Rage (Blue Rose Series Book 1)

Chapter 8

Classes, dining hall, and home were my new schedule since that night with Noah. I've probably called myself every name in the book, which sent a wave of depression through me, causing me to stay in bed, eat my weight in snacks and watch reality tv. I'm caught up in another episode of Love Island when I hear a knock on my door.

"Who is it?" I asked around a mouth full of Cheetos.

"Henry." a deep voice said.

I shivered. It now hits me that I haven't been updating him on my progress in a week.

"One second, I'm just getting out of the shower."

I closed my laptop and jumped off my bed. I do the quickest clean-up humanly possible. And by clean up, I mean stuffing everything under my bed and covering it with my comforter. I used a rag to wash my face, spa some water on my body and changed my clothes from pajamas to jeans and a tv shirt. I took my bonnet off and freed my curls. When I looked decent, I walked over and opened the door.

Henry is standing there and looks as powerful as ever. Dark brown skin, almost black eyes, shaved head, and tattoos all over both arms.

"Henry! Why didn't you call?'

He walked in without an invitation, and I closed the door. I watched as he looked around the room,

"I did. Several times, in fact. Why haven't you answered? I had to get someone else to check in on you to make sure you were alive.".

"You have someone spying on me?" I asked in horror.

He waved it off like it was no big deal that someone was watching me without me knowing. He took a seat on my bed, and I cringed as we both heard the loud sound of one of the chips bags I forgot to stuff. He pulled it out and looked at it, then at me.

"Lena, do you need to be pulled out? Because we could always have someone else do this."

I shook my head. "No, I'm finishing this to the end."

"Then what's going on? This isn't like you. You haven't checked in with me, and you know your initiation is coming up?"

"Yeah, I know."

I've gotten dozens of reminders programmed on my phone.

"This was too much for you, wasn't it?"

"No!"

"Look at you, Lena; you have bags under your eyes, and I can smell whatever food you have under your bed."

"I'm not giving up. This is just a rough patch. It won't happen again, I promise. I'm doing this for us. Your sister and I. What they did to her...." I shook my head, not even daring to finish it.

Henry stood up with grief written all over his face. He walked over and pulled me into his arms, and I hugged him back. It took everything in me not to cry into his chest. Although he wasn't my real father, he was everything I needed and more.

"I love you, kid."

"I love you too." I let him go. "I need a favor before you go."

****

After that visit from Henry, I kicked myself into gear. I was wearing a white floral dress and braiding one side of my hair when someone knocked on the door. I opened it and found Jessica in a strapless white dress that goes to her ankles.

"Hey," I said and returned to the mirror to finish my hair.

"Hey?" she said, and I heard the door close. "After you literally saved my family, all you can say is 'hey'?"

I looked over, confused. "Would a 'hi' be better?"She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me.

"You should be making me thank you on my knees."

"Not necessary, but you can pay me back by letting me go because I have serious issues with intimacy."

"Right," she said and let me go. I felt her taking in my outfit. "What are you getting dressed for?"

"The same thing as you."

"It can't be the same as me."

"It is. I'm officially going to be a new member of the Blue Rose."

"Bullshit."

"Bulltruth."

I finished my hair and applied some makeup as Jessica stared at me with her mouth wide open.

"You can't."

"But I am."

"If they find out-"

I cut her off. "I'm joining as Lena Warren. No one knows who I was other than you and the boys."

"They'll tell on you."

"Nope, because that would mean explaining to the High Court how the poor foster girl was able to get over on them multiple times. Especially since they are supposed to be these future badass leaders."

"What about Noah then? You haven't done anything to him."

"Haven't I?"

She raised an eyebrow, and I didn't explain as she followed me out of the dorms and towards the football field. We took seats on the bench and watched the scene unfold. Noah was on the field with the rest of his teammates as his coach was shouting at him, and as if he could feel me there, he looked up at me. It wasn't anger I saw, not even sadness, more like he was tired. He walked off the field, never sparing a glance back at me.

"What did you do?" Jessica asked.

I was still looking numbly at the field. This should feel good. I should be jumping with joy, and yet I just felt numb. I should have never slept with him. It's messing me up.

"All the players had to take drug tests this year because of the steroid epidemic from last year. Turns out he's been pumping steroids all this time. His results have come back. Guess he's kicked off the team. His teammates will definitely be pissed because they have no chance to win any game this year without him."

"You scare me and turn me on."

I laughed. But I understood the feeling. It was the same one I had for Noah.

"You know I only paid your dues, so you wouldn't be indebted to them, right?"

"Yeah."

"That means this is your chance. Don't show up tonight. Make yourself the last Ross there."

"But my mom-"

I waved her off. "Already taken care of. She'll be getting even better treatment, but this time with only the string of leaving Blue Rose forever."

She gave me a quick hug.

"But what about you? You can't do this alone."

"Yes, I can."

"Well, I don't want you to. Let me join. I'll help you on the inside. We can work together. It shouldn't all fall on you. Please, Lena. I know you said no strings attached, but I will go the rest of my life feeling like I owe you."

I sighed and looked over at her. "If you screw me over-"

She shook her head. "I won't, I swear."

"If you screw me over, Jess. It won't be like last time. I'll ruin you. I promise you that."

I heard and saw her visible gulp, and she nodded her head in fast motions.

"I'll do whatever you want."

I nodded. I was unsure about bringing her in but having her there would take some of the edges off. We watched the rest of the game to pass the time until tonight. And when the game was over, we got in my car and headed to the edge of town where the Blue Rose society was being held.

Tonight's event was held at a hotel that was fully booked out for only members of the Blue Rose. We got to the hotel, both got out of the car, and I handed my keys to the valet.

"You ready for this?" Jessica asked.

"Hell yeah."