Bad Intentions: A Dark High School Stepbrother Bully Romance (Kings of Hawk Academy Book 1)

by Sarwah Creed

  Goldie stood up, brushed at the bottom of her jeans and whined a response to Ruby. “Oh, come on, Ruby. Don’t be upset, you just weren’t chosen.”

  I gawped at her, astonished that she was that cruel.

  “I wish you wouldn’t do that, Goldie,” Ruby said from behind clenched teeth, her features a mask of anger. “You always put us down, but you do it in a backhanded kind of way. You think you’re better than all of us, but you’re no different to Claire or Sarah.”

  “Ruby, come on! Don’t be like that.” Goldie followed along behind Ruby her amusement clear for anyone to see. She wasn’t sorry at all and didn’t care who knew it.

  God, these people did my head in!

  They left my room and I heard them close the front door, even from my room upstairs. I wasn’t sure why I was still in the house, but Mr. Hawk seemed happy enough to have me there, so I didn’t complain. I’d seen the bedrooms in the academy, and this was much nicer. It was like they’d had a room decorated for a teen girl long before I came along. That didn’t make any sense at all, but I wasn’t going to ask questions.

  It was decorated in purple, one of my favorite colors, with an expensive memory foam mattress on the bed, a duvet decorated with a shiny amethyst cover, white furniture, and dark purple curtains. There was a huge television on the wall, connected to the Internet and a satellite, a desktop computer, and in the private bathroom attached to the bedroom there was everything a girl would need to do her hair and makeup. I had it all in here, even if I didn’t use it all. Why would I want to go back to sleeping at the academy and sharing a huge bathroom with a bunch of other girls?

  I closed my bedroom door when I heard the front door open again. I didn’t want to talk to whoever it was. I doubted it was one of the boys, they often slept somewhere else at night. Mrs. Hawk hadn’t been home since I came here, so it was probably Mr. Hawk. I didn’t want to talk to him right now, either.

  My phone buzzed and I picked it up to see it was Uncle G. Finally, somebody worth talking to! I walked away from the door and soon forgot about wondering who was coming into the house.

  “Hi!” I said with excitement as I answered the phone. “How are you?”

  “I’m good, little niece, how are you at the big ole scary school?” He laughed happily down the line in such a relaxed way that I even relaxed a little.

  “I’m getting by, Uncle G. It’s not easy, but it’s not bad,” I lied through my teeth, but I didn’t want him to worry about me.

  “I tried to call Rose to find out how you were, I didn’t want to bother you, but she’s not answering her phone.” He explained.

  I took in a sharp breath at the mention of his sister. She looked so much like Mom, but she was nothing like her. They were complete opposites and always had been. I’d known that for a long time, but it was only now that I could see it clearly.

  “Yeah, I talked to her last night. She just wanted to know if I’d found out about some secret stash of money Mom might have had. That pissed me off a little, so I hung up on her,” I admitted that to him, but nothing else. I wanted to talk about something else besides myself, though. “Anyway, tell me about how your recording contract is going? Have you started to record any music yet?”

  “Aww, baby girl, I wish Rose hadn’t done that to you,” he said softly and gave his own sigh. “Yeah, the recording contract is great. All signed and legal now, and I started to record this morning. It’s been…good.”

  “You don’t sound convinced…” I left it open, a question.

  “It’s nothing for you to worry about, it’s just me. I get a little low on confidence sometimes, not often, but every now and then, it gets to me. It’s all just so new, you know what I’m saying?” He sounded so young and in need of support that I smiled.

  “You’re my Uncle G, you got this!” I laughed good-naturedly, to let him now it was alright. “You are going to blow the world away, I know you are.”

  “Yeah, I hope so little niece.” He shifted around, I could hear sounds from the other end of the phone, like he was on a really plush leather couch. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I’m here for you. I’m going to work hard, to make sure you get what you need. I know Rose has kind of let you down, but I’m not going to. I promise you that. One way or another. So, you stay strong at that fancy academy of yours, take what you can from it, then get on with your life. You got me?”

  “I got you, Uncle G.” It wasn’t the greatest pep talk but it was better than others I’d had recently.

  “Good. Listen, I’ve got to get back into the studio, so I’m going to go, but I love you, alright?”

  “I love you too, Uncle G,” I replied and really felt it. What he’d said had been sweet, that he wanted to help take care of me. I’d been feeling so alone, but he changed that.

  “Go get some sleep, Vicki, it’s late there. Sleep well.”

  He hung up after that and I turned off the lights and got back into bed.

  I thought about what he’d said and compared it to the call with Aunt Rose. She’d just wanted to know about money, but Uncle G was all about me. He wanted to know that I was happy and that made me feel better, even if I’d lied about that part.

  It wasn’t the greatest place to be, if you were me, but for the others they were learning subjects far ahead of what we’d learned at my old school. There were opportunities here, obviously there were. I just had to be left alone long enough to pursue those opportunities. I doubted that would happen, though, unless I was chosen at this ritual thing.

  I reached for the white envelope in the darkness. I still wasn’t sure exactly what it was, this ritual, but from what Goldie and Ruby said, once you were chosen you were left alone for a year. I only had one year left. That was all I needed. I didn’t know anything about what would happen, or I’d do my best to be the one chosen. I put the envelope down and closed my eyes. I wouldn’t be chosen anyway. I wouldn’t even bet on waking up in the morning, at this point. I couldn’t seem to win only lose.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  I woke up before my alarm went off on Thursday morning. It was another cloudy day outside, I noted as I crawled out of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. I took care of my bladder and then hopped in the shower. I had time, so I let the hot water wash over me.

  By the time I was dressed, and my hair was dried, I still had time to spare. I saw the envelope, the invitation to go to the gym tomorrow at midnight, and decided to stash it in my bag, where it would be safe. My fingers reached into the bag, and once again, I felt something furry.

  “What the fuck?” I cried out and threw the bag against my door.

  “Problem, Miss Harris?” I heard Mr. Hawk call from the other side of my door. What was he doing there?

  “There’s another rat in my bag, Mr. Hawk,” I called through the door, then realized how stupid that was. I pulled open the door and stared at him. “I thought you were going to do something about this? I don’t even understand how it’s not even bleeding.”

  Not that it made a difference, but I was kinda curious how she managed to do it. I sighed as I realized that I had enough to deal with, wondering why the dead rats had no blood should have been the least of my problems.

  “I thought I had. I don’t think it was who you think it was.” He stroked his freshly shaved chin as he looked down at me. “Do you know anyone else that would do something like this?”

  “No, I don’t…” my voice trailed off as I thought back to last night. When I’d left Ruby alone in my room for the two minutes it had taken me to go pee. The same Ruby that had been alone with my bag in the cafeteria. It couldn’t be, could it?

  “Something occur to you?” He tilted an eyebrow at me and waited.

  “Maybe. Can you please take it out, sir?” I asked and handed him my bag.

  “Of course, Miss Harris.” He went down the hall to one of the bathrooms and came back with a smile on his face. “All better.”

  “Thanks.” I sighed and then pulled
my shoulders up. “Thank you, Mr. Hawk. See you later.”

  “Have a good day, Miss Harris.”

  He left the house, but I ran down to the dining room, grabbed a sausage biscuit as well as a banana, and headed out of the door. When I walked through the doors to the academy I was finished with my breakfast and needed a drink. I nabbed a bottle of water from the cafeteria and then headed for class.

  It was lunchtime by the time my brain came up for air again. I’d decided to concentrate on class when I was at the academy and focus less on what the other students were doing. At least for today. And it wasn’t just because I didn’t want to think of the person who I thought was a friend, had put a rat in my bag not once, but twice.

  I went to my locker, dropped off my morning books and was loading my afternoon class books into my bag when I heard someone clear their throat very close to me. I closed my locker door to see one of the Hawk twins standing there. My mouth almost dropped open, but I stopped it in time.

  “Hi, I’m Trent, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced?” He held his hand out to me and I just stared at it like it was covered in Bubonic plague bacteria. He winced but nodded his head. “I don’t blame you. James and I have been dicks to you since you got here.”

  “As have Sarah and Claire,” I added without malice, only to clarify. “What do you want?”

  “Yeah, I know, I’m sorry. Listen.” He ran his hand along his jaw, his eyes going up and down my body in the uniform with appreciation. “You got the invite, right?”

  “I did. Where’s Ruby’s?” I wanted to confirm with him that she was supposed to get one before I accused Goldie of anything.

  “Should have been on her pillow. It wasn’t?” His brows knitted together as he stood up, his head tilted to the left.

  “No, but honestly, I don’t even care anymore. Goldie probably snatched it, and I think that she’s the one that puts rats into my bag, so it’s not like I’m broken-hearted for either of them.”

  “Wait, you think Goldie took Ruby’s invite? That’s grounds for disqualification before she even walks through the gym doors.”

  “I’m fairly certain she did. Someone did, and if Sarah and Claire didn’t take it, then Goldie is the only one that would have access to their room, so it must have been her.” I stood up, my stomach growling to let me know it was empty. “Look, I need to go. That’s all I know…” I wanted to leave, because every time someone had been nice to me in the academy of hell, it turned out that they were a jerk.

  But for some reason he looks genuine. I took a shot as I said, “If you find out more, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Sure thing.” He winked at me and this time, my mouth did drop open. Was this another game or was he actually interested in me? Could he be?

  I tucked a stray lock of hair that had worked loose from my braid behind my ear and headed for the cafeteria. He couldn’t be, could he?

  I was in a daze as I picked up food and went to a table. I was lost in thought, but when I heard Goldie’s unmistakable laugh I looked up. She’d walked in with Trent and was laughing very loudly at something he’d said. That kind of fake laugh, make him think he’s funny but you can’t stand his humor kind of laugh.

  She walked with her head up high and for a moment she caught my eye. She gave me a wink and turned to Trent before she rushed over.

  She came up close to me, her hand over my ear as she whispered to me, “Ruby’s invite didn’t disappear, I tore it up and flushed it down the toilet, and it might be the best thing I’ve ever done! Trent came up to me ten minutes ago and asked me to have lunch with him! I’m going to die in heaven!”

  Before I could answer she skipped away to re-join Trent.

  So, she had trashed Ruby’s invite. As I watched her, I decided that I did want to be the one chosen at this ritual. Not because I cared what anyone thought about me, but because these two girls that were supposed to be my friends were doing so much to screw each other, and me, over.

  Trent met my gaze over Goldie’s head, and he winked at me. I slowly nodded to him and his eyebrows went up. He mouthed the words ‘She did it,’ and raised an eyebrow.

  I nodded again and he gave a nod of his own.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention please. Can I have your attention please?” Trent called out suddenly and stood on a chair. “I’d like to make an announcement, if I may.”

  He waited for everyone to quiet down and look his way. “It has come to my attention that one of the participants of tomorrow’s ritual has taken the initiative and eliminated one of the initiates herself.”

  I saw Goldie’s face go pale and she turned to look at him. She’d been standing by his side, gazing around proudly when she heard that part. That’s when her face fell, and she went as white as a sheet. She stared up at Trent with panic written all over her face.

  “Trent,” I saw her whisper and felt a bubble of laughter form in my chest. She pulled at his hand, but he brushed her off.

  “It would seem that Miss Goldie here destroyed an invitation to our little shindig. We know what that means, don’t we, boys and girls?”

  The room broke out in boos and hisses.

  Ruby walked into the cafeteria just then and stopped when she saw the look on Goldie’s face as tears began to stream down her eyes.

  “Goldie, I’m afraid your actions disqualify you from the initiation. You don’t meet our criteria.” Trent held his hands out.

  I laughed softly as he received the expected wave of applause.

  He stepped down and she immediately began to beg him to pay attention to her. He promptly gave her one of the coldest stares I’ve ever seen a person give and she stepped back as if he’d slapped her. He left the cafeteria then and the room erupted into noise as they all laughed at Goldie, who fled the cafeteria.

  “Did that really just happen?” Ruby asked me once she’d slid into a seat beside me.

  “It did. She confessed it to me, and I told him.” I popped the last bite of pizza into my mouth and chewed thoughtfully. Once I swallowed, I continued as I realized that this was the first time this week that I could eat in the cafeteria in peace. “I probably shouldn’t tell you that, but there it is. She took your invite and threw it away.”

  “Why shouldn’t you tell me that, Vicki, you’re my friend.” She looked hurt, but I saw a flicker in her eyes, a flicker of annoyance.

  “Because, you both only wanted to talk to me to find out how much competition I’d be, didn’t you?” I lowered my voice and leaned in close. “You two didn’t seem to realize that you’d stab each other in the back. Like a pair of rats. Am I right?”

  I tilted my head at her and laughed when her eyes went round. “Thanks for that confirmation. Have a nice day, Ruby.”

  I realized then that I was the last new girl. Once I could prove that Ruby had been the one to put the rats in my bag, I would be the only one at the initiation, which meant that it was me, I would be the one chosen by the brothers for whatever the winner of this little game of high school hazing was supposed to get. I knew there’d be a year of peace, but at what price? And was it a price I really wanted to pay?

  I left her in the cafeteria and went back to my locker. I’d forgotten a notebook I needed and stepped back when something slid out.

  It was a white envelope, a cheap one, with a piece of printed paper inside. Another invitation? My brows furrowed together as I read it.

  This one instructed me to show up at the theater, completely naked, tomorrow night at midnight. I compared it with the expensive invitation I’d received the day before. Was this a hoax or had the destination been changed quickly, now that I was the final girl in the competition?

  I wondered about it as I headed for my next class.

  Ruby had been late coming into the cafeteria. It could be innocuous, maybe she’d been in the bathroom or held it up by a teacher, but something told me this piece of paper was a ruse. James could have put it in my locker, but Trent hadn’t had time
to talk to him about it, had he?

  Maybe they’d planned it before hand, in case it was confirmed that Goldie cheated. Once James heard Trent’s voice in the cafeteria, he could have slipped the pre-made invite into my locker.

  That part about me showing up stark naked bothered me.

  I knew these people were big into humiliation, but would it really go that far? Something told me it wouldn’t, and I decided to hunt down Trent later and ask him point blank.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  By lunchtime I was a complete wreck. I stared at the other students around me and couldn’t help but wonder; was it you? Were you the one that slipped this new invitation into my locker? Were you the one that put the rats in my bag?

  Then my mind would sway back to Ruby, and how very much she wanted to be the one chosen. I suspected she’d been bullied at her old school and that’s why she wanted this so bad. I felt sorry for her for a little while, then I thought about what she’d done, if she was the one that did those things. She was just as bad as any bully in her desperation.

  I’d wanted to make friends here, but so far, I didn’t have anyone that I could trust. Except for Mr. Hawk and he was the principal so it wasn’t like I could go to him and whine about not having friends. Besides, I reminded myself, I had plenty of friends back home. I sent Ava a text as I went into the cafeteria.

  I hadn’t spoken to her since Teresa told me Ava was dating Abe now. I wanted her to know I didn’t mind. If he was going to date someone else, I’d rather it be Ava, anyway. My head was down, focused on my phone as the line moved ahead of me, when someone ran a finger down my neck. It was such an invasion of my privacy I turned, ready to throw a fist at whoever had done such an intimate thing to me without my permission.

  “What the…,” the words trailed off as I saw Trent behind me with a cocky grin on his face. There was something about that grin and those bright blue eyes of his that made my knees weak. I mumbled something, I don’t know what, and that cockiness grew.