I Despise You: A Dark High School Bully Romance Page 2

  “You can take a tour of my room too.” He winks.

  Aw, great. I was better off not knowing what he’s thinking.

  “Shut up, Chase,” Brittany says, handing me one of the papers that she’s holding. “Here’s a list of classes. You need to pick the ones that you want and bring this sheet to the administration, okay?”

  “Yeah, thanks.” My eyes fly over the list.

  It’s fucking impressive. I don’t even know what to choose because everything sounds so damn interesting. My old school has none of this stuff.

  Hell, I couldn’t even get an advanced math class because there weren’t enough students interested in forming one, and the teacher didn’t want to only work with me and one other student.

  “Um, are there any limits to the number of students for each class or something?” I ask as the three of us walk down a long, wide hallway.

  “No,” Brittany says, and I notice one more thing.

  We didn’t go through a metal detector, because there isn’t one. And there are no cameras. I guess this school isn’t as dangerous as my old one.

  “Does it matter which classes I choose if I want to apply for the Richerville University scholarship?” I don’t want to choose classes that will bring me fewer points for my application.

  “Forget about the scholarship,” Chase says.

  I crease my brow, my gaze focusing on him. “Why?”

  “Because it’s mine.”

  I blink at him.

  What does he mean it’s his? Has it already been decided who gets it, and my mom and I got it all wrong? Is it too late to apply?

  I have so many questions I don’t know what to ask first.

  “Bullshit,” Brittany says.

  Chase laughs. “You can keep fooling yourself that you have a chance, but you don’t. I’m just trying to spare the new girl the disappointment she’ll feel once she loses.”

  “You don’t even know how good she is,” Brittany says.

  “I don’t have to. I’m the best student in this fucking school. You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it.” His eyes narrow at me. “And you’ll figure it out soon enough.”

  “Who knows? Maybe she’s the one who’ll take your spot at the top.” Brittany lifts her chin.

  Chase’s gaze rakes over me, and he snorts. “Have fun, you two. I’m out of here.”

  As he strolls away, I can’t help but wonder what he saw.

  Has he figured me out? Does he think I’m not good enough?

  But if nothing has been decided yet, then what he believes doesn’t matter at all. He may be good, but maybe I can do better.

  Brittany takes me through the whole school, showing me the cafeteria, the library, the classrooms, and even the gym. Finally, we end up on the other side of the campus, where the dorms are.

  “Your room is just down the hallway.” Brittany points at the door. “Your key should be on the desk. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” Her gaze lingers on me, and I can’t read her expression. Then she spins on her heel and strolls away.

  I make my way down the hallway. Some of the doors are open, and the students are getting settled in, ready for the new school year.

  I really hope I’m ready too.

  Just as I’m about to reach for the door handle, a girl with shoulder-length light brown hair and brown eyes opens the door next to mine.

  “Hey,” she says, a small smile spreading across her lips. “Are you lost? Freshmen are not on this floor.”

  “Oh, I’m not a freshman. I’m just new here.”

  “Riiiight. You’re the new girl. Sorry.” She shakes her head. “I’m Vanessa.”

  “Liliana.”

  “Nice to meet you, neighbor.” She grins. “Do you need help?”

  “I don’t know yet, but thanks.” I push the door to my room open.

  My suitcase is sitting in the middle of the floor, next to a king-sized bed.

  My eyes go wide. I’ve seen photos of the rooms, but this one’s even bigger than I imagined. My shoe sinks into the soft dark blue carpet as I take a step inside.

  “Nice, isn’t it?” Vanessa leans her shoulder against the doorway.

  “Yeah. I didn’t think it’d be so big.” I spin around, trying to take it all in.

  My eyes aren’t sure if I should focus on the big desk with two chairs—wait, there’s a laptop too—or on the big closet, and the TV on the other side of the room. A door leads to a private bathroom.

  “Seniors get the biggest rooms,” Vanessa says.

  I let out a small laugh.

  There’s only one word that can describe this—un-fucking-believable.

  I can’t wait to call my mom and tell her all about it. Actually, now that I have a laptop, I can use it to do a video call too because I’m sure it can catch more of the room than my phone.

  Oh yeah.

  This is going to be so awesome.

  I can feel it.

  Chapter 3

  MY BED IS SO INCREDIBLY soft I don’t want to get up. Ever.

  At least I woke up before my alarm went off and I can lie on my pillows some more.

  The noise coming from the hallway catches my attention, and my eyes fly open.

  Wait, what time is it?

  I spot the alarm clock on the nightstand, and a gasp escapes my throat.

  Late.

  I’m going to be late for my first class if I don’t get ready in five or six minutes.

  I jump out of bed so fast that I’m lightheaded. Everything around me is a blur as I dash to the bathroom and then try to find my uniform.

  I’ve never been late to school before, but that’s probably because my mom always made sure I got up on time, and even if I tried to sleep a bit longer, my sisters would be there to wake me up.

  A pang of homesickness hits me, and I miss my family all over again.

  As I take a quick look at the mirror while raking my hands through my long hair to get it in order, I realize I put on my uniform the wrong way. The school’s crest on the T-shirt is nowhere to be seen, so I turn around and glance over my shoulder in the mirror.

  Yep, the crest is on my back.

  I sigh, yanking off the shirt.

  Now my hair is a mess again.

  Fuck!

  Once I’m presentable, I grab my bag and rush out into the hallway. I can still see students milling around, but I don’t know when their classes start, so they may not be in a hurry.

  Reaching into my bag, I search for the sheet with the list of my classes that I got from a nice lady in the administration office after I signed up for the classes I wanted.

  There are so many hallways and doors, and I have no clue how I’m going to find the right classroom.

  I focus on the sheet again and walk straight into a wall.

  No.

  It’s not a wall.

  It’s only a tiny bit softer, and its arm effortlessly snakes around my waist in a tight grip.

  Wait, what?

  I look up, opening my mouth so I can apologize, but words die on my lips because a pair of piercing blue eyes are trained on me. A shot of electricity surges through me, or maybe it’s actually a shiver.

  “Hey, watch where you’re going,” Chase says, a smile tilting his lips.

  His arm is still around my waist, and I’m still gaping at him like some moron. I take a step away from him, and he lets his arm drop to his side.

  “I was just—” I start to say.

  “You should stay out of my way,” he says, his face smiling, his tone chilling as he leans his head toward me as if he wants to whisper a secret into my ear. “Unless you want to get fucked.”

  I can feel his minty breath on my face, and I’m not sure if that’s a threat or a promise.

  “Liliana, there you are!” I hear Vanessa voice just a moment before she places her hand on my arm and tugs me away from Chase, who keeps watching me.

  “I’m looking
for this classroom,” I say to Vanessa, ignoring Chase and his penetrating gaze, and lift the sheet so she can see the number.

  “It’s right over there.” She points her finger. “I’m going in the same direction, so I’ll show you. But let me give you some friendly advice. Stay away from Chase.” Her eyes meet mine. “I mean it. He’s trouble and you don’t want to have anything to do with him, okay?”

  “Yeah.” I glance over my shoulder, and there he is.

  Still watching me.

  Still smiling, as if he’s really happy that I looked back.

  It doesn’t matter, though. I’m not here for him, and I don’t care what he says or wants.

  Vanessa points me in the right direction and waves as she strides away.

  I enter the classroom that’s smaller than the ones I’m used to, but the groups here are smaller too. Everyone has their own desk and a chair with enough space for all their things.

  I take a seat at one of the desks in the back, and just as I’m about to get my notebook out of my bag, a brunette stops next to my chair, tapping her foot against the floor.

  “You’re in my seat,” she says, her tone icy.

  I look up at her as she crosses her arms.

  “Sorry. I’m new.” I get up, giving her an apologetic smile.

  “Yeah, I know.” She scoffs as she brushes past me and sits down in the chair I just vacated.

  Okay. She and I aren’t going to be friends, but whatever.

  I look around the classroom as everyone takes their seats, and I wait to see which desk will remain empty. When Chase strolls through the door, laughing about something with a blond guy by his side, I avert my gaze.

  Wonderful. I shouldn’t be surprised Chase and I are in the same class, but I would’ve been happier if I’d avoided him completely.

  Once the classroom fills in, I want to groan. The only empty desk is the one right in front of Chase.

  What have I done to deserve this?

  But this isn’t elementary school, and if Chase is really the best student, then he won’t have any time to pay attention to me.

  With a resigned sigh, I trudge across the classroom toward the desk. Just as I’m about to pull out my chair, my foot catches on something and I go down.

  Chase lets out a laugh.

  I was clearly wrong about the elementary school part, because I didn’t just trip. Chase put out his foot out so I’d fall.

  I push myself up.

  My books, notebooks, and pens have spilled out of my bag since I forgot to zip it back up. I try to collect my stuff as quickly as possible, but then I spot Chase picking something up from the floor.

  It takes me a second to recognize what he’s holding.

  A photo of my family.

  It was taken on my sixteenth birthday. I don’t know how it got into my notebook—my mom must’ve slipped it in there so it wouldn’t get creases—but now Chase is looking at it with interest.

  “Give it back.” I extend my hand, glaring at him, but his attention is fully on the photo.

  I wait for him to say something about my dad not being in the photo like some people who don’t know me tend to do, but he doesn’t say anything.

  “Chase,” I try again. “Give me the photo.”

  This time, I attempt to snatch it out of his hand, but he moves it out of my reach, his eyes lifting to mine.

  “Hello, class,” the teacher says from the door, and Chase shoves the photo in his pocket.

  What the hell?

  I don’t move as I narrow my eyes at him, and he pretends as if nothing is going on at all.

  “You must be Liliana,” the teacher says as soon as she lays her eyes on me. “Please step forward and tell us something about yourself.”

  I debate if I should tell her about Chase and demand that he return the photo, but I don’t want it to be the first thing everyone will remember about me.

  I’ll deal with Chase later.

  As I go to the front of the class, everyone’s expectant eyes on me, I wonder if they know anything about me.

  I guess not. No one knows I’m not rich like them, and I don’t know if they’ll judge me for the way I got into their school.

  I could lie and tell them that I’ve traveled the whole damn world, or that I came here because my old school in London just wasn’t demanding enough.

  But I don’t want to do that.

  I don’t want to be ashamed of who I am or where I come from.

  Still, that doesn’t mean I have to spill my guts to them.

  It’s just a stupid introduction, not a trial, even if it somehow feels like one, especially when Chase is looking at me with all the curiosity in the world.

  I opt for the simplest version. “Hi, everyone. I’m Liliana. I like reading, painting, and dancing.”

  Most of the class looks bored. Some are busy with their phones and aren’t even listening to me, which is great. But Chase...

  It’s impossible to escape his gaze.

  “That’s great, Liliana. We’re happy to have you here,” the teacher says, and I return to my seat.

  As the teacher starts the class, I can’t stop fidgeting. Maybe I’m imagining things, but it’s like I can feel Chase’s eyes on my back, daring me to turn around and look at him.

  It takes me a long time to truly focus on what the teacher is saying, and when I do, the class is already over.

  I stuff my things into my bag, and when I get up and spin around, I’m ready to force Chase to return the photo to me, or I’ll report him if I have to.

  An empty chair greets me.

  He’s no longer here.

  He’s already left.

  I grind my teeth together.

  Shit! He must’ve forgotten about the photo, and now I’ll have to chase after Chase.

  Fucking brilliant.

  Chapter 4

  WITH ALL THE CLASSES and the counseling session I have to go to, I don’t have time to search for Chase too. I’m relieved that we don’t have any other classes together, but I also want my photo back.

  I can only hope that Chase hasn’t destroyed it or thrown it away already. It’s a shame I don’t know anything about him, and I don’t know if reporting him would get me in trouble rather than him.

  I’ve never dealt with a guy like Chase before. At my old school, straight-A students don’t mess with other students, and bad boys usually have a reputation with the teachers and the school administration too.

  Chase confuses me.

  I don’t know if he’s everyone’s golden boy or if he’s reached his academic status with cheating, bribery, or something else.

  But maybe I’m totally wrong about him, and he just doesn’t like me because I’m his competition for the scholarship.

  By the time I reach the cafeteria, my stomach is growling with fury. The food smells amazing, and it looks like it too.

  I pick up a tray and then choose what I like from the vast choice of food. There’s also a menu for students who want to order something special.

  Vanessa waves at me from one of the tables, and I’m glad I don’t have to search for my own table.

  Judging by my luck at this school so far, I’d have probably ended up sitting in someone’s spot and causing a scandal.

  “Hey.” Vanessa smiles as I settle in the chair across from her.

  Our table is for four people. Some students with a bigger group of friends have connected their tables so they can all sit together. I don’t know if Vanessa has any friends, but if she does, they’re not here at the moment.

  “Hey,” I say with a sigh.

  “How’s your first day?”

  “Fin—” My voice cuts off when my gaze finds Chase just across the room.

  He’s sitting with a group of guys, a wide smile on his face.

  “Give me a sec,” I say as I get to my feet.

  Chase is here, and I’m not going to miss the chance to get my photo back.

  “Whoa, where are you going?” Vanessa catches
my arm and pulls me back before I can take more than a few steps.

  “Chase took something from me. A photo of my family. I want it back.” I expect that to be enough for Vanessa to let me go, but her grip is firm.

  “Just sit down. Please. It’s not worth the trouble. You don’t want to start anything here. Trust me.”

  I want to argue, but the begging look in her eyes makes me pause. She knows Chase way better than I do, so I sit back down.

  “Forget about that photo and stay away from him.” Vanessa leans forward. “Tell your family to send you a new one, or they can email it to you and you can print it out. It doesn’t matter. But whatever you do, don’t go anywhere near Chase.”

  “Why?”

  “Hey, Liliana,” Brittany says as she shows up practically out of nowhere and plops in the chair next to Vanessa. “How do you like Richerville Prep so far? And yes, if you’re wondering, I was told to ask you that question, so you better give me an answer.” She bats her eyelashes at me before popping a piece of carrot into her mouth.

  “Um, it’s fine.” My counselor asked me the same question like a billion times, but I guess he expects me to lie to him and tell Brittany the truth.

  “Wonderful,” Brittany says, looking around the room. “Now I just have three people left to catch and ask that same question.”

  A shout draws everyone’s attention to the other side of the room.

  “Apologize right now,” Chase says, his voice like thunder as he gets to his feet and stalks toward a lanky dark-haired guy.

  Chase’s friends rise too, and they surround the guy like hungry sharks.

  The guy stammers something I can’t hear, and Chase laughs, shoving the guy back. The guy stumbles, his face getting red, his lower lip trembling.

  “Are you crying?” Chase yells, mocking him.

  Chase’s friends laugh.

  Without thinking, I get up as Chase stands face-to-face with the guy.

  “No.” Vanessa shoots up to her feet and blocks my way. “It’s none of your business.”

  Brittany is just watching us with interest as she chews her food.

  “He’s crying!” someone shouts.

  “Crybaby!”

  “Yeah, go cry to your momma!”

  I focus back on Chase and the guy, just as the guy manages to break through the tight ring Chase’s friends have made and runs out of the cafeteria.