“Maybe if I rearranged his face a little bit, you wouldn’t want to date him anymore,” I say.
She laughs. “No, it’s okay. Honestly. I just want him to know how it feels. It kills me to watch him kiss somebody else. I should find a guy to kiss in front of him and show him how much it hurts.”
Ian, who is sitting on the other side of Estaine, leans forward. “My lips are up for the challenge.”
Emma actually smiles at Ian. “I’ll get back with you on that.”
“I’m surprised your other boyfriend isn’t here,” Ian says to me.
I roll my eyes. “Estaine is more than enough for me.”
“Brooks knows better than to show up here,” Estaine says.
“I don’t think anybody gave him that memo,” Emma says.
I look at Emma to see what she’s looking at. I follow her eyes to...
Brooks.
He’s standing at the bottom of the bleachers. Paige Lawson is talking to him. She is laughing at something he said, but he’s not looking at her. His eyes are searching the stands. They stop when they get to me. He smiles and walks off without saying a word to Paige.
Paige looks furious.
She locks eyes with me and if looks could kill, I’d be dead.
“I think she hates you even more,” Emma says.
But I’m more focused on the fact that Brooks is making his way towards us. On instinct, I scoot closer to Estaine. I can feel how tense he is beside me, but he relaxes when I scoot closer. Maybe he was worried that I still had feelings for Brooks.
My feelings for Brooks are... complicated. I’m still attracted to him. But I’m also mad at him. I know that he and I together would be toxic. I would be like Emma. That’s why I can’t be with him. I don’t have to worry about that with Estaine.
And I really do like Estaine.
“Hey, Phoenix,” Brooks says, then nods at Estaine. “Estaine.”
“I’ll just...” Emma says, standing up. “Go.”
She walks down the stairs.
“I’m going to go with her,” Ian says, following.
Brooks sits down beside me, and I’m aware that everybody is now looking at us, instead of watching the soccer game.
“You look good,” Brooks says to me.
I look down at my green hoodie that says East Raven Academy. It has a raven and the school logo on it. And I’m wearing my school uniform under it. Just a simple black skirt and my Converse.
“What do you want, Brooks?” I ask.
“You won’t answer my texts,” he says. “Or my phone calls.”
“Maybe you should take the hint,” Estaine says. “She doesn’t want to talk to you.”
Brooks looks at Estaine and my intertwined hands.
“Is this a real thing now?” Brooks asks.
“Yes,” I answer.
Brooks smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I say.
“I came to apologize. Again,” Brooks says. “Because you haven’t responded to the hundreds of apologies I’ve texted you. I’m sorry, Phoenix. I know I shouldn’t have kissed you. I regret it.”
“I forgive you,” I say. “But don’t ever do it again.”
“If you do, she won’t be the only one hitting you,” Estaine says.
“I won’t,” Brooks says, ignoring Estaine. “I just... want us to be friends still. Just because you’re dating him doesn’t mean we can’t still talk and hang out.”
“It wouldn’t look good,” I say. “If we hung out. Because you kissed me when everybody thought I was dating Estaine. And now I’m for real dating him. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Come on, Phoenix,” he says. “I’m just asking to be your friend. That’s it.”
I look from Brooks to Estaine.
Estaine doesn’t look happy.
“It’s up to you,” Estaine says.
“I won’t hang out with you unless Estaine is there, too,” I tell Brooks.
This causes Brooks to smile. “Why? Scared you might be the one to kiss me?”
I roll my eyes. “And no comments like that or the deal is off.”
“Fine,” Brooks says. “I’ll take what I can get.”
“Friendship is all you’re getting,” I say.
“Okay,” he says, but he’s still smiling big.
I have a feeling I’m going to regret that.
12pm.
Video.
We won our game against West Raven. Now, practically the whole school is down at the docks, celebrating. Estaine and I are just walking along, when we go past someone who looks like Emma.
And she’s kissing somebody.
Somebody who is clearly not Bryce.
I stop to look, and see that she’s kissing Ian.
My mouth falls open.
Estaine laughs and pulls me forward, away from them.
“I guess that means Emma and Bryce are over,” I say.
“We’ll see,” Estaine says. “Emma’s never shown interest in another guy before.”
Teagan, who is holding hands with Jason, walks up to us.
“Did I just see Emma and... Ian?” Teagan asks.
“Yep,” Estaine answers.
“Huh,” she says, then smiles. “I like it.”
“Bryce is going to blow a gasket when he sees,” Jason says.
“Like he has a right,” I say. “He was kissing some girl earlier, and Emma caught them.”
“Well, good for Emma,” Jason says.
Teagan looks furious, but then she grins. “What is this I heard about Brooks Remington showing up at the soccer game?”
“Brooks came to... talk,” I answer.
“About what?”
“Being friends. With me,” I say.
“And what did you tell him?” Teagan asks.
“That we can be friends as long as he doesn’t try to kiss me again,” I say. “And that we can’t hang out unless Estaine is there, too.”
“Ah,” she says, then looks at Estaine. “And you’re okay with that?”
Estaine nods. “I’m not going to tell Phoenix who she can and can’t be friends with.”
Teagan smiles. “Uh huh.”
I decide to change the subject away from me and definitely away from Brooks.
“You played so good tonight,” I say.
“Thanks,” Teagan says, her face completely lit up. I can tell she’s proud of herself. “We worked hard. And beating West Raven is always a bonus.”
Teagan goes on to talk about all the awesome moments in the game. While she’s talking, my phone goes off. I have no idea who would be texting me this late, since all my friends are literally here. I pull out my phone to make sure everything is all right. I see that Uncle Matty is calling me. I hold up a finger to Teagan as I answer.
“Hello.”
“Where are you?” Uncle Matty asks, his voice in a panic.
“I’m at the docks with my friends,” I answer. “We’re celebrating the...”
He cuts me off. “I am on my way there.”
The phone line cuts off, and I look at Estaine.
“I... uh...” I look at Teagan and Jason. “I’m sorry. Estaine and I have to go.”
I don’t give them time to respond. I just grab Estaine’s hand and we walk away from our friends, towards the edge of the woods.
“Uncle Matty says he’s on his way here,” I tell Estaine, once we get to the edge. “I guess we should wait here, but I’m scared.”
“Do you think something bad happened?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I answer. “I hope not. I just... I didn’t want them to see Uncle Matty and Jake here. How could I explain my uncle and cousin coming on campus in the middle of the night? I can’t exactly say another cousin died. How many fake cousins can I have die in a year, before people catch on?”
“It’ll be okay,” Estaine says, pulling me close to him.
My phone starts vibrating with another phone call. I
answer it without looking at the caller ID.
“Hello.”
“Phoenix... are you okay?” Brooks voice comes from the other side.
“I’m... fine. Why?”
“Your face... you’re on the news,” he says.
“Me?” I ask.
“Apparently a terrorists group released a video with you in it,” Brooks says. “And your dad... he’s... Tommy Black.”
“What do you mean a video?”
“Who is that?” Estaine asks.
“Hold on,” I tell Brooks, putting the phone on speaker. “Estaine’s here, too. You need to explain what you mean.”
“This terrorists group released a video, basically threatening to kill you if your dad doesn’t help pass some law,” Brooks says. “They said they were offering a million dollar reward to whoever turned you in, which is just crazy.”
“Oh, my gosh,” I say, putting a hand over my mouth.
“The president released some kind of a statement saying that if anybody does know, they shouldn’t try to contact the group,” Brooks says. “It’s crazy. The president of the United States.”
“Brooks, can you stop being stunned now. This is serious,” Estaine says. “Phoenix could be in danger.”
“I know. Crap,” Brooks says. “I’m sorry, Phoenix. Are you okay?”
“I don’t know,” I answer. “Uncle Matty is on his way to get me. I’m scared.”
Estaine tightens his grip around me.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Brooks says, reassuring me.
“I’ve got to go, Brooks,” I tell him.
“Promise you’ll call me tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” I answer. “I promise.”
I end the call and look up at Estaine.
“What if they make me leave?” I ask.
“They won’t,” he says.
“What if they do? What if I never see you again?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“You can’t. You have school here... you have a life.”
“We don’t know what’s going to happen, yet,” Estaine says. “But don’t worry. I promise I will be by your side the entire time.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I have no choice but to believe him.
No matter what happens, even if I leave East Raven Academy, I’ll still have Estaine.
Somehow, that makes everything seem less scary.
The end.
Book 2, Never Ever, is coming October 13, 2017!
Letter from Scarlett
Hey! Thank you so much for reading the first book in my series, East Raven Academy. Sorry about that cliffhanger ;). Don’t worry, I have a lot more planned in this world and look forward to spending time with these characters. I hope you enjoy it as well! Book 2 is coming October 13, 2017.
If you did enjoy this book, it would mean a lot to me if you left a review wherever you picked this up.
For more information on this series, be sure to check out my blog https://scarletthaven.wordpress.com!
—Scarlett Haven
More books by Scarlett
New Hope Academy Series:
Luck (Episode 1)
Fate (Episode 2)
Fame (Episode 3)
Wish (Episode 4)
Bayside Academy Series:
Gracie (Book 1)
UNTITLED (Book 2—coming April 21, 2017!)
The Spy Chronicles:
Finding Me (Book 1)
Keeping Me (Book 2—coming July 27, 2017!)
East Raven Academy Series:
Ever After (Book 1)
Never Ever (Book 2—coming October 13, 2017!)
Find me online.
Blog: https://scarletthaven.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Scarlett_Haven
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorScarlettHaven/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorscarletthaven/
Newsletter: http://wordpress.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2b073ef1d3dd1a8003e58a389&id=8393d2923e
Acknowledgments.
How do I even put into words how much God has done for me? It’s not possible. He wrapped Himself in flesh and died for me. It’s amazing, that even when I sin, God is there, waiting for me to come back to Him. So, for that reason and many more, God will ALWAYS be first in my acknowledgment section.
My husband, who puts up with me sometimes ignoring him for fictional characters; thank you. I love you more than words can express. I know that without you, writing books would still just be a dream instead of a reality. Thank you for pushing me.
Mom and Dad, for always supporting me and my dreams. Being an author is better than being a rock star, right? ;) Thanks for letting me play my guitar loud, and for listening to all the songs I wrote as a teenager.
My friend, Ash, who has supported me while I wrote this book. I’ll never forget your support. You’re such a strong person! The earthquakes in New Zealand just proved that. Now, write your book! Because I believe in you!
To everybody who is reading this book... thank you. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
And lastly, to all the NaNoWriMo 2016 participants, you guys rock! Even if you didn’t finish your novel in November, that’s okay! Just keep writing!!! NEVER GIVE UP!
<3 Scarlett Haven
Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1) Page 22