Tear Down
These Walls
By: Sarah Kay Carter
Copyright
This book is a work a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Tear Down These Walls ©2015 by Sarah Kay Carter.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of Sarah Kay Carter.
This book is dedicated to my mother
She always told me I could do anything.
Plus, she happily took me to the book store instead of the toy store when I asked, every time.
I love you mom
Thanks to my wonderful new friend and editor
Devon Anderson.
It was great working and creating with you.
[email protected]
Special thanks as always to
Anmar Nevarez
For the awesome cover design
[email protected]
www.anmarnevarez.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Chapter 1
The rich aroma from the coffee shop envelops Teagan. She sits at one of the wooden tables in the corner with her back to the wall. A guy wearing a backwards baseball cap approaches her. “Hey Teagan.”
Teagan looks up from her Macbook. “Hey, Isaac, what’s up?”
“Working on a paper?” Isaac asks, shifting his backpack on his shoulder.
She looks at her computer screen. “Sort of,” Teagan mutters, not really wanting to talk to him. He doesn’t know her issue with guys and she doesn’t want to continue to hurt his feelings, but she knows she will inevitably do. She still feels his eyes on her.
“Are you going to sing Karaoke tonight?” He asks, eyebrows shooting up.
Teagan turns back to him, realizing she needs to answer him, if for anything but to make him go away. She narrows her eyes speculatively. “Who’s all going?”
“I’m going with Emily, Victoria, Michael, and Blake, you know, our little group.”
Pressing her lips together, Teagan says, “Umm, I think I am going to stay in tonight.”
Isaac points to her computer screen. “Going to work on your paper?”
Nodding, Teagan says, “Yeah.”
A nicely built African American guy comes walking up looking at his cell phone. Without moving his gaze, he says, “Hey guys.”
“Hi Michael,” Teagan says, with a smile.
“You know, you haven’t come out in a while. You are 21 now; you should want to come out to the bars with us.” Isaac wiggles his eyebrows at Teagan, as if Michael didn’t just enter the conversation.
“I do,” Teagan replies. “Just not tonight.” Why was he being so persistent? She just wants to write.
“Come on Teagan,” Isaac whines, shoulders slumping. “Just come out with us.”
Slightly annoyed, Teagan raises an eyebrow and looks up at him. “Are you seriously whining?”
“No, I just want you to come hang out. I’ve missed you the last few times.”
He smiles at her and Teagan knows that kind of smile. She eyes up Isaac. He is tall with a nice solid build. Blonde hair, blue eyes, good looking, but no matter how hard she tries, Teagan can’t see him as more than a friend. “Isaac, I really want to stay in. I want to make some tea, put on my music, and write. It’s relaxing.”
“Writing a paper is relaxing?” Isaac counters, furrowing his eyebrows.
Teagan looks down at the fiction in front of her and realizes that he doesn’t know it’s not a paper. “Writing in general is relaxing to me.”
Suddenly, a short girl with a black bob comes bounding over. “Teagan! Did Isaac ask you to come out tonight?”
“Hi Victoria, yes he did, but I am going to stay in,” Teagan declares strongly, looking into her eyes. “I want to write tonight.” Victoria smiles and Teagan realizes she isn’t going to back her up. What was with every single person she encounters today dragging her into going out?
“She wants to work on a paper. Who works on a paper on a gorgeous day like today, let alone on a Friday night? It’s warm, sunny, not a cloud in the sky. Perfect night to go out on.” Isaac exclaims. He looks between Teagan and Victoria. Teagan refuses to meet his gaze. His eyes land on Victoria as he gives his head a nudge toward Teagan. It is obvious he needs back up here; he knows Victoria usually gets her way.
“Yeah,” Victoria agrees, putting her hand on Teagan’s arm. “I can get you all dolled up. It would be fun! We can pick up some cute boys and get some numbers. Come on! When was the last time you talked to a boy?”
Teagan laughs. “I talk to boys every day.”
“Yeah, okay, let me clarify that,” Victoria says, rolling her eyes. “Boys that you are romantically interested in.”
“Hey, she’s surrounded by a bunch of great guys already,” Isaac states, putting his hand on his chest. “She doesn’t need to look outside our little posse tonight.” Teagan stifles a snort.
“She needs to meet a hot guy who will sweep her off of her feet,” Victoria snips back. “You know tall, gorgeous, ripped abs.”
“Are you living vicariously through her or something?” Isaac inquires with a smirk.
Victoria cocks her hip to the side. “Teagan is beautiful. Long perfect brown hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and a killer body. I know she can get better guys than me.”
“Oh stop,” Teagan laughs. “Boys are far more interested in you than they are me.” She knows it’s because she doesn’t bother giving them the time of day. Victoria, on the other hand, gives them all the time in the world. Where Teagan knows she can use her eyes to send any guy packing, Victoria attempts to use whatever she can to keep them coming back for more.
“That’s because I hit on them. You don’t need to do that. Guys just drool over you,” Victoria playfully snaps back.
“Whatever,” Teagan snorts. “You’re crazy, girl.”
“Come on, if you come out with us, maybe we can get Emily out of her shell.”
“Leave poor Emily alone,” Teagan sighs. “She has been through hell.”
“I still think Franco should get his ass kicked,” Victoria growls, punching her fist into her hand. “She is so shy to begin with. He preyed on her. Why don’t you kick his ass, Isaac?”
Isaac puts his hands up. “I have never thrown a punch in my life.”
Victoria cocks her hip and looks at Isaac. “What good is it to have guy friends if they won’t come in on a white horse to rescue you?”
He laughs and shrugs, “I have no idea.”
“Really, I hope we never get into trouble. I think I would be better at defending us,
than you, Blake, or Michael.”
“Blake isn’t much bigger than you,” Teagan comments to Victoria.
“Michael would also have to take his head out of a book, or away from his phone, long enough to realize what’s going on,” Victoria giggles. Michael still doesn’t move his gaze but grins.
“HEY NOW!” Isaac yells. “We would defend you guys.”
“Uh huh,” Victoria sarcastically laughs, bumping her hip into his.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Isaac says, “Whatever Victoria.” He turns to Teagan. “Are you coming out tonight?”
She knows that she has to pick her battles, and this is not one worth the fight. Something tells her not to agree, but looking at her friends, she knows they would drag her out anyway. Isaac had a point; she hadn’t been out in a while. A little fun and some beverages wouldn’t hurt anything. She exhales and says, “Will it make you guys happy?”
“Hell yeah!” Isaac cheers. He nods knowingly at Victoria. She smiles back at him.
“Fine, I will come out,” Teagan says, rolling her eyes with a smile.
“Excellent!” Isaac rubs his hands together. “I will pick you guys up at your place at 8.”
“Okay,” Teagan laughs. “I should get home then.” She starts to pack up her laptop but stops. She was in the middle of a section, and she hated leaving cliffhangers in her own work.
“Ooohhh, I wanted a cup of coffee,” Victoria moans.
Scoffing, Teagan replies, “Get a cup of coffee. We’re in a coffee shop.”
“I don’t want to drink it by myself,” Victoria exasperatingly exhales.
“Fine, I will wait for you,” Teagan states sweetly, with a smile. “I needed to finish up this part anyway.” She stares back at her laptop; the blinking cursor calls to her to keep going with where she left off.
“Thanks! Be right back!” Victoria spins on her heel and walks to the line that’s snaking around the small coffee shop.
“So, I’ll see you later,” Isaac says. He looks down at her; she hates that he looks at her like that. She knows it isn’t going to happen for him the way he wants it to. She has to hand it to him, though. He is a persistent guy.
“Yup, 8 o’clock, I will be ready,” Teagan replies. Isaac nods and walks away. Teagan releases a heavy sigh and then goes back to her laptop, typing feverishly. The strong smell of coffee makes her want more.
A few minutes later, Victoria sits down across from her at the table. “Which one are you working on right now?” She sets the white ceramic mug down and starts to pour a great amount of sugar into it. She looks over at Teagan, who does not take her eyes from the screen.
“Which book?” Teagan inquires. “The one about the missing girl.”
“You should really try to get your books published,” Victoria says, nudging her head to the computer. Teagan looks up at Victoria. Blowing on the coffee, she closes her eyes at the first sip. Now Teagan really feels the pull for a refill.
Teagan nods back, digging in her bag for her wallet. “You know I want to.”
“But you won’t even let anyone read them! No one knows you even write!” Victoria exclaims.
Looking back at her computer, Teagan says, “I’m a private person.”
“Who writes in a coffee shop,” Victoria laughs.
“I’m in college. No one suspects me when I’m typing on my computer.”
“When did you write your first book?”
“When I was a junior in high school,” Teagan answers, smiling at the memory.
“Yes, the intense thriller starring Kellen Grayson,” Victoria dramatically says, leaning in towards Teagan, wiggling her eyebrows. “The tall mysterious man with a hidden past.”
Stopping what she is doing, Teagan stares at Victoria. “Are you making fun of my character, my book, or both?”
“Oh no!” Victoria shouts. “Neither, dude, the book was awesome, and Kellen was to die for. Who did you know that made you picture Kellen Grayson?”
“You think I knew a guy like that?” Teagan laughs. “Dear lord, I would be married by now. Fictional characters are exactly that: fictional.”
“Yeah, but he’s Kellen Grayson. Black hair, dark eyes, built like a body builder, heroic, hot. I say sign me up.” Victoria drains her coffee.
Teagan giggles. “Yeah, he’s by far my favorite character. Maybe that’s why I wrote him first. Dream guy. I don’t know. But, yes, I can guarantee that Kellen Grayson does not exist.” But if he did exist, she knows she’d be first in line to give him any time of day he likes. Hell, she’d give him a whole week if he insists. THAT is the kind of guy she is waiting for. Unfortunately, he only exists in her head and on the pages of a book that no one but Victoria knows about.
“Bad ass bodyguard to the heiress,” Victoria sighs wistfully, tilting her head. “He could guard me all he wants.”
“No doubt,” Teagan agrees, flagging down a passing barista. She places a to-go order and looks back at Victoria. “That’s what I want my readers to think: Man, I wish that guy was real.”
“One day you will meet your own Kellen Grayson,” Victoria declares. “You just wait!”
“Uh huh,” Teagan scoffs. “Keep dreaming sister.” She hits the save icon on her laptop. Closing the lid, she shoves it in her brown messenger bag. She notices that Victoria’s eyes twinkle with a hint of mischief.
“What do you want to wear tonight?” Victoria asks, leaning closer to Teagan.
* * * * * * * *
“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” Teagan asks, looking down at her outfit. “It’s only Karaoke.”
“Karaoke in a popular bar, in a city with many different colleges,” Victoria counters. “No, it’s not too much.”
Teagan looks at her tight low-rise jeans, red heels, and black lace, corseted top. “Okay,” she gulps. Though she knows she has nothing to be insecure about, she doesn’t necessarily want to attract unwelcome attention, either. Teagan knows that this top will be enough to score some free drinks. That’s about all she can handle at this point.
“How about me?” Victoria asks, dressed in a dark green mini skirt and halter top.
“Sexy as always,” Teagan replies. She has to keep herself from rolling her eyes at her friend. Victoria always takes things to the next level when it comes to getting attention, and she sees that tonight will be no exception.
“You guys look so nice,” a small voice whispers.
“Emily, why don’t you let us pick you something out,” Victoria urges. “You’re exactly my size.”
Emily shakes her long red hair and looks at the floor. “No, I won’t look good in it.” Her light green eyes look up from under her lashes. A flush of pink washes over her cheeks.
“Ridiculous! You’re a babe!” Teagan exclaims. “Come on, what you are wearing is cute, but we could give you a little upgrade.”
Continuing to shake her head, Emily says, “No, that’s okay.” She flattens her ivory silk top over her chest. Sitting on the bed, she pulls her knees up to her chest like she is trying to make herself smaller. Teagan seethed silently for what had happened to poor Emily. She ached for her friend, hoping the light in her eyes wasn’t extinguished forever.
“Alright, next time, we will get you dressed up like a vixen,” Victoria states.
Abruptly, there is a knock on the apartment door. Teagan goes over and opens it. “Well look who it is.”
Isaac smiles back at her. “Hey beautiful, you look lovely tonight.” His button down shirt looks like he may have actually pressed it before coming over.
“Thanks,” Teagan awkwardly mutters, looking away. “We’re all set.”
“Yeah, let’s go sing our hearts out and laugh at everyone else,” Victoria cheers, throwing her hands up.
As he points his fingers to the left over his shoulder, Isaac says, “We’re going to meet Blake and Michael there.”
“Sounds good,” Teagan says. “Come on girls.” Victoria and Emily walk out into the hallway, and Teagan follows them. Sh
e locks the door and turns around. “All set.”
They take Isaac’s Red SUV to the bar. They have to park down by the city park because there are so many college kids downtown. It’s still warm out, so they have the windows down, causing a nice breeze. When Isaac turns to the car off, he turns to Teagan. “I have something I need to tell you.”
“What?” Teagan asks. She hesitates, not sure if she wants to know what he has to say.
“Brianna is here with Blake,” Isaac says slowly.
A very unamused look passes over Teagan’s face. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“She isn’t that bad,” Isaac mumbles quietly.
“Whatever, she’s never done anything but she’s just annoying. Like nails on a chalkboard annoying. Like the bratty kid from next door annoying.” Teagan exclaims. “Ugh whatever. Let’s go.”
“Sorry,” Isaac calls out when they get out of the car, trying to catch up with her. “I didn’t want you to cancel because he asked her at the last minute.” He gives her pleading eyes.
Teagan looks at Isaac. “I’m an adult. I can handle it. Doesn’t mean I am going to enjoy my evening now.”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” Victoria says, pulling on Teagan’s hand. “You’ll have a blast.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Teagan groans, though a smile breaks through anyway. She always has fun with Victoria.
The karaoke bar is six blocks away. “How are you doing in those heels?” Isaac asks, looking at Teagan’s feet.
“I could run a marathon in heels,” Teagan states proudly. “I’m fine.”
When they walk into the bar, it’s packed with college kids. There is barely room to move. The bar has an industrial feel to it. The gray walls are splashed in color from the overhead neon lights around the stage. Someone is bellowing out “Margaritaville”. Teagan visibly winces. “Where’s Blake?” Victoria yells over the music.
Everyone scans the crowd before Isaac says, “Over there. Come on.” He puts his hand on Teagan’s back and starts to push her through the crowd. She isn’t happy about him touching her, but she lets it go. When they get to the table, Blake waves. Teagan can never get over how white blonde his hair is, but his green eyes hold a lot of warmth. Isaac walks over and claps his hand against Blake’s. “Hey man.”
Tear Down These Walls Page 1