leave me alone and it's blowing up my life. The last thing I want to do is explain it to him.

  “You want me to come over?” Derek asks. “Keep you company? I could bring food over or something.”

  I'm surprised by the offer. It's nice and sweet, but I don't need company. “Thanks, but not right now. My dad is still pretty angry and I'm pretty much on house arrest. Not a great time.”

  “Got it,” he says. “Any chance you can get out on Saturday night?”

  “I doubt it,” I tell him. “Why?”

  “Party at my house,” he says. “My parents are going out of town, so I'm going to throw a big one. Be cool if you were here.”

  “I don't know,” I tell him. “I doubt he's gonna let me do anything for the next month, much less the next four days.”

  “Try,” he says. “Just try and come. I get it if you can't, but...I don't know. I'd just like it if you could come and hang out. With me.”

  He's like the anti-Trevor. He's nice, he's polite, and he understands that I can't just do whatever he ask. I actually kind of want to go to the party.

  “And I swear,” he says. “I won't drink very much so I don't act like an asshole.”

  “You can do whatever you want.”

  “I know, but last time I got drunk, I...acted like a jerk with you,” he says. “I don't want you thinking I'm a complete jerk. I'm maybe ten percent jerk.”

  I laugh. “Just ten percent? Good to know.”

  He laughs. “Maybe slightly more. Look, I just don't want you thinking I'm that guy from that night. That's all.”

  “I don't,” I tell him. “It's fine.”

  And I don't think he's the that guy. He's gone out of his way to be nice to me. He's funny. And he's not ordering me around.

  “Well, just try to come,” he says. “I'd love to hang out with you before we go to the dance. Just spend some time with you.”

  The dance. I don't want to think about the dance. I never should've said yes. On one hand, I feel like I need to keep that commitment. On the other hand...I know that I don't have feelings for Derek.

  But is that only because I've been so focused on Trevor?

  I don't have that answer at the moment.

  “I'll try,” I tell him. “But no promises.”

  “That's all you can do,” he says. “Give me a shout if you need anything.”

  We hang up and I drop the phone on the bed next to me. I lean my head back against the wall.

  I need a lot of things.

  I'm just not sure what they are.

  FORTY EIGHT

  “You're lucking out,” my father says, the first words he's spoken to me since we sit for dinner.

  We are having dinner, tacos he brought home with him. He's been quiet since he came in the door and that always makes me nervous. I don't like it when he's mad at me.

  “Why's that?” I ask.

  He pushes one of the wrapped tacos in my direction. “I spoke to Frank Robinson before I left the office. He apparently has a relationship with the girl's family.” He looks at me over the table. “The girl you punched.”

  I look down and unwrap one of the greasy tacos.

  “He spoke to them today and they won't pursue anything else.”

  I pick at the corner of the wrapper, but don't say anything.

  “So you're lucking out,” he says again.

  “I feel like you aren't happy about that,” I say, staring at the taco on the wrapper.

  My father leans back in his chair. “It's not that I'm unhappy, Pres. Of course I don't want them to pursue criminal charges or anything else. I would never want that. But I still don't understand what happened and why you did it.”

  I pick up the taco and take a bite so I won't have to answer him.

  He shakes his head and slowly unwraps a taco of his own. “But that doesn't mean you're getting off free.”

  I set the taco down and wipe my fingers on a paper napkin. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that for the time being, you're grounded,” he says. “Home right after school. Home this weekend. No beach time. Nothing else.”

  I'm fine with everything but the beach. That one stings. “For how long?”

  “I haven't decided yet,” he says.

  We eat in silence for awhile. The tacos are good, but my stomach is sour. Normally, we would've been chatting over them, talking about how good they are. But, now, we are just sitting there, eating and not talking.

  “And I'm going to have to tell your mother,” he finally says.

  My stomach roll
s. “Why? What does she have to do with anything?”

  “First and foremost, she's your mother,” he says. “You may live with me, but she's still your mother. This...is a big deal. You're suspended from school. So I need to keep her in the loop.”

  I look down at the food and no longer feel hungry. “Great.”

  “Presley, look at me,” he says.

  I do.

  “Is there something going on with you and Frank's son?” he asks, staring at me.

  I don't know how to answer that.

  “Were you upset that he brought a girl to the house?” he asks. “Is that why you punched her? Because if that's the case, then I'm very worried about you. That isn't okay.” He pauses. “Do you like him? Is this a jealousy thing?”

  “I don't like him,” I say quickly.

  I've just had sex with him twice. No big deal.

  He stares at me, waiting for more.

  “I...I just did something stupid,” I say, avoiding his questions. “I wasn't thinking and I don't have a good excuse. And I know that's not okay. All I can tell you is that it won't happen again. I don't like the girl and she said something to me and I reacted. It was dumb. I'm just...I'm just sorry, Dad. I really am.”

  He folds his arms across his chest. “What did she say? What could she possibly have said that would cause you to react like that?”

  I know he won't leave it alone until he gets some sort of answer. He's asked the same question now multiple times and I know he won't just forget about. That's not how he is.

  “She called me New Girl,” I tell him, which is the truth.

  “New Girl,” he says, repeating it slowly, as if he's trying to make sure he gets it right. “She called you a new girl and that's what upset you?”

  “Not a new girl,” I correct him. “She called me New Girl. It's a...nickname that I've heard at school.”

  Something flashes through his eyes and he nods slowly. “Okay. Meaning you're getting picked on for being new.”

  “Not picked on,” I say, shaking my head. “Not like in elementary school or something. Just something...that stupid people have called me. Because I'm new. It's dumb and totally ridiculous that I've let it get to me.” I look at him. “But she called me that and I just...snapped. I don't know exactly why.”

  His expression softens and I know I've pressed the right button. I don't want to make him feel guilty about moving us here, but I also don't want to answer anymore questions about Trevor.

  “I'm sorry,” he says. “I'm sorry if the move has been hard on you and I'm sorry if it's caused problems for you at school. If you need to talk to someone there or need me to, then we should do that. I don't want you being harassed.”

  “I'm not,” I tell him. “Honest. It's just a few kids and I just need to let it go anyway. It doesn't excuse punching her in the face.”

  “No, it doesn't,” he says. “But at least I feel like I have a better handle on it.”

  Which I know is what he wanted all along.

  He takes a deep breath and exhales. “So. Grounded indefinitely. Probably have you do some stuff around here while you're home on suspension. You'll need to stay on top of the school work you're missing. And I guess we'll go from there.”

  “Okay,” I say, just relieved to be moving off the subject. I'm not happy about being grounded, but fighting it would be dumb.

  And I've already done enough dumb things.

  FORTY NINE

  It's Saturday evening and I'm home alone.

  I spend Thursday and Friday at home. I get my assignments from my classes and I do them. My dad leaves me a list of chores and I do them. I glance at my surfboard multiple times, but don't pick it up. I am more bored than anything else.

  I avoid calls and texts from Bridget. I know that I need to let it go and talk it out with her, but it still bothers me how quick she was to judge me and what I was doing at Trevor's. I'm not sure things will be the same again.

  So now it's Saturday night and I'm home alone.

  Again.

  My father is at the office, meeting with out of town clients and then going to dinner with them. He's already told me he won't be home early. Which leaves me with a hot date with Netflix.

  I'm flipping through shows, trying to decide what to watch, when the doorbell chimes.

  And I'm surprised to see Shanna Becker on my front porch.

  “What's up, bitch?” she says with a smile. “No way you're staying home tonight.”

  She looks amazing. Tight pink shirt, white denim skirt, silver sandals covered in sparkles. Her hair is pulled up on top of her head in a way that looks both casual and better than everyone else's.

  “I have to,” I tell her. “I'm grounded.”

  “Being grounded is for middle schoolers,” she says, looking past me. “Can you sneak out?”

  “My dad's not home,” I say, stepping out of the way. “Come in.”

  She does and I close the door behind her. She looks around. “This is a pretty cool house.”

  “It's fine,” I say because it's nothing compared to most of the houses in Sunset Beach. “What are you doing here?”

  She turns and smiles at me. “I know you've been cooped up here all week on suspension. Thought it was time you had some fun.”

  “I wish,” I say. “But I can't.”

  “Why not?”

  “My dad. I'm grounded indefinitely.”

  Shanna looks around the living room again. “Except...he's not here.”

  “I know, but I don't wanna make it worse,” I say. “I don't want him getting madder at me than he already is.”

  She sets a hand on her hip. “There's a party at Derek's tonight.”

  “I know. He invited me.”

  “I know he did,” she says. “And he's pretty bummed you told him you weren't coming.”

  I wave my hand around the room. “Yeah, well. Not much choice.”

  “Come on,” she says, wrinkling her nose. “I'll get you back before your dad gets home.”

  “I can't, Shanna,” I say. “I just don't wanna risk it.”

  She purses her lips, then raises an eyebrow. “I swear I'll get you back in time. He really wants to see you. And you have to be going stir crazy here.”

  I sigh. “Like you don't even know.”

  “His house is sick,” she says with a wicked smile. “You'll fucking love it.”

  I feel myself weakening. I know my dad will be gone until well past midnight. That means I've got multiple hours to kill until he's home.

  But I also screwed up and I need to accept that I screwed up.

  “I can't,” I tell her. “I just can't.”

  She nods slowly and a smile spreads across her face. “I'd hate to have to bring everyone over here.”

  “What? No, you can't,” I say. “My dad would freak.”

  “Which is why you should come with me,” she says, linking her arm with mine. “Come on. You have my absolute word I'll get you back before you turn into a pumpkin. Jess and Lisa are out in the car and they want you to come, too.”

  “Jessica and Lisa?”

  “They don't bite,” she says. “At least until I tell them to they don't. Look, things are cool with us now. It's okay. I mean, I'm trying to get you to go to my ex-boyfriend's house. Hello?”

  I'm not sure about them not biting, but I do appreciate that she's not freaking out about Derek anymore.

  And I really can't find anything good on Netflix.

  “You swear you'll bring me back when I tell you to?” I ask.

  She holds up her hand like a Boy Scout. “I swear.”

  I unlink my arm from hers. “Give me five minutes.”

  FIFTY

  “Do not open that in here,” Shanna says.

  “I wasn't going to!” Lisa answers.

  We are in Shanna's apple red Mercedes GLE. She and Lisa are upfront, I'm in the back with Jessica. Music is pulsing from the speakers and Lisa is threatening to open the bottle of grape vodka in her lap. />
  “You totally were,” Shanna says, swatting at her arms. “Not in the car.”

  “You're no fun,” Lisa pouts. She twists in the seat to look at me. “Do you like flavored vodkas, Presley?”

  “Sure,” I say.

  “This grape stuff is the shit,” she says. “You're going to love it.”

  “No one loves it more than you,” Jessica says, rolling her eyes. “She sucks on that bottle like she...sucks on other things.”

  They all laugh and I shake my head. It's weird being with them. It doesn't feel the same as being with Bridget, Gina, and Maddie. Not wrong, just different. It's like the first day all over again.

  But I've read through all of my texts from Bridget. She wants to know how I am, but she doesn't apologize for how she reacted to me. That's all I want to see and I would've responded to her.

  But she doesn't apologize and it pisses me off, so I'm in the Mercedes with Shanna, Lisa, and Jessica.

  Jessica puts her hand on my arm. “It really is good stuff, though. You actually will love it.”

  I nod. I'm not sure how much I'm going to drink because I'm already nervous about being out of the house when I'm not supposed to be. I have this vision of my dad coming home early from his meeting and freaking out when I'm not there. He's never once in his life come home early from a meeting, but I'm convinced this will be the night.

  Shanna heads to a part of Sunset Beach that I haven't been to before, south of the high school, toward the back side of the bay. The streets are narrower and the homes are older, taller, like they've been squeezed in together. She turns down a tight street and I immediately see cars lined up on both sides. We barely fit through. She turns again and then we're in a driveway with a gate. She pushes a button and her window slides down.

  “The benefits of remembering your ex's entry code,” she says, tapping the pad outside the window.

  The gates slide open and she pulls in.

  The house looks to be four stories tall, all concrete and windows. We are on the back side of it and it faces the bay. There are people in the drive, but they clear out as Shanna pulls in. She stops the car just short of the garage door and we get out.