Drown: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Diamond Cove High Book 1)

by Gina Finley

  Drown: A Dark High School Bully Romance

  Diamond Cove High Series, Book 1

  By

  Gina Finley

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Drown: A Dark High School Bully Romance

  Diamond Cove High Series, Book 1

  All rights reserved.

  Copyright ©2022

  Cover design by GFD

  This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork herein is prohibited without the expressed written consent of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  ONE | Cara

  TWO | Dash

  THREE | Cara

  FOUR | Dash

  FIVE | Cara

  SIX | Dash

  SEVEN | Cara

  EIGHT | Dash

  NINE | Cara

  TEN | Dash

  ELEVEN | Cara

  TWELVE | Dash

  THIRTEEN | Cara

  FOURTEEN | Dash

  FIFTEEN | Cara

  SIXTEEN | Dash

  SEVENTEEN | Cara

  EIGHTEEN | Dash

  NINETEEN | Cara

  TWENTY | Dash

  TWENTY ONE | Cara

  TWENTY TWO | Dash

  TWENTY THREE | Cara

  TWENTY FOUR | Dash

  TWENTY FIVE | Cara

  TWENTY SIX | Dash

  TWENTY SEVEN | Cara

  TWENTY EIGHT | Dash

  TWENTY NINE | Cara

  THIRTY | Dash

  THIRTY ONE | Cara

  THIRTY TWO | Dash

  THIRTY THREE | Cara

  THIRTY FOUR | Dash

  THIRTY FIVE | Cara

  THIRTY SIX | Dash

  THIRTY SEVEN | Cara

  THE END

  ONE

  Cara

  I look at the school through the car window and feel like vomiting.

  “It’s impressive, right?” my father says.

  “It’s a school,” I say. “And a new one. Another one.”

  “But this should be the last for a while, Cara,” he says. “I’ve promised you that we will be on the move for at least a year. My work is going to be here now. In Diamond Cove.”

  Diamond Cove. When he first told me we were moving again, I couldn’t stand the thought. The fourth time in four years, the fifth since my mother died. Every year, a new place and a new school and the opportunity to not fit in again.

  Then I looked Diamond Cove up.

  Southern California. Beaches. Mansions. Sunshine.

  It didn’t look terrible at all, so I tried to talk myself into being excited about it.

  But as the summer dragged on and we started packing our things, the dread I always feel in starting a new school in a new place started to sit on me like thousand pound weights. And now as I look at the school - white stucco buildings with terracotta roofs on the bluffs above the Pacific - I wish the weights would crush me so I don’t have to go in.

  “Diamond Cove is a great school,” my father says. “This is the first time ever I’ve been able to get you in a private school. It’s a small school and your grades were good enough to get you in. We’re lucky to be able to enroll you here for your senior year.”

  “Uh huh.”

  He shifts in his seat. “Cara. I get it. This is hard. But I explained why this was the best thing for us.”

  “I know,” I say. “Your job. Great opportunity here. Lots of money to be earned.”

  “Lots of money that will help pay for college,” he says. “And for this school.”

  Guilt immediately punches me in the stomach. “I know.” I sigh. “It’s just hard.”

  “Do you want me to go in with you?”

  I look around. The parking lot is filled with gleaming BMWs, Teslas, and Land Rovers. The kids walking toward the school look like they just stepped out of a television show. I’m sitting with my dad in a ten year old pickup truck, dressed in the one pair of decent jeans I own and my favorite light blue sweater that is a million years old. The only thing that sounds worse than walking into a new school on the first day of my senior year is walking into a new school on the first day of my senior year with my dad.

  “No, I’m good,” I tell him, pulling my backpack off the floor. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I know you will be,” he says. “You can get home after school. I’ll be at the site all day.”

  “I’ll get home,” I tell him. “Text you when I’m there.”

  “Cara?”

  I look at him. He looks tired. I know this is all hard on him, too. I know he doesn’t want to drag me around, but he does construction and he has to go where the work is. And I know he misses my mother more than he says.

  So now I feel like a jerk for whining about moving and going to Diamond Cove.

  “Thank you,” he says, forcing a smile. “I know this isn’t how you envisioned...anything. But I think this is gonna be the right place. We’ve got a nice house in a nice neighborhood and this really is a great school. We’re sticking around here.”

  I force a smile on my face, too. “I know, Dad. It’ll be good. I’ll text you when I’m home.”

  I get out of the truck, give him a small wave, then force my feet to walk up the winding path toward the school. The grass is the greenest I’ve ever seen and there isn’t a speck of litter anywhere. Maybe this actually is a television show.

  I can feel the eyes on me as I push through the doors into the wide hallways. The inside is like the outside - spotless and smells like money. But I can feel the eyes sizing me up. The girls wondering how old my sweater is, the guys wondering if I’ll fuck them.

  I stare straight ahead and head for the main office like I was told to do. There’s a pleasant looking woman behind the desk when I step into the office, which looks more like the lobby of a law firm than a school front office.

  “Good morning,” she says. “I’ll bet you’re Cara Byrne.”

  “I am,” I say. “How did you know that?”

  “You have the deer in the headlights look that most students at Diamond Cove have on their first day,” she says, then holds up a small manila folder. “Plus, I was just looking at your enrollment file and there’s a photo of you.” She smiles at me. “I’m Mrs. Jackson. Welcome to Diamond Cove.”

  “Thanks,” I say. “When my dad and I came over last week to enroll, they told me to check in here on the first day for my schedule.”

  She nods and pulls a small square sheet of paper out of the folder. “That’s right. And I have your schedule right here. You’ll see the class name, the teacher, and the room location, along with the start and end times.”

  I glance at it. “Okay.”

  “That’s all also available in the school app,” she says. “You’ll be called out of one of your classes later today by one of our technology specialists and they’ll get you set up with your email and get you access to the app.”

  “Okay,” I say, thinking this sounds more like college than high school.

  “We’ve also got a student chaperone for you for your first day,” she says. “Someone to show you around, to eat lunch with, answer your questions, that kind of thing. She should be here momentarily. Is there anything I can answer for you?”

  I shake my head. “No, thank you. I think I’m alright.”

  “The first day can be o
verwhelming,” she says, smiling again. “But I think you’ll find everyone welcoming and helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help if you need it, okay?”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  She nods like that’s the right answer, then looks over my shoulder. “And here comes your chaperone for today.”

  I turn around as the door opens and this incredible looking girl walks in. Golden blonde hair draped over her shoulders. Emerald-colored eyes. She’s wearing a purple denim jacket over a white top and white denim shorts that show off her long, perfectly tan legs and thick-heeled silver sandals. A black leather backpack is slung over her shoulder and it looks like her makeup was applied by a team prepping her for the runway.

  She holds up a hand. “Hello, Mrs. Jackson. I apologize for being a minute late. Traffic held me up.”

  “Not a problem, dear,” Mrs. Jackson says. “Whitney Dixon, this is Cara Byrne. Cara, this is Whitney Dixon. She’s also a senior.”

  She holds out a perfectly manicured hand with nails the same color as her jacket. “Nice to meet you.”

  I shake her hand. “Same here.”

  “Cara, Whitney will be your chaperone for the day. If you have a question, she’s your go-to person. She’ll get you where you need to be and introduce you to a few people and make you feel at home. That sound good?”

  “Uh, sure,” I say, trying to smile. “Thanks.”

  Whitney smiles at me, exposing her brilliant white teeth. “My pleasure.”

  “I’ll let you two head out,” Mrs. Jackson says. “Have a great first day, Cara.”

  “Thank you,” I say.

  I follow Whitney out of the office and back into the hallway.

  “Do you...want to see my schedule?” I ask. “So you can tell me where I need to go?”

  “Where you need to go is wherever you came from,” she says over her shoulder. “And take that ancient sweater with you.”

  She says it so casually it takes me a moment to realize how cruel it is and how her demeanor is the polar opposite of what she put on display in the office.

  “I’m not showing you shit,” she says, still walking. “You’re on your own. I’ve got things to do and people to see. I am not your fucking babysitter.” She stops and gives me the once over, then snorts. “I mean, really? Your first day here and you’re dressed like that? Way to fucking stick out.”

  The blood rushes to my cheeks.

  “The only reason I showed up in there is because I’m a senior and I get credit for being an ambassador,” she tells me. “It’s like community service, but instead of serving the poor, we serve dipshit new kids. So, welcome. But I’m not here to hold your hand today and pretend to be your friend. I’ve got enough friends. Everyone in this damn school wants to be my friend, so you can get in line.” She gives me a smile. “Good fucking luck, Cara.”

  I watch as she saunters off, whipping her phone out and tapping on it with those gorgeous nails as she swings her ass down the hallway.

  “Welcome to Diamond Cove High,” I mutter to myself.

  TWO

  Dash

  “Gonna be late,” Fox says.

  Tyler leans over the hood of my black Escalade and finishes off the last line of coke. He grins at Fox. “Yeah, but now I’m ready.”

  I look over at Shane.

  The corner of his mouth turns upward into something as close to a smile as he’s capable of.

  “Yo, Dash,” Tyler says. “I’ve got a tiny bit left.”

  “I’m good,” I tell him. “Got my fill.”

  “Makes my dick hard,” Fox says. “Pretty sure I’m gonna need to fuck someone before lunch.”

  “Make sure it’s not a dude,” Tyler says.

  Fox punches in the arm.

  “Let’s go,” I say.

  They fall in behind me as we cross the parking lot to the school. It’s our last first day at Diamond Cove. Senior year. Our final year of this bullshit.

  “We good for tonight?” I ask.

  “Yeah,” Fox says. “We’re set. I’ve got the alarm codes and the times.”

  Tyler claps and howls.

  Shane stares straight ahead.

  “Double check it,” I say.

  “I already did, Dash. We’re–”

  I stop and spin around to stare him down. “Double check it again then. No fuck ups. Got it?”

  He hesitates, then nods. “Got it.”

  I spin back around and keep walking. “Tyler, you got the car?”

  “Ford Explorer,” he says. “Plates have already been changed. It’s clean.”

  I nod and glance at Shane. “Supplies?”

  He nods silently.

  “Alright then, boys,” I says. “Let’s get this day started so we can end it with a bang.”

  When we walk in the main hall, it’s like Moses parting the Red Sea. Everyone gets the hell out of our way. Because they know.

  I can feel the eyes on us as we walk. I’m used to it by now. It’s been like this for as long as I can remember. And I like it that way. I like the power. The control.

  We make our way to first period. History of some kind. The fuck if I can remember. Tyler got into the system and made sure our schedules were set up the way we wanted them. We head immediately to the back row of the classroom and I sit in the desk in the far right corner of the room like always.

  Fox stops at Lucy Riordan’s desk. Short dark hair, nice tits.

  “Lucy,” Fox says. “I need a favor.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I need my dick sucked after this class,” he says. “You in?”

  A few of the other kids in class laugh.

  “No,” she says, red-faced.

  “Come on,” he says. “You have amazing lips. You did it that one time and it was so great.” He grabs his crotch. “I’m so hard this morning.”

  More laughter.

  Lucy shakes her head and looks away. Fox laughs and takes the desk in front of me. Shane’s next to me and Tyler is across from Fox.

  Whitney strides through the door, pauses so we can all take a look at her, then makes her way toward us.

  “Dash,” she says. “You look good.”

  “I know,” I tell her.

  “Didn’t see you at all last month,” she says. “I was in England with my parents.”

  “Good for you,” I say.

  She leans down so her mouth is right next to my ear. “I missed you.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Oh yeah,” she says. She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Be happy to show you how much at lunch.”

  I laugh. “Maybe.”

  “Just let me know,” she says, then moves off to her desk.

  “Chick is desperate,” Tyler says. “Pretty sure she’d do you right here in the middle of class.”

  “No one wants to see that,” Fox says.

  “I’m over her,” I say. “Moving on.”

  “She’s not gonna like that,” Tyler says.

  “Like I fucking care what she likes.”

  A girl I’ve never seen before stands in the doorway. Long black hair. Blue sweater. Jeans. I like what’s under the sweater.

  “Uh oh,” Fox says. “We got a new one.”

  The girl’s face reddens as everyone looks at her.

  “Hey, girl,” he says. “How about you?”

  She looks around, then looks at him. “How about me what?”

  “Do you suck dick?” he asks. “I’m looking for a blowjob after class.”

  Most of the class laughs.

  “Keep looking,” she says, taking a seat in the front row.

  “Her name’s Cara,” Whitney offers. “Brand stinking new.”

  “Good way to get to know people is to suck their dicks,” Fox says. “Just trying to help you out.”

  The girl turns around. “Do you know if they have microscopes in the science lab?”

  “What?” Fox says.

  “Microscopes,” she says. “I guess I could meet you in the scienc
e lab and we could use the microscope to see if we can find your dick and then I can decide what to do with it.”

  Nearly all of the class laughs this time and Fox’s face goes red.

  “Fuuuuck,” Tyler whispers, laughing.

  “Hey, fuck you,” Fox says.

  “Well, again. We’d need to find it.”

  Now the class is rolling.

  Fox stands up.

  “Sit,” I say.

  He looks at me.

  “Did you not hear me?” I say. “Sit down.”

  He frowns and puts his ass back in the seat.

  I stand up and make my way to this new girl’s desk. She eyes me warily and I see a little bit of fear in her pretty blue eyes.

  I put both hands on her desk and lean down so I’m right in her face. “Be careful.”

  She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t move her eyes away, either.

  “That’s my friend,” I tell her. “And you would be wise not to fuck with my friends. It will go very badly for you.” I put my finger under her chin. “Understand me?”

  She knocks my finger away.

  I laugh. “Feisty. I like that. You might be fun.” I lean in closer. She smells like roses. “Maybe we’re going to need to find out how fun you are.” I put my lips next to her ear. “Can’t wait.” I pull back and smile at her. “Can’t wait.”

  I stand there and wait for her to respond, but she doesn’t. She’s just staring at her desk top now, the tops of her ears burning red.

  I lean down again, right next to her ear. “I’m Dash, by the way. I’m sure it’s nice to meet me.”

  THREE

  Cara

  What a dick.

  Dash.

  I hate that I’m still thinking about him three hours later. But I am. He’s hard to forget.

  Gorgeous blond hair.

  Ice blue eyes.

  Six feet four at least.

  Muscles like a cartoon superhero.

  I would have noticed him even if he hadn’t gotten in my face. He’s impossible to miss.

  And he knows it.

  But I’ve made it through my morning classes and now I’m trying to decide where I should sit to eat. There isn’t a bad place to sit, given that the courtyard looks out over the ocean and is surrounded by grassy, rolling hills. But I don’t want to commit the ultimate sin and sit somewhere I’m not wanted.