Hate Me (Black Mountain Academy)

by Ashley Jade

I met Trenton Knox once when I was eight. Given he pushed me so hard into a swing set he knocked my front tooth out and then tackled me to the ground while I was crying and took a pair of scissors to my ponytail…it didn’t go well. I warned my parents if they ever forced me to play with that psychopath again, I’d call the police.

Everyone’s eyes are glued to me the moment I enter the classroom, and I can hear them all whispering amongst themselves. “Fresh meat.” “New girl’s kind of cute,” someone says. “Damn. She’s a ginger,” another guy declares. “You know what they say about those.”

i’ve literally never heard anyone say anything about ginger’s

Words die in my throat when he tilts his head and those intense eyes—one cobalt blue and the other emerald green—slice through me like a hot knife through butter. I’ve seen those haunting eyes before. Dread has my stomach coiling because I know exactly who I’m staring at. Trenton Knox.

Aspen Falcone—the irritating little girl my parents once forced me to play with when I was a kid—has found her way inside Black Mountain Academy. Only she isn’t so little anymore. The last time I saw her was at the beginning of the summer. She was at a bookstore in the mall with a friend…leafing through a copy of Hamlet.

But it’s obvious the ugly duckling syndrome is long gone now that her nose finally grew into the rest of her face and she filled out in all the right places. Briefly, I let my gaze fall to her tits. Her perky D cups strain against the white fabric of her shirt, threatening to pop out at any moment. However, it’s the utter fear swimming in those bright green eyes that makes my dick hard.

Fuck. Aspen looks terrified. Her ivory skin is coated in a sheen of sweat and her two crooked front teeth dig into her plump bottom lip as she steals a nervous glance at the door, no doubt debating whether she should make a run for it. Too late.

I hold her gaze. “You need a pen?” She visibly swallows. “Yes.” My lips curl as I pick up my pen and throw it across the room. “Go fetch, fire crotch.”

fire crotch crazy ngl

I hated her face and the stupid freckles lining the bridge of her nose. I hated her smile and her crooked teeth. I hated the carefree way she giggled and how the wind blew her long red hair as she swung on the swing. I hated the way she looked at me when our gazes collided—like she could see all the demons taking up residence in my black soul. I hated her for prying and asking shit she had no business asking. I hated her for breathing the same air as me. I hated her for existing.

My hands clench into fists when he leans in way too fucking close for my liking. “Sorry, it’s still not making any sense.” Aspen looks up. “Oh.” She digs her teeth—teeth that now have braces on them—into her bottom lip. “Let’s try a different approach.” Grinning, he sets his pencil down. “Or…how about you come to my house later and tutor me there?”

“Um.” A pink blush stains her cheeks as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean, I guess I could.” The douchebag grins. “Great.” His gaze drops to her chest. “Maybe after we can watch a movie and hang out?” Over my dead fucking body.

Suddenly, Ken stands up and snatches his backpack off the desk. “On second thought, tonight won’t work. I have this…thing.” My mouth drops as he heads for the door, and it takes everything in me not to scream. Knox didn’t even have to utter a single word to put the fear of God into him.

Furious, I slam my textbook shut. “I hate you.” As usual, the asshole stays silent. Because he never says a single word to me. Not unless it’s an insult.

“What is your prob—” I don’t get to finish that sentence because his hand slides to the back of my neck and his mouth crashes against mine. What the hell? Everything freezes…except my heart, which feels like it’s exploding. It’s my first kiss.. The fact Knox is the one doing it is just…weird.

rest my hands on his shoulders, my knees going weak as the fingers on my neck tighten and he coaxes my mouth open to feed me his tongue.

I’m about to break away, but his free hand slithers up my leg, disappearing under my skirt.

Head held high, I go to shove past him, but he opens the door, beating me to it. I was prepared for Knox to be an asshole, because he always is. What I’m not prepared for is to see a group of guys from the football team—Ken included—huddled right outside the closet. Knox holds up my white-cotton panties like a trophy. “She’s a purebred fire crotch. The carpet matches the drapes.” A few guys snicker. Until Knox sniffs his fingers and makes a face like he smells something rancid. “Bitch smells like tuna though.” With that, he stalks off. And I wonder if it’s actually possible to die from embarrassment.

this is so embarrassinggggg

He stole from people to not only support his family, but to make sure my superficial mother had everything she wanted. And not just her. He stole to make sure I had a better education, clothes, books, a roof over my head, food in my belly…the braces I begged for to fix my crooked teeth.

We stare at each other for the better part of a minute…until something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. “What the hell is she doing?” I watch as my mother—who’s obviously had way too much wine tonight—shamelessly flirts with some man. Upon closer inspection, I realize it’s not just any man…it’s Leo’s brother. And Knox’s father.

“Maybe if you weren’t a superficial lush Dad wouldn’t be dead,” I hiss with every ounce of venom I feel for the woman standing before me. Her eyes widen. “How dare you.” The sharp sting of her palm slapping my cheek, followed by the audible gasps from people standing nearby, sends me reeling. She’s never hit me before. “That’s enough, Eileen,” Leo barks, wedging himself between us. “This isn’t the time or place.”

Narrowing my eyes, I stand. “What do you want?” I repeat, harsher this time. Frustration claws its way up my throat when he doesn’t respond, and I shove him. “Why the hell are you here, Knox?” I go to shove him again, but he backs me against the building, his arms caging me in. I freeze, my insides seizing up when long fingers curl around my neck and he dips his head. His rough voice is a menacing rumble in my ear. “Because I knew you’d be in pain.” A cold sweat breaks over me and a weird twist goes through my chest when his tongue darts out and he licks my tear-stained cheek. “And I wanted to see it.” His cruel words punch into my heart. “I hate you.”

God, everything about this marriage is sickening. My father’s body wasn’t even cold before she moved on.

I smile when I see his name flash across the screen. “Hey, you,” I answer. “Shouldn’t you be dancing?” I hear him chuckle over the line. “I’m too busy looking at you.” His voice turns serious. “You look beautiful.” I scan the room but don’t see him. “Very funny. This dress is hideous…and itchy. I can’t wait to get it off.” “Interesting,” he muses. “I was just thinking the same thing.” I bet he was. I amble to the other side of the room, hoping to spot him. “Where are you hiding?” “I just slipped out the back door, and now I’m headed toward my car…waiting for a beautiful redhead to come out here and join me.” “Is that so?” I tease, placing my empty glass on a table. “I need you, Aspen,” he croaks, and I can’t help but picture him stroking his cock as he waits for me. “I’ve been hard as a goddamn rock since I saw you.”

“Let’s get one thing straight,” he snarls, cornering me until my spine meets a row of coats. “Your whore mother marrying my father changes nothing between us.”

Anger warms my blood as I zero in on the Mercedes stationed under a large oak tree in the back of the parking lot. The black SUV rocks ever so slightly with their movements, and all six windows start to fog up. Gravel crunches beneath my boots as I make my way over to them. They’re so into their forbidden fuckfest, they don’t hear me approach. I stand behind a tree as one window rolls down and I hear their heavy breathing. Bringing a cigarette to my lips, I light it, observing their little show. Long red hair cascades down her back in a mess of silky waves, and her dress is pushed up those creamy thighs as she straddles him in the backseat, riding his pathetic cock to the finish line. The old man sputters a curse, digging his fingers into her hips. “Shit.” He pants and beads of sweat drip down his face as he reaches up and yanks the top of her dress down, exposing one of her tits. I ignore the way my dick twitches when he sucks a pale, pink nipple into his mouth. “Oh, fuck,” he sputters. “I’m gonna come, honey.”

Once I enter the spacious kitchen, I make a beeline for the coffee maker because caffeine is pretty much how I survive. Unfortunately, Knox beats me to it. I don’t miss the smirk on his face as he pours what’s left in the coffee pot into his mug and takes a sip. Bastard. “Here,” Trent offers, pushing his cup toward me when I take a seat at the table. “It’s my fourth one so far, and your mother thinks I should cut down.”

Because Lord knows my mother would keel over and die if she ever found out the truth. That thought has my lips twitching. On second thought—maybe I should spill the beans.

“That’s not nec—” “Do you have a problem with taking your sister to school?” Trent interjects, cutting me off. Being referred to as Knox’s sister makes me want to vomit. Knox’s voice is so low I almost don’t hear him respond, “No.” “No, what?” his father snaps. The muscles in Knox’s back coil. “No, sir.” Jesus. I knew Knox and his dad weren’t particularly close, but their relationship makes the one I have with my mother look like rainbows and butterflies. Then again, Knox is a sadistic psycho, so I can understand why his dad wants to keep him on such a short leash.

Sighing, I bring my water bottle to my mouth. “I swear it’s not as bad as you…” My sentence trails off when Brie’s blue eyes widen with fear. Instantly, I know who’s behind me. I spin around in my seat. “What do you want, Knox?” My stomach rolls when I see Shadow—the freak he’s rumored to be hooking up with—draped around him. I take in her heavy black liner, black lipstick, combat boots, the blue-green hair she’s wearing in pigtails, and the multiple piercings on her face. Why she doesn’t get in trouble for violating the dress code is anyone’s guess. The hand Knox has curled around Shadow’s hip tightens. “Be at my jeep at three.”

Snarling, she bares her teeth at me. I make the sign of the cross with my fingers. “May the power of Christ compel you.” To my surprise—and delight—a few people in the cafeteria laugh. Until Knox strides back over. It happens so quick, I barely have time to register him picking up my plate of pasta before dumping it over my head.

PLS LMAO

I stop mid-step when I hear the sound of someone moaning, followed by, “Jesus, Knox. Your dick is so fucking big. My jaw hurts.” Yeah, file that under things I could have gone my whole life without knowing. A rough grunt breaks free. “Less talking, more sucking.” Gross. Heat rises to my cheeks and I’m about to walk away, but piercing eyes hold mine in the side mirror…almost daring me to watch. I shouldn’t. This is disgusting. And yet…I find myself unable to move. I see his lips curve into a smirk before he sticks his arm out the open window and adjusts the mirror ever so slightly. Shadow’s head bobs up and down in his lap, and the muscles in his arms flex as he threads his fingers through her blue-green hair.

PLSS

“Get in,” Knox grunts, banging his fist on the side of his jeep. “Now.”

No. I shake the thought out of my head. There’s no way he’d know about me and Leo. No one does. As if on cue, my phone buzzes with an incoming text. I wait for Knox to gun the engine before I read it.

I never intended to hook up with Leo. It kind of just happened. And before you judge me for my indiscretions—I’m fully aware of what it makes me and exactly how society would perceive me if they knew my secret. Yes, he’s married. But he and his wife haven’t been together in a very long time, given she’s suffering from a crippling disease that’s slowly killing her. Yes, he’s old enough to be my father. Which would be creepy to some people, seeing as he was my father’s best friend. But the thing is…we all want to be special to someone. We all want to feel cherished and cared for. To know you have someone in this world who gives a shit about you. Leo is that person for me. And while I would never use him for his money—because I’m not my mother—I do use him for his capacity to care about me. It makes me feel less alone in the world. Like I belong somewhere.

girl get therapy

“Did you enjoy watching me get my dick sucked?” My cheeks heat. “No.” A cocky smirk pulls at his lips. “Liar.” “I didn’t,” I exclaim, squirming in my seat. “But I’ll cover for you as long as you never bring it up again.” Witnessing that was an unfortunate mishap and the last thing I need is to hear him using it to torment me whenever the urge strikes. The tendons in his hand flex as he tightens his grip around the steering wheel. “I bet you wish it was your lips wrapped around my cock.”

“What time are you going to Violet’s house?” I bite back a smirk when she swallows thickly. “Eight.” Liar. She usually leaves at ten, but she pushed it up by two hours because my dad’s still standing in front of us and going to a friend’s house to study at ten on a school night sounds suspect as fuck. “I’ll drive you.” She looks like a mouse hovering near a trap. She’s starving and wants the cheese so badly she can already taste it… But she also knows one little bite might kill her.

A sweet old woman answers. “Hi, dear. How can I help you?” I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, “Hello, ma’am. Do you have a moment to talk about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?” Ignoring her confused expression, I muscle my way inside the poor woman’s house and shut the door behind me.

Given I’ve only worked here for two months, I’m still relatively new to the industry, but rumor has it some girls dole out special favors to certain customers who are willing to pay. However, that’s not my scene. The only thing customers should expect from me is a pair of big tits, an okay ass, and mediocre dancing.

Pulling his tip into my mouth, I look up at him. “Leo.” I want him to say it. I need him to say it. My nerves light up when he finally does. “Good girl.” I slide my mouth down his length, hoping he’ll get hard again for me. “Honey,” he whispers after another minute passes. “I’m sorry, but it’s not going to happen right now.” I try to hide my disappointment as I flop onto the mattress. “It’s okay.” Reaching down, he palms my naked breast and gives it a squeeze. “Tomorrow night.”

Then he’ll have me…because I’ll need him to survive. And I refuse to let any man have that kind of power over me. Because I’m not my mother. “You’ve been studying with her a lot lately,” he notes as he gets off the bed. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were seeing someone else behind my back.” “I’m just trying to maintain my grades and get a scholarship.” It’s not a lie. I really am trying

And the assurance of knowing someone in this world gives a fuck about me.

shitty life

I don’t know what to make of his expression, but it’s clear Leo isn’t pleased. “I need to have a little chat with my brother then.” “Why?”

“He’s not right in the head, Aspen.” I bite my cheek to stop from laughing, because duh. “Well, yeah, but—” “But nothing. I don’t want you around him. He’s dangerous.”

I know Trent loves his son, and I can’t imagine the position he was in after his wife died, but Knox obviously needs serious help. It’s clear his year stint in a mental institution didn’t do shit if Leo’s scared of him. Leo folds his arms around me. “I’ll tell Trent not to let him near you.” Too late.

“Trent’s late wife’s parents had a lot of money before they passed. Money Trent and his son inherited after she died.” She frames my face with her hands. “That money can set us up for life, baby. We just need to—” I pull away from her touch. “I’m not doing a damn thing.” God, she makes me sick.

He chuckles a little. “Okay, friends is a bit of a stretch.” His expression turns serious. “I’m sorry about your father, Aspen. It was a terrible tragedy I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But I’m tired of feeling like I need to tip-toe around you in my own home.” He takes a step closer. “I just want to take care of you and your mother.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself, “I don’t need you to take care of me.” He drags a hand down his face. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?” I scrub the dish in my hand with more vigor than necessary. “No.” “That’s okay,” he says, and I feel his breath tickle my ear. “I like a challenge.”

Another punch flies out. This time catching my lip. My tongue comes out and I lick it, tasting my blood. I point to my chin in invitation. “More.” He strikes me for a third time, and I welcome the rush of pain. Gimme more. Rage pushes through me, growing stronger with every breath I inhale. The pool of blood on the floor. The colorful bruises marring her skin. The helpless look on her face. My fist connects with skin and bone and I revel in the release it gives me. I plow my fist into his kidney before bashing my elbow into his jaw. A ragged breath saws in and out of him as his head lolls to the side. A few people in the crowd gasp. My opponent easily has thirty pounds of solid muscle on me. The fight should be a cakewalk for him. But it’s not. A roundhouse kick to his chest has him staggering back, trying his hardest to maintain his balance.

I plant a kiss on his sweaty forehead right before he crumbles like a sandcastle on the beach.

hey sss bitch

But that’s not what has me smiling back. She goes by Candi Kane at the Bashful Beaver. The same place Aspen works.

I jerk my chin toward the door. “My jeep is outside.” I watch the way her throat works as she swallows. The rapid way her pulse thrums against her flesh. She’s not the one I want. But she’ll do. For now.

A trickle of jealousy washes over me because I wish I were as pretty—and skinny—as they are. That said, I’d rather look like me than ever act like them. Yet—I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t still a small part of me that wishes I were popular and fit in. Sometimes it gets lonely being an outcast.