“You’re sitting with me short stuff.” He pecked my lips and sat me next to him then he told some of his guys to get chairs for my three girls. Jared of all people went over and got the girls.
Their faces were almost comical and Belle, as was to be expected because she has to be a hard ass, was holding out.
Then my brother did something that I’m sure shocked the whole room. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
His idiot friends were encouraging him and he grinned like a fool, while Belle threw invectives at his head, kicking and screaming all the way.
Cassandra was grinning and looking happy again and Tammy even broke a little smile before ducking her head and hiding.
***
Well, I guess that set the precedent nice and proper, as it should be. Belle for all her griping was looking very flushed I noticed, and I also noticed that Jared was sitting rather close to my new friend.
“So Tammy what happened, are we still on for our tutoring session this weekend?” Shane looked directly at her from his seat across from her and I think she was about to expire. Just what the heck was going on with these people anyway?
“Uh yes, yes we are.” She was suddenly very interested in her nasty ass tapioca pudding.
Jace meanwhile was running his thumb back and forth along my shoulder and giving me goose bumps. To say our table was the center of the universe at that point in time wouldn’t be overstating things by much. It seemed all eyes were on our little group; there had been a shift in their little dynasty.
I couldn’t help a little evil grin.
“Uh oh, what’s that look about?” I turned my head and grinned at Jace, suddenly happier than I could ever remember being.
“Nothing, I’m just, happy, excited, exhilarated…”
“All that huh, I hope I have something to do with all this newfound exuberance.” If you only knew, I thought. I gave him a look that I’d been practicing in the mirror since I was twelve.
He wasn’t expecting an answer apparently, because just then he groaned as if in pain and then his lips were on mine.
I was expecting one of his usual teasers, but whoa. The whistles and catcalls started and someone started pelting us with pieces of bread, at least that’s what I think it was.
I’m pretty sure that was Belle but soon others joined in the fun and we were being pelted from all sides.
“You guys are embarrassing.” That was Jared’s poignant assertion. Jace took a few more licks of my lips before turning back to the table. He got up and went to the lunch counter after telling me to stay put.
“Eat baby, you didn’t eat your lunch yesterday.” And how did he know that I wonder? He placed a tray with my usual lunch in front of me. Damn, he doesn’t miss anything it seemed.
Chapter 7
BELLE
I am about to die; I’m sure my face is ten shades of red and if I open my mouth I’m going to put my foot in it. I was getting some weird vibes from the new guy. Weird as in, I think he likes me.
But that so cannot be. I’ve seen the way the girls look at him, they’ve been following him around like lovesick puppies for the last two days.
So why was he sitting so close to me? This better not be one of those stupid high school set-ups where the popular guy loses a bet or something, because the way he just carted me around in front of the whole school gave a very distinct impression of…what?
“Something wrong with your food Red?”
“What?” Red, was that like some kind of endearment or something?
“You’re glaring at your sandwich babe, I thought maybe it had offended you in some way. I have noticed that you can be a bit prickly.” He grinned at me like my life wasn’t complicated enough, what with him sucking up all my oxygen and stealing my senses.
And since when have I become one of the bobble heads? I looked into his eyes and lost my train of thought.
“Is this some kind of game?” He squinted at me like I was speaking Latin or something.
“What, what’re you talking about?”
“I’m just wondering why the new guy who looks like the next big screen heartthrob would be sitting here wasting his time on someone like me.”
He sat back and folded his arms as he studied me. I was beginning to squirm under that intense gaze of his.
I’d noticed it quite a lot in the last two days. It was usually directed at me from across the room or a table, but this time it was up close and personal.
“Someone like you, what’s that?” I shrugged my shoulders and tore at the edges of my sandwich. As if he didn’t know.
“You know.”
“No tell me Belle, why do you consider me sitting here with you like this a waste of time? And thanks for the compliment by the way.”
“Let’s just drop it okay.” Now I felt foolish. And did he have to pay such close attention when he was talking to me? Like he was hanging on my every word?
“You know Red, I think you are your own worst enemy.” And with that little insightful tidbit he started eating.
I looked at him for five seconds, contemplating bashing him over the head with something. Why was he confusing me? And what was up with him and his sister upsetting the order of my universe?
Never would I ever have expected to be sitting at this table. Not even Mandy and her ilk ever set foot in this domain, and I was sure there was going to be a huge fallout. My big worry was Sian and that cheerleading crap.
She doesn’t know these girls like I do. Jace might’ve given them fair warning, but people like the Mandy Taylors of this world always find a way. I’ll have to have a talk with Sian; maybe at the sleepover she’d invited me to this weekend.
And wasn’t that a hoot? I’ve never been to one of those in my life, well sometimes Tammy and I would spend time at each other’s house, but we’ve never done the all night thing.
I knew these damn Claiborne’s were going to be trouble. Here two days and already they’re shaking up shit. At least Tammy and I weren’t at the wrong end of it this time, though I’m sure those twits will try to make our lives hell.
Shane was even talking to Tammy and across the way Liz was shooting daggers at her. I flexed my feet in my sneakers, testing the dexterity of them since they were new. I needed to be sure they could stomp her ass if she got stupid.
SIAN
“I want you to come meet my parents, do you think your parents would let you come to the house this evening? We can do our homework together.”
I stopped with my hand halfway to my mouth. “Your parents?” I didn’t see that coming.
“Yeah, it’s only fair, I met yours right?” damn that smirk, he could probably get me to agree to anything when he looked at me like that.
“I guess, um this evening? I’ll have to ask mom. I’m sure it will be okay, but…”
I’m dating someone and he wants me to meet his parents, in fact we haven’t even been on our first date yet. I don’t recall this part of the high school dating game. Jessica’s dates usually picked her up at the door and left.
I wanted to ask him if he’d taken all his former girlfriends home to meet his folks, namely Mandy, but the thought was so depressing I benched the idea.
“Cool, I’ll pick you up after they give you the go ahead, say six? You can have dinner with me.”
“Oh, ok.” That was my spiffy comeback, what else could I say? The boy kept throwing me for a loop. First he defended me to his ex monster and now he was taking me home to meet mom, wow. This was so entirely different from anything I expected when I came here.
I noticed that he was a hoverer and very attentive, which I loved. I ate up all his attention like sucking up sunrays.
And each time I got a niggling doubt as to the longevity of whatever we had going on here, I pushed it aside and told myself to just enjoy.
He asked me a million questions about my life back home and what I wanted to do with my future.
“I’m not really sure, I always thought
I wanted to be a doctor, but then I dissected my first frog and fainted, so that was out. Now I think I want to do something with kids, maybe teaching, I don’t know. Why, what do you want to do?”
“Me, football first definitely, but I know some day I’ll have to take the reins from dad so I’m going to have to study entertainment business in school among other things.
So you don’t fancy yourself being a movie star?” he seemed very invested in my answer to that one and I wasn’t sure why that was.
“Nah, that’s not my thing.” We ate in silence for a while and he seemed deep in thought as life went on around us.
His friends were talking football as usual. Belle was talking to Jared without hurling insults at his head, go figure.
And Tammy was showing Shane something on a piece of paper, while Cassandra seemed lost in thought. I have to figure out what’s going on with that girl.
“Cassandra, why don’t you come over a little early on Saturday so we can get some practice in before the big night?”
“Saturday, what’s happening on Saturday?” Jace played with the ends of my hair.
“I’m having a sleepover.”
“Hmm.” What was that supposed to mean?
***
After lunch he walked me to my next class and told me he’d see me at last bell. Of course now that he was gone there was lots of speculation from the other kids, though no one came to me personally.
“What’s going on with your brother?” Belle dropped down beside me in a funk.
“Like?”
“Why is he being so nice to me?”
“Uh, maybe because he is nice?”
“Yeah well guys like him don’t usually talk to girls like me so what gives?”
“Belle, we’re gonna have to have a talk about your low self image. Save it for Saturday night. I’m going to need all the time I can get to fix your brand of nutty.” She almost pushed me off my chair but I didn’t retaliate because the teacher came in just then.
I could feel Mandy boring holes into the back of my head, but didn’t turn around. I have to remember to ask Jace what exactly had gone on between those two.
Mom said it was okay to go to Jace’ place to meet his folks but she insisted that she had to get his mother’s number so they could talk and make sure it was okay.
I only felt about five years old when she said that. Jace had given me his cell and house numbers so I gave it to her before running upstairs to look for something to wear.
I was as giddy as a two year old as I rifled through my closet. Suddenly things that were just what I needed and couldn’t live without when I went shopping, were no longer good enough.
I had to stop myself in the middle of all that when I realized I was comparing myself to Mandy. We were two completely different people, and besides, if Jace had wanted to be with her he wouldn’t have come after me.
In the end I went with something simple, a blouse and a pair of capris. Nothing too flashy or revealing, or dad would never let me out the house.
I was nervous as heck when he rang the doorbell at exactly twenty to six. What were his parents like? Probably disinterested and stuck up I bet.
That was my idea of most Hollywood families, and when I’d done my research after taking a shower and getting dressed I’d found out that his family had more reason than most. He was freaking Hollywood royalty.
I felt shy and out of touch as I walked to the door; technically this could be considered our first date.
His smile when I opened the door made me laugh and the butterflies went away. “Where’s your dad baby?”
“In his office I think, do you need him for something?”
“Uh-uh, I just don’t want any disruptions when I do this.” He pulled me into him and wrapped his arms around me before covering my mouth with his.
His kisses make me want to do things; the way he plays with my tongue with his, the feel of his hard chest pressed against my nipples that seem to stay hard in his presence.
We heard footsteps coming towards the kitchen and I almost propelled myself backwards out of his arms.
He held on and gave me a few more soft pecks on the lips before holding me under his arm.
We both turned to watch as my mom came into the kitchen, soon to be followed by dad and Maggie with Jared bringing up the rear.
Pleasantries were exchanged and I was in a hurry to escape the uncomfortable experience of my whole family checking us out to see if they picked up any sex vibes.
Well maybe not Maggie, and Jared I’m not too sure, but definitely mom and dad.
Maggie seemed a little awestruck as she kept staring at Jace with wonder in her eyes. Uh-oh, that look was almost identical to the one I’d seen on Cassandra’s face that day on the field.
Jace once again surprised me when he answered her million and one questions without any seeming rush.
“No Maggie, I’m not a movie star, I’m not even an actor. But I know some; would you like to meet a few sometime?”
“Like who?” I don’t think she believed him about the not acting thing but she was willing to play along.
He named a few teen stars and she all but attacked him before I had to put a stop to it.
Dad looked like he wanted to say a million things and I almost felt bad for him knowing what he must be going through, but uh-uh.
I’m doing this. I am going to date Jace Saunders and have a damn good time doing it, just as soon as I get rid of the butterflies in my tummy.
Chapter 8
JACE
We finally made our escape fifteen minutes later, which is why I’d shown up early.
I wanted every second of our time together to count, so the few minutes I’d stood there giving her dad the time he needed to adjust and her sister to question as any eight year old would, weren’t taking away from that.
“You look pretty Sian.” And she did, simple teenage wear. No over abundance of makeup, no mile high heels, and especially no cleavage revealing thin wear designed to make my dick uncomfortably hard for the rest of the night.
The thing was, she didn’t need any of that. I’m as horny as the next seventeen year old guy don’t get me wrong; but there’s something different about what I feel when I look at this girl.
There’s a hell of a lot more involved than my dick, but instead of scaring me, I feel myself wanting to move towards it.
I seated and belted her into the passenger seat before stealing one more kiss walking around. As soon as I was seated and the car was in gear her hand was back in mine.
“You nervous?” She looked at me and then away; I could feel the tension in her hand as she shrugged her shoulders.
“A little.” I lifted her hand to my lips for a quick reassuring kiss as we made our way through the streets back to my home.
“Don’t be, they’re going to love you I promise.” And that right there is what made me feel secure for some reason.
My parents are about the most well rounded people I know. They’re not saints by any stretch of the imagination, but when it comes to me they go above and beyond.
The fact that I knew without being told that they would both love her as much as I…Shit.
***
I watched her reaction as we pulled through the security gate, past the guardhouse and down the long driveway.
“Holy…” her hand actually went to the door handle as if she was going to jump out.
“It’s okay Sian it’s just a house, take your hand away from the door.” She started to hyperventilate.
“Hey look at me.” I stopped the car halfway down the driveway and turned her face to mine.
I looked into her eyes to see where she was at. This would’ve been funny if it wasn’t her. I don’t think I’d ever seen anyone go into shock over a house before.
“I can’t go in there.”
“Oh yes you can. This is where I live, trust me, you’re going to be spending a lot of time behind those walls. So come on, I’m sure they’r
e waiting to meet you.”
Her phone rang and distracted her from her…whatever was going on inside her beautiful head. She fumbled it out of her bag and answered.
“Oh hi Jessica, I can’t really talk right now.” She looked at me with big wide eyes. I could almost see the pleading in them.
“It’s okay baby talk.” I helped her out of the car and thought it prudent to take her in through the back.
If she had this kind of reaction to the outside, she’d probably keel over if she saw the inside.
Mom’s one weakness is décor. Our home looks like a cross between an old antebellum plantation and Hampton Court.
I walked up on the deck and gave her some privacy for her conversation and hopefully some time to get herself together.
“Is that your new girlfriend son, wow she’s a hottie.” I turned just as my dad slid the door open and stepped out.
“Dad, go away.” I gave him my best glare but he wasn’t even looking at me. How could I have overlooked this aspect? My dad can be a bit embarrassing. He does that shit on purpose but he usually saves it for when the guys come over.
“Come on I’m just looking, nothing wrong with looking. Wow she the new transplant? You work fast son I like your style. If I were just a few years younger I’d give you a run for your money.”
“Pig, mom dad’s being a pig again.”
“Shh, dude you trying to get your poor old man iced?”
“Serves your ass right, now get back inside and let me brig her to you like a normal adult.”
“What’re you two whispering about out here?” Mom stepped out on the deck next, her eyes honing in on my girl.
“Dad’s ogling my baby.”
“Ooh, Jace is that your new girl? She’s gorgeous, smoking hot. Way to go son, nice trade, a definite improvement from the last one. That last one looked like horse food.” She was no help, but why would I expect anything different?
“Mom how do you know what horse food looks like?”
“Or any food for that matter?” Dad got a slap behind the head for that one. Mom is the world’s worst cook hands down.
Eden High: Part Two (Eden High #2) Page 4
