Vendetta: From Victim to Victor

By Shelby Cooper

Natalie was brutally attacked and held captive for five weeks, yet no one believes her, and she is sent away to a psychiatric hospital to help her with her emotional and mental health. The guys that assaulted her think they got away with it… but what happens when she comes back, stronger than ever, and out for revenge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781543499452

Book preview

1

Fitting In

I don’t remember much of my childhood, but I know that my childhood was good. It wasn’t extraordinary or terrible. It was just… average. The thing I do remember about my childhood is that I was always alone; not literally. I had a very loving mother whom I was very close with, but I never had a best friend until I was twelve. Holly Osborne was like the shiny new toy when she first arrived at school. Holly was someone who attracted attention from the very moment she came into our school. It’s like people were drawn to her—everything about her. Her explosive personality, the wild stories she came up with, true or not… and above all her willingness to do anything for a good time... When Holly became my best friend, I was instantly thrown into the spotlight right alongside her. And I would be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy it a li ttle.

Holly was beautiful from the start. With long beautiful vibrant shiny red hair, big bright blue doe eyes, smooth porcelain skin and endless legs. Holly looked like the model version of the little mermaid, and she always knew how to grab a boy’s attention—and not just boys. From her lilting little giggle, to her perfectly applied makeup and even her perfume choices. But she especially knew how to grab the attention of a guy with her wardrobe choice. Holly somehow knew how to dress provocatively, while just barely adhering to the dress code. She would wear the tightest of jeans to showcase her long legs… among other things. Or sometimes she would choose to dress herself in a shirt that would accentuate the curve of her waist and the fullness of her breasts. That was how Holly was, always enticing, always ahead of the crowd… and always the center of attention.

I was not as lucky because good looks were not a virtue that I possessed when I was younger. Which was odd, considering the way that my parents looked. My mother, Vicki, was petite like me with the same dark caramel blonde hair that I had. Unlike mine, hers curled in tight ringlets. She had beautiful jade green eyes and, like me, a heart- shaped face. Even though I don’t remember my dad, my mom always showed me pictures and told me how charming and handsome he was... and she wasn’t wrong. Tony Moretti was tall and fit; he had dark wavy hair, an olive skin tone which I inherited from him, and hazel eyes—which I also inherited. My dad was from Italy and he and my mom fell in love when she was visiting with her senior high school class. They were married in Italy and then they moved here to Pennsylvania and had me. Both of my parents were attractive people, but I was an awkward looking child until my freshman year of high school. My long loose waves of dark caramel blonde hair, combined with my dark hazel almond shaped eyes, that were once too big for my face, finally looked right on me. I never grew to be taller than five feet and I barely weighed above one hundred pounds. I had finally caught up to Holly, in terms of looks, and suddenly… the guys were looking at me the same way they had always looked at Holly. It made me feel good. It gave me a sense of confidence that I had been lacking when I was a kid.

Natalie Moretti! What are you doing tonight? Caleb Willis, the best player of our high school basketball team, asks with enthusiasm as he sits down beside me.

Caleb was tall and muscular. He was tan, had shaggy black hair and dark brown—almost black—eyes. Caleb had a face full of piercings; he had his septum and left eyebrow pierced, as well as a snakebite piercing. And he always smelled like cigarette smoke. Despite his appearance, Caleb was one of the most intelligent people in our senior class. He, along with two other boys, David Jonas, and James Leland, were all three the pride and joy of our school. James and David had won most of the football games and the three of them were all on track to receive huge scholarships to big universities.

Um, I don’t know. Why? I ask, flipping my caramel blonde curls a little so that my rose scented perfume would waft into his face.

A knowing smile pulls at Caleb’s lips as he leans in a little—the stench of stale cigarettes making its way into my nose—causing my body to recoil. Caleb wasn’t unattractive but he made my stomach knot up in a way that always made me a little nauseous and uneasy.

There’s a party tonight in Zach Reese’s barn. Everyone’s gonna be there. Can I count on seeing you and Holly there? He asks as if he already knew the answer.

I open my mouth to answer when Holly suddenly pops up beside me and leans over my shoulder. Of course, we’ll be there! Holly interjects as she flashes Caleb her dazzling smile.

Good, I’m looking forward to it. Caleb says, giving me a wink and my shoulder a light squeeze before he leaves.

There’s that uneasy feeling again…

I turn to Holly. "Do I need to introduce you to the word no?" I ask, raising my eyebrows at her.

"No." She says with a smile and popping a crunchy baby carrot into her mouth, somehow managing to not smear her perfectly applied red lip-gloss.

I roll my eyes. "Holly I go with you to every party we get invited to; I don’t think I’m up to it tonight."

I’m not going to let you stay home all night looking through old scrapbooks and being sad. Holly says.

It’s been thirteen years today since my father died; and twelve years since my mother and I moved from Brookhaven to this small town in the countryside of Pennsylvania. I missed my dad, even though I never really knew him. I felt like I knew him, from all the stories my mom told me. She never talks about how he died though. I used to wonder about it all of the time whenever I was younger; but I didn’t get the courage to ask her about it until I was around the age of nine. When I asked her, she got this look on her face that I never quite understood. A look that almost took her breath away and made her eyes grow wide and instantly glossy with tears. In her eyes it was as if I could see the memories that flashed through her mind; all the moments she had with my dad, and the love that they shared. She told me that it was something that I could never understand until much later in life; and that was the story she stuck with, every single time I asked.

Fine, I’ll go with you to the party tonight. Just promise me you won’t get wasted this time! I practically beg.

Holly just laughs; meaning that her answer to me was most likely a no. She hugs me tight and we head to our next class together. But I got this odd feeling in the pit of stomach… like I should stay home tonight. Like I shouldn’t even go to the party. Almost like if I went to the party tonight… that it would somehow change the course of my life. But that was crazy. It’s just a party, nothing crazy like that could happen.

2

Party of A Lifetime

A s the day continued, I couldn’t stop thinking about this party. And it wasn’t the kind of consistent thinking that was good or stemmed from a place of excitement. It wasn’t like I was thinking about what I was going to wear—I already knew that. There was a short navy-blue dress that I had found a few days ago when me and Holly went shopping and I hadn’t worn it yet. But my mind kept wondering back to the party this evening. I couldn’t figure out what was bothering me so much about this particular party. I had been to tons of parties with Holly, all upon her request. Holly always got drunk and needed me to drive her home—usually to my house so that her parents never knew how truly wasted she got—when the party was over. I felt like it was my duty as her best friend to also act as her babysitter when we were at parties. There was no way that I would ever in a million years be able to forgive myself if I didn’t go with her to a party and something ended up happening to her. Surely that would earn me the award of worst friend in the history of worst friends. But it’s not like I always dreaded going to the parties with her; I always had fun. Flirting and dancing with guys but, I never let them take me anywhere. I finish putting my books in my locker and close it. As soon as the door closes, David is there leaning against the locker beside mine.

I gasp and jump a bit. You scared me David! I say with a smile.

David flashes me his award-winning smile. David was a few inches shorter than Caleb, but still much taller than me. He had muscular arms, broad shoulders, and a crooked grin. David had messy brown hair with sideburns and big baby-blue eyes. Unlike Caleb, David didn’t completely give my stomach those nervous knots. I knew David, almost as long as I had known Holly—we were never as close as me and Holly—but I still considered him a friend.

So, are you coming to the party tonight? David asks, flashing his crooked grin at me.

I sigh and smile. Yes. Why are you guys so insistent on me coming tonight?

David just smiles. "See you tonight.’’ He says, his eyes running up and down my body before he leaves.

Um, gross.

The party was far out in the country and when Holly and I got there, it was already crowded. The music was loud, some girls were passed out on guys’ laps and some girls were doing shots. Guys were in clusters as they watched some of the girls, occasionally leaning over to whisper something to one of their friends. After about an hour, Holly had disappeared, and I hadn’t seen David or Caleb. Which I thought was weird since they were so persistent on me being here. I finally get tired of being bumped into and having drinks sloshed on me. My hair had a few damp tangles that stunk of boos, so I decide to go get some fresh air.

Hey pretty lady, what are you doing out here all by yourself? James asks.

James was pale and had short sandy blonde hair. His eyes were slender and a dark shade of blue. I didn’t know James; I knew of him. Out of him, David, and Caleb… I knew him the least, but I knew that the three of them were best friends. Like Caleb, James made shivers run down my spine and my stomach tie up in nervous knots. The kind of knots that should have been considered a warning sign…

I’m just getting some fresh air. It’s kinda stuffy in there with all those people. I say, looking up at the night sky and all of the sparkling stars.

Pretty girl like you Nats, probably shouldn’t be out here all alone... someone could easily just snatch you up. James says, coming closer to my side.

I give him a side glance. I’m not alone, I let out a nervous laugh. You’re here. I say, hitting him on his chest lightly with the back of