LEGEND: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rosewood High Book 7)

by Tracy Lorraine

  “I can’t believe this. Thank you so much.”

  “Should help you pull tonight, don’t you think?” he asks as I pluck the watch from its box and stare down at it in disbelief.

  “Turn it over,” he instructs, clearly forgetting that I ignored his last question.

  Owned by a Legend.

  I can’t help it, I burst out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing, it’s nothing. Seriously, bro, this is everything. I can’t believe—”

  “Things are looking up for us from here on out. I’ve got a good feeling.”

  “I really fucking hope you’re right.”

  “Well, let’s be honest, we don’t have much left to lose.”

  “I guess you’re right.” But as I say the words, the fear I was feeling while talking to Stella not so long ago about Gray reappears.

  Suddenly, I feel like I might have more to lose than ever before knowing that he’s intending on going after Harley.

  I think of Stella’s demand to know what my plan was. I wish I had one.

  “Here, take this and go and get yourself sorted. They’ll be here soon.” Kane passes me over a ready rolled J. “It’s the good stuff,” he adds with a wink.

  “Who is they?” I ask, needing to know if Gray’s been invited.

  “Just some of our old crew, the decent ones,” he tags on. “And those you’ve invited from school. It’s not going to be anything too crazy.” He smiles at me but unfortunately, I don’t believe a word that falls from his lips. Anytime he’s had a ‘small’ party, it’s basically turned into an insane night of lost inhibitions and debauchery.

  “Yeah, we’ll see,” I mutter as I turn my back on him and take my joint, my beer and new watch to my room.

  Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stare down at my gift, a smile curling at my lips.

  I can’t believe he did this.

  Thoughts run through my mind about how he could afford it, but I shove them down. He clearly doesn’t want me to know what he’s up to or he’d have told me by now. I guess, I just have to trust him.

  I set it down, drain my beer and head for the bathroom.

  30

  Harley

  “Ah-ha, finally,” I call out, already feeling the buzz of the vodka that Ruby brought with her when Stella finally joins us in my room to get ready for tonight’s party.

  “Sorry, I’ve got this though.” She holds up a bottle of Grey Goose and I make a beeline for her. “You look like you might have had enough,” she says, watching as I sway a little on my feet.

  “Pizza’s on its way, it’ll soak it up. Plus, I’m going to a party potentially full of Creek kids. I need it.”

  “Fair enough.” She hands over the bottle and watches as I twist the top off and swallow a shot.

  I’m not lying. The thought of walking into a party with some of the same people as that night scares the shit out of me. I probably should lay off the alcohol and go in with a clear head, but I’m too nervous for that. Plus, I’ll have my girls by my side and I trust them to ensure the night doesn’t end up anything like that night.

  A knock on the door sounds out and Stella twists around to open it.

  “Delivery,” Zayn mutters, handing over a stack of pizza boxes.

  “Thanks, bro.”

  “Lay off the vodka, Har. I actually want to enjoy tonight, not have to drag your sorry ass home early.”

  “Oooh touchy,” I sing, rolling my eyes at his big brother act.

  Stella swings the door shut on him and I howl with laughter at the look on his face right as it slams.

  “Food, give me food,” Poppy calls, hopping from the bed and taking the top box from Stella.

  She wobbles and sways a little too.

  “I know I’m late but how much have you three had?”

  “Enough to get us in the mood,” Ruby says. “Now come join us. We eat then we get ready. We need to make sure Harley looks kick-ass for her boy.”

  My stomach twists painfully at her words.

  “He’s not my boy. And, my brother is going to be there so nothing is going to happen.”

  “Just tell him,” Poppy encourages “It won’t be that bad. He’s already suspicious.”

  “Have you said anything?” I pin her with a look, hoping like fuck she’s not broken girl code and spilled all my secrets to my brother aka her boyfriend.

  “What? No, I wouldn’t. But he’s not an idiot and he’s seen the looks between you.”

  “Shit,” I mutter. “I don’t want them fighting over nothing.”

  “It wouldn’t be nothing, it would be over you,” Ruby points out.

  “Same thing. I don’t want it to happen. Especially when this thing between us isn’t really a thing,”

  “Isn’t it though?” Stella helpfully adds, joining us on my bed and flipping open the last pizza box.

  “No, it’s not. He might already be bored of me and hook up with some other girl tonight.”

  Pain slices through my chest at the thought, but it damn near cracks open forcing the words out of my mouth.

  “And you’d be okay with that?” Ruby asks.

  “Of course,” I lie. “I know what this is between us. I went in with my eyes open. Hell, I might even pull tonight.”

  The three of them stare at me like I’ve suddenly sprouted an extra head.

  “What?” I bark, stuffing a slice of pizza into my mouth.

  “He invited you. He wants you there.”

  “I didn’t exactly give him a lot of choice,” I mumble around a mouthful of meat feast.

  “Trust me, he wants you there.” My eyes narrow on Stella wondering how she sounds so confident about that comment.

  “That’s it,” I declare. “Boy talk is banned from here on out.”

  “What the hell are we going to talk about then?” Ruby mutters.

  “Umm…” I jump up and pull open my closet. “Which dress should I wear?”

  The street Kyle lives on is lined with cars when we pull up almost three hours later.

  The party is in full swing and we are very fashionably late.

  I am also suitably drunk and almost prepared for whatever we might be about to walk into. Or at least I tell myself that.

  The reality could prove very different.

  Music booms from the house as we walk past Kyle’s car and join the crowd of people loitering, drinking and smoking on the porch.

  There are faces I recognize from the Creek, and more than one nod in my direction as we make our way to the front door.

  “We’re no longer in Kansas,” Poppy mutters behind me as we pass a couple practically going at it against the side of the house.

  Ethan and the guys throw some wild parties, but without even stepping foot inside this house, it already feels different. Darker. More dangerous.

  A shiver runs down my spine as I remember my last Creek party and one face in particular.

  He won’t be here, I tell myself.

  I might be acting naïve but I’m happy with believing that Kyle has severed ties with Gray after that night. But I know the reality of the situation is probably very different. I’d just rather shove my head in the sand right now than consider the alternatives.

  I push the door open to find the space full of people.

  Bodies grind and gyrate to the heavy bass, the air is thick with smoke, the scent of nicotine, weed and whatever else might be getting inhaled is so strong that it burns my lungs.

  We push through the crowd and immediately my eyes land on Kyle who’s sitting on the sofa, only he’s not alone.

  “What the fuck?” Stella barks loud enough to be heard over the music as she comes to stand beside me and stares in the same direction. “Has he got a fucking death wish?”

  I’m completely frozen as I stand there watching some brunette girl in Kyle’s lap. She’s got her lips attached to his neck while he downs a bottle of beer.

  My fists curl as pain swirls around my heart.
>
  It shouldn’t hurt. I shouldn’t care.

  But I do. And I fucking hate myself for it.

  Tears burn the back of my eyes as I watch his hand leisurely run up and down her back.

  Bile rushes up my throat and for a few seconds, I wonder if I’m actually about to cover their living room floor with tonight’s vodka and pizza.

  Ruby and Poppy appear in front of me, Solo cups in their hands.

  “What’s—oh fuck,” Ruby gasps when she follows our line of sight. “That motherfucking—”

  “Leave it,” I growl, reaching out to grab her arm when it looks like she’s about to go marching over there.

  “But he’s—”

  “More than welcome to her. Give me that.” I snatch the drink from her hand and down it in one. Needing the extra alcohol in my system if I’m going to deal with this.

  My heart tells me to leave, to stop it from getting battered any more than it already is. But my alcohol-laced brain tells me to stay put and play him at his own game.

  Ash, Zayn, and a few of the other guys appear, joining our circle before Poppy and Ruby are dragged off to dance with their boys.

  Neither Rich or Justin hide the fact they’re checking both Stella and me out as they drop their eyes down our scantily clad bodies.

  “Dance?” I ask Rich, whose face lights up like a freaking Christmas tree. Any sensible guy would tell me where to go after what happened in the cafeteria earlier in the week. But Rich is no sensible guy and he only thinks with his cock, especially after a few drinks and a J or two.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Stella hisses in my ear.

  “Enjoying the party. I suggest you get in the spirit of it too. Justin is a good dancer.” I nod to him as Stella shakes her head at me. “You’re playing with fire, girl.”

  “I just so happen to like getting burned,” I shout back, stepping into Rich’s body and running my free hand up his chest and wrapping it around the back of his neck.

  When I look up into his blown, bloodshot eyes, I realize just how out of it he is.

  “You look sexy as hell, Har,” he groans in my ear as both his hands drop to my ass, pulling me so tight against his body that I have no choice but to feel his hard length pressing against my stomach.

  I feel nothing. Absolutely nothing about the fact I’ve turned him on.

  There are no tingles. No excitement. No desire for more.

  All I really want to do is crawl back home, curl up in bed, and forget tonight even exists.

  But I can’t do that.

  I’m here now and I refuse to show that motherfucker that he affects me in any way.

  I knew this was coming.

  Now I just have to deal with it.

  Tipping my cup to my lips, I find it’s empty.

  Fuck. I need more alcohol for this.

  I lose track of time, but Stella helpfully supplies me with two more drinks after refusing to accept any from anyone who isn’t one of my girls.

  Rich’s hands get more and more adventurous and desperate as the songs change and as the alcohol continues to lower my inhibitions, I probably encourage him a little too much but I can’t help hoping that at some point, Kyle will see me and have something to say about this.

  The reality though is probably that he’s already seen me and doesn’t give a shit. He seemed more than entertained by the brunette.

  Everything is… almost bearable until I hear a voice that sends a violent shudder down my spine. It’s a voice I could happily live the rest of my life never hearing again.

  “Baby Hunter, long time no see.”

  My eyes lock on Rich’s in the hope he can read the fear within them, but soon realize that he’s too far gone to even know his own name right now, let alone that I need him to help me.

  A warm, hard body presses against my back and I fight the need to ram my elbow into his ribs.

  I need to see how he wants to play this before I allow him to see that I’m scared of him.

  His fingers brush against my neck and I jolt at the contact as he brushes my hair from my it.

  “I missed you, girl,” he breathes as bile burns up my throat and pressure builds behind my eyes. I’ve never hated anyone as intensely as I do him.

  For the things he did—or intended to do—to me that night.

  How he’s ruined Kyle’s life by letting him take the fall.

  For the way he walks around Harrow Creek like he owns the place when all he is is a jumped-up, asshat who’s hungry for money, power and respect. He might somewhat have achieved the first two, but the final one he’ll never gain.

  “What do you want, Gray? I’m busy.” I press myself closer to Rich in the hope of creating some space between me and the devil himself, but he just moves forward with me.

  “You,” he growls in my ear. Every single muscle in my body locks up at the warning laced through that one word.

  His hand drops down my body and once again the vodka churning in my stomach threatens to make a reappearance.

  “Well, you’re too late. I’m dancing with Rich.”

  “I’m more than happy to share, Princess. I thought you already knew this.”

  “Harley, is everything—You.” Stella pins Gray with a look. “What are you doing here?”

  My chin drops.

  “You know this asshole?” I ask her, picking my chin up off the floor.

  “Yeah, I met him at Justin’s party. He was the guy I told you about.”

  “Oh no. No, no, no.” I shake my head.

  Gray was at Justin’s. He was kissing Stella.

  Why?

  That one word spins around my head as my hands tremble against Rich’s waist.

  Why is he anywhere near me, let alone trying to insert himself into my life?

  The next few seconds happen so fast, I almost start to wonder if I’m imagining them. One second, my front is plastered against Rich, and the next I’m spinning around to face Gray.

  I squeeze my eyes closed, not wanting to look into his evil pits of darkness, but the second his hand wraps around my throat and squeezes tight enough to stop my airflow, they pop open.

  “We have unfinished business, Harley Hunter.” He lifts me with only that hand, my feet leaving the floor as he scowls at me.

  “No.” I try to scream but with his tight grip, I can’t breathe let alone make a sound.

  Everything around me blurs, the music seems to get louder and he backs me somewhere, toward the door maybe, I have no idea.

  Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changes once again.

  His fingers release my throat with no warning and I crash to the ground, landing hard on my ass, pain shooting up my spine.

  “What the—” I breathe, my hand coming up to my sore throat as my vision clears.

  Girls scream and guys call for more, overtake the pounding music as I take in the scene before me.

  “Kyle, no,” I scream, trying to scramble to my feet as Gray lands a punch in Kyle’s face.

  It doesn’t matter that Gray is already covered in blood, the sight of his fists connecting with Kyle’s cheek will be more permanently imprinted in my brain.

  I race forward in an attempt to stop them before Kyle ends up hurt, but a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist and I’m hauled back against a solid chest.

  “He can handle himself,” Ash breathes in my ear.

  Thankfully, he’s right and after taking that one hit, Kyle starts to get the better of Gray. He’s got an even bigger advantage when my brother throws himself into the mix.

  I might never have confessed the whole truth to him about that night, but deep down, he knows. He always had. I’d be stupid to think that the Creek rumor mill about that night hadn’t got to him even if I never wanted to talk about it.

  Despite the fact it’s now two on one, Gray doesn’t back down and before long Zayn is also bleeding, both his lip and eyebrow split.

  “No,” I cry once again when Gray’s knee lands in my brother’s st
omach, forcing him to the ground so he can use his boot instead.

  I thrash against Ash’s tight hold, my need to go and help them the only thing I can think about despite the fact I’d probably be the one killed if I ran in the middle of the carnage right now.

  Zayn gets to his feet once Gray turns his attention on Kyle and he manages to wrap his arms around Gray’s torso, pinning his arms to his sides to allow Kyle a free shot.

  The fury that Kyle unleashes scares the shit out of me as his fists rain down on Gray’s bloodied face again and again.

  It’s not until he starts screaming at him that I realize someone has turned the music off.

  “I’m going to fucking kill you, motherfucker,” he bellows as kids start moving to allow someone else to run into the center of the circle that’s formed in the Legend’s living area so they can watch the fight.

  The second Kane steps in, a silence ripples through the crowd.

  “Ky,” is the only thing he says, and it’s enough because Kyle lowers his fist and takes a step back, although his eyes remain trained on a barely standing Gray. If it weren’t for Zayn, he’d be on his ass now.

  Kyle takes another step back as Kane takes one forward so he’s almost nose to nose with Gray.

  “You’re a stupid motherfucker for coming here. Now get the fuck. Out. Of. My. House.” He pulls his arm back and punches him so hard that Gray’s body goes limp in Zayn’s arms. But he’s done holding him up and he allows him to drop to the floor.

  “Someone get that cunt out of here,” Kane orders to no one in particular, but three guys instantly come running through the crowd to follow orders.

  Poppy steps up to Zayn and spits a few choice words at him before the two of them disappear into the crowd while everyone else must decide the entertainment is over because they turn back to continue with their evening.

  Kyle spins on his heels and his eyes immediately find mine.

  They’re so dark and his jaw is clenched painfully tight as something zaps between us.

  Ash’s arms loosen around my middle but I don’t move.

  “Everyone out of my fucking house,” Kane booms, and kids immediately begin to move around me.