I could feel Harlem's presence in the same room, watching us like a hawk. She was just waiting for an opportunity to attack, but I'd be damned before I let that happen. I'd protect my girlfriend at any cost.
A moment later, the teacher walked in. He seemed surprised at the sight of Estella and did his best to go on with the lesson but was interrupted by constant whispering from the class.
"Enough!" he slammed his fist down on the desk, and Stells jumped in her seat. "You're all so distracted today. Do we need to address the elephant in the room?"
Please don't, I thought to myself. Don't make things more difficult for her than they already are.
But the teacher didn't heed my silent warning, sighing heavily and rubbing his temples as he started speaking again.
"As you probably all know, a student who is amidst us all today was involved in a dramatic situation," he started, and I groaned inwardly, fighting the urge to stand up and tell him to just shut the fuck up. "That is no reason to make class difficult for everybody. Would it make you feel better if Estella said a few things?"
The class was silent, and I glanced at my girl, who was looking down at her desk, her hair falling in a curtain around her pretty face.
"I don't think that's appropriate, Mr. Jenkins," I spoke up.
"And who asked about your opinion, Milo?" He raised his brows at me. "Estella, stand up and address the class. We can't keep going with the lesson when everyone is this distracted."
My hands formed fists in my lap. I wanted to smack that smug smirk off the teacher's face. I wanted to protect Estella no matter what. But she surprised me yet again by taking a deep breath and slowly rising from her seat.
"I'm sure you've all seen what happened on the news," she said, defiantly staring at the class. "If you have any questions, ask me directly. I don't want to listen to your shitty whispered theories."
"Do you think you're partially guilty for what happened?" Of course, Harlem was the first one to speak up, and she smirked at Stells as the question left her juicy lips. "Like, the way you guys lived. Was that because of the money innocent people paid your father? Did you use their charity to live like kings and queens?"
I was about to cut in, but Stells was too fast for me.
"No," she said calmly. "Papa made most of his money with his TV show and the public sermons he ran around the country. The money he stole was kept in an offshore account none of us had access too. That money has now been frozen, and the feds are making sure it goes to the right people."
"So you don't feel any remorse?" Harlem went on. "You don't even feel a little bit bad about using those innocent people?"
Estella closed her eyes, and I could practically hear her counting to calm herself down. "No, I don't feel bad, because my father's mistakes are not my own, and I've done nothing wrong. I can't even stay at my house now. I'm staying in a hotel with my mom and sister, and none of us have done anything wrong." She raised her chin defiantly before going on. "And to be honest with you, Harlem, I was terrified of coming back here. I feared the comments and was scared of the judgement. But at the end of the day, the only person who gets to judge me and have an opinion, is me. And I'm going to do everything in my power to make up for my own mistakes. That's what I can promise you right now."
The class erupted in applause; more questions being called out as Mr. Jenkins struggled to retain order.
"Alright, alright," he raised his voice. "Settle down now. We need to go on with today's lesson. Thank you for speaking up about the issue, Estella."
The class quietened, but for the rest of the lesson, I could feel everyone's eyes on my girl. A need to protect her awoke within me, but as I watched her calmly participate in the lesson and ignore those nagging stares, I finally realized Estella Hawthorne didn't need anybody's help. She was a powerhouse.
Once the school bell announced the end of the lesson, I grabbed my stuff in a hurry and helped Estella grab her things. Our next lesson wasn't together, which made me nervous as fuck. The next time I'd see her would be at lunch.
"Are you going to be okay?" I whispered in her ear as she got up from her desk.
"Of course." She gave me a brave smile. "If I can take on my papa, I can handle a couple of rowdy students. Don't you worry about me."
"Is Harlem in your next class?"
"Yeah," she groaned. "But I can deal with her. She's just annoying, is all."
"Okay." I hesitated, pressing a kiss on her cheek. "I have PE next. If you need anything, my phone is on. I'll come get you."
"Calm down," Stells laughed. "Seriously, I'm going to be okay. I'll see you at lunch, alright?"
I nodded, watching her walk away from me and feeling the pain of losing her in the pit of my stomach. When she reached the end of the hallway though, she looked over her shoulder, and blew me a kiss. I grinned widely. She was still the Stells I fell in love with.
* * *
The school day passed annoyingly slowly, but luckily Estella and I finished at the same time. I was waiting outside next to my Rover by the time she showed up, rushing to her side to grab her bag so she didn't overburden her broken arm.
"How did everything go?" I asked her, and she shrugged.
"As well as it could have. Some mean comments. Not that I wasn't expecting them. I deserve them, I guess."
"Princess, you don't." I stashed her bag in the backseat of my car. "What your father did does not define you. You're not a bad person."
"I used to be," she whispered, leaning against the car. "I was terrible to so many people. Inca. Andromeda. Pandora. Tinsley."
"Tinsley's gone," I said gently. "And from what I've heard, she's more than happy at Eastvale with Crispin."
"I know," she muttered. "But it still makes me want to make things right with everyone else."
"Andie?" I asked, and she nodded. A wave of fear shot through me and I took her hand in mine. "Babe, you know you can't tell her what happened with her sister. It would implicate the Lords."
"She deserves to know what happened," Stells insisted. "Wouldn't you want to know what happened if Natan just disappeared one day?"
"Of course," I muttered, sounding defeated. "But... we could all get in a lot of fucking trouble if the truth came out."
"Talk to Finn and Nate," she begged me. "I won't mention your names. I'll just tell Andromeda part of the truth. I won't implicate you."
"I'll call Finn later," I agreed begrudgingly just as someone walked up to us. I raised my eyes to find my brother and a bunch of cheerleaders and lacrosse players, headed by Harlem. "What is it now, Harlem? We're having a private conversation here."
The redhead crossed her arms in front of her body, scowling at Estella, then me.
"Oh Estella," she said sweetly. "Wasn't it only a year ago that you were Wildwood's queen? Just look at you now. I mean, even Inca, your little minion, is dressing better than you these days."
"What the fuck do you want, Harlem?" I hissed at her, ready to pick a fight. But Stells extended a hand, making me take a step back. Even though she'd told me she could fight her own battles numerous times, I was still determined to stand up for her.
"You must be really bored, Harlem," Stells said sweetly. "Since you apparently have nothing better to do than pick on me. Is the entire lacrosse team sick of you already?"
Natan snickered behind the head cheerleader, and Harlem threw him an annoyed look. He just shrugged in response.
"Just saying, you look a bit worse for wear, Princess," Harlem said with a saccharine smile. "How many steps of that ladder do you have left? With all the falls you've been taking, I'd think you'd already hit the ground. But it seems like you're just determined to go even lower."
"Oh, I've still got a long way to go until I'm at your level," Estella replied, and the gang laughed at Harlem. The red-haired cheerleader flusher, but didn't let herself get flustered, firing back a new remark instantly.
"It's just amusing to me how insignificant you are now," she went on. "You were the Que
en of Wildwood a year ago, and what are you now? A nobody."
"Says who?" Stells raised her brows at the girl. "You?" Harlem stared back defiantly as my girl stepped forward. Somehow, even with the cast on, she was still intimidating as hell. "Unfortunately, your opinion means nothing to me. All I care about is what he thinks." At this, Stells turned to face me, giving me a fond smile. "You'll see, Harlem, one day you'll grow up like I did, too. Maybe then you'll learn being a mean girl will only take you so far."
Harlem rolled her eyes as Stells leaned in and pressed a kiss on my lips in front of everyone. Though I was surprised at first, I pulled her in the next second, claiming her mouth with mine. When we pulled apart, Harlem was glaring at both of us, obviously displeased with our PDA.
"Anything else?" Estella asked her sweetly. "If not, go torture somebody else. I'm getting tired of your face."
Without saying anything else, Harlem spun around and walked away. A win for Estella. And I had nothing to do with it. I pulled her against me once more, my hand lingering on the small of her back.
"Anyone ever tell you what a badass you are?" I muttered in her ear, and she grinned widely.
"Not often enough."
"Well, you're pretty fucking amazing, Estella Hawthorne." I nipped at her bottom lip, and she accepted the kiss and deepened it, her teeth gently biting my bottom lip and making me groan. "I can't wait for you to take that cast of so I can make you mine again."
"Who says you have to wait?" she purred, grinning as she opened the car door. "The hotel room's all mine today. Romi's doing some event, and mama is at the police station for questioning."
"Is that so?" I asked, raising my brows. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"
"Most definitely," she giggled.
"Get in the car." My gaze darkened and I gave her a wicked grin. "You're mine now, princess."
28
Date: December 25th, 2019, 8 a.m.
Place: Estella’s new place
Estella
“They’re here!” I let the curtain close and jumped up and down in excitement.
“Calm down,” Romi rolled her eyes. “Don’t you see Milo every day at school, you weirdo?”
“Yeah, but it’s Christmas!” I couldn’t help the grin forcing its way on my face. “And we’re going to have the best Christmas ever.”
“Ugh, fine.” My sister massaged her temples, and I smiled to myself. She’d been not-so-discreetly nursing a hangover the entire morning.
I’d tried to convince mama to let Milo spend the night, so we could open our Christmas presents as soon as we got up, but she wouldn’t let me. She was still so traditional. But it had been nice to have the morning to ourselves.
“Make room, make room!” Abuelita came out of the kitchen carrying a huge bowl. “Here’s the hot chocolate trifle. Just in time for the guests.”
“It looks perfect!” I said, grinning as the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!”
I rushed past mama, who clicked her tongue at me disapprovingly, and straight into Milo’s arms on the other side of the door.
“Whoah, whoah,” he said, laughing out loud. “Calm your jets, princess. I did just see you yesterday.”
“Are you saying you didn’t miss me?” I teased him, and he smirked.
“Well, if I was, it would be a lie.”
“Hi,” I greeted Milo’s Dads who were standing behind him, their hands filled with presents. “So good to see you! Please, come in. We’ve got everything ready.”
They all piled into the house. It was already much smaller than the nouveau riche mansion we’d lived in before, but with seven people gathered in the living room, it was getting cramped. Not that anyone cared. Milo and I sat on the floor, Romi filed her nails on the couch while mama and abuelita carried tray after tray of food from the blazing hot kitchen, and Milo’s Dads sat at the dining room table wearing matching grins and matching Christmas jumpers. They were seriously too cute for words.
“Thank you for coming,” mama said with an exasperated smile. “So many things have gone wrong this year, but it is such a relief knowing that at the end of the day, we have your support to keep us going.” She turned to face Milo’s parents, who’d done so much for us over the past few months. “I am eternally grateful to the two of you. You’ve shown us such kindness, never doubted our integrity, and helped us get through the worst of it all. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”
Jasper blushed while Louis waved his hand as if what they’d done was nothing worth mentioning. But that wasn’t that case. While the entire world watched us with suspicion, they were the ones who never doubted us. They paid for our stay at the Rockdale Bay Hotel without asking for anything in return. Now, we’d gotten ahold of our assets again, and we’d already paid them back, though I knew mama had already prepared lovely, personalized gifts to thank them again for everything they’d done.
We didn’t want to stay in the old house. It carried too many bad memories. Shockingly, it sold within hours of being put on the market, and we bought a smaller home with the money we got from the sale. Mama also made it her personal priority to pay back every single person who’d invested in papa’s business. Then, she donated most of the money from the sale of the house to a real charity, not like the one papa was scamming people with.
“I’m so happy we’re all together today,” I gushed, smiling at every one of them. Even Romilly looked pleased, even though she’d complained about having plans with her friends earlier. I knew she secretly wanted to stay with us, anyway. “Let’s tear into the presents!”
For the next half hour, the room was filled with the sound of wrapping paper being torn off, excited chatter and pictures being taken. It was like we were a real family, and I was immensely grateful to the Earnshaws for giving us the Christmas we didn’t even know we needed.
“Who’s this one from?” I asked, picking up a tiny blue box. I’d already unwrapped the presents from my sister, mom and abuelita. Romilly got me some high-end makeup, mama surprised me with the keys to a used car she’d gotten for me that we’d pick up later, and abuelita knitted me a gorgeous chunky blanket.
“Oh, that one’s from me,” Milo spoke up, grinning at me from his spot on the floor. He’d just unwrapped my present – a personalized leather notebook I’d saved up for with my money from the Clancy’s waitressing job. He loved it, and I was so pleased with my choice.
“Oh God,” Romilly groaned. “Can she even open that here?”
“Romi!” mama scolded her, and everybody laughed. “I’m sure it’s appropriate.” She gave Milo a meaningful look and he laughed out loud in response.
“It is perfectly appropriate,” Milo said. “Although I’m not sure anyone but Stells will get it.”
Excitement got the best of me and I started ripping into the packaging, too excited to be careful with the midnight blue paper dotted with snowflakes. It was a small box, and something tugged at my heartstrings as I stared at it in the palm of my hand. Then, I flipped the lid open.
Inside, nestled among white velvet, was a tiny pebble on a silver bracelet. I felt Milo’s eyes on mine as the events of the night of October 20th of the previous year played in my mind.
He’d been walking me home from Tinsley’s party. We were talking about the future, teasing each other about Eastvale. Milo was still struggling with the admission essay. I recognized the stone. It was the pebble we’d been kicking that night, the one I’d picked up, placed in Milo’s hand and told him this was only the beginning of his life – the first step to greatness.
“Oh,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. “You held onto it all this time?”
“I had to,” he muttered. “It was like a steppingstone, and it signifies how far we’ve come in the time since then.” He got up from the floor and walked closer to me, taking the silver necklace out of the box and carefully placing it around my neck. It was a long snake chain, and the pebble dangled between my boobs like a pendant.
“I lo
ve it,” I whispered. “It’s so perfect.”
“Very cute,” Romi interrupted. “Is that a quartz?”
Milo laughed as he smoothed my hair back. “It’s just a pebble.”
“But it means more than any stone ever will,” I added, squeezing his hand gratefully. “Thank you, I really love it.”
“Well, that was lovely,” my grandma said, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. “Now, you must start eating! Otherwise I’ve spent all that time in the kitchen for nothing!”
We all gathered around the dining table and dug into the delicious food. And as I sat in the middle of the laughter, fun and happiness, firmly holding onto Milo’s hand, I realized sometimes things work out the way they’re supposed to no matter how hard you try to resist them.
* * *
“Bye! See you later!” Milo waved off his parents before closing the door.
I got up from my seat on the couch where my sister was scrolling through her phone. Abuelita had gone for a nap upstairs. She’d permanently moved in with us as soon as we bought the new house, and we all loved having her there. Mama was doing the dishes, and I called out to her as Milo joined me in the hallway.
“Mama, can Milo and I go to my room?”
She eyed us suspiciously, her hands lathered up with detergent. “Alright,” she said reluctantly. “But keep the door open, Estrellita.”
“Thank you, mama!” I gave Milo a wicked grin before taking his hand and pulling him up the stairs into my bedroom. I did what mama said, leaving the door ajar as Milo and I plopped down on my bed.
My new room was exactly the fresh start I needed. I’d gotten rid of everything pink from our last house and replaced it with white with silver accents. The room was airy, bright and beautiful, and it made me feel like I wasn’t a kid anymore, which I loved.
“Alone at last,” Milo said as he joined me in my room, picking up a picture frame from my bedside table. On it, Inca, Tinsley and I grinned at the camera, wearing matching dresses. I’d forced Andromeda out of the picture, and the memory sent a guilty pang through my body. “This is a great picture.”
Boys That Read: A High School Romance Page 24