Walking away, I make sure to sway my hips in a way that will draw eyes. It’s best he be in awe. People are so much easier to control when they worship you. And if tonight is to go exactly as planned, then I need Alexander to want to help me, not just do it out of fear.
***
“Where’s your father?” I ask Grayson as we are about to part with our parents to see various teachers. My plan hinges on Arthur’s presence. If he doesn’t show, it won’t have nearly as much impact.
“Caught up in a meeting. It’s his excuse every year,” Grayson says like he’s not bothered, but I know him enough to see the hurt hidden behind his charming mask. “He’ll show up for drinks, leave Summer to deal with the boring teacher stuff.”
I have no idea how to respond. I’m torn between relief and feeling sad for Grayson. “That sucks. Well, at least Summer won’t be hard on you.”
He shrugs before kissing me on the cheek. “See you, Devenport.”
Leaving, I head toward my mother, who seems as nervous as me. It’s not helping. She pushed for me to be this person—the queen of school. But now I’m doing it, she’s having second thoughts. It’s because the video is going to affect more than just the student body, but I’m trying not to think about that. It will make getting through tonight far easier.
“Are you sure you can trust the person who’s swapping the video?” my mother whispers as we head down the hall to my first teacher meeting.
“Mother, would you give me a little credit? This isn’t the first time I’ve pulled off a revenge plot, or are you forgetting our lives in London?”
“I know, I know. It’s just after everything with your father… I guess I’m losing the stomach for this life.”
“Well, pull yourself together. Because tonight is happening whether you’ve the stomach for it or not. Remember what they did to me, remember how I was, and then remember they deserve this.”
It’s what I do. It’s how I keep myself going. I recall all the dark feelings and use them to light the inferno of my hate.
As expected, my teachers have nothing but good things to say about me. While I might have caused trouble in other areas, I’m nothing but exemplary with my classwork.
“How long have we got?” my mother asks as we all gather in the hall, waiting for other parents to finish with the teachers.
“About thirty minutes.” She grinds her teeth. “Go get yourself a drink and some food. You’re driving me crazy, Mother.”
I mingle, wishing I could have a stiff drink too, but unfortunately, while most of us drink, it’s not acceptable to be doing it on school grounds even if we have fake IDs or enough dirt on the entire teacher body to bribe them into turning a blind eye. Normally it wouldn’t bother me as I’ve never been a heavy drinker, but it helps in the midst of a plan.
“Rose, I need to talk to you.” Ashton takes my hand and drags me with him.
I try and fail to pull free. “Get off me,” I hiss, but he’s marching forward, seemingly determined to have me alone, and I have no choice but to give up fighting and go with him.
The second we are alone, he stops, turns, and backs me into the wall. Gasping, my hands land on his arms to steady myself and before I have the chance to voice my outrage, his mouth is on mine. Hard, desperate, and demanding.
I give into the kiss for far too long, allowing him to take all he wants and moaning as desire sparks in my body and breathes life back into my soul.
Ripping my mouth from his, I push him with all the strength I possess and drag in lungsful of oxygen as we stare at each other, heaving.
“What are you doing?” I finally screech. “How dare you!”
“You didn’t fight back, Rose. You still want me as much as I want you.”
“No. No, you don’t get to do this, Ash. I won’t be your mistress.”
“I don’t want a mistress; I just want you.” Hope surges through me, even as my fury comes to a pitch.
“Bullshit.”
“Damn it, Rose, will you listen? I’ve been trying to apologize since the gala. You’re right. I should have never sided with them. Screw Arthur and his expectations. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t go a moment longer pretending I love Sophia, not when it’s you. It’s always been you, since the moment we met as kids, you’ve enchanted me, and I can’t keep living with the way things are between us. It’s killing me.”
His words sink into my parched soul as tears blind my vision. He can’t be saying this, not now, not when it’s too late. He should have said this when I ran away from the mural. He should have chased after me and declared his feelings and everything wouldn’t have burned to the ground. But he didn’t. He held his tongue and let me think I meant nothing. He helped humiliate me, turned away when I begged for help. He destroyed me. Twisted me up inside until the only road available went through hell.
Now he loves me. On the night I’m about to serve vengeance like a blade into the heart of his family.
“Ash,” I whisper, tears rolling down my face. “It’s too late. It’s too late.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “You still have feelings for me. I felt it when we kissed. I know you do.”
“It doesn’t matter. Too much has happened.” I can’t forget what he’s done, and after tonight, he’ll not forget what I’ve done.
He reaches for me, carefully rubbing the tears stuck to my cheeks. “I know I messed things up, but I’m going to make it up to you. I won’t give up until you forgive me. I don’t care how long it takes. I love you, Rose.”
His words lodge like knives in my heart, spilling life from my chest. I search his face, press my lips to his for the last time, savoring every detail before pulling away. “You won’t love me after tonight, Ash. You’ll hate me.”
His eyes widen as a sob escapes me. I can already hear Mrs. Chandler calling attention to the room.
“What did you do?” he whispers. It was you who did it. You who tainted me with your betrayal.
“It doesn’t matter. None of this matters! I haven’t done anything you didn’t deserve. I said I’d never forgive you, Ash, and I won’t. I can’t.”
Fear and pain stare at me from his cinnamon-dusted eyes, and I hate myself and him. He sent me down this road. He betrayed me and love can’t fix it.
“Please tell me what you’ve done,” he begs.
“Sophia’s cheating on you,” I explain. “With Arthur Bishop.” I take no pleasure from the shock that ripples through him. I wanted to hurt him, but I’ve hurt myself too.
“No. No.” He stumbles back.
I nod, my body going cold, my heart faltering. “I have video evidence.”
His face goes still as he realizes what I mean. “Please, please don’t tell me it’s going to play for all to see. You wouldn’t do that, you couldn’t… my mom.”
I open my mouth, but there are no words to make this okay.
“Fix it,” he begs.
Turning, I run into the hall, heading for the side of the stage where Alexander will be pressing play, but it’s too late. Stumbling to a stop as the video flares to life on the large screen, dread fills me as chaos erupts around us.
“Mom!” Ashton gasps. His gaze finds mine, and I know there is no fixing this; his love for me is dying right before my eyes. “How could you?”
The betrayal in his gaze awakes my fury. I did this because of him, because he broke me, and he’s acting as if I’m the only one to blame. “Because I’m angry. I wanted revenge for what you all did to me.” I shove him in the chest, shaking with the strength of my emotions. “You hurt me like no one ever has before. I love you, and you helped them humiliate me. You poured the glue over my head, Ashton. I wanted you to pay.”
He’s shaking his head, eyes glistening with pain. “Not like this, Rose, not for everyone to see, for my mother to see.”
“You didn’t worry about who would see my downfall. Why should I care about yours?”
He opens his mouth, but no words come out. We have both done wr
ong. We have both hurt each other beyond repair.
Our eyes find Summer running from the room, and I want to take it all back. I want to rewind time and fix this mess.
“Ash, you have to understand, please.” My fingers find his, but he snatches them away, looking at me with nothing but hate. “But we love each other,” I mumble pathetically like love can fix anything when all ours has done is cause pain.
I watch as everything we are shatters and dies. I watch as his heart grows cold and his gaze goes distant. We are no longer Ash and Rose. We are strangers, and I’m not sure if we can ever find each other again.
They say revenge has a cost. And mine… mine was the cost of my heart and the boy I love.
Turn the page for more…
Rose’s story continues in March 27th 2020
Pre-Order here
Acknowledgements
I wrote The Destruction of Rose in the space of 6 weeks, getting words down in between school pick ups and household chores, but my journey to actually starting this book took much longer. It took events to fall into place and freedom to be gained, to even have the soul to put ink to paper.
TDOR is a first for me – a new genre, a new style of writing – but it is also a big step out of my comfort zone. It is like nothing I’ve wrote before and having the confidence to take a chance was built with the help of many people.
To my parents – who have stood by my side through the thick and thin, facing my battles head on with me. Thank you for being willing to give up paradise and reside in hell with me, (thank God we never actually had to face that reality) you’ve no idea how much strength that gave me; knowing I’d never be alone. Because of you I’ve been given the chance to heal.
To my grandparents – who I miss every day. We might not be in the same country anymore, but I feel your love and support from across the oceans. I wouldn’t be here today without you.
To my children – The shining lights in my life. The reasons I held on even when I wanted to give up. You cheer me on and tell everyone you can ‘your mummy is an author.’ Thank you for being proud of me. I love you guys.
To Helen – Talking to you each week has brought me back to life. This book is for you, because without you I’d have never sorted out the mess in my head and found my way back to myself. My voice has grown, become louder, stronger; it happened with your help. Thank you so much.
And finally, to the readers and bloggers who have been with me every step of the way. Who cheer me on and share my work. Your kind words and encouragement mean everything to me, I love and appreciate you all. You guys seriously rock!
Author Bio
Rachel M. Raithby started her writing career in 2013 and hasn’t looked back.
She draws her inspiration from the many places she has lived and traveled, as well as from her love of the paranormal and thriller movies.
She can often be found hiding out with a good book or writing more fast-paced and thrilling stories where love always conquers all.
Keep up to date with Rachel
www.rachelmraithby.com
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon
The Destruction of Rose: A High School Bully Romance (Albany Nightingale Duet Book 1) Page 20
