THORN: A High School Bully Romance (Rosewood Book 1)

  Thorn

  Rosewood High #1

  Tracy Lorraine

  Contents

  A Note

  1. Amalie

  2. Jake

  3. Amalie

  4. Jake

  5. Amalie

  6. Jake

  7. Amalie

  8. Jake

  9. Amalie

  10. Amalie

  11. Jake

  12. Amalie

  13. Jake

  14. Amalie

  15. Jake

  16. Amalie

  17. Jake

  18. Amalie

  19. Amalie

  20. Jake

  21. Amalie

  22. Jake

  23. Amalie

  24. Jake

  25. Amalie

  26. Amalie

  27. Jake

  28. Amalie

  29. Jake

  30. Jake

  31. Amalie

  32. Jake

  33. Amalie

  34. Amalie

  35. Amalie

  36. Jake

  37. Amalie

  38. Jake

  39. Amalie

  40. Amalie

  41. Jake

  42. Amalie

  43. Jake

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Tracy Lorraine

  Falling for the Forbidden Sneak Peek

  Copyright © 2019 by Tracy Lorraine

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Editing by My Brother’s Editor

  Proofread by Paige Sayer Proofreading

  Cover by Dandelion Cover Designs

  Cover photography by Michelle Lancaster

  Model Andy Murray

  Andy & Amelia

  A Note

  Amalie is British so therefore her points of view in this book are written in British English. This may appear incorrect to some readers when compared to US English books.

  1

  Amalie

  “I think you’ll really enjoy your time here,” Principal Hartmann says. He tries to sound cheerful about it, but he’s got sympathy oozing from his wrinkled, tired eyes.

  This shouldn’t have been part of my life. I should be in London starting university, yet here I am at the beginning of what is apparently my junior year at an American high school I have no idea about aside from its name and the fact my mum attended many years ago. A lump climbs up my throat as thoughts of my parents hit me without warning.

  “I know things are going to be different and you might feel that you’re going backward, but I can assure you it’s the right thing to do. It will give you the time you need to... adjust and to put some serious thought into what you want to do once you graduate.”

  Time to adjust. I’m not sure any amount of time will be enough to learn to live without my parents and being shipped across the Pacific to start a new life in America.

  “I’m sure it’ll be great.” Plastering a fake smile on my face, I take the timetable from the principal’s hand and stare down at it. The butterflies that were already fluttering around in my stomach erupt to the point I might just throw up over his chipped Formica desk.

  Math, English lit, biology, gym, my hands tremble until I see something that instantly relaxes me, art and film studies. At least I got my own way with something.

  “I’ve arranged for someone to show you around. Chelsea is the captain of the cheer squad, what she doesn’t know about the school isn’t worth knowing. If you need anything, Amalie, my door is always open.”

  Nodding at him, I rise from my chair just as a soft knock sounds out and a cheery brunette bounces into the room. My knowledge of American high schools comes courtesy of the hours of films I used to spend my evenings watching, and she fits the stereotype of captain to a tee.

  “You wanted something, Mr. Hartmann?” she sings so sweetly it makes even my teeth shiver.

  “Chelsea, this is Amalie. It’s her first day starting junior year. I trust you’ll be able to show her around. Here’s a copy of her schedule.”

  “Consider it done, sir.”

  “I assured Amalie that she’s in safe hands.”

  I want to say it’s my imagination but when she turns her big chocolate eyes on me, the light in them diminishes a little.

  “Lead the way.” My voice is lacking any kind of enthusiasm and from the narrowing of her eyes, I don’t think she misses it.

  I follow her out of the room with a little less bounce in my step. Once we’re in the hallway, she turns her eyes on me. She’s really quite pretty with thick brown hair, large eyes, and full lips. She’s shorter than me, but then at five foot eight, you’ll be hard pushed to find many other teenage girls who can look me in the eye.

  Tilting her head so she can look at me, I fight my smile. “Let’s make this quick. It’s my first day of senior year and I’ve got shit to be doing.”

  Spinning on her heels, she takes off and I rush to catch up with her. “Cafeteria, library.” She points then looks down at her copy of my timetable. “Looks like your locker is down there.” She waves her hand down a hallway full of students who are all staring our way, before gesturing in the general direction of my different subjects.

  “Okay, that should do it. Have a great day.” Her smile is faker than mine’s been all morning, which really is saying something. She goes to walk away, but at the last minute turns back to me. “Oh, I forgot. That over there.” I follow her finger as she points to a large group of people outside the open double doors sitting around a bunch of tables. “That’s my group. I should probably warn you now that you won’t fit in there.”

  I hear her warning loud and clear, but it didn’t really need saying. I’ve no intention of befriending the cheerleaders, that kind of thing’s not really my scene. I’m much happier hiding behind my camera and slinking into the background.

  Chelsea flounces off and I can’t help my eyes from following her out toward her group. I can see from here that it consists of her squad and the football team. I can also see the longing in other student’s eyes as they walk past them. They either want to be them or want to be part of their stupid little gang.

  Jesus, this place is even more stereotypical than I was expecting.

  Unfortunately, my first class of the day is in the direction Chelsea just went. I pull my bag up higher on my shoulder and hold the couple of books I have tighter to my chest as I walk out of the doors.

  I’ve not taken two steps out of the building when my skin tingles with awareness. I tell myself to keep my head down. I’ve no interest in being their entertainment but my eyes defy me, and I find myself looking up as Chelsea points at me and laughs. I knew my sudden arrival in the town wasn’t a secret. My mum’s legacy is still strong, so when they heard the news, I’m sure it was hot gossip.

  Heat spreads from my cheeks and down my neck. I go to look away when a pair of blue eyes catch my attention. While everyone else’s look intrigued, like they’ve got a new pet to play with, his are haunted and angry. Our stare holds, his eyes narrow as if he’s trying to warn me of something before he menacingly shakes his head.

  Confused by his actions, I manage to rip my eyes from his and turn toward where I think I should be going.

  I only manage three steps at the most before I crash into something—or somebody.

  “Shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?” a deep voice as
ks. When I look into the kind green eyes of the guy in front of me, I almost sigh with relief. I was starting to wonder if I’d find anyone who wasn’t just going to glare at me. I know I’m the new girl but shit. They must experience new kids on a weekly basis, I can’t be that unusual.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “You’re the new British girl. Emily, right?”

  “It’s Amalie, and yeah... that’s me.”

  “I’m so sorry about your parents. Mom said she was friends with yours.” Tears burn my eyes. Today is hard enough without the constant reminder of everything I’ve lost. “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  “It’s fine,” I lie.

  “What’s your first class?”

  Handing over my timetable, he quickly runs his eyes over it. “English lit, I’m heading that way. Can I walk you?”

  “Yes.” His smile grows at my eagerness and for the first time today my returning one is almost sincere.

  “I’m Shane, by the way.” I look over and smile at him, thankfully the hallway is too noisy for us to continue any kind of conversation.

  He seems like a sweet guy but my head’s spinning and just the thought of trying to hold a serious conversation right now is exhausting.

  Student’s stares follow my every move. My skin prickles as more and more notice me as I walk beside Shane. Some give me smiles but most just nod in my direction, pointing me out to their friends. Some are just downright rude and physically point at me like I’m some fucking zoo animal awoken from its slumber.

  In reality, I’m just an eighteen-year-old girl who’s starting somewhere new, and desperate to blend into the crowd. I know that with who I am—or more who my parents were—that it’s not going to be all that easy, but I’d at least like a chance to try to be normal. Although I fear I might have lost that the day I lost my parents.

  “This is you.” Shane’s voice breaks through my thoughts and when I drag my head up from avoiding everyone else around me, I see he’s holding the door open.

  Thankfully the classroom’s only half full, but still, every single set of eyes turn to me.

  Ignoring their attention, I keep my head down and find an empty desk toward the back of the room.

  Once I’m settled, I risk looking up. My breath catches when I find Shane still standing in the doorway, forcing the students entering to squeeze past him. He nods his head. I know it’s his way of asking if I’m okay. Forcing a smile onto my lips, I nod in return and after a few seconds, he turns to leave.

  2

  Jake

  “I don’t see what the big deal is,” Chelsea whines to her friends. “She’s not even really that pretty. Look.” I can’t help but follow her finger as she points across the quad. My eyes find the tall blonde girl immediately. My lips press into a thin line and my blood boils. Feelings that I’ve fought for years to keep locked down threaten to bubble up.

  Ripping my eyes away, I stare down at the bench below me. My heart races and my vision blurs. Suddenly, I’m a six-year-old boy again watching my world fall apart.

  The girls continue bitching but I zone them out, too lost in my own turmoil to care about their pathetic opinions on the looks of the new girl. She won’t fit in here. I’m going to make damn sure of it.

  “I have no idea what they’re chatting about. She is fine with a capital F,” Mason, my best friend says, his stare still focused on the blonde everyone seems so fascinated with.

  “She ain’t all that.”

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? It’s the first day of senior year, it doesn’t get any better than this.”

  “If you say so. I’m outta here.”

  “Jake, hold up.”

  I ignore him and jump from the bench. I must only make it two steps when a gasp makes me look up. When I do, I watch as New Girl collides with Shane, one of our players. His hands grip onto her upper arms to steady her. The sight of him touching her, protecting her has fire erupting inside of me. Just looking at her makes me feel vulnerable, and that’s not something I ever want to experience again.

  “What’s going on?” Mason and Ethan flank my sides and stare at the same car crash that I am.

  “You calling her?” Ethan asks, following my stare.

  Not having a fucking care in the world has resulted in one thing at least. My reputation. I do what the fuck I like, when I like and everyone around here knows it’s best to just let me do my thing. That means not turning up to class, getting off my ass drunk, and most importantly, I get first pick of the girls. The others can have her once I’m done if they like, I don’t care about passing them down once I’m done. But I never get sloppy seconds. Ever.

  “She’s off limits.”

  “I fucking knew you wanted her,” Ethan mocks before I turn and fist his shirt. The blood drains from his face as he prepares for the hit he’s expecting.

  “I don’t fucking want her. I’m saying she’s off fucking limits. You got that?”

  “Yeah-yeah. Off limits, got it.”

  “And make sure everyone fucking knows it. That bitch don’t belong here and we’re about to show her.”

  “Are we done here?” Mason asks. He’s always been the slightly cooler headed one out of the three of us. He pulls my arm away from Ethan and steps between us, but not before a confused look passes between the two of them.

  Staking claim on a girl isn’t unusual, but what I just did. That shit isn’t normal and without intending to, I just showed both of them a side of me that I don’t want anyone to ever witness. Weakness.

  “Are you sure everything’s all right?” Mason asks once again when we fall into step in the direction of our first class.

  “Yeah. Just feeling the pressure, I guess.”

  “This year’s gonna be great.”

  Raising an eyebrow at him, I wait for him to explain how that’s going to happen. Rosewood High’s football team has never been all that. We have all the passion and dedication we need, but historically, it doesn’t help all that much. Every year Coach gives the speech that this year is going to be the year but as of yet, we’ve never progressed more than a few games into the state playoffs. I can admit that our team is performing better than ever, but I don’t want to set my hopes on anything epic.

  For me, football’s a release. A way to work out the tension and to forget about my bullshit life. I might give it my all, but I’m under no illusion that it’s my life. Some of the guys have high hopes of getting scouted for college and I’m sure for a few of them it’ll happen but I doubt we’ll ever see their names on the NFL team sheets.

  “Don’t give me that look, Thorn. You know as well as I do that this is our year. With you in charge, there’s no way we won’t make it to the end.”

  I can’t criticize his enthusiasm, that’s for sure. It’s just a shame I don’t feel it. And her arrival sure isn’t going to help matters.

  3

  Amalie

  Aside from the constant stares from the other students and crashing into Shane, my morning is pretty uneventful. Classes are... fine, and much to my relief, I get set homework in every single one. That should help keep my mind active once I get home. The last thing I want to do is dwell on what my life has become so the more I have to do the better.

  I was desperate to start here as a senior and do just one year, but Principal Hartmann point blank refused and explained to my gran that I would have missed too much and it would make getting into college harder than it should be, so in the end I didn’t have much choice. I’m stuck here for two years.

  Other than graduating, my main goal is just to put my head down, get good grades and focus on the future. A future in which I get to call the shots, not social services, investigating police officers or financial advisors.

  I follow the main flow of students as I step out into the hallway before lunch in the hope it’ll lead me toward the cafeteria. It pays off and in only a few moments I’m standing in line waiting to see what delights I might get.

&nbs
p; When it’s my turn, the lady serving looks at me with raised eyebrows.

  Glancing down at the food, nothing looks appealing. Nothing has since the moment I found the police standing at the other side of our front door, but I promised my gran I’d eat, so here I am.

  “Whatever’s meant to be the best,” I mutter, my voice is hollow in a way I’m becoming all too used to.

  “Sure thing, sweetheart. My burger and fries will turn your day right around.” Her smile lights up her face and I do my best to reciprocate but it falls flat. I get the impression she wants to say more, but when she looks up to hand my food over and notices the waiting students behind me, she just smiles and calls, “Next.”

  Grabbing my tray, I turn and a shiver runs through me. Lifting my eyes, I find that I’m once again under the watchful eye of the group of guys from earlier, who I’m assuming are the football team and front and center is the guy with the piercing, blue, angry eyes.

  My stomach knots as he once again narrows his eyes at me.

  “Will you get out of the way,” someone snaps behind me before my shoulder is shoved and a group of girls storm past me. I barely catch my tray before it slips from my hands and stand to the side.