Hating You (Blackthorn Elite 1)

“Breaking her is going to be so easy. She’s delicate, like glass, when I kissed her hand, I swear, she shivered.” I can see the wheels in Warren’s head turning. “I will definitely help you break her. It’ll be fun, give me something to do.” He wiggles his eyebrows, “And I do mean literally. She’s prettier than I expected. I might give her a ride or two.”

Snapping, I growl, “Her beauty has nothing to do with this.”

Warren snickers, “Liar. It has everything to do with it. Her beauty is a weakness for you.”

Taking a step toward Warren, I bump my chest into his. We’re the same height, same body type. In a fight, we would be pretty much equal, that is, if he’d ever fight. I doubt he’s ever fought in his life. I might come from a filthy rich family, but I’ve gotten my hands dirty more than once. Warren is nothing more than a pretty boy with a sick and twisted mind. He’s a fly, a gnat. I don’t know why, but I feel the need to remind him that she’s mine. That all of this has to do with my revenge on her.

Gritting my teeth, I stare down my best friend. “She’s mine to break. Mine to hurt. Do you understand that, or do I need to explain it to you in detail?” My fists clench and unclench, rage flickering through my veins like an out of control forest fire.

Warren blinks, and for a moment, it looks like he’s going to fight me on it, but instead, he gives me a chin nod and takes a step back. That’s right, you know you don’t stand a chance. A sickening satisfaction fills my gut. Not wanting to make a scene, I back down. I have better things to do for the rest of the day.

Tonight, I’ll make my presence known.

Tonight, I’ll remind her of all the wrong her family has done.

3

Willow

The wind chills me to the bone as I walk across campus back to my dorm. The fall night air is crisp, and the stars blanket the sky like a million twinkling lights. Wrapping my arms around myself, I wish that Alice had decided to come back to the room with me.

After brunch with my father and a run-in with one of the many rich boys of Blackthorn, I spent the rest of the day with Alice and her parents. We went bowling and then did some shopping before having dinner together. Almost like gasp a family.

They offered me a ride back to the dorms, but I refused. I feel bad as it is for having crashed their family fun. Plus, the walk from the cocktail bar they went to isn’t far. The place is five minutes away from the campus edge, the perfect location for students.

As the dorms come into sight, a chill ripples through me, but it isn’t from the cold. No, this chill is the kind you feel deep in your gut, the kind that makes the small hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Fear creeps up my spine like a thousand little bugs crawling under my skin.

Reaching into my purse, my fingers shake as I fish out the key card to open the front door. When I finally get to the entrance and manage to pull the damn card out, I swipe it in a rush. The tiny red light blinks, and I groan into the air. Seriously?

I slide the card again, still nothing. My pulse is racing, and even though I’m cold, there is sweat forming on my brows and hands. Glancing over my shoulder, I quickly scan the area. I don’t see anyone, but I still feel like someone is watching me.

It’s almost like I’m in one of those ridiculous horror movies, hiding, waiting for the monster to find me. Forcing air into my lungs, I tell myself to calm down. You’re safe. No one here knows you. No one knows what you did. After sliding the card a third time, the green light finally blinks. A clicking noise comes from the lock, and I’m able to push the door open the next second. Warm air blows against my face as I enter, and once I’m inside, I pull the door shut behind me. Standing there for a moment, I sigh in relief and almost slump against the door.

What the hell was that? I must be going crazy. Looking through the glass door, I stare at the wooded area across the street, waiting, watching for something to happen. But after a few minutes, nothing appears, and I’m left wondering if I’ve lost my mind.

I’m alone. No one is out there.

Shaking my head and the irrational fear away, I turn around and walk up the single flight of stairs to my room. The dorm is unusually quiet tonight, but I guess that’s to be expected. Classes will be starting soon, and most of the students are visiting with their families. Exchanging the tiny ass dorm bed for a decent sized one.