Fated To Die: YA dark retelling (The Retelling Series Book 1)

by TARA GALLINA

  “And take pictures,” I add with a giggle.

  “Shh.” She shoves me, a big fat smile on her face, and glances around. “Someone might hear you.”

  “Come on.” I start for the other end of the hallway. “Let’s get out of here before classes let out and the halls fill with people.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” she drones and catches up to me, her wedges clomping on the hard floors.

  We make it to the exit and into the hot sun before students file out of classrooms. I brace myself for the heat I expect to blast me. Instead, a cool breeze caresses my skin. Long golden strands flutter around my face. I tuck them behind my ears and squint in the afternoon light. “It’s nice out.”

  “I know.” Harper digs in her purse and removes her Tiffany sunglasses. She slides them onto her nose. “Spring showers bring rainbows and sometimes cooler temperatures.”

  Palm trees and old Oaks with moss-covered branches shade the rest of the path and line the outside of the parking lot.

  “I might not sweat today,” I say in a cheery voice.

  Harper tugs the ends of my wavy hair. “This is why you’re always so hot. Maybe cut the Rapunzel locks and you’d be cooler.”

  “I’m sure I would.” But it took me forever to grow my hair out in high school, against my mom’s wishes. Since then, I can’t bring myself to cut it. It’s my way of rebelling, as pathetic as it sounds.

  “It’d be less work,” Harper adds.

  “True.” Humidity makes my hair frizzy. Sometimes, I don’t even bother trying to tame it. I let it hang wild and free.

  “Think of all the money you’d save on hair products,” she continues.

  I stop and glare at her. “Do you want me to cut it short or something?”

  “No,” she squeals. “Don’t be silly. I love your Disney Princess hair.” She finger-combs her sleek honey locks, making me jealous in a way she could never understand.

  “Where’d you park?” She changes the subject.

  I hitch a thumb to the far side. “Over there.”

  She glances in that direction, and her jaw drops. “Omigod. You have to go to your car right now.”

  “What-why?”

  “Look.” She points to a bright blue Maserati parked in the spot next to my beat-up Jetta. “Go over there and make small talk with Sebastian.”

  “No, thank you. I tried that already. It didn’t go well.”

  “Then go tell him you’re sorry again for almost hitting him with the door and ask him if he’s having a party this weekend. If he says yes, ask him for an invitation.” She nudges me forward.

  I twist away. “I don’t think you need an invitation to go to a Frat party. You can just show up.”

  “He doesn’t live in a Frat house, silly. He lives in his friend Nathan’s house with a few other guys. They have parties that I hear are epic, but they’re not open to the public. You need an invitation.

  “Why?”

  “Because they’re elite like that.”

  “Sounds snotty.”

  Her brows arch above her designer shades. “The entire school is snotty, including me. Now quit being a downer and move past this rut you’re stuck in. Seriously, you used to be more fun.”

  I was and I hate this rut, but we’re not in high school anymore. The problems I have aren’t the same as the entitled students at Ryland.

  “Why don’t you ask him for an invitation?” I suggest.

  Her hand goes back on her hip, and she sighs. “We’ve been over this. I can’t approach him. He doesn’t like strangers. You, on the other hand, have managed to have a conversation with him. Ergo, you are no longer a stranger, ergo, you can approach him.”

  “If I agree will you stop saying ‘ergo’?”

  She glowers.

  “What?” I give her an innocent shrug. “You used to like this kind of banter between us.” It’s how we became friends. We were seated next to each other in math in middle school. She said something snotty to me, and I gave her a snarky response. For a moment, I thought she was going to clobber me with her big purse. But then she grinned, said I was different, and we’ve been friends ever since.

  “You have to do this for me.” She makes a dramatic pouty face. “For us. You need this as much as I do.”

  “I need a party?”

  “Yes.” She stomps. “Besides, it’s not just any party. It’s special with especially hot guys. And it’s my chance to hook up with Sebastian. I heard he broke up with his girlfriend a few weeks ago. If I want to get into his pants, now is my chance.”

  I try not to laugh. “You are such a poet.”

  “Thanks.” She beams. “Now, will you please do this for me? For us.”

  I inhale a deep breath and release it. “Okay.”

  “Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She tackles me with a hug.

  The weight of her sends me stumbling sideways. “Whoa. I can’t get an invitation if I sprain my ankle.”

  “Sure you can.” She straightens and smirks.

  I face my car and Sebastian, who appears to be pacing beside his driver’s door. No one is parked to the left of his Maserati. The two spots are empty. My Jetta is on the right side next to a grassy median. At least, he’s alone. After our awkward encounter in the hallway, I’d hate for us to have an audience.

  “Hurry.” Harper nudges me again. “Before he leaves.”

  “I got it.” I raise a hand and totter forward, trying to think of what to say. What if he gets weird again? Worst case scenario, he blows me off and I don’t get us an invite, which now I kind of want. Harper has me curious about these parties.

  If my attempts fail, I could always point out my Romanian beauty of a best friend and tell him the name of her favorite vibrator. He’d probably give us an open invitation—or at least until the end of the semester when he graduates and disappears from our meager lives—my meager life—forever.

  Chapter 3

  I STOP AT the bumper of Sebastian’s car near the driver’s side where he leans against the door. His knuckles are white as he clutches his phone down by his side and stares at the surrounding trees like he hates them.

  Maybe now isn’t a good time to bother him.

  I’m about to leave—sorry Harper—when he glances at me with a double take.

  “You again?” He cocks the brow with the scar, the sun hitting him in the face.

  Oh wow. Harper wasn’t lying about his eyes being different. In the sun, they are the most unique combination. Warm brown with a bright blue starburst around his pupils. I’ve seen the opposite. Blue eyes with brown starbursts, green eyes too, but never this.

  “Can I help you?” he stresses the words, and I realize I’m staring. Again.

  “Um …” I clear my throat. “I’m not following you. I’m parked next to your car.” It seems important to point out or he might think I’m a crazy stalker.

  He glances behind him. Next to his fancy sleek Maserati, my Jetta looks like a lump of coal on wheels. “Did you need a jump or something?” he says. “I don’t have jumper cables.”

  “No. Nothing like that. I, um …” Can’t come right out and ask him to invite my friend to his party, it would be too forward. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry one more time.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He blows off the apology and focuses on his phone. When I don’t leave, he straightens from his car and stares me down. “Did you need something else?”

  Yes. I just can’t ask for it yet.

  Nathan, one of his friends and number two on Harper’s Hottie list, walks over. Even though he’s tan with brown hair and eyes, he and Sebastian are nothing alike.

  Nathan is a little shorter and a lot bulkier in a way that swallows his neck. His magical power is a megawatt smile that could brighten a cave. I think Sebastian’s magical power falls under the looks-good-while-brooding category.

  “What’s up, man?” Nathan stops by his side, but his eyes are on me. “Who’s your friend?”

  “She
’s not a friend,” Sebastian says point blank.

  Ouch.

  “Why not?” Nathan looks me up and down and holds out his hand. “Hi. I’m Nathan, and I’m not as pissy or as particular as the asshat beside me.”

  I giggle and shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Nathan. I’m Ainsley.”

  “Ainsley,” he enunciates, as if trying the word out on his tongue. “Cute name, even cuter girl.” Nathan smiles, all sunshine and rainbows. He nudges Sebastian with his elbow. “You better not let Marina catch you talking to someone this sweet.”

  “Is that your girlfriend?” I ask, even though I know it is, or was according to Harper. Never hurts to be sure. I’d hate for her to hit on him and it not be true. From what Harper says, his ex is a little psycho.

  “That’s a good question.” Nathan pats Sebastian on the back. “My man here isn’t always clear on that topic. He’s going through some changes. A little spring cleaning of his life. Isn’t that right?”

  “Shut up, dick,” Sebastian says with a laugh.

  My gaze catches on his face. Wow! If Nathan’s smile could brighten a cave, Sebastian’s could brighten an underground world. He looks so different with his lips parted, his straight white teeth on display, his eyes crinkled a little at the corners. Less severe and incredibly gorgeous.

  “So, Ainsley?” Nathan says. “We’re having a party at the house tonight. I think you should come.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Do you already have plans?” he asks, his easy-breezy demeanor disarming.

  “I have to work.”

  “So cancel.”

  The Forever Series Collection

  Risking Forever: Vol 1

  Daring Forever: Vol 2

  Claiming Forever: Vol 3

  Sebastian – Risking Forever: Vol 4

  Find the complete series here:

  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P6T68QC/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i6

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  A Special Thanks

  If you enjoyed this novel, please give a special thanks by leaving a review on Amazon.

  Acknowledgments

  As always, I want to give a big shout out to all the readers in the world! Without you, books would be unappreciated and unused!

  I need to thank my husband for his continuous support throughout my writing career no matter how obnoxious or stressed I become. I love you for understanding my dedication and determination toward an industry that can make you question your sanity.

  Thank you to my incredible sons for always making me laugh, for leaving me be when I’m writing, and for listening to me ramble on and on about my stories when I know they’re aren’t interested. Love you both so much!!!

  Lori Sjoberg, again without you paying it forward, I wouldn’t be doing any of this. Thank you so much for your valuable insight and patience.

  Tawny Bland, you read all my novels and always offer great support and helpful advice. You are my best and favorite cheerleader!

  Elizabeth Prats, our regular talks about writing, characters, books, industry, art, dating, politics, the past (what is said on the phone, stays on the phone) and life in general are some of the best parts of my day. Your constant ear, advice, understanding, troubleshooting, and thoughtful ideas help keep me going.

  Racquel Henry @ Writer’s Atelier. Your skills, friendship, help, networking advice, and generous support never cease to amaze me. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “You are one of a kind! The best kind!”

  Lastly, I want to thank the people behind the scenes—Joan @ JRTediting, critique partners, beta readers, and especially Logan Gallina for his technical abilities and setting me up with essential Mac programs.

  Thank you to everyone else who contributed to formatting and the beautiful book cover designs. Writing isn’t easy. It takes blood, sweat, tears, late hours, takeout food, internet access, computers and portable devices, social networking, sales, marketing, synonyms, tons of rewriting and editing, random hissy fits, bouts of doubt and swearing to quit, insane dedication, a disheveled appearance, sometimes the force of the universe, and great friends who understand, especially when it’s hard to find the time to catch up.

  Christina Farley, how many times have we rescheduled in the last few years, yet we always find a way to meet up. Thank you for your ear and support, and for never judging my career decisions.

  Contrary to what people think, writing is NOT a one-person job. Yes, you are alone in your creative thoughts most of the time, but you are also with your army of helpers and supporters or else your book would suck.

  About the Author

  Tara Gallina is the author of the serial romance, The Forever Series. She writes and reads romance in a variety of genres but has a soft spot for retellings.

  She believes in fairies, true love, and HEA. She favors characters and/or couples who defy the odds and make a way, even when there isn't one.

  She grew up in a small town by the beach but soon after moved to Orlando, Florida with her patient hubs, two older sons, and two fur-babies. With local theme parks like Disney World and Harry Potter, it's no wonder her life is filled with fantasy and make believe.

  Daily needs: sunshine, laughter, morning coffee, family.

  Daily wants: castle, English accent, princess hair, anti-age venom.

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  Amazon:

  https://www.amazon.com/Tara-Gallina/e/B07NQKQZ88?ref=dbs_mng_calw_a_0