“Uh… change of plan?” She looks even more confused when what should have been a statement passes my lips as a question.
“O-okay. Well, did you have a good night?”
“Uh… yeah… it was… memorable,” I mutter, unable to come up with a better word.
“Are you okay?” she asks, looking even more concerned.
“Too much vodka,” I admit, much to her horror. “I’m sorry. I know. I just got a bit carried away.”
“And that’s the end of my sympathy. You know how I feel about you drinking so young.”
“I know, Mom. It was a one-off, I promise.”
“Good. And I hope it hurts. It might stop you from doing it again.”
“Did one hangover stop you?” I ask, regretting it the second she turns her judgmental eyes on me.
She opens her mouth to respond but must decide against it.
“Just please be sensible, Ruby. We don’t want you to regret your actions,” Stephen says, covering for Mom’s inability to lie about what they were like as kids.
I nod at him, just barely refraining from pointing out that it’s already too late.
“I’m gonna take this back up to my room,” I say, lifting my coffee mug up to show them.
“Could you knock for Ash as you pass? We’re heading out in ten.”
My stomach clenches uncomfortably at the thought of having to face him once again, but knowing I’ve got little choice, I leave the room and head for the stairs.
Coming to a stop outside his door, I blow out a long breath.
Just knock, shout, and hide back in your room.
Nodding at myself, I lift my hand and rap my knuckles against the wood.
“Ash, your dad wants you ready in ten.”
Silence greets me.
Resting my ear to the door, I strain to hear any movement inside, but when there’s nothing, my heart starts to race.
Stephen is waiting for him, surely he’s not left without him.
Putting my hand to the doorknob, I lift it off again, undecided as to what to do, but something’s telling me to push the door open.
“Ash?” I try again, knocking harder in case he’s in the bathroom and couldn’t hear me.
Getting frustrated, I finally twist the knob and push the door open.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I stare at the pristine and empty room before me.
I take a step inside, but I don’t need to. I already know.
He’s gone.
Lifting my hands, I tug on my hair, spinning around to look for evidence that he was ever even here. The only thing I find is his Jason mask sitting on the dresser. It’s an unwanted creepy reminder of the night before and for some strange reason, the sight of it has tears burning my eyes.
He really has gone.
Ruby and Ashton’s story continues in FURY, Rosewood High #6.
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About the Author
Tracy Lorraine is a new adult and contemporary romance author. Tracy has recently turned thirty and lives in a cute Cotswold village in England with her husband, baby girl and lovable but slightly crazy dog. Having always been a bookaholic with her head stuck in her Kindle, Tracy decided to try her hand at a story idea she dreamt up and hasn’t looked back since.
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Also by Tracy Lorraine
Falling Series
Falling for Ryan: Part One #1
Falling for Ryan: Part Two #2
Falling for Jax #3
Falling for Daniel (An Falling Series Novella)
Falling for Ruben #4
Falling for Fin #5
Falling for Lucas #6
Falling for Caleb #7
Falling for Declan #8
Falling For Liam #9
Forbidden Series
Falling for the Forbidden #1
Losing the Forbidden #2
Fighting for the Forbidden #3
Craving Redemption #4
Demanding Redemption #5
Avoiding Temptation #6
Chasing Temptation #7
Rebel Ink Series
Hate You #1
Trick You #2
Defy You #3
Play You #4
Rosewood High Series
Thorn #1
Paine #2
Savage #3
Fierce #4
Hunter #5
Faze (#6 Prequel)
Fury #6
Ruined Series
Ruined Plans #1
Ruined by Lies #2
Ruined Promises #3
Never Forget Series
Never Forget Him #1
Never Forget Us #2
Everywhere & Nowhere #3
Chasing Series
Chasing Logan
The Cocktail Girls
His Manhattan
Her Kensington
Co-written with Angel Devlin
Hot Daddy Series
Hot Daddy Sauce #1
Baby Daddy Rescue #2
The Daddy Dilemma #3
Single Daddy Seduction #4
Hot Daddy Package #5
B.A.D. Inc. Series
Torment #1
Ride #2
Bait #3
THORN
Chapter One
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
