Bully: A High School Bully Romance (The King of Castleton High Book 1)

by Ellie Meadows

  “You’re being neurotic,” I scolded her gently.

  “I regret ever asking you to tell me when my OCD flares,” mom grumbled. And then she narrowed her eyes and fixed her gaze on me. A dog with a bone, that was my mom. “Now, how did your first day go, Tarryn?”

  Ugh. I wish she’d give it a rest. I don’t know how my day went. Awful? Plagued by their new boss’s son? Great, because an intensely sexy guy seemed to be interest in me? Awful, again, because I’d rejected the shit out of him. Since he was… yes, sexy, but also a complete douche bag.

  “It was fine.” I knew that wasn’t going to satisfy her. “I met another student. She seemed really cool.”

  “You made a friend?” Mom’s tone shifted to glee. “I knew it wouldn’t take you long! This is so great.”

  “Okay, Mom, take a chill pill. We sat together at lunch. She read a book. We talked a little. I didn’t make a new best friend.” I pushed my plate away. I’d finished most of the vegetables and some of the rice, but Mom conveniently kept forgetting I wasn’t eating meat anymore. Every now and then, I’d eat fish.

  “Eat your chicken, Tarryn.” Mom admonished, reaching across the table to put my plate back in front of me.

  “You know I don’t eat meat anymore.”

  “You had fish last week,” she argued.

  “That’s different,” I bickered back.

  “Stop,” Dad spoke up around a mouthful of barbecue chicken. “Tish, she’s told you half a dozen times that she’s not eating meat anymore.”

  “But she ate the salmon just last—”

  “And she’s told you half a dozen times that fish is different. It doesn’t matter if it makes sense to you and me.” He washed down his bite with a swig of cold coffee. Dad drank coffee all day, hot, warm, cold. It was completely gross, especially with chicken and peas.

  “But red meat is really good for her. I mean, think of her blood condition.”

  Sighing, dad put down his fork and knife, abandoning his dinner. “Tish, honey. Hypoglycemia isn’t cured by eating steak. Let the poor girl eat her dinner.”

  “But it’s… it’s a good protein for her.” Mom stammered. “The doctor said that high protein diets and complex carbs were good for her.”

  “Mom, I’m fine. The doctor did say protein was good, but I can get that other ways. You know how I love my peanut butter.” I wanted to get between Mom and Dad before they got into one of their patented Monroe fight club sessions. “I just need to be more careful is all. I didn’t eat enough this morning and I got kind of woozy in class. A student found me a candy bar and I was fine.”

  Alarmed, mom stood up and nearly knocked her chair over. “Why in the world didn’t you go to the nurse, Tarryn? They could have called us!”

  “Calm down. I’m fine.” I stood up also as she came around the table to my side. “Honestly.”

  Her hands fluttered over me, looking for issues. “You know this could be a precursor to diabetes. The doctors warned us, especially since it runs so heavily in our family. You could have a seizure, fall into insulin shock.”

  “Mom, seriously. You’re worrying too much. I’m taking care of myself. I watch what I eat. I run every day. The only thing stressing me out is you,” I said the last sentence lovingly. She pulled me into a hug.

  “I can’t help but worry, Tarryn. You’re my baby. My only baby.” I could feel tears hitting my neck as she cried softly. She worried all the time. I knew she couldn’t help it.

  “I know, Mom. But I’m okay. Really. I promise to go to the nurse next time. Okay?” I squeezed her back and she pulled away, eyes still damp but her mouth smiling.

  “Okay. Now sit down and eat your chicken.” She poked me in the side and I rolled my eyes.

  “You eat my chicken. I’m going for a run.” I kissed her quickly and sprinted away from the table and headed up the stairs before she could protest. I heard Dad chuckle behind me. I loved his laugh.

  Changing quickly because the sun was setting fast, I slapped on my fitness watch and made my way out of the house. Shoving my earbuds in, I picked my second favorite workout playlist before stretching on the sidewalk. The town really was picturesque—picket fences, useable sidewalks, and neighbors out watering plants in the evening air. What was that old magazine… with the paintings of idyllic colloquial life? Norman Rockwell on the Evening Post? Something like that.

  I adjusted my phone in my arm sleeve before starting. I hesitated left or right, but decided on right because I’d been that way before on the drive to school. I usually gravitated towards things that felt familiar. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to Sasha. Even though she differed, really differed, from Becky, she felt very similar. One of the neighbors, an older lady with a wide-brimmed white hat and a bright floral dress, waved at me as I passed her. A charming town, full of charming people.

  I picked up the pace at the quarter-mile mark. Tall streetlights were beginning to glow to life, pale orbs of gold against the world darkening to navy. Those illuminated bright circles on the street. Shortly after, smaller lamps cast softer light onto the sidewalk. Our old town didn’t even have sidewalks or bike lanes. River Valley seemed to have thought of every little comfort to create the perfect little town. It was nice… though every now and then it gave me Stepford ‘too perfect’ vibes.

  A few cars passed, but not many. Most people were home, enjoying their families, relaxing after work. River Valley didn’t have much nightlife—not unless there was an event at the golf resort or a highly-anticipated sports game taking over the screens at the steakhouse. That’s what the summer had taught me anyways. One of the other benefits of running this way was I avoided Meg the Gossip’s house. I wondered, again, why I hadn’t seen her at all in school. It wasn’t that big of a school. She said she was a junior this year, a year beneath me, but everyone walked the same hallways.

  At the half mile mark, I slowed to a jog and checked my fit watch. My heartrate was slowing, steady and strong. I was just starting to feel the first burn in my legs that I’d need to push through to get the sort of runner’s high I craved.

  The sun was gone, the moon peeking over trees, by the time I hit my stride. It felt like my shoes were bouncing off the concrete. I was in the midst of a moon walk, my body light and airy. There was nothing that could bring me back down to Earth.

  The few cars that had passed me hadn’t drawn my attention. They were two bright spots moving down the road, and then they were gone again. Nothing important.

  So I was surprised when two new lights came into view and then seemed to slow down as they approached me. A lump of discomfort formed in my throat and I slowed to a stop, debating whether to keep going forward or back the way I came. I’d taken three rights so far and was fairly sure the next right should be the road back to my house. The distance was farther if I turned around and went the way I’d come.

  The lights continued to slow until the car they belonged to was illuminated by the nearest streetlight. It was a shock of neon green and the feeling of unease wasn’t comforted by the sight of the familiar shade. I pulled my earbuds out, the aftereffects of the music fading quickly from my brain.

  The sports car slowed to a stop in the middle of the road. “Hey, Square,” Drake Castleton’s voice came at me like an unwanted specter. I could feel my heart speed up, thumping in my chest. He wasn’t going to hurt me. At least, I was fairly sure of that.

  “What are you doing over here? I heard you lived on the other side of town. The McMansions area.” I backed away a step. It was involuntary. He didn’t answer.

  When he opened his door and got out, I took yet another step away from him. The discomfort in my stomach mingled with fear. Drake Castleton was supposed to be a womanizing jerk, but was he something more? Was he a taker, even when you said no? Had he hurt girls before and no one knew because of Daddy’s money?

  He left the convertible’s door open and walked around to lean against the driver’s side inner fender. He bent his leg and rested his foot agai
nst the wheel’s chrome rim.

  I crossed my arms protectively over my chest and frowned. “I asked you why you’re here.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” He left the side of his car and started walking towards me. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. It’s maddening. I couldn’t eat dinner. I can’t even think about sleeping. Not when I know you're out there somewhere.” He was fully under one of the smaller sidewalk lights now.

  “That’s called stalking, Castleton.” I wanted to keep backing away from him, but I also had a feeling that you didn’t show you were scared to a guy like Drake. He’d probably like it, more than a little.

  “Hey, you’re the one out here at night. All vulnerable, sweaty, wearing tight clothes.” He looked me up and down appreciatively.

  Now that he was under the lamp, I could see him more clearly. There was wildness in his eyes and his hair wasn’t coifed to perfection. His cheeks were flushed. “They’re running clothes.” I said the obvious, starting to feel less afraid, but more concerned. I didn’t want to feel worried about Drake. “Hey, are you okay?”

  He laughed. “Of course I’m fucking okay. I’m Drake Castleton. I’ve got more money than God.”

  “Money doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t make you happy.” I shrugged, watching his face closely.

  The wildness deepened and menacing shadows crept across his face. “Said like someone who’s never had the pleasure of buying whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.” He moved closer to me, his hand reaching out to touch. “Money buys everything.”

  “I’m sad for you, Castleton.” I jerked away before his fingers could brush my body. “Money only buys things. It doesn’t really buy people or their affection.”

  I turned around the way I’d come and started running. I didn’t care that it would take way longer to get home and my legs were aching and my chest was tight. I just needed to get away from Drake and I hadn’t wanted to run past him.

  I ran and I ran and I didn’t see any more headlights in the dark. Drake must have turned around. Or maybe he was still standing on the sidewalk, his car parked in the middle of the road. There was something wrong with him, seriously wrong. The tender part of me cared and wanted to help, but the rest of me? Just wanted to stay as far away from him as possible.

  It was pitch black out by the time I got home. The house was still alive with light. My parents tended to stay up late working, and it felt comforting to know that at least that much hadn’t changed along with this move.

  “How was your run? You were gone a long time.” Mom looked up from the file she was reading. She was accordion-folded into the burgundy high back chair and the electric fire was going strong next to her.

  “Oh,” I hesitated. I didn’t tell my parents everything, mostly because Mom would make a huge deal out of everything and Dad wasn’t really the fatherly-advice type. “It was fine. I got a little turned around.”

  “Well, it’s a new town. Maybe take the car out before your next run. Do some driving. Get more familiar with the area.” She turned over the page she was reading to peruse the back. “I don’t want you running at night again until there’s no chance of you getting lost.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, okay. I’m going to shower and head to bed.”

  “Fine, fine,” Mom mumbled, her focus back on the file she held, but she spoke again and stopped me before I could make it far. “Make sure you eat something. I’m sure you burned through a lot of calories. Remember what the doctor said about—”

  “I know, Mom. I’ll grab a banana. Okay?”

  “Good.” Mom smiled at me. “I just want you to be healthy.”

  “I’m not a kid anymore. I’m pretty good at listening to my body.” I sighed, shrugging. “Thanks for caring though.”

  “That’s my job, babes.” She winked and this time the silence between us stuck. I almost went upstairs, forgoing the fruit. I changed my mind though. One dizzy spell at school was enough for this week. It’s just… Lately, I’d felt this biological need to remind my parents that I was seventeen going on eighteen. I wasn’t a child anymore and I didn’t need them checking up on me every two seconds.

  Then again, the emotional side of me recognized that I was growing up, and that was a scary, scary thing. I’d never been properly kissed, never had a steady boyfriend, never failed a test or tried anything ridiculously crazy. Actually, it wasn’t them keeping me in a safe shell against the world.

  Honestly? It was me.

  5.

  T A R R Y N

  Day two has to be better than day one. Mom and Dad had dropped me off early today, twenty minutes before the first bell, so I was sitting under a large tree waiting out the time. Riding the bus was always an option, but I’d rather avoid the hormone-heavy air of crowded high school transportation. Besides, the early sun was warm and I’d always been a cat-like person. I could soak in rays all day and never get enough.

  Eyes closed, I froze when I felt someone approaching me from behind. I just had this six sense of knowing when I was being watched and someone was about to talk to me. I think it might be a super power all introverts have. I couldn’t stop the frown that contorted my mouth, because I expected it to be Drake freaking Castleton.

  “Hey, Tarryn.” A deep but melodic girl voice was literal music to my ears. My frown flipped to a smile and I shifted to stare back at the girl who was dropping her backpack to the ground.

  Sasha took a seat next to me on the grass, leaning her back against the tree. “Another day, another bit of my soul dying.” She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a book of poetry.

  “Any good?” I pointed at the book, truly curious. I wasn’t much into poetry… poetic novels, but not poems.

  “It’s pretty awful actually, but in a good way. Like a ‘can’t look away from a pimple popping video’ gross.” As if to prove her point, she opened the book to the middle and shoved it at me. “Here, read this one.”

  My nose crinkled when I read the first line.

  “No, read it out loud,” Sasha directed, readjusting the row of black and white bracelets on her wrist.

  I glanced at her curiously, but shrugged. “Okay. Let’s see.” I scanned the first line again before reading aloud. It was no less repulsive the second time. “Puss oozes from the gash that politics make, lash by lash, across the body of liberty, gayety, spontaneity. And thinking differently, my dear, will make you a target for the masses. Don’t be bi or trans or pan or fluid. Don’t reach for things beyond your station. Stay put in your tiny hole or tiny minds you’ll see them blow. Puss oozes from the gash that politics make, lash by lash. Lash by bitter lash.”

  I closed the book and handed it back to Sasha. I had absolutely no idea how to respond to what I’d just read, though I could see from her face that she was waiting for me to say something meaningful.

  When the silence stretched out, Sasha nodded. “Yeah, see. It really makes you think.”

  A blank stare. That’s all I could offer in return and it made me feel like a total idiot. I’d never been so thankful for the first bell ringing. Maybe Sasha and I weren’t going to jive as well as I’d initially thought. Or… maybe she was just the kind of weird I needed in my life.

  “What class do you have first?” I was grateful to have something to say that didn’t involve the poem I’d just read.

  “AP English. You?”

  “Chemistry with Paulson.” I stood up and brushed off the back of my jeans. I’d thought about wearing something nicer today, simply because I didn’t want Drake to make comments, but then I’d decided ‘fuck it’. I wasn’t going to change the way I dressed for a freaking guy.

  “Wow, he’s a snooze. I’d hate to have him first thing in the morning.”

  “He’s not so bad. And his background is amazing.” Picking up my backpack, I threaded my arms through it and started walking. Sasha fell in step beside me.

  “I see he regaled his first day classes with tales from the great National Institute of Health again.�
�� She smirked. “It’s his claim to fame.”

  “I mean, it is pretty impressive.” I tried to say it casually, though honestly a little hero-worship was due in my book.

  Sasha halted to a stop and put one hand on her hip; the bangles on her wrist clanked together gently. “You’re a nerd.” She didn’t say it accusatory, just a flat-out statement of surprise. “I honestly didn’t take you for the Belle book-in-a-nose type.”

  “I’m not a nerd,” I said quickly, but then bit my lip to stop myself from continuing. I sighed. “Actually, yeah. I’m a huge nerd. I’ve never met a subject I didn’t love or a book that I didn’t find worth reading. Except,” I wrinkled my nose, “maybe that book of poetry you just assaulted me with.”

  The gorgeous goth-girl with the dark shoulder-brushing hair and the lips painted a seriously dark shade of blue quirked an eyebrow. “I fucking love honesty,” she laughed out. “You and me,” she waved a hand between us, “are going to be aces together.”

  Sasha and I parted ways at the main entrance and I found my way to my locker. Punching in the code, I opened it and organized my freshly-labeled binders into the empty space. I couldn’t sleep last night after my run, so I’d gone a little crazy with the label maker and sharpies.

  “Wow, if I hadn’t thought you were a square before…”

  I whirled around, trying to think of something snotty to say to the person I knew was speaking. But the words died on my tongue. Drake was standing with his arm slung around a pretty petite girl with a blonde pixie. She looked up at me, her body snug into Drake’s, and her eyes said everything her mouth didn’t. Don’t you dare think of making a play for him; I was here first.

  “What do you want, Castleton?” I asked instead, peering down into my backpack and making sure I’d kept what I needed for Chemistry. “I don’t have time for your shit today. Or any day.”