by Unknown
Prologue
I glanced out the taxi window as it pulled to a stop outside my new home- The Simpson University of Arts. More specifically, we were parked outside the ‘Alice Gardens’ residential building. It was one of the more expensive and elaborate set ups, which was saying quite a bit as the university itself was a very new, prestigious institution. Only the very rich were able to afford the fees here, unless, like me, you had won a scholarship.
My driver quickly climbed out of the car to fetch my luggage from the boot. I hesitated a moment more, taking in the large, white building in front of me. From my information package, I knew that this building had four floors. The ground floor housed a restaurant and cafeteria, as well as a games room and a small convenience store selling the essentials. You know, tampons, deodorant… chocolate. The first floor housed first year students. There were two students to a room and twenty rooms in total (ten on each side of the hallway). These rooms were air-conditioned and heated, with two king-size single beds, a fridge, microwave and sink. The bathrooms were small and shared between two rooms.
I bit my lip as I thought about my new roommate. I wasn’t the most outspoken or social person…Okay so I’m completely meek and reclusive. I worried that we wouldn’t get along. I was stuck with her until next year, when we could move up to the second or third floor to enjoy the solitude of single bedrooms. Gathering my courage, I opened the door and slowly slid out of the taxi, wincing as I left the wonderful car air-conditioning and was hit hard by the hot, dry desert heat.
I glared at the two large suitcases of luggage I’d brought with me and silently cursed my family. All around me, students were saying goodbye to their loved ones. Loved ones that were helping them carry their things! I sighed with disappointment and buried my hurt feelings. Not one of my eleven siblings had made the trip with me. Not one of my nine brothers were here to carry my things and tell me to behave or tell me that they’d miss me. I winced as I realised that they probably wouldn’t even notice my absence. Sure, Zane was out of the country on some special ops mission. And triplets, Vicky, Evan and Harvey, were all posted in Queensland at the Townsville Air Force base. Cooper was also in Townsville, working as a mechanic and his twin sister Charlie was in Cairns (also in Queensland) working as a nurse.
But Paul (a final-year Education student) and the younger triplets, Mike, Jake and Luke (Seniors in High school), all lived at home in Darwin (Northern Territory). It wouldn’t have taken them much effort to come with me. It was a weekend after all! And Logan, who actually worked here, in Alice Springs (as a Flying Doctor pilot) couldn’t even come and meet me at the airstrip! Mother had wanted to finish writing her latest book and my father…well, I don’t want to talk about it.
Sure, my Darwin family members had all apologised, saying that they could re-arrange their plans and try to come with me if I really wanted them to…but I had meekly whispered that it was ‘fine’ and given them a soft smile. They’d brushed the subject off with relief and left the room to do something more important.
I paid the taxi driver and cracked my knuckles, getting ready to haul my luggage up the front steps and then up a flight of stairs. However, before I could grasp the handles, my phone rang, giving me a welcome delay. I smiled as Cooper’s name flashed on the screen. Coop was the only one of my siblings, besides Zane (the eldest), that ever paid any real attention to me. He, like me, often tired of our large, boisterous family and sought out peace and quiet.
“Hi,” I murmured into the phone, biting my lip in annoyance at how soft and timid I sounded.
“Hey, Evie!” Cooper greeted me cheerfully, “Have you arrived yet? I’m sorry I couldn’t get time off to come with you.”
“That’s okay,” I whispered, knowing that if he could have been here, he would, “And yes, I’m here.”
“Great. How’s the place look? What’s your roommate like?” he asked, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Uh,” I mumbled, “I haven’t got there yet. I was just trying to work out how to carry my luggage up the stairs.”
There was an icy silence on the other end of the line.
“Evelyn,” he said finally, “Who else is there with you? Who made the trip from Darwin with you?”
“Er, I flew down. By myself,” I said quietly.
Cooper cursed quietly, before asking, “Why can’t Logan carry your things for you?”
“Um, he’s not here,” I said quickly, becoming uncomfortable, “He had a date.”
“A date,” Cooper repeated stiffly.
“Yes, well he offered to cancel, but I said not to bother. I mean it’s not really that big of a deal,” I whispered in a rush.
“Evie,” Cooper said with a sigh, “Why didn’t you ask him to postpone it? I know this is important to you and now you have to carry everything all by yourself. You have to start speaking up, sis.”
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound convincing. Cooper wasn’t fooled (my voice was kind of wobbly).
“Evie, I’ll call you back later tonight, once you’re settled in,” he said softly.
“Don’t tell them I’m upset,” I pleaded, “Please don’t yell at them.”
“I am going to talk to them E,” he growled slightly, “And they are all damn lucky that Zane is overseas.”
I winced, knowing how my protective older brother would react when informed.
“I have to go,” I whispered, trying not to cry.
“Okay,” he said softly, “Bye Evie. Don’t study too hard. Have some fun and make some friends. I love you.”
“Love you too,” I whispered.
I pushed my ugly, red-brown long hair out of my eyes and pulled at my sweaty, black T-shirt, thankful that I had worn cool shorts on this hot, summer afternoon. I glanced over at the building’s entrance in trepidation, as I tried to judge the distance. That was when I first saw him.
Sitting atop a picnic table, in the shade of a large, native tree, was a man. A big, scary man and he was staring right at me, watching me as he took a long drag from his cigarette. He stood up abruptly and stomped on the butt. My eyes widened at how tall and imposing he seemed from nearly three hundred metres away.
He strode toward me confidently in his dark-coloured jeans and tight, black singlet. He stopped directly in front of me and I stared at him in awe. My gaze started at the huge feet encased in black combat boots and travelled slowly up the entire length of his 6’8” muscular form to his shaved, dark-blond hair. Stone-grey eyes stared harshly back at me, a wicked scar on his eye-brow and a hard expression marring his strong face. His nose looked like it had been broken at least twice and his features were angular, strong and sharp.
His gaze flickered over the smattering of freckles on my nose, before he snatched my enrolment papers from the tight, anxious grip of my fingers. He glanced at my room number, before shoving them back at me and effortlessly picking up both large suitcases. He started walking toward the front doors of the building, without so much as a word or look in my direction. I hesitated briefly, before hurrying after the frightening man, jogging slightly to keep up with his long strides. Crowds of people parted for his large shape and I followed close behind, gratefully using him like a snow-plough to clear a pathway to my dorm.
He stopped outside my room and carefully placed the luggage beside the door. He knocked on the wood briefly and then left, again without looking at me or offering a ‘goodbye’ or a ‘nice to not meet you’. The door opened and a short, red-head eyed me curiously. She glanced over my shoulder at the man’s broad, retreating back, then down at my luggage. She shot me an incredulous look.
“Did Stone carry your luggage up?”
Stone, I remember thinking, What a
terribly appropriate name?!
Book One. Chapter One
Nothing particularly exciting happened during my first semester at Simpson University of Arts. I was a nobody in high school and didn’t fare much better here. I was overlooked. Meek and shy, I rarely gave anyone reason to notice me. I didn’t mind. I liked solitude. At least I wasn’t picked on or taken advantage of like I was at school. My roommate, Cassandra Appleton or ‘Candy’ (do NOT call her candy apple!), thinks this is due to Stone.
No, he’s not my boyfriend, or even just a friend. In fact, we’ve never spoken a word to one another. Stone and his band mates rule the ‘Alice Gardens’ house and dominate most of the other university students as well. People respect them, fear them, adore them. And Stone is their king. Their huge, silent, intimidating king. He frightens me. Whenever I’m near him, my entire body trembles and all of my senses stand alert. Thank goodness I’ve only encountered him in close quarters once since that first day, when he carried my things.
I’d run into a classmate from another ‘house’ on my second day of lessons. He’d sneered down at me when I’d flushed red and meekly muttered an apology. He’d snatched my books from my loose grasp and dropped them on the floor, laughing with his friend and calling me clumsy. For a moment, I’d wanted to pick up my heaviest book and whack him across the head, walking away with a laugh and an ‘Oops, forgive my clumsiness’. Instead, I’d dropped to the floor and hurriedly gathered up the fallen texts. Seconds later, the guy was sliding down the wall beside us to join me on the floor. The hallway had become completely silent, and when Candy rushed forward and tugged me to my feet, I caught a glimpse of Stone’s back as he turned a corner. Since that day, no one has dared bully me.
Currently, I was bored. It was Study Week, the week before exams. Today was Thursday, and I’d been cooped up in my room, slaving over my notes, since last Friday. With a resigned sigh, I closed my photography text book and gazed out my dorm window at the parking lot. I should get a car, I thought with a frown.
My eyes snapped to the left as a familiar figure caught my attention. Stone was in his usual spot, except instead of sitting on top of the picnic table with a cigarette, he was sitting on the ground, leaning against the tree, with a guitar in his lap. I frowned. Didn’t he play the drums? As I watched, he busily scribbled a few notes in his music pad, before picking up the guitar again and strumming softly. Sadly, the notes didn’t reach my ears.
As if sensing me, his penetrating, grey gaze met mine. My breath caught and I struggled to remain calm, to not show my fear. His face remained expressionless as he watched me. We stared at each other, neither of us moving an inch. I longed to turn and run, but couldn’t tear myself away, completely trapped, even from a distance, by his eyes.
A curly-haired blonde shouted his name excitedly and he tore his gaze from mine. I quickly ducked beneath my desk and peeked over the sill as the slim beauty smiled brightly at him and tried to tug him towards his car, where the rest of his band mates were now waiting. Briar, I think her name was, and one of Stone’s closest friends, according to Candy’s gossip. I didn’t know the other band members, but I did notice the absence of Chloe, Stone’s girlfriend. I ducked further when I saw Stone glance back up at my window, before he drove off.
“What are you doing?”
I squealed in surprise and fell to the floor. Candy shut the door behind her and chuckled at my expense.
“Er, nothing important,” I whispered, scrambling to my feet, “Just checking the desk for dust.”
Candy raised an eyebrow and shook her head with a laugh, “Did you fall asleep studying again?”
I chuckled quietly in embarrassment, remembering the last time she’d startled me. She took that as an affirmative response and frowned, placing her hands on her curvy hips. Her candy-apple red hair gave her short, shapely stature a vivid presence that not many people could overlook. She stood out in a room full of people. I felt drab and insignificant in comparison, like I could fade into the background, blend into the wallpaper.
“Right,” she said firmly, “I’m intervening. No more study.”
“But-” I protested.
“No,” she snapped, tossing me my camera, “Go out and take some photos. You are done studying for today.”
She walked towards the door and held it open for me, motioning with her head for me to leave. I sighed and slowly walked forward, slipping the camera strap over my head.
“Go,” she commanded, “Have fun. And next weekend, I’m dragging you to the Finke Desert Race with us.”
My eyes widened. The Finke Desert Race was a two-day race through the desert. Cars, motorbikes and off-road vehicles of all types participated. People camped all along the track, usually setting up the night before to get a good place.
“But, that’s right in the middle of exams!” I whispered frantically.
“Exactly,” Candy said smugly, “All the more reason for you to take time to relax. I’ll tell Mason you’re joining us.”
She shut the door on me and locked me out. Groaning quietly, I shuffled quickly past the procrastinating students in the hall and made my way outside with my camera. Hopefully, I could get a few good nature shots for my Photography course while I was out here and the afternoon wouldn’t be completely wasted.
***
The next morning, I woke at 0600 hours as I usually did and crept around the room quietly as I dressed in my gym shorts and a fitted tee. I grabbed my trainers and made my way to the Rugby pitch for my daily work out. I sat down in the stands as I laced up my shoes and breathed in the early morning air. I shivered, wishing I’d thought to bring a jumper down with me. It was the first week of June and winter was definitely upon us. I loved the desert winters; freezing cold during the night, but still hot during the day.
The sunrises here were amazing as well. I glanced up at the sky, smiling at the reds, oranges and pinks vividly brightening the horizon. Red was the predominant colour of the Australian outback, right down to the soil beneath our feet. I laughed at the richly green turf of the rugby field. This upper-class university was about the only place you could find green ‘grass’ around here. I loved seeing the faces of tourists when they saw what we called a golf course. No lush greens here. Kangaroos, snakes, lizards and all sorts wandered freely over them as well.
I hurriedly began my warm up, realising that I’d been wasting time daydreaming when I should have been ‘hustling’ as Dad and Zane had called it. People often wondered why I still did this. I was much too skinny as it was, according to almost everyone I’d met. At 5”, I managed to look frail and delicate, no matter how many pushups I did. The truth is I often found it hard to eat. I was too busy worrying or doing something else…like studying. I couldn’t stop this morning ritual though and even if I could, I doubt I’d want to. It was an important memory of my childhood and I clung desperately to it.
Reining in my thoughts and turning on my focus, I began my 5km run, my long legs eating up the distance as I ran lap after lap around the field, my body slowly adjusting to the cold, helped along as the temperature very slowly rose. When I finished, I quickly dropped to the grass and began my fifty pushups, followed by one hundred sit-ups, one hundred crunches and thirty tricep dips (using the stands to hold onto). I collapsed on my seat and shivered a little as a cold breeze swept over my sweat-slicked body. I quickly began my stretches, fearful of getting a cramp.
I shivered as a strange, prickly sensation wandered up my spine, as though someone was watching me. I looked around nervously, suddenly feeling very self-conscious in my form-fitting top and revealing shorts. I froze as I saw him, sitting across the field in the stand opposite mine. How long had he been here? Had he been watching me? My body trembled in reaction to him and I gnawed at my bottom lip in anxiety.
I raked my eyes over him, studying from a distance. I shivered again, though for an entirely different reason. God, he was something to look at! He wasn’t particularly gorgeous or handsome by society’s usual
standards…but there was something about him that just called to a girl. Woman, I corrected, reminding myself that I’d be eighteen in less than six months.
I couldn’t see the finer details from this distance, but I didn’t need too. His features were permanently etched in my mind. Everything about him screamed Man, with a capital M. My cheeks reddened and my skin warmed as I realised he was dressed only in track pants. There was a beanie on his shaved head, but he wore no shirt or jacket. I could see the strength in his form from here, but craved a closer look.
I shook myself hard. This man was scary. I wanted nothing to do with him; I never wanted to be controlled by a guy again…not after last time. Besides, he’d never be attracted to me. His girlfriend, Chloe Fox, was stunning. I had no interest in him. I was merely admiring his form. It was natural. Every female did.
His gaze left mine as he stubbed out his cigarette and withdrew a box of Smarties from his pocket. I giggled at the sight. For some reason, Stone always carried a box of Smarties with him. Everyone said they were his favourite, but I secretly suspected he stored drugs or something in them (yet another reason to avoid him).
