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  TRAFFICKED SERIES

  By: Taylor Ann Stone

  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Author disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause from this book.

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  Table of content

  Part 1

  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

  Part II

  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

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  Part 1

  CHAPTER 1

  A deline knelt on the slick hallway floors picking up her science textbook that laid in a pile of her other books and loose papers splayed all around her. A long, brown tendril of hair covered the sadness in her eyes as the humiliation burned into her cheeks. Students changing classes walked around her, kicking her papers as they passed by. She scrambled to retrieve them and remove the dirty black shoe prints.

  Monica, Lucy, and I rounded the corner heading to the cafeteria, and witnessed the event as it ended. I was embarrassed for Adeline and then angry. Janis Stapleton, Katie Becker, and Trishelle Ronan kept walking, snickering and laughing at the poor girl’s misfortune. High school humiliation could be brutal, especially as the victim of bullying. It had been a long time since I was bullied myself, but I never forgot the trauma.

  The incident replayed itself in my head and I saw Janis push Adeline out of her way knocking her backpack off her shoulder and dumping its contents on the ground. The trigger inside me that sensed injustice went off. What was happening to Adeline wasn’t fair. I remembered so clearly when I was her, standing there while other kids laughed and pointed. My empathy for Adeline grew almost as much as my rage for Janis. Adeline was a beautiful soul from what I knew about her. She was a quiet girl with long, red hair and freckles sprinkling the bridge of her nose. I never really saw her interact with many people and didn’t notice whether or not she had friends, but I knew she was smart. I got paired up with her once in biology and she helped me ace our midterm exam.

  I sped up until I reached Adeline, knelt down, and began picking up her books. “Here, let me help you.”

  She said nothing. I tried to make eye contact, but she kept her gaze lowered to the floor. A tear fell down her cheek as she nodded in silent appreciation, slowly gathering the rest of her papers. Her shoulders were slumped and defeated and the wrinkles in her scrunched brow indicated the emotional pain she was enduring was intense. All I could think about was Adeline going home today and having to tell her mom what happened to her again.

  Janis and her cronies were smirking and laughing as they walked off. Anger surged through my veins, pumping renewed hatred for her. The audacity of Janis to think she could push others around and get away with it just because she was considered the most popular girl in school. As last year’s homecoming queen and likely this year’s prom queen, she had an entitled attitude unparalleled in the history of stuck up, rich, popular cheerleaders.

  I looked up and glared at her as she walked down the hall away from me.

  “Don’t let her get you you, Adeline. She’s a miserable witch. I’m surprised she doesn’t park her broom in the senior parking lot.”

  She didn’t respond, instead, SHE picked up the last of her books, crammed them into her backpack, and wiped her face.

  Adeline was far too submissive to do anything about this. One look at her body language and it was obvious. She was resigned to believe that this was her lot in life, something she’d have to accept. It was sad to watch her so defeated. It looked like I was the one who's going to have to stand up to Janis. She'd ramped up her bullying lately and it had gotten out of hand. Somebody had to put a stop to it.

  I stood up, turned around to see her as she and her friends walked down the hall. “Hey Janis!”

  She stopped, turned around, and looked at me with a quizzical brow.

  Adeline grabbed my hand. “No, please. You’ll just make it worse.”

  Janis saw me and narrowed her eyes. She looked to her friends on the left and right of her then started walking toward me. Her posture and body language were confrontational. As far as any bystander could tell, I was stoic, my chin held high in defiance. She wasn’t going to get away with this. I waited for her to get within range of hearing me without having to shout at her. “I think you owe Adeline an apology.”

  Janis looked at her friends and then gave me a look that was curious to know if I was serious. I matched her look with one of my own that told her I was. Adeline stood there, her eyes bulging in terror.

  Janis and I had a long history that started in third grade when we were best friends. I was there for her when her parents divorced. Her father decided that holidays were better spent with his mistress and trips to Aspen while her mother got more plastic surgery and drowned her depression in Jack Daniels.

  Evan Keller was the only boy that Janis lived and died for in the seventh grade. She followed him around for weeks, hiding any time he would look in her direction. So she was heartbroken when Evan asked me to the Halloween dance instead of her. I turned him down but she didn't believe
me when I told her I had no interest in him. Then challenged me to a fight on the football field after school. The whole school showed up. I met her out there to try and talk her out of it, but when she tried to throw a punch, I used the combat techniques my father taught me to block it sending her face first on the cold concrete scabbing her elbows and knees. Since that day, we haven't spoken, adopting a “live and let live” philosophy.

  Janis was never alone, in fact, she always had Katie and Trishelle by her side, egging her on and applauding her behavior. Today was no different. I looked each of them in the eyes, “do you want some of what some of what she’s got coming?” I pointed to Janis, my intention was to put them both on the defensive and get them to back off so that I could square off with Janis alone. It worked. They saw how serious I was and shifted their gazes to the floor before retreating and walking down the hallway.

  Unfortunately, there are rich kids like Janis at this private school who prey on others for sport. They were cowards though, and I have no problem telling them exactly where they can go. They don’t intimidate me. I am well liked for my ability to like just about anyone I come into contact with, mostly because I stand up for others who can’t stand up for themselves. Janis and her mean girls make life miserable for everybody.

  Adeline had been Janis’ favorite victim from what I had witnessed. Mostly because she was quiet and didn't fight back. But bullies like Janis didn’t learn by their victims backing down from her.

  “What business is it of yours?” She sneered.

  An audience was growing and reminded me of junior high all over again. I didn’t particularly want an audience but it was too late now.

  “It’s everybody’s business, Janis. Kids are tired of your bullying.” I replied.

  She moved closer, entering into my personal space. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t bully anyone. I simply bumped into her by accident.” The corner of her mouth upturned in a feigned smile.

  In recent years, the term “bully” has been considered very taboo and anyone labeled a bully considered a horrible person. It was obvious Janis didn’t want to be labeled a bully, but she sure was behaving like one. I took a step toward her, closing the distance between us to show her I wasn’t afraid of her. “Maybe you should watch where you’re going from now on. Otherwise, it may not be too long before someone bumps into you.”

  I waited for her response. But instead of hitting or screaming at me, she backed down. It wasn’t the reaction I was expecting. She probably noticed that the crowd was growing and reminded her that history could very well repeat itself if she wasn’t careful. Janis turned around and headed down the hallway catching up to Katie and Trishelle. They turned the corner and were out of sight.

  The crowd gave a few laughs and dispersed. I took a deep breath and turned around and looked at Adeline. Her facial expression was stuck in a state of shock as her red hair draped over her left eye. “H-how did you do that?” She asked.

  “You should try it sometime. You might like it.” I winked and smiled. My first inclination was to give her advice about how to handle Janis or any other bully in the future, but I didn’t. She was so timid and mild mannered that I wasn’t sure that my advice would just go straight through her ears and out the other side.

  “I couldn’t.” Adeline protested.

  “Listen, they prey on your fear. If you give into them then they take it as weakness.” I argued.

  Adeline shrugged her shoulders, nodding her head in understanding.

  I sighed knowing nothing would change. There was nothing I could do if she wouldn’t stand up for herself. Still, was it worth the effort and frustration to try and convince her or just let her walk away?

  I decided that it was best to let her make her own decisions. Perhaps I’d invite her over to my house later in the week. Maybe by befriending her, it would pump up her confidence eventually.

  “Thank you, Marnie.” Adeline smiled.

  “Anytime.” I replied.

  She walked away. I watched her disappointed with her lack of conviction but determined to keep my optimism about the situation.

  “Hey girlie. You know you’re a badass, right?” Monica Brewster peeked her head around the corner.

  “Yeah, Janis had better watch her back. Did you see how fast she backed down from you?” Julie Plier stood next to Monica.

  “Thanks guys.” I smiled.

  “You know you’re the coolest person around these parts, right?” Monica smiled.

  “I know I have the coolest friends at least.” I said.

  It was nice of them to say, but I think if I were really that cool of a person then I would have found a way to get Adaline to stand up for herself. Sadly, it’s unlikely anything will change with Adeline. Logically, I know I can’t accept responsibility for Adeline on myself, but it was hard not to feel responsible for the innocent girl.

  “You’ve got to know that Adeline appreciated what you did for her, right?” Lucy asked me.

  “Yeah, I just wish she would have done it for herself,” I replied.

  Lucy interrupted. “There’s nothing any of us can do if she won't stand up for herself.”

  “I guess.” My face conveyed my disappointment. It was still worth the effort and frustration to stand up against Janis because I know that she's been taunting other kids around the school. It was time to give her a warning shot across the bow anyhow and let her know that her behavior was going to be tolerated much longer.

  “I’m starving,” Monica said. “Let’s head to lunch, okay?”

  I nodded my head and let Lucy and Monica lead the way. I figured I could use something to eat before math class.

  We passed by Janis again. This time she was in her little girl squad group giving us the side eye as we passed. I didn’t say anything to her but I gave her a look that let her know that today was not the day to push me.

  We made our way to the cafeteria, found our usual table, and sat down around it.

  I expected that Janis was going to try to get some sort of retaliation later in some underhanded way, but for right now I was just going to focus on my meatloaf.

  CHAPTER 2

  A ll the drama with Janice made me almost forget that I love coming to sixth period Math. Not because I enjoyed the subject matter. In fact, it was really boring and Mister Roberts was about the worst teacher. He had a low monotone voice that rarely rose above a quiet whisper making it nearly impossible not to fall asleep in his class. I often wondered if they sent these Math teachers to some conference and taught them how to be intentionally boring. Maybe there was a huge conspiracy with China to fail American students so we’d have no choice but to admit that China was far superior in arithmetic.

  Putting that aside, sixth period Math was when I got to see Dmitri Holin. Hands down the hottest guy at our school and a recent transfer student from Russia. His thick strong accent still echoed in my head from the first time he said hello. It’s the kind of accent that instantly has you in the middle of a spy movie starring as the sexy vixen in your own mind. Every morning I’d notice that his parents dropped him off at the front of the school. He’d step out of their Mercedes Benz in a black wool trench coat, slicked coal black hair and emerald green eyes burning into the soul of every girl who was within a five meter radius of his presence. I wasn’t immune to his great looks or mysterious attraction. I absolutely wanted him to notice me.

  He’d joined the swim team and I’d heard that he was really good. Kids were already talking about him. Without a doubt, Dmitri was the most eligible bachelor in our school.

  “Hey Marnie.” A voice from behind me radiated a little too much enthusiasm. When I turned around I noticed a familiar face. It was Alex Barnett. Captain of the football team, baseball team, and pretty much an all around jerk. He’d been trying to sleep with me since freshman year when he heard I was one of the last living virgins apparently.

  “What’s up, Alex.” I didn’t wait for his response. I walked into the c
lassroom fixing my eyes on Dmitri already sitting in his seat.

  I don’t know who in the heavens above put in a good word for me, but the fates had arranged for Dmitri’s assigned seat to be directly behind mine.

  “Uh, wait. You got a minute?” Alex followed behind me. Unfortunately, he was also in my math class and spent most of his time trying to get my attention.

  “Not really, Alex. Mr. Roberts doesn’t like us to be tardy.” Alex was about to say something else but thought better of it and instead found his seat.

  I walked toward Dmitri in my most sultry walk I could expect from my gangly legs and when I was at my seat, I gave a subtle hair flip and turned around, bending over just enough that my mini skirt hiked itself up to my mid hamstring right before sitting down.

  “My mom won’t be home for hours today. What do ya’ll say we take her credit card and go shopping?” Monica had a serious shopping addiction. It was all Lucy and I could do not to look at each other because we knew where this could go if we enabled her behavior.

  “Last time we went shopping, we ended up having to get after school jobs to pay back all the money you charged up.” Lucy accused. I just laughed.

  I tried to subtly turn my head around to see if Dmitri was looking at me and when I did I caught his piercing gaze. His eyes bore into mine and I suddenly felt very aware of how close in proximity we were to each other.

  Very few people knew much about him. I know because I asked almost everyone in the school. The only thing anyone knew was that he moved here from Russia because both of his parents worked at the embassy.

  I turned my attention back to the front of the class. Mr. Roberts had started talking and the room grew silent. I could feel the heat of his body blazing against my back and the sensation sent tingles throughout my entire body. Looking at him was almost pleasurably painful. It hurt so good. I’d never seen another guy in my life with black hair and green eyes. He was cool and aloof at the same time which only served to antagonize his mystery factor. Every girl in our school wanted him and I was no exception. However, I wasn’t about to throw myself at him. I had self-respect and standards. I knew that a guy like Dmitri wouldn’t waste his time on a girl who was easy to get. Why would he when he had any girl around to choose from the crowd?