by Nikki Ashton
“We’re going to take her to the hospital now,” the paramedic said, after he’d finished checking her out. “Who’s coming with her?”
Miss George stepped forward. “That would be me.”
“Valentina, I’ll call her mother,” Mr Raymond said and then turned around to face the rest of the dining room. “Okay people let’s all get back to class, lunch break is over.”
As Mr Raymond herded everyone out of the dining room, Sarah was put onto a gurney and covered with a blanket and when the paramedics started to wheel her out, she reached out a hand for me.
“Thank you, again,” she said with a small, tearful smile.
“My pleasure, but let’s not go for strike three, hey?”
Her chin trembled but she still managed another upturn of her lips. When she was wheeled away, it took everything in me not to run after her and insist they let me travel in the ambulance. The thought of letting her out of my sight was crippling. It was like the night in the Tesco Express and then the sharing of secrets had created a bond between us and no one else was supposed to step inside the circle that held us together.
I kept my eyes on Sarah until I didn’t have any sight of her anymore and then with a sigh turned to look at Amber and Alannah, who were putting everything back into her backpack.
“What you going to do with it?” I asked.
Alannah’s eyes slid to mine. “I’ll take it to her house later.”
I nodded and then turned to Kirk who was whispering heated words with Ellis and Tyler.
“You’re a fucking idiot.” I shoved the pudding across the table and he just managed to catch it before it toppled off the edge of the table and onto his jeans. “You knew she was allergic to banana.”
“How the hell did you know?” Alannah asked. “She hadn’t even told me.”
I breathed out heavily and kept my eyes on Kirk. “It doesn’t matter. He just did, we both did.”
“You’re a fucking prick,” Amber snarled and I wasn’t sure whether it was directed at me or Kirk; probably both. “Alannah, let’s go.”
Alannah picked up Sarah’s bag and gave me a warning look. “Don’t do anything stupid, Adam. He’s a dick and he will have to live with that knowledge for the rest of his life. That’s his punishment.”
Tyler and Ellis both burst out laughing, but Kirk shook his head.
“You have no fucking sense of humour any of you.” He smirked. “She was fine and if she’d just fucking told someone where her damn pen thing was, 9-9-9 wouldn’t have been needed.”
“Do you have any idea what an allergic reaction can do to someone,” Amber cried. “She couldn’t breathe, you loser.”
“Chill, Amber, you’re just mad that Adam seems to want Sarah to suck his dick these days instead of you.”
The red mist dropped like a curtain in front of my eyes and I couldn’t stop myself. Alannah made a grab for me and Amber screamed as I launched myself over the table and sent our lunch leftovers flying. Stools skidded across the room, and the table upturned as I grabbed hold of Kirk’s shirt at the neck and pulled my fist back.
“Adam, no,” Ellis yelled. “Think about this.”
I paused but Kirk made my mind up for me.
“You’re going to hit me, one of your best friends, just because of a pair of tits and a welcoming pussy.”
“Too right,” I hissed and then punched him.
The red mist turned black and with screaming and shouting whirling around me, I punched him again, and again and again. I would have done it again too had Mr Raymond not grabbed hold of my arm and Miss Daniels not yelled at me to stop.
25
Sarah
I felt nervous as I walked up the driveway to Adam’s house and I wasn’t sure why. All I was here for was to thank him for saving my life – again, well to thank him and to ask his parents not to be too hard on him.
Alannah had called at my house with my stuff and told me that Adam had been suspended for the rest of the week for punching Kirk. Apparently, Miss Daniels had wanted to make it two full weeks, but Mr Jameson had begged her not to as the Eagles had a match on Tuesday night after school. Kirk, who had a black eye and a thick lip had also pleaded on Adam’s behalf, but Alannah had a suspicion that was more to do with Ellis and Tyler than Kirk feeling bad about what had happened.
As for me, well I was feeling okay. After a quick check at the hospital, my mum had insisted I take the rest of the week off school. With the robbery and then the pudding incident, she’d pretty much put me under house arrest, which was why I hadn’t seen Alannah until the night before when Mum had finally let her visit.
Adam and I had exchanged a few texts over the last couple of days, but he’d never once mentioned his suspension. The only thing he’s said was that Kirk was a dick, otherwise all conversations had been about our history project, his upcoming match and the fact that Murray, the man who managed the Tesco Express, had offered us and the elderly couple free shopping for a month. Mum had rolled her eyes at that one, but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be long before she went down there to take advantage of Murray’s kind offer.
I straightened down the blue check flannel shirt I wore with denim shorts, thick black tights and boots and knocked on the black front door.
After I knocked a second time, I saw movement through the frosted glass. I couldn’t see exactly who it was, but with the height and swagger, I guessed it was Adam. When the door swung open, I was proved right and even though I was expecting him, I stood like an idiot with my mouth hanging open.
I was a teenage girl, and with a hot boy looking like a snack wearing grey sweats, a white slim fitting vest and mussed hair in front of me, it was no wonder I’d become catatonic with want.
“Hey,” he said, his face breaking into a warm smile. “What are you doing here?”
I looked him up and down and drank him in. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him look so damn sexy. There was no doubt he was handsome, but there was something different about him. Today he had that added extra layer of something special. His eyes were brighter, his smile bigger and his skin appeared to have some sort of lustrous glow to it.
“Have you been to a health spa?” I slapped a hand to my mouth. “Oh shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
Adam grinned and ran a hand through his already messy hair, allowing a view of a bulging bicep. No wonder girls were hypnotized by him, he was beautiful when he turned on his charm. Yet today there was no brash smirk or ego on display, just Adam.
He cocked his head to one side and drew his brows together as he looked at me with a grin. “Nope, but if you want to come in, we can paint each other’s nails.”
“Oh God, I’m sorry.” I dropped my head to my hand and groaned.
Adam laughed. “Don’t worry. I get it, I’m hot.”
My head shot up expecting to see the sneer I’d become used to, but he was smiling and most definitely not trying to be a prick.
“You want to come in?” He stepped to one side.
“Is that okay? I’m not interrupting anything am I?”
“Nope, not at all. You couldn’t have come at a better time, I’m bored, and pizza is on its way.”
I moved inside and instantly felt the warmth of the heating as opposed to the chill from the January wind outside. I’d borrowed my mum’s car so hadn’t worn a jacket, but even a few minutes on the doorstep had been enough to chill me.
“You mind taking your boots off,” Adam said with a sigh. “Mum doesn’t like outside shoes indoors.”
“Oh God, my mum is the same.” I bent to untie the laces of my Dr Martens. “She freaks if I even step one toe on her clean tiles.”
When I stood, Adam was watching me with his hands linked behind his head, giving me a glimpse of a trail of dark blond hair leading down into his sweatpants. It was so bloody sexy. I groaned inwardly; it was hair for goodness’ sake. I had no idea what was wrong with me other than the shot of epinephrine I’d had from the EpiPen must have done
something to my hormones.
“Is your mum home?” I asked as he continued to watch me.
Adam frowned and then grinned. “Why Sarah Danes, don’t tell me you want me alone so we can make out.”
I felt my skin heat as memories of Adam’s fingers inside of me flitted through my head. This boy had the ability to turn me into a quivering wreck if I let him. He was self-assured and experienced, everything I wasn’t, and he knew that; but I also had a sense that he liked it when I acted tough with him.
“I think we’ve already been there, don’t you,” I replied trying to sound nonchalant. “No, I wanted to speak to her actually.”
“My mum.” He raised his brows. “What the hell do you want to speak to my mum for?” He turned and started to walk across the entrance hall towards an open door which I could see led into a large lounge area. It was cosy and comfy with a grey and ochre coloured rug covering a hardwood floor, a large grey L-shaped sofa with ochre coloured cushions and all the walls were the same grey as the sofa. There were family photographs along the mantel over the fireplace which had a log burner in it and at the windows were white wooden blinds.
“This is a lovely room,” I said.
“Thanks, I’m sure my mum will be happy you said that. She likes to decorate now she has Roger’s money.” He rolled his eyes and walked over to a low coffee table to pick up the TV remote and turn off the television.
“You don’t need to do that. If you were watching something.”
“It was just some reality TV crap. I told you I was bored. So, why do you want to speak to her? Is it about Lori and her non-existent dance skills?”
I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help but laugh. “She tries really hard.”
Adam’s brows quirked high and he gave a pained expression. “That’s one way of putting it. My little sister has all the elegance of an elephant on roller skates.”
“Ah poor Lori, she so wants to be a dancer.”
“She does, but we know it isn’t happening. So, come on, tell me what you want to speak to Mum about.”
I chewed on my lip not sure whether I should say. It felt stupid now.
“Go on,” Adam said and pointed to the sofa. “Sit down though, and then once you’ve told me, I’ll get you a drink.”
“But your pizza will be here soon.” I glanced over my shoulder towards the door, as if the pizza boy would suddenly appear.
“Yeah and you’re staying, right? I ordered enough for two, I must have had a premonition you were coming over.”
He gave me one of his sexy grins and I warmed from the inside out.
“So, sit.”
I did as I was told and perched on the edge, while he dropped on to the chaise section and kicked his legs out in front of him.
“Well,” I said, as he looked at me expectantly. “I kind of wanted to plead your case.”
“My case?” He poked a finger at his chest.
“Yeah, I heard you got suspended.”
Adam sighed and let his head drop back against the sofa. “Alannah?”
“Yep, but why didn’t you want me to know?”
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want you to know,” he replied. “I didn’t specifically say ‘don’t tell Sarah’, but I didn’t tell you because I thought you’d had enough to deal with over the last few weeks, year even…” he paused and eyed me warily. “Not that it matters to you what happens to me.”
Oh my God, Alannah was right, this was not the real Adam Hudson. This one seemed unsure and caring, where the one I’d had dealings with over the last month had been harsh and coarse. That night at the Tesco Express was bound to have changed us, no one had a gun pointed at their head and stayed the same, but Adam had done a total three-sixty.
“It does matter, Adam,” I replied. “You saved my life twice, so I’d be a pretty shitty friend if I ignored the fact that you’d been suspended because of me.”
“No, Sarah,” he growled. “I got suspended because of Kirk and the fact that he’s a dick.”
His lip curled in disdain as he exhaled heavily. This was the Adam Hudson expression that I was used to, but now I’d seen the other side of him I liked this one even less, so decided to move the conversation on.
“Actually, something Alannah said kind of got me thinking.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
He still looked angry, but when he moved the pillow at his back and got himself into a more upright position, he lifted his chin into a defiant tilt. He knew exactly what I was going to say, but he really didn’t need to put his walls up because life was most definitely too short. So, as long as he was being honest about changing then I could let go of the past.
“How did you and Kirk know I was allergic to banana?”
He puffed out his chest and looked me square in the eye. “I think you know the answer, but I suppose I should tell you anyway.” I nodded and waited until Adam finally let out a long exhale. “You know Kirk’s pretty good on computers, right?”
“I heard something like that, yeah.”
“Well he hacks the school computer all the time.”
I should have been angry, shocked even, but with the level of manipulation and bullying that Adam and his mates did, there had to be something that he was using to help him to do the things he did.
“It’s on my records,” I said with resignation.
“Yeah.” Adam dropped his gaze from mine for a few seconds and then pushed his legs off the sofa and leaned forward. “One thing though, he never mentioned what happened at your old school and I know you said it wasn’t on your records and was private. I’m worried though, that he’s found out and is going to use it against you. In fact, I don’t even think he got the information about your dad from there. He just did some digging where you used to live. Which is another reason why I’m worried he knows but is keeping it to himself.”
“Wow,” I said raising my brows. “You really are changing. Worried that Kirk may use something that could bring me down, isn’t what I’d expect from you.”
“Expected, past tense.” He narrowed his eyes. “I told you Sarah, I’m changing.”
He was either the best actor around or he was actually being honest with me. His eyes were dark and there was a set to his jaw that said I shouldn’t question him, so I didn’t. There was still a tiny part of me that worried he might suddenly shed the new improved image he was trying for though and use everything I’d done or said against me.
“You’re right, none of its on my record,” I replied. “And as far as I know Miss Daniels is the only one who knows about Mr Mills, although she might have told the rest of the staff.” I shrugged. “I have no idea, but unless Kirk’s gone back to my old school and talked to my old friends, he won’t find out. You can stop worrying about it, Adam.”
“You sure?” he asked. “Because I’ve got to be honest with you, if he does something to hurt you, I’m not sure I’d stop at three punches.”
I reared back. “Woah”.
“Don’t tell me you’re surprised,” he said as he looked up at me through long lashes that most girls would die for.
“Well, yeah,” I replied. “He’s your best friend.”
I couldn’t believe he was sticking up for me, over Kirk.
“Ellis is my best friend,” he stated.
“Okay, but he’s been your friend for a long time. You’ve known me a month and yet you’re saying you’d be on my side if Kirk tried to use my past against me.”
Adam’s forearms rested on his knees as he contemplated me. “Yeah, I think I would.”
Silence fell between us and I could practically feel the static building in the room. The energy floating around made it hard to breathe, and when Adam’s lips parted and he sucked in his bottom lip, I knew that from the way he was looking at me that something was going to happen. Determination glinted in his eyes as he told me without words what he wanted.
My body hummed with the possibility of being held in his strong arms while his
long fingers revisited the places they’d already been. I wanted his powerful body to shroud mine as we brought each other pleasure, I needed his beautiful blue eyes to look into mine and give me a host of promises when words would never be enough. I was desperate to feel the hardness of his smooth length inside of me, empowering me to be free with every delicious thrust of his hips.
“I can’t understand why I feel the way I do,” Adam said, his voice a hushed whisper alongside the tick tock of a clock on the mantle and the gentle moan of the heating. “I mean there’s no denying you’re beautiful, Sarah, but this isn’t just about you making me feel hard and horny. This is about you making me crave to change. At night I lie awake thinking about you, desperate for the daylight not just so I can see you, but so I can start to make changes in my life and in me. I have to be worthy of you before I can even touch you.”
As Adam leaned forward, with an intensity in his gaze that I’d never seen before, I couldn’t stop the flutter of air from leaving my lips. It was a soft sigh of appreciation and when I saw Adam’s chest hitch, I knew he’d heard it.
“You’ve already touched me,” I replied, my eyes never wavering from his face.
“I shouldn’t have.” He shook his head and breathed deeply. “I wasn’t the person you needed that night, you needed someone who would have cherished you, someone who would know you were worth so much more than a quick finger fuck against a wall.”
His words were hard and coarse, but they were said with truth and gentleness.
“I wanted it too.”
Adam’s lips upturned into a slight smile, but I could see in his eyes that he was remembering how hot and sexy that quick ten-minute fumble had been.
“I know, but it still doesn’t mean you didn’t deserve better.”
I conceded to what he was saying and stayed silent as I continued to bask under his intense stare.
“I’m not going to lie, Sarah, and say I’ll suddenly be this fucking awesome lad who you deserve. I’m seventeen-years-old, I’m a dick and an idiot at best. I’ve done things that I’m not sure even my mum would forgive me for, so why the fuck I’d expect you to I don’t know. Shit, I have no damn idea why I want you to forgive me or why you make me want to change, it’s fried my fucking brain thinking about it, but I do.”
