If I Never Knew You Trilogy Bundle

by Aubrey Bailey

  "For the last time, I didn't do anything!" Noah cried.

  "Right, then why did we just spend the last twenty minutes in the police station talking with the arresting officer?" Dad asked.

  "What?!" I shouted. The three of them shot glances over at me. Then they saw Landon, which seemed to make them uncomfortable.

  "Noah, go to your room," Dad ordered.

  "What?" Noah asked. "You-"

  "As long as you live under this roof, you will do as we say," Mom commanded. Noah glared at them and walked up the stairs. His door slammed and I flinched.

  "Your brother was part of a drug deal," Dad said, crossing his arms. I was surprised that Noah would be foolish enough to get involved with the wrong crowd.

  "That doesn't sound like him," Landon and I both commented.

  "We know it doesn't sound like the Noah we all know and love, but apparently it's true," Dad said.

  "Well, what's going to happen to him now?" I asked.

  "We don't know," Mom admitted, but her tone made me believe that she knew exactly what was going to happen. I closed my eyes and sighed before looking over at Landon.

  He reflected my gaze with an expression of complete sympathy, but I couldn't deal with my disappointment in my big brother right now, so I turned and headed up to my room, slamming my door as well. I heard Landon talk a bit with my parents before he left at about 8 p.m. I spent the rest of the night in my room, talking with Bridgette and Faith online.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  "Riley, I swear to you that I wasn't taking part in that shit," Noah said.

  "Then why were you there?" I whispered. It was almost three in the morning and Noah seemed to have suddenly come to the conclusion that he had to redeem himself to me. I was still half asleep, sitting on my pillows with my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands.

  "Lawrence was the one doing it," Noah revealed. "He said he had to stop downtown on Lexington Street, so I stopped, but instead of waiting in the car like I probably should have, I got out with him and went to the Ragz Bar."

  "Noah! You're not that stupid, are you?" I said. "What on earth made you do that?"

  "I don't know. I was too tired to realize what I was doing, I guess," Noah said. "Every day I have to get up early to take you to school. Then I've got shit to do all day before I head off to work. In total, I'm awake between seven in the morning to eleven-thirty or midnight each day. I don't think clearly when I'm tired, remember?"

  "True, but I don't know what to do, Noah. This is so over my head at this time of night. I haven't been able to sleep at all. I've just been thinking about what they might do to you."

  "Rye, you have to believe me. I swear to you I would not do something like that. I know what that shit does to people."

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, wanting with all my heart to believe him. "I'll try talking with Mom and Dad," I reassured him. "Go get some sleep now, okay?"

  "Yeah...okay," Noah said.

  Then he did something he hadn't done in years-he hugged me before he left my room. I lay back down and thought about everything we had discussed until I fell asleep.

  "Don't bother, Riley," Mom said. I looked at her, wondering why she said that. It was later on in the morning and I was about to wake up Noah so that he could drive me to school. "His car isn't even here. Your uncle and I are going to get it after I finish work," Mom told me.

  "Then how am I getting to school?" I asked.

  "Landon said he'd drive you," Mom said.

  "I'm surprised he'd do that. Driving me home after rehearsals is one thing, when only the Drama people can see us and nobody really cares. Taking me to school when his crowd will be watching is something else."

  "Well, it doesn't seem like he cares too much about the social stuff anymore," Mom said.

  "That is such a Mom thing to say."

  "I try," Mom snapped back.

  I turned around and went back upstairs. It was going to be cold that day, like usual for the time of year. But it hadn't started becoming unbearable yet, so I decided on jeans and a light blue, long-sleeved shirt that was kind of low cut. I brushed out my hair and let it hang over my shoulders before doing some eyeliner and lip gloss. I jumped down the stairs as the doorbell rang and opened the door to find Landon standing outside.

  "Hi," I said, standing back. He walked in and I closed the door.

  "Cold out this morning," Landon remarked.

  "Just this morning?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "You make a good point," Landon said.

  "You want to go now, or hang out for a while?" I asked.

  "Uh, I need to ask your mom something," Landon said.

  "Sure." I led him into the kitchen. "Mom? Landon's got a question."

  "What's up?" Mom asked.

  "My parents are going to be away for part of the Christmas holidays and they don't trust me alone in the house," Landon said. "Mom thinks that since Rye and I are-"

  "Friends again?" I filled in.

  "Yeah, I guess," Landon said.

  "She wants to know if you can stay here for the time they're gone?" Mom asked. Landon nodded. "Well, it's fine with me. Do you have a problem with it, Riley?"

  "Nope, it's cool with me," I said.

  "I doubt it'll be much of a problem with Noah, so I'll swing it by Dad. I'm sure that he would be fine with Landon staying here."

  "Okay, thanks a lot. I'll make sure to pass on the news," Landon said.

  "Alright, then, we'll see you next Friday," Mom said. She made the toaster pop and handed each of us a pop tart. "Now, off you go."

  After eating the pop tarts and grabbing my things, we went out to Landon's car.

  "Are there any other people you have to pick up?" I inquired, casually.

  "Nope, I don't usually drive anyone to school because I'm the only one in my group who lives in this neighbourhood."

  "I've got a favor to ask you, then."

  "Sure."

  "Would you be willing to drive Bridgette, Faith, Alice and me to the studio after school?" I asked. "We were going to take the bus, but since you seem so willing to be helpful today..." I was being a bit sarcastic, but I really did need a ride.

  "Sure," Landon said. Okay, I wasn't expecting him to agree. "You want a ride right after school, correct?"

  "Yes, please."

  "Okay, but I can only take you guys there. I can't drive anyone home," Landon said, turning onto the school's street. "I need to talk to Lydia tonight."

  He pulled into the parking lot and into a spot. I looked at him for any signs of his feelings towards Lydia, but his expression was impenetrable.

  "I'm breaking up with her," Landon revealed, gradually showing his displeasure and frustration with Lydia. I stopped myself from going out the car door and just stared at him.

  "For what?" I asked.

  "I can't stand the way she acts anymore. She's too jealous. She thinks that rehearsals are just an excuse to see you."

  "I could tell her differently."

  "I doubt she'll listen to you, Riley." He turned off his car and got out. I quickly got out as well and put my bag on my shoulder.

  "Thanks for the ride, Landon. Good luck with your meeting with Lydia," I said. I headed off in a different direction, but Faith ran up and stopped me from going too close to Landon's friends, who were coming to see him from the same direction.

  "What was that about?" Landon's friend, Rhett, pointedly inquired.

  "You know Lydia's gonna freak if she finds out," Marcia, one of the bitchy, rich girls in the group shouted.

  "That's the rich Drama geek you just had in your car, dude. What were you thinking?" Quinn, one of Landon's best friends, wanted to know. Even though he was aware that Landon was going to be in my play, he did not consider Landon to be a "Drama geek" like the rest of us. Go figure...

  "Faith, let's go," I said to her. "I so do not want to hear this shit."

  "What are you doing, Riley?" Faith asked as we started walking. "This frien
dship with Landon just doesn't seem like a good idea. It will end up hurting you in the long run. I know you guys used to be friends, but you were kids then. Plus, now you both hang with different crowds-kids that actually hate one another.

  "Well, don't let Landon hear that because he's agreed to give us a ride to the studio after school," I recommended. Faith made a face. "It's only a fifteen minute drive-you're a big girl and you can handle that."

  "I guess I can," Faith said. I refrained from telling her about Landon having to spend part of the break at my place. Maybe by then I could get things going nicely between my friends.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  "SO, CAN WE finally hear this song you've been working on so long?" Faith asked one day in Drama.

  "I need Landon here. His part isn't very long, but I still can't do it without him."

  "It means a lot for you, though," Bridgette said. I rolled my eyes. "When are you going to be finished your Christmas shopping?"

  "Tonight," I said. There was a week left of school before the holidays and that meant a little over a week before Christmas. Damn, time went fast. The classroom door flew open right then and Landon finally arrived.

  "Sorry, I'm late!" he apologized.

  "That's alright. Don't make a habit of it, though," Mrs. Wilson said.

  "They want to hear the song we've been working on lately," I said.

  I told him which one and we sang just as enthusiastically as we always did. By the end of the song, we were holding hands, which made me feel a little embarrassed. Preston wasn't looking too happy, either. Lord only knew what was going through his head. I pulled my hands from Landon's grasp and slid off the stage. Then I sat down between my cousin and Preston.

  "Why did you write that?" Bridgette whispered. I shook my head.

  Rehearsal seemed to take forever before I was finally getting into the backseat of Nathan's car. Lorne was in the front and I smirked at the sight of them together at last. The two had been dating for the past week and I had to admit-it was cute. I had already gotten Christmas gifts for both of them. But I promised I'd help them find gifts for each other.

  "Okay, so I get Riley for the first forty-five minutes and then we meet up. You get her the next forty-five and then we grab something to eat," Lorne said. "Sound good, guys?"

  "Works for me," I said.

  "Me too," Nathan agreed.

  I looked away as they stepped closer to each other and kissed. I was perfectly okay with gay guys kissing, but I realized that not everyone, like Noah for instance, was as comfortable with it.

  "Okay, Riley, let's get going," Lorne said.

  "See ya later, Nate," I said. I walked off with Lorne. "So, what are you thinking of getting him for Christmas?"

  "I have no clue. Do you have any good ideas?"

  "Hmm, well he loves his car. Maybe a new steering wheel cover or something like that?"

  "That could work. Thanks, Riley," Lorne said. We looked through a bunch of car accessories before Lorne found a steering wheel cover and a CD of Nathan's favorite band. By the time we got through the checkout, it was time to meet Nathan.

  I asked him the same question I had asked Lorne and he gave the same answer.

  "Well..." I said. "This is definitely harder, for some reason."

  "How is it harder?" Nathan asked. "You've known him longer."

  "Yeah, but most of the things he wants...he already has. Remember, Lorne's pretty rich."

  "Yeah, good point," Nathan said. We walked around a store that sold DVDs and I suddenly stopped Nathan. "What? What is it?" he asked.

  "Check that out," I said, smiling and pointing. Nathan picked up the box set I was looking at.

  "Dinosaurs?" he asked.

  "Yeah, remember that old show?" I asked. "The family of dinosaurs with the two teenage kids and the baby?"

  "Oh, yeah!" Nathan said, laughing. "Lorne liked it?"

  "He adored that show, man. And he could not find this set, at the time. I remember that, because we went shopping for it once, with no luck."

  "Sold," Nathan said.

  He bought the box set and then I helped him find something for Noah in the time we had left. We met up with Lorne at the food court in the center of the mall. Lorne bought french fries from one place, while Nathan bought chocolate milkshakes from Dairy Queen.

  "So, who do you still have to buy for, Riley?" Nathan asked.

  "Umm...Dad, Faith, Uncle Andy, Preston, Paul and Landon," I said.

  "Paul?" both guys asked.

  "Preston's friend," I explained. "He's sort of my friend, too. He's pretty good at singing, too, so I'm working on a song for the band that he can do with me."

  "What are you planning on getting them?" Nathan asked.

  "Well, for Dad I have no idea at all. I'm going to get Faith a new curling and flattening iron." I said, moving my straw around in my milkshake. "For Uncle Andy...I think I'll get him a computer game or something like that."

  "Paul?" Lorne asked.

  "He likes reading, so I'll get him a book."

  "And Landon?" Lorne asked.

  "I have absolutely no clue. God-it used to be so easy to shop for him!"

  "What did you get him last year?" Nathan asked.

  "I got one of those race car balls for his hamster. But he doesn't have a hamster anymore because Joey died."

  "So get him a new hamster," Lorne suggested. I tried to think of a better solution, but couldn't come up with a better idea there and then. Christmas shopping was not my favorite thing to do-too much pressure and too many people to buy for!

  "I don't know guys...this might be a lost cause," I conceded.

  "Well, how about we wander, then?" Nathan suggested. "We'll get the stuff for everyone else and keep an eye out for what Mr. Callahan would like."

  "I guess that would work," I said. The boys finished off their food and I walked around, still drinking my shake. I managed to buy the gifts for everyone else fairly easily, but we went through probably eight stores looking for something for Landon.

  "There's must be something...anything!" Nathan said in exasperation. "We've been looking for two hours now."

  I was glad I had suggested putting our purchases in the car early, so that we didn't have to carry everything around. I was also pleased that the boys had already found their gifts for me so we could focus on Landon.

  "I'm so ready to give up right now!" I cried.

  "Well, Riley, what about this?" Lorne asked.

  I walked over to see what he was looking at. He was standing in front of a booth that sold tickets to a series of upcoming science fiction movies with live presentations that would be playing at the Cineplex very soon. Lorne pointed at one of the titles on the list and my eyes widened. "Oh my God, that is perfect! He told me he would love to see that!"

  I purchased a ticket with the credit card my dad had given me. Lorne decided to pitch in and buy another for him. I'd give Landon both tickets and let him choose who he wanted to take. I knew he had a few friends who were really into science fiction.

  I slid the tickets into a small box, which made it look like I was giving him something about the size of a watch-I figured it would trick him. I could imagine how surprised and delighted he'd be when he opened the box on Christmas.

  "Thanks so much, Lorne," I said with gratitude. "I don't know what I would have done without you!"

  "No problem, baby doll." Lorne was dropped off first and I sorted through all the bags before pulling out his. Then there were hugs and kisses, after which Nathan drove me home with even more hugs and kisses for him.

  It seemed weird, because now Nathan and I felt like closer friends than he was with my brother. Getting Nathan and Lorne together certainly helped, but, also, Nathan and Noah's lifestyles seem to be going in different directions.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  I TAPPED MY foot and sang along with a song from Freedom that I was listening to while doing some homework. There was no school that day because there had been a freak storm
overnight and the Board of Education had cancelled the schools. It was a good thing, too, because it gave me time to do the homework that I should have done the night before. However, I procrastinated on instant messenger with Landon.

  (ItsASafetyMeasure has just signed on)

  (New message from ItsASafetyMeasure)

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: Stuck at home too, huh?

  LoveUhateU says: Yep, stuck at

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: Ha ha, very funny " NOT!

  LoveUhateU says: I'm guessing you just woke up.

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: Yup. What about you?

  LoveUhateU says: Dude...I've been awake for a few hours now. It's almost one, you know. But I'm still sitting in my pajamas.

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: LOL, same old Rye!

  (KissesR2die4 has just signed on)

  LoveUhateU says: Bridgette just came online

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: So?

  LoveUhateU says: You're a jerk sometimes. BRB someone's at the door.

  I got up and left my room before bounding down the stairs to the door, which I flung open. I immediately regretted doing so for two reasons. First, it was freezing outside. But more importantly, my unwanted grandfather was on the other side.

  Landon:

  I sat back in my chair and turned my attention to the game I was playing. It was one of those games where you had to search through rooms and for artifacts to get out of the place you were stuck in. I had gotten most things and used a few of them, but I couldn't figure out the rest. Something popped up on the screen-it was an IM from Riley's cousin.

  KissesR2die4 says: Landon, its Bridgette.

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: Yeah I know. What's up?

  KissesR2die4 says: Riley's been set to BRB for a while now and she's not answering either her cell phone or house phone.

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: OK...so what?

  KissesR2die4 says: I'm worried. Do you think you can pop over there? It might be nothing, but I would feel better if someone would go and check on her.

  ItsASafetyMeasure says: Why would it be something bad?

  KissesR2die4 says: I heard my dad talking with her mom about their grandpa and how he's been bothering them lately