Having never had a relationship of any kind with a member of the opposite sex, all I had to go on was the excellent example that my parents set.
But I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for the alien feelings that had taken up residence in my head.
What was it going to be like, how was he going to act? Will he be standoffish, or will be like he was last night?
These were just a few of the questions plaguing me as I drove onto school grounds.
My nerves shot up when I saw all the kids milling about. I wasn’t even sure what I was supposed to do now. He did say he would see me today at school but what did that mean exactly? Oh for crap sake Sian get a grip.
***
I pulled into my usual spot, well usual since yesterday and today; and who do I see in my rearview mirror?
My dream car sidled in beside me. I watched him pull in and get out, still sitting in my car like a stump. Did I mention that I forget all motor skills when in his presence? It’s pathetic.
He walked over, opened my door and helped me out. I think I forgot how to breathe. His scent was the second thing to assail my senses, after the smile that he gave me.
He was dressed in one of those three button thermal Henley shirts, pushed up to the elbows and opened to the third button. Even the gold Rolex on his wrist looked sexy.
Did I mention that he’s built? Well, what little I could see led me to believe that he had a very nice body, and let’s not forget his ass in his football uniform.
Today he was wearing jeans that fit just right in front. My mouth went dry. How did you go from a virgin to having lustful thoughts overnight?
No wonder parents locked their kids away; they were probably remembering how it was to be a teen themselves.
There were lots of murmurs in the background as I’m sure we were making a spectacle of ourselves, and one loud scream came from somewhere behind us.
Not a scream like I’m hurt, I need help, but more like I’m about to throw the mother of all tantrums if I don’t get my way right now. Two guesses as to who that was.
I couldn’t look around to see if it really was Mandy making that racket, because Mr. man crowded me against the car door and did that thing where he sniffs my hair. Why is that even sexy? No clue, but it makes me weak in the knees.
He ran his nose down the side of my face, and then I felt the lightest kiss against that place where my ear meets my cheek. I thought I would swoon. I had to grab ahold of his shirt to steady myself.
“Morning babydoll.” He kissed my lips, but once again it was just a tease. He took my hand and turned and led me across the lot with my hand held firmly in his.
I saw Belle with Tammy and Cassandra off to the side watching us with their mouths looking pretty much like guppies.
Belle gave me a little thumbs up and Cassandra looked as if she were about to pass out. Tammy as always, kept her head down.
I had a quick moment of worry about Cassandra when I remembered her reaction to him that day on the field. I hope she didn’t hate me.
But when she gave me one of her shy smiles I knew it was okay. Jace was pulling me along, but I gave his hand a little tug. Here was our first test.
He looked down at me when I tugged and I pulled him in the direction of my three new friends, who looked like they were about to bolt at any second.
If they did, I wouldn’t speak to anyone of them ever again in this lifetime. They must’ve caught the kill lights in my eyes because they stayed put.
“Good morning ladies.” Jace greeted them with that devastating grin of his; he’s such a showoff. I think these three idiots sighed like those ladies you read about in historical romance novels.
I rolled my eyes and kept going, with them falling in beside us. We pretty much ignored the glares and whispers as my new boyfriend walked me to my first class.
“I’ll see you at break, wait for me outside your lit class and I’ll come get you and walk you down to the cafeteria.”
Another one of his drive-by kisses and he was off. I watched those fine buns all the way down the hall until he got to the end.
“Inside Sian.” Damn, how did he know I was still standing there? The four of us snickered and three of us headed for one class while Cassandra hustled and went to her class on the other side of the building.
Wait a minute, how did he know what classes I had? I didn’t have much time to dwell on it because Belle was dragging me to our tables.
We were in a huddle and you would think I’d won an Oscar or at the very least an Emmy the way they were carrying on.
“You’ve been holding out on us, maybe you need a lesson in friend etiquette, but you do not keep the fact that you’re dating the school heartthrob from your girls.”
“Why Belle, I was sure you wouldn’t have any interest in that seeing as he’s a jock and all.” I batted my lashes at her.
“You’re such a fail, try to follow along please. My interest is not so much in the meat per se, but more in the affect this new turn of events will have on the twat brigade.
I can see only good things coming from this. It will kill her, and a more deserving wench we have yet to meet.”
“Geez Belle blood thirsty much?” I secretly agreed with her assessment but wasn’t about to let her know that. It was early days yet and I’m way into self-preservation.
Now I don’t think Jace would’ve gone through all that he had last night on a dare, or as some sort of joke. But there was so much that could go wrong with a new relationship…
I caught myself in mid-thought. It was finally dawning on me that since my arrival here I’ve been acting like the proverbial twit. I guess I was a bit intimidated, but no more.
“Okay you’re right but this all just happened last night. I’ll tell you guys all about it later, the teacher’s coming in.”
And so were Mandy and her crew. I pretty much expected the bump into my desk that one of them did in passing so didn’t acknowledge the juvenile move.
I was expecting there to be some backlash, in fact I’d spent a good part of last night thinking about that, when I wasn’t imagining Jace and I together. I came to the decision to choose my battles and rise above whatever they threw my way.
“Skank alert.” Belle, not so much!
“It won’t last you know, he’s just mad at me about something, but we all know he always comes back to me, his one true love. I’m sure he probably has some kind of bet going with the rest of the team. You know how those guys are.”
This was said loud enough for everyone who was interested to hear of course, and I had a momentary fear that she might be right.
I mean that made more sense than the hottest guy anywhere ever, being interested in me.
Then I remembered him holding my hand and closing his eyes last night; that look on his face.
There was definitely something there; just the memory of that moment made my heart race and filled me with…something.
Besides, my brother is on the team. Surely he would’ve told me if something like that was even remotely true.
My thoughts were interrupted by the loud acclimations of Jace’ profound love for her and how they were meant to be together, blah, blah, blah. Of course her girls agreed that they made sense as a couple.
I too may have thought that about fifteen hours or so ago. But now, hella no bitches! As soon as I find my nerve I’ll be all over that.
I decided to ignore the snickers and the catty remarks until the teacher called for order and everyone finally settled down.
I was able to pay attention in class for the rest of the morning, but half an hour before lunch period my body went into system overload again.
***
“So come on give, when, how, where, we all know why.” Belle was more curious than I expected her to be. She always gave the impression that she had no interest in relationships, and in fact I have never heard her even mention a guy.
Tammy always blushes whenever the conversation head
in that direction and I think little Cassandra thinks it’s all dreamy. Oh to be young and naïve, which I was yesterday at this time.
No one told me that my stomach would feel like it had rocks ratting around in there and that I would forget how to perform the most basic of human functions, like breathe.
“He came over to meet my mom and dad. I didn’t even know what was going on, or that he was going to be there…”
I told them about the evening and pretty much everything up until Jace and I had made a spectacle of ourselves in the parking lot.
“I see you don’t hear so good new bitch.” I turned around to see Mandy and her den of vipers approaching us from behind. Belle moved her body in front of me, which I thought was so sweet and even Tammy, shifted a little.
Little Cassandra, who had been moving towards us from the opposite direction, with a big excited grin on her face, stopped short and seemed to be taking in the scene before her.
There was something weird about the way she was looking at the other girls, and I couldn’t tell if it was one in particular or all of them; but now wasn’t the time to ponder.
I moved Belle out of my way and stood front, and center. “Are you talking to me Mandy, because if you were I will have to ask you not to call me out my name again.” I’ma smack this bitch in her mouth.
“I don’t really care what you want you little nobody; I’m here to warn you to stay away from Jace. He’s mine and he’s going to stay mine. If you looked halfway decent I might’ve entertained the idea of a threesome, but I think I’d prefer my dog.”
My eyes widened when I got what she’d just said. Eww.
“Oh what’s the matter? You didn’t know that Jace was into kink? We’ve had lots of fun in bed together.
I’m sure a little mouse like you wouldn’t know what to do with a man like him. So why don’t you just go play with one of the other deadbeat males around here? That seems to be your preference anyway.”
She sneered at my girls as she said this. I didn’t say anything as yet because it didn’t look like she was finished, but I was sizing her ass up.
Sweat beaded her perfect forehead, there was spittle at the corners of her mouth and her eyes were getting that slightly enhanced glaze. Which meant that either she was on something, I’m sure that would be Belle’s door number one, or she was just plain dog shit crazy.
My refusal to participate in her little diatribe only served to make her even more rabid and she started spewing again. The weird thing is, the more she talked, the less worried I became. I guess what my dad says is true; a bully only has as much power as you give them.
“Ask your new friends, I’m sure they have some ideas as to what you can do with yourself if you need a date. Hey Belle. How’s that old vibrator coming along, or did that run away from your fat ass too?”
They all started laughing and high-fiving each other. I shook my head at Belle as she started to say something with fire in her eyes.
Cassandra was just standing there taking it all in, and Tammy was trying to disappear into the wall.
I buffed my nails and looked them over as I addressed the brainless twit that was about to catch new girl’s foot in her ass.
“So you’re saying that you and my boyfriend,” I was happy that I didn’t choke on the word, “had to have threesomes in order for him to get off? No wonder he came looking for me. Obviously he found you lacking.” With that I took my girls by the hand and walked away.
I knew where the scream came from that time; there was no guessing needed. I almost expected to feel something connect to my back but we got away unscathed.
Belle was mollified for the time being that I’d put that ass in her place, and her crazy was a little manageable, though not by much.
“Why did you stop me? I would’ve pulled every fake hair off her rabid ass head.”
“Belle, I thought your dad taught you that a lady never comports herself in such a manner.” I was talking like an ass to take her focus off of Mandy and get her started on me.
“What the hell are you talking about Sian? Comport myself. And while I’m behind these walls my dad had no jurisdiction.” I just shook my head and dragged her along until we reached the cafeteria.
“Oh shoot,” I stopped right inside the door, “Jace said to wait for him outside lit.”
“Yeah well, you couldn’t, because that twat beaver was all in your grill.” Belle watches MTV so her lingo is a little more advanced, not.
Just then I saw him coming towards me. He looked pissed and I was about to let him have it. I wasn’t in the mood for his shit after dealing with his ex cum dump.
But he stopped in front of me and took my face in his hands. He studied my eyes and face like he was looking for something, and from the way he gritted his teeth I figured someone had already spilled the beans about my little run-in with Mandy.
“Did she touch you baby?” I could only shake my head in wonder. Who the hell was this guy anyway? If he kept this up I was going to give him the goods on our first date, and that’s such a cliché.
Then he kissed my forehead and drew me into his chest and rocked me a little. This time I knew my girls sighed.
As soon as I started to get comfortable though he dropped his arms from around me, took my hand in his and dragged me across the room.
Oh shit! He stopped right in front of Mandy’s table where her and her crew were probably planning their next attack.
Of course by this point every eye in the room was on us and you could hear a pin drop. I think some people might’ve even been holding their breath.
I saw Jared and the rest of the team walk in, and from Jared’s face I guess he’d heard the news as well. Damn, news does travel fast in Hollywood.
I saw my brother’s shoulders relax when he assessed the situation and saw that Jace had things under control. Like the others he folded his arms and prepared to watch the show.
Chapter 6
JACE
I knew this bitch was stupid but I didn’t know just how stupid. I guess I had given her more credit than she was due.
The whispers were all over the school. I’d gone to pick up Sian after thinking about her all morning.
When my dick wasn’t hard from thinking about her ass, I was thinking about new ways to court her. Never gave that shit much thought before, but with her I wanted to do everything different.
I didn’t want to follow my usual routine, and she didn’t strike me as one to care too much about launch parties and being seen at the most popular restaurants where the stars hung out. Which was a welcomed change truth be known
My mind was full of her and I had a growing sense of excitement at the thought of seeing her again in the next few minutes.
So when I got there and she wasn’t where she was supposed to be I started to get a little hot under the collar. I hate it when things get in the way of my plans.
One of the freshmen who didn’t seem to give a shit that I was Jace Saunders, approached me as I stood in front of her classroom door while my boys waited for me down the hall.
By the time he was through giving me the rundown of what had happened, I was ready for blood.
Seeing her, making sure she hadn’t been hurt was my first priority. With that taken care of it was time to take some people out to the woodshed as my grandpa use to say.
I pulled her over to where Mandy and her brain dead entourage were sitting. I’m not sure why Mandy would risk my wrath, but either she really believed that shit that she’d been spouting about me not being able to stay away from her, or she was high.
“Hey Mandy, last warning so pay attention, the rest of you might as well listen too even though you’re too simple to have a thought of your own.
This is Sian for those of you who have been living under a rock for the last week and didn’t know that.
Sian is mine, I don’t give a fuck what any of you think about that, but I do care about people fucking with what’s mine.
If what hap
pened today happens again, there will be a lot of fucks crying in their milk.” I glared around the table at them because if they had any sense at all they would realize it wasn’t just them that I’d just threatened.
Then again they’re not accustomed to me throwing my weight or more to the point, my dad’s weight around. The fact that I was even willing to make that threat, spoke volumes to me, and those who knew me.
I squeezed my girl’s hand and led her to my usual table where my boys followed. I saw that idiot Liz try to latch onto Shane’s hand, but he brushed her off. Serves her ass right, she use to be an okay person until she got caught up in Mandy’s web.
“Next time I tell you to be somewhere Ms. Sian you be there. Don’t let the likes of that one scare you she’s all talk.” I didn’t say anything more because there was nothing else to say.
Mandy and I were over long before she came on the scene, so there was no conflict there.
The fact that Mandy didn’t know why I’d suddenly decided to drop her might have something to do with her inability to let the fuck go.
She’s one of those types that have to end things and everything has to be on her terms. At least she knew going in that that wasn’t going to fly with yours truly.
Still, she seemed to have bought into her own press. I’m going to have to keep an eye out and make sure she doesn’t do anything more than talk.
***
SIAN
“Jace can my friends sit here?” He was done dragging me around I guess, but from the set of his face I could tell he was still pissed.
“If they can’t that’s cool, I’ll just go sit at my table with them.” Belle and the others had gone to our usual table.
They didn’t look too put out that I wasn’t sitting with them; they’d expect me to sit with my new guy after all.
But I wasn’t about to leave them out. I’m thinking it’s time to shake up Eden High some and I’m sure having them at the head table so to speak, would more than ruffle some feathers.
Eden High: Part Two (Eden High #2) Page 3
