ReCAP: Book 1.5 of the Something More series, A NORMAL Novella

By Danielle Pearl

Rory and Sam fell in love in NORMAL, and we all fell in love right along with them. Now see it all unfold through Sam's eyes, and learn just how the new girl with anxiety issues stole the heart of the gorgeous heartthrob, and turned his world upside down.

You already heard the story. The one of how Rory and I fell in love, supposedly, even if she couldn't handle it in the end. You know how it all went.

Or you think you do.

You only know her side. But I have my own point of view, and even Rory couldn't know my thoughts in those few months it took for her to go from being a stranger to my whole entire world.

Every moment is permanently ingrained in my memory. In my goddamned soul. From the moment I stumbled upon the girl panicking outside of calculus - the one with the tight little body, the angelic face, and the fierce attitude - to the night she abandoned me in Miami. It was the sum of those moments that changed me irrevocably.

Our story isn't over. I won't let it be. But this, this is what happened so far, the way I saw it.

I'm Cap. Or Sam, to Rory. And this is my story.

*ReCAP is Book 1.5 of the Something More series, and is NOT meant to be read as a standalone novella. If you have not read NORMAL yet, what are you waiting for?! It is not necessary to read ReCAP before reading OKAY, out February 2015!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danielle Pearl
• Release date: Dec 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311291691

Danielle Pearl

Danielle lives in New Jersey with her husband and two delicious little boys. She is a life-long book enthusiast and has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil. Normal is her debut novel.

Book preview

RECAP

A NORMAL novella

by Danielle Pearl

Copyright 2014 Danielle Pearl Smashwords Edition

Praise for Danielle Pearl and NORMAL

"Bound and riveted, readers will want to unveil the dark skeletons as a grappling strength simmers and beckons the heroes to keep on fighting. Pearl has written a thought-provoking and enjoyable story... Witty and heart-felt, Normal is a journey of self-reflection, a maze to personal fulfillment in the face of adversity, and a staggering road to recovery." – Sandra Lopez, Author of Esperanza & Beyond the Gardens

"Normal is the kind of book that opens your heart, examines its parts and then stomps all over it only to put it back together again, better than before. It’s feels overload!" – Young Adult Book Madness

I cried, I laughed, I bit my fingernails in anticipation. It was AMAZING!!! I loved this book so much I couldn’t put it down! – Trusty Page Turners

"This book is a gem. No. A masterpiece… The author does such a wonderful job crafting the story. The pacing was never too quick or too slow. The plot was smooth. The characters were easy to remember -and easy to love. I can't wait to see what more Danielle Pearl has in store for us." – Of Books & Book Thoughts

"Normal was a hard-hitting, dark, contemporary novel that touches upon some heavy and emotional themes. While it isn't an easy read, it's one that captures your interest and moves you. When I first started reading Normal, I didn't expect to not be able to put it down. The writing flowed well and each chapter made me want to read the next one, and then another after that." – Lost to Books 

"Rory, Sam and Cam's story is gritty, a little dark, beautifully heart-touching with a steamy hot romance. Danielle Pearl has written an amazing New Adult story with so many fantastic characters. Normal is one of those amazing books that will totally take you by surprise with its in-depth storyline and a beautiful, hot romance. I recommend Normal as a must, must read." - I Heart YA Books

"Wow, Normal was intense, gritty, dark, sad, uplifting, and heartbreaking all in one. This was a story rich in detail, and by the end I truly felt as if I lived in between the pages." – The Book Hookup

Copyright 2014 by Danielle Pearl

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owner.

All rights reserved.

Dedication

This one is for all of the incredible readers and bloggers who took a chance on an indie author. Your support has been invaluable and this book simply wouldn’t exist without it. I love you all.

Table Of Contents

Fine, Indeed

What’s Wrong With Me

You’re Mine

Stronger Than You Think

You’re The Problem

Nothing More Than Friends

As We’ve Always Been

Not Fooling Me

The Way Things Should Have Been

You With Him

No Such Thing

Still Your Best Friend

Epilogue

About The Author

Fine, Indeed.

I sit in my usual desk in the second row of Mr. Frank's calculus class, already bored out of my mind not ten minutes into it. Frank goes over formulas I mastered months ago, thank to Bits and her home-tutors. I scowl down at the homework I actually had to take the time to do last night, no less annoyed that Frank is going to screw with my GPA if I don't make up last semester's laziness by volunteering as a student-tutor. It's total bullshit. I know the course work, and score nearly perfectly on every test. He's on a goddamned power trip.

I raise my hand and he rolls his eyes.

Bathroom, I tell him, though really I'm just looking for an excuse to kill ten or so minutes of this boring as hell subject.

Mr. Frank scribbles his signature on a pass and tears it from the pad without ever pausing his lecture or looking away from the rest of the class.  

I jump out of my seat, grab it, and head out the door.

But there's someone in the usually empty hall. A girl. A girl crying against the lockers.

Shit.

I try to recognize her, but I don't. I let my gaze skate over her, trying to place her as a freshman or sophomore, but my eyes get stuck on her tight little ass.

I would have remembered that ass.

I mentally shake off my distraction - the girl is fucking crying and I'm checking out her ass. Part of me just wants to continue on my way to nowhere – I don't know this girl, after all – but something has changed in me since Bits had her incident, and I can't just walk away.

Uh, are you okay? I ask her. I realize she probably reminds me of Bits, back when she was still down all the time, and that's probably why I feel compelled to help her in some way.

She nods vaguely against the lockers, not even turning in my direction.

Well, that's new. I don't usually have trouble getting a girl to look at me. But her little nod isn't convincing, and I'm pretty sure she's just trying to get rid of me. It makes me even more determined to help.

You don't look okay. Can I get you something? Or someone? The nurse maybe? I offer.

I watch as she takes a deep breath, musters what is obviously false confidence, and turns toward me.

I'm really fine, I just needed a minute, she tells me, squaring her shoulders and stretching her lips into the fakest smile I've ever seen. And I've known Chelsea Printze since birth.

But despite the falseness of her smile, I find myself riveted by her lips. Full, pink, and not a drop of gloss or color on them. I feel a pull in my belly, and I recognize it immediately as attraction. I realize then that she hadn't been crying at all. She's practically gasping for breath, but her eyes are dry – she just seems really, really overwhelmed. Like she's about to panic or something.

I watch her in consternation. She is an enigma – overcome by something that has a sharp hold on her breath, but forcing a gripping strength despite herself.

She trembles as she finally takes a good look at me, but when she meets my eyes, there's a strange calm. And it doesn't just calm her, no, it also does something to me.

She is absolutely beautiful. Big, round, brown eyes. Long lashes, and not those fake ones all of the other girls wear these days. I'm pretty sure she isn't wearing an ounce of makeup. She's flushed with what I'm now pretty sure is anxiety.

She looks down to get something from her backpack, and her trembling gets worse. Something falls onto the floor and I automatically bend to retrieve it. It's a prescription pill bottle, and even though I'm aware of what an invasion of privacy it is, I can't help reading the label.

Aurora Pine, Alprazolam

I frown. I don't recognize the name of the medication, but I do recognize the family. The generic drug name closely enough resembles my mother's diazepam, which she used to take supposedly for anxiety, but really just to help her sleep. It confirms my assumption that this girl is in the midst of what could very well be a panic attack, and I hand her the bottle.

She opens it and heads for the water fountain down the hall. I follow her, watching as she pops a pill, takes a drink, and then leans back against the wall and closes her eyes.

I watch her, captivated, as her breathing slowly calms and regulates, and her trembling subsides.

Beautiful.

It's a strange thought to have, considering the circumstances, but it's all I can think nonetheless. I shake my head, admonishing myself for the earlier thought that she reminded me of Bits. She's nothing like my sister. This girl, this Aurora, is something else.

Here I am, trying to help, and she doesn't need a bit of it. Held down by panic or not, she can take care of herself, and I feel kind of useless. But I can't bring myself to retreat. I'm beyond intrigued by this strange, gorgeous, tough-girl I found in the hallway, and there's nothing I'm more interested in right now, certainly not calculus.

Better? I ask when she seems in control of herself.

Her eyes shoot open and she glares at me, as if she hadn't realized I'd followed her – as if maybe she would have preferred if I'd just gone away. It stings, and I'm not sure why. I don't even know her, and even if I did, since when do I care if some random girl wants me around or not? Honestly, I usually prefer it this way.

But it doesn't daunt me. If anything, it makes me more determined to figure this girl out.

Fine. Like I said, she replies, not bothering to hide her annoyance. It's almost amusing - that this girl I'd intended to help not only doesn't need it, but is staring at me with a look that says get lost.

For a moment I consider that maybe I should just back off - the girl nearly had a panic attack barely minutes ago, after all. But something tells me that she is fine. Even when she isn't. That this girl can handle anything.

Why don't I know you, Aurora? I ask. I sure as hell would have remembered seeing this girl around. There isn't a more attractive girl in the whole damned school. It's not just her tight little body – that sweet round ass, tiny waist, and long, slim legs. But that heart-shaped face – it's like I can't look away. Those lips and eyes, small, upturned nose, it's all just set perfectly – like the face of an angel.

The face of an angel?

I laugh inwardly, completely unable to recognize myself in my own thoughts.

Rory, she murmurs softly.

Rory. It fits her well. Aurora is a beautiful name. Unique – like her, but Rory just makes more sense somehow.

Wait… how do you know my name? A hint of fear has crept back into her tone, and it bugs me. I don't want her to fear me.

It was on your… I don't want to embarrass her by reminding her that I read the label of her medication, but I want to put her at ease even more. Um… bottle.

She looks down in shame, and that bugs me too. Fear and shame, two things this girl should never have to feel, especially not from me.

"So why don't I know you, Rory?"

I'm new, she breathes.

I'd figured as much – it's the only reasonable explanation. It must suck to have to start a new school in the middle of what must be her senior year, considering she was hyperventilating outside of my calculus class and this hallway only has senior classrooms.

I see. Well, welcome to Port Wood. I'm Sam. Sam Caplan. I inwardly cringe at how dorky I sound, how formal. I may as well pin a welcoming committee badge to my shirt and offer to be her student buddy or something.

Nice to meet you. But her voice is still barely a whisper, and she won't even look at me, and I worry that maybe she's still not feeling very well.

So, can I, like, walk you to the nurse or something? I offer, and her gaze snaps to mine, defensive and vaguely hostile.

No. Like I said, I'm fine. I just need to get to class. She turns away and I grin to myself. Fine, indeed. I make a mental note that the next time Rory seems scared or ashamed, there's one sure-fire way to morph her right back into the tough-girl who can take care of herself – offer her help.

Suddenly my best friend, Tucker Green, comes flying down the hall, even later than usual, which he announces crudely. I notice Rory's reaction to him, though, and it unsettles me. She backs up toward the wall, hunching over subtly, as if she's trying to make herself as small as possible.

Tucker notices her – how could he not – and he stops in front of us. "Well, hi there."

I see him rake her from head to toe with interest. I feel an irrational pang of jealousy. I don't even know this girl, and anyway, Tucker is all about Carl these days, whether he'll admit it or not. But Rory huddles even smaller, and wraps her arms around herself. My instincts tell me to protect her, even from a danger that doesn't exist, and they push me in front of her, guarding her from my best friend for absolutely no reason at all. But she's nervous and I want her to feel safe, even as I question why I'm so deeply concerned for a virtual stranger. Tuck obviously doesn't get it either, and he looks at me all confused.

Sorry, Tuck, we're late too, gotta get to class, I tell him, and then before I realize what I'm doing, I take Rory's hand and start leading her away.

Uh, okay. Catch you later, I guess, Tuck says as he continues back toward his economics class.

Rory yanks her hand back as soon as we're clear of Tuck, and I realize that I may have overstepped. Shit. Sorry, I murmur.

She shrugs.

He's harmless. Tuck. Tucker, I tell her. He's just a flirt. I don't want her afraid of me or my best friend, though I don't especially want Tucker anywhere close to her either.

Whatever. It's fine. I'm—

You're fine. I got it. I don't mean to interrupt her, but I don't want to hear her tell me she's fine again, to remind me that she doesn't need my help - that I'm useless to her.

But she

Reviews for ReCAP

[linan_23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this book and "Normal" novel have absolutely crushed my heart and I've only shed tears for 3 books, this being one of them. A must read! I promise no regrets. it's a beautiful and touching story of a survivor.