I’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 schedule. It’s already lunch, which means I’ve missed three whole periods.
The woman at the desk barely looks up as she types into her computer. “Name?”
“Raelynn Walker...” I pause, cringing before correcting myself. “I mean, Blackwell.”
Because, surprise, my mom changed my last name without telling me.
The woman’s fingers pause over the keyboard. She finally looks at me, eyebrows knitting together. “Blackwell? As in Ian Blackwell? Isabella and Grayson Blackwell?”
I frown. “Uh… yeah?”
Her gaze flicks back to the screen, and after a second, she turns to me with an expression I don’t like.
“It says here you’ll be sharing an apartment with one of the twins.”
My stomach drops.
“What?”
“You won’t be in a dorm,” she clarifies. “You’ll be housed in a private apartment with one of them.”
My jaw literally falls open. Since when can high schoolers decide not to live in the dorms?
The only reason I agreed to come to a boarding school was to have my own space in a dorm. Now, I have to live with Isabella, who hates me? Because it can’t be Grayson. He’s a guy.
Obviously.
I pull out my phone and call the twins...again.
Neither of them picks up.
I let out a frustrated sigh and shove my phone back into my pocket. Whatever. I need food before I deal with this mess.
But before I can even make it halfway down the hall, two girls’ step in front of me, all bright smiles and gleaming white teeth.
They look like they just stepped out of a high-fashion ad, their uniforms perfectly tailored, their wrists adorned with Ch*nel and L*uis V*itton. Their whole vibe screams expensive and also fake as hell.
"Hi! You must be Raelynn. I’m Briella, and this is Kimberly." The blonde one stretches out a hand, showing off her perfectly manicured nails.
I hesitate before shaking it, my eyes narrowed in suspicion. The moment she pulls away, I swear she wipes her hand on her skirt, all while maintaining that polished smile.
Kimberly giggles, turning to me. "We’re Isabella’s friends."
“And Grayson.” Briella adds but more like a demand.
Red flags. Everywhere.
“She asked us to fetch you.”
Fetch. Like a dog.
I grit my teeth together trying to hold back my irritation. “Why?”
They glance at each other before turning back to me, “We’re not sure but she did say something about your rooming situation. Meaning you’ll have to leave the school premises now.”
Without waiting for my response, they lock their hands with mine and star pulling me towards the exist. I turn to the front desk woman for help but she’s already back to using her phone.
A frustrated groan escapes my lips and I snatch my hands away.
“Fine let’s just get this over with.”
They giggle in union and lead me to a black sedan.
In the car Briella and Kimberly engage in a conversation completely ignoring my presence and I almost want to puke when Briella starts swooning about how hot Grayson is. Turns out they had a thing last year.
But it’s not like I care anyway.
I put on my EarPods to block out their conversation which actually works and I relax for some time but when the car turns to a lonely road with a lot of trees, I take them off my eyes narrowing.
“Are you sure this is the right way?”
As if on cue the car comes to an abrupt stop, causing me to jerk forward and hit my head. I barely have time to regret not putting on my seatbelt when the driver comes out and starts walking to my side of the car.
"What is he doing?" I ask, a sick feeling forming in my gut.
Briella and Kimberly giggle. Giggle. Like this is some kind of joke.
Before I can react, the door swings open, and the driver’s hand clamps down on my arm. I let out a shriek, trying to pull away, but Briella and Kimberly shove me forward. I stumble, my knee scraping against the rough gravel as I hit the ground.
I push myself up, ignoring the sting of the fresh wound, and reach for the door handle, but Briella slams the door shut in my face.
"No, no, no!" I yank at the handle, my breath coming in short gasps. Locked.
Through the tinted window, I see their faces...laughing, waving, like this is all some twisted game.
I can't believe I walked right into their trap.
The car zooms of living me there. In the middle of nowhere.
And then...to make things worse...a single raindrop lands on my cheek.
Panic seizes my chest, squeezing tight. Not again.
I whirl around, my hands trembling as I reach for my bag. It’s gone. My phone...my only way to call for help...is inside it.
A thunder strikes and I let out a scream the rain begins to fall heavily and the sun hides behind the cloud.
start walking. I don’t know where I’m going, but I have to move.
It’s not that night. It’s a different day. It’s in the past.
But no matter how many times I repeat it in my head, my body remembers. My pulse races, my lungs tighten, and suddenly, it feels like I can’t breathe.
I stop, panting, my hands trembling as I rip open the buttons of my shirt and let it drop to the ground. My soaked tank top clings to me, but at least it makes it easier to breathe.
Then, a light flash over me. Headlights. A car.
I freeze, squinting through the downpour. Maybe it’s someone who can help.
But then a thought strikes me, chilling me to my core.
This is a lonely road, in the middle of nowhere. Who knows who’s driving that car?
Panic claws up my throat. I spin on my heel and start running in the opposite direction, my wet hair whipping against my face.
The rain blinds me, blurring my vision. My feet slip against the wet ground, but I don’t stop. I can’t.
And then I hear it.
His voice.
“Come on, Sarah, don’t be so afraid.”
The memory slices through me like a blade, his cruel laughter ringing in my ears.
No. Not real. It’s not real.
I shake my head violently, trying to drown out the echoes of the past. But the car behind me doesn’t stop...it doesn’t chase me outright, but it follows, slow and deliberate. Taunting me.
Maybe they’re just passing through.
But then...
The car speeds up, cutting in front of me, blocking my path.
My heart slams against my ribs. I stumble back, my instincts screaming at me to run, to fight, to do something.
And then the window rolls down.
Cruel blue eyes meet mine.
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
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 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
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