“You realize they don’t walk around with stacks of money falling out of their pockets, right?”
“I know,” I laugh. “What’s going on? Are you heading back to my place?”
“Nope, already there, and to my surprise, you’re not where I left you. Don’t tell me you’re at my place. It’s not like I can go there right now.”
“Chill out, Dude. Tully and I took Ari to the beach.”
“Are you planning on hanging out there for a bit or should I wait for you here?”
I glance across at Tully and from the way she’s laid back on the sand, soaking up the sun as she busily chats away to Spencer; I’d dare say we’ll be here or another few hours. Maybe I should apply a little more sunscreen to Aria. “Yeah, we’re sticking around for a bit.”
“Alright, I’ll head down now. See you in a bit.”
Noah ends the call and I drop the phone into my lap with a satisfied sigh before re-entering the world and joining Tully and Spencer’s conversation.
My patience is stretched thin while my excitement knows no bounds. I want Noah here already and I don’t want to wait. It’s only a few minutes. Can’t I have a little class about myself?
The time ticks by slowly and then finally, a tall, ripped body steps in beside me, hovering over me as he peers down at me. Noah’s shirt instantly comes tearing off before he drops down onto the sand beside me, grabbing me and pulling me into him.
“Stop,” I laugh as I tumble down into him.
Noah’s not having it and doesn’t stop until I’ve completely fallen into his chest and his lips are pressed against mine. “Are you having a good day?” he murmurs when he finally releases me.
“Great day,” I tell him. “but apparently, I have a big butt.”
Noah’s hand instantly comes down on my ass. “I’d say it’s pretty damn perfect to me.” I roll my eyes as he watches me. “What do you say? After this, we take Ari down to the fire station and she can talk to the firemen and check out the trucks while I talk to the chief and see if I can convince him to let me volunteer for a while.”
I smile down at him, loving how he’s so in tune with me. He cares for Ari just as much as I do, and I absolutely adore that about him. Other guys wouldn’t give a shit about their girlfriend’s little sister, but not Noah. He’s damn near perfect. “I think Ari would love that.”
He smiles up at me, proud of himself for making me happy. A shadow falls over him and as he goes to look up to see who’s standing above him, a bucket full of icy cold beach water is tipped over our heads. “You can’t catch me,” Aria howls before taking off like a bat out of hell.
That little she-devil. We won’t let her get away with that, not one tiny bit.
Chapter 4
I walk through the door of Miss Jamison’s classroom on Monday afternoon and groan. Detention again.
“Henley,” Miss Jamison says as she takes her seat at her desk. “We really must stop meeting like this.”
“Tell me about it,” I grumble.
“I’d hate to think what you did to land yourself in jail this time,” she grins, completely amused by just how often I tend to take a seat in her classroom during lunch.
I sense the eyes of the other students on me as I make my way to my seat; yet I can’t help the devilish grin that spreads wide over my face. I have a feeling Miss Jamison isn’t going to approve if I tell her how I may or may not have taken the fire extinguisher off the wall and redecorated Mr. Humphries classroom while attempting a surprise attack on Aiden. I mean, Aiden was as white as a ghost, but he sure found it funny. Mr. Humphries though…that’s a different story.
I hear a few snickers through the room telling me that my morning’s adventures have already spread like wildfire. I swear, whenever me, Tully, or Noah do anything around here, it’s taken as gospel and spoken about until we do something else.
I drop down into my seat and get comfortable before looking back up at Miss Jamison. “Trust me,” I tell her. “I don’t think you want to know, just maybe steer clear of Mr. Humphries. I wouldn’t want to tarnish the way all you teachers see me.”
“Oh, Henley,” she sighs, shaking her head in exasperation. “Why Mr. Humphries? You know he’s very heavy-handed with giving detentions.”
“I know,” I chuckle, picturing the way the white foam slathered all over Aiden and anyone standing in his general vicinity. “I think I deserved this one. It was a must. I had no choice.”
“I have a feeling that’s stretching the truth,” she murmurs. “But, doesn’t matter. Something tells me I’ll hear all about your antics by the time school is over for the day.”
“Something tells me you’re right.”
I give her a fond smile. I don’t know how it happened but over the past few months, Miss Jamison has become one of my favorite teachers. She seems to have a soft spot for me and unlike the rest, she doesn’t fear me. She’s been my homeroom teacher for years now, so if I haven’t been able to make an impression in that time, then something is seriously wrong with me.
I lounge back in my chair and slide my legs out as far as they’ll go before pulling out my history homework. I may as well get a start on it and save myself a little time when I get home. Besides, I was given an English essay that I’d like to get a start on. It’s not due for a few weeks but apparently, I’m not just a science nerd anymore. I’m a complete nerd who likes to hand in assignments before their due dates.
Ugh. What have I become?
The sound of the door opening has my eyes flicking up. Usually, they’d drop straight back down to my work, unbothered by who I share detention with. Only, the brunette with sun-kissed skin and green familiar eyes comes striding towards me with a grin.
Tully drops down in the chair beside me. “I had a feeling you’d be in here.”
I shake my head. “Dare I ask why you’re here?”
“Nothing special,” she murmurs, pulling out her work. “Just running my mouth while it should have been closed.”
“How am I not surprised?”
Tully scoffs. “What can I say?” she questions. “I like to talk.”
“Yeah, no shit,” I chuckle, trying to keep quiet, knowing Miss Jamison is bound to tell us to shut up at some point.
Tully rolls her eyes before stealing one of my pens and dropping her head to her work. I try to follow suit only her head pops right back up as she turns to look at me. “Have you seen Aiden?” she asks. “No one has seen him since you gave him a new look.”
“Did you check the locker room?” I wonder. “He probably headed in there to take a shower. I mean, I got him really fucking good.”
“Henley,” Miss Jamison warns. “Do I need to separate you two?”
I give her a tight smile. “No, we’re good.”
I turn back to my work and try to focus, but just like every time I attempt a little history, if even the smallest thing is on my mind, I have trouble concentrating.
My mind can’t stop wondering about Aiden. I hope he wasn’t upset with what I did. It was just a little prank; one that he would have done to me if I hadn’t thought of it first. I doubt he’d be cut up about it, in fact, he’s probably plotting his revenge already.
I just hope nothing has happened to him. I promise myself that the second we get out of this damn detention, we’ll go searching and I have a feeling Tully is promising herself the same very thing.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and for a short second, I wonder if it’s Aiden checking in. I pull it out and find a text from Noah.
Noah – I’m assuming your ass is in detention?
Henley – Yep.
Noah – And Tully?
Henley – You know I can’t do anything without her following along!
The second I hit send, a chuckle comes tearing out of me causing Tully to rip my phone out of my hand and read over my texts. She instantly starts hashing something into my phone, not allowing me to see the screen until it’s too late.
Henley – Did I ment
ion that I’m in love with Tully? I always thought she was the cooler twin. Hotter, smarter, clearly a shitload more awesome. In fact, I don’t even think you make the awesome scale, not even at the very bottom.
I shake my head as I read over the text and not a moment later, Tully’s phone vibrates against the table. We both look down at it with a grin.
Noah – Stay the fuck off Henley’s phone! And for the record, I’m not on the awesome scale because I tore through the top of that thing before I could even walk. Do you enjoy it down there? Living in my shadow?
Damn. That boy!
Tully narrows her eyes into slits and I give up as she starts responding. I don’t want to know. Maybe I was lucky to have a sibling who’s so much younger than me. I couldn’t stand having to deal with a brother always teasing and taunting me, though it’s not like Tully doesn’t dish it out herself.
I let the twins go and start hashing out a text to Aiden.
Henley – Where’s your big ass at? You better not be screwing some Ken doll in the darkroom! That’s mine and Noah’s place. You can have the supply closet in the back of the library!
I get no response and I impatiently wait for the end of detention, more desperate than ever to go searching the guy out. I mean, he’s the only gay guy in a town where it’s not so easily accepted. He can hold his own in a fight but if he was cornered by those dickheads on the football team without any backup…I don’t even want to begin to think about what could have happened to him.
Detention seems to drag on. I was more than happy to sit here earlier and focus on my homework, but not anymore. Why the hell did Tully have to come and make my head spin with endless possibilities? If anything, he’s probably at home, fast asleep, forgetting that he’s supposed to be somewhere.
When detention lets out, Tully and I practically barge our way through the door and I don’t doubt that either of us got any work done. “Should we check the locker rooms?” Tully questions.
“Yeah,” I say, “but I think we should check the cafeteria first. I mean, what if this is all in our heads and he’s eating lunch like every other day?”
“If that were the case, he would have replied to our texts.”
“Not if he’s perving on my boyfriend,” I grin. “He’d be too busy wiping the drool off his face.”
“Ugh, you know, I really don’t know what you guys see in that D-bag. He’s just a regular boy.”
I loop my arm through hers as I drag her towards the cafeteria, not bothering to stop by our lockers to ditch our things. After all, by the time we reach our lockers, find Aiden, and eat something, it’ll be time to head back to class. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. He’s so much more than a regular boy and you know it. You’re just too grossed out to admit that your brother is damn fine…and now with that piercing and the fact that’s he’s volunteering for the fire department… Mmmm, yeah. Damn fine.”
“Excuse me while I go and vomit.”
I laugh as we push our way through the double doors of the cafeteria and instantly start searching. Noah sits at our regular table with Jared Frazer and a few of the other guys who I haven’t bothered to get to know. As if sensing me here, his warm eyes turn my way with a pleased smile before it instantly drops away and his brows draw down.
I continue scanning the room as I see Noah out of the corner of my eye pushing up from the table before making his way to me and Tully. “What’s going on?” he asks, reaching us just as I begin searching the other side of the room and focus heavily on the football team. “We can’t find Aiden,” I tell him as Tully breaks away and starts heading towards Spencer. “Have you heard from him?”
“Nah, but I’m sure he’s fine. He’s a big boy.”
“I don’t know,” I tell him. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
Noah’s eyes search mine before his arm wraps around my waist. “Ok, we’ll go look for him.”
Tully returns a second later with Spencer in tow and before I know it, we’re all heading out the door, searching out the guy who’s impacted all our lives for the better.
We start for the locker room that the football team use and as we walk in, I can’t help but look around in disgust. This place is gross, nothing at all like I’d imagined in all my dirty dreams. Not to mention, it kind of stinks too.
Spencer walks around to the showers as Tully calls out his name after suggesting that someone could have stuffed him in a locker, making both Noah and I scoff. I mean, the guy is huge and packed with muscle. There’s no way in hell he’d fit in a locker, but Tully is determined to check anyway. Apparently, she believes the football team is quite imaginative when needing to stuff big things into small holes. I wouldn’t doubt her, she’s had more than enough practice with these guys.
The only things we find are a few questionable sex toys hidden in one of the guy’s lockers before deciding to move on. He’s not here. Next up, the junior lockers.
We make our way around the school, not finding him anywhere. Hell, Spencer even called his home just to double check, but he was nervous about worrying his mom so he didn’t say much.
As we walk across the oval to check the old bleachers, Noah’s phone starts going nuts in his pocket. He pulls it out and checks the message as I watch him. Usually, I wouldn’t give a shit who’s messaging him, but the irritated eye roll and huff that goes with it has me as curious as ever, not to mention the way he quickly disregards the texts and jams the phone back in his pocket.
“Who was that?” I ask, hoping he doesn’t think I’m trying to invade his privacy like one of those needy girlfriends who insists on being up in her man’s business.
He pulls the phone back out as Spencer checks behind the old bleachers. “Anton,” he murmurs quietly to keep the conversation our own. “He keeps texting. Won’t leave me the fuck alone.”
He hands me the phone and I look down at the text.
Anton – My patience is wearing thin, boy. This is the third job you’ve missed. Don’t fucking push me.
“He texted this morning,” Noah explains as I hand the phone back. “Wanted me to head into Broken Hill and collect a debt from some drug addict loser.”
“Broken Hill?” I question. “Why would you be collecting a debt from them? Don’t those guys usually just pay straight up for that shit?”
“Usually,” he says. “But not the ones who have been cut off from Mommy and Daddy in hopes of kicking their ice addiction.”
“Shit,” I say, wide-eyed.
“Uh-huh,” he tells me. “But I’m done. I won’t run at his beck and call anymore. He can find some other sorry loser to do his dirty work. Not after the bullshit he pulled on me.”
I slip my hand into his as Spencer returns shaking his head, bringing our conversation to a stop. “He’s not here either,” Spencer says with a hint of panic marring his tone.
“We’ll find him,” I promise. “He couldn’t have gone far.”
We start walking back up to the main part of the school when Noah nudges his sister. “How’s mom?” he questions. “Is she still angry? You know, doing that thing where she mutters under her breath, cursing me out all the time?”
“Uh-huh,” Tully says. “She’s hating on you big time.”
“So…maybe she’s not ready for me to come by?”
“Not in the slightest,” she murmurs, making Noah let out a heavy, heartbroken sigh that has me holding his hand a little tighter as I try to hold myself together for his sake, but seeing him hurting isn’t exactly easy. “You know it takes her forever to move on from things, and this…well, you’ve never done anything quite as bad as this.”
“You didn’t tell her about Lily, did you?”
“As if,” she mutters. “I’m all for watching you go down in flames when it comes to this bullshit, but I’m not going to be the one responsible for breaking her heart like that. You need to come clean. Tell her exactly what’s going on and why, so this doesn’t come back and hurt her again later.”
“How am I
supposed to do that when she won’t let me in to talk to her?”
“Time, Noah. Just give her a little time. She’s feeling betrayed that her son could do something like that and once she’s come to terms with that, you can tell her everything and show her how you’re making amends for all the shit you’ve done.”
Spencer looks back over his shoulder, taking us all in as we follow behind him. “Do I even want to know what you guys are talking about?”
“Trust me,” Tully chuckles, hurrying to catch up to him. “You want to stay far away from this shit.”
“You ok?” I ask him as we make our way back inside the school, only this time coming from the opposite direction.
“Yeah, just sucks,” he tells me. “It’s bad enough when mom is pissed that I stayed out too late without calling or when I come home with a new tattoo, but this is so much worse than that.”
“She’ll come around,” I promise him, feeling as though those few words have become my motto ever since this whole thing started.
“Let’s hope so,” he tells me moments before he and Spencer break off to the left to search the boys’ bathroom while Tully and I go to the right for the girls’.
We come out moments later and meet the boys exactly where we left them before continuing up the hall. Noah breaks off again to whip open the door of the disabled bathroom before howling laughter takes over him.
We all stop to work out what the hell is going on when I creep up to the bathroom door and peek in.
I find Aiden sitting on the floor, butt naked with one hand covering his junk and the other handcuffed to the metal railing by the toilet. “About fucking time you bitches showed up,” Aiden yells while huffing and puffing at the way all four of us burst out into laughter.
Tully and I hurry in to save his stupid ass before I turn back to the boys. "Would you two quit laughing and go get this fucker some clothes?”
Undeniable: Haven Falls (Book 5) Page 4