by Anna B. Doe
Andrew and I have been best friends since before we learned how to walk, or skate for the matter. We’ve been through everything together. Sometimes we feel more like brothers than just mere friends.
“Dude,” he gives me a big grin. “Don’t turn around, but miss big tits is at 12 o’clock and going straight in your direction.”
Then again, there are times like this when Drew opens his mouth and makes me question why I even bother with him. Most of the time he is so crude and doesn’t think twice before letting some shit out of his mouth.
“What the…” I start but don’t get a chance to finish. Soft hands wrap around my biceps and a sultry voice whispers in my ear, “Derek.”
It’s more like a moan, low, hushed and seducing.
I look down at her, not saying anything, barely containing rolling my eyes and sighing in distress.
“Diamond, it’s nice to see you too.” I know Drew is pissed from the edgy tone of his voice. He doesn’t like being ignored. And I always suspected he had a thing for Diamond, so the fact that she’s all over me pisses him off even more.
“Andrew,” she acknowledges him with a tilt of her head. “What are you two up to?”
“Going to class,” I tell her and take a step away from her, breaking contact from her clingy, grabby claws. “That’s what people do in school.”
Andrew laughs, which makes me roll my eyes at him. Where are we? In preschool again or something?
We start walking to our first class when those greedy hands grab onto mine again, her nails digging into my skin.
“What?” I ask, more likely growl, but my tolerance is pretty low as it is. I don’t have patience to deal with her. Now or ever.
Diamond Morgan is a pretty girl, I’ll give her that. Some may even say beautiful—curly blond hair, angel’s face with baby blues and a killer body with more than generous curves in all the right places—but I wouldn’t go that far. She’s too artificial for me, on the outside as well as on the inside. She most definitely isn’t the brightest girl in the world, which brings us here with her hand tightly wrapped around mine.
“We have the first class together, so you can take me.”
I grit my teeth and start walking faster without uttering a word.
We hooked up at the beginning of the summer on one of Andrew’s famous parties. We were both drunk off our asses, and I regretted it almost instantly. Now, weeks later, she’s still around, acting all girlfriendish, expecting dates, holding hands, and walking to classes together.
But I don’t do relationship. Everybody knows it.
I even made a point out of telling her exactly that before I left the bedroom without a second glance. However, as I’m starting to see, when Diamond Morgan gets something in her head nothing that you do or say can change her mind.
Soon enough we are in the classroom, Andrew and I sitting in the last row with other guys from the team, a small but safe distance from Diamond. We talk about hockey, practices, and the beginning of the season.
The bell rings and Mrs. Rayan, our homeroom teacher, walks into the classroom. Students lower their voices as she starts taking attendance.
She’s on letter H when the door opens. The silence is instant and utter.
I grip the edge of the desk with such force that my knuckles turn white.
There she is.
The one who hunts me.
The one I can’t get out of my head no matter what.
“Miss Campbell,” Mrs. Rayan says without giving her a second glance. “I’m glad you could join us. Go in and take a seat.”
Amelia just stands in the doorway, her long strawberry blond hair falling over her shoulder in waves and hiding her face. Small and invisible, that is all she wants to be. But it’s impossible. People notice her, turn around to take a second look, yet she doesn’t see it. She doesn’t see anything. Sometimes I wonder if there is some kind of shield surrounding her, impeding her to see anything outside of it, keeping her cloaked. Off limits.
Then I see them.
Hands on her hips.
Big, clearly male, hands.
My hands grip the desk even tighter, holding for dear life. “Goody-goody decided to pass to the dark side,” Drew’s mock whisper gets my attention. He’s as subtle as an elephant walking into a room.
From the corner of my eye, I see him leaning against his desk to have better look at me. His eyes narrowed. I see other people in class turning my way because they heard him. But the only thing I can concentrate on, the only thing I can see, is her.
It’s always been her.
She turns around and looks at the guy standing behind her through a shield of wavy strands of her hair. He lifts his hand as if he wants to move them away to see her better, but Amelia does it before he can. She is uncomfortable, tense.
He whispers something to her and she smiles. It is a smile that takes my breath away.
I haven’t seen her in so long. Just a few times over the summer, from distance, which doesn’t count for shit. We haven’t been this close since the school ended. It’s not something unexpected. During the summer we rarely see each other because we are not moving in the same circles. It’s like she vanishes during the summer months, and if I’m lucky enough I can get a glimpse of her, a shadow or maybe an illusion. Just a passing taste that I have to savor as long as I can until I see her next time. And now she is smiling at some random douchebag.
What the ever loving fuck?!
There is a bitter taste in my mouth, something that feels an awful lot like jealousy.
“Derek,” Andrew calls. Is this the first time or did he call me before while I was too stuck in my own mind to care? “You have to calm down. You look like you are about to snap.”
“I’m fine,” I manage to utter through gritted teeth.
I can’t say anything, can’t do anything. After everything that happened, I have no right.
I watch them enter the classroom. Amelia practically runs to her seat behind her best friend, who looks at her like she just grew another head. The guy, on the other hand, walks slowly behind her. Confident like he owns the place, he slowly looks around.
His eyes land on the girl sitting next to Brook. It’s the first time I see her. New students? And two of them, no less. I’m surprised I didn’t hear anything until now. News like that travels fast in our town. Greyford isn’t small per se, but people are tight knit and like to gossip.
Now that I’m paying attention I can see they look a lot alike—tall, dark hair and olive skin.
The girl looks at her wrist then at him. “You are late.” Her tone is disinterested, almost bored, but her eyes say completely different story.
“Mr. Sanders,” Mrs. Rayan interferes. “I’m happy that you found your way to school. Now if you don’t mind, take your seat and let me finish with my job.”
“Sure thing, Mrs. Rayan.” His voice is smooth, easygoing. “I’m sorry we are late, but our Amelia here had car trouble so I had to stop and help her out.”
I could bet he did. Dickhead.
Our Amelia. We’ll see about that, buddy. She’s not the kind of girl you share. Not just because she is not like that, but because only an idiot would be willing to share someone like her.
An idiot like you who let her get away.
“And here I thought you had an accident on that demon motorcycle of yours, Max. I was about to start calling cops.” I would think she’s worried if sarcasm doesn’t drip off her words.
“Don’t worry, sis.” He ruffles her shoulder-length hair as he passes to the only empty seat behind her, and next to Amelia. He winks at Amelia when he catches her staring which makes her blush and hide behind her hair again. I want to growl at him to stop it, but I don’t. “Big brother isn’t going anywhere.”
Mrs. Rayan sighs in defeat. “Everyone,” she calls to the classroom. “As you could notice by now,” she pointedly looks in direction of the little group in front, “we have some new students this year. These are Sanders twin
s, Maximilian and Jeanette who came all the way from California. Please, make them feel welcome.”
Yeah, right. And maybe the hell will freeze over.
Amelia
“Now,” Brook lowers her lunch tray just a little stronger than necessary, “will you tell me what the hell is going on?”
I bite into my lip and watch her sit opposite of me, taking a bite of her pizza. She is small, few inches shorter than me, and awfully thin. It worried me, it still does, but I don’t mention it, not after the incident she caused when I did it the first time a few years back. She isn’t actually avoiding food, not that I know of, but it worries me because I don’t know what is happening in her house. In all the years I’ve known her I’ve never been there and all I know is that she lives with her mother who isn’t much of a role model.
Her light brown hair is tied in a high ponytail, few shorter strands escaping and framing her oblong face. Jade green, deep-set eyes look at me from across the table and full pink lips are pursed, determinately waiting for my answer.
I sigh in defeat. I know Brook well enough—when she wants the answer she’ll get the answer, no matter how long she has to wait for it. She’s like a dog with a bone.
“You heard it, Brooks. The car started producing strange noises when we were on the phone. I pulled over and couldn’t do much to fix it, so when Max came I was desperate enough to let him check it out.”
“That doesn’t explain how you ended up on his demon motorcycle,” she emphasizes the last part. “Who, under the age of sixty, even uses word motorcycle anyway?”
I want to laugh, but I contain myself. This is typical Brook Taylor for you. Witty and sarcastic. But she’s like that only with me, she never talks to anyone. Not even teachers, just when they addressed her directly and she can’t get out of it. There are also times when she would get bored, or maybe she just loses reins over her control for a few seconds, and that sarcastic side gets out in the open.
“Actually, it would be educated, high class people,” a cold, composed answer comes from behind me. “But you wouldn’t know that, now would you?”
Turning around I come eye to eye with another pair of already familiar almond shaped, dark grey eyes.
“You don’t mind, Lia, right?” Max asks, sitting on my right without actually waiting for a response. “And don’t you mind this little gremlin over there. She is usually moody and all tough on the outside, but soft as a teddy bear on the inside.”
I look at my left where Jeanette sat down. I don’t know where that teddy bear Max is talking about is hiding, but it has to be really, really deep inside because all I can see is her cool, bitchy exterior.
There is also nothing little about her. She isn’t as tall as her twin, but she isn’t far behind either, towering over both me and Brook. And if you ignore her attitude, you can’t deny that Jeanette is really pretty, with olive skin and face similar to her brothers’ surrounded by dark brown locks that slightly pass her shoulders.
“Maybe we do mind,” Brook snaps, turning all the attention back to her. Her cheeks become slightly pink in embarrassment, but she doesn’t avert her eyes.
“Brook.” I calmly put my hand over hers on top of the table. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. We were talking.”
“Oh, great,” Jeanette murmurs sarcastically next to me. “Another one with issues.”
I glare at her, because really, what’s her problem?
Only good thing is that Brook has a staring contest with Max so she doesn’t hear his sister. Or maybe she does, but she simply doesn’t care.
“Keep going.” He waves his hand at us and pops few fries in his mouth. “Don’t you mind us.”
Brook leans over the table into Max. “Can’t really talk about it if the subject of our talk is right here, now can I?”
For a second I think I see his eyes widen in surprise, but then it’s gone, if it even was there in first place, and he swallows before giving her his killer bad–boy smile. “Now you really have to continue. I’m interested in what you have to say about me.”
Brook laughs, actually laughs, and leans back into her seat. “Who said anything about you?” she asks, a smirk still on her face. “We were talking about your sister. I had Chem with her. She may be bitchy but she is a genius. I guess what they say about twins is true, one gets good looks and the other is smart. But look on the good side pretty boy, you won’t need to look far for a tutor with her in the house.” Brook stands from her chair. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to take care of something.”
“What about lunch?” I call after her, worried about staying alone with those two.
“I’ll finish it on my way, mom,” she sasses over her shoulder. “See you later.”
Without another word she turns on her heels and walks away, leaving us looking at her retreating back.
“What the hell was that?” Max asks, still staring at the door.
“She is being a bitch.” Jeanette plays with her food, completely unaffected by what happened. “Maybe it’s PMS or something.”
“She is protective,” I defend her. Brook is my best friend, and although she wasn’t right in treating Max the way she did, I can’t let some miss–high–class talk bad about her. “And, she has… a temper.”
Jeanette rolls her eyes. “More like temper tantrum.”
“Then I guess you two will soon be best friends, Anette,” Max interferes, a wide grin on his lips. “You could use some.”
They stare at each other, daring one another to look away first. It seems like this is bigger than just this fight. Something runs deeper than that, and they are the only ones who understand the meaning behind Max’s words. In the end, Jeanette looks away first, continuing to play with her lunch quietly.
“So Lia, how does it feel to be a senior?”
“It feels like it will take an eternity for it to be over.” I cover my mouth with hands, but it’s too late. The words are already out. The good thing is that Max doesn’t seem to think much about it, he simply laughs, like it’s the funniest thing in the world.
However, there are other eyes on me, piercing into my profile. I can feel Jeanette’s wheels turning in that super smart brain of hers, if I’m to believe Brooks words. Soon, she averts her gaze, but she’s listening to our conversation. I simply know it.
“It has just begun.” Max snaps me out of my own thoughts. “Of course it seems like it’ll take an eternity, but before you know it we’ll walk across the stage to get our diplomas and move on with our lives.”
“Yeah,” I agree, although I’m serious. The end of the year can’t come soon enough. “Anyway, the bell will ring soon, and I have to go grab stuff for the last two classes.”
“I’m finished anyway, so…” Max stands.
“Oh please, leave the girl alone, Max,” his sister groans from her seat, rolling her eyes at him. “I think she can find her way safely to her locker.”
“Yeah, Jeanette is right,” I assure him, grabbing my stuff. “I’ll see you around.”
I leave the twins, quickly walking through the hallway, keeping to myself. Taking one deep breath, my thoughts turn to Max yet again. He has a way of getting things out of me, getting the truth out of me, and I’ve known him all of a few hours. Who knows what will get out of me if he stays in my life.
He doesn’t think much about my answers. I’m probably yet another girl who can’t wait long enough to leave for college and have a life away from family. If only it was that simple. Jeanette on the other hand… she heard it. She saw behind my words for what they were.
Reality.
Need to escape.
Need to run away and never come back.
Opening the locker, I start looking for the books I’ll need next when a hand connects with the closed locker on my other side, caging me in.
“What do you think you are doing?” he whispers. But it’s more like a growl. A very silent, very dangerous growl.
Nervous shivers run down
my back. And my heart starts kicking hard against my ribcage. I fight a need to shake the shivers away. Showing weakness is never good. Each weakness could be used against you.
“D-Derek,” I murmur painfully slowly. My voice is low and trembling, stuck in my throat. My eyes are looking straight ahead and my fingers curl around the edge of the biology book in my hands.
“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he whispers in my ear. He is so close to me that I can feel his hot breath on my skin, causing small hairs on the back of my neck to rise.
I swallow the lump in my throat before answering: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“New guy. What’s your deal with him?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” I repeat.
His fingers curl around my wrist and he turns me around to face him.
He is furious. I’ve seen him angry a few times, but this is a whole new level. He is gripping his jaw so strongly that I wouldn’t be surprised if the next time he opened his mouth teeth started to fall out. His eyes are narrowed and a darker shade of blue than normal. Derek returns the palm of his hand where it’s been in the first place, so that I can’t escape. Not that I would dare to try.
“Don’t play coy with me, Amelia. What does he want from you?”
“Maybe he simply likes me, ever thought of that?” The words are bitter and filled with anger. And for a second there I think I can see hurt in his sky blue eyes, but if it was there it is gone in the blink of an eye.
Derek’s fist connects with the locker, the sound echoing through the loud hallway. For a moment I forget where we are. When you are cornered between your locker and his tall, muscular frame it’s easy to forget that there is a world behind him, a world filled with people staring and wondering what is going on. A world filled with whispers, noisy people and nasty comments.
“You stay away from him.” His voice is stone cold, blue eyes turned to hard ice. Ice blue, like the ice he skates upon. Not that I ever saw him play, but I’ve heard people talk about it. They talk about him all the time. Like he owns this place. Which he does. The king of Greyford High, that’s Derek King.