The Blonde Bowstring: Steelgray's Story

/ Prologue /

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8 years ago

Nicole Steelgray's life was fucked at this point.

She was caught cheating on her boyfriend by the whole world. Well, maybe not the entire world. Just all of Limitless City. And maybe the rest of Colorado too.

It's not like it didn't happen often. She was the girl equivalent of a playboy, and she didn't know how, but she probably owed it to her parents' money.

Raymond Steelgray: CEO of God's Trust, an agency that used God's name just for the aesthetic. Though it was an act of a saint to hand out student loans with interest to College freshmen. They were good people, the best family in all of Colorado and they'd made millions off it.

But this relationship with Noel was the longest one she'd ever had. And she went along with Rush anyway—Noel's best friend.

So yes, this vacation was definitely a must. She took a break from packing her suitcase to rub her face. How did she end up like this? Sleepless? Tear-stained? Single?

Just then her phone rang. She searched for the Takumi and flipped it open once it was in her hands. "Hello?" She asked, half-recognizing the number and wondering who was calling.

"Hi, Nicole."

The blonde teenager was immediately taken aback by the voice on the other end. She swallowed deeply, recognizing it as her boyfriend's stepsister. Don't let the term fool you. Those two were ten times closer than Nicole would ever be with her own sister, Frankie.

"Luna," she huffed out.

"Yes. Where are you? Noel's been trying to get a hold on you."

"Tell him to stop calling," Nicole demanded. Her knuckles were turning white as her grip tightened. Otherwise, her hand would go limp, and said phone would fall right out, and she'd slide down to the floor crying just like last night. And the night before that. And the day the world caught her and Rush.

"Noel loves you, Nicole, and he realizes now that it wasn't just your fault. He knows what Rush did-"

"Luna! I don't want to hear any of this. Leave. Me. Alone! And tell Noel that he was wasting his time with someone who never loved him half as much as he loved her!"

She took the phone away from her ear and snapped it shut. So that was harsh, but Luna needed to hear it. Nicole hoped Luna would get the message across. It wasn't true of course. Nicole wished it was because then this wouldn't hurt so much.

"Nicole, are you ready to go?" Her mom asked from the doorway. Nicole didn't know how long her mom, Jillian, had been standing there, or if she just got there.

"Sorry. Yes," Nicole answered. She zipped her bag one last time, the sound of the zipper echoing in her enormous bedroom. "Let's go," she said with a smile.

When she got downstairs, Nicole was ecstatically surprised to see a certain brunette sitting on her couch. The Latina was staring her up with a smile, her legs crossed on the couch. Thankfully too. Her skirt was the length of a handkerchief.

"Aaliyah! You're here!" Nicole exclaimed. She dropped her luggage right at her legs, knowing the family doorman and bodyguard Cooper would pick up after her.

"Believe it, bitch," Aaliyah said with a smirk and stood up.

"Wait, don't tell me," Nicole said with her arms wrapped around the skinny, tall brunette. "You're coming with us on the yacht?"

"You already know I had to sail the Steelgray Voyage one last time before going to New York. If it was me, I would throw a party. But I respect you needing this little getaway."

"I'm so fucking happy you're coming with me-"

"Language," her father interrupted, suddenly now in the large living room. He was shining underneath the chandelier looking like some kind of saint with his warm smile.

"Sorry dad," Nicole chuckled. Her two favorite people were here. It was impossible not to be a little happy. She welcomed this new change of emotions. She'd been through hell these last few days. "Aaliyah, did you forget about that huge graduation party we had just two weeks ago?"

"How could I forget? Do you know how many people I laid?" Aaliyah laughed and Nicole couldn't help but laugh harder. "Are you ready to go, Grad?"

Nicole took a step back. She savored the feeling. Her lovely dad was here. Her understanding mother was here. And best of all, Aaliyah Gomez, her best friend, was getting on the boat with her. The only thing that could make this better was if her other best friend Timothy was here too.

"I'm so ready."

Maybe there should've been a little more hesitation.

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