I pull away. “And I’m just supposed to take your word for it?”
He nods.
“Look. I don’t know what your deal is but Aaron is the only person who’s bothered being nice to me. I’m not going to stay away from him just because you say so.”
“Hey! We’ve been nice,” Emilio calls out.
I shrug. “You two have,” I say, signaling to him and Dom. “But he,” I point a finger in Roman’s direction. “along with the rest of this school, have been complete jerks.”
A tick forms on Roman’s jaw but I’m not having it. I might look the part of a meek little wallflower but I’m not one.
I storm off toward the school's exit, ignoring him as he calls after me.
Allie
The week goes by in a blur. After that first day, Roman stopped playing guide and I was fine with it. Sure, I missed the glimmer of camaraderie we shared at lunch that first day, but I wasn’t looking for a replacement crew. Besides, he’s a brooding jerk anyway.
I ignore him whenever I see him in first period or in the halls, and the rest of the school—aside from Aaron—thankfully decides to ignore me now that they’ve realized hanging out with Roman and his crew isn’t going to be a repeat event.
Adjusting to life in Sun Valley is a new experience and it feels a lot like being trapped in purgatory. I see Gerald’s assistant more than I see him. She’s there every morning at half past seven, eager and willing to cart me off to school, though all week I’ve had to catch a rideshare to get home.
It would be easier if I just took the bus but the look on Janessa’s face when I’d made the suggestion made that an immediate no. The bus is beneath me. Seems fine for everyone else in this town but somehow an Uber is the classier, more refined choice.
Urgh.
I’m making my way out of my last class—eyes glued to my phone as I punch in the address of the school for a ride request—when Aaron calls out to me in the hallway.
“Hey.”
I slow my steps and wait for him to catch up.
“Hey.” I smile.
He tugs on the straps of his backpack, his skateboard strapped to the back of it, and a boyish smile on his face. “Got any plans this weekend?”
I shrug. “Not really. I’m still the new girl so I’ll probably just hang out at home and get caught up on homework.”
He nods and sucks on his upper lip. “Well, there’s a party this weekend. It’s sort of a pre-game tradition. A bunch of us go out in the woods and camp for the weekend before our big rival game against the Saints.”
“You’re into football?” I ask giving him a speculative look.
“Nah. But I’m into camping and partying so…” He shrugs.
“Oh. Cool,” I say, not really sure where he’s going with this.
He tilts his head, a question in his eyes, but I’m not sure what response he’s looking for. He runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “So, uh, would you maybe want to come? With me, I mean? I can pick you up if you’re cool with that…” He trails off and looks away, a slight blush on his cheeks.
Oh. Oh! “You’re inviting me?” I squeak out. As soon as the words leave my lips, I want to smack myself.
The corners of his mouth twitch into the beginning of a smirk. “Yeah. I think it’d be fun. If you came, I mean. I think you would have a lot of fun.”
I bite my bottom lip. I want to go. I could really use some fun in my life right now. And Aaron is the only person who talks to me, so I’m banking on him being my one and only friend while I’m stuck here. I don’t want to disappoint him by turning him down, but would Gerald even let me go? How would I even go about asking him? I haven’t seen him all week. Literally not once. He’s always working and his meetings seem to run late every night.
“Um….” I glance around the hallway and I catch sight of Roman, Emilio, and Dom. All three of them are standing by the exit with matching scowls on their faces as they watch our exchange. I still don’t know what their deal is with Aaron, but thankfully, this time they keep their distance.
Aaron follows my gaze and sees them, his grin quickly morphing into a grimace. “Are you into those guys?”
I’m a little thrown by his question. “What? No!” I rush to say.
He considers me for a moment like he isn’t quite sure whether or not to believe me. “You sure? All the girls at Sun Valley High like the Devils.”
“Definitely not this one.”
He releases a relieved sigh. “That’s good. They’re assholes. I wouldn’t want to see you hurt.”
I don’t argue because, well, they are, and the fact he’s concerned about me is kinda nice.
I pull out my phone and shoot a text off to Janessa.
Me: Do you think my dad will let me go out with a friend this weekend?
Janessa: Dates, Times, Location?
I turn to Aaron. “My dad’s assistant wants to know for how long and where we’d be going?”
He lifts a brow. “Assistant?”
“Yeah. I know it’s weird but I’ll get a faster response if I go through her rather than trying to track him down.”
He nods like he understands. “Shadle Creek. Today until Sunday morning.”
I shoot her the information and watch as the three little dots appear. Then they stop. Then they appear again. Urgh. Come on. Answer already.
Janessa: That’s fine. Your father says to use the credit card he gave you if you need anything. He’ll try and schedule a dinner with you when you get back.
Me: Great.
I roll my eyes. I love the idea of having to schedule a dinner with my dad. I shove my phone back into my pocket and turn to meet Aaron’s expectant gaze. “I’m in.”
His eyes light up. “Really?”
I nod.
“Awesome!”
Aaron gives me a ride home and follows me inside. He sits on the edge of my bed, watching as I hastily pack a bag with the essentials. Underwear. Toothbrush. Hairbrush. Toothpaste. I’m not sure what all I’ll need but it doesn’t take long to realize none of the clothes Janessa got for me are going to work. Everything is white or blush and definitely not suitable for camping.
I dig through my dresser drawers and raid my closet looking for something passable. Aaron looks out of place in the space as he leans back against the pink floral bedspread covering the bed.
He’s wearing his usual black Volcom pants, though today he’s paired them with a Hurley long-sleeved thermal tee and a pair of checkered Vans. His shoulders are well defined, even beneath the fabric of his shirt, and his tee rides up, exposing an inch of smooth, tanned skin dusted with a light trail of blond hair.
I force myself to look away from the curve along his hips that I know leads to an Adonis belt I have no business admiring. How did guys get that? I’ve seen him eat. He’s like a garbage disposal in the lunchroom, but looking at him now, you’d never know it.
“I can’t believe you live here,” he says, a touch of wonder in his tone.
“Yeah, well, only up until a week ago.”
His head tilts in question and I sigh, not really wanting to explain but not really seeing a way around it either. “My mom died.” I stuff down my emotions and force the words past my lips. “Dad’s the only surviving relative I have, so I was shipped off here. I just moved in the week before last, so none of this,” I wave at everything around me. “Is mine or even resembles the life I grew up with.”
“No shit?” He shakes his head and his face pulls down into a frown. “Damn. I’m sorry.”
I shrug. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
Silence stretches between us, and after looking through the final drawer in my dresser, I give up in defeat. “I don’t think this is going to work. I don’t really have anything appropriate for camping,” I say, resignation in my voice. I didn’t realize just how badly I wanted to go until it became apparent I might not be able to.
Aaron considers me a moment before coming over to take my hands and p
ulling me from the floor where I’d been sitting. “It’s cool. You can borrow some sweats of mine if you want. My bag is already packed in my trunk. Or we can always run by a store?”
“I don’t think I’d fit in anything of yours,” I say, eyeing his physique. Aaron is tall and thin, probably just shy of six feet. He’s built like Chester Bennington from Linkin Park but with a young Ryan Sheckler hot skater-guy vibe.
“Is there, I don’t know, a Target nearby or on the way?” I ask.
He chuckles. “I didn’t take you for the Target type but yeah, there is.”
My shoulders sag as I lean against the wall, relief sweeping through me. “I don’t come from money. All of this, my dad’s assistant bought it all for me when I moved in. I’m very much a Target kind of girl.”
He grins this goofy lopsided smile. “I think I like you even more with that revelation. Come on. Let’s get you some new kicks and go have some fun.”
Allie
I’ve never been one for shopping but I absolutely raid Target as soon as we get to the women’s section. I’m not the picky type so I grab the basics. Things I can mix and match with little effort. A few solid white shirts and a couple with band logo graphics. Some black ripped skinny jeans. A pair of shorts even though it’s past fall and nearing winter. A swimsuit, just in case. And a few pairs of leggings along with a hoodie for good measure.
Aaron is a good sport, helping me carry the piles of clothes as I wander up and down the aisles without a single complaint. When I feel like I have enough, we make our way to the registers.
I feel bad when the cashier rings me up and gives me the total. Four hundred and thirteen dollars. I swallow hard as I hand over Gerald’s credit card and guilt sweeps through me, reminding me I need to find a job so I don’t have to rely on him. I’ll be eighteen soon, and I need to be prepared for that.
It only takes a few minutes after she hands me my receipt to remember my mom just died and Gerald hasn’t bothered to be around all week. What kind of father does that?
That helps sweep away any lingering guilt over how much I’m spending today. I’ll still need to search for a job, though.
“Woah, Allie. You look good.” Aaron says when I step out of the restroom.
As soon as I’d paid, I rushed to change into the ripped black jeans and a white V-neck shirt I’d just purchased. I even bought myself a pair of fake gold hoops. I was an idiot for thinking I wanted to be anyone other than myself. I hate all the expensive white and peach and pink clothes Janessa bought for me. And I really hate the way people judge me when I’m in them.
“Thanks.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and smile.
I was comfortable. I was me again.
I’d missed me this week.
With my arms full, Aaron helps me carry my load to his car and we toss everything in the back of his Subaru WRX. As I shopped, he told me about the cabin we’d be staying in. I was relieved when I learned I wouldn’t need to worry about getting a tent or a sleeping bag. Camping with Aaron sounds more like staying in a hotel, so clothes and toiletries are all that is required.
I can tell Aaron comes from money. Not like Gerald does. That’s an entirely different level. But Aaron’s family is better off than just comfortable. It makes me wonder what he’d think if he’d seen my former home. If he’d still want to be my friend if he’d met the old me? The me before my mom died who lived in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home on the wrong side of town with bars on the windows.
Then I shove that thought away because I realize I’m silently judging him the same way the students at Sun Valley High have been judging me. I’m not like that.
The drive to Shadle Creek takes a little over an hour. Aaron and I listen to The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, All American Rejects, and Panic! At the Disco, and for the first time in over a week, I feel myself relaxing. The wind blows tendrils of my hair loose and I can’t help but smile wide as Aaron navigates us down the winding roads, both of our windows rolled down and the sun shining through.
There’s no pressure here. No hate-filled stares. Aaron is surprisingly funny and despite having a horrible singing voice, he has no problem belting out the lyrics to I Write Sins Not Tragedies right along with me.
Before I know it, the asphalt road turns to gravel and we’re pulling into a clearing ringed with cabins. Dozens of teenagers—some I recognize from school and others I don’t—are milling around, chatting, and drinking beer. Some are pitching tents and another group is getting a bonfire started in the center of the clearing.
As soon as we get out of the car, I close my eyes and breathe in the forest around me.
My shoulders relax, my breathing slows. I exhale and it’s like all the tension from earlier this week melts away.
I catch Aaron ginning at me over the top of his car.
“Glad you came?”
I nod and grab my bags, following him as he leads the way to the first cabin on our right. “Yeah. This place is really cool,” I say as he unlocks the door and we step inside. He drops his own bag just inside the doorway and I take in the rustic yet clean A-frame cabin. It’s simple and screams teenager hangout with the mismatched sofas and already set up red Solo cups on the dining table. A game of beer pong is definitely in our future tonight, not that I’m complaining.
There’s a surround sound system set up in every corner and an old school boombox with mini subwoofers built beneath the speakers resting on a cherrywood entertainment center. I spot the CD booklet sitting next to it and can hardly wait to rifle through it. MP3 players and streaming are so overrated. Mixed CDs are where it’s all at.
“Thanks. My family owns this one and the cabin right next to us, but I’m letting a few buddies of mine use that one. We’ll probably have some crashers here on the sofas later tonight. Usually, we leave our cabins open to whoever decides to stay, but there’s a bedroom in the back so we’ll have some privacy.”
Oh.
We?
Crap.
I bite my lower lip as Aaron gives me the full tour. It’s an open floorplan. There’s a kitchen to our right. The fridge is already full of beer and not much else. When I ask Aaron about food he laughs and says they grill outside and most of the food is kept in coolers. I shrug and decide not to worry about it. It’s not like I’ve been eating much as it is.
Next, he shows me through the living room area on our left and then down a wide hallway leading toward the back of the cabin.
“This here is the main bathroom. People will come in and out all night to use this one but in here,” he opens another door that leads into the lone bedroom. “There’s an attached bathroom that will be just ours. Everyone knows to stay out of bedrooms unless you know the cabin owner and have permission, so you won’t have to worry about anyone barging in on you.”
I nod, eyeing the single bed in the middle of the room. A queen-sized wooden sleigh bed. But there’s just the one and I don’t know Aaron all that well.
Sensing my apprehension, Aaron reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder. “You okay?” His brows pull down and a small crease appears on his forehead.
I nod. “Yeah. I was just wondering … ummm … where should I sleep?”
He clears his throat and shuffles his feet before saying, “I kinda figured you’d crash here, with me. I mean, If that’s okay.”
I flick a glance toward him and then back to the bed, twisting the teal corded bracelet around my wrist.
“I’m not expecting anything to happen between us,” he rushes to add. “I probably didn’t think this through but I figured you’d take one side and I’d take the other. Cool?”
I bite my lip. It makes sense. I’m mature enough to share a bed with a cute boy. I can do this. Right? No big deal.
Shoving my apprehension aside, I say, “Yeah. Cool.”
He grins.
“Alright, then. Let’s go out and grab a beer. I don’t know about you, but after the drive, I could use one.”
Roman
; I pull up to the Shadle Creek campgrounds in Dominique’s Escalade. I would have preferred to drive my old-as-shit El Camino but Dom’s ride has more space, so here we are. Emilio sits passenger while Dominique is sprawled out in the backseat, snoring louder than a lawnmower. He doesn’t usually let me drive. He’s got control issues. But he’s fucking beat. We all are.
We killed it in tonight’s game winning twenty-four to three. It was a slaughter. But because of tonight’s game, we’re getting out to the campgrounds later that I would have liked. At least we still managed to make decent time.
“Wake up, cabrón. We’re here.”
Dominique groans but pushes himself into a sitting position before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The three of us stare at the circle of cabins in front of us with varying expressions. Emilio is hyped as fuck and already has his door flung open. His hair is still wet. We all showered after the game in the locker rooms before heading out, so when he whips out of the car, water droplets smack me in the face.
Asshole.
Dom is his usual impassive self but side-eyes me as he grabs his shit from the back. It only takes a second for me to figure out why when all the blood inside me heats and anger spikes in my chest.
Allie is here, and just exited the first cabin with Aaron Henderson. Fucking Henderson. Just the sight of that wannabe asshole makes my blood boil. I told her to stay away from him.
I grit my teeth and tighten my hands on the steering wheel.
“Bro, come on,” Emilio calls, slamming his door and grabbing his duffel from the back. Dom meets my eyes in the rearview mirror.
“You gonna eye-fuck the girl all weekend?” he asks.
“Fuck you.” I flip him off.
He snorts and climbs out of the backseat, grabbing his bag before heading off to follow Emilio to our cabin. I watch them in my peripheral but I don’t take my eyes off Allie. She looks good. Real good. She’s changed her clothes since I last saw her at school, trading in her white jeans and flowing top for black, ripped jeans and a basic t-shirt. The top dips low in the front exposing a thin line of cleavage and I’m already envisioning her naked breasts.
Wicked Devil: An Enemies to Lovers, High School Bully Romance (Devils of Sun Valley High Book 1) Page 4
