I stared at the devil as he waited for me.
Then I typed in my code to let him through the gates.
I went outside and waited for him.
I heard his motorcycle long before I saw him.
And even when he appeared, he stopped where the driveway opened into a giant circle. He shut the motorcycle off and climbed off with attitude, stripping himself of his helmet and glasses.
He smoked his cigarette with his head slightly down, taking deep drags, walking as slow as the smoke that jumped from his mouth.
From the lights outside the house I caught the sight of his gray colored eyes.
They are wicked cool.
Icy, matching the attitude he gave off.
“So here I am, beauty,” he said.
“Your point?” I asked, safely from the top step.
Hil then started to walk the steps.
Shit.
“You just cost me a fun night,” he said.
“I didn’t cost you anything. You gave that up by acting like a perv.”
“So enjoying what I want makes me a perv to you?”
“I don’t want to hear about what someone is doing to you,” I said.
“Because it makes you jealous,” he said. “Right?”
“It makes me sick. Some no name girl… and she probably thinks she has a chance with you…”
Hil shook his head. “That’s where you’re way off, Belle. Anyone who knows me knows how it goes. I’ve never had a serious relationship in my life. My reputation is well known.”
I clapped for him. “Good for you, Hil.”
“Also… her name was Eve.”
“Let me guess,” I said, “you used her name to get her, right? Something like… this is the Eve of a night you’ll never forget…”
Hil laughed. “That’s good. But the eve is the night before. Close though. I just told her she puts the eve in forever…”
I laughed. “And she fell for it?”
“She laughed like you did,” Hil said. “Then I made my move.”
“Which was what?” I asked.
Hil moved fast.
Ohgod… so fast…
He was not only beyond the top step, but somehow he managed to toss his cigarette over my shoulder and put that hand to the small of my back.
His lips and eyes were way too close to mine.
I smelled the cigarette smoke on his breath.
“Fuck the small talk, beauty,” he whispered. “I have something much bigger waiting for you.”
My knees buckled but I fought to keep my senses straight.
I put my hands to his chest - muscle… there’s a lot of muscle there… - and pushed myself out of his reach.
“Nice try,” I said.
“I came to tell you something important,” he said.
“Which is what?”
“Don’t ever lump Uly in with me and Ash.”
“Really? You gave up getting action from For-Eve-r to tell me that?”
Hil nodded. “You have a lot to figure out about BFH, Belle. But start there.”
“What happened there?”
Hil shook his head.
“I know you and Ash are stepbrothers. And I know Uly is pretty crazy. He almost broke Ryan’s jaw for me.”
“For you, beauty, I would have made Ryan eat his own jaw,” Hil said.
“Is that even possible?” I asked.
“Maybe we’ll find out one day,” he said.
“Right,” I said. “Thanks for stopping by, Hil. I’m surprised you didn’t give my number to Ash too. So you both could bother me.”
Hil smirked. “I’m a little possessive, Belle. I don’t fucking share. I see. I get. I keep.”
“Then you toss, right?” I asked.
“When the time is right, sure.”
“Fuck you,” I said. “I’m not some rich, pampered bitch you can trample all over. Goodnight.”
“You forgot something, beauty,” he said.
I put my hands to my hips and shook my head. “What did I forget, Hil?”
He moved toward me slowly.
Slowly, and with purpose.
And I knew the purpose.
My brain and heart knew the damn purpose.
I could have stepped back, turned and ran, but no, I stood there and let him close in on me. I let him put his hands to my cheeks and pulled me toward him as he lowered his lips to mine.
It was just one kiss, but goodfuckinglord…
He pulled away, leaving me with the echoing sound of our lips coming apart.
“I never kissed her,” he whispered. “I was saving that one for you, Belle. Welcome to Bay Falls High. You’ve been chosen.”
Hil didn’t just back away.
He left.
He turned and walked down the steps, to his motorcycle, put his glasses and helmet on… and lit up a cigarette.
The motorcycle shook the ground and the house (at least it felt that way) as he rode away.
My eyes looked down to his other cigarette, still smoking on the ground.
I swallowed hard and felt my knees starting to shake.
What the hell did chosen mean?
ten
I lied to myself and said I slept just great.
That I didn’t toss and turn in the most comfortable bed in the world. That I didn’t walk to the window at the daybed a bunch of times to look outside. That I didn’t open another window and lean against the wall, smoking cigarettes at three in the morning.
I finally took that shower that I so desperately needed.
And when I exited the shower, there was a text message waiting.
It wasn’t from Hil.
I saved his number in my phone.
Labeled as Asshole Them 1.
This was another unknown number.
Morning, doll. How do you take your coffee?
Just seeing the word doll made my heart sink.
I didn’t reply to Uly.
Instead, I ran through my room like it was on fire, never getting dressed so fast in my entire life. My wet hair was a knotty mess as I ran through house to get downstairs. Because if Uly was somehow inside Jo’s house…
What? What would you do, Belle?
I didn’t know.
But I kept running.
And I cursed Jo in my head over and over for having such a big house.
I ran into the kitchen to find it empty.
And quiet.
There was coffee made but no cups poured.
There was breakfast in the fridge, labeled with my name.
I was out of breath.
Worst yet, I had to drag my ass back upstairs to finish getting ready and get my phone.
That felt like it took another two hours.
Uly had since texted me again.
I guess I’ll just surprise you. Park in the same spot. I’ll be waiting. Don’t break my heart, doll.
I wasn’t exactly sure what was going through my head as I replied back to Uly.
Little cream, lot of sugar
My heart thudded hard when I sent the text.
I wanted to use Uly.
To protect me.
Maybe.
I wasn’t sure what Hil meant by chosen.
But if he and Ash lived in the same house…
I closed my eyes and pictured Ash tearing that page out of my notebook.
Every little feature about him so cut, clean, and perfect.
And then Hil was almost like the opposite. He was sort of rugged, the bad boy in a leather jacket, smoking a cigarette without a care in the world.
I didn’t even know the story of Them and I felt like I was going to become the next part of their story.
It took me back to something my mother once said when I was seven years old and my old friend - Cara - and I were jumping off a small slide into a shallow plastic pool during a really hot summer day.
Someone is going to get hurt…
Uly stood on the curb, waiting for me.
Which was easy to do.
There were cameras in the car to guide me… these bars that showed up on the screen letting me know if I was straight or not.
It was amazing.
I got out of the car and grabbed my bag.
“Morning, doll,” Uly said as he handed me a coffee cup.
“You already said that.”
“I texted you that. Texting and talking are two different things.”
“Right.”
I sipped the coffee.
I smacked my lips together.
“Not bad,” I said.
“It’s perfect.”
“Says who?” I asked.
“Says me,” Uly said. He got close to me. “Don’t lie over coffee, Belle. Pick a better lie to tell. Something good about yourself maybe.”
“I have nothing to hide, Uly.”
“Why are you here then?”
“Because I want to be.”
“Why are you here…?”
“Because you said you were bringing coffee,” I said. “Coffee will make me come every time.”
Uly smiled big.
He had a gorgeous smile.
My face turned red.
“Oh, shut up,” I said. “You’re all pervs.”
Coffee will make me come… hahaha… so fucking funny…
“All?” Uly asked. “Who is all?”
I bit my lip and knew this was my moment.
To cross a very visible and thin line.
“You know… all. You all. Guys. Boys. Dudes.”
“No,” Uly said. He touched my hand. It sent shivers through my entire body. “You meant something else by that. Something specific.”
“Hey, what’s with the necklaces?” I asked.
I wanted to know but I also wanted to change the subject.
Abort, abort, abort… new mission… do not cross the line.
Uly looked down at his necklaces, then back at me. “I play guitar and I lost the girl I loved. Now tell me what you meant?”
My eyes went wide.
What was that?
I was flabbergasted. Confused.
Uly played guitar… and lost…
“Hil,” I muttered. “And Ash. But… Hil… last night…”
“What happened last night, doll?” Uly asked.
“Nothing.”
“Again, lie about something worth your time,” he said. “Don’t lie for Hil or Ash.”
I swallowed hard. “Okay, look, I know you hate each other. Or they hate you and you hate those two. But for me…”
“What happened with Hil and Ash?” Uly asked.
I shook my head. “They introduced themselves to me.”
“I’m sure they did,” Uly said.
Uly put his coffee down on the hood of my car.
He took two steps and I hurried to pull at his hand. “What are you doing?”
“Going to handle this,” Uly said.
I pulled harder at him. “No, you’re not. Don’t do anything because of me. Uly, stop.”
He turned and I ended up pulling myself into him.
I crashed against his hard body and was eye level with his necklaces.
The guitar pick.
The ring missing a diamond.
“My eyes are up here, doll,” he said.
I lifted my gaze. “Please.”
“I’ll let it slide for a kiss.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You know…” - don’t fucking do it, Belle… this isn’t like back home… - “Hil didn’t need to make a deal to kiss me.”
Uly’s lip curled high in the air. “You kissed him?”
“He kissed me,” I said.
“What else did he do to you?”
“What I do at night is my business, Uly.”
Now his nostrils flared.
I was making him jealous. Angry jealous.
Maybe I wasn’t supposed to like the feeling, but I did.
I really liked it.
Uly inched back. He brushed the back of his hand against my cheek and nodded.
“No deal then, Belle,” he said.
“I didn’t say that,” I said.
Uly was right back against me again. He turned me and pinned me against the car.
His lips brushed against mine and I shut my eyes.
Kissing two guys… one at night, one in the morning… oh, Belle, oh, fucking, Belle…
His lips tasted like coffee without sugar in it.
He parted my lips with his but he didn’t kiss me any deeper.
It was just a tease.
A really good fucking tease at that.
Uly moved away and grabbed his coffee.
“Happy now?” I asked him.
“I will be when I handle Hil,” he said.
“Wait a second,” I called out. “You said…”
Uly looked back and grinned. “I said no deal. The kiss was because I needed to see what you taste like. Good enough for now, doll, but I’ll need more soon.”
“Uly!” I called out. “Uly! Wait!”
But he was on the move.
I didn’t chase after him.
I slapped my forehead.
What the fuck do I do now?
I stood at my locker and waited for Lizzy.
She didn’t show, but Danica did.
“Hey, you,” she said to me. “How do you feel?”
“Fine,” I said.
The texts from Hil and seeing Uly made me forget all about the sips of vodka I had taken. Plus, I hadn’t even really been close to drunk at all. Just feeling good. Relaxed. And good. Until Hil got involved.
“Well, your girlfriend has the flu,” Danica said with a laugh.
“The flu?”
“Yeah. That’s what she calls it. Her parents are either stupid or just don’t care.”
“So no Lizzy today,” I said. “Great.”
“Why? What do you need? Another tour of the place?”
“No,” I said. “I’m… I’m just here, Danica. This whole thing with Them…”
She hooked her arm into mine. “Careful there, Belle. Just saying the word that way is risky. Let it all go. It’s all in the past.”
But it’s not…
I started to shake my head but Danica wasn’t looking at me.
“Where are you going now?” she asked me.
“Miss Whitaker,” I said. “The one class I’m actually looking forward to.”
“Ah, right, the bullshit creative writing class,” Danica said. “You can write anything you want, sloppy, unedited, and as long as you call it free verse you can’t get into trouble.”
I frowned.
That wasn’t how I was going to take the class.
“Come on, I’ll take you there,” Danica said. “I have that class now too. You’ll love Miss Whitaker. She’s all laid back and shit. She’s cute looking. Like a cliché looking teacher, you know? Like you picture her living in a small cottage in the woods. And she drinks tea. Doesn’t have TV. That kind of shit.”
“Is that how she really is?” I asked, not able to tell Danica that I had briefly met Miss Whitaker already.
She was the woman in the office talking to herself.
“Not if she lives here,” Danica said with a laugh.
She opened a heavy door and led the way inside.
Miss Whitaker stood at a big, messy desk with glasses on her head that pushed her curly hair back. She was wearing a sleeveless black dress that had different colored flowers all over it.
The room was big, colorful, artful, and busy.
There were quotes on the walls. The desks and tables were all in random spots.
Nothing was organized.
And I figured that was part of the appeal.
Miss Whitaker looked at me and smiled big. “Belle! I was hoping to see you today.”
“Shit, she knows you,” Danica said loud enough for Miss Whitaker
to hear. “Run!”
“Funny, Danica,” Miss Whitaker said. “Go find a corner to be sad in. Bye.”
Danica rolled her eyes and walked away.
She mouthed to me sorry and good luck as she walked away.
“I have something to show you,” Miss Whitaker said. “Or tell you. Or talk to you about. I’m not sure yet.”
“Okay…”
“Hope you didn’t think I was batshit crazy in the office,” she said with a smile.
There was something about her smile. Something edgy. She looked the part of a good girl teacher type…
“Come with me,” Miss Whitaker said. “Everyone else will settle in. Or not. Most think this class is bullshit.”
“You curse.”
“You don’t?” she asked.
“You’re a teacher…”
“Not by choice,” she said. “Well, I guess by choice. Those who can’t write, teach, right?”
“You’re a writer?”
“Once a writer, always a writer,” she said. “Now, let’s sit and talk about you for a second.”
“I don’t want to do that,” I said. “I don’t need some get to know you adventure thing. Please spare me that. I’m actually interested in this class. I swear. I have a notebook of stuff…”
“I wanted to show you your grade, Belle,” Miss Whitaker said.
“My grade?” I asked. “I’ve been here for thirty seconds.”
She laughed. “I like you. You’re definitely not from around here.”
She pulled back a chair on wheels and sat down. She pointed to a chair against the wall. It was orange and crooked.
It scratched against the floor as I pulled it toward the desk.
“So… why creative writing?” Miss Whitaker asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Why this class?”
“Because I’m desperate to graduate and needed something.”
“That’s a lie,” she said. “I’ve read what you have to say. It’s really good.”
“Yeah, but… what?” I asked. “You read what I have to say? Where? Do you know Jo? Dr. Thornburn?”
I caught myself leaning toward Miss Whitaker and whispering like I knew something very secret.
She leaned toward me. “Of course I know Dr. Thornburn. Not personally though. Why?”
“Then how do you… know about me?”
“The paper you left on my desk.”
NOT SO Innocent (Bay Falls High Book 4) Page 10