Bad News Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Epilogue

  BAD NEWS

  Lilly James

  Bella Tulip Publishing

  A Bella Tulip Book

  Bella Tulip Publishing, 83 Ducie Street, Manchester, M1 2JQ www.bellatulippublishing.com

  Published by Bella Tulip Publishing 2017

  BAD NEWS

  © Copyright Lilly James 2016

  All rights reserved.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events and organisations are purely coincidental.

  ISBN 9780995549470 ASIN B01NCA851H

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, nor translated into a machine language, without the written permission of the publisher.

  Condition of sale

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  Cover design © Copyright Rebecca Weeks 2016

  Editing Danni (Ellie) Williams

  Proofreading Jessica Sims

  Book formatted by Taniquelle Tulipano

  Acknowledgments

  This book came to me so easily, and I instantly fell in love with the characters that suddenly swamped my mind. But I could never write a story if I didn’t have the support from those around me. To Keira, who still doesn’t know what mummy writes about, but is still my number one fan. To my mum, sister, and family, your constant support and encouragement for what I do is precious to me–thank you! To my friends, who are always telling to me write faster so they can read my new books, here is another story to sink your teeth into.

  Thank you to Julie, Cristina and Sophia, my wonderful author friends who I can talk to about the daily stresses and wonders of the writing world–because they get it too.

  A huge thank you to my new publisher, Bella Tulip Publishing, and all the wonderful ladies who work within, you are all incredible and have been so welcoming and lovely to me.

  I want to say a massive thank you to the amazing Michelle, who continues to overwhelm me with the constant support she gives me and my books. Thank you, thank you, thank you, you lovely human being.

  To my readers, thank you for being so amazing, and so incredibly patient whilst waiting for my next release. You are my Rockstar's.

  I can’t say a big enough thank you to all those bloggers out there who share the hell out of my books, review, make teasers and just generally spread the word. Without readers and bloggers, my little writing habit wouldn’t reach so many. I appreciate your help more than you will ever know.

  Chapter 1

  I turn off the ignition, take off my seatbelt and press my forehead against the steering wheel. Why, oh, why does my eighteen-year-old pea-brain sister put me in these situations? Another thing, why can’t she be at the book club, like she told our father she was? Nooo - Bree is way too popular and pretty to be at a boring book club, a quote from her own mouth, not mine. I happen to think the book club is a joy. Just saying; lies are for fools, and Bree has made me lie to our father about her whereabouts–again! God, I’m going to hell.

  I sigh, turn to my left and glance out of the car window. I see the door to the house is open, maybe I am heading to hell sooner than I thought. I groan. Open my door and step outside, the loud music is bursting from the house, and I am clutching at the car door, wishing I didn’t have to go inside. But I must.

  Oh, Lord, I am inside - there are people everywhere, the stench of sweat, alcohol and something I can only guess is drugs, attacks my sense of smell. Gross. I walk past the crowds and through the hallway until I spot Bree’s best friend, Paisley, kissing a boy like her life depends on it. I walk over and awkwardly tap her shoulder. Paisley turns, furious that someone has interrupted her until she notices it’s me.

  “Woah,” she says. “Lou, what the hell are you doing here?”

  “Not partying that’s for sure.” I look over her shoulder. “Seen Bree?”

  “Daddy wants her home?” she mocks, then points upstairs. “She went that way. Good luck.” She grins, turning back to continue her meddling of tongues game.

  Great. Upstairs? Really?

  I make my way upstairs and try not to brush past shoulders of kissing couples who are groping each other. “Excuse me. Sorry,” I say as I try to squeeze through.

  The first door I come to when I get to the top is the one I decide to open. I count to three, brace myself, and push. I don’t know how, but I end up stumbling into the room. My eyes scan girl’s legs, arms, mouths kissing, and a naked guy underneath it all. He suddenly sits up, noticing the door has been opened, and smiles.

  “Come to join?”

  I look away quickly. “Sorry!” I squeal, slamming the door closed behind me. Leant up against the wall I close my eyes. Memory, please wipe that pornographic image away! Like now!

  Just as I’m about to give up guess who walks down the hallway, arms wrapped around a guy I have never seen before in my life. “Bree!” I yell her name, my angst coming out. Her eyes go wide for a second before they narrow.

  “Dad send you?” she guesses correctly.

  “Yes,” I hiss. “Excuse me.” I push the guy’s arm from her shoulders and take her hand in mine. “We need to leave. One, because dad is going to kill you. Two, because you let Valery throw away your portion of meatloaf–and you know she hates waste. And three, because I need to get out of here before I have an overdose of bump and grind and the smell of,” I sniff once more. “Whatever that is.”

  “Let’s go.” Bree agrees, easier than anticipated. I glance away when she kisses that big guy goodbye, and he grossly tells her to call him. Ew.

  I get back in my car and inhale a deep breath.

  “What are you doing?” Bree laughs, having difficulty putting her belt into its slot because she’s drunk. Drunk! On a school night. Disgusting.

  “Inhaling fresh air.” I gasp. “I feel violated.”

  Bree laughs again. “Lou, you are such a sissy.”

  “I like to call it sensible.” I deadpan, pulling out onto the road. “Don’t make me lie for you again, B, you know how much I hate lying to dad.”

  She scoffs. “Why? He lies to us pretty much every day of our lives.”

  I sigh. “That’s not true.”

  I know she’s rolling her eyes. “Always defending him.”

  I defend him, because, well, he’s my dad.

  “He
just wanted you to be home for our last dinner together.”

  “Last dinner?” she laughs. “Lou, we’re going to college, not the other side of the world. We can come home whenever we like. Well,” she rolls back her shoulders. “You can, I won’t be.”

  “Why didn’t you just stay home tonight. One night.” It’s not really a question, I really did wish she’d stayed home tonight.

  “Just to please dad? No way.”

  I grip the steering wheel harder. “For me, at least! You know I had to sit in the dining room,” I hold my finger up, “in silence, listening to Valery’s’ damn Grandfather clock ticking for a whole twenty minutes before dad made me come get you.”

  “Let’s burn the clock.” I know she’s grinning, but I don’t take my eyes off the road. “Besides,” she says. “I had to make sure everyone knew how great I was before starting college tomorrow.” She flicks her hair behind her shoulder. “Imagine if no one knew who I was.”

  “Nightmare,” I smirk.

  Bree slouches. “I never got to see who I intended to, though, he was too busy having a fucking gangbang.”

  “Please don’t cuss,” I scold her as my Grandma would. Why am I turning into my Gran? “Who did you want to see?”

  She sighs all dreamily. “Hunter Holland.”

  I scoff as I pull into our drive. “Don’t tell me, boys wanna be him, girls wanna date him. Blah, blah, blah.”

  “Got it in one, sister.” She unbuckles her seat belt and takes my arm before I move. “I would do anything to get with him. Anything.” She repeats with a wink.

  I shake my head at her promiscuous behavior and climb out of the car. “Well,” I say as I meet her at the front door. “You are going to be the hot new blonde on the scene, it’s bound to happen.” I’m not only saying it to be nice. I am right. Everyone loves Bree.

  “God, I hope so.” She claps her hands all excited like it's already happened. “Anyway you,” she bumps shoulders with me as I push the key into the door. “You will be the hot new blonde too; guys love the quiet ones, Lou.”

  “I couldn’t think of anything worse,” I mumble.

  Chapter 2

  It’s awkward city in my dad’s car as he drives Bree and me to college. Our first day, Bree and dad, can’t even have a polite conversation. It’s not like I haven’t tried to get them talking because I have. I’ve even expressed my excitement about my new roommate, but my Dad just says things like, “that’s great, sweetie.” And Bree grunts. Like I said, awkward city.

  “Come on Bree, can’t you at least stay off your phone for the journey?” I glare down at her cell phone like it’s the devil. Well, it is. Total conversation blocker.

  Bree holds up a finger, her face still glued to her screen. “Hold up, I’m just checking Facebook." She looks up at me and smirks. “Actually, I’m cyber stalking all the Rouge Men.”

  “The who men?”

  Bree rolls her eyes like I’m adorably clueless. “It’s a group of college guys. They are, like, they’re own fraternity.”

  I roll my eyes this time and stare out of the window. “A group of guys? Like, of course, it is.” I joke.

  “All four guys are fucking perfection, Lou. Wait till you see them.”

  “Bree!” My dad scolds her swearing. But Bree doesn’t apologize. Instead, she pokes her tongue out to the back of his head.

  “Why does college have to be about guys?” I chastise. “Imagine it was just about learning.”

  Bree looks at me, hard. “Said no one. Ever.”

  We pull up at Newbrook U Campus, and Bree quickly climbs out of the car to retrieve her suitcases from the trunk.

  “Let me get those,” my dad offers, but she tugs them out of his reach.

  “I’m good.” Bree ignores the eyes I give her, then nudges her head to the right. “I’m over on West Campus. I’ll get myself moved in.”

  “I’ll see you at orientation?” I call to her back.

  “As if.” She scoffs, pulling her two suitcases behind her.

  “You have to register for your classes, Bree!” I call again.

  “She will be there.” My dad says firmly, closing the trunk with a slam. Then, carrying all my belongings, we head towards campus. I walk alongside him in my Converse, two steps to his large one. I know why he’s walking fast, it’s because he must get back to work. Story of his life.

  I grab my room keys and identification pass. I lead my dad into the lift and up to the thirteenth floor–where my dorm room is at.

  "You nervous?" Is all he says.

  "A little." I have first day nerves, but the excitement of it all trebles that.

  “It’s not bad,” my dad looks around. “Harvard would have been better, but nevertheless.”

  I smile, forget what he said, turn the key in the lock and push. The door swings open, so I walk in and nearly get blasted backwards by the music lyrics that shout, “Live and Let Die.”

  “Oops, wasn’t expecting you so soon.” My roommate, I assume, lazily turns down the music, then points to her T-shirt. “Guns and Roses. Legends.” She sings. I smirk, eying her quickly. With short black hair that’s cut edgy, pale makeup, dark eyes, tattoos up her arms and a black leather cuff on her right wrist–we are the total opposite.

  I give a small wave and feel my dad straighten up behind me. “Hey, I’m Louisa.”

  “Fallon.” She nods her head, then jumps onto her bed and crosses her legs.

  “Right honey,” I turn and watch dad place my suitcases down, then scowl at the dirty look he gives to Fallon. “You can take it from here, right?”

  “Sure can.”

  As I wait, he pulls out his phone from his suit jacket and looks down at the screen as he talks to me. “Call me if you need anything.”

  I glance away because his phone is the reason we don’t bond as much as I’d like. “Sure thing.”

  My dad gives me an awkward hug, stiffly nods to Fallon, then he’s gone.

  “Woah, who’s the politician guy?”

  “My dad, and he's a doctor." I sigh, observing my room. I wonder how long she’s been here.

  “Since Monday,” she says, reading my mind.

  I go to the door. “Should we leave it ajar.”

  Fallon frowns. “This is not a brothel, Louisa. Hell, no.”

  “Oh.” I close my mouth and the door.

  “Don’t tell me,” Fallon glances me up and down. “Blonde, blue eyes, innocent looking with no makeup on. You don’t drink or swear, you’re the typical San-dra-dee.” She grins, not in a mocking way, though… I don’t think.

  I smile, quite liking her observation. “I don’t think Sandy is typical. But, if you want to compare me to a young Olivia Newtown John,” I shrug, “then go ahead. I’m down.” I’m down? I never say I’m down.

  “Shoot me now.” Fallon pretends to shoot herself in the head and falls on her bed.

  After unpacking all my things, I make my way down to the first floor where my orientation starts. I find a seat next to a boy with curly, untamed hair that hides under a Slouchy Beanie Hat.

  “Hey,” he smiles, moving his backpack from the chair so I can sit. “New here, too?”

  “Thank you.” I grin. “And yeah, first day.”

  “Mine too.” He holds out his hand for me to take. “Axel.” But before I can shake it, a guy yanks Axel’s Beanie down over his eyes.

  “Real mature,” Axel shouts after the idiot who high fives his equally, idiotic friend.

  “Anyway, where were we?” He takes off his hat and scratches his shaggy hair.

  “You told me your name was Axel,” I smile.

  Oh, yeah…” He scratches his head again. “I was about to shake your hand, and probably blush because it’s one of my worst habits when I touch a girl.” He closes his eyes tightly. “Including saying what I’m thinking, and looking a complete jackass.”

  “You do not.” I nudge his shoulder with mine. “I'm Louisa.”

  “Pretty name for a pretty girl.” He s
hakes his head. “That thing is happening again.”

  “Where you speak your mind?” I laugh. “How bad can it be?”

  “Well,” he pushes his glasses up his nose. “Bad. I got introduced to my father’s girlfriend, and I told her that her perfume made my insides tingle.”

  I gawp. “Well, uh, maybe you were just nervous.” I glance around, checking all the seats for a platinum blonde that is my sister. I will kick her butt if she doesn’t turn up. Just as I’m about to give up, I see her walking through the door with five other girls. Axel follows my line of sight.

  “Sorority girls.” He scoffs. “I don’t see why everyone can’t be equal. Why do there have to be groups?”

  “I know, right?” I smile as I sit back in my chair. Axel and I will get along just fine. I know it. I kind of feel good for making a friend already.

  After the orientation, I stand and gather my belongings. “So, what are you doing right now?” I ask Axel.

  He swings his backpack over his shoulder. “Oh, you know, go back to my dorm, sit and stare at my bare walls and wish I was good looking enough to be in the Rouge Men’s club.”

  I chuckle and pull my arms through my backpack–double arm, something Bree told me never to do, but I don’t care. I like a double arm. “Want to come up to my dorm? I have a kick ass roommate.” Axel smirks, and I cringe. “Yeah, kick ass sounds awkward coming out of my mouth, doesn’t it?” I never say kick ass either!

  He holds his hands up and walks ahead of me. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.” I laugh, jogging to catch up.

  ***

  “Axel?” Fallon gapes when we both enter my dorm.

  Axel’s eyes go wide when he spots Fallon. “You?” He turns to me, “I thought you said your roommate was kickass?”

  “Wait,” I point between them. “You two know each other.”

  “Same high school.” Fallon narrows her eyes. “God Lou, I tell you to make friends in orientation, and you bring back McLovin.”

  “Mc-who?” I’m confused.

  “Superbad?” she says like I’m dumb. "The movie."

  “Nope.” I shrug. “Gone with the Wind and The Sound of Music is what I like.” I’m totally kidding.