For Love Alone

Episode One

Prologue

Lowell Academy Prologue Lowell Academy Six years ago

Layne

I struggled to stand, but my legs just couldn’t seem to hold me up. Why was Judy screaming in my face and pulling me? The question rolled around in my mind like a pinball, bouncing around the sides but not stopping long enough for me to grasp what the hell was going on. “What did you f*****g bitches give her?” I watched the fury bloom across Judy’s face like a horrifying sunrise. Her pugnacious nose was flaring like a bull, and for some reason, I thought it was the funniest s**t ever. The high giggle that exited my mouth was cringy as f**k, but I didn’t seem to care. My leaden arms and legs felt like overcooked noodles, and my knees couldn’t lock well enough for me to stand on my own two feet.

“What’s a matter, Judy, the little public assistance girl who can’t handle the party?” I know that retched harpy voice, I thought as I turned my head slightly to see Tessa Warren and her tribe of rich b***h succubus in all their Barbie-perfection.

Blonde bitches with p***s envy, thought to myself. A sudden twitter of laughter around me clued me in on the fact that I may have said that aloud. Also, hilariously f*****g funny. The rolling laughter assaulted me with the most severe case of giggles that I’d ever experienced. Unfortunately, the devil bitches didn’t think it was so funny. “Hey f**k you, Tessa! I’ll report this s**t to the Dean. We’ll see how much your daddy’s wallet is going to appreciate giving another“donation” to the school to keep you enrolled, despite what a raging b***h you are!”

How Judy managed to break Miss Harpy off while still holding me upright was a thing to behold. I think I just told her that out loud and, for some reason, that…was also funny. An evil sneer marred the other wise make up’d perfection of Tessa’s face. How can anyone find her hot? She was hideous. Another burst of laughter ignited around me. Wow, I was on fire tonight. More giggles.

“We’ll see who’s laughing when the Kings get here. When they find out was a f*****g w***e you are, they will have nothing to do with your welfare recipient's ass.” The gleam in her bright green eyes was downright unsettling. What a b***h! Another round of laughter ensued. “Whatever is up your sleeve is bullshit, Tessa. Leave Layne the f**k alone or…” “Or what?!” Tessa got bold and marched right up to us. Her face was mere inches from Judy’s. Okay, the b***h wants to fight? I am here for it! I thought I was until my knees went noodles again. Luckily, Judy was still holding on to me for dear life. “Let’s not forget that I know your little secrets, Judith Conroy. All those dirty little somethings that would make life oh so difficult for you if certain people found out.”

I watched my friend visibly pale at Tessa’s snotty little speech. For the first time in three years, I’d become friends with the plucky little redhead, and I saw real fear. That just won’t do. With as much effort as I could muster, I tried to stand straight, though my whole body felt wobbly and strangely weak.

“Don’t talk to her like that. She’s better than all of you bitches!” At least that’s what I thought I said. It didn’t sound as bitchy as what I was aiming for, but judging from the angry gleam I saw in Tessa’s eyes, the b***h part made a direct hit.

“You f*****g upstart w***e! Who the f**k do you think you are? You come here to our school and w***e yourself around with other girls’ boyfriends like the hooker you are.”

A w***e?! Who the f**k is she calling a w***e? Just because a girl has four boyfriends doesn’t make her a w***e. Just diverse in love.Another round of sniggers. Okay, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. What the f**k is wrong with me? Suddenly, none of this was funny anymore. My memory was so foggy, and thoughts seemed out of reach when I tried to remember what happened. Where are my Kings? They were supposed to meet me here at the party. I could feel the frown wrinkle my brow as I struggled to remember earlier in the evening.

Memories flitted through my head like gossamer, there but intangible. Fear tingled along my spine. What happened?

“Oh, sweety, I think you partied a little too hard tonight with the Lacrosse Team.” This time, the giggles erupted from the succubae's side of the room. Lacrosse team? Why would I be hanging out with those troglodyte assholes?

“Maybe because you like a lot of d***s? Wait, we happen to know you like a lot of d***s!”

This is coming from the captain of the Lacrosse team, Zack Morehead. He sidled right up next to Tess, his muscular arm looping around her shoulders like they were starring in some hell-spawned buddy flick. He looked like Ken’s evil twin, complete with a letterman’s jacket and perfectly quaffed douche bag hair. God help us all if those decide to pair up. More laughter. s**t, I did it again!

Must stop talking out loud. More laughter. Damn it!

“f**k you, Zack! Why don’t you crawl back under the viper’s nest you hatched from?” Judy made a valiant effort to sound truly pissed, but even in my inebriated state, I could tell it took effort. She was scared, but of what? “

Oh, you shut that pretty f*****g mouth, Judy Lubey!” Zack grinned even bigger when the look of stark terror widened her cornflower blue eyes, the intense parlor on her face made her freckles stand out like ginger beacons. Judy Lubey? Why would he call her that? I was fighting a real battle to clear my head now. Suddenly, my stomach felt like it was filled with a leaden balloon, and pain accumulated more slowly in my lower belly. The room did a bob and weave that made my head swim. Where are my guys? I need them. Just the thought of Rafe, Miller, Cohen, and Achilles centered a sea of calm within me. They would take care of this. They always know what to do. That’s why I loved them so much. No laughter. Good, we’re processing. I didn’t say that out loud. Although that was true, I was not afraid to shout from the rafters. They were my guys, and I did love them despite our vast differences. They were rich, and I was poor. They were from the Mayflower pedigree, and I was from the wrong side of any tracks you could imagine. Why they chose to love me was still a mystery.

“Come on, Lay, we gotta go. Now!” Judy was pulling me away from the b***h crowd, my wobbly ass legs improving a little with each stuttering step. Wait, we couldn’t leave yet because I hadn’t seen the boys. They said they would be coming late. We stumbled across a door jamb of some sort, and my ankle turned, and I felt the three-inch heel on my right shoe break.

Oh no! Rafe just got me there, I mourned silently. I think. They were Jimmy Choo’s or some s**t. Expensive as f**k!“Come on, Lay, keep moving!” Judy is damn strong for a little sprite of a girl. Maybe she was an elf in a former life. “Will you be serious, Lay, and move your ass!” I could see the doorway looming ahead of us. I watched the party going move out of our way, watching our barreling progression to the doorway like it was a f*****g spectator sport. Some fresh air would be nice, I thought absently. My legs afford me a wobbling scuttle along Judy’s rushed steps. We had just reached the steps when suddenly there they were. All four of my kings were making their way into the doorway. Excitement and a feeling of safety filled me as the four of them stood before me.

“s**t!” Judy’s soft curse had me looking askance at her in wonder. The disdainful look on her face gave me serious pause. I thought she liked them? Didn’t we get along like a house on fire every day of the last term? What

changed? I was about to ask when something struck me as truly strange. All four of my kings were looking at me so strangely. Where was the warm gleam in Rafe’s golden sundial eyes? Instead, they were cold and emotionless. My gaze went to Cohen, my cuddle buddy when I had nightmares and couldn’t sleep. His usual shimmering gray eye gaze was frozen over like mercury. Was that disgust I saw? I looked to Miller, my sexy nerd and gaming partner. I was met with complete disdain from those deeper than darker chocolate eyes. When I turned lastly to the leader of the kings. The one I’d loved first. Achilles, all masculine beauty and pain, all wrapped up in Adonis’s body. His ice blue gaze normally filled me with heat and arousal, but the absolute hate staring back at me nearly took my breath away. “My king’s?” I whispered aloud. “What…?” “Layne, we have to go.” Judy was trying to drag me past the boys, but I needed them. I couldn’t leave yet. I needed to know why they were looking at me like that. What did I do? I reached out to Cohen, playing my hand against the hard wall of his chest. “Co?”For a brief moment, I saw his gaze soften, his arm lifting as if to touch my hand, but suddenly Achilles stepped forward, knocking my hand away. “Don’t touch him!” Shock rolled through me. The f**k! The stinging pain of rejection had me leaning against Judy for support. Shock had me mumbling. I grasped for words. Whatever made me feel funny was also keeping my mouth from working right. I reached again for Co, my trembling fingers briefly making contact with his black Pendleton. This time it was he who stepped out of reach. Anger was shown back at me, cold and unforgiving.

“Why?” My voice was a whisper, but I know they heard me.