Reject: A Dark High School Romance (Academy of Misfits Book 2) Read online

  “They’re good?” she asks me, her eyes welling with tears. I know she misses them too.

  “Yeah, they’re good.” I bite on my lip, my head dropping as tears well. I miss them so much.

  “You are loved, Lissy. You do know that, right?” she blurts out, clutching me by the shoulders.

  I nod tightly. “I do.”

  “Good, then that’s what matters the most.” She grins, her face lighting up with happiness as she looks at Eastern over my shoulder. He traverses the table and pulls Tracy into his arms, holding her against the broad expanse of his chest. He’s a whole head taller than her now and because she’s so slim, she kind of disappears into his hold. “Love you, mum.”

  “Love you too,” she replies, her voice choking. “Oh, did you get it?” she says after a beat.

  “Get what?” I respond, looking between them both.

  Eastern nods. “Of course I did. Let me grab it.” He leaves the room briefly, returning with a bright red gift bag. “Matches your new hair colour,” he observes.

  He’s right it does. I dyed my hair the day after leaving Oceanside for the Christmas break. New hair, new me, or some shit like that. Maybe I just like the colour.

  “Take it,” he insists, offering the giftbag to me.

  “You didn’t have to get me anything…”

  “Yes we did. You turned seventeen last week; now you’re as old as I am. We can get into clubs legitimately now…”

  My eyebrows pull together in a frown. “You generally need to be eighteen to get into most clubs, Eastern.”

  “What I meant was we can get into the clubs because we actually look eighteen. Hell, I even look twenty-one,” he says, flexing his arm muscles. Embarrassingly, my mouth goes dry and my skin flushes at the sight of his toned arms. Though I hide my appreciation well.

  “Bighead.” I roll my eyes and curse him out, as is customary when his ego inflates enough to fill the room. Of course he looks incredible. I know that, and he most definitely knows that. Eastern is handsome with his swathe of perfectly styled dark hair, cut short at the sides and long on top. His brown eyes are so rich you’d happily pay to stare into them. Eastern’s growing into himself, if you know what I mean. That short time in juvie made him grow up fast both physically and emotionally. He’s still the same Eastern I’ve always known, but there’s a weariness within him that just wasn’t there before and quite a few bulging muscles too. Pretty sure he spent most days away working out.

  “There’ll be no clubbing, or doing anything illegal,” Tracy says sternly. “Keep out of trouble, okay?”

  “Promise,” we agree simultaneously, both knowing that we’re going to break that promise sooner or later. Trouble isn’t something either of us can avoid. It seeks us out then grapples us to the ground until we admit defeat or fight until we can’t anymore. I catch Eastern’s eye and he shuts down the emotions I know he’s feeling with heading back to Oceanside given what I agreed to do, and what he had to do to get a place there.

  “Good, because I really can’t face either of you going to prison.” Her eyes well up with tears and she shakes her head, sniffling a little as she wipes them away. “I’m sorry…”

  “Don’t, Mum. It’s okay,” Eastern says as they exchange looks. Hers is filled with shame and love, his with fierce loyalty and forgiveness. But I know Eastern better than he knows himself. He might have already forgiven his mum for everything she’d ignored, but that doesn’t mean to say it didn’t hurt that she did, that it doesn’t still hurt. There’s no denying the fact that Tracy turned a blind eye to his drug running. It might have only been Mary-J in the beginning, but it soon escalated into the harder stuff. She knew what he did and pretended she didn’t so that the money he earned could be used to take care of Braydon’s needs. It’s quite a cross to bear, for the both of them. Don’t get me wrong. I love Tracy unconditionally. So too does Eastern. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that she should’ve steered him in another direction before now. She should’ve stopped him. Circumstance had given them both an impossible choice.

  “I’m sorry, love,” she repeats, more quietly this time.

  Eastern shakes his head roughly, though his voice is gentle. “No apologies, Mum.”

  He gives Tracy an easy smile, papering over the cracks with his grin. There is a conversation they need to have, but I’m guessing now’s not the time. He turns back to face me, giving me all his attention.

  “I’m sorry it’s a bit late,” he says, finally handing me the gift bag, which he’s been clutching tightly in his hand, before pressing a kiss against my cheek. It’s just a quick peck, but it makes my skin flush anyway. If Tracy notices my reaction, she doesn’t let on.

  “You’ve been busy helping Tracy with the move and I’ve been busy with Sebastian and George over Christmas break. It’s no big deal.”

  “So the little rugrats are good then, yeah?” Eastern asks, fondly.

  “Yeah, they’re happy,” I say. I’m glad they’re being looked after so well by their foster family, but it kills me that their happiness is a direct result of someone else’s care. It should be me looking after them. I’m their big sister. I’m more than capable at seventeen than my mum ever was during her ‘sober’ periods when the authorities returned us to her care. It’s complete bullshit social services won’t let me look after my brothers now just because I’m still classified as a ‘minor’. I’d bet my soul that most people haven’t lived through half the things I have in my life and yet I’m still deemed incapable of looking after my own flesh and blood because of my age.

  “They had a great Christmas. The move to Hull has been good for them. They’re doing well, they’re safe,” I say, emphasising the fact. Eastern captures my gaze and nods in understanding. After we made the deal with Crown, I’d made sure that my brothers were protected too. Spending all my time with them over the break has been amazing, but I can’t deny how much I missed Eastern. Being around him now makes my heart swell with both love and fear. There’s so much I need to tell him.

  “Yeah? That’s good, Alicia. I’m glad they’re okay.”

  I smirk. “Asia, arsehole.”

  “Asia,” he repeats with a roll of his eyes, “Open the damn present.”

  “Yes, open it!” Tracy says excitedly. She’s practically hopping on her feet now.

  “Thank you,” I say automatically, clutching the gift bag to my chest. I don’t even know what I’m thanking them both for, but whatever it is, I know I’ll love it. Presents aren’t something I get very often so no matter what I receive, I always appreciate it.

  Tracy claps her hands together and grins. I’ve never seen her look happier, or as stress free. Living here has done her and Braydon a world of good. The fresher air, a home that accommodates Braydon’s needs, and most importantly, somewhere far away from trouble, makes for a happy home. It makes my heart fill with joy and confirms that Eastern and I made the right decision back in Mr Carmichael’s office two weeks ago.

  “Stop stalling, Lissy! Open it!” she insists.

  Moving aside the tissue paper, I see the long edge of a photo album. “What’s this?” I ask, pulling it out and placing the empty gift bag on the kitchen table.

  “Why don’t you take a look,” Eastern urges me. He’s gnawing on a fingernail, a sign he’s nervous about my reaction to their gift. It’s a cute look on him. I open the front cover, my heart skipping several beats as my brain finally catches up with what my heart instantly reacted to.

  “You didn’t?” I whisper.

  “I thought you might like it, you know, after everything…” Eastern starts, his voice trailing off as he remembers we haven’t given Tracy the full story about what happened to my sketchpad. I don’t even like thinking about it honestly.

  “I can’t believe all that work was destroyed because you left your sketchpad in the rain. Silly, Lissy,” Tracy gently ribs, bringing a smile to my face with her cute name for me. She’s the only one who can get away with calling me Silly
Lissy. Eastern smirks at the nickname, but I ignore him.

  “You should be more careful with your artwork. It’s precious.”

  If only she knew the half of it. That arsehole Monk had known how precious those sketches were to me and destroyed them anyway. I’d considered telling Tracy, but Eastern and I both agreed that her knowing the truth would only cause her worry and anxiety and she needed that shit like a hole in the head. So, we made up a story about how I left my sketchpad in the rain.

  “This is amazing. I totally forgot about this,” I whisper, genuinely taken aback as I trace my finger over the rough sketch of my first attempt at my tag. It’s gone through many changes over the past three years but this one is special, given I drew it the day after my mum passed away. That was the day I decided not to be bound to my past. That was the day I became Asia. I flip through the album, my throat constricting with every turn of the page.

  “You kept them all?” My voice is choked with emotion.

  “Of course, I did. You drew them,” Eastern answers solemnly.

  I’m enraptured by this gift. Overwhelmed, actually. Every single page is filled with drawings I’ve done over the years for Tracy and Eastern. From funny little doodles on scrappy bits of paper to more detailed sketches that I’d given them and forgotten about until now. I can’t even begin to express how much this means to me after all the sketches Monk destroyed. I look up, catching Eastern’s eye. He holds my gaze, and for a beat it’s just him and me alone in the kitchen. The world stops as my tattooed heart beats with hope of better things to come. Then my shoulders drop when I remember what I’m returning to Oceanside to do.

  “What is it? Don’t you like it?” Eastern asks, self-doubt leaking into his voice.

  “Do I like it? I love it!” I exclaim, tucking the album under my arm and hugging Eastern for a second time. We hold onto each other a beat too long, and I can’t help but press my lips lightly against the curve of his neck. Eastern shudders beneath me, his fingers gripping hold of my hips as he reacts to my closeness and show of affection. We haven’t had a chance to broach the subject of ‘us’ these past couple weeks given we’ve both been so busy. The few hours left before needing to be at Oceanside might be the only chance we get to talk.

  “Well, that’s just perfect then,” Tracy says, snapping us both out of the little bubble we’ve found ourselves in. “One last group hug, then you need to get to the train station. I don’t want you late for your first day at school, Eastern. You need to make a good impression.”

  Eastern chuckles. “Mum, I love your enthusiasm and all that, but the new term doesn’t officially start until tomorrow. We’re not going to be late.”

  She waves her hand in the air. “Still, this is your chance to do things over. This is our chance to make a new life. I’m proud of you, Eastern. Now that we’re out of the estate, things will be better. I know it.” She beams at us both, throwing her arms around our shoulders.

  “It will be better,” I promise her, knowing in my heart that for Tracy, Braydon and Eastern it has to be. But for me…? I’m not so certain.

  2

  Three weeks earlier

  “So you’re really going to do this? You’re going to join Camden’s crew?” Eastern asks me as we leave Mr Carmichael’s office and head out of the main building’s front entrance.

  “Are you kidding me? Of course I’m going to do this. When have I ever backed out of a promise?”

  “I know… shit, Asia. This is fucked up.” Eastern stops on the top step, his shoulders slumping as we wait for Chief Inspector Crown to finish talking with Mr Carmichael. It’s well into dinnertime, and the rest of the students are eating. I can hear the usual cacophony of sound coming from the dining hall. When I look at him he’s wearing a pained expression on his face, one that I immediately want to soothe.

  “I can handle Camden.”

  “Maybe so, but can you handle gang life, Asia? Can you handle the expectations? It isn’t just Camden you need to deal with, it’s the rest of the crew too.”

  “You’re not wrong there,” I confirm with a wry grin. My hands go automatically to the spot on my chin that’s still coloured with the now yellowing bruise. The second I press my fingers against my skin, I regret it. Eastern frowns as his gaze narrows in on that point.

  “What the fuck happened?” he grunts, grabbing my hand and pulling it away. He brushes the pad of his thumb against the still sore spot. I wince.

  “I dealt with it…”

  His eyes become slits. “Camden?”

  “No, a kid called Monk. The arsehole’s in hospital still. He won’t mess with me again.”

  “Motherfucker!” Eastern shouts, looking at me with regret, anger, guilt. I reach for him, squeezing his arm.

  “No, don’t do that. It isn’t your fault.”

  “But you joining Camden’s crew, that is my fault. I’m not sure I can live with it, Asia. We should go back in, tell them the deal’s off the fucking table…” Eastern moves to return inside, but I grab his arm, shaking my head.

  “Hush,” I say, stepping forward and glancing around me before leaning in to whisper in his ear. “I’m okay with this, and you’ll have to be too. It’s the only way we can protect everyone, ourselves included.”

  “That makes no sense, Asia. You’re not protecting yourself by joining Camden’s crew.”

  “I can deal with a little short-term pain for long-term gain, Eastern. I can do this.”

  “Here you are protecting me again,” he continues. “You kept your mouth shut about the fact I was with you at Mr Patel’s shop and now you’re going to join Hackney’s Hackers for me. I can’t let you do it… Mum and Bray will be okay now that I’ve talked. You could’ve said no to the rest of it. Fuck that, I should’ve made you say no.”

  I squeeze his arm, lowering my voice. “I’m not backing out, Eastern. This is the end of the conversation. We can’t discuss this here. Camden can’t know about the deal we made. No one can. Not ever.”

  Eastern sighs heavily, pressing his cheek against mine. “I’m sorry for all of this bullshit, Asia. If I could turn back time I would change what I did in a heartbeat.”

  I pull back, clutching his face in my palms. “And leave your mum to support Braydon on her own? No, you did what you thought was right, there’s nothing wrong with that. Even if I might not have agreed with your choice, I understood it.”

  Eastern places his palm over my hand and presses his eyes shut. A familiar gesture that tells me he's barely holding on to the emotions he’s feeling. “It was still a stupid thing to do,” he admits. “Now look where we are.”

  “Maybe so, but we don’t have the luxury of going about things the legal way. You were desperate. I get it.”

  Eastern sits down on the top step and pulls out a packet of cigarettes, lighting one up. He draws in a deep lungful before expelling the air on one long breath. I take a seat next to him.

  “You’re not allowed to smoke on the premises,” I say evenly, knowing full well I do the same, just not so obviously. I hang out of my bedroom window like a badass. “Do you want to get in trouble before you’ve even started?”

  He nudges me with his shoulder. “Seriously, Asia. I don’t think one cig is going to get me expelled and sent back to juvie, especially not after all the information I’ve just given Crown.”

  “Good point.” Shuffling a little closer, I lean my head on his shoulder and rest my hand on his thigh. He kind of stiffens, then relaxes. He’s not really used to me being so touchy-feely. Honestly, I’m not used to it either, but it doesn’t make me move away. I’ve missed him way too much to be self-conscious now. Besides, we’d shared a pretty hot kiss not more than a few minutes ago and he’s my best friend, and I hate that he’s leaving me again so soon. All of that counts towards me not giving a shit about what anyone thinks if they happen across us right now.

  “I’ve missed you,” I murmur, my fingers tightening around his thigh.

  “I’ve missed you too, so
fucking much.”

  I shiver a little. Maybe from the cold, maybe because I’m just so fucking overwhelmed.

  “You want my jacket?” he asks me.

  “Nah, I’m fine.” And I am now that he’s here, now that he’s safe. Kind of. I’m more than aware just how precarious his position is given all that he told Crown about the King. Eastern never met the King in person, but he heard about him enough. Whoever the fucker is, he’s bad news. Ruthless. The latest King in a long line of them apparently.

  Honestly, I want to ask him more questions about this faceless criminal, about what the fuck went wrong that day Eastern was delivering drugs. But right now, I don’t want to spoil this moment together. I know, just as well as he does, that time is precious. He’s going to be leaving soon with Crown, returning to Oceanside in the new term. That horrible thought is only tempered by the fact that in another week I’ll be out of here too and able to see him, Tracy, Braydon, and my brothers again when we finish for Christmas.

  At least I’ve survived the first term… just about.

  I’ll be able to tell him all about my time here when we’ve got more than a few minutes together. For now, sitting with him in companionable silence will have to be enough.

  “This place is pretty fucking impressive. It’s a goddamn palace. You sure Queenie don’t live here?” Eastern asks eventually, stubbing out his cigarette beneath his boot.

  “That was my exact thought when I first arrived, but unless you count the couple of marble statues with a crown of ivy and tiny dicks in the gardens out back, then no, she doesn’t.”

  He chuckles, that ease I feel around him always, returning.

  It doesn’t last long.

  “That fucking shit will kill you,” a voice I know so well says.

  We both turn to face Ford who’s currently leaning against the wall behind us. I wonder how long he’s been standing there.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Eastern growls, standing.

  I stand too, twining my fingers with his.