“What is going on Lannie?” I stare at him as he hands me a water bottle.
“My parents came home. They also informed me that in two months there moving to Nevada. Without me. Which that is okay, because I can keep the house, and when I go upstate for college they will buy me a condo, and sell the house.” I shake my head as I take a drink of water.
“Wow. Shitty move. I thought that side of the family hates you.” I nod waiting for him to get the hint that they do, which means other than them coming to see me I more than likely will never see them or my brother.
“Oh.” He whispers. I sit there unsure what to do. I look at the clock and notice that it’s after eleven. I didn’t even realize he was in sweat pants only. I tore my eyes away from him.
“Want to crash here? I have a spare bedroom. I don’t mind.” I smile and nod my head. He shows me the room and I thank him before he walks out. I lie down and it smells just like him. I toss and turn unable to sleep. After an hour I get up and walk around. Once I step out of the bedroom door I freeze thinking if I should go into his room to see if he was asleep. I forgot my phone at home. I sneak down stairs and out the front door. I need my phone and it has my money in it. I could make this week go by quick with a trip. I sneak into my house and grab my things before heading to the door.
“Lannie.” My dad’s voice is a whisper.
“Yeah?” He walks towards me and looks sad.
“I do love you. It’s just Mark needs family and you’re about to move. It is best we move. Are you leaving?” I nod. I get it, I did, but it still hurts like hell.
“I love you dad. It’s just I need space. I am suspended for a week, why not go somewhere?” He pulls his wallet off the foyer and hands me another credit card.
“This one doesn’t have a limit. I love you baby girl.” I give him a hug, and walk out the door to my car. I debate on going back to J’s house. Deciding against it I start my car. I send Ashley a text telling her I’m going to be MIA for the week and will see her Friday.
I wake up with the birds chirping outside of the window. I have been here for two days now. I am leaving tomorrow to head back into town. I know Ashley was coming out today after school to stay the night with me. Her mom gave her permission to miss a day of school. I was excited, but still haven’t got my shit together. I walk out onto the balcony overlooking the ocean; West Palm Beach was the perfect getaway. I shut my phone off and haven’t had contact with no one other than Ashley who has called the land line here. I hated feelings, pain, the hurt, the sorrow, but most of all the broken. The pain that I feel is so hard to explain that I just can’t express it. I have slept around with five guys since I have been here. It’s a means of escapes for me, but still I feel isolated and I hate it. I still have my mom’s phone call fresh in my mind.
“Baby, why are you running? What has running solved in the past?” She hisses angrily through the phone.
“You know what? I am not running, I am escaping. Running doesn’t do shit, but escaping now that right there does wonders.” I roll my eyes at her. Luckily she couldn’t see me or that would have been a back hand to the face.
“Well I think that it is a stupid thing to do and you need to get your ass back home now. Or I will come get you.” Seriously?
“Oh really? You’re the freaking reason I am here. Don’t you get it? You are the one who just told me you rather live in a state where the family hates your daughter than live with your daughter. That to me in my book is fucked up. Than you turn around and take the only family I have, Mark, I love him and have been the one raising him. Where the hell where you? Which island where you at when he fell out of the tree and broke his arm? Hawaii, Barbados, or were you in London, Paris, Rome? So you can go shove that family right up your ass. I will not be in that house until you are gone. I hate you!” I shout through the phone.
“Really? You are a spoiled brat talking to your mother like that, that is uncalled for. I guess this is goodbye than.” I hang the receiver up, frustrated as hell.
That conversation has been taking a huge toll on me. I am assuming that she called Ashley, because moments later Ashley called saying she would be here Thursday night. I light up a cigarette hoping that it relieves some frustration. I wonder where Ashley is wanting to take me Friday. I am also scared that I have nowhere to live. I hear the doorbell bringing me out of my thoughts. I look down as I stand at the door. I am wearing a sports bra and short shorts. This should be fun. I laugh opening the door to see Gage standing there. What the hell? He’s been a few times on Ashley and I adventures it just still blows my mind that he is standing here in front me though.
“Nice outfit La.” I laugh as I hold the door open to let him in.
“What do I owe the pleasure of having you here?” He chuckles as he sits on the couch patting the edge of it.
“I want to see how you’re doing? Ash is worried, she keeps talking about you as if you died. I heard everything though. I want you to know, that we frat guys love you like a sister. We have you.” I smile, I love that I fit in. That I have all these brothers.
“I am actually doing okay. I have had the escape I needed and now Ashley’s going on and on about tomorrow night.” He laughs
“She didn’t tell you where you guys were going?” I look up to his sharp blue eyes, and shake my head. What the hell, now I am scared.
“Oh this should be fun.” I laugh. I need this.
“So what are you doing today?” He arches his brow.
“Honey, I’m here with you for the day until Ash gets here. My buddy’s bringing her. I figured being alone all the time can get pretty boring. Am I right?” I laugh and nod. I was getting bored of the same guys, same memo, and mostly, the same thing every night.
“Well than, let’s go to the beach. You can keep the surfer boys off me.” He laugh as he walks outside and I go to the room to get ready. I thought that I wanted to be alone and have space from reality, but I found out that I just wanted away from Miami, and my mom. I quickly change into a new bikini that’s a halter top, but covers my boobs and its lime green with black bottoms. I slip on my shorts and flip flops and grab a towel and head downstairs.
“Ready La?” I look up and nod at Gage, as we walk out the back door, and down to the beach. We lay on the beach while I watch the girls eyeing Gage. I laugh because, he is a hottie!
“You know La, when I first met you, two years ago after the accident. You know when you showed up at the frat party and went off on Rhonda the leaders girlfriend, because she said no skanks allowed. That moment right there I fell in love with. You were my target, but damnit little did I know that you would bring Ashley into my life. She is it for me. I know cheesy. Dude wants girl, but falls for the best friend.” I smile at that memory. Oh my god I was a wreck. I am glad Ashley found Gage.
“Oh I remember that night like it happened yesterday. I woke up in bed with that guy that I didn’t even know. Rhonda was a little feisty thing huh? I almost hit her and wouldn’t have regretted anything. After everything that had happened I needed that night. It is funny, because I heard that the frat parties were awesome, and that nobody could just walk in there if they didn’t know you, or party with them. I sure in the hell did.” He chuckles and I stared up at the sky. My heart breaks for Chad. He use to brag about all the parties and I just wanted to live for him. Experience it all.
“Oh what about Brandon? He’s just consumed by you. He called you a firecracker all night.” I pause as he mentions that name. Is it tied to the guy who has been texting me or is it another guy.
“I remembering being called firecracker by some guy, but honestly that whole night was a blur after I started drinking. Then after the next party that was my name, firecracker. It was you who finally asked me for my real name. I do remember that. So who is this Brandon guy?” He looks at me with a confused look. I have a feeling I don’t want to know, just then hands go over my eyes and I jump when I hear her voice.
“Hey bitch! I fucking missed you.”
I grab her hugging her.
“Me too. So why are you here early?” She beams at me.
“Early release slut. Not really, but the fire alarm went off at school and got stuck by the time the fire department got there they said it be an hour, so mom dismissed school and I high tailed it out of there.” I smile at her as the hairs on my neck stand up. I rub my hands over it, and ignore the feeling that I just got.
“Hello Lannie.” It’s simple, but yet does things to me. I look to Gage who is smiling as well as Ashley. Seriously? No warning?
“Hello sir. Pleasure that you could bring my bestie here with me.” Gage stands up as I do. He is about to say something when I see the look in J’s eyes that tells me something is said, but no words are spoken.
“Trust me the pleasure is all mine. So what are your plans?” I shrug I was literally going to do nothing today until Ashley got here. I need to really talk to her about everything.
“Well considering I didn’t expect anyone, but Ashley I guess nothing.” He walks up to me and the look in his eyes is so raw and hungry that it makes me cross my legs as I feel this sensation down there. I have had plenty of sex this week, but standing here in front of him staring into those eyes makes me feels as though I have never had sex.
“Well then maybe we should make plans for dinner.” My breath hitches as he leans down and whispers in my ear the next sentence.
“I can think of a good dessert.” I have nothing to say. I remain speechless right in front of Ashley and Gage. Oh shit their still here. I look over and Ashley eyes are wide and Gage has a smirk on his face.
“Umm...” I clear my throat trying to speak. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.” I walk off to wrap my head around what just happened. I walk into the house and dart to the bathroom. I stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair in a messy curly, bun on top of my head. My face is blushed with red, and my eyes still show the desire that he makes me feel. I jump when there is knock on the bathroom door. I open to see him standing there, he is wearing denim blue jeans, Hanley shirt, and yet again another pair of DC shoes, but damnit if he wasn’t the best site there ever was.
“Can I help you?” I say not showing that I’m melting right here on this floor.
“I was just going to ask you the same thing. Lannie, do you need my help.” I bite the inside of mouth as I realize that this right here is what fire is. As my motto goes “if you are going to play with fire you are bound to get burned“.
“Maybe, you see there this itch that I have that I just can’t seem to scratch. I was going to ask someone else, but since you so kindly asked maybe you could help.” Game on. His eyes are huge, but the smirk proves that he isn’t backing down. He walks in and shuts the bathroom door locking it. I turn to face the mirror as he stands behind me locking eyes onto mine. He leans down to my ear. I can feel the heat of his breathe on me.
“Where is this itch at? I hear that I am fabulous at itching. Care to test the theory?” I close my eyes as he starts to kiss my neck moving to my shoulders. A tiny moan escapes my lips as he sucks in a breathe. He starts to move to the other shoulder and I can no longer last. I turn around as I see the hunger in the eyes. Our mouth crash together. I grab his neck deepening the kiss. I moan in pleasure and he lifts me onto the bathroom sink.
“Oh my god Lannie. I am not going to be able to stop this. You have to be the one.” I shake my head no, as he slides his index finger into my panties, finding just the right place. I hear a knock on the door and J pulls his finger out making an sshh motion. The knock comes again.
“Yeah?” j shouts and I smile as he sucks his finger with my cum on it.
“Hey sir, its Ashley I can’t find Lannie. Have you seen her?” He looks into my eyes, making every fiber in my body to not laugh.
“Nope, I did see her head upstairs though.” He smirks.
“Okay.” He turns to me and I smile.
“You taste like heaven. Where was I?” He was about to do it again when the knock came again.
“Damnit what?” This time it was Gage.
“Are you really alone?” I try not to laugh, and J does too.
“Yeah, why?” Then what comes out of Gage mouth causes my head to become fuzzy and unsure.
“Brandon don’t fuck with me man. She’s missing and I can’t find her. I mean us. Either you know where she is at, or you don’t, but don’t dick us around on a chase.” I stare at him. He just said Brandon. Like Brandon. Ugh.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Your name is Brandon?” I hop off the counter swinging the door open and shoving past Gage. I cannot believe this. I hear Gage mumble shit as I walk up the stairs, and in my room I see Ashley. She stares at me waiting for me to cool my head.
“La, honey. Are you okay?” I glare at her. I walk to the balcony and plop on the chair. I hear the muffling of voices, and moments later Gage appears by me.
“La, listen. I tried to tell you, but then Ashley showed up. You know I would never keep shit from you.” Whatever. I can’t believe this is happening.
“So let me get this right. This guy is Brandon, the same one that been texting me, the same one who’s brother is Chad, and the one that called me firecracker? Or are there more Brandon’s?” He sigh’s as he sits and lights a cigarette.
“I didn’t know about the texting until Ashley was going on and on about it one day. Then I figured it out. I knew that you needed someone to talk to about that night so I pushed you to go to the BBQ. The firecracker, yeah that is him. I thought you knew already, but I guess not.”
“Ugh can it get any worse?” He smiles at me and nods.
“Rhonda was his girlfriend or play thing.” I start laughing. Ashley walks out and has a smile on her face.
“Seriously?” He nods. I sit here for a moment and realize that our paths have always collided together, but nothing has changed. He is a teacher and I almost slept with him. So how can it be the same?
“La, you need to talk to him.” I shake my head no,
“Fine, then let’s go watch a movie where it has to be silent, because he isn’t going anywhere till tomorrow.” I roll my eyes as I roll in suite down to the living room. He wasn’t there and I was thankful, but hurt. We find a movie that I’ve heard of and I crawl up on the love seat while Gage and Ashley cuddle on the couch. I feel my eyes getting heavy, and I fall into a slumber of sleep.
“Hey sleepy head want to wake up?” I shift on the couch to see the darkest brown eyes staring at me. Ugh J, I mean Brandon is staring at me. I need answers and I am hoping that he can provide them.
“Yeah, sorry I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you. I meant lay on you. So do you think that we can talk?” I stretch my legs out and go into the kitchen to get me a bottle water and hope that he is prepared to talk to me.
“Yeah we can talk.” I sit down looking at the couch to see that Gage and Ashley are asleep.
“Let’s go outside so that way we are alone to talk. I have so many questions and am beyond confused.” He nods as we get up and head out back to the patio. I was nervous I should have known when he said that he was Chad’s brother, because Chad only mentioned one. And his name was Brandon I just figured that since we weren’t a couple that he didn’t have to tell me. I don’t get the lying. I am as blunt as they come and the more I think about it the more pissed I become. I sit on the reclined chair and light a cigarette. I exhale and wait for him, because he needs to start this.
“Look La, I am sor…” I glare at him cutting him off.
“Don’t you call me La, only my friends can call me that? And you are NOT my friend.” I hiss in his face falls and I see the hurt and anger flash before his eyes. He steps closer to me and leans down so we are eye level.
“I am your friend. Whether you want to believe it or not. I am the one who stood by you and felt the pain with you as you cried over the hurt from that so called family of yours. I am the one who lost his brother the same one that you claimed to love. And I am the one you ran to when you got bad news
. So yes sweetheart I am your friend.” His chest is raising and falling so hard that I can’t do anything, but stare. He’s right, but he also lied.
“Friends don’t lie.” Was all I could whisper?
“I did lie, but damnit do you know how much trouble you are? You are walking talking trouble. I could lose my job if they found out that I kissed and almost fucked you. I lied, because when it came down to it I could lie. It was a mobile app I used for J and my real number for Brandon. You are like the devil and all I want to do is lose my sin in you. I don’t get it. I have never felt this way. So yeah I lied.” He was right. He could get into trouble, I knew he could, but it was hard to resist him too. When outside of school he was this carefree person as if there wasn’t an age difference.
“Well then I will walk away from you. I will leave you alone other than hanging with Ashley and Gage I won’t contact, talk, or make sexy remarks. So there. I am going to bed. Bye Brandon.” I walk away back in the house as I hear him mumble shit under his breathe. I walk over to the couch and see that Gage and Ashley are gone, they must have went to the guest room. I slip back into my room and lay on the bed. Unable to sleep I turn Spotify on my phone and Collide comes through the speakers. I stare at the ceiling thinking if this is the man upstairs plan. Let me have control for two years and the final year have my life come crashing down before me. Giving me so many obstacles that I can’t seem to figure out which way is up. Funny because I am looking up but feel as though I am not. I can’t help but laugh. Really though what is different? I saw a quest tried to conquer him and in the end I got played at my own game. I need to stick with guys who are not teachers. That is rule number one. I need a new quest. I hear a faint knock on my door, I roll over as a new song begins to play Superman (It’s not easy) I feel the burn of the tears as I hear the door open and slid across the carpet. I feel the bed shift as someone sits on it. I wait for them to speak.
Trouble Page 7