Glass Heart Hero: A Dark High School Romance

by Lindsey Iler

  “However far you need to go to make sure they know I’m not to be fucked with,” I say, my voice unwavering and strong.

  “And just like that, the princess shows she’s more of a queen than she ever knew.”

  “What if I can’t handle what we plan?”

  “You’ll be able to. You may not be able to see it, Delaney, but from where I was sitting, you kicked and screamed and fought. Give yourself more credit.”

  “We’re the same, Delaney,” Palmer says as she and Marek walk into the room. “You’re not to be messed with, and they’re about to find out why.”

  “I don’t know.” My doubt is clear as day. I live in a world where I’m surrounded by ruthless boys and a determined best friend. How the hell do I fit into this?

  “I do,” Marek says, hugging Palmer into his side.

  “Where’s Breaker?” I ask when I realize he’s nowhere to be found.

  Palmer and Marek’s eyes shift to the carpet. Something’s up.

  “Spill it!” I demand.

  Marek’s mouth opens, but quickly closes. He’s a lost cause. He’ll hold it in because that’s what these boys do for each other.

  Palmer starts to crack, but Marek glares at her. “Don’t.”

  “She’s my best friend. What do you expect me to do?” She moves away from Marek. He throws his hands up in the air, then leaves the room on a groan of disapproval.

  “He’s going to Tripp, isn’t he?” I ask, already knowing the damn answer. “Why can’t he listen to me?”

  “Probably the same reason why you’re always running away,” Dixon says, spinning around in his chair to face his monitor. “You’re both too damn stubborn for your own good.”

  Palmer grins at Dixon, then drags me from the room. “I’ll drive.”

  “You aren’t going to tell Marek?”

  “Hoes before bros?” She tries, shrugging her actions off as if it’s nothing.

  Marek will kill her, and more than likely me, if I allow her to run off to whatever bloody scene Breaker’s creating.

  “Going to grab ice cream,” Palmer calls out, snatching the keys off the table. “Run.”

  With a shove, I’m out the door and jumping into the passenger side of Marek’s Escalade. As she rips the gear into reverse, Marek bolts outside, barefoot and murder in his eyes.

  Palmer and I laugh, and for a split second, I feel like a normal teenage girl, running off to cause trouble. Except my trouble should consist of flirting with boys and being nervous about who’s going to finally ask me to prom.

  “We don’t even know where he’s at,” I point out. Headlights come out of nowhere in the side rearview mirrors. “Fuck, we have company.”

  The car is so close to our bumper, I think it will hit us, but it swerves at the last second and comes up on the driver’s side. In the passenger seat, Marek rolls down the window, motioning for Palmer to do the same. She offers him her middle finger.

  The stereo system cuts to a blaring generic ringtone. Marek’s name appears on the screen. Palmer clicks the button and singsongs, “Hello, how can I assist you today?”

  “Don’t be cute with me, baby girl. Pull the fuck over,” Marek commands. At this point, he should know it’s pointless to boss Palmer around.

  “Not a chance,” she says, the equivalent of stomping her feet. “How about nerd alert over there tells us where Breaker is, and then maybe I’ll think about letting you escort us?”

  “Nerd alert?” Dixon shouts. “Fucking rude! How about you pump the brakes a bit and follow us.”

  “Not a fucking chance in hell!” Marek shouts at him.

  “What?” Dixon’s voice is muffled but clear enough to hear. “They’re going to figure it out. We may as well be there when they do.”

  “We can handle ourselves.” I lean forward.

  “There’s that confidence we’re going to need, Chambers.” Dixon leans over Marek, managing to stay on the road, while smiling at me through the window. “Now, follow us. I’ll lead the princess to her prince charming. Bloody and all.”

  “Fine.” Palmer taps the brakes, allowing them to get in front of our vehicle.

  Blood.

  There’s a real possibility Breaker has already beaten Tripp to a fraction of the man he was before.

  “How are we going to get onto Hollow Hill’s campus?” I ask, knowing damn well that’s the roads we are taking.

  “My guess is Dixon has a plan.” The uncertainty radiating off Palmer’s grimace doesn’t give me much confidence.

  We drive, guided by Dixon’s taillights. He stops at the gate, and I catch his thumb jabbing at our vehicle. He shakes the hand of the attendant, then drives through the campus as if it’s his own personal playground.

  We aren’t going to Tripp’s dorm. When we finally stop, I have no idea where we are.

  “What the hell is going on?” I ask, jumping from the SUV and circling to meet Marek and Dixon. Palmer is greeted with a heated shake of Marek’s head. “Don’t be mad at her. It wasn’t her idea,” I lie.

  “Who the hell do you take me for? This has Palmer written all over it.” Marek grins at me and then hugs Palmer tight to his chest, his anger simply gone. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “I thought a Trojan horse would be fun, but we don’t necessarily have the time for theatrics,” Dixon jokes. “We’re going old school.”

  “Which is?” I question.

  “Catch up, sweetheart. Sometimes it’s just as fun to use the front door.”

  “Or the back door,” Palmer jokes, sticking her tongue out at Marek.

  “Eww!” Dixon and I say in unison.

  Marek and Palmer are too lost in their own laughter to notice Dixon leading me to the front of the building.

  “How about we stick to the front?” He tugs on the door handle, but it’s locked. “Fuck. Never mind.”

  “Back door it is.” Palmer raises her hand in the air, giggling as she leads us around the corner.

  “What is this place, anyway?” I ask Dixon.

  “It’s one of the original buildings that’s used for storage. Ever since the other buildings were updated, it’s a place some of the students go.”

  “You’ve been here?”

  “Hollow Hill girls have tighter pussies,” Marek adds.

  “And how would you know?” Palmer glares at him.

  Marek’s reputation is no secret. I’m sure his body count is higher than our graduating class. No girl likes to be reminded of the tail her man caught before her.

  “It’s because the boys here have shrimp dic—” Dixon’s insult is interrupted by the door flying open.

  Tripp stumbles out, a girl barely hanging onto his arm.

  “Speaking of shrimp dicks.” Palmer shoves the girl when she stumbles into her.

  “What the hell are you four doing here?” Tripp’s glossy eyes instantly find me.

  Marek and Dixon have the same look of misunderstanding and confusion on their faces as I feel. If Tripp is here, where the hell is Breaker?

  “We’ve seemed to have lost something,” Palmer answers, shrugging.

  “Fucking smooth, babe.” Marek smiles at her. “What she means to say is that the gauntlet is done. Finished. You’d be smart to realize that.”

  “Is that so?” Tripp sways in his drunken stupor, poking his finger into Marek’s chest. “Last time I checked, it wasn’t up to you.”

  “Forget you saw us. We’re leaving,” Dixon says, trying to deescalate the situation.

  “What? No, we aren’t,” I whisper-yell at him. “What about—?” My mouth is covered by his hand.

  “Get in the car.” Dixon opens the door, gesturing for me to slide in.

  Once the four of us are inside, staring at each other, Dixon taps the button to bring his engine to life.

  “You care to explain?” I ask, worried about Breaker. What if we’ve left him there, unknowingly?

  “He had no idea why we were there, which means Breaker didn’t show up here. If he
did, then Tripp would have been a bloody mess.”

  “So, where the hell is he? I thought you were some computer genius. Shouldn’t you be able to track him?”

  “Oh, he’s here. He didn’t come to see Tripp though.”

  “Then who the hell is he here to see?” I question, unsure where this is going.

  “Promise not to lose your shit?” Dixon glances at me through the rearview mirror. I cross my finger over my chest, making a big deal of the gesture. “He’s here to see DuPont’s baby sister.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Breaker

  As I stand outside and peek through a window, I witness Tripp snorting a line of cocaine from a table. A half-naked girl is snaked around his body, her hand inching closer and closer to his dick. I glance away, not really wanting to watch the show. Close to twenty students fill the room, some I recognize from the lacrosse field. How easy it would be to ruin their season if I snapped an incriminating photo. I’d much prefer to win the championship without being a rat, though. They can have their fun like we do.

  I circle the building that has practically been abandoned by Hollow Hill Academy. Tables line the walls, and chairs are stacked to the ceiling. It’s so close to the edge of the campus map that no one really thinks to check on it. It’s why they can get away with anything here.

  My original plan was to confront Tripp and demand he stay far away from Delaney. I’d bury him outside his dorm if I had to, but after sneaking in and finding his room empty, I creeped out before one of his classmates spotted me.

  Knowing Delaney is at the house, trying to figure out a way to defeat those who have crossed her, makes seeing him feel different. Before she came into my life, I would have beaten him within an inch of his life. Physical violence is easy, and I have no doubt, if needed, I’d resort to my old ways, but outsmarting Tripp will make this victory far sweeter.

  While I trek across campus, I take out my phone and send a text. The cement and stone sign outside the building reads Hush Dormitory. Ironic, considering I’m hoping Tripp’s sister will do the exact opposite.

  A window above slides open, forcing me to glance up. Madison’s head pops out.

  “Give me one reason why I should let you up.”

  “I’m not the one who told everyone about us.” I shrug, hoping she realizes what I’m saying is the truth. “I know that’s why you played the part in the first gauntlet, as some sort of revenge.”

  She disappears inside her dorm, and the door lock buzzes. I hustle to grab it, opening before the invitation is revoked. Taking the stairs two at a time, I rush upstairs, hoping no one else catches me sneaking into the girl’s dorm. Hollow Hill has stricter regulations than Glass Heart.

  Madison stands with her door wide open, her arm stretched over the opening. Her flat smile is barely there, but she’s never been one to give too much away. I duck under her small body and enter her dorm.

  It looks exactly as I remember. A whole lot of girl mixed with an anger a certain kind of life can fuel. Pink and black décor with odd paintings and posters on the wall. It screams Madison.

  “Is this where we start to reminisce? Take the walking tour of you stealing my virginity?”

  “Stealing? If I remember correctly, you were more than happy to lay down with me.” I dare her to challenge me.

  “My brother hates you. What more do I need to say?” She grins. As I let an easy smile shine at her, the hard exterior she’s held tight to since that night slowly slips away. “What are you doing here, Breaker? He’ll kill you if he knows you’re sniffing around again.”

  “I’m not worried about Tripp. I can handle him.”

  “So, to what do I owe this visit?” She rolls out the chair at her small desk and rests in it with effortless confidence.

  “Delaney,” I say.

  “Is it true? Heard the whispers about the shit that went down on the bridge. I’m sorry he’s such an asshole.”

  “That my mother killed herself on that bridge?” I shake my head. “Yeah, it’s true, but that shit’s in the past.”

  “Not from what I heard. Breaker Davenport shaking in his boots on the ledge of a bridge,” she singsongs, making a mockery of what I went through by pretending to have shaky hands. Typical Madison. “My brother rattled you, huh?”

  I lunge forward, wrapping my hands around her neck and forcing her to her feet. With a swift kick, the chair crashes to the floor, no longer blocking me from her.

  I press her against the wall. “You want to play games, Madison?”

  “If I remember correctly, I’ve always been good at riling you up, Breaker.” She rolls her hips, and I move away, pressing a little too hard on her throat when I do. She rubs the ache, glaring at me.

  “Not anymore.” I shake my head and beeline for the door. “Coming here was a bad idea.”

  I get one foot out when she tugs me inside and slams the door.

  “I know it was him, the stories and the humiliation,” Madison explains. “I’ve been labeled a whore on campus since it got out. The girl who gave it up to ‘man-whore Breaker Davenport’. The reputation has followed me.”

  “I don’t know why he did it.” That’s the truth. He had nothing to gain from it.

  “I do.” Madison slumps down to the floor, anger and hurt plastered onto her face like a mask. “He hates you, and you’re untouchable.”

  “He should have never taken his hatred for me out on you. You’re his sister, his blood, for fuck’s sake.”

  “Blood doesn’t mean shit in our world. He hates you because you command control without having to steal it. You kill him on the field. Taking my virginity was his excuse but not his reason. He gets to be the hero, saving his baby sister’s virtue.” Madison presses her forehead to the forearm balancing on her knees that are tight to her chest.

  Her reaction proves what he put her through has left some unseen scars. There is nothing I could do to help her. It’s such an easy thing to traipse to my own campus and ignore the wreckage I create.

  We sit together in comfortable silence.

  Madison’s head finally lifts. Her eyes are glossy and pink. She’s fighting her own hurt, and I know that feeling all too well.

  “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. Maybe I could’ve done more,” I plead, the guilt taking over like a flood, covering every surface of my heart.

  “He convinced me you were the one to spread the rumors. I believed him because you’re you. It wasn’t until I saw the way you were with Delaney at the first gauntlet that I knew he was lying. You’re capable of a lot of things, but that night I wasn’t just a girl in a bed.”

  “You weren’t,” I say with full sincerity.

  “I always wondered why we could never . . .” Her thought trails off as if she’s afraid of saying it.

  “Because I’m not your monster.” Madison’s head falls to my shoulder. The door flies open, and in the hallway, cascaded in their own shadow, are Delaney, Dixon, Marek, and Palmer. “I’m her monster.”

  Madison smiles because she already knows. “I figured that out that same night.”

  “What the hell is going on?” Delaney enters first. “We thought you were coming to Hollow Hill to kill Tripp.”

  “I did,” I admit, pushing off the floor. I grab her hands as soon as we are eye-to-eye. “And then I realized that wouldn’t solve anything.”

  “Some would call this progress,” Madison jokes, making us laugh. “We never got to truly meet. I was away during Christmas break when my brother stayed with you, and then the night of the gauntlet, I was one of my brother’s pawns. He didn’t want us swapping war stories, but I’m Madison.”

  “I know who you are, and your brother is a piece of shit,” Delaney says.

  The tension in the room is palpable when it’s not necessary. I squeeze Delaney’s hands.

  “I’m hoping she can help us out,” I say, glancing at Madison.

  “How could she help us?” Delaney barks.

  “You want to pee on his leg,
sweetheart? I don’t want your man,” Madison slings. There’s the fierce attitude I remember. “Because I already had him,” she adds under her breath.

  “Bitch, who the fuck do you think you are?” Delaney lunges, but Dixon grabs her around the waist and holds her in place until he knows she won’t try anything crazy.

  Madison laughs, and the mood in the room begins to shift for the better.

  “I’m sorry, okay? I inherited that shit attitude from my mom.” Madison slaps my stomach. “You got a good one, Break. If she’s willing to fight me for a little off-the-cuff comment, a broad like that is worth her weight in gold.”

  Delaney giggles, easing the rest of the tension. “You’re a piece of work, Madison.”

  “I’ve been called worse.” Madison sits and offers us a seat. “Now, what can I do for you?”

  “We need to know everything you can find out about Sky Technology International,” I tell her.

  “Oh shit!” Madison shakes her head, a firm grimace set on her face. “Taking on the big dogs, huh?”

  “What do you mean?” Delaney asks, searching our faces, but we’re as unsure as she is.

  “You know how Henry Lexington had his little operation on Glass Heart campus?” Madison asks, knowing damn well we are all too aware of it. “Well, let’s say Henry was amateur hour. I overheard someone in my father’s office saying he couldn’t believe Henry kept it up for as long as he did.”

  “What’s your point?” Palmer begs the question.

  “My point is, if you’re planning on fucking with Sky Technology, you’re out of your god damn mind.” Madison reaches across the table and opens her laptop. “Lucky for you, I’ve got nothing to lose.”

  “You’ll help us, then?” Delaney asks.

  “If it means bringing my brother down a peg or two, then I’m in,” Madison announces, a sickening, happy smile plastered on her face. “This should be fun.”

  ******

  “Is she settled?” I ask Delaney as she walks into the bedroom, flinging her body down onto the mattress.