by R. Linda
Bailey gave me a reassuring smile and hurried off. I stood in the middle of the hall, unsure of what to do next. Every minute I stood there was a minute closer to other students arriving, and I didn’t want to be caught in the hall alone.
Chapter Ten
Brody
I stared at my phone and contemplated sending Audrey a text. I wanted to wish her luck, even though I’d done that earlier. I smiled at the thought and then frowned. What had I been thinking? I shouldn’t have kissed her, but she was just standing there, so unsure of herself. I had to do something, and I hadn’t planned on kissing her, but when I opened that door, all rational thought left me. I acted on instinct. Desire.
“What’s up, man?” Linc asked, sliding into the booth in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” I glanced up at him as he leaned back and spread his arms across the back of the booth.
“You’re at the roadhouse when you should be working, looking like someone just stole your pushbike with the pink basket on the handlebars.” Linc’s lips pulled into a smirk.
I groaned. “Once. I rode the damn bike once. And you know full well that if I hadn’t, you would have.”
“But you did.”
Leanne and Steve had bought Indie a pushbike for her seventh birthday. It was hot pink, complete with basket and pink and white tassels on the handlebars. She refused to ride it, so we tried to convince her. I decided to ride around and show her how much fun she could be having on her new bike. Only it backfired, and she stole my bike, which was far too big for her, and rode that for the day, leaving me with a hot pink bike. My knees hit the handlebars every time I pedalled.
“What do you want, Linc?”
“Jeremy called and said you were here.” He looked up and smiled at Tillie, the young waitress Jeremy had hired to relieve some of the pressure, as she placed a coffee down in front of him.
“So?”
“I was in the neighbourhood.”
“The whole damn town is one big neighbourhood. Why are you here?” I rubbed a hand over my face and stole a covert glance at my phone to see if Audrey had messaged me. She hadn’t.
“I told you Jeremy called.”
“Why?” I folded my arms and looked outside. There were a few cars at the garage already, and Ryder was just pulling in.
“How the hell should I know what goes through his head? Dude’s dating Ryder’s sister.” Linc followed my gaze as Ryder got out of the car and went over to Jeremy, most likely discussing business, since they ran the roadhouse together.
“And that has what to do with anything?” I looked back over to Linc.
“Just that he clearly thinks on a different wavelength than the rest of the population.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Seriously. Kenzie is awesome. But can you imagine having Ryder as your brother-in-law? Man, I wouldn’t want to do anything to piss him off.”
“You’re deflecting.”
“Am not.”
“You’re talking about so much shit just to avoid telling me why you’re really here.”
The doors opened, and Ryder and Jeremy walked over, sliding into the booth beside us. It took Tillie all of thirty seconds to make more coffee and bring it over.
“What’s going on?” I asked, looking at each of them as they watched me intently. They were acting weird.
“Figured it was time we hung out.” Linc shrugged.
“We hang out,” I argued.
Ryder gave me a look that said, really?
Jeremy chuckled. “No, we hang out.” He pointed to himself and Ryder and Linc. “You hide in your room, or Audrey’s.”
“Whatever. Don’t you all have jobs to go to?” I drained my coffee and glanced at my phone again. I wanted nothing more than to check on Audrey, but these tools would get suspicious.
Linc scoffed. “Covered.”
“Boss,” Both Jeremy and Ryder answered, pointing to themselves.
“So, how’s Audrey?” Linc asked. Ryder’s eyes narrowed as he watched me from across the booth.
I smiled. “Back at school today.”
“Would you look at that smile?” Linc reached over and pinched my cheek. “Think someone has a little crush.”
“What? No.” I reared back and shoved his hand away.
Jeremy whistled low beside me while Ryder continued to watch. I knew what he was doing. He was studying me, watching my reaction, because that was what he did. He noticed everything. And I answered too fast, with too much determination. Ryder chewed on his lip ring and remained quiet.
“Look, I get it, man.” Linc raised his hands in defence. “Wanting someone you know you shouldn’t.” Linc pointed at himself. “I’m practically the poster boy for it.”
I sighed. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bailey messaged me and said Audrey had made friends with some guy already,” Ryder said. “He’s on the soccer team. My old position. Chicks like athletes. Trust me.”
Jeremy coughed out a laugh. My fists clenched, and I swallowed hard. My throat was suddenly dry. I wanted out of the booth. I wanted to find Audrey and drag her away from the athlete. Tapping my foot under the table, I closed my eyes and groaned. “Fuck.”
“So, it’s true, then,” Jeremy said. It was more of a statement than a question, but I nodded anyway.
“How did you know?” I barely even knew myself. How had they figured it out?
“You’re jealous as hell,” Ryder said.
“Yeah, man. You treat her like crap when you’re jealous. You turn into someone completely different,” Linc said and pointed at Ryder. “You turn into him.”
Ryder elbowed him in the ribs.
“It’s true.” Linc shoved him back, and Jeremy nodded in agreement.
“Not a word to anyone, okay?” I ran my hands through my hair. They couldn’t tell anyone. Nothing could ever come of it. She was too young. “Nothing is going to happen.”
Linc laughed. “You’re taking her away for her birthday. You expect us to believe nothing will happen?”
“Nothing.” I ground my teeth. “It can’t. She’s too young. It’s wrong.”
“Not really.” Ryder shrugged. “As long as you’re sure she’s what you want.”
“What?”
“I think he’s trying to say ‘don’t fuck it up,’” Jeremy said. “Make sure it’s what you both want, and don’t be a dick about it.”
“No. No. No. She’s too young. It’s immoral. It’s…”
“Only wrong if she’s seventeen,” Linc said. I cringed. That made it sound so much worse. “Look, you care about each other. That’s obvious to everyone. You’re the only one she’s comfortable around, for some unknown freaking reason. I mean, what’s wrong with us?”
“You intimidate her.”
“We couldn’t intimidate a fly.” Linc looked at Ryder and then to Jeremy, both practically covered head to toe in tattoos, and nodded. “Okay, point taken. Whatever. Just be sure. Or don’t take her away for her birthday.”
“I made a promise. I can’t let her down.” I lowered my head to the table and took a deep breath. They’d put it in my head now that something would happen on her birthday. Up until right then, I’d been completely naïve. I hadn’t even given it much thought.
“Okay, then, have a blast. Use protection, all that.” Linc pushed Ryder, and they both slid out of the booth with a snicker. Protection? Shit.
“What he said.” Jeremy clapped my shoulder and stood.
“Good catching up. Same time next week?” Linc asked.
I frowned at him.
“Well, we sorted out your girlfriend problem. Next week we’ll tackle Nate and Harper.” Linc smiled and walked away, with Jeremy following.
“Hey, Ryder.”
“Yeah.” He turned back to face me, brushing a brown curl out of his face.
“That friend she made today?”
“Made him up.” He gave me an amused smile and left.
&n
bsp; I sat and stared at my phone for another thirty seconds, wondering if I should call her, but what would I say? After that conversation with the guys, things had changed again. If I’d thought things were weird after we kissed, now they’d shoved the idea of sex with Audrey in my head, and I couldn’t stop imagining it.
So damn wrong.
I picked up my phone, and the insecure, jealous person inside me bubbled to the surface. What if Ryder had lied about making up the friend? What if she really had made a friend on the soccer team? Another guy.
I typed her a quick text before paying the bill and leaving.
Chapter Eleven
Audrey
Deciding to go in search of my locker, I hoisted my bag onto my back and checked my locker number. I followed the hall and located it at the very end.
After dumping my bag and taking out the books I needed for the morning, I headed back to Bailey’s room. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text from Brody.
Brody: Just checking in.
I typed out a response, smiling the whole time.
Audrey: I’m here and have Bailey first up.
Brody: That’s good. Made any friends?
Me: There’s no one here yet.
Brody: Well, I just wanted to wish you luck.
Me: Like you did this morning?
I smiled at my phone and waited for his response. I was so focused on my phone that I didn’t see where I was walking until it was too late. I walked straight into a wall.
A soft, yet firm wall. A wall that groaned and grabbed hold of me before I stumbled backwards.
“Shit. Watch where you’re walking,” the wall said.
I ducked my head, not wanting to look him in the eye. The guy was tall, broad. No wonder I thought he was a wall. “Sorry,” I muttered to my feet.
“Eyes are up here.” The guy grasped my chin and tilted my face up. Who the hell just touched someone like that when they didn’t know them? I flinched from his touch and refused to look at him. I didn’t want to see the horror in his eyes when he saw what I looked like. I stepped back, keeping my head ducked so my hair fell in my face. The perfect cover.
“Do I know you?” he asked.
I shook my head.
“You sure? I feel like there’s something familiar about you.”
I shook my head again, too afraid to open my mouth and speak for fear of throwing up all over his Chucks.
“Do you speak?” he asked slowly as if I were stupid. I scoffed and pushed past him.
“Sorry I walked into you. I’m going to be late,” I called back over my shoulder when I was further away.
“Ah, she speaks. Late for what? School doesn’t start for an hour,” he yelled back, but I chose to ignore him and hurried back to Bailey’s classroom. His laughter echoed down the hall.
Who was that guy?
I sat in Bailey’s classroom until the halls started filling with students, then I hid in the corner. My chest tightened, and it hurt to breathe. My palms were sweaty, and my legs shook. Where was Brody when I needed him? I wasn’t ready for this many people.
The door to the classroom opened and closed. I peered over to Bailey’s desk from where I was crouched on the floor and noticed a guy. He was tall. Really tall. Or maybe that was because I was sitting on the floor. His black t-shirt was tight and complemented the tattoo on his arm perfectly, since it was all black too. His golden-brown hair hung in waves below his ears. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, taking a deep breath. I knew him. Everything about him was familiar. The guy from the shop last week.
“I can feel you staring,” he said quietly.
I didn’t move. He couldn’t possibly know I was there.
“Audrey, right?”
I narrowed my eyes at him. How did he know that? We’d exchanged a few words last week, and I’d never told him my name. I pulled myself up and squared my shoulders. Confident.
“How’d you know?”
“Perks of being the principal’s son. You get the gossip on the hot new girls.”
Hot new girls. Did he mean me? No, he couldn’t have. I wasn’t hot. I was disfigured.
“But you’re new too. So, doesn’t that make everyone at the school new to you?”
“How do you know I’m new?”
“Perks of knowing the English teacher. You get warned about shit before you walk into it,” I said, hoping that statement wouldn’t get Bailey in any trouble. Surely she wasn’t allowed to share that sort of information, but then again, I figured the principal shouldn’t either.
He laughed. “Touché.”
I stared awkwardly at him. I didn’t know what to do or say. I didn’t know him.
“Wanna tell me why you’re hiding under the desk?”
“Why are you sneaking around classrooms?” I countered, shifting out from behind the desk.
“Because I don’t want to be here.”
“Same.”
“Want to skip class with me?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
What was it about this guy that made me feel at ease? It was the same last week when I was in the shop and he helped me.
“What? No!”
“You’re no fun. Come on. We’ll go to the beach or something.” He walked further into the room, closing the distance between us.
“Don’t you think your father is going to notice you missing from the school?”
“He wouldn’t care. I doubt he’d care if I dropped dead tomorrow. All he’s concerned about is his reputation.”
I frowned and swallowed thickly, folding my arms over my chest. I collapsed onto Bailey’s desk. How could someone be so blasé about death? I was sure his father would be heartbroken.
“Whoa, hey. What’s wrong?” The guy—the principal’s son, I didn’t even know his name—rushed over to me. “Why are you crying?”
I was crying? I didn’t even realise. I reached up and wiped the tears from my face. “You shouldn’t talk about death like that.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I just…” He took a deep breath and sighed. “All I’m trying to say is my father doesn’t pay me any attention. We never talk, never see each other. I’m only here because it looks bad on him if the principal’s son gets expelled from another school.”
“I’m sorry your family life is that way,” I tell him honestly, wondering why he was expelled from his last school but not curious enough to ask.
He shrugged and sat on the desk beside me. “Tell me about your family.”
I looked up at him because he was still so much taller than I was, even when he sat. His shoulders were even broader than Linc’s lifeguard shoulders. His blue eyes were like a stormy ocean sparkling back at me.
“They’re dead.” I stood and grabbed my bag, ready to leave.
“Hey, wait. Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” He reached for me, but I flinched and moved my arm from his grasp. If he noticed my reaction, he didn’t say.
“You weren’t to know.”
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Homeroom.”
“Can I walk you?”
“Only if you tell me your name,” I said and opened the classroom door.
“Bennett. Bennett Sawyer.” He smiled and held out his hand for me to shake. “Nice to meet you, Audrey. I think we’re going to be the best of friends.” And then he threw his arm over my shoulder and walked me the extra eight steps to the class across the hall.
“Thanks for walking me, bestie.” I laughed, not sure where the confidence was coming from, but Bennett Sawyer instantly put me at ease.
Chapter Twelve
Brody
After seeing the guys that morning, I had my shift covered so I could meet Audrey and take her to get a cupcake. It was her first day back at school, and everyone knew it, so I was sure Harper would have whipped up some rainbow cupcakes for her. She made Bailey peanut butter ones every other day.
I’d been anxious all day, wondering how she’d cope with being thrown
into public again. I knew she was strong and determined, but she still suffered from anxiety, and she could have a panic attack at any moment. No one would know what to do. No one would know not to touch her, to give her a cold drink, a cupcake, or to call me. Every time she had a panic attack, I was the one who could pull her out of it. Bailey knew enough, but she’d never think to call me if it happened.
Students were wandering around everywhere when I pulled up to the school. I slowed the car, looking for a parking space when I spotted Audrey. She was walking out of the building, bag over her shoulder, talking to someone holding the door open behind her. Had she made a friend on her first day, or was it Bailey coming out with her? Warmth settled in my chest as I watched her laugh. She had made a friend, even if it was Bailey, and that was incredible. One step at a time. One friend at a time. She was going to be okay.
A guy walked out behind her and dropped his arm across her shoulder. I clenched my fist around the steering wheel. Who was he? Was he even a student? He didn’t look like any guys I went to high school with.
He was huge. He’d put Jeremy to shame in both a height and muscle competition. He towered over Audrey, and his biceps were the size of her head as he reached over and snatched her bag from her. She protested, jumping up and trying to grab it back, but he only laughed and swung it over his shoulder. I couldn’t tell if he was being genuinely kind and carrying her bag for her, or if he was being a jerk and tormenting her.
He leaned down and said something to her as they walked along the path toward the parking lot. Audrey glanced over at a group of girls who were staring before quickly covering the side of her face with her hair and wrapping her arms around her waist. A tell-tale sign she was feeling intimidated and was ready to bail at any minute. He-man beside her hugged her tighter to his side and glared at the girls, who were still openly staring, before flipping them off as he passed. He shouted something to them that made Audrey giggle and the girls look offended.