Break Me (The Summer Series) (20 page)

“Seriously?”

“Yes. Apparently you and Scott were
so messed up by the time they finally pulled Nate off you that you had to go
home. Is that why you weren’t at Mr. Jones’ room after school to get the study
guide like the rest of us?”

“Oh good Lord, there is so much
wrong with that rumor I don’t even want to address it. However,” Chloe
interrupted as Anna was about to complain, “to avoid dealing with your whining,
I will tell you that I wasn’t at Mr. Jones’ because I got my guide earlier,
which is why I was in the middle of the east hall when the quote-un-quote fight
broke out.”

Anna sighed in disappointment.
Chloe tried not to be offended that her friend had hoped her leg and nose were
broken. “Fine, go ahead. Lead your over-achieving, boring life. I’m going to go
set the record straight like the proper gossip I am.”

“Okay, have fun.”

Chloe hung up and groaned as she
went back to her chicken. She had spent four years avoiding any attention
whatsoever. How was it that no one could figure out who she was when she had a
father with a syndicated show that aired daily at 4:00 p.m. but now, after
simply trying to walk down the hall, she was suddenly the center of the
high-school gossip community? Her father’s show,
The News Now,
let him
tell the stay-at-home moms of the world what they most likely already knew but
with the bonus of a hunky, widowed, forty-something reporter to look at. Even
more mind-boggling regarding her prior ability to remain anonymous was that she
could do so with everything that had happened with her mother two years ago,
but one run in with the school rich kid and the star athlete, and suddenly she
was infamous? Not hungry anymore, Chloe wrapped up her dinner for later and
made her way to her bedroom to start studying for Friday’s test.

~*~

Scott

“Okay, so I know who she is.” Olivia bounced around Scott’s
room where he sat, pulling answers together for his science study guide. At her
words, he froze and turned, his stomach clenching with nerves. A part of him
was terrified that it was someone he had known his whole life and had just
neglected to really see. He wasn’t sure if there was any way to come back from
flat-out ignoring a girl for four years.

“And?”

“Okay, here’s the deal. Before I
tell you, you have to do something for me.”

Scott stood. His expression was both
pained and annoyed. “Seriously? You’re going to blackmail me with the name of a
girl I could find out from about a third of the school anyway?”

“Actually, big bro, it’s more like
the whole school. You plus Nate plus fight equals big news.” Olivia’s hands
went wide over her head. “Throw in the fact that everyone thinks you broke some
poor girl’s legs, and it’s diabolical.”

“Liv, this is as nice as I can ask.
Please, for my sanity, tell me who she is.”

“Fine, but only because I’ve never
seen you like this before, and from what I can gather from all my sources, it
sounds like she’s a pretty good girl. She stays out of trouble, you know, that
sort of thing.” She shrugged and relaxed onto Scott’s bed.

“Liv!” Scott heard himself shout.

“Jeez, fine. Her name is Chloe.
Chloe Delaney. If one of the girls I talked to was telling the truth, her dad
is Chuck Delaney, the TV guy. Apparently she’s really smart, in all the
advanced classes, doesn’t do anything else at school, and avoids crowds as much
as possible.”

Scott hadn’t heard anything after
her name. “Chloe” was all he could think. He was going to find her the next
day, and after Friday’s game, he would be taking her out. There was no way he
was going to let her get away.

“Look, Scott, there’s one more
thing you need to know. I only found this out because I have a few classes with
one of her good friends, Anna.” Olivia snapped her fingers in Scott’s face to
get his attention, jolting him back to the present and from his plans for the
future. “Scott, this is important.”

“Yeah, I’m listening.” Noticing the
serious expression on his sister’s face, Scott sobered and sat back in his
chair. Pleading with God for her to be single, he waited to hear his sister’s
next bomb.

“Her mother . . .” Olivia cleared
her throat. She was so sensitive to others. One sad story or mention of loss
and Olivia was in tears along with the person who was actually going through
the struggle. “Scott, her mom died like a year ago. She had cancer and lasted
about a year with it before she was gone.”

Scott’s brow furrowed. His heart
ached for this girl he didn’t even really know. He had no concept of loss. His
greatest loss was his pet fish when he was eight. He felt deflated and selfish
because his life had no sorrow. Olivia’s eyes were brimming with tears as she
continued. “Scott, whatever you do, please don’t hurt her any more than she
already has been.”

The sequel to
Fight for Her
—
Live
for Her
—is coming Fall 2014.

Live for Her

A For Her Novel

“There are all kinds of love in
this world but never the same love twice.”

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

ONE

Olivia

She arrived half an hour before
things were set to kick off. She, unlike the other pledges, had been granted a
reprieve in order to do her required tutoring. The sorority never prevented the
girls from doing what they needed to do to keep their grades up. None of them wanted
to be known as the chapter that got reprimanded, especially for grades. Olivia
was doing well so far for her first semester. Her GPA was still perfect, but
with her being a scholarship student, it also had to stay that way. The
sorority was too expensive without getting everything else covered. She cleared
her throat and the thoughts of school from her head as she started up the front
steps to the two-story house where the upper classmen lived.

“Yay!” Cameron, her closest friend in the house
and a sophomore, came running to the door to meet her as she walked in. “I’ve
been dying for you to get here. Did you invite him?”

“Ugh, you do realize he’s practically married,
right?”

“Practically and officially are two different
things.”

“Okay, then, you do realize that she’s
my
best friend and I have warned them about you, right?”

“But! Why?” Cameron crossed her arms over her
chest.

“Because you’re a
slore
who is only
interested in nailing my brother for bragging rights?”

“You’re lucky I love you and that you’re one
hundred percent right. Them’s fighting words.” Cameron smirked as she turned
back to where the rest of the girls were standing around a bar in the kitchen.
The ones who were old enough already had drinks in their hands. A lot of those who
weren’t old enough did too.

“Hey,” Olivia said to no one in particular as
she joined the group and declined the drink offered to her. Instead, she reached
out and grabbed the back of a nearby chair.

“So, is your brother coming?” one of the older
girls asked, not so subtly confirming to Olivia the real reason she was allowed
into the most prestigious sorority on campus. She knew and couldn’t make
herself care. She had spent so much time confined by her parents’ rules she
took the best opportunity for a real life she could. These girls prided
themselves on keeping their reputations as clean as possible. They all had
plans far beyond these four or five years and made sure they helped each other
accomplish their goals with the utmost success. So, yes, she sort of sold
herself and her brother out for a chance to party and get a great job, but
wasn’t that was most people used sororities and fraternities for anyway?
Friends, food, and fun for the price of annual membership dues now. A network
of employers for the future.

“Yeah, he said he would stop by”—she made sure
to emphasize her next words—“with his
girlfriend.
”

“Sweet!” the girl yelled. “A toast to Scott
Marsh.” She lifted her glass and the girls downed whatever concoction they had
come up with, completely ignoring Olivia’s reminder that Chloe did, in fact,
exist.

Olivia pulled out her phone and sent a quick
text to Chloe.

Beware, vultures are out tonight.

Not too long after she received a reply in
typical Chloe fashion.

Vultures? For me? Aw! Tell em I don’t swing
that way.

I love you.

I love you and your brother. Bitches be
warned.

Pahahaha. Hurry. Bored.

On our way.

~*~

NATE

He had arrived fashionably late like
some kind of girl. It wasn’t on purpose. Someone needed his help with a project
coming up in class, so of course, there he was. At times it was exhausting
keeping everyone around him happy. His father and brothers were one thing. But
now, here at school, he had Scott, Chloe, and Hope to worry about. He couldn’t
even think about Livvy; keeping her happy was a little too prominent in his
mind these days. When he arrived, he had zeroed in on her immediately. He was
aware of every move she made, it seemed. As soon as Scott and Chloe were in
sight, he hurried toward them to distract himself from his best friend’s little
sister. Unfortunately, the love birds had soon disappeared out back where a few
kids were enjoying the last few days of warmth. Apparently, Scott’s roommate
Joel, a soccer player as well as a social player, needed constant supervision.

Nate walked around the outer perimeter of the
room, taking in the chaos of girls pretending to be far more wasted than they
were so that they had the excuse of ignorance the next day. His younger brother
would love everything about this party. Way too many insecure girls were looking
for a guy that would make her feel beautiful for the night. Josh was too young
and stupid to know these weren’t the kinds of girls you settle down with or look
to in order to find any form of commitment or love. These were the kinds of
girls you’d regret in a few days, weeks, or years. Nate knew better. He had
known better since his first date with Chloe. Though he now knew she wasn’t the
one he had thought her to be at the time. He had been given a glimpse of what
could be. Further, seeing where Scott and Chloe’s relationship was now only
made him realize that there was even more out there than he could have
imagined.

Nearing the section of the room that was
designated as a dance floor, his eyes gravitated to the same spot as almost
every other male in the room. She was the kind of beautiful that didn’t need
the skimpy outfits and painted-on makeup the other girls required. She stood
out no matter where she was, and what made her even more attractive was that
she had no idea she was so beautiful. Nate stepped back and leaned against the
staircase, watching her dance with one guy after another. She wasn’t even able
to finish a song with one guy before another walked up, waiting for his turn.

Unable to stand it another minute, Nate pushed
off the stair railing and made his way toward the center of the party. Yet another
guy was approaching, so Nate veered left, just enough to cut him off and beat
him to the punch. When she spun around, her hair cascaded over her shoulders
and fell elegantly down her back. How did a girl sweating and dancing at a
sorority party still look elegant? She had changed over the last few months of
school and summer. Her once short, bright hair now seemed softer. It was longer
and fell in waves around her shoulders. She was dressing a little sexier now
too. It wasn’t noticeable to most, but he wasn’t most, and he noticed. She had
a new confidence. Something was changing in her.

“Hey you!” she shouted over the music when she
noticed him.

“Little Livvy, how’s it going?” He stepped up
to her and put a hand on her hip.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. He hoped
that the flush had something to do with the scrutiny of his eyes, the heat of
his hand, and the thrill of his complete attention. That was his aim and it
seemed to be a success.

“Connections. When you’re best friends with the
school’s best chance at a championship season in basketball in a few years
and
know the most beautiful girl in the room like the back of your hand, people
tend to look the other way when you walk in.” He didn’t mention that he had
threatened the pledge that was in charge of the front door, helping out one of
the sorority sisters.

“Well, I’m glad you made it.” She reached her
arms up and wrapped them around his neck. “I never see you anymore, Nate. I
miss you.” She whispered the last part, probably thinking it would get lost in
the noise. It didn’t.

Instead of pushing her away as he should have,
Nate gripped her tighter. “Dance with me.”

She looked up into his eyes and swallowed
noticeably. “Yeah.”

He brought his arms from around her back and
rested his hands on her hips before they started moving together. After a few
beats, they both let some of the tension slip away, and Livvy threw her head
back and started to dance again. With her arms in the air, she laughed as he
spun her around and pulled her back to his front to dance. They finished the
song, and when he saw her next suitor approaching for his turn, Nate caught his
eye and gave him a subtle yet very intimidating shake of his head.
Not a
chance frat boy. She’s done dancing with anyone else for the night.

~*~

Hope

She looked around the room, a smile
plastered on her face. There wasn’t a single boy here that could remotely pull
her attention. How could they? She had been with the one that she knew would
belong to her forever, only to have the douche canoe prove everyone right. He
really was the most disgusting person to walk the earth. Had her friends known
what she was doing, maybe they would have stopped her. Maybe they would have
saved both of them. Maybe she wouldn’t be the best actress on the campus of The
Ohio State University . . . but she was. And so she continued to smile. And she
continued to let the frat guy with too much Axe Body Spray hit on her. She
allowed him to think he had a shot in hell. Because if she did, she would be
able to string him along until it was time to leave. To go home. To crash. And
allow the show to fall away. Because at least in sleep she didn’t have to
pretend.

~*~

Olivia

A little while later Olivia and Nate
walked off the floor, laughing at his weak attempt at dancing. “You’re not
going to go another dance? I think your line is growing . . .”

Olivia looked over her shoulder and saw three
guys straighten up and smile as her eyes passed over theirs. Trying to keep
from checking Nate’s reaction to their interest, she shrugged and hooked her
arm through his. “Nah, actually I’m dying of thirst, and all they have here is
beer. Want to help a girl find a bottle of water?”

Looking down at her, he smiled. “Still not
drinking, Livvy? Remind me. Is it a legal thing or a personal conviction?”

“Not everyone feels the need to lose control of
their body, feel miserable the next day, and make poor decisions for the next
four to five years.”

“Hey”—Nate chuckled—“you’ll get no complaint
from me. Child of a miserable alcoholic, remember?”

Olivia stopped in her tracks, her tender heart
evident in the slightly protruding lower lip that he could only slightly see
quiver in the dimmed lighting. “Nate . . .”

“Liv, stop. It was a joke, a bad joke but a
joke nonetheless. Come on. Let’s go get you that water.”

“Olivia!”

Olivia turned and her face lit up at the
approaching forms of her best friend and her brother. “Hey, Chloe!” She stepped
up to the couple and punched Scott in the arm. “Big brother.”

“I saw you tearing it up out there; you have a
dance card or do they just push each other out of the way to get a turn?” Chloe
quipped as she nudged Olivia with her hip.

“Yeah, yeah.” She blushed. “When did you two
get here? You said you would be here over an hour ago, missy.”

“We were here. I can’t help it if you’re lost
in sorority sister dance parades or whatever you all do. We hung out with Nate
here and then had to go hang outside for a bit.” Chloe leaned into Scott as she
spoke, and a part of Olivia was jealous of what they had.

“Well, what are you all up to? What do you want
to do?” Olivia asked, excited to finally have some time with her three favorite
people.

“Nothing now, we’re about to head out, Scott
said. I basically came to make sure Joel got in and out in one piece. I’m
taking my lady home.” Chloe rolled her eyes at him. It was nice to see them
playful and carefree after all the drama they had endured as a couple and Chloe
had endured at home less than a year earlier.

“If you’re leaving, then how are you going to
make sure your roommate gets
out
in one piece?” Olivia laughed at them
both.

“He left about ten minutes ago with some girl,
a warning look, and a promise of no longer than an hour. He’s an over achiever,
that boy . . .”

“Gross!” Both girls exclaimed as Nate chuckled.

“Well, this girl and I are going to go ahead
and head out.” Scott bent and scooped a surprised Chloe into his arms. As she
squealed her delight, he laughed and turned to leave.

“Bye, guys,” Chloe laughed over his shoulder
before she buried her face in Scott’s neck and he pulled back to kiss her
forehead. The crowd parted for the king of the court and his queen, and Nate
watched them walk away, unaware of Olivia watching him for any form of
reaction.

“They’re so gross,” Cameron said as she walked
up, scowling at the retreating backs of Scott and Chloe.

“Don’t be so jealous.” Olivia laughed at the
desperation dripping off her friend.

Cameron turned to spout off some snarky comment
but was thrown into speechlessness when her eyes landed on Nate. They shot wide
as they worked from his head to his feet and then back up again. Her expression
turned possessive, and her lips formed a crooked smile when she turned to look
at Olivia. “I think I’m over it.” She held her hand out to Nate, and he took
what she offered, awkwardly shaking it.