Start a Fire: A Dark High School Bully Romance (The Savage Crew Book 1)

by Julia Wolf

  I moved past him and started down the hall, my feet unsure and stumbling a little. I glanced over my shoulder. He was still by my locker, one shoulder resting against it, watching my retreat.

  I knew what I’d find outside, but the sight of no buses still made my heart squeeze. My mom worked until after eight tonight, so she couldn’t pick me up. I’d have to walk. It wasn’t a fate worse than death. Our apartment complex was only slightly over two miles away, and the temperature was pretty mild for a late California summer.

  As I trekked along the sidewalk, I checked out the way my small city had changed over the last two years. It was so different from our little town in Switzerland. We’d lived closer to Italy in a valley, with vineyards and forests so close, I’d often walked through them with friends. Here, we were thirty minutes from the beach, an hour from mountains, another hour to the desert. When Elena and I were friends, we’d spend our weekends on the beach when we weren’t cheering.

  Savage River had a small downtown area about a mile from school. I stopped in the coffee shop I used to go to with my friends and ordered an iced coffee, then wandered down the street.

  A new shop had opened at the edge of downtown. The graffiti on the side of the building caught my eye. Bright paint swirled across the brick, forming The Great Wave of Kanagawa, one of my dad’s favorite paintings. It was hard to believe this had been done with spray paint. The fact that there was a skateboard cresting the wave made me like it even more.

  Curiosity had me opening the door to the shop, and the loud reggae music had me stepping inside. The walls were covered with skateboards, from midway all the way to the ceiling. I ran my fingers along the slick boards, liking the feel of them.

  “Looking for a board?” A twenty-something-year-old man with waist-length dreadlocks leaned his arm against a rack of clothes, giving me a smile.

  “No, I’ve never skateboarded in my life. I liked the art outside and thought I’d check the store out.”

  He nodded. “I’ll tell Vegas you said so. You’re welcome to look around, hang out, whatever. I’m Preston, by the way. Holler if you need anything.”

  Preston started to walk back to his perch behind the counter, but an idea came over me, so I called his name to stop him.

  “Are you hiring by any chance?” I asked. Mom would be working evenings at a call center when she finished with her classes, so I’d be on my own most nights. I wasn’t looking forward to sitting in our little apartment, and some pocket change would be nice.

  His hands went into the back pockets of his shorts and he rocked back on his heels, taking me in. “You have experience?”

  “No,” I answered honestly.

  He chuckled. “You don’t board, you don’t have experience—pretty brazen to go lookin’ for a job in a skate shop. I like it.”

  “I guess that’s my qualification. Brazen as hell and not afraid to talk to skater boys. Plus, I’m hella smart, so anything you teach me, you only need to teach me once. And I’m honest to a fault, ask my mom.”

  Preston laughed harder. “I actually am looking for someone to fill in two nights a week. I’m here most of the time, and my wife, Carly, is usually around. We’ve just got Hells Belles working for us now, but you seem like good people. Tell you what, Carly’s out getting coffee. Stick around, and if she gives you the stamp of approval, the job’s yours.”

  An hour later, I walked out of Savage Wheelz with a job and an adorable pair of checkered Vans I’d purchased with my shiny new employee discount.

  My day had been shit, but at least it was winding down with a couple bright spots. Honestly, it was better than expected. I had Bex, art, and a job. Yeah, a couple boys with no sense of personal space had gotten closer than I would have liked, but they’d lose interest when they didn’t get a rise from me. And if they didn’t stop fucking with me? Well, there was a reason I wore steel-toe boots.

  Chapter Four

  I took my seat near the front of business math. Mr. Klaski looked up from his phone and smiled at me.

  “Good morning. Grace, right?”

  “Uh, yeah.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Good morning.”

  He got up from his desk, coming around it to lean his butt against it, doing that I’m-your-friend-not-just-a-teacher thing they probably taught in college. “How’s your second day of school treating you?”

  “Fair.” I crossed my legs, sitting sideways in my seat. “How’s yours?”

  He sputtered a laugh, his cheeks coloring slightly. “That obvious?”

  “You have a shiny, new quality about you most of the teachers here don’t have.” I cupped my hands around my mouth, faux-whispering, “Plus, I think they stick the new teachers down here in the dungeon.”

  Just as he laughed, Gabe and Sebastian came sauntering into class, stopping by my desk and towering over me.

  “Really, little princess? The teacher?” Gabe tsked and shook his head.

  “I have no earthly idea what you mean.” I spun back around in my seat, giving them my profile.

  Gabe leaned over, speaking by my ear. “You’re in my seat.”

  “You sat in the back yesterday,” I hissed.

  “I’ve decided I want this one.” He turned, speaking to Mr. Klaski. “Sir, would you mind asking Grace to move? I have trouble with my vision and really need to be up front.”

  My mouth fell open. This asshole. Half the class started laughing, and Mr. Klaski stammered.

  I started packing up my backpack before Mr. Klaski had the chance to answer. “It’s fine. You’re welcome to this seat.”

  While Gabe hovered at the front of my desk, Sebastian took up the aisle. He didn’t move to give me space, so when I stood, my chest brushed his. He smirked, then followed as I made my way to the back of the room, unnerving me.

  When he took the empty seat beside me, I had to suppress a shiver. From the corner of my eye, I saw him kick back in his chair, like it was an everyday occurrence for him and his buddy to kick a girl out of her seat. His gaze was on me, penetrating my consciousness, making me a little crazy.

  He wanted a reaction. For whatever reason, this boy had decided my fear was fascinating. I wouldn’t be giving him what he wanted. Not today. Not in the safety of this classroom. Maybe if he cornered me in a deserted hallway again, but not here.

  Mr. Klaski gave a shaky lecture about creating a budget for both home and business, and to be honest, I found it more informative than I thought I would, so I gave him my full attention, writing notes in my Sally notebook. At one point, Sebastian laughed under his breath, and I knew without looking it was directed at me.

  At the end of class, Sebastian followed me out, and Gabe waited by the door. Ignoring them both, I stopped by my locker to pick up everything I’d need for the second part of the day, including my lunch. They hovered, observing me, making me feel like a science experiment.

  “Flirting with the teacher is a real bad look, you know,” Gabe said when I slammed my locker shut.

  I scowled at him. Rumors like that were insidious. All it took was a whisper in the right ear and it would spread like wildfire. Guess I wouldn’t be talking to Mr. Klaski anymore.

  “Good thing I wasn’t flirting.” I pushed past them, making my way down the hall.

  They closed around me, matching my every step. “When do you start wearing your little cheerleader skirt to class?” Gabe asked.

  I ignored him and kept walking. Why the hell was this school so massive?

  “She’s not gonna talk to you, man. Girl’s just slumming for math. Can’t wait to get back upstairs with her people.” Sebastian’s words almost sounded like a snarl.

  This was bait I wouldn’t be taking. I didn’t know this boy, and he’d formed some false opinion of me. He wanted me to deny it, probably so he could present evidence that proved him right.

  “Aw, you’re not gonna talk to me, Grace?” Gabe stuck out his bottom lip like I’d broken his heart.

  “I thought we covered this yesterday, Gab
e. This is not going to be a thing.”

  I climbed the stairs with my bodyguards-slash-stalkers at my back.

  “Nice cherry panties, little princess,” Gabe said from a few stairs below me.

  My hand flew to the bottom of my skirt, pressing it to the back of my legs. Then I realized I was wearing black shorts under my skirt and Gabe was fucking with me yet again.

  His laughter echoed off the stairwell, and I truly wondered if he might be a little off his rocker—especially when he threw his arm over my shoulders at the top of the stairs.

  “Come on, Grace. Let’s be friends,” Gabe said.

  “Why are you touching me? That’s not okay.” I flung his arm off me, making him laugh.

  “Don’t want her little cheerleader friends to think she might hang out with the likes of us,” Sebastian said.

  “Speak for yourself, man. I’m classy as shit.” Gabe smoothed the front of his Adidas shirt and smiled his maniacal smile.

  Bex waited for me by the doors leading outside. When she saw me approaching with my persistent shadows, her eyes widened.

  My pace quickened, and they let me go, though I was extremely aware they could have stopped me if they hadn’t wanted me to get away. This school was so big, the teachers so overworked and understaffed, no one gave one single fuck two massive guys were following a girl through the halls.

  I was on my own with this.

  I only hoped I was getting boring to them.

  Bex and I retreated to the bleachers again, and I stuffed my sandwich in my mouth before she could question me. As I chewed, I thought about what Bash and Gabe had said. About me being too good for them—or at least thinking I was too good for them. And about my cheerleader friends. I liked to believe I wasn’t the same girl I had been at fifteen, but I didn’t think I had been completely abysmal back then either.

  “What did you think of me before? When we were freshmen?” I asked.

  Bex put down her sandwich, contemplating her answer. “Well, I liked you in art class.”

  “And outside of art class?” I pressed.

  “You disappeared. It was like whatever made you you was sucked up into the void that surrounded you and your friends. You became one of them, and they were pretty crappy. They still are.” She gripped my knee. “Please tell me you’re not going to become a cheer-bot again.”

  I would have laughed, but there was genuine worry on her face. “No worries about that. I think my bridges burned to the ground, so even if I wanted back on the squad, it wouldn’t happen.” I exhaled a heavy breath. “Damn, I hadn’t realized how bad I was.”

  “Did Gabe say something? Is that why you’re asking?”

  “It was more Sebastian. He seems to really hate me, and I don’t get it. I don’t remember him at all. I doubt we ever crossed paths.”

  She gave me a knowing smile. “Because you’d remember the hell out of that fine, psychopathic specimen, right?”

  I nearly choked on my chip. “So, I’m not the only one who thinks he’s got future serial killer written all over him?”

  “Maybe. But I’d probably get in his murder van.”

  I laughed. “I worry for you, Bex.”

  We spent the rest of lunch talking about the photography project she had planned to add to her portfolio, and I attempted to block Sebastian Vega from my mind. I felt lighter when we made our way back inside, and lighter still when the boys on the wall left us alone.

  When we got inside, Bex’s hand landed on my arm. “I need you to come with me to the soccer game Saturday night. Cassie has been riding my dick to get me to go with her to watch Aiden play, but no way am I going alone with her so she can ditch me after.” She batted her eyes at me. “Please?”

  “Soccer? Really?”

  “You owe me for saving you from the cafeteria the last couple days.”

  I rolled my eyes, but grinned. “Fine. There aren’t any cheerleaders there, right?”

  “Nope. I don’t think your people frequent the soccer games. They’re more of a football crowd.”

  “Former people,” I corrected.

  She waved over her shoulder, yelling, “Whatever,” as we split apart to go to class.

  * * *

  Elena sat next to me in English, and I gave her a small smile as I took my notebook from my backpack. She tapped it with her pen. “You’re still into Nightmare Before Christmas?”

  “I don’t watch it every week like I used to, but yeah. Sally and Jack forever, right?”

  Her head tipped to the side, her smile just as small as mine. “You look really pretty. I think you got taller, if that’s possible.”

  “You look pretty too, El.” That wasn’t a lie. Elena had always been the prettiest girl in class, and she’d grown into a pretty damn stunning teenager. But I knew how ugly she could be. Behind her blonde waves and peaches and cream skin was a heart that could be black as night.

  “How’s your dad?” she asked in a hushed voice, just for us.

  My mouth flattened into a tight line, and my eyes met hers. Slowly, I shook my head. I couldn’t say the words yet. I hadn’t said them yet. From her gasp, she understood.

  “That’s why you’re back?” she asked.

  I nodded. Sniffed away the burning in my nose. Fought like hell not to cry.

  One question about my dad, and I was near to losing it. I’d rather deal with boys trying to torment me than have this conversation right now.

  Luckily, Nate strolled through the door, dragging Elena’s attention away. He bent over her and made disgusting growling noises into her neck before straightening, hands on his hips, scanning us both.

  “Grace.”

  I looked up, raising a brow. “Nate.”

  “I’m pretty sad you didn’t save a seat for me, but it’s good to see the two of you side by side again.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll be over there, wishing I was over here.”

  He backed away, doing that cocky Nate smirk before he settled in a desk directly across from us.

  Now that I wasn’t so flustered by seeing him again, I took in his changes. He’d always been strong, but his shoulders were impossibly broad now, and he’d let his dark hair grow longer, shaggier on top. When we were fifteen, he’d been a follower, but now, Nate exuded alpha male—and not the good kind. He was a chest-thumping, bite-your-throat-out alpha. I saw it in the way he kept constant watch over our classmates and the teacher, like he was waiting for someone to step out of line so he could react.

  I’d been in love with him through middle school and freshman year. Completely obsessed. And he’d known it too. Now when I looked at him, all I could think about was his sweaty, grunting body on mine, the beer on his breath, his sloppy kisses all over my face.

  I took notes and listened to the teacher discuss the play we’d be reading—The Merchant of Venice. I’d already read it at my Swiss school, so it would be no sweat.

  Elena tapped my arm. “Wait for me after class, okay?” she whispered.

  I nodded. I was walking today anyway, so I didn’t have to hurry, but I wasn’t looking forward to this—especially not if Nate was involved.

  The bell rang, and when I stood, Elena grabbed my arm. “Are you riding the bus?”

  “Walking.”

  “Let me drive you home. We can talk on the way.”

  Over my shoulder, I saw Nate approaching. “Just us?”

  “Yeah.” She pushed Nate away just as he moved to throw his arms around us. “Grace and I are going to do our girl thing. No boys.”

  He growled and licked the side of her face, making her shriek and push him even harder. “Go away!”

  “It’s cool. I know when I’m not wanted.” He winked at me. “See you tomorrow, Grace. El.”

  Elena drove a sky-blue convertible. When we got in, she lowered the top and pushed on a pair of oversized sunglasses. “Um, so where do you live now?”

  “Actually, I’m not going home. Can you drop me off downtown? It’s my first day at my new jo
b. Do you know where Savage Wheelz is?”

  She said she did and began cruising through the parking lot, waving at pretty much everyone she passed like she was a beauty queen in a parade. When we passed a group of guys leaning against an older black car, she drew her hand back inside. Sebastian, Gabe, and a few boys I didn’t recognize watched us drive slowly by. My eyes were drawn to Sebastian, and the disdain aimed my way made me wish like hell I hadn’t looked.

  He nudged Gabe and said something that made his friend laugh. I could only imagine what they thought, seeing me with Elena. I didn’t really love myself for sitting in this car, and I was sure it only confirmed their idea of me.

  “I missed you,” she said suddenly. “I know what happened between us was shitty, but it didn’t wipe away how much I loved you.”

  I closed my eyes, exhaling and rubbing my forehead. “I don’t know what to say, El. I’ve been through a lot in the last two years and don’t really want to get back to the place I was in when I left.”

  “Meaning you don’t want to be friends?”

  I turned to see if she was serious, but her eyes were on the road. “Really? I don’t want to be enemies. But friends? El…”

  She nodded sharply, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “Right. No, I get it. I screwed up.”

  “We both did. But...I’m not going to cheer. I have no plans of going to parties or doing any of the stuff we use to do together. I’m concentrating on school, work, and getting into college. I just...I don’t know.”

  She pulled into a parking spot at the curb in front of Savage Wheelz. “No parties? You have changed. You were the one always dragging me out every weekend.” She flicked her hand at the store. “And a job? Really?”

  Not bothering to answer, I unbuckled my seat belt. “Thanks for the ride. I’m really glad we talked.”

  Her hand clamped tight on my arm before I could open the door. “You know Nate’s mine, right?” Her blue eyes were ice cold. I’d seen this look on her a hundred times over the years, but it was normally directed at others.