Through the Pain (Whitsborough Chronicles Book 1)

by C. A. Rene

  Vince: I’ll see you tomorrow

  Vince: No more ditching, I wouldn’t want to get on your bad side

  Me: Goodnight, *Kiss*

  He replies almost instantly.

  Vince: I only accept the real thing

  I set my alarm for school and lay in bed running everything over in my head. Maybe he’ll make it up to me with a hot kiss tomorrow, since he only accepts the real thing. I roll over cuddling into my pillow.

  I’ve got it bad.

  I’m on my way to pick up Adri and I realize I haven’t got the time to stop for a coffee.

  I’m going to be a mean bitch today.

  I’ll have to get up earlier so I have time to acquire my caffeine fuel. I pop my sunglasses on and pull into her driveway. I honk my horn and Adri comes out of her house. Her maroon hair is out and flowing around her face in waves. She looks hot today.

  “Hey bitch!” She yells as she’s opening the door.

  “Are you always this chipper?” I ask looking at her above my glasses.

  “Ooh, you’re a morning bitchy bitch.”

  I chuckle and say, “just need coffee. Didn’t plan my morning right.”

  “Did I fuck it up?” She asks, “not that I’d suggest you not pick me up anymore, cause this ride? Is now my morning orgasm.”

  I laugh out loud and pull out of her driveway.

  “So, tell me what happened with Travis.” Adri says trying to look unbothered.

  “I basically said I wasn’t that into him. And he agreed that he felt the same.” I say with a shrug, “he did say he was into someone else. Any idea who that could be?”

  “I haven’t really paid any attention to him, so no goddamned idea.”

  “Sure.” I drawl out.

  “Fine! I’ve made it a point to make it look like I haven’t been paying attention to him.” She slouches in her seat, “he’s never really dating. I just hear about rumours.”

  “Like?”

  “Like who he’s slept with and it’s usually never the same girl twice.” She answers on a huff.

  “Interesting.”

  “Not really,” she gives me a side eye. “Vin is the same”

  “Well, he’s into someone regardless of who he’s sleeping with. I have an idea whom.” I say looking at her and ignoring the Vin dig.

  “Me?!” She squeaks, “are you nuts?”

  “Just an inkling.”

  “What happened with Vin?” She asks changing the subject.

  “I texted him, said I didn’t appreciate him ditching me yesterday.”

  “And?”

  “And he said he was sorry and wouldn’t do it again.” I shrug, “he did ask for a kiss.”

  “He did?” She puts her finger to her mouth, “weird.”

  “Why’s that weird?” I ask.

  “Vin doesn’t do PDA, like at all. Nothing.”

  “He’s never had girlfriends?”

  “He has, he just doesn’t pay them much attention in public. Like I told you yesterday, that’s why people were staring because he’s done more with you than his actual girlfriends.”

  That’s a little weird, but I think back to yesterday when Marlana was on his lap and he pushed her off. He didn’t want her attention at all, and from what I understand they fuck all the time.

  “Weird.” I echo her previous statement.

  We pull up to the school and I pull into the same spot I had yesterday. I decide to keep my sunglasses firmly on my face until I get to the café to grab coffee.

  “You do realize you parked beside Travis?” Adri says with humour in her voice.

  “How the fuck would I know that? I barely know what car I drive.”

  She full out laughs and points to a cobalt blue car. Pretty colour.

  “It’s a 2019 Honda Civic. Fully Loaded.”

  “Speak English, my tank,” I tap my head, “is on empty remember?”

  She continues laughing and gets out of the car, “we’re meant to be Ember.”

  “How romantic.” I smirk, “do I get routine head?”

  “Now, this is a conversation I can get behind.” I hear his raspy voice.

  “Douches.” Adri says with a shake of her head, I don’t miss the smirk she has on her face as she’s walking away.

  I turn to face him as my heart feels like it’s going to jump out of my chest. He’s fucking gorgeous, he has his trademark scowl on his face-the one I want to sit on-and is holding a cup towards me.

  “My mom sent me with this since you didn’t come in this morning.” He says with a shrug.

  My mouth falls open. “Is that coffee?”

  “Yeah, I think so?” He looks confused, “she said it’s the same as what you got yesterday.”

  I don’t think, I just launch myself at him throwing my arms around him and burying my face in his neck.

  “Whoa,” he says his one free arm coming around my back. “It’s just coffee.”

  “You don’t understand,” I say my voice muffled, “I’m going to marry your mother.” I pull away from his neck and look up at him, my hand cupping his cheek as I stare into his beautiful eyes. “I’m your new Step-Mommy, hun.”

  His hand is rubbing a slow circle on my back as he pulls me in closer. He’s chuckling, first time I’ve heard him laugh at all. Maybe I’m breaking down his walls chip by chip.

  He bends his face down to mine.

  “I’ll have you before she does.” He says in my ear.

  A shiver runs from my toes all the way to the top of my head. I’m staring into his green eyes, his thick black lashes cushioned around them and I tip back my head. I’ve never wanted to kiss someone so badly. He’s looking from my eyes to my mouth and he starts to lean in.

  “Get a fucking room!”

  Vin pulls back and looks across the parking lot with annoyance. There stands Cotton Candy Head and her face is distorted with jealousy and rage.

  “Seriously Vin?” She says with her hands on her hips.

  “What Marlana?” He says, “is there something I can help you with?”

  “Yeah actually, how about you get away from the skank and walk me to class?” She bares her teeth as she talks.

  Oh, hell no, I warned this bitch.

  “That’s it. I told you yesterday not to push me.”

  “Hey!” Vin yells as I dash towards her. He grabs the back of my shirt to hold me in place.

  “What skank? I warned you too!” She yells at me. Then she sees Vin has a firm hold on me and comes up to my face.

  “Why would you think he would want some ghetto Bronx bitch over me?” She spits out, “we’ve been together since the eighth grade!”

  “Mar! Stop! We haven’t been together for months!” Vin yells from behind me. Which in turn makes me snort.

  “You stupid bitch! He’s mine! Take that smile off your face!” Then she does something that shocks me. She bitch slaps me and hard. I taste the blood in my mouth.

  “Holy shit.” Vin says and moves to grab her. In the process he has let me go. I’m quick as I fly towards her and grab her head in a guillotine choke hold. Her hands fly up and grab my arms.

  “From this day forward Pepto, you never touch me again. You understand?” She’s losing her breath and still grabbing my arms trying to pull me off.

  “Ember, let her go.” Vin says calmly beside me.

  “Do you understand?” I repeat making my arms a little tighter. I can’t do much to her right now, she’s just having a hard time breathing. I could go tighter and make her pass out. She finally nods and I let her go. She starts coughing and grabbing her throat.

  “You’re psycho!” She screams hoarsely.

  “Yes, I am, better to keep that in mind the next time you want to throw hands.”

  A crowd has formed around us, Danny is there looking shocked. I must’ve blown his little brain, who would’ve thought a female could fight?

  Dickhead.

  Marlana’s goon squad is here too, as well as Travis and Adri. Whom by the w
ay is laughing and clapping her hands.

  Marlana walks away still gripping her throat. Travis is not too far behind grinning and shaking his head.

  “Ember!” Danny yells, coming closer. “What are you doing Friday night? I love being choked during sex.”

  “You know what Danny; I would actually consider fucking you if it meant I could choke you to death.” I reply, rolling my eyes.

  The crowd starts to disperse but I catch a few looking at me now with more caution. Good.

  “Great! Friday night it is!” Danny exclaims and walks back towards the school.

  “He’s dim huh?” I ask Vin. I turn to look at him since he’s so quiet.

  He is staring at me with his brows tugged together.

  “What?” I ask, giving him a glare.

  “Nothing.” He points to the coffee on top of my car. “Don’t forget that.”

  Then-shocker-he walks off towards school.

  “You are so badass!!” Adri squeals and launches herself at me. “Can you teach me?!”

  “Sure.” I shrug. “I may have a class starting up at the gym. Sign up.”

  She touches my face where the bitch slapped me, “you’re going to be wearing her handprint for a bit.”

  “Meh, I’ve had worse.”

  Adri lifts her eyebrow but doesn’t say anything. I know I will have questions later for sure.

  The warning bell rings so I grab my coffee and backpack and head off to start my day.

  Adri and I hurry to homeroom and we sit in the same seats as yesterday. Travis isn’t up here today though because he took his regular seat in the back. I give him a little wave and he smiles. I can feel him and I will be good.

  Mrs. G rushes into class wearing a full black dress, long sleeves and skirt to her ankles. The collar of the dress is white, very nun like.

  “Good morning children of God!” She sings out.

  I plant the biggest fake smile on my face and keep it there for the rest of the period.

  I make it to lunch unscathed. I only had a handful of people ask me where I learned to fight. It starts to get boring reciting the same story, so I just tell them to sign up for classes at the gym and maybe I’ll divulge. Adri and I leave biology and head to our lockers.

  “I have so many questions.” She says to me.

  “I figured.”

  “Is it private? Should we sit outside?”

  “Private?” I look at her, “I trained as an MMA fighter. What were you thinking?”

  “Oh, that’s cool. I wasn’t thinking anything.” She says her eyes to the side.

  “I’m from New York so I must be a gang banger, right?” I say to her with a grin.

  “Maybe? Or like a drug runner? Or! You would collect the flesh of people who owed your mafia boss money!”

  “You sure you’re not on drugs?” I ask her.

  “Not currently.”

  “Well, I wasn’t just training. I did some other stuff. Nothing I want to talk about at school though, ya feel me?”

  “Call me tonight?” She asks me, her eyes bright.

  “Yeah sure.”

  She squeals and heads off towards the café. She squeals a lot. I’m smiling and shaking my head as we enter. I head for the line behind Adri and I order the same as yesterday. Why screw with a good thing?

  “Ember! Hey!” I look around and see Danny standing waving his arms. “Come sit with us, you too, Adri.”

  Adri is shaking her head and heading towards her usual table.

  I grab her shirt.

  “I want to sit with Vin, please, please come with me.”

  “Fucking shit, you owe me big time.” She grumbles while stomping off towards their table.

  I walk behind her and take a seat beside Danny and right across Vin. He is completely engrossed in a conversation with the busty blonde in our drama class. He doesn’t even spare me a look and I overhear snippets of their convo. She’s saying she’s trying out for the part of Claire and she’s so excited to work directly with him. He’s agreeing and smiling wide.

  Fuck this.

  “Come Adri, I think Jacob is looking for us.” I say grabbing my tray.

  “Thank fuck.” She breathes getting up quickly.

  “Wait what?” Danny says looking at me like I just stole his puppy.

  “There, there,” I say patting his head, “I changed my mind but I’ll be seeing you later.”

  I now have Vin’s attention and he has that same look on his face he had this morning when I grabbed Marlana.

  “You’ll sit with me?” Danny asks with big puppy dog eyes. I fight to not roll my eyes at his attention seeking ways.

  “Sure thing, pumpkin.” I say as I walk away. I make sure to put an extra swing in my step and not look back. I just feel Vin is watching me.

  Lunch goes by quickly with Jake and Jordan cracking jokes and Adri razzing Jake as much as possible. I’m proud of myself because I didn’t look at him once although Adri told me periodically, that he was staring a hole into my back.

  Good.

  I gather up my things and get ready for English lit.

  “Bitch, I’ll see you at my orgasm machine.” Adri says to me as she leaves.

  “Do I want to know?” Jordan asks.

  “My car, it has replaced her multi speed bedroom companion.” I reply with a wink.

  “Ew.” Jordan says his face full of distaste.

  I laugh as I walk away towards the cafe doors. My phone pings, it’s a message from Tommy. He sent me the new emoji of his animated face and I giggle as I leave the café.

  “Anything interesting?” I hear his rasp.

  Yet again I’m proud of myself for not looking up at him.

  “Not really.” I reply without stopping. I continue down the hall towards English lit.

  “Hey!” He yells, running towards me. “Ember wait.”

  I continue to walk my head in my text message. Vin grabs my arm forcing me to stop. I don’t think because all I feel is his hand grabbing me, my heartrate picks up and I start to see red.

  “Get your hands of me pretty boy or you’ll get exactly what your friend Marlana got this morning.”

  “She’s not my friend. And don’t threaten me, you should know I’d take that threat with pleasure.”

  “It didn’t look pleasurable for you this morning. You talk big game but really you’re just another man who can’t handle a strong bitch.”

  With that I walk off while he struggles to speak. His mouth opening and shutting like a fucking goldfish.

  Such a fucking turn off.

  “You told him.”

  I try to calm down as I hear Travis coming up beside me

  “He’s all talk.” I reply with a shrug, once my heart rate levels out.

  “Look, I don’t get along with him but I know he’s not all talk. My face knows he’s not all talk.” We both chuckle at that. “He’s not used to seeing a girl fight like that. Around here we see nail scratching and hair pulling. Obviously some slapping.”

  “You didn’t look at me like I was a disgusting monster after though. That’s the difference.” I say pointing my finger at my face.

  “I don’t think he thought that, fuck I don’t know why I’m sticking up for him.”

  “He’s your brother.” I reply.

  “You’re wrong, we share a father but we were never brothers. I just know him well enough that maybe he was thrown off but not disgusted.”

  “Well he has a ball sack, it’s about time he acted like it.” I grin.

  “That is so fucking sexist.” He grins, shaking his head, “ball sacks are sensitive you know.”

  “I’m saying he should man up.” I stop and look at him, “I trained for years in MMA and because of that I will never let anyone lay their hands on me.”

  “I agree you shouldn’t,” he nods, “maybe he should woman up?”

  “Huh?”

  “Those things can take a beating.” He says pointing at my crotch and walks in the classroom wit
h a wink.

  Fuck, if he isn’t right.

  I sit through English, a class I absolutely love but don’t absorb one single thing. Nothing is retained. I snap out of my thoughts when the bell rings, letting us know this period is over. Now I am off to drama, and towards actual drama as well.

  “Take it easy on him Ember, I can tell there’s something different about him around you.” Travis says as he’s putting his books away.

  “I like him, I barely know him but I like him.” I shake my head, “he disappointed me this morning.”

  “I think guys are programmed to be constant disappointments to girls.” He mumbles.

  “You’re probably right.”

  “Anyways, give me your cell.” He says with his hand out.

  “Why?” I ask, giving it to him anyways.

  “Nobody calls our house phone anymore except for scams and telemarketing.”

  I laugh and watch as he texts himself with my phone.

  “Text me later if you want to talk.” With that he leaves the classroom.

  Today I arrive to the rotunda on time. Vin and Danny are here sitting on the same couch as yesterday. I feel both their eyes on me as I come in. I go to the same pillow I sat on yesterday and pull out the script. I read over it again last night and really am preparing to audition for Claire.

  “Okay I’m here, please kick my ass any way you please.” Danny says plopping down on the pillow beside mine.

  “I’ll take a rain cheque, but I do feel like I’ll be cashing that in sooner than later.”

  “Fuck I hope so. That was so hot this morning,” he says, dropping his voice. “Marlana needs someone to knock her down a few pegs.”

  “Yeah, well that’s not going to be my perogative.” I shake my head, “I just want her to stay out of my way.”

  “Won’t happen,” he shrugs, “my boy wants you and she has always wanted him.”

  “She can have him.” I say, glaring at him.

  “Nah, she can’t.” He grins. “Not anymore, I could tell the moment your sweet ass climbed those stairs and fed Marlana attitude he was done.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Want to make out?” He deadpans.

  “Not particularly.” I also deadpan.

  “It’ll make him jealous and we’ll keep it totally PG.”

  I lean in close our lips brushing.