Rage (Blue Rose Series Book 1)

Chapter 1

Every good revenge story I've ever read or watched started with a quote. A quote that poetically described the pain and misery endured by the people who wronged them. Mine wasn't so poetic; it was more simple and straight to the point. I was about to fuck shit up.

Four years later.

I hopped off the bus with a duffle bag in hand and a wad of cash in my sweatpants pocket. I walked to the bathroom at the bus station and locked the door behind me.

You can do this.

I stared at myself in the mirror, seeing how different I was from four years ago. This is the moment that changes everything. After four years, I will finally start my revenge. Three years of preparation have finally brought me to Caswell College, a prestigious school in California filled with the wealthiest elite in the world and the four boys who ruined my life.

I dropped my duffle bag and unzipped it. I want to gag at the hideous outfit. I pulled out the peach-colored crop top and the white tennis skirt. It was a cute outfit, but it wasn't my style anymore. Regardless of how much I dreaded it, I considered it my uniform in battle. I put on the last outfit, a pair of white vans and a white headband. I grabbed my makeup bag and applied enough to enhance my features.

I hated that I had to dress this way, but first impressions matter, and if I showed up in my usual 'blending in' clothes, I would do anything but blend in. This school is all about looks. So preppy, rich school girl it is.

When I was done, I looked in the mirror at the final results. My curly black hair that reached past my shoulders was out of its usual ponytail. I put foundation on my brown skin and clear gloss on my full lips. My brown eyes that get lighter when the sun hits them just right. My eyelids are covered in light brown eyeshadow. My eyelashes are naturally long, but I added some mascara to make them look longer. I have on a brown lip liner with a clear gloss. And I added a little highlight on my cheekbones. I finish it off with some setting spray.

I took a few breaths before putting my old clothes into the duffle bag, grabbed the bag, and walked out of the bathroom. I walked with confidence as I looked around for my ride. I spotted the black SUV, and a man came out to open the door for me.

"Lena Warren?" the fair-skinned man in a suit asked.

He looked around the bus station, probably wondering why they sent him here. I had to stop before coming here, and I did not need a shiny new SUV pulling up where I was. It would have ruined everything before I had the chance to start.

I nodded. "That's me."

Lillian Thompson was gone, they killed her. Not only did I change my name so the Blue Rose wouldn't connect me but I wasn't Lillian anymore. They made it impossible for me to ever be her again.

I threw a smile on my face to look overly happy to be here.

He smiled back at me and took my bag from me.

He looked down at it in confusion. "This is all you have?"

"More of my stuff is being delivered," I said.

He nodded, and I got inside the car. The black leather seats felt cool against my skin, and I relaxed against them as he put my duffle bag in the trunk. He walked back to the driver's side and got in. I put my seatbelt on while he started the car, and we were on our way.

"Are you excited for the school year?" He looked in the rearview mirror at me as he asked.

"So excited." I made my voice higher pitched than it was, giving the innocent college girl I've perfected.