Rules and Roses: Untouchable Book One

by Long, Heather

  I chuckled. Outside the library, we went our separate ways. Instead of reading the alt history books in AP Euro, Jake pulled out the first round of study cards and quizzed me. Then I hit him with mine. We were betting number of answers with M&Ms, I scored way more than he did the first round, but he damn near took all of mine in the second.

  Toward the end of the period, Jake glanced at the clock then at me. “You really want to date?”

  “Is that really so hard to believe?”

  “No,” he said slowly. “I wanted to ask you out freshman year. I did ask you out.”

  “When?”

  “Wow,” Jake mouthed the word, and then shook his head slowly. “You really don’t remember?”

  “No,” I said slowly. “We’ve been hanging out and doing things…” We had for years.

  “Yep. I asked you out to the movies, just you and me, and you laughed. Then teased me about picking on you. After that, the only time you went to movies was if it was all of us. Friend-zoned from the beginning.”

  Friend-zoned.

  “Jake, I didn’t—you never said you were asking me out, out.”

  “Didn’t think I had to,” he said.

  “But you’ve dated…”

  “Who?” Jake raised his eyebrows. “I go out with girls, sure. Sometimes they ask me, sometimes I ask them. But that’s pretty much go to a party, go to a movie, maybe make out, and then I’m on the phone with you. You’re the one I want to see every day.”

  Heat swamped the back of my neck.

  First Bubba.

  Now Jake?

  “So you want to date? I’m in. Just to be clear—I want to take you out, Frankie. You and me. If I get to make out with you? Even better.”

  The bell rang and he grinned.

  “And now we get to go discuss homework with the boys.” He stood up and grabbed my backpack. “Want me to carry this for you?”

  “I got it,” I said slowly, but he helped me put it on. As we left the classroom, though, he caught my hand and interlocked our fingers.

  The last time I held Jake’s hand was when they dragged me to a horror movie triple feature. At the time, I’d nearly broken his hand and ended up hiding under his jacket for most of the first and half of the second movie.

  I hated horror movies. Thankfully, they never made me see another one.

  “You’re holding my hand,” I told him.

  “Good,” Jake said. “You noticed.”

  He walked me all the way out the door to where my car was. I expected Coop to be there and probably Bubba—since he’d parked his bike next to my car. What I wasn’t prepared for was the rose sitting on top of my car or Coop and Bubba standing side-by-side and staring at it.

  Jake squeezed my hand, but he didn’t let me go as we walked toward them. Coop and Bubba weren’t the only ones staring. There were lots of kids going past and others pointing.

  Coop spotted us and held up his hands. “I didn’t do it.”

  “Neither did I,” Bubba said slowly. “Wish I had.” He glanced from me to where I was holding Jake’s hand then back up again before he eyed Jake. I didn’t have to look at Jake to see the smirk. Pulling free, I lifted the rose down. It was in a weighted vase—and it was a gorgeous lavender color. The vase was still cool, so it had just been put there and it smelled great.

  There was a note on the side of it and Jake took hold of the vase so I could pull the note off.

  “Is it from Frenchy?” Jake asked.

  “Mathieu,” I corrected him.

  “Whatever. Is it from him?”

  “I don’t know, I haven’t opened it yet.” Still the butterflies in my stomach were thrilled at the proposition. Someone had left me a rose.

  The note inside was typed.

  Lavender roses signify mystery, enchantment, and attraction at first sight. You enchanted me from the beginning. I hope you enjoy a little mystery. You deserve far more.

  That was it.

  “No one signed it,” Jake said before he glanced at me. Maybe it was from Mathieu. That was—incredibly sweet considering it was his birthday.

  I sniffed the rose and grinned. “I guess that’s the point of the mystery. I don’t know who sent it.”

  “Yeah,” Jake said slowly, and then looked over at Coop and Bubba. “It was here when you got here?”

  “Yep,” Coop said, and Bubba frowned. They all glanced around, but I didn’t. If Mathieu left it for me then he intended for me to just enjoy the rose itself and the mystery, so that was what I intended to do.

  Particularly with Jake standing right there and Bubba watching me so carefully. “We still going to get food and breakdown our study time?” I glanced at Coop, almost apologetically. “We still have to figure out our project.”

  “Yeah, but we’ll take care of it.”

  “Need a ride to your car?” I offered Jake and he nodded.

  Coop had to hold the rose for me while I drove. I carried it with me into the restaurant. I didn’t want it to wilt in the car. Surprisingly, Archie sat at our table, food and drinks waiting for us.

  “You losers are late…” Well, at least he looked fine and sounded fine. Maybe we’d avoided the mood. He flicked a look at the rose in my hand then at me. “Hey, Frankie, where’s the boy toy?”

  And maybe we hadn’t.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Boy Next Door

  For the most part, Archie made a few cutting remarks and then let it go. Jake didn’t try to hold my hand at the diner, nor did Bubba bring up homecoming. Coop seemed fine, better than fine. He was as relaxed, zen as ever, and I’d never been more thankful for his presence. Because, I couldn’t shake the awareness of the shift in our friendship and… I worried.

  They were fine, so I went with it. Tuesday I would head over to Bubba’s—he’d follow me home on the bike and I’d get a ride on his motorcycle. I was totally down for that then we’d work on calculus. Wheedling from the guys did not get them included, and I couldn’t say anything, but it was because Bubba wanted to work on his auditions. Wednesday and Thursday, I had to work while Jake and Bubba had football practice in the afternoon.

  When the subject of Friday came up, I pulled out my notes from class and gave Archie our assignment. “We’re going out still on Friday,” Archie reminded me. Before I could amend it to if we needed to, he pointed out, “We had to cut our dinner short Friday because we had to pick up Coop. Coop can get his own ride to the game.”

  Rather than object, Coop just shrugged, and I sighed. I debated arguing it but decided Archie and I could talk about it over dinner on Friday. “Fine,” I agreed. “But my treat this time.”

  Archie snorted. “We’ll figure it out. So, Frankie works Saturday—that leaves the party Saturday evening. You want one of us to pick you up since you have to work, and you’re probably going to be tired?”

  “I’ll be fine, I have to pick up Mathieu anyway.”

  “Cool,” Archie said. For the strangest moment, his reaction surprised me. “Can’t wait to meet him.” That just added to my surprise. Then we were back to Sunday, though Jake and Bubba hadn’t brought up meeting after the game on Friday and no one mentioned the movie on Sunday. But those weren’t studying, so it made sense. I only half-listened to the conversation after, the debates about assignments, colleges, and essays. We agreed to meet the following Monday for college prep as well as homework.

  “I like this,” Archie said as we were packing up. “The five of us. Every Monday. Make it a regular thing.”

  “Thought we already did,” Jake said. Outside, Jake followed Coop and me to the car and he opened my door. Quieter, he said, “History Buffs tonight?”

  “I could go for that.”

  “See you then,” he said, and Bubba shot me a wink as he slid on his bike. Only Archie didn’t seem to be in a rush to go, because he leaned against his car.

  After I slid my backpack into the car along with my rose—I wasn’t leaving it behind—and got the car started so the air conditioning
was running, I glanced at Coop. “Gimme a sec?”

  “No problem.”

  Shutting the door, I crossed over to Archie. He tracked my steps and canted his head at my approach.

  “Something wrong?” He raised his eyebrows and the hint of a lazy smile was closer to Archie than he’d been since we showed up.

  “Was going to ask you the same thing.” I studied him. “You okay?”

  “Never been better,” he exhaled the words, all breezy and loose. “How about you? How are you doing?”

  “Fine. Busy. But fine.”

  “You had a date and you’re just fine?” He frowned. “You need a better date.”

  “Rude.”

  “Eh,” he said with a shrug. “Sometimes.”

  “You know,” I told him. “You don’t have to pretend everything is always great.”

  “So I’ve been told.” He nodded toward my car. “You should go, you’re not supposed to lock kids or pets in hot cars.”

  Rolling my eyes, I backed away hands up. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Maybe,” he said. “Haven’t decided if I’m going to school yet.”

  “Archie…”

  “Go away, Frankie. I’ll bring you your coffee tomorrow.” With that, he circled his car and dropped into the driver’s seat. I was still standing next to mine when the Ferrari peeled out.

  Pulling out my phone, I sent him a text.

  I know I said some harsh things on Saturday, but you seemed okay on Sunday. If I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry. If something else is wrong, I’m here.

  I debated sending the message. He still hadn’t read my earlier ones. Then again, I ghosted them all summer, and I’d ignored their texts last night. Including ones asking me who was in my place…

  After a brief hesitation, I hit send.

  “Everything okay?” Coop asked as I put on my seatbelt.

  “Just worried about Archie,” I admitted. “Does he seem off to you?”

  “It’s Archie,” Coop shrugged. “He’s always a little off.”

  Well, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Still. “You know we didn’t figure out our project in there…” I’d brought it up, but Coop changed the subject.

  “I believe we should figure it out on our own, no big group thing. Saturday didn’t exactly go well…”

  “I don’t think that was our project’s fault.” It had been mine.

  “But I’d rather it was just you and me. You know, like it used to be. That’d be fun right?”

  “You know it used to be you, me, and Jake, right?” We met Bubba in middle school when Jake was overseas with his family. He clicked back in with us in junior high after they moved back. Archie came later, ninth grade.

  “Nope, it’s been you and me since Kindergarten. Jake didn’t show up until second grade, when he decided he was going to marry you, but I told him he was too late.”

  I burst out laughing as I pulled into our apartments. I’d forgotten all about that. “That’s right, ‘cause we got married during recess.” In the first month of kindergarten, Coop had been my lifeline. It helped that our moms traded off—mine would take us in the morning and Coop’s would get us in the afternoon. Then I would play at his place until my mom got home.

  “Right, so—like it used to be.”

  “In kindergarten.”

  As I parked, Coop grinned. “Exactly. So—let’s go drop off your rose, feed your cats, and then you can come hang out at my place until your mom gets home?”

  Climbing out of the car, I shrugged. “Or you can hang out with me. I have no idea when Mom is going to be home. You’ll just have to pay the cat gods with pets.”

  “I can do that,” Coop said with a grin. He waited for me to get my backpack on then handed me the rose. “You want to split dinner if your mom is late?”

  My mom would be late. I hadn’t spoken to her since before Mathieu came over the day before, and she hadn’t come home, not even late the night before.

  If I kept spending money on takeout, I’d be broke.

  “Why don’t I see what we have in the fridge? I can cook, and it might be better than going out.” I’d had a lot of fun fixing that dessert and, yes, part of that was the company. However, Coop was right. It had been the two of us, a lot, over the years. Even when he was an idiot.

  “Cool, want me to grab anything to bring over?”

  “Actually… I still have dessert.” It wouldn’t keep until the project was due, so I’d have to make another one. Sounds like a good excuse to invite Mathieu over again.

  Coop’s expression clouded briefly, but he passed over my rose and grinned. “Maybe not for long.”

  I gave him a light shove as I hugged the rose to me. It smelled great. “I’ll see you in a few. I’ll leave the backdoor unlocked.”

  “Got it,” he called, already jogging away.

  Inside, the cats were as loud as I expected. I carried the rose into my room and set it on my desk. The accompanying note I read again, then chuckled. Leaving my backpack on the bed, I got changed into lighter clothes—tank top and sleep shorts since I wasn’t going out again. Then I swung by the bathroom to clean the litter box, before running the sack out to the garbage can. I was jogging back as Coop rounded the corner, and he shook his head.

  “I would’ve taken it out for you.”

  “I’m a big girl.” The ground was hot, so I double-timed it to the door. Coop followed me inside. “Haven’t checked the fridge yet. Two more minutes.”

  Tiddles made his displeasure known as I scooted past him and Tabby streaked for the kitchen.

  Coop’s chuckle followed me as I slipped into the bathroom to wash my hands. “Awww, is Frankie being mean to the poor kitties? Frankie doesn’t love you anymore, but Coop is here, and I’m your favorite.”

  Laughing, I finished washing my hands and made it back to the kitchen in time to find Coop divvying up a can of food amongst the cats. “You’re a sucker.”

  “Yep, but they do like me best.” He bumped me on the way past. I gave him a shove in return and he grinned. “It’s definitely my charm and personality.”

  “And your talent with b.s.” I agreed as I pulled the fridge and freezer open. Our options were… “Salisbury Steak.” Oh yum. Mom remembered to pick up one of those for me.

  Coop made a gagging noise. “You’re the only person I know that likes them.”

  I shrugged. “They’re good and easy to fix. We’ve got—oh, Mom splurged.” I pulled out three boxes triumphantly: potato skins, chicken fingers, and mozzarella sticks. “I know I said I’d cook.”

  “Nope,” Coop said with a grin. “Sold.” He moved into the living room and toed off his shoes before leaning in the doorway as I got the tray set up with all the different options. They all needed to cook in the oven for about the same length of time.

  Oven on, I shoved the tray in and added about three extra minutes to the cook time for the preheat and twirled. “Touchdown.”

  Coop snorted. “That’s not how that works.”

  “Yeah, I know, and I still think I’m the only person in Texas who doesn’t care.”

  He chuckled. “Where do you want to do this?”

  I grabbed some sodas out of the fridge. “Bedroom is probably more comfortable, but we can also use the sofa—except… No table.”

  He winced. “Was your mom mad?”

  “She didn’t care,” I told him. He frowned as he took his soda, then pivoted to follow me back to my room.

  “She didn’t care?” Disbelief soaked each word. “We broke the table.”

  “She didn’t—how is your arm by the way?” I motioned to where he had the fat square Band-Aid on his right triceps.

  “It’s a scratch,” he said.

  He dropped his backpack on the floor. Once I sat on the bed, back to the headboard, he settled on it next to me. One of the perks of having a full-sized bed—we both fit.

  “I can’t believe she didn’t care,” he said, then took a swallow of the soda before setting it asi
de and stretching his legs.

  “Maybe it meant more to me than her.” She certainly had a lot of other things on her mind. Things I really didn’t want to think about. “So, for now at least, I don’t have to replace it, and we’re not exactly using the living room that much.”

  “I am sorry Frankie.”

  “I know,” I said bumping his shoulder. “It’s done.” Stretching out, I snagged my laptop and pulled it over to prop against my thighs. Opening it up, I tabbed us over into a fresh document and typed out our book title followed by lit project.

  We sat there staring at the screen absolutely silent and then Coop began to snicker and a giggle tore loose in me. “Yeah, we school good,” he joked. “I still think the escape room would have been fun.”

  “Too complicated,” I pointed out. “Not to mention if we try to find time to go to one now without everyone else…”

  “Yeah,” Coop said with a sigh. “Okay…thinking hats on. What can we do to convey the understanding of the story via pop culture that is creative and different?”

  Well, if I already had that answer, we wouldn’t be staring at a blank page. For now, I squinted at the wall. I had photos stuck in different places, a couple of posters, and a painting we’d done at one of those painting and wine places—we’d done it without the wine, but all five of us had gone and it had been a hysterical night.

  The painting was of a rain drenched Paris street focused on a coffee shop. There were only supposed to be two chairs at the table, but we’d each added more. Mine had five chairs, one for each of us. When had we done that? Summer between sophomore and junior year? Bubba had gotten his license first. It had been the first time we all piled in a car and went somewhere without our parents.

  So. Awesome.

  “Maybe we should work on essays,” Coop suggested and made a face. We’d been sitting there dead quiet for ten minutes. Laughing, I tabbed out of the document and over to Netflix. The oven timer would go off soon.

  “Find us something to watch with food and we’ll see if we come up with something while not thinking about it.” Some of the best solutions to my problems came when I focused on other things. “And no…”