3 Book High School Romance Bundle: A Kiss at Midnight & Prom King & Under My Skin

by Zara Rivas

  Unable to cope with all the thoughts and memories, Essa practically ran out of the house, sadness overwhelming her. She didn't know where she was going nor did she care. Her legs were walking to its own accord and before she knew it, she was standing at the front porch of Chris' house whilst swallowing hard at the lump that formed in her throat.

  Ringing the doorbell, Essa kept looking up at the ceiling to stop the tears, but as the door opened, crystal droplets had formed in her eyes. Staring at the figure standing before her, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed since it wasn't Chris. Using the back of her hand to wipe at her face, she sniffed before turning around to walk off.

  Creston saw the odd glimmer of tears in Essa's eyes which rendered him speechless. Recovering, instincts overtook him as he grabbed her arm before she had the chance to leave. Pulling her back around to face him, he could spot her tear-stained cheeks and he found himself tugging her into his arms. He felt her sob into his shoulder, her hands grasping his shirt, face buried in his chest.

  No words were exchanged between the two for there was no need for verbal communication. Creston had seen everything she felt in her eyes. There had been pain and a deep sadness whirling in those blue-green orbs of hers. Stroking Essa gently on the back in a soothing fashion, he held her in his arms as she cried it all out. He didn't know what happened to cause these tears, but he knew that it would have been something of great importance to her to upset her.

  Creston found himself lifting his head at the familiar voice of Chris. He had been so absorbed in comforting the small figure of Essa that he didn't hear Chris approach.

  "Ginger Ale?" Tynan breathed, observing as she lifted her head from Creston's shirt. "I-is everything okay?" He found himself asking, heart pounding in his chest as thoughts of tragedy and death entered his mind.

  Moving away from the warmth that Creston provided, Essa found herself being led into Chris' house. Once seated with a mug of warm tea clutched tightly in her hand, Essa found herself spilling out her heart, informing both Creston and Chris of the events that had occurred at her home. She didn't know how long she spent at Chris' house, but throughout the entire conversation she was aware of the words of reassurance coming from both males.

  Now that the three of them were resting quietly, the abrupt sound of the home phone ringing echoed loudly. Standing from his seat across from Essa, Tynan answered the phone. As he hung up, his eyes met Essa's gaze which were slightly swollen but her tears had ceased.

  "That was mum," he breathed. "She's taken your mum on a trip, and they won't be back until next week. It was sudden I know, but…"

  Essa nodded her head in understanding. Plastering a smile on her face, she got to her feet. "I should go," she said in what she hoped was a casual voice. "Thanks guys,"

  She looked at Chris briefly, though her eyes never met his as she started making her way to the door. Barely reaching the hallway, Chris was right on her heels.

  "No Ess, you're going to go home and pack some clothes, and then we're gonna come over to get you. You're staying with me till you're mum comes home,"

  Eyes shifting to the clock, Chris knew he was to make dinner tonight seeing as his mother wasn't around and no doubt his father was taking care of things at the family restaurant. Tugging Essa's arm, he shifted her so that her profile was towards him. Noticing that she refused to meet his gaze, he tilted her chin up.

  "It'll all be fine," he soothed and she hesitantly nodded her head. "Ess… Stay with us, I don't want you home alone."

  Hugging Chris, she gave him one last squeeze before stepping at arm's length away from him. "Give me thirty minutes,"

  "Take your time,"

  Turning to leave, Essa halted for a moment. She could see Creston seated silently on the sofa, inconspicuously staring and listening. He hadn't spoken a single word since she had entered the house, but now that she was heading back home to grab some clothes, she bit her lip in contemplation.

  As if he could read her thoughts, Creston found himself getting to his feet to stand before her as she glanced at him with a distant look in her eyes. In all honesty it had been awkward to sit and watch and hear Essa go into the details of something so personal, simply because he wasn't all that close to her. There were numerous times Creston had wanted to get up and leave, but he didn't want to ruin the moment so he sat there observing and listening.

  Now that it was his chance to leave, he felt obliged to stay just for a moment longer. Not knowing what to say and uncertain if he should speak, he brought a hand up and ran it through his hair in thought.

  Clearing his throat, he managed to look at her. "W-would you like some company while you pack?" He blurted out and watched as she stared at him with a thankful gaze before making her way out of Chris' house.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  Essa didn't know what to say to fill the silence between her and Creston, however her mind was spinning with various thoughts and it was comforting to have Creston there. They had been at her house for over half an hour and she had been busy packing some clothes, her PJ's as well as her toothbrush in a large bag.

  Now she was standing across from Creston's seated form over the kitchen counter, only able to stare at him in silence.

  "It will get better you know?" She heard Spencer's deep, smooth and in a sense soothing voice tell her.

  Lifting her head, she noticed that his usual stormy grey eyes were close to a murky blue as he stared at her solemnly. There was something about him today, something different in the way he spoke, the actions he made… Everything about him was just so sincere and Essa found herself appreciating his presence.

  Only able to pull her lips into a tight, faint smile, Essa nodded. "I wonder when," she breathed, eyes averting down to her hands that were resting atop the marble kitchen tabletop. "It's already hard enough not seeing my parents as frequently as I used to, but now having to choose between whom to live with… And not being able to just simply come home and enjoy a family dinner." She choked, feeling tears burning her eyes.

  Creston didn't know what to say to make her feel better, but in a sense he felt that he could relate to what she had just said. His mother had passed away when he was seven and he definitely understood what Essa meant with not having a parent around to talk to and not being able to have a proper family dinner…

  "He'll be around," he found himself saying. "If he really loves you, your father will be around no matter what."

  Essa glanced over at Creston as she lifted a heavy hand to wipe away the fresh tear that was trickling down her left cheek. Sniffing, she inhaled deeply, standing with her head held high and shoulders thrown back.

  "Ready to go?" She huffed and was rewarded with an encouraging smile from Creston as she led the way out of her house and back over to Tynan's.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  The next few days passed within a flash and Essa was grateful for the warmth and comfort that her friends had offered. She knew her dad had been home to retrieve a few items yesterday because she had returned home for a few things to find the wardrobe door to her parents' room open. An indescribable feeling coursed through her at the sight, and almost immediately she ran out of the room at the overwhelming emotion.

  Now that she had settled down and was alone for a short while, she wandered over to Chris' shelves located above his study table. Heterochromial eyes studied the many objects scattered over his shelves, beaming at the picture of him parading his bare bottom as he tried to elude his father in an attempt to escape a bath. Shaking her head, though a smile was still etched across her features, Essa could hear in the background Chris' shower running. Though the blonde had despised showers when he was young, he sure loved them nowadays.

  Selecting a thick novel from the shelf, Essa sat silently on Chris' bed. She had calmed down and had reached a balance in life, no longer feeling as shattered as she had five days ago and she knew it was due to the friends and family she had. S
he had so much to thank Chris and Creston for throughout her stay. The comfort they offered and their company had poured warmth through her. Essa was also grateful for her two female best friends.

  Sophia and Trish had taken her out for ice-cream and retail therapy and they had also crashed Chris' house a few times even though it felt slightly odd. Although retail therapy had left Essa's wallet completely empty, she knew that she'd make good use of the paints and various watercolours she purchased.

  "You're awfully quiet," she heard the familiar voice of Creston say as she lifted her head to look at the doorway.

  There standing in all his six feet glory - clad in dark blue jeans, and a nice white with vertical blue striped shirt - was Spencer. He looked fresh, but it was evident he didn't shave for there were short stubbles on his chin as well as his jaw line. He was ruggedly handsome.

  Smiling softly in response, Essa's attention wandered back down to the book she was unconsciously flipping. For the past few days the soccer captain before her had been great company and the thing that made her feel slightly uncomfortable was that she actually wanted him around. Throughout the week he had sat with her in silence; he had brought over DVDs and various board games to play with her, heck! Creston Spencer had even taken her on a supermarket spree, letting her buy all the food she wanted and she had appreciated it.

  Entering the room, Creston seated himself on the bed beside Essa's spread out form. He had received the biggest compliment from her today and it made him a little breathless. She had smiled a genuine smile at him instead of one of her forced smiles. Noticing that there was a slight glow to Essa's skin, he realised she was in better shape then she had been in days.

  "Not going out with the girls today?" He queried, falling onto his back, arms resting behind his head as he gazed up at Chris' ceiling that was covered with glow in the dark stars.

  Closing the book, Essa sat up so that she could see Creston's face. "Nope," she replied. "Thought I'd spend some quality time with Chris and you seeing as you guys need to be cheered up," she informed and spotted the evident smirk across Creston's features.

  Chuckling softly, Creston shook his head. "I don't need comfort," he stated. "It was just one game anyway, as long as the boys and I win the next match we should be fine."

  Able to hear the soft rumbling within the bathroom in the background, Essa knew it would be a few short moments before Chris came out. She knew that the blonde had been devastated that they had lost the soccer match on Wednesday; however she had been surprised when Creston smiled all the way through even though he had lost. In her opinion, Creston was the epitome of great sportsmanship.

  She had witnessed the way he shook his opponents hands to congratulate them. He had been graceful…

  Finding her voice, Essa felt the urge to thank the light brown haired figure before her. "Creston?" She whispered, and observed as he turned to face her. Sinking her teeth into her lower lip, she contemplated briefly before the words poured out. "Thanks,"

  Arching a brow, Spencer's lips quirked up in answer. "No probs sweetheart," he responded.

  Sitting with her spine straightened, Essa stared down at the stretched out figure. "You're off the hook this time, but call me that again and I will bash you,"

  "Alrighty then…sweet…heart…"

  Creston didn't see the pillow come flying at him; instead he felt it as it came in contact with his chest. Rolling off the bed, he got to his feet laughing all the while as the green-blue eyed girl chased him down the hall.

  Chapter Ten

  "Are you sure you're ready to go back?" Chris asked gently while staring intently at his childhood friend. "Ess you can stay here for a few more days if you want,"

  To Essa's ears, Tynan's words were so tempting. She wanted nothing more than to just run away from home and never have to face her problems forever. But being the realist that she was, Essa knew she couldn't run away forever.

  Standing silently with her head tilted downward, wavy black locks fell before her eyes as she brushed them away. Essa knew she couldn't stay at the Welling's residence anymore – she had been away from reality for long enough. A week had lapsed and although it had been seven days full of hurt and comfort, she knew she needed to go home and aid her mother in the healing process.

  "Ess…?" Chris whispered.

  Snapping back to reality and only just realising she had tuned out, Essa's attention trained back to the blonde. "No Chris, I'll be fine."

  Stretching his arms out, Chris stared at his best friend and waited with open arms. He observed as she stepped into his embrace.

  "I'll come by later tonight," he said gently into her ear and saw a brief smile tug at the corner of her lips as she turned to her front door.

  With her profile to the large wooden entrance that led into her double-story house, the slim figure of Essa sighed deeply. Shifting back around to find Chris still there gazing at her with those intense azure eyes, warmth entered her body. He was always there for her through the good and bad, and almost always he'd stay back just a little longer in means of encouragement.

  "You'll be fine Ginger Ale," she heard him say, and those were the last words that reverberated in her head as she made her way into the house.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  The quiet, contemplating form of Ava Evans was seated across from her husband at the kitchen table. She felt as though she had been through hell and back as she fought the now building tears forming behind her eyes. The past week had been a long one which had drained the life out of her, but miraculously she had managed to survive with the assistance of Elaine Welling. It had only been yesterday when she returned home, but the moment she was back, she had immediately set a meeting date with her soon-to-be ex-husband. There was nothing more Ava wanted than to get negotiations out of the way so she could start paving the road for a new life.

  Drinking deeply from her coffee mug, she spotted the silent figure of her youngest daughter standing in the doorway.

  "I want you to keep the house," Harold Evans whispered, studying his soon-to-be-ex-wife who had just snapped out of her little daze.

  A surge of guilt jolted through him as the events of a week ago rushed back through his mind. Seared into his head was the image of his wife standing before him trying to be strong at the news he had just revealed to her. In all honesty he never wanted to hurt her, but the regret he felt for having cheated and the fact that she ached whenever he pulled away at the affection she displayed had pushed him over the edge.

  Harold loved Ava too much to continue putting her through hell. She was a woman whom he respected, and a person that deserved so much more than him. Bracing himself for the argument that was to come, Harold observed as his wife sat rigidly.

  Averting her gaze back to her husband, Ava felt her resolve harden. She didn't want Harold to give her his part of the house out of pity. Shaking her head, her jaw tightened. "No," she voiced loudly, "The deal is 50-50."

  Tranquillity coursed through the kitchen as she noticed her soon to be ex-husband's eyes scanning her quietly.

  "Ava…" He drifted but knew her decision was final.

  Shaking her head firmly, Ava placed her mug onto the dark mahogany dining table. "No Harold," she breathed. "I don't need any pity. And I'll pay out your half of the house – I poured my heart and soul designing this place so I'm not giving it up. But I don't need you to give me the house out of charity."

  Rubbing a hand over his tired eyes, Harold could see the look of determination on his wife's features. She had always been strong headed and even now, even though he had done her wrong, she was still pining for 50-50 in assets and all that they owned.

  "It's not charity,"

  "Then you're doing it out of guilt," she shot back.

  Sighing, Harold felt as though another decade of his life was being drained out of him. "It's only fair Ava," he began to explain but she had cut him off before he could utter another syllable.

  "No Harold, giving me
your share of the house is far from making things equal between us." She informed curtly, her lips pursing tightly. It was funny how her emotions altered from hurt to pure anger within a flash.

  "Ava," Harold tried again. "I'm not trying to make things better between us by giving up my share of the house,"

  "Then stop talking about it and just settle for 50-50, that's the only way you'll convince me."

  Nodding his head in resignation, Harold's eyes scanned the figures of his two daughters huddled in the hallway. He hadn't spoken to them or seen them for the past week, and from the expressions etched across their features, he knew that they were furious with him.

  "And the kids?" He managed to inquire.

  Moving over to the kitchen counter, Erica studied her parents with those speculative dark blue eyes of hers. "I'm staying with mum," she informed her father, finality in her tone. "We're old enough to make the choice anyway,"