by C P Fleur
“We just came for some mozzarella sticks. No trouble, I promise.” He placed his palm against his heart, his lips spreading out in a devastating smile. The girl behind the counter shook her head but gathered together our order, snatching a bag from a carryout order that was waiting for someone to pick it up. I had a feeling her goal was to get us out as quickly as possible.
But when her gaze drifted over his shoulder, Lucas no longer looked so smug, and it caused panic to begin to spread in my chest.
He stiffened, and the girl behind the counter worried her lip between her teeth as she glanced behind us to the parking lot. I spun around to see a pickup truck full of teenagers in red jerseys pulling in a few spots over from Lucas’ car.
“If you let us slip out of the back door, you can keep the change... and your establishment intact.”
Her gaze fell to the bill in her hand as it shook. No matter how deep the school rivalry ran, this much cash was too much to pass up. She nodded once and pointed to the hallway behind her.
Grabbing the fresh bag of food from the counter, he guided me back the narrow hallway and out of a backdoor.
“You’re welcome,” he called out to me, his eyes scanning the parking lot.
“For nearly getting us killed by the Edgewood football team?” I huffed.
“For saving you from getting killed by the football team. And I also just made you one of the most talked-about students at Briarwick, second to me, of course.”
I shook my head. My mother would be so mad at me if she could see me now. “Thanks,” I bit out.
“Lesson number four – Have a getaway plan.” I couldn’t tell if him using my lessons was to tease more or if he genuinely wanted to help.
“What if she wouldn’t have taken your money?” I asked.
“It wasn’t about the money. She didn’t want to clean up the mess.”
“You guys take this school rivalry thing way too seriously.”
We stopped along the side of the building, waiting for the sound of the front door to close before we made a mad dash for his car.
“Get in. You’re driving.”
“Really?” I asked, unable to hide my excitement.
I squealed as I made my way to the driver’s side and slipped into the seat. “Are you sure?” I asked as he settled in beside me. He pulled out his phone, tapping out a message to someone before his eyes met mine.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean, Nova,” he replied. “Now, let’s get out of here before they catch us.”
I pushed the button on the dash, and the car roared to life, the radio lighting up and blaring Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.
We drove for about fifteen minutes until I found an old park complete with basketball courts and a large weeping willow with branches that tickled the top of the swing set.
We made our way to the swings and sat down next to each other as I began to eat my food. I held out the bag to him, but he waved it away.
“Why did you decide to come to Briarwick?” he asked, and I shrugged, finishing my bite before responding.
“Why not? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” I replied, mocking my mother’s voice, but it made my stomach pang. I missed her. “Honestly, I needed something different.”
He thought that over for a minute as I took another bite. “You certainly came to the right place for different.”
“My father went to Briarwick. I mean, that’s what my mom told me.”
“It must have been tough growing up without him.”
“He hasn’t come around since I was little.” I shook my head, not wanting to elaborate. “What about you?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time,” I replied, my eyebrow cocked, but he just shook his head.
“That guy,” his eyes slid to me before drifting back over the field ahead of us. “You loved him, didn’t you?”
My nose scrunched up in confusion before my stomach churned. That guy. Wyatt. The picture he had seen on my phone. “My best friend. Yes, of course.” My voice was barely a whisper, but he’d heard me. My vision blurred, and I looked down at the brown paper bag in my hand as I let a tear slip from my lashes. I swiped it away quickly, hoping my hair had acted as enough of a curtain to shield the moment.
“Don’t cry,” he said, his eyes never looking in my direction. I sniffled and cleared my throat, embarrassed.
“I’m not.”
“You’re still not over it?” he asked before adding, “His death?”
I glanced up to look at him, my eyes locked on his profile. “What makes you think he’s dead?”
He turned now, studying my face. His trademark smirk was now tugging down at the corners. He didn’t speak, and I had to say something to break the awkward silence.
“Hit by a drunk driver. You never really get over something like that.”
“I lost people close to me too,” he replied, his voice never wavering.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, reaching out to place my hand on his arm. He recoiled from my touch, and I let my arm fall to my side.
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” Pushing to his feet, he made his way back to his car, slipping into the driver seat. I hurried after him, not wanting to be stranded at the park.
Tugging on my seatbelt, I clutched my bag of half-eaten food to my chest as we wound our way down the curvy roads back into Bixby, not speaking a word to each other.
“Thank you,” I mumbled as I shoved open my door, fighting not to break out in a full sprint again.
Lucas grabbed my wrist, causing me to freeze in my seat, one foot on the gravel. I turned back to look at him; his eyes fixed ahead. I forced myself to ignore the way every nerve ending in my body vibrated like a strummed guitar.
“I don’t like to talk about my past.” His gaze slid to me before he released his grip on my arm. I swallowed back the lump in my throat, nodding once. I knew what it felt like to blame the world when you lose someone you love.
My teeth pressed into my bottom lip. “Do you want to... come hang out?” I asked. The side of his mouth curved up before he pushed open his door.
We still didn’t talk as we walked toward the building, but it wasn’t awkward like the drive had been. It wasn’t until I’d opened the door to my room that I was genuinely speechless.
“What happened?” I asked as I slipped inside the pristine space. My mess from my temper tantrum was gone, the extra bed and dresser vanished. Even the bedding had been replaced with a white down comforter, and a curtain hung to obscure the view of the bars that lined the window. In the center of the floor, where I’d slept away the day, was now a fluffy fur rug.
“I told you I would make sure it was taken care of for you.”
For you. I felt my cheeks heat, and a blush began to creep over my skin. No one had ever done something this nice for me before. “You didn’t have to do this –”
“It was a sacrifice I was happy to make.” His eyes met mine, searching. “I owed you.”
My eyes narrowed, my hands perched on my hips. “So what do you get out of it? People are selfish, right?”
His lips quirked up at the corners. “You’re the first person, in a very long time, who doesn’t look at me like I’m some sort of monster, no matter how badly I treated you.”
“You felt guilty.”
“I feel... grateful.”
Thoughtless, I threw my arms around his neck as I squealed. The feeling I’d felt from his touch before now amplified. My body melted against him.
He stiffened, his palms coming down on my sides as he took a step back, removing me from his body. His eyes were searching mine like he’d felt it too. It was a palpable charge, hanging in the air around us like static fog. Goosebumps scattered across my flesh as a chill skittered up my spine.
“I’m –” My palms flew up to cover my mouth, embarrassed. His fingers circled my wrist, the pulsing charge between us, causing my skin to grow warm as he slowly tugged my hand from my face.
&
nbsp; When he spoke, his voice was low and calm, the exact opposite of myself. “Rule number five – you can run, but you can’t hide... not from me.”
“I’ve never been that great at following the rules,” I whispered as my heart attempted to calm itself, his face a hair’s breadth from mine.
He shook his head, his free hand brushing a few wisps of my long hair from my face and tucking it behind my ear. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
Lucas
Warmth flooded me. Every little connection, every touch melted its way through my body, pulsing in the tissue and clinging to the ligaments. I was so close I could taste her in the air; the cool mint flavor of her chapstick, the sweetness of her honey vanilla body spray. The throbbing of her blood through her veins drummed a beat I could feel in my fingertips. If I moved a fraction of an inch closer, our lips would touch, so I took a step back, clearing my throat.
Her eyes went to her dresser behind me, locking in on the leather-bound notebook. “A new notebook?” She squealed. “It’s perfect!”
“You like it.”
She nodded, her cheeks tinging pink as her eyes found mine. “I like it.”
I smiled too because I knew she was talking about more than just the journal. My phone vibrated in my pocket, but I ignored it. The only person I wanted to talk to was standing right in front of me. “I’m glad I didn’t scare you away today,” I confessed.
“I’m tougher than I look.” Her lips turned up in a grin as dimples settled deep in her cheeks.
I was counting on that, but I swallowed back my reply. Instead, my eyes danced around the newly decorated room. “If there’s anything else you need, just let me know. I’ll make sure you get it.”
She nodded and her gaze followed mine. “This is already too much.” That’s when her eyes landed on the small bookshelf stuffed full of her favorite stories, including a first edition copy of Wuthering Heights.
“This is my favorite book,” she cried out, grabbing it from the shelf and flipping through the pages. “How did you –”
“Everyone loves Brontë,” I replied with a shrug. She rocked forward and back on her heels like she was going to hug me again but stopped herself. I was thankful. It was tough enough pushing her away the first time, and I wasn’t sure I could do it again.
“My father left a copy of this book the last time he visited my mom,” she whispered, her smile faltering momentarily. “If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be...” she quoted, looking down at the tattered cover lovingly. And even if Brontë had conjured those words all those years ago, today, they were rewritten on Nova’s lips, for me. “Have you read it?”
I nodded, forcing my mouth into a straight line. I’d lost count of how many times I’d flipped through those pages over the years. “...and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.”
“I used to get made fun of for how much I liked to read at my old school.”
“They didn’t know what they were missing.” I took a small step closer to her, unable to keep myself from being pulled into her orbit.
“Do y-you have a favorite?” she asked, and I didn’t miss the waver in her voice, her nerves getting the best of her again. Nova tended to stutter when she was overwhelmed.
I thought it over for a moment. “I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
Nova’s eyes narrowed as she worried her lip between her teeth.
“Alice in Wonderland,” I added, causing her to laugh.
“That’s kind of how I feel here, actually,” she confessed.
“Like you’re a different person?”
“Like I’m in Wonderland.”
“It will get easier. I promise.”
Shaking her head, her eyes went to the book in her hand. “I’m not really sure that’s true.”
“At least you have a few good books to pass the time.”
“And a friend.” Her hopeful eyes met mine now as her cheeks darkened.
Rule 5: You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide
Nova
MY FAVORITE NEW ADDITION to my room was the small flatscreen that sat on top of my dresser, and the moody teenage boy who’d decided to make himself a fixture. I sprawled out across my bed as Lucas lounged on my new rug, one of my fluffy pillows tucked under his head as we watched season one of Vamp Camp. Unfortunately, I missed most of the dialogue as Lucas rambled on about how unbelievable the plot was. Not that I could focus anyway, with my eyes constantly being dragged toward the floor to where he sprawled out, studying the angular planes of his face, the steady ticking of the muscles in his jaw as he contemplated something.
“This is what passes for entertainment?” He questioned – again – for the millionth time.
“None of it makes sense, Lucas. They’re dead,” I groaned, tossing my pillow at him, which he caught before it touched his face. He slipped it under his head to prop himself up further, a lazy smile on his lips as he angled himself to face me.
“It should still be plausible,” he retorted. “She didn’t even hesitate after he told her he was a vampire. It’s not realistic. Where is her sense of self-preservation?”
“Maybe she loved him,” I shrugged, falling back on my bed and staring up at the ceiling.
“Maybe she’s an idiot.”
“Maybe.” Twisting back onto my side, I propped my head on my hand. “Alright, spill it. Who broke your heart?”
“What?” A flicker of pain marred his hard features.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“You’re delirious. You need to sleep.” Pushing to his feet, he tossed my pillows gently onto my stomach.
“Rule number five.”
His eyes narrowed. “Those are your rules, not mine.”
“That’s not fair.” I got up as well, standing in front of him with my arms folded across my chest. “Rule number five. You can run, but you can’t hide. You’re hiding. You’re scared.”
“Scared?” He took a step toward me, the light of the television flickering against the side of his face. “Of you?”
I felt my heart rate spike, my entire body vibrating with anticipation of his next touch. “Of the truth.”
“What do you know about the truth?” There was no malice in his voice, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that maybe there was a concern.
“I know it hurts to talk about things sometimes, but it helps. It will make you feel better.”
“You want the truth, Nova?” He stepped forward, his breath now fanning across my face. “The truth is, you don’t belong here. And everyone else here knows it but you.”
“Why does it bother you so much that I’m here?” I asked, my brows pulling together. Lucas took a step back.
His eyes danced around the room as he shrugged. “Because you don’t belong.”
“You already said that.”
“Maybe I was hoping that if I’d repeated it, you would get the hint.”
“So, you want me to leave?”
He shook his head, his fingers ghosting over the shell of my ear, and he tucked my hair behind it. My eyes fell closed, relishing in his touch and wishing I could lean into it, but I was afraid he’d step away again.
“I didn’t say that.”
I slowly blinked my eyes open to see him studying my face. I felt my body being pulled toward him, leaning in fractionally, my tongue running out to wet my lower lip as my mouth suddenly went dry. His gaze fell, watching the movement, before locking onto my eyes again.
A knocking at my door startled me, causing me to jump. But Lucas didn’t even flinch his eyes never leaving mine.
“Mr. Carter, I suggest you don’t keep me waiting,” Fellows bellowed from the other side of the thick wood.
“How did he know you were in here?” I whispered. The door opened, the hinges were now silent from being oiled. Lucas took a step back from me, putting some distance between us.
&nbs
p; “You know the rules about keeping the door open in mixed company,” he muttered, fumbling with his cufflink as his eyes danced around the cramped space. “This place looks... nice.”
“Y-yes,” I stammered. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” his eyes snapped to Lucas. “This wasn’t my doing.”
I looked over at Lucas, but his gaze fell to the floor between us.
“I heard you took our newest pupil out of town today.” His tone was ice cold. “To Edgewood territory.”
“She was hungry,” Lucas replied, no hint of emotion in his voice.
“And, you are reckless.” Fellows bit out, his face not hiding the fact that he was livid. “If something would have happened –”
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to her,” Lucas snapped, cutting off Fellows mid-sentence. “I had to know –”
“It wasn’t your place,” he yelled so loudly goosebumps prickled my skin.
“Don’t you even want to know how it went?”
“I already know what occurred, Mr. Carter. You broke the rules. You put Nova in danger. And now there will be consequences for your actions.”
“It was my fault,” I blurted out, causing both of their glares to snap to me.
“You don’t need to do that, Nova,” Lucas replied, shaking his head.
“No, Ms. Ambroise, you don’t need to lie for him. We all know whose fault this is.” His eyes searched Lucas, and I could tell that their heated exchange went deeper than us going off-campus.
“It won’t happen again.” I took a step between them. “I promise.”
“Good. Playtime is over. Mr. Carter,” he took a step back and waved his hand toward the door. Lucas slipped out in the hallway without so much as a goodbye. Fellows followed after him, and I had a feeling their discussion was just beginning.
I fell back onto my bed, grabbing my cell phone and tapping out a quick message to Lucas, letting him know that I was sorry for getting him in trouble with Fellows. He didn’t respond.
Lucas
“They didn’t recognize her,” I spat, following Fellows down the hallway. “She isn’t in danger out there. She doesn’t need to be here.”