#Review ~ Bully (Fall Away #1) by Penelope Douglas

My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all.

We're neighbors, and once, we were best friends. But then, one summer, he turned on me and has made it his mission to screw up my life at every opportunity. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to hide from him. I worried about what was around every corner and behind every door.

So I left.

I spent a year studying abroad and bathed in the freedom of life without Jared. Now I'm back to finish up high school and get the hell out of here forever. I'm hoping that after a year of breathing room, he's moved on and forgotten all about me.

But even if he hasn't changed, I have. I'm not interested in avoiding him or turning the other cheek anymore. We're going to go head to head, because neither of us wants to back down.

 

4.5 Angst-filled Stars

Yesterday lasts forever.

Tomorrow comes never.

Until you.

Whew! I wanted angst, I got angst. If you’re in the mood to get pissed off, look no further cuz this story made me unbelievably furious. So why the high ratings? Well that’s easy: Because it pissed me off. I love stories that make me feel; even if it’s anger.

There had to be a reason for why Jared acted the way he did. I’d wracked my brain a thousand times trying to figure it out. He was cold to most people, but he was downright cruel to me.

Why me?

The biggest questions that will have you turning the pages -

What the fuck happened to Jared and Tate’s friendship?

Why does Jared hate Tate so much?

Jared & Tate were the closest of friends before high school. He was there for her when her mother passed away. They were simply inseparable, but something happened before their freshman year in high school started. Jared became Tate’s worst nightmare. Gone was their close friendship, the affection, and the love. Jared became Tate’s tormentor, her bully.

“I’ll have you in tears in no time.” His tone was calm and decisive. I believed every word.

Taking a long breath, my eyes narrowed at him. “You’ve already made me cry countless times.” I raised my middle finger to him slowly, and asked, “Do you know what this is?” I took my middle finger and patted the corner of my eye with it. “It’s me, wiping away the last tear you’ll ever get.”

For three years, Jared to lived to make Tate’s life miserable. From the constant pranks, teasing and even as going as far as spreading terrible rumors to keep guys from asking her out. Tate hardly had any sort of a social life those years, only having her best friend KC at her side. But then Tate went away the summer before her Senior year. That’s when things started to shift.

Isn’t it time you fought back?

After returning from abroad, Tate had enough. She was not going to let Jared ruin her last year. She came back swinging, and Jared…well, he was caught off guard. He didn’t know how to deal with this new Tate. Every time Tate fought back, it cracked something within Jared. How much longer can he keep up this charade? Because deep down, we all knew he still loved Tate. He just had to get through the fuckedupness that was consuming his head.

“You were my tempest, mu thunder cloud, my tree in the downpour. I loved all of those things, and I loved you. But now? You’re a fucking drought. I thought that all the assholes drove German cars, but it turns out that pricks in Mustangs can still leave scars.”

OMG. This story had me fuming most of the time, but those times when Tate went head-to-head with Jared were my favorite parts. This girl had some serious cojones! There were several fist pumping moments. However, when we finally got to know the reason behind Jared’s behavior, I was kinda like…What?! That’s it?! I don’t know. It didn’t seem to add up. I mean, seriously, the stuff he did to her warranted more of a reason. Aside from that, this book was great angst-filled read. I will definitely be checking out the next book, Until You, which is told in Jared’s POV. That should be interesting!