Raelynn
You have got to me kidding me.
It’s ten p.m. on a school night and there’s a damn full-blown part happening right under my nose. The worse part of it all, is that I actually saw Grayson earlier but rather than telling me he’s turning our place into a club he decided I wasn’t worth the trouble.
A8shole.
I clutch the novel in my hand tighter as the terrible choice of music echoes through the walls.
The door snaps open and a drunk girl starts to come in gagging like she’s about to puke.
“Not the bathroom!” I practically fly out of my bed and rush her out slamming the door shut, leaning my back against it.
Frustration bubbles in my chest, but my mind drifts back to the letter.
Grayson had almost read it, and if he did all hell would be loosed by now. Thankfully he didn’t because Briella showed up but the jerk had refused to give it back.
I have to get it back.
Just then a plan comes to my mind.
Grayson’s at the party probably drinking or getting sucked off in some corner by a poor girl. Perfect. While he’s distracted, I’ll just sneak into his room and take back what’s mine.
Easy peasy.
A slow smirk spreads against my lips.
I push off the door, grabbing a black mini bodycon dress and slipping it on. The tight fabric hugs my curves, making me feel more confident than I should. swipe on smoky eye makeup and red lipstick. And viola, I’m ready.
By the time I step downstairs, the air is thick with alcohol, sweat, and bad decisions.
I barely take three steps before nearly gagging at the sight of a couple practically devouring each other by the staircase.
I roll my eyes. “Get a room.”
They don’t hear me, or pretend not to, so I shove past, muttering, “Gosh.”
Ignoring the chaos, I weave through the crowd, scanning for Grayson. My eyes finally land on him.
My breath hitches when I find his eyes already on me. and for a moment everything around us fades into silence.
His gaze is dark, heated, predatory. It drags over me slowly, like he’s stripping away my dress with just his mind.
I swallow hard, hating the way my skin tingles under his attention. Hating even more that I like it.
“Well, damn.” A voice whistles beside me. “I heard the new Blackwell kid was hot, but girl, you’re on fire.”
I turn to see a dark-skinned girl standing next to me, rocking baggy jeans, a cropped hoodie, long pink braids and a nose ring. She has this effortless, I-don’t-give-a-fuck energy that makes me like her instantly.
I arch a brow. “Umm…thanks?”
She smirks. “Name’s Yara. You?”
“Raelynn.”
Yara loops an arm around my shoulder like we’ve known each other for years. “Come on Rae, let’s get a drink.”
I don’t argue, following her even as I still feel the burn of his gaze still on me.
As we sip on whatever questionable alcohol someone poured into a red cup, Yara dances in place, totally in her style. I find myself enjoying her vibe.
Finally, a breath of fresh air in this royal dumpster.
I glance around, the house is packed, packed enough there’s a crowd outside it looks like the whole school actually turned up.
I lean in. “How the hell are there these many high school students off campus on a school night?”
Yara chuckles, swirling the liquid in her cup. “Because, sweetheart, this is KAQ. The teachers have zero say in anything. This school is run by us, and the richest kids make the rules.” She tilts her chin toward a group of people. “Especially the Blackwell twins and their circle of idiots.”
I scowl at Grayson and Isabella sitting in a corner along with their minions like their too big to associate with the rest of us.
“Well, that’s messed up.” I murmur.
Before she can respond, a guy approaches, rizzing her up with a cocky grin.
I take that as my cue to slip away.
Carefully, I slip through the bodies, making my way to the off-limits area of the apartment. No one stops me thankfully.
I step into Grayson’s dark room, my heart pounding.
Pulling out my phone, I turn on the flashlight, to scan the place. It’s ridiculously clean for someone like him. My gaze lands on the nightstand, and I move quickly, yanking open drawers.
It’s filled with a bunch of letters which makes me wonder if he has a fetish for letters or something. I rip one open but immediately close it back when I see a nude of a girl attached with the cringiest love letter known to man. Why would he even keep this?
Of course, he’s a perv.
I roll my eyes and search through them, gagging at all the “I love you’s” “You make me so h*rny” and all that d*mb sh*t, but none of them are mine.
I’m about to slam the drawer shut when my eyes land on something underneath one letter.
A photograph.
A woman with brown hair and blue eyes.
His mother?
By her sides are two small kids I assume to be Isabella and Grayson. They look exactly the same except…they’re smiling. And not the fake kind they give, but they genuinely look happy.
Before I can dwell on it…
A body presses against mine.
A low, familiar voice murmurs coldly in my ear.
“Looking for something, Sunshine?”
GraysonI should be pissed. Actually, I am pissed.She shouldn’t be here, in my room, in my f*cking space.I don’t like people in my space. I f*cking hate it. it’s personal. It’s mine.At first a form of curiosity bubbled in me when I saw Raelynn sneak into my room like a rat, but as my eyes drop to the picture in her hand, a cold rage swallows every form of amusement I had.My mother. She’s a forbidden topic, buried six feet into the ground along with her and it’s all because of—Raelynn turns around quickly her eyes go wide but rather than fear in them she glares at me.Fuck! That’s it. Something inside me snaps.I grab her wrist and shove her against the cupboard, the photo slipping from her hand and landing between us. My hand wraps around her throat, not too tight to cut her flow of air, but tight enough to let her know I could if I wanted to.Her breath hitches.“Did I invite you in, sunshine?” my voice is low with a dangerous edge to it.Her stormy grey eyes shine with defiance
Raelynn.I don’t bother looking back.I keep my head high, shoulders squared, ignoring how drenched I am and the murmurs that flow in the crowd around me. but most of all, I ignore the way I can still his gaze burning into my back.It’s almost funny how shocked they look, as if they actually expected me to just stand there and take it, like I was supposed to bow my head, smile through the humiliation, maybe even kiss Briella’s feet while I was at it.Idiots.“Pathetic,” I hear a Yara yell behind me. “Even for you three, it’s so embarrassing.”I don’t turn back, but a small smile spread on my lips at her sticking up for me even though we just met few hours ago.The moment I step into my room, I start peeling off my soaked dress, only to jolt when the door slams open again. Yara storms in, snatching my towel with so much force you’d think she was trying to strangle someone.“Thanks,” I smile taking the towel from her. A chuckle escapes my lips as I watch her furrowed brows and the way s
Raelynn“Pack your bags we’re moving.” My mother’s words echo in my mind as I shove my clothes angrily into my box.This week has been hell, scratch that, way worse than hell. Yesterday, I walked in on the one person I called my best friend, Chloe, and my boyfriend Peter making out.Peter and I were to hang out at his place but he couldn’t because he suddenly caught the flu, being the sweet and naive girlfriend I was, I decided to go over and check on him. Bring him some soup and tissues.I Didn’t need to knock because I know his passcode...one two three four five six, yes, he’s an id*ot.Turns out I should have just minded my business and stayed at home then maybe I wouldn’t have had to walk on both of them right there on his couch, her black hair tangled in his fingers.Worst thing they didn’t even feel bad about it, Chloe just smirked and peter’s excuse? “You’ve been depressed lately, we needed to rely on each other.”I throw another shirt into my suitcase. Depressed? I was only dep
RaelynnMy heart hammers in my chest both from the proximity ad the irritation crawling up my chest.Who does he think he is?The moment I feel his grip relax, I twist sharply and hove him hard in the chest. He staggers back slightly, his expression unreadable.I open my mouth curses ready to fly, but the second I lock eyes with him, all the words get stuck in my throat.Damn it.He’s gorgeous.Brown hair that falls effortlessly, like he’s just run his fingers through it, frames his chiseled features. His jaw is sharp enough to cut glass, and those dark blue eyes...piercing, cold...narrow at me with very obvious disdain.I snap myself out of it.“You must be Grayson.” I force out as calmly as I can.He smirks but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “And you must be the charity case.”The insult lands like a slap, sharp and cold but I refuse to flinch squaring my shoulders.“Says the overprivileged brat.”His smirk widens and somehow that makes him look even more dangerous. He stalks closer to
GraysonThe party is already in full swing when we arrive, loud music, sweaty people and cheap perfumes.Isa disappears muttering something about finding her friends.I walk over to the VIP room wanting some sort of quietness, once I'm seated on the empty couch, I bring out the v*pe from my pocket and take a hit.The familiar burn spreads through my chest, sharp and soothing all at once. I hold it in, letting it settle before exhaling slowly through my nose.The tension in my shoulders eases as the smoke curls around me, blending into the dimly lit room. This is what I needed.This is what I needed. V*ping always happened to cool me off no matter what was on my mind, which is why no matter how much Edward whines about it I don’t give a sh*it.If he hadn't done what he did, then I wouldn’t need a v*pe in the first place.Edward hates this habit, always going on about how I’m “damaging myself” or “setting a bad example.” Like he’s ever given a damn about my well-being. If he hadn’t done
RaelynnI’m late for my first day at Kings and Queens High...and it’s all Grayson and Isabella’s fault.First, my alarm mysteriously turned off, which makes me suspect Grayson snuck into my room again after he left. The thought of him standing in the dark, whispering threats, sends a chill down my spine. I shake it off. He can't actually do anything.I really need to start locking my door.Then, my preordered uniform somehow disappeared. While I was tearing my room apart looking for it, the devil twins waltzed out of the house, leaving me behind.With no other choice, I had to take the bus because our driver had already taken my mom and Edward to work, and apparently, the other driver is exclusively for the royal brats.And now, I find out my mom will have to mail the rest of my clothes because KAQ is a boarding school.Just perfect.I step up to the front desk, trying not to look as frazzled as I feel.“I’d like to enroll for a dorm room, please,” I say quickly, glancing at my schedu
RaelynnGrayson stares at me from the driver’s seat, his window rolled down just enough for the rain to drip onto his arm. He is completely relaxed, like he did not just scare the life out of me. His gaze drags over my trembling frame, lingering on my soaked clothes, on my white tank top, now practically see-through.Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I cross my arms over my chest instinctively.A lazy smirk tugs at his lips. He looks frustratingly entertained.“You look like sh*t,” he drawls.“Screw you,” I snap, my voice hoarse from the cold and the panic clawing at my throat.He tilts his head, feigning a pout. “You’re the one standing in the middle of a storm, looking like a half-drowned stray kitty.”My fists clench at my sides.I hate him. so much I can strangle him.“But if you want me to leave…” He starts the car, fingers drumming against the wheel.I know he will. He will not hesitate.“Wait,” I blurt before I can stop myself.Grayson pauses but does not turn off the engine. He w
GraysonI flick my wrist, sending the puck sailing toward the net. It should go in. It always does. But today, it doesn’t.The clang of rubber against metal echoes through the rink as it smacks against the post, bouncing away uselessly.I mutter a curse under my breath and push forward, but my passes are sloppy, my movements off. Every time I try to focus, my mind drags me back to last night—to that damn letter.The look of fear in Raelynn’s eyes when I was just about to read the later.She was scared.Eyes wide, chest rapidly rising and falling.It was the first time I’d ever seen her that vulnerable.It only made me want to dig deeper.I was just about it, then the doorbell rang.Her relief was instant. That subtle sag of her shoulders, the way her lips had parted in a light exhale.I should’ve opened the damn letter right then and there. But the doorbell kept ringing.Which is exactly why I didn’t give her back the letter, and kept it with me.A sharp whistle from Coach snaps me ba
Raelynn.I don’t bother looking back.I keep my head high, shoulders squared, ignoring how drenched I am and the murmurs that flow in the crowd around me. but most of all, I ignore the way I can still his gaze burning into my back.It’s almost funny how shocked they look, as if they actually expected me to just stand there and take it, like I was supposed to bow my head, smile through the humiliation, maybe even kiss Briella’s feet while I was at it.Idiots.“Pathetic,” I hear a Yara yell behind me. “Even for you three, it’s so embarrassing.”I don’t turn back, but a small smile spread on my lips at her sticking up for me even though we just met few hours ago.The moment I step into my room, I start peeling off my soaked dress, only to jolt when the door slams open again. Yara storms in, snatching my towel with so much force you’d think she was trying to strangle someone.“Thanks,” I smile taking the towel from her. A chuckle escapes my lips as I watch her furrowed brows and the way s
GraysonI should be pissed. Actually, I am pissed.She shouldn’t be here, in my room, in my f*cking space.I don’t like people in my space. I f*cking hate it. it’s personal. It’s mine.At first a form of curiosity bubbled in me when I saw Raelynn sneak into my room like a rat, but as my eyes drop to the picture in her hand, a cold rage swallows every form of amusement I had.My mother. She’s a forbidden topic, buried six feet into the ground along with her and it’s all because of—Raelynn turns around quickly her eyes go wide but rather than fear in them she glares at me.Fuck! That’s it. Something inside me snaps.I grab her wrist and shove her against the cupboard, the photo slipping from her hand and landing between us. My hand wraps around her throat, not too tight to cut her flow of air, but tight enough to let her know I could if I wanted to.Her breath hitches.“Did I invite you in, sunshine?” my voice is low with a dangerous edge to it.Her stormy grey eyes shine with defiance
RaelynnYou have got to me kidding me.It’s ten p.m. on a school night and there’s a damn full-blown part happening right under my nose. The worse part of it all, is that I actually saw Grayson earlier but rather than telling me he’s turning our place into a club he decided I wasn’t worth the trouble.A8shole.I clutch the novel in my hand tighter as the terrible choice of music echoes through the walls.The door snaps open and a drunk girl starts to come in gagging like she’s about to puke.“Not the bathroom!” I practically fly out of my bed and rush her out slamming the door shut, leaning my back against it.Frustration bubbles in my chest, but my mind drifts back to the letter.Grayson had almost read it, and if he did all hell would be loosed by now. Thankfully he didn’t because Briella showed up but the jerk had refused to give it back.I have to get it back.Just then a plan comes to my mind.Grayson’s at the party probably drinking or getting sucked off in some corner by a poor
GraysonI flick my wrist, sending the puck sailing toward the net. It should go in. It always does. But today, it doesn’t.The clang of rubber against metal echoes through the rink as it smacks against the post, bouncing away uselessly.I mutter a curse under my breath and push forward, but my passes are sloppy, my movements off. Every time I try to focus, my mind drags me back to last night—to that damn letter.The look of fear in Raelynn’s eyes when I was just about to read the later.She was scared.Eyes wide, chest rapidly rising and falling.It was the first time I’d ever seen her that vulnerable.It only made me want to dig deeper.I was just about it, then the doorbell rang.Her relief was instant. That subtle sag of her shoulders, the way her lips had parted in a light exhale.I should’ve opened the damn letter right then and there. But the doorbell kept ringing.Which is exactly why I didn’t give her back the letter, and kept it with me.A sharp whistle from Coach snaps me ba
RaelynnGrayson stares at me from the driver’s seat, his window rolled down just enough for the rain to drip onto his arm. He is completely relaxed, like he did not just scare the life out of me. His gaze drags over my trembling frame, lingering on my soaked clothes, on my white tank top, now practically see-through.Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I cross my arms over my chest instinctively.A lazy smirk tugs at his lips. He looks frustratingly entertained.“You look like sh*t,” he drawls.“Screw you,” I snap, my voice hoarse from the cold and the panic clawing at my throat.He tilts his head, feigning a pout. “You’re the one standing in the middle of a storm, looking like a half-drowned stray kitty.”My fists clench at my sides.I hate him. so much I can strangle him.“But if you want me to leave…” He starts the car, fingers drumming against the wheel.I know he will. He will not hesitate.“Wait,” I blurt before I can stop myself.Grayson pauses but does not turn off the engine. He w
RaelynnI’m late for my first day at Kings and Queens High...and it’s all Grayson and Isabella’s fault.First, my alarm mysteriously turned off, which makes me suspect Grayson snuck into my room again after he left. The thought of him standing in the dark, whispering threats, sends a chill down my spine. I shake it off. He can't actually do anything.I really need to start locking my door.Then, my preordered uniform somehow disappeared. While I was tearing my room apart looking for it, the devil twins waltzed out of the house, leaving me behind.With no other choice, I had to take the bus because our driver had already taken my mom and Edward to work, and apparently, the other driver is exclusively for the royal brats.And now, I find out my mom will have to mail the rest of my clothes because KAQ is a boarding school.Just perfect.I step up to the front desk, trying not to look as frazzled as I feel.“I’d like to enroll for a dorm room, please,” I say quickly, glancing at my schedu
GraysonThe party is already in full swing when we arrive, loud music, sweaty people and cheap perfumes.Isa disappears muttering something about finding her friends.I walk over to the VIP room wanting some sort of quietness, once I'm seated on the empty couch, I bring out the v*pe from my pocket and take a hit.The familiar burn spreads through my chest, sharp and soothing all at once. I hold it in, letting it settle before exhaling slowly through my nose.The tension in my shoulders eases as the smoke curls around me, blending into the dimly lit room. This is what I needed.This is what I needed. V*ping always happened to cool me off no matter what was on my mind, which is why no matter how much Edward whines about it I don’t give a sh*it.If he hadn't done what he did, then I wouldn’t need a v*pe in the first place.Edward hates this habit, always going on about how I’m “damaging myself” or “setting a bad example.” Like he’s ever given a damn about my well-being. If he hadn’t done
RaelynnMy heart hammers in my chest both from the proximity ad the irritation crawling up my chest.Who does he think he is?The moment I feel his grip relax, I twist sharply and hove him hard in the chest. He staggers back slightly, his expression unreadable.I open my mouth curses ready to fly, but the second I lock eyes with him, all the words get stuck in my throat.Damn it.He’s gorgeous.Brown hair that falls effortlessly, like he’s just run his fingers through it, frames his chiseled features. His jaw is sharp enough to cut glass, and those dark blue eyes...piercing, cold...narrow at me with very obvious disdain.I snap myself out of it.“You must be Grayson.” I force out as calmly as I can.He smirks but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “And you must be the charity case.”The insult lands like a slap, sharp and cold but I refuse to flinch squaring my shoulders.“Says the overprivileged brat.”His smirk widens and somehow that makes him look even more dangerous. He stalks closer to
Raelynn“Pack your bags we’re moving.” My mother’s words echo in my mind as I shove my clothes angrily into my box.This week has been hell, scratch that, way worse than hell. Yesterday, I walked in on the one person I called my best friend, Chloe, and my boyfriend Peter making out.Peter and I were to hang out at his place but he couldn’t because he suddenly caught the flu, being the sweet and naive girlfriend I was, I decided to go over and check on him. Bring him some soup and tissues.I Didn’t need to knock because I know his passcode...one two three four five six, yes, he’s an id*ot.Turns out I should have just minded my business and stayed at home then maybe I wouldn’t have had to walk on both of them right there on his couch, her black hair tangled in his fingers.Worst thing they didn’t even feel bad about it, Chloe just smirked and peter’s excuse? “You’ve been depressed lately, we needed to rely on each other.”I throw another shirt into my suitcase. Depressed? I was only dep