Eden High Series One: The Eden High Series Boxed Set, Books 1-6 Read online

  ***

  By the time I reached my first class I was feeling the strain. Having always been part of the in crowd since middle school or even before then, it was a whole new experience being the new kid.

  It wasn’t so much the prestige that abounded here among the young Hollywood heirs, that I can match, no problem; my closet was more than ample enough if I was so inclined.

  But it was more the sense of not being one of them. My dad was not a big time movie star or studio mogul, though his money was just as green as the next guy’s. But I got the sense that here it was about more than wealth and hot cars, it was a totally different atmosphere than what I was accustomed to.

  And then she walked in and I felt the shift in the air. I don’t know why, but one look at this chick and I felt like laughing. Not because she looked clownish or anything like that, but because she had attitude coming off her in waves, I know the signs.

  Chapter 3

  BELLE

  High school is the worse place for a sixteen-year-old girl with growing pains; I mean think about it, you're cooped up with twenty or thirty of your so-called peers.

  Everyone is judging and critiquing everyone else, everything you do comes under a microscope, and heaven forbid you're anything bigger than a size four, well then you're just not worth the air you breathe.

  I'm a size ten and I have no interest in starving myself into a lesser size. Apparently that's considered teenage suicide to think like that, bleh.

  My mom says I'm as beautiful as ever, and my dad says I'm his golden princess and father knows best. I have a full head of the wildest hair you've ever seen in your life.

  It's red, not fire engine red; what does mom call it again? Oh yeah, auburn, with hints of chestnut and wine.

  To top it off, this mess is all curls, like Shirley Temples circa nineteen sixties curly. My eyes are the brightest blue I've ever encountered, that didn't need the help of glasses to protect them, that's how I got my name.

  Dad said I was his little bluebell so I'm Belle, that's right, in some countries my name means beautiful and don't you forget it.

  My best friend Tammy is a curvy size twelve; she's your typical green- eyed blonde with the finest pin straight hair in the world.

  If I was prone to envy I'd want her hair, but I'll deal with mine thank you very much, though it takes the stylist forever to straighten it whenever I'm in the mood.

  Anyway, now you know a little bit about me on to the meat of the story. Well, as if my life isn't hell on earth as it is, what with the asstards that I have to deal with, like the Mandy Taylors of the world and her little henchmen, now they're bringing a hotshot football star here this semester.

  The Eden High community has been in an uproar for the past few days since the news broke that Jared Claiborne was coming here.

  Now in case you don't know, Jared is one of the reigning high school football wide receiver kings in the country.

  His family was moving here apparently and he was going to be playing for our school. Like we didn’t have enough to deal with, with Jace Saunders and his ilk, but that’s another story.

  Anyway, it’s coming down to D-day, and already the walking wombs have been planning their wedding and baby showers, idiots.

  Of course he's going to end up in the clutches of one of the ass-less wonders whose biggest decision was whether to have romaine or mesclun.

  Mom says I shouldn't judge them like they judge me. I'm not judging, I'm just stating a fact. If my life revolved around what I ate and what I looked like sixteen hours out of the day I'd shoot myself, gah.

  Anyway, Mr. hotshot was due here today and Tammy is a screaming mess. Not because she has any designs on his eminence, no, but because she knows that the anorexic brigade will be using her as their platform.

  In other words, in order to make their scabby carcasses look somewhat appealing they'll be picking on her in the presence of his majesty.

  How does she know this? Because it's been done ad nauseam! Now usually I stay out of these things, my daddy says a princess does not partake in such lowly behaviors.

  Why he teaches me martial arts in our home gym is a mystery to me then. He says it's to discipline the mind and the body. I say it's to open up a can of whup that ass; what he doesn't know can't hurt him.

  So, armed with my new determination to defend my friend at all cost I head off to class. Dad had to drive me because I can’t drive for shit; it’s a hazard to the community if I get behind the wheel.

  Of course the halls are abuzz with the latest, his hotness has arrived and his entourage awaits.

  Lining the halls like the procession at a queenly visit. I head off to my first class not caring a fig one way or the other; he'll have no interest in me why should I show any in him?

  ***

  SIAN

  She dropped down in the seat beside me and stuck out her hand. “I’m Belle, I guess you’re the new hot dick’s sister?”

  My mouth fell open and I did laugh then. Talk about being straightforward.

  “I’m not sure Jared would appreciate being called that but yes, I’m his sister. You have a problem with my brother?” I don’t see how she could we’d only just got here.

  “No, I have a problem with what his being here will mean for my life for the next little while.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “Have you seen the walking bobble heads lining the hallway on your way in?”

  I guess she was referring to the girls I had passed in the hallway who had all been whispering and twittering behind their hands.

  “I think so why, what does that have to do with my brother?”

  “Humph, they’ll be on him like a lion on a gazelle’s ass before the end of first period.”

  I couldn’t help it, the picture her words painted had be breaking out in laughter.

  “No I’m serious, those freaks have been panting in heat ever since news came that he was coming here. I have to tell you I do not appreciate the break in my routine.”

  “I still don’t get what any of this have to do with disrupting your life.” It wasn’t lost on me that I’d been accusing dad of doing the very same thing to me.

  “Do you notice anything different about me? Anything say that stands out?”

  I looked her over but could see nothing wrong. She had amazing curly hair and bright eyes that had to be contacts but I didn’t ask. And her dimples spoke of mischief and made me want to laugh all the more.

  Shaking my head I shrugged my shoulders as more kids started filing into the room.

  “Humph, you don’t notice that I’m not stick thin like the rest of them? Yourself included?”

  I had to take a second look because I really didn’t know what she was getting at then…

  “Oh my gosh are you pregnant?” I looked down at her stomach but there was no discernible bump. She rolled her eyes at me.

  “No I’m not pregnant what’s wrong with you?”

  “Well you said there was something different and I can’t see anything; what, you have a third nipple or something?”

  “Cute, if you must know, I’m not exactly anorexic, so my best friend Tammy and I, you’ll meet her in a few when she gets here.

  Anyway we’re usually the butt of their jokes, what usually happens is whenever there’s a new guy, the twit brigade likes to show us up to make themselves look better.”

  “Oh, that’s not nice; do people really do that stuff?”

  “You seen Mean Girls?” At my nod she carried on. “Well it could’ve been their autobiography word for word.”

  For some reason her words helped ease my angst. I hate mean girls; they only serve to bring out the bitch in yours truly. I’m more of an under dog type of person, maybe because of my parent’s history.

  “Well you don’t have anything to worry about, my brother isn’t like that at all. In fact he’s very sweet once you get to know him.”

  “See here, I have no interest in meeting this paragon of manlin
ess as long as he stays in the locker room with the other bungling jackasses I’m fine.

  I just wish he’d have found somewhere else to land, no offense, but it’s my final years of high school and I would like to enjoy them thank you very much.”

  “You’re a hoot you know that?” Just then the teacher came in so we had to look busy. I had been so engrossed in her theatrics that I hadn’t been paying attention to the rest of the class, but apparently they were paying attention to me.

  There was one in particular who seemed to sense something foul about my person if the sour look on her face was anything to go by.

  I nudged Belle and whispered to her. “Who’s that?” I indicated the blonde who now had her nose in the air. Belle looked around and back with a sneer.

  “Queen bitch, aka Mandy Taylor. She’s the leader of the pack and rules with an iron fist. I have no doubt you being in their league will cause some rumblings in the castle.”

  ‘I think I resent that, I’m nothing like those girls.”

  “I’m sorry, you’re right.” She looked contrite. “I’ve been talking to you for half an hour and not once did I feel like gouging your eyes out with my number two pencil.”

  “You should be a comedian, now hush before the teacher notices us and decides to bring attention to yours truly.”

  “What, you’re not an attention slag? Will wonders never cease, you know I was more than prepared to hate you, but I find you rather refreshing for a blonde.” We both cracked up at that.

  ***

  Thankfully the teacher just said a quick hello and welcome without making a big to-do about my being here. I had enough going on without her calling more attention to me.

  I have to admit that Belle had helped to ease some of whatever was ailing me and I felt like I’d already made a new friend.

  Mom and dad would love her; she was just crazy enough to fit in. I did sense a bit of sadness under all that bravado though. I guess what those girls have been doing to her and her friend had really been getting to her, even though she tried to play it off.

  We compared notes and found that we had all of our classes together, which was a stroke of luck as far as I was concerned, and by lunch period we were all but attached at the hip.

  “I wonder where that girl is?”

  “Who your friend, maybe she called out sick, did you call her?”

  “Great idea, why didn’t I think of that? Maybe because it’s against school rules to have your phone turned on inside these walls?” I couldn’t believe it when she smacked me. It was just like my friend Jessica would’ve done.

  Just then Jared came over with one of his new teammates and sat down across from us. Belle made a sound somewhere between a screech and a groan and I looked at her questioningly. She just shook her head and chugged her water like she was dying of thirst.

  “Hey sis this is Shane he’s the star running back for the team. Shane my sister Sian.” I shook his friend’s hand but noticed Jared was staring at Belle.

  “Hi Shane pleased to meet you, Jared this is my friend Belle, Belle my brother Jared or as you so quaintly referred to him this morning the new…hmm mpppm huuuuh.” The rest of my statement got lost behind the hand she used to cover my mouth while stomping my foot under the table.

  Jared gave us a strange look and stole my apple off my tray. “So how was it so far sis? you seem to be doing okay.” I smiled and told him that I was and the conversation turned to his day so far and of course football practice.

  Belle I noticed, was suddenly uncharacteristically quiet and kept her head down but her face was red as fire.

  “So Belle what happened to your friend, she was supposed to help me this afternoon with the calculus but she was a no show.”

  “I don’t know Shane I haven’t seen her either. Weren’t you two supposed to get together yesterday before school started to hammer out a schedule?”

  “We were but something came up and I had to bail. I hope she doesn’t flake out on me I really need to pass that class or coach is going to bench me.”

  “I’m sure she has a good reason.” She looked around as if searching for her friend with a worried look creasing her brow.

  Across the way there was a group of very unhappy cheerleader types. I caught the glares and the upturned noses, but decided to keep it cool since I was going to be trying out for the squad later and didn’t feel like dealing with the drama.

  I’ve been cheering since middle school and never had a problem making the squad, but I know how these things work. There’s a hierarchy that rivals the royal houses of Europe when it comes to this stuff, but I’ve never been one to follow the crowd.

  From everything Belle had shared, I kinda got the idea that she and her friend weren’t very well accepted by the ‘it’ crowd.

  Understanding that, I knew there was going to be some flack heading my way because I’ve already made up my mind that this chick and me were going to be pals. If they don’t like it they can stuff it.

  Hopefully the coach here is as cool as my last one and doesn’t put up with that kind of mess, but we’ll see. If they give me any shit I’ll just set Veronica and Jackson Claiborne on their ass, mom can be a beast when it comes to us kids.

  I have to get out of this new habit of wanting my mommy, damn, I haven’t been that way since kindergarten and it was beginning to tick me off.

  I don’t think I’m intimidated per se, but I do feel a little out of my depth, which is so not like me. I hadn’t even checked out any of the guys they had on offer.

  Now that I can date you would think that would be the first thing on the agenda, but so far none of them had peaked my interest.

  Shane wasn’t bad looking with his broad shoulders and windblown blonde locks, but I wasn’t feeling him. Oh well, it was only the first day there’s time enough for that later.

  My brother was acting kind of strange and I kept giving him the look, but he ignored me and carried on talking to his friend.

  Pretty soon more of their teammates showed up and joined us, and I thought Belle was going to shit herself.

  A couple of the other girls got up and came over to our table, all smiles and sashaying hips.

  One of them draped herself over the Shane guy, while the other two honed in on my brother. It was as if Belle and I weren’t even there.

  Oh I know this game, juvenile. I was becoming less and less unsure of myself.

  I thought for sure these Hollywood types would have a whole new play, but idiots were idiots no matter their zip code it seemed.

  “So boys, aren’t you going to introduce us to your new friend?” This from queen bitch as Belle had dubbed her.

  Up close I have to admit she’s a knockout. Blonde hair a few shades lighter than mine, though that could be a bottle job, and innocent baby blue eyes.

  Her body was centerfold ready, and I only had one moment of cattiness when I questioned the originality of her chest.

  She dripped designer wear from her Gucci flats to her diamond studs. But beyond that there was something missing in her eyes.

  “Girls this is Sian, you already know Belle.” Shane made the introductions while his new playmate tried to involve him in a game of tonsil hockey.

  He wasn’t looking too interested and that earned me a scathing look. Whatever.

  This one, whose name turned out to be Liz Summers, was a raven-haired beauty with amazing brown eyes, that’s where the differences between her and Mandy ended.

  She had the same brand everything on as the other girl, and I was really beginning to think they shared the same plastic surgeon.

  “Sian, cute name, so, are you planning on trying out for the squad?” Mandy sized me up and I guess found me lacking in some way, if the flare of her nostrils was any indication.

  “I am.” I noticed that she totally ignored Belle as she spoke and went so far as to place her body between us like the other girl wasn’t there.

  “Why don’t you come on over to our table? We were just d
iscussing some new routines.”

  I looked at Belle who looked like she was dying to say something but held her tongue. I knew what was going on here and I’m sure she did as well; too bad for Mandy that I wasn’t that easily led.

  I might still be working on getting my bearings here, but there was no way I was going to do anything out of the norm. Might as well make my stand starting now.

  “That’s okay I like this one, besides Belle and I were talking about something.” I dismissed her and turned back to Belle.

  “I think we should go call your friend before class starts back.” I got up from the table and pulled her up with me.

  Jared gave her the once over and went back to talking with his friends, with the two limpets still hanging all over him.

  I heard the name Jace again as we walked away but didn’t pay it too much mind, just another mindless jock no doubt.

  “Ooh you’ve done it now, they’re not gonna let you play with their toys. Look, all kidding aside, I like you; you’re the first person since first grade that I can actually say that about, so I’ve got to tell you.

  This, what you just did, is social suicide. If you haven’t noticed I don’t exactly fit in with that crowd and not to sound bitchy or anything but you do.

  By that I mean I bet you were part of the in crowd back where you came from, so you know how these things work.

  I appreciate what you’re trying to do and all, but you’re not doing yourself any favors, just thought I’d let you know.”

  “You done?” at her nod I turned and continued walking, “let’s go call Tammy I can’t wait to meet her. If she’s been putting up with your crazy ass since the first grade she must be something.”

  “Hey watch who you call crazy around here, these freaks take that stuff seriously. Half of them are always hopped up on something.”

  I pushed my arm through hers and we laughed our way outside to call her friend and see what was up.