by Simone Elise
Snapping my head over my shoulder, I narrowed my eyes at Andy, one of Jax’s minions.
“What?”
He flinched slightly from my tone, shaking his head, “Um, I was just um… you know… ummm….”
I gestured for him to hurry up and get to the point. “Spit it out Andy.”
“You know my name?” he gawked. “You know my name!”
“You just repeated yourself,” I said as I cocked my head to the side. “You knew my name. I didn’t make a big deal out of it.”
“Well, I… you...” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s different, “he said finally.
“Oook.” I arched an eyebrow at him, before turning back around.
See, this just proves my point. High school students are stupid. Well, apart from me and Jax.
A finger tapped me on my shoulder and I snapped my head around again.
“What?” I barked, my voice a deadly hiss. Could he not see I was unfriendly? Again, stupid.
“I wanted to ask you something?” Andy grinned at me like I wasn’t giving him daggers under my sunnies. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Anything, everything and something in between,” I replied.
“Well, what time will that finish, because there is a party tonight, you know, celebrating the win.”
“What win?”
“Our win! We beat the Sebastopol team last night and because the game was on a Thursday, we couldn’t party, so we’re partying tonight. You keen?” He grinned again and flicked his brown hair from his eyes.
“Keen for a party?” I questioned.
“Yeah.” His eyes lit up with hope.
“I don’t drink with infants.” I turned my back to him and took a few steps, catching back up with the line.
“Don’t bother Andy, Amber is a bitch like that,” Jax said behind my back, and I whipped around to face him.
“Excuse me?”
Jax crossed his arms, standing next to a disappointed Andy. I wished he would wipe that disappointment off his face. It was bugging me. It made me feel… guilty.
“I said you’re a bitch,” Jax said with ease, looking at me with a bored expression.
“I think we both know you’re the bitch in this relationship,” I scoffed, and then panicked as the words left my mouth.
Jax smirked at me like he had just caught me in love with him or something.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I snarled, and then flung back around, gritting my teeth.
“Sure you didn’t,” he muttered under his breath behind me.
“Hey Jax, are you sitting with us today?” Linda’s voice was soft and sweet; everything she wasn’t.
I kept my eyes glued to the smelly person in front of me. Couldn’t they all just piss off? I was cringing in embarrassment here. Who did Linda think she was anyway? It wasn’t like she was pretty or anything.
I shot a look over my shoulder and saw her link her arm through his crossed arms. So he had a thing for high school students or something? Don’t do it Amber. I could feel my mind ticking evilly but, like always, I didn’t, no, I couldn’t stop myself.
“So, this party Andy, what time is it?” I faked sweetly.
“Um, nine it starts?” he looked confused. Dude, if I was him, I would be too. “Why?”
“I will join you after all. I don’t have any plans,” I replied as I shrugged my shoulders.
“Do you want me to pick you up?” he grinned like a happy little child.
“Aren’t you planning on drinking tonight?” I arched an eyebrow and he nodded his head. “Well, that doesn’t make much sense, does it? How about I just meet you at your house and we can catch a taxi together?”
“You? At my house?” he spoke so slowly, I was beginning to re-think this. Wait Amber, stay focused.
“Um yeah. That cool?” I turned to face him. “If not, I can, you know, meet you there, but I don’t know where it is.”
“NO NO!” he exclaimed, throwing his hands up. “That works fine.”
I nodded my head and then glanced at Jax, who was glaring across the canteen at who knows what, but Linda’s arm was still linked through his.
“You going tonight Jax?” I smiled. I had this innocence thing down to a fine art. He stopped glaring into the distance and looked at me.
“Perhaps,” he muttered and locked his eyes with mine, clearly wondering what I was playing at. Poor boy couldn’t keep up with me, even if he wanted to.
“Babe, you said you would go!” Linda tugged on his arm, my theory now proven correct. He had lined her up for a quickie. Scum much?
“Yeah, you should go,” I said as I cocked my head to the side. “In fact, you should bring El, she would love it.”
Linda frowned at me and asked, “Who is El?”
“His girlfriend,” I said nonchalantly, brushing it off like I was talking about the weather. “A really good friend of mine.” I looked Linda in the eye, “Like a sister, I would do anything for her. You know…” I trailed off.
Fear flickered in her eyes, and she unclamped herself from Jax. Looks like my reputation hadn’t softened. Did I care about him cheating on El? Hell no. But Linda having her paws all over him bothered me. So sue me, I did it for myself, and to ruin the quickie he had lined up.
Jax shook his head at me and his glare could’ve shattered glass, but I shrugged it off and turned my back to him. He wanted to be a jerk; I was just paying him back.
“Actually, I was thinking of inviting the boys, you know, Cole and the gang,” Jax said behind me, his statement sounding awfully a lot like a threat.
“Oh yeah, they would enjoy it,” I replied coolly, taking him up on his bluff. The boys wouldn’t care if I went to a high school party; they knew it was like childcare anyway.
People spewing their cheap alcohol they had stolen from mummy and daddy’s cupboard, then grinding drunkenly into each other. And then there was always that girl, crying when she found her player of a boyfriend cheating on her.
“So come to my house tonight… early if you want,” Andy whispered in my ear, before winking and walking off.
Dude, if he thought he was getting lucky, he had another thing coming. I wouldn’t be getting that drunk. Well, I hoped not.
“My brother wanted me to give you this,” Jax said as pulled on my shoulder, spinning me to face him, and then stuffing a piece of paper in my hand. “Seeing you have no standards, I thought I would pass it on.”
His eyes screamed hate, but his posture screamed jealousy. I took a step up to him and he froze, as my chest touched his, leaning into his ear. “Accept my apology,” I purred, my voice a seductive swirl.
After his insult, he would have been expecting me to punch him, scream at him, all the things I would normally do but he was jealous and I knew it, so I had the upper hand.
I felt his body tense as I leaned against his chest. We ignored Linda’s scoff of disgust, and the fact that I’d just lost my place in the queue. He placed a hand on my lower back and leaned into my own ear.
“Mean it, and I will.”
I pulled back and cocked my head, to look him in the eye. “I did,” I whispered.
“You don’t mean anything. You only think of one person. Yourself.” He arched an eyebrow as if willing me to challenge him.
That wasn’t true! How dare he stand here and call me a cold hearted bitch!
“You know what Jax?” I pulled myself away from him, his hand falling off my back, “I must have standards, because the last time I checked, I hadn’t screwed you.”
I didn’t wait for his reaction; instead I stormed off, leaving the uptight, screw-anything-that-walks, self-centered, pathetic bikie behind.
As I slammed the canteen doors open, it hit me how hungry I was. Stupid man had cost me my meal. Now I hated him even more.
Chapter 20
“It’s a bit short Am.”
I stopped twirling and I rolled my eyes at Tyler, clipping the back of my earring closed.
&
nbsp; “Don’t like it Ty?” I arched an eyebrow?
“Are you guys going tonight?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Cole is,” he smirked. “I wonder why.”
“He’s pathetic,” I muttered darkly, and pulled the hem of the black dress down slightly. Yeah, it was tight and it showed off my assets, but what was the point in going out looking a rag doll? Everyone went out to impress, whether they liked to admit it or not. “Bloody Jax.” I added.
“Yeah, he has a way of being a jerk when he wants to,” Tyler said, seated on the edge of my bed.
“I didn’t actually expect him to tell you guys about the party,” I said as I grabbed my short leather jacket. “Come on, it’s a high school party. Talk about lame.”
“Will you be drinking?” he crossed his arms, and I nodded my head. “Then one of us has to be there,” he added.
“Oh, get off it. You guys were never around when I used to drink,” I pointed out.
Tyler remained silent, and I knew that him leaving me behind was a touchy subject but it was the history; facts. And you can’t avoid facts.
“Hey Tyler?”
“Hmm?” He was staring at the carpet, clearly in thought.
“Do you think I am selfish?” I asked before putting my hands on my hips. “Like cold hearted bitch selfish?
“I… ummm what?” Tyler began to scratch the back of his arm; he was nervous, and that was his tell. Groaning, I sat down next to him.
“I am, aren’t I?”
“Just a little,” Tyler’s voice was low. “But not in like a massive way. A little selfish, not cold hearted.” Tyler rubbed my back.
“Well I am going to do something unselfish tonight,” I said, standing up, my confidence better. “I am sure there will be an opportunity for me to be kind tonight.”
“Well you are going to drink with toddlers.”
“I call them infants,” I said as I grinned at him. My brother and I were on the same wavelength; that’s why we were related. I pulled my leather jacket on, and Tyler reached for his back pocket, getting the car keys out.
So, tonight I would do an act of kindness. I just hoped I did it before I got wasted.
***
“You look hot!” Andy screamed into my ear over the music. “Like smoking hot.”
I nodded my head as he kept grinding against me. I was pulled tight to his chest. The music was pumping through the air at a deafening level, and vibrating through the floor; and even through our blood.
“Thanks!” I shouted into his ear. I gripped his neck tighter, our bodies grinding together. I was looking over Andy’s shoulder, still looking for my moment to show ‘kindness.’ We had been here for hours; I was actually keeping count because I wasn’t drinking.
Most of the people around me were heavily intoxicated, including Andy. Why wasn’t I drinking? I don’t know the answer to that one; when I got there, I just wasn’t feeling it.
I think I was holding Andy up more than we were dancing. “Andy!” I screamed into his head and he drunkenly nodded. “I’m going to get a drink.”
He sent me a drunken smile before letting go, saying something I didn’t quite understand, but I smiled and nodded; I’m assuming he meant come back soon.
I pushed through the ‘teenagers’; who knew so many people actually attended our school? Dodging a few people, I walked up the staircase. I didn’t need a drink, but I did need a toilet.
I stepped over a guy passed out on the stairs, and then walked past a few couples making out against walls. Seeing the first door, I cracked it open and closed it quickly behind me.
Toilet. Toilet. Toilet. Toilet.
“OH MY GOD!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, and then slapped a hand over my eyes. “OH MY GOD!”
“Shit AMBER! Get OUT!” Cole screamed at me, and I fell backwards, looking for the door handle.
“I’m blind!” I cried. Cole having sex with a girl was permanently burnt in my brain.
“AMBER GET THE HELL OUT!” Cole grunted. OH.MY.GOD. Had he even stopped?
I found the door handle and stumbled out, and slammed it shut. My hand was still covering my eyes. Well it was official; I was ruined.
Pulling the hand from my face, I wondered if I would ever get over this. Didn’t think so. I crossed my legs, thinking it was possible I was about to pee myself. I hesitantly placed a hand on another door knob; please, no naked brothers.
I opened the door with closed eyes, waiting for any shouting but there was nothing; cracking one eye open, I noticed the room was empty.
Sighing with relief, I slammed the door behind me, making a beeline for the ensuite. Thank God whoever owned this house had a bedroom with ensuite.
***
Drying my hands, I pulled the hem of my dress down again. Why did I wear such a short dress again? Oh right, to look drop dead hot.
What was the point again?
Sighing, I walked out of the ensuite and closed the door behind me. My eyes squinted as I struggled to see into the darkness.
“You look amazing tonight.”
I froze in the middle of the room and slowly turned around to see Jax sitting against the wall across the room, bottles of beers to his side, and one in his hand.
“But I bet you know that,” he added, his voice low.
Why hadn’t I noticed him when I entered the room? Oh right, I was completely in need of a toilet break.
“Thanks,” I said as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, but then realized I couldn’t sit down without giving him a view. “I think?”
Jax took a long slip on his beer, his eyes studying me through the darkness. I shifted uncomfortably and crossed my arms.
“You can go. I am sure your date is waiting.” He shook his head darkly before chuckling darkly and taking a sip of his beer. “Amber and a high schooler. Funny.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I knew something was off. Good deed Amber, time for that good deed. Slowly I walked across the room and slid down the wall next to him. Letting my legs lay out in front of me, the dress rising rather high for my liking. Jax looked at me sideways for a moment before drinking again.
“You alright?” I arched an eyebrow and looked at Jax’s profile and he continued to down the contents of the bottle.
“Does it matter?” he placed the empty bottle to his side, along with the others, and picked up a full one from the other side. “You can go.”
“Don’t be hormonal,” I muttered dryly.
Jax sat there with a blank expression. Fine, we could sit in silence, I didn’t care. This could be classed as a good deed, I reckoned.
“You like Andy?” Jax said as he lowered the bottle from his lips, still looking forward. “He’s a crap man. Can’t hold his liquor. Sleeps with anything that walks.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t like Andy,” I said, my voice low. “You don’t have to try and make me think less of him.”
“Then, why did you come?” he said as he glanced at me sideways, “If you didn’t want to sleep with him?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged my shoulders “Mainly to piss you off, I guess.”
Jax and I looked at each other, our eyes level. A grin broke across his face and we both started laughing. I don’t know why I found it funny, but hearing him laugh made me want to laugh.
“I came to keep an eye on you,” Jax said, shaking his head. “In case you needed me. Like you would need me,” he scoffed and rolled his eyes before bringing the bottle to his lips.
I bit my bottom lip. He came for me, I came for him. Funny how things worked out like that.
“I walked in on Cole… with Linda,” I said as I shook my head. “My vision is now stained.”
Jax’s chuckle went deep and his chest rumbled heavily. “That’s just disgusting.”
“I know.” I laughed and shook my head. Jax slightly drunk was softer, it was like his defenses were down.
“So how much have you had to drink?” I glanced at all the bottles to his side
; the empty ones. “A lot I am guessing?”
“Yeah, a few too many,” Jax said grinning, and shrugged his shoulders. “But it’s a party.”
“Then why are you up here?”
“Because I couldn’t take seeing that jerk with his hands all over you,” Jax’s voice switched to bitter. “When I thought about snapping his neck, I thought it was best to get out of there.”
“Why did you tell me that?” I asked, my stomach flipping over at his confession. “You could have lied.”
“Didn’t want the truth?”
“Just wasn’t expecting it.” I pulled at the hem of my dress, as I noticed Jax’s eyes drift over it. “Not like you to tell me what you were actually thinking,” I added.
We sat in silence for a few moments. Jax continued to drink, and I just sat there, stealing glances at him every so often.
“I think you have had enough,” I declared. I reached out and took the bottle from his hand, as it hovered around his lips. Leaning over him slightly, my eyes locked with his.
My heart fluttered as our bodies brushed against each others. I placed the bottle to his side, but my body still hovered dangerously close to his.
I should pull myself away from him, I thought.
“How did you get here?” I finally muttered, my voice coming out in a low stutter.
“I don’t remember,” his throat audibly dry, and he swallowed quickly. “Why?”
“I’ll call a cab. We still have time to watch that movie you got me last week. If you’re keen?”
“I’m a bit drunk,” he smirked at me, and then placed his hand on mine, which was gripping the floor. “But yeah why not,” he added.
He pulled his hand away from me and slowly got to his feet. I got up easy, but he was a little slower. Groaning, he placed a hand on the wall.
“Great,” He grunted.
“What?”
“Late fees.” He looked me in the eye. “You still have that movie, which means I will have late fees to deal with,” he explained.
Laughing, I reached out and took his hand. Even the hardest men have a soft side and the more time I spent with Jax, the more I saw it… and the more I fell for him.
Chapter 21
Oh baggy clothes, the pure comfort of them. The baggy t-shirt hung loosely around my waist, and my favorite sweat pants felt like heaven after that dress.