Rebel Cause (Boys of Fallout Book 3)

by Cassandra Giovanni

  My body tingles as I look between the two of them. Mom puts her hands up as she shrugs.

  “What can I say, I was a little bit of a rebel,” she says.

  “Probably why she fell for the musician,” Dad replies, and his eyes twinkle as he looks down at her.

  Dad stopped playing guitar once my brother and I were born, but he’s still passionate about it. He tried to teach me but didn’t have the patience which is why Kellin ended up showing me how, much to Dad’s relief.

  “We should go eat before dinner gets cold,” Lindy says, nodding over her shoulder as awkward silence sets in. “I made lasagna.”

  We follow her into the dining room and sit down. At first, we eat quietly and then Kellin’s mom, Clary, clears her throat, looking up at me.

  “Now that you’re…newly beautified…remember what I’ve always told you–it’s the jocks you have to worry about,” she reminds me, pointing her fork as I look across the table at her son.

  “Not the quiet musician types,” I complete her sentence.

  “Exactly,” she replies, squeezing Kellin’s arm right where his long sleeve Henley covers the beginning of his sleeve.

  Kellin raises his eyebrows at me, and I wrinkle my nose back at him as I bite my lip exactly where his lip piercing would be if he hadn’t taken it out.

  Lindy chokes on her food, and Kellin and I both shoot her a look as she holds in her laughter.

  “Yeah, Kell’s just a perfect angel with that miracle voice of his,” she says.

  Clary gives him a soft smile, before looking at me. “Now don’t go getting all tattooed up.”

  I watch as Kellin’s face pales, and he moves his lasagna around his plate without looking up. I swallow hard, knowing that if this conversation goes where I think it’s headed, he’ll never tell them.

  “One or two is fine,” Kellin’s dad, Jim, says, his lips in a thoughtful pout as he takes a drink of his soda.

  “Sure, sure,” Kellin’s mom adds, “Just not going overboard…and there are certain places.”

  Kellin chokes on his drink. “Mom, I don’t think Reese would do that.”

  Clary looks mortified for a second. “No, I mean like the chest area.”

  I watch as Kellin winces. I want the conversation to end, but Lindy doesn’t seem to get the apparent tension that now fills the room.

  “Now does that go for just girls or guys too?” Lindy asks, and I kick her again. She narrows her eyes at me before smiling at their mom.

  Clary blinks a few times, before looking at Jim, who shrugs. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care either way. “Both I would think…plus, it seems painful.”

  Lindy’s chin just out as she looks over at her brother. “I’ve heard they’re not that bad, isn’t that–ri?”

  This time I kick her hard, and she bites her lip to keep from yelping.

  “What do you think, Mr. White, are tattoos acceptable?” Lindy asks Dad.

  He glances over at Mom with a smile, and her eyes could spit venom from the way she’s looking at him. Apparently, Mom’s really a rebel and doesn’t want anyone to know it.

  “I don’t mind them at all,” he replies with a shrug, and I watch him jump slightly. It seems Mom has the same idea about kicking people to make them shut up.

  “Mrs. White?” Lindy continues, and I look over at Kellin. He’s still staring at his food. I want to kill his sister.

  “I hear most people regret them when they’re older,” Mom replies and she’s still staring Dad down.

  “Is that so?” Lindy says, cocking her head and looking at Kellin.

  My lips purse as I stand. “Dessert, Lindy?”

  “Sure,” she replies, giving me a sugar sweet smile that doesn’t reflect in her eyes. I have no idea if this is her idea of sibling rivalry or if she’s mad at Kellin for something else.

  I follow her into the kitchen. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “What’s the matter with you?” she asks, turning on her heel. “You bruised my leg!”

  “You deserved it. What are you trying to play at?” I ask, crossing my arms.

  “I was just joking around,” she replies as she grabs plates from the cabinet. “Kellin shouldn’t take it so seriously.”

  “Lindy, you know how Kellin feels about them knowing about that stuff!”

  She turns around, handing me the plates as she raises her eyebrows and purses her lips. “He should just tell them.”

  I shake my head at her. “Of course you’d think it’s that easy. You’re perfect to them.”

  “What’s that supposed to me?” Lindy asks, her head jerking back as she pauses at the microwave where the pie is.

  I sigh. “It’s just not that easy, and you shouldn’t tease him about it.”

  “Fine, but why isn’t he in here telling me this?” she asks, one hand on her hip.

  My jaw drops. “You should’ve been able to tell by the look on his face.”

  Lindy takes the pie out, grabbing a knife. “I guess I don’t know him like you do.”

  “Are you jealous of Kellin and I’s relationship?” I ask, and she turns to face me.

  Her face is pale. “I found out where you went when you blew me off.”

  I look at the ceiling before shaking my head. “So because I went with him to get his last tattoo you decide you want to out him to your parents? That’s not fair, Lindy. You know how important his tattoos are to him.”

  “Yeah,” she says as she glares at me. “And I now know where on the importance scale I stand with you.”

  I grab her arm as she goes to leave. “That’s not fair, Lindy. It was a stupid blind date. I’ve been with Kellin for every tattoo he’s gotten.”

  She shrugs off my arm. “I suppose everything I want to do is stupid.”

  “Oh, no, Lindy. You’re not going to pull that with me. I mean look how it turned out. Tyler wouldn’t have liked me anyway, and the whole thing would’ve been hella awkward,” I say, shaking my head.

  She arches a perfect blonde brow at me. “And this isn’t? You chose my brother over me. We’re supposed to be best friends.”

  “Come on, Lind. It’s different with Kellin and I. He’s one of my best friends too,” I reply and instantly, I know it was the wrong thing to say. Her face hardens, and she shakes her head before going into the dining room.

  I squeeze my eyes shut and pray she doesn’t out Kellin just because she’s mad at me. Under some act of God, she doesn’t, but she also doesn’t speak to me after our parents leave.

  “What’s her problem?” Kellin asks as she goes into her bedroom and slams the door.

  “She’s mad at me for choosing you over her,” I reply with a shrug. I’m about to say I’ll talk to her when she comes out of her room, grabs her purse and heads towards the door.

  “It’s kind of late, don’t you think, Lind?” Kellin asks, and she turns on her heel.

  “I’m going to see Billy, someone who actually wants to be around me,” she replies and then leaves before either of us can respond.

  “It’s probably a good thing we didn’t tell her about our fake-dating deal,” Kellin says as he plops down on the couch and pats the seat next to him.

  “Right,” I reply as I sit down and he reaches around me to pull a blanket over us. His arm remains there, and I rest my head on his shoulder.

  Especially since it’s starting to feel less and less fake.

  Chapter 17

  I drop my books on the kitchen table across from Kellin and slump down in my seat, watching as Lindy’s car leaves the driveway.

  “I can’t believe that Lindy’s still not talking to me,” I say, heaving a sigh. “It’s been a week, and I’ve tried to apologize. I left her notes under her door, tried to intercept her after class — but she’s not listening.”

  Kellin frowns, running a hand through his hair. “If there’s one thing I know about my sister, it’s that she can hold a grudge.”

  I nod as I open my textbook, my eyes running over the wo
rds but not absorbing the information. “I really wanted to know what she thought about something…”

  “About something?” Kellin’s eyebrows rise. I’m quiet, and Kellin closes his textbook. “Tell me what’s wrong aside from Lindy being a baby.”

  I tap my fingers on my accounting book. It may just be a way to get out of studying, but I’ve been thinking about it for days.

  “Reese…” Kellin says, and I look up, taking a deep breath.

  “I was thinking about getting a tattoo,” I reply.

  His brows go up. “Since when?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve just been thinking about it,” I reply, shifting in my chair as I play with the screen of my cell phone.

  “Alright, I’m game. What were you thinking?” Kellin asks, sitting back and crossing his arms. “No tramp stamps.”

  I roll my eyes, swiping the screen of my cell phone and pulling up the picture before sliding it across the table. Kellin looks down at the screen and nods. I swallow, counting the seconds as I wait for his response.

  “On your wrist just like this one?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” I say, and he slides the cell phone back to me. “So what do you think?”

  “What does it mean?” he asks, his biceps flexing and making the wings of the bluebird in his sleeve move.

  “Freedom,” I reply.

  He nods. “Maybe this is a way to get Lindy to talk to you. She’s pissed you decided to go with me… maybe if you ask her to come with you, then she’ll see how important she is to you too.”

  I bite my lip. “I want you there.”

  “You really think I’m going to let you go by yourself with Lindy? Of course, I’m coming. You should just invite Lindy too.”

  “Good idea,” I say before copying the picture and sending Lindy a text.

  I know you’re pissed at me, but I want to get this and I want you with me.

  Kellin nods to my textbook. “While we’re waiting we should get some studying done. Finals are in a week.”

  “Okay, then explain to me what the hell they’re talking about,” I reply, turning the book to face him.

  He chuckles to himself just as my cell phone beeps.

  LINDY – Just tell me when and where.

  Kellin’s lips lift as he smirks. “I’ll call Temp.”

  ~~~

  When we get to the tattoo parlor, Lindy is twirling her hair around her finger as she leans on the counter talking to Temp. She typically doesn’t go for bad boys, but she’s full on drooling over Temp’s muscled arms and high cheek bones. I bite my lip to keep from laughing when she looks up at Kellin and me.

  “So I see you’re catching up with Temp,” Kellin says as he crosses his arms and stares at his sister.

  Temp clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable with getting caught flirting with his friend’s sister. He rubs the back of his neck.

  “I’ll umm…go get my station ready. Kell already sent me the picture, so I have the stencil ready,” he says as he turns away.

  I look up at Kellin, and he rolls his eyes before following Temp.

  “Yummy,” Lindy whispers into my ear as she threads her arm through mine. “He’s even better the second time you see him — even though he has a shirt on this time.”

  “I’m glad you’ve decided to forgive me,” I reply.

  “I overreacted. I know it was important to Kellin that you were there,” she says, and she looks down at her feet. “I’ve just kind of felt like he’s replacing me since we moved in. Like you don’t need me anymore.”

  I squeeze her hand, and she looks up at me. “I’ll always need you, Lindy. We’re just doing different things, but that doesn’t mean at the end of the day I don’t want to be able to call you or hang out with you and vent. There are some things I’ll never be able to talk to Kell about.”

  She gives in, smiling. “So this tattoo, bird feathers?”

  I nod, and she glances over at Kellin and Temp. Her eyes go to her brother’s sleeve.

  “Any idea on colors?” she asks, and I shrug. “What about getting it to look like it came off Kell’s bluebird? I mean all of his tattoos kind of tie into you — so it would be cool if yours tied into his.”

  “See,” I say as we walk towards the guys. “I would never have thought of that. I totally need you.”

  “And I’m kind of a part of it too, since I thought of it,” Lindy replies, and I smile over at her.

  “Absolutely.”

  Temp nods for me to sit, and I hold out my wrist for him to prep it.

  “Do you want it black and white like the picture?” Temp asks as he wipes my skin and gets his razor.

  I shake my head, looking over my shoulder at Kellin. “Can you make it look like it came off of the bird you put in Kellin’s sleeve?”

  Temp’s lips twitch. “I sure can.”

  “Then that’s what I want,” I reply and Lindy sits down next to me.

  Temp chuckles to himself as he begins squeezing ink into small holders. “You two have it bad for each other.”

  I swallow hard as I look up at Lindy. Kellin and I didn’t have a chance to tell Lindy about our ‘dating’ deal, and Temp obviously thinks it’s real.

  Lindy rolls her eyes. “Imagine having to live with them.”

  “I’ve never seen Kellin so happy before,” Temp says, and Lindy nods. “You two are a really good fit. The guys and I were wondering when you two would finally get together.”

  Before I can stop myself, I ask, “What do you mean?”

  My face flushes red, and I look down at where Temp is applying the stencil instead of looking at Lindy. I have no clue what Temp’s going to say, and I’m mortified of what Lindy might think. We did this to fix her being mad at me, and she might walk away even more pissed if she thinks we’re dating and didn’t tell her.

  Temp shrugs as he grabs his tattoo gun and dips it into the ink. “The way he’s always talked about you.”

  “Ha,” Lindy says, and her eyebrows go up into her forehead. My blood rushes in my ears. I have no idea what I’m going to tell her. “I’m glad it’s not just me that thinks they could be dating.”

  One of Temp’s brows goes up and he looks at me. I widen my eyes and he chuckles to himself before looking down to begin the tattoo.

  “Wait a second!” Kellin calls, stopping his conversation with Brianna. “You’re going to want my hand.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask as Kellin grabs a stool and sits down opposite Lindy, slipping his hand into mine.

  “Just in case you think it hurts,” he replies, giving my hand a squeeze and then nodding at Temp to continue. “So what were you three talking about?”

  Temp shrugs, his eyes twinkling with silent laughter. “Nothing, man. Just about Ree’s new tat.”

  Temp leans down, moving my wrist to just the right position before making the gun buzz to life. I grit my teeth at the noise and only squeeze Kellin’s hand a bit harder when it touches my skin. It feels like a dry razor is being rubbed across my skin repeatedly, and while it doesn’t hurt per-say, it isn’t the most pleasant feeling in the world.

  “You alright?” Kellin asks, looking at my face as Temp turns to change colors and adjust to the shading needles.

  “Yup,” I reply as Temp comes back and begins again, his movements now smaller strokes as he moves the color into my skin.

  After an hour it’s done, and Temp washes it clean with alcohol before nodding for me to take a look at the whole effect. I suck in a deep breath as I look down at the two feathers, almost three-dimensional in their realistic look. It’s as if they simply landed softly on my wrist. Kellin takes my wrist in his hand, and I look up at him.

  “What do you think?” I ask.

  His jaw is as tight as mine was when Temp applied the ink. He swallows, muscles rigid.

  “They…kind of look like my bird’s feathers,” he replies.

  My skin tingles as his eyes met mine. “Is that a bad thing?”

  He squeezes his eyes sh
ut before pulling me into him and kissing my forehead.

  “Not at all,” he whispers.

  Lindy coughs behind us, and we turn to face her. She crosses her arms, her face painted with attitude.

  “It was Lindy’s idea,” I explain and she smiles.

  “Really?” Kellin asks, looking between us as we nod. “Very cool.”

  “When are you going to get one?” Temp asks Lindy.

  “They look great on you three, but I’m good,” she replies.

  Temp raises an eyebrow. “Let me know when you change your mind.”

  He winks, and Lindy looks like she’s about to faint.

  “Let’s get her out of here before she slips in a pile of her drool,” I whisper to Kellin.

  “Or he slips in his,” he replies.

  Chapter 18

  My English Comp final is the last one of the week, and then I’m free for winter break. I smile to myself as I settle in my seat. Kellin’s finals are done, but he still dropped me off and is going to pick me up once I’m done with this class. I can’t wait for this class to be over, so I never have to be near Tyler again. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. He hasn’t stopped being an ass about my change in looks. Tyler comes into the room and drops down into his seat behind me.

  “So who’s this dude I keep seeing you with?” Tyler asks, leaning forward, so his breath washes over the back of my neck.

  I grit my teeth. I thought he hadn’t noticed. I keep facing forward as I reply, “I think it’s pretty obvious he’s my boyfriend.”

  “I asked Lindy about him. I was pretty surprised she didn’t know you were dating anyone,” he continues, his voice taunting me.

  I turn in my chair. “Shut it, Ty.”

  “I want to know who he is, how you met, etc.know–we’re friends. I don’t understand why you didn’t mention him before,” he says, cocking his head at me.

  We’re not friends. I’m not sure where he got that impression from.

  The girl next to us leans over. “How do you not know who he is?”

  “Is he some type of God, and I missed it?” Tyler asks, his head tucking back into his tiny neck as he put his hands up.

  “He kind of is. He’s Kellin Lake!” the girl replies, and I watch as Tyler’s face contorts into a sinister smile.