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Fallon

A WEEK HAS passed since we last saw Bella. She was fucking humiliated by Karmen running her mouth as usual. That bitch has no clue what the fuck is going on around her. Yeah, we laughed and played our parts like good little boys. However, if I could get away with hurting Karmen, I'd have punched her dead in the throat. I don't hurt women though. Most of the time Karmen can't be classed as a woman. She's nothing more than a fucking pathetic skank who spreads her legs for anyone. Yes, I know she's fucked half of my class between high school and now. Over half actually. I want nothing to do with her and she can't see past her own agenda to realize I'm simply playing a part and nothing more.

Until we know what the fuck is going on in our own houses, there's no way the five of us can go against our parents. So, for now, I have to play my part when it comes to Karmen and acting as if I'm going to go through with marrying the dumb bitch. It's never gonna happen, but she can pretend and hope all she wants. The day I can finally cut myself off from her, I'll not only throw a party to celebrate, but I'll tell her what I truly think of her. Karmen will be firmly put in her place and realize she never had a chance with me.

Kash is working as hard as he can trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. When he's not at practice, a game, in class, the gym for training, or doing something for The Faction, he's in front of his computer digging up every piece of dirt he can find on our parents, The Faction, the deaths of his brother and Arabella's family members, and Arabella herself. None of us have any clue what we're gonna find out about Arabella, but I know it won't be good. She is hiding secrets and won't let anyone in on what they are. I'm pretty sure she's being abused, if not worse at home. Still, she goes through every fucking day as if she's not in constant pain and hating her life.

Dante wants nothing to do with Arabella. He knows if he opens that door with her again, he'll be all in and won't be able to walk away from her a second time. It hit him harder than anyone thought it would the first time we had to leave her alone. Now, it would completely destroy the man I've known my entire life. He's gotten really good at hiding his feelings for Arabella over the years and now, if you didn't know him, you'd think he truly fucking hated her guts. The rest of us know he goes out of his way to fucking spot her walking across campus for even a second. He won't ever settle down with anyone because Arabella, his Sunshine, is the only light he has in his life.

Braxtyn and Dash don't give a fuck who knows how they feel about Arabella. In their minds, she'll always be ours. It doesn't matter what our parents say. They just can't go out of their way to protect her or make anyone realize we want her in our lives. That will be the quickest way to ensure our parents put a tighter leash on us. One that doesn't allow us to maneuver the way we need to in order to find out what's really going on. The longer we can keep everyone in the dark, the better it will be for Arabella.

The only thing I'm sure of right now is she had no reason to save me at the end of her senior year. She used every ounce of strength in her small body to pull me from a burning building without questioning what would happen to her. I still have no clue what the fuck she was thinking. Every fucking night I seem to dream about her saving me. Only instead of saving me, something always happens to her. I die in the fire and she gets hurt to the point no one can save her. I don't know if I'm dreaming like this because it's what could have happened that day or if it's because something is going to happen to her in the future. Something we could have prevented by ensuring our dads don't get too close to her.

What makes our situation even worse is watching her with Brock. He's new to High Point this year and doesn't give a fuck about anyone or anything here. Not unless it's Arabella. Karmen has been trying to sink her claws into him since the second she first saw him. He won't take the bait. Brock does nothing but defend Arabella if he sees anything happening to her and he's always up her ass. Even when he's not getting tutored by her, they're always together. I get pissed every fucking time I see them together. I want nothing more than to rip him limb from limb because she's starting to let him in. Brock is the only friend she has and he's not wasting any time with her.

Today I'm sitting in the library. Arabella is in here every single day after her last class for at least an hour. Other than her class schedule, this is the only thing we know about her day. She doesn't live in any of the dorms on campus so she must return home every fucking day. I know she doesn't drive so that's a long fucking walk. Unlike Dante and some of the other guys, I don't get to see Bella around campus. My sweet Bella seems to know how to hide and no matter where I go, she's never around. I honestly have no clue how the fuck I'm ever supposed to keep an eye on her if I don't know where she is. Especially at lunch. I've never seen her in the dining hall. She doesn't come to the library for lunch either. Bella has found somewhere completely hidden from the rest of us to eat her lunch, study, or do whatever else she does during that free time.

***

I've been here for an hour and Arabella hasn't made an appearance in the library. I know her last class has been over with for a while now. I sit here, alone, not letting anyone get close to me or distract me from my goal. The only focus I have right now is seeing Arabella. Since arriving here, the only time I've left the table I took over, is to check out the study rooms in case I missed her coming in the library and she went straight in there. At this point, I don't know when she meets with Brock or what her schedule here is. Only that most days this is where you can find her when she's still on campus and not in class. That's what Kash told me.

Kash was in here one day when a second guy came up to get tutoring from Arabella. He didn't hear their conversation or anything, but knew they went to one of the rooms together and she shut the door behind them. Kash has been trying to figure out who the kid is to no avail. None of us believe he's new to High Point though. It has to be someone who stays so far under the radar none of us even know his name. Usually, we know everyone's name for various reasons. We firmly believe in the whole keep your friends close and enemies closer philosophy. So, we go out of our way to find out who everyone in High Point is. Eventually they're going to want something and it's up to us if we work with them or not.

"Fallon, what are you doing in here?" Collette, Arabella's cousin asks, walking up and sitting down uninvited at my table with me. "I thought you'd be at practice."

"Does it really matter what I'm doin' in here? Last I knew, I didn't report to you," I growl out, looking around Collette as the main door of the library opens again.

"I didn't mean anything by it, Fallon. Just thought I'd keep you company. Does Karmen know you're here?" she questions me, really pissing me off.

If this bitch believes she'll ever be close to the head of The Faction, she's got another thing coming. Collette is a raging bitch and none of us want her around. She was never around before because everyone knew Arabella's dad was going to take over the seat from his dad. Now, Collette believes she'll be in control of all of us and we have to bow down and kiss her ass. It's not gonna fucking happen.

"I don't fuckin' report to Karmen either. Neither one of you are fuckin' shit to me. I suggest you do whatever it is you came here to do and leave me the fuck alone. Or, I'll leave and let the guys know to stay as far away from you as they can. Without a husband, how far do you really believe you're gonna get in The Faction? I mean, none of our fathers will ever approve you marryin' someone other than one of us. So, I suggest you learn your fuckin' place before you learn the hard way I'm not a man to be fucked with," I growl, pissed this girl has the nerve to believe she can talk to me for any reason.

I'm a fucking asshole on my best day. Today is not my best day. I came here looking for Arabella. Needing to see her and I didn't get to. Now, I'm in a pissed off mood and there's nothing that's gonna take the anger from me.

"You can't threaten me, Fallon. I'm gonna be the head of The Faction and will make sure you don't get a fucking thing you want if you don't listen to me," she gloats, thinking she knows what she's talking about.

"Actually, you're not gonna be the head of anythin'. Your husband will be the head of The Faction. No female has ever led and you won't be the one to change that shit. You're too self-absorbed and manipulative to lead anythin'. So, you can get that fuckin' dream right out of your fuckin' head now. One of us will lead The Faction and you'll be nothin' more than arm candy. Someone we pull out when it's necessary for you to make an appearance. A marriage to you will be in name only and I'm not the only one who feels that way," I say, getting rid of every bit of hope Collette has that she'll be able to manipulate any of us.

Without another word, the bitch gets up from my table and storms away. Her heels slam against the floor, creating an echo in the otherwise silent library. The only good thing about Collette is that she knows when she's beat. She doesn't throw a temper tantrum or anything else when she doesn't get her way. I have no doubt she'll do something to get revenge on me for putting her in her place. She'll just take her sweet time in doing so. Karmen is the one who loves to cause scenes in public. She loves to paint herself the victim and make all of her little followers believe her sob stories. The main thing that pisses her off is knowing I don't play her games and give her the satisfaction of fighting in public. I don't fight with her at all. It would mean I give a shit and I really don't.

The one thing I do know is that Collette is more than likely calling or messaging Karmen to let her know where I am. I don't want to be here when she shows up. Snatching my pen from the table, I get up and leave the library. The campus is full of students walking to class, the dining hall, or wherever else they have to go. Small groups of people are sitting and talking or watching a game of catch going on by some of the guys from the football team. I don't pay anyone attention because my mind is still on Arabella. This late, I know she won't be on campus. She'll be at work or home where no one can get to her.

Making my way across campus, I don't stop until I get to the house I share with Dante, Dash, Kash, and Braxtyn. We have a house on campus that no one comes to unless we invite them over. It's the one rule we all have. The house is our personal space—our sanctuary—and we don't want anyone there unless we decide to throw a party or something. So, I don't have to worry about anyone but the guys being there today. I want to talk to them about Arabella. My sweet, sweet Bella. Something has to be done about her and I need an update from Kash.

Going inside, I find Dante, Dash, Braxtyn, and Kash just getting home. They all have wet hair, so I know they were at some form of training. Kash and Dante are the only ones of us who don't play football. Kash is the baseball player while Dante plays hockey. We all support one another during our seasons and help the others train when we can. Hell, we push one another in the gym when we can find the time to all get in there together.

"We need to talk," I state, taking a seat in one of the recliners we have in the living room.

"About what?" Dante questions me, his voice showing the ever present hard edge to it.

"Bella. I just sat in the library for over an hour waitin' for her to show up. The one day I go there to see her is the one day she doesn't show the fuck up. How am I the only one of us who doesn't see her around this fuckin' campus?" I bark out, not bothering to hide my anger at the situation.

"I don't know, Fallon. All I know is I've seen her around and I know the others have too," Kash says, picking up his tablet and keeping his attention on it instead of anyone in the room as usual.

"We need to come up with a plan to make Karmen back the fuck off of her and stop this bullyin' shit. I don't want her hurt anymore. I know she's the one who ripped her bag and shirt the other day. It's been talked about all over campus. None of you saw it?" I question my best friends in the world.

"Didn't see a fuckin' thing," Dante growls, anger filling his face as he looks directly at me and no one else. "Did hear those two skanks, Karmen and Collette, talkin' about it though. They were laughin' their asses off about what Karmen did. How you gonna stop that shit now, Fallon. We've let it go on for ten fuckin' years. Now, Karmen essentially has free rein because the professors don't keep an eye on shit like they did in high school. You know this. The only way to make her stop is to go to the Dean and Arabella won't do that shit. She doesn't want to get in trouble because we all know Karmen will turn that shit around on her."

"I know. We should have never let it start when we walked away from her. That's on me," I state, resignation filling me because it's the truth. "Kash what have you found about Bella and everythin' else you've been lookin' into?"

"Not a lot. She's got a little brother named Vinnie now. Father unknown. Or unlisted. She works, goes to school, and tutors. There have been a few trips to the hospital to have broken bones set but no red flags were raised. We know she lives in the poor section of town now with her mother. Her mom was arrested a month ago on drug and prostitution charges. Someone bailed her out, but I haven't been able to find out who yet.

"As far as the rest of it goes, there's no concrete information so far on any of the deaths. I'm sure I'll find it, but it's gonna be buried deep as fuck. I'm not gonna stop until I find it though. You know me. Once I get stuck on somethin', I don't stop until I find out all the answers we want or need. I just need some more fuckin' time to get what we want," Kash informs us, his voice distant as he fucks around with his tablet still.

"Keep workin' on it. I want to know who the fuck broke any bones on Bella. I'd bet it's her fuckin' mother, but if it was someone else, I want to know who the fuck it is. No one is gonna touch her ever again," I tell everyone in the room. "If you see her around campus, I wanna know what she looks like and who the fuck she's with. Think I need to have a conversation with Brock too. I want to know what his fuckin' end game is with her. He's spendin' a ton of time with her."

When no one else says anything, I get up and head for my room. I don't want to be around anyone right now. I'm pissed and ready to explode at the slightest thing. It's better for me to be alone and not be around everyone for the rest of the night. The only thing that will make me get out of the house again is if I hear one of them is gonna go to where she works for dinner tonight. We really try not to show up there, but at this point, I don't give a fuck as long as I get to see her.

Collapsing on my bed, I know I'll be getting a call from my father. He would have heard by now we didn't have practice today. Coach got sick and had to leave early. So, I should have been in some form of training instead of sitting in the library. My father will chew me a new ass, but I couldn't give a flying fuck. My last one flew away the second Collette sat down at a table with me. Fucking bitch!