Through the Pain (Whitsborough Chronicles Book 1)

by C. A. Rene

  “Vincent, have my girl home safe and sound.” Uncle Scott says.

  Since I’m not sure about protocol with this and if I have a curfew or not. I voice my concerns to my uncle.

  “I know these parties and you’ll be a lame-o if you leave too early. If you’re going to drink don’t drive, don’t let anyone drinking drive you and if you’re stuck and need a ride, always call me. Don’t do hard drugs, smoking a joint is cool but I’d watch out about mixing it with alcohol if you’re not used to it.” He taps his chin thinking of anything else. “Don’t have sex, I don’t want to be a… grandpa uncle? Would I be a grandpa uncle? Shit, that’s weird. Don’t have sex!”

  “Gotcha.” I reply, watching his eyes get frantic, “there’s no one I’d bone anyways.”

  He visibly relaxes.

  “Bone?” I hear my aunt Debby enquire from the kitchen doorway. Sharla is grinning behind her. “You look gorgeous, Ember!”

  “Hey Deb?” My uncle shouts out, “if Ember has a baby would I be grandpa-uncle?”

  “Sounds about right,” she nods, “Unkey gramps.”

  “You guys are weird.” I shake my head. “Am I driving?” I look to Vin.

  “Ma?” He looks to Sharla, “you okay to get home?”

  “You kids go, I’ll drop her home when they’re done all the clucking.” My uncle Scott says.

  I snicker and head towards the front door. “Remember my one rule Ember!” He yells out as we leave the house.

  “What’s the one rule?” Adri asks me as we’re climbing into Vin’s backseat together.

  “No boning.”

  “That’s a good one rule.” She nods. I agree.

  We pull up to Danny’s house and I can already hear the music thumping. I don’t see many cars and nobody is on the front lawn.

  We must be super early.

  He lives in another huge house, which seems to be the theme with most students at Precious Blood. His house is a red brick Tudor style. I know this because when my mother and I were searching for our home we saw many different types and I committed them all to memory.

  “Ready?’ Vin asks holding his arm out. I shake my head and get out of the Hummer. There is no way I will be on his arm. The boy has not earned it yet.

  “That’s how its going to be?” I hear him yell out.

  Yep.

  Adri is already inside and Vin shoulders past me into the house. Well then, I guess he’s mad.

  What a little boy.

  I step into the foyer and my breath is stolen right out of my chest. Danny has a beautiful home. Large Greekesque columns line his grand staircase and accents of gold are scattered everywhere. There are actual oil portrait paintings of his family. So prestigious here in the little town of Whitsborough, but isn’t everyone? Some are just better at hiding their money than others. Like my family. Although we do have an oversized garage filled with classic cars.

  Mine being one of them.

  “Ember! Our very own star in the making!” Danny booms as he’s walking towards me arms outstretched. He’s not wanting a hug is he? His arms wrap around me and he lifts me in the air.

  Yes, yes he is.

  “Okay, Friendly Giant.” I say tapping his shoulder. “You may release me.”

  “Fuck! You are one hot woman!” He bellows, biting his fist. Charming. “Go to the theatre room. We’re just setting up the booze and snacks before everyone gets here. Adri is already in there flicking through Netflix.”

  “Cool.” I head towards the double doors he’s pointing to. Theatre room, huh.

  I amble inside and again my breath is stolen. There is a large projection screen at the front and about fifty leather recliners lined up. Adri has indeed started up Netflix and currently watching Dirty Dancing. One of my favourites.

  “Bitch, look what I found in the hidden panel.” She’s holding up what looks to be a very expensive bottle of amber liquid.

  “Couldn’t have been too hidden if you found it.”

  “Right? Dumb rich snobs.”

  “You’re rich, too.” I state.

  “Not this rich, you know. Like stupid rich. Endless pools of money, rich.” She hiccups.

  “Have you had some already?” I eye the bottle.

  “On my second crystal glass full.” She holds it up. “Can’t sully the bottle with my less rich lips. Yours either, unfortunately.” She says while filling up a second glass.

  “Cheers.” I say and tip my glass.

  “Your tits look so big in that dress.” She says, poking my cleavage.

  “It’s the strapless bra and corset style top.”

  “Hot, nonetheless.”

  We have polished off two thirds of the bottle and halfway through the movie when the theatre doors open. The music rushes into the soundproofed room and assaults us.

  “Girls. Party is in full swing. Get the fuck out here!” Danny screams.

  “Oh yeah,” Adri snaps her fingers. “This is a fucking party.”

  I snort and try to stand up, just to fall back down.

  “I’m hammed.” I snort again.

  “Let’s go dance!” Adri squeals.

  I follow her out on wobbling legs. That scotch hits hard.

  The place is completely packed. People are grinding on each other everywhere. I look around for him because I’m weak and I can’t help myself. I follow Danny to the kitchen and lo and behold there he is, leaning against the counter with Britney hanging off his side.

  I walk up and sit on a stool on the other side of the counter. His mossy eyes flick up, barely scan me and slide back to Britney’s face.

  Well then.

  She grins up at him and he wraps his arm around her waist. I get it, I pissed him off by not letting him claim me or whatever. But I know I’m right and he must earn it. And this isn’t the way.

  “Oh, look girls! The drama sluts are all here!” Her whiny voice penetrates the music.

  Marlana comes and stands on my right and looks down at me. I swear if she touches me right now I’ll jab her eye out.

  “Told you, you meant nothing. She doesn’t either. He’ll always come back to me.” She says close enough that only I hear.

  “Back off slut, are you possessed or something?” Adri yells at her from my left.

  Shit, maybe she is.

  I watched that show and I know exactly what I must do. Sam and Dean taught me. I reach over the counter and grab the saltshaker and start shaking it at her.

  “Spirit be gone!” I scream, “if this doesn’t work grab me some iron.” I say to Adri.

  Everyone is laughing at Marlana’s screeching.

  “I fucking love that show!” Adri says laughing.

  Marlana and her cronies finally leave the kitchen with her trying to dust the salt out of her head. It fucking worked.

  “My bitch! Let’s go dance!” Adri grabs me and we make our way over to the crowd. There’s an old school Biggie Smalls song playing and I move to the beat.

  “Shit Ember! You can move!” Adri exclaims.

  Fucking right I can.

  I grab her hips with both hands and bring her in close. Wrapping my arms around her waist I slowly start to wine into her. Her eyes widen at first but then she starts to move with me. She can move as well. Her arms wrap around my neck and she tips her head back.

  Adri is beautiful.

  We start to gather an audience and Marlana and her crew look at us like we’re diseased. Vin is leaning against the far wall next to Danny watching us with hooded eyes. Then I watch Bitchney step in front of him pressing her ass in tight. She starts to slowly dance on him smirking at me. He doesn’t move to touch her but he doesn’t move her away either. He’s still watching me.

  I’m going to show him what he’s missing.

  I bring my left hand up to Adri’s chin and tip her head back, I’m still looking at Vin as I drag my tongue up the column of her throat. He bites down on his lip and with one hand grabs Britney bringing her in closer.

  Adri let’s ou
t a moan and cups my face with her hands bringing my head in closer. I kiss down her neck and my right hand grabs her ass cheek bringing her in closer, grinding her into my knee.

  “Fuck me, Ember. Am I lesbian right now? I totally want you.” She’s looking at me with lust in her eyes.

  “Maybe one day.” I wink at her and lick her lips quickly. She moans so loud and her body shudders. Wow, she really is into this.

  She licks along my ear and it’s my turn to shudder against her.

  “Travis is here behind you, laughing at Tracy Bertrand.” She says into my ear.

  “Who is that?”

  Her head trips back and she laughs deep and throaty. Her hands travel to my ass and she squeezes tight, “mm, such a nice ass, she’s in your lit class. She’s wanted Travis for a while. He hasn’t even looked at me.”

  She pulls away from me with a look of disappointment. She kisses my cheek and turns walking towards Danny. I look and notice both Britney and Vin are gone. I can only imagine what they are up to as I dance alone for a bit until I feel a body come up behind me.

  It’s not Vin, I know his smell. I look over my shoulder and see another set of similar green eyes and they are full of mirth.

  “Quite the show you put on there.”

  “So, you did watch.” I reply.

  “I see everything, especially when it involves people I care about.” He says still smirking. Then his smile drops as he looks towards Adri and Danny.

  She has positioned herself in front of him and they are sensually making out, grinding into each other.

  “That’s my fault, I think I riled her up.”

  “I think you riled up more than just her.” He says.

  “Yeah,” I frown, “he’s fucking Britney right now.”

  He wraps his arm around my shoulders and kisses my temple. “Need a ride home kid?”

  I nod and point to Adri. “She’s with me, too.”

  “Okay, go get her. I’ll wait outside.”

  I finally convince Adri that having sex with Danny would be a bad idea-much to his dismay-then get her in her trench and into Travis’ backseat.

  “Oh! Hii Travis. It was great seeing you tonight and you know… talking.” She says her voice filled with sarcasm.

  “You were a little busy, I didn’t get a chance to say hi.” He retorts.

  I am sitting in the passenger seat listening to them go back and forth. They want each other, it’s so obvious.

  Finally, my house comes into view and I exhale in relief until I see the tail end of a black sedan driving down my street, fuck I really need to talk to Tommy.

  I need out of this negative energy and into my bed.

  Adri rushes out like her ass is on fire and marches up to my porch.

  “You guys are crazy; you know that right?” I say to Travis.

  “Whatever.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. “Sleep it off, and don’t dwell on the asshole, he’s not worth it.”

  I nod and get out. Adri is huffing on my porch giving me major side eye.

  “What it is?” I ask.

  “So, you and Travis?”

  “Ha, ha, ha.” I shake my head, “Travis holds a piece of my soul. Just like you. But nothing romantic.”

  She visibly relaxes and pulls me in for a hug. I chuckle and hug her back. I need sleep and water.

  We get ready for bed and I pull out my phone. Nothing, no messages or phone calls.

  That fucking jerk.

  I pull up his name and hover over the text icon. I know I shouldn’t, I’m not thinking rationally. I put it on my side table and snuggle into bed beside a snoring Adri.

  Chapter Eight

  There is a constant pinging seeping into my sleep addled brain. As I slowly come to consciousness, the pounding of my head and the sandpaper consistency of my mouth invades my senses. The ping sounds again and I groan out loud. With my eyes still shut I reach out and feel around for my phone on the side table.

  My hand closes around it and the ping goes off again. Who the fuck is messaging me this much?! I crack open one eye and see that Adri is still very much in my bed and still very much snoring. I bring the phone up to my one cracked eye and see it is 8:30am. Oh fuck, someone is going to die. It’s Saturday and I have a brutal hangover and someone has lost their fucking mind.

  I unlock the fucking phone and check my messages.

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: Ember call me.

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: I know ur pissed. Can you just call me when u get up?

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: fuck! I was supposed to take u home. I couldn’t find u!

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: Just tell me u got home ok.

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: Ember!

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: I will call ur house.

  Dickfacebitchfuckerasshole: fuck!

  Tommy Boi: Hey scrapper.

  Tommy Boi: Sorry I’ve been MIA jus had so much shizz to deal with.

  Tommy Boi: I got some info to tell u. Will FaceTime tonite.

  I snort out loud. I must’ve changed Vin’s name last night. Fuck, that’s pretty spot on. Then it all floods back, him and Britney, them both disappearing, and me having to get a ride home from Travis.

  He tried to find me my fucking ass.

  My spirits rise a bit seeing Tommy’s messages. At least I have his face to look forward to later despite the ominous message. It’ll be good to finally tell him about that car.

  I lock my phone without responding and turn over to fall back asleep. I’m just getting comfortable when I hear a phone going off. The ringer is strange and not mine, then Adri groans and stirs awake, immediately gripping her head.

  “What time is it?” She snaps, “where’s my fucking phone?”

  “8:30.” I respond keeping my eyes shut, “sounds like it’s at the bottom of the bed.”

  “It’s probably my dad. Just ignore it.”

  The ringing stops and we both sigh with relief, only for it to start ringing again.

  “What the fuck!!!” She screeches. My throbbing head is assaulted by the noise.

  She crawls down the bed and grabs her phone looking at the screen.

  “Why the fuck is Vin calling my phone?!”

  That wakes me up fast.

  I watch as she answers with a permanent scowl on her face.

  “What the fuck do you want!” She screams into the receiver. I snort and bury under the blankets. He totally deserves her scary mood right now.

  “Obviously we are home you idiot! No thanks to your dumbass! Travis, the more considerate brother, made sure we were safe. I hope Britney gave you herpes!” She hangs up throwing her phone back on the floor.

  “You’re perfect.” I mumble from under the covers.

  “And you deserve better.”

  We both fall off to sleep for another five hours.

  Sunlight is streaming through my window and cannot be ignored any longer. I stretch out and my hand connects with Adri’s face.

  “Shit, my bad.” I say patting the top of her head.

  “I barely felt it through the pounding in my skull.” She slowly rolls out of bed, “I’m totally using your shower.”

  “Cool.” I respond, picking up my phone. I have no more new messages and I’m not sure how I feel about that. A part of me wants Vin grovelling but another part of me just wants him to leave me alone.

  Yes, I know I rebuffed his advances numerous times, but my heart hasn’t completely followed my brain to the ‘get over him’ zone.

  I message Tommy back to let him know I’m excited to talk to him later. He has been so busy lately since Raphael has returned.

  Adri comes out of my bathroom looking a little more awake and little less drunk. I’m guessing a shower is needed for me, as well.

  “Vin has been messaging me.” She says while looking at her phone.

  “Saying?”

  “He wants to see you. He’s asking me to tell him when we wake up.”

  “Did you answer him?�
�� I ask my teeth gritted.

  “Nope, I wouldn’t do that without speaking to you first.”

  “I don’t want to see him.”

  “Makes sense, I would think you were nuts if you did.” She shakes her head. “I called my dad, he’s on his way to get me.”

  “You don’t have to leave so fast. I can make us breakfast.”

  “I have a fucking paper due on Shakespeare for Monday.” She’s clearly hungover too and probably needs her own bed.

  “Gotcha, sister. I’m gonna get some work done, too.” I slowly make my way out of bed.

  After Adri leaves and I finish my shower, I pass the rest of the day studying and trying to nap off my hangover. It’s a doozy.

  I finally crawl out of my hole and go in search of my parents. The thought stops me in my tracks, I just referenced my aunt and uncle as my parents. A wave of guilt threatens to drown me as I think of my mother. As much as I miss her and I will love her forever, my aunt and uncle really are my new parents.

  I find them curled on the couch, my uncle watching sports and my aunt reading a novel.

  “Feeling like shit?” My uncle snickers.

  “Pretty much.” I groan.

  “Hey, Vincent called this morning, something about losing you at the party?” He raises an eyebrow.

  “He went off to wet his dick, I don’t know about the losing me bit. Travis brought us home.”

  My aunt chokes at my response as my uncle is clutching his stomach laughing.

  “Well, he’s just stupid, there’s no one better than my niece.” He states, “speaking of, Andrew called and said he had a phenomenal turn out for your class. Over sixty people. He wants to know if we could stop by today to finalize some paperwork and settle on a schedule.”

  “Really?” I’m amped. “Let’s go now!”

  We finish up the meeting with Andrew and settled on two different classes every Sunday morning and afternoon. The pay is great, too.

  I tell my uncle to head on home because I want to do a bit of a workout. It’s been awhile and my body is itching to sweat. I’m running full speed for fifteen minutes when a hand shoots out and brings my treadmill to a jog.

  “What the fuck?” I turn and see green eyes full of anger staring at me.