by GG Shalton
I wanted to take a drive. I felt as if the walls were closing in on me. Going outside, I looked to see if my car was back.
Robbie was bouncing a basketball in the doorway. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” I said.
He counted his bounces out loud. I walked past him, and he stopped bouncing the ball, placing it on his hip. “You okay?”
I shrugged and couldn’t bring myself to answer. He seemed genuinely concerned. Almost like a brother.
He fidgeted with the basketball. “How’s Jaxon?”
The name burned inside me. Hearing him say it made my tough exterior slightly break. “I don’t know.” I bit my bottom lip, watching confusion sweep across his face. “I can’t get a hold of him. He isn’t answering my phone calls.”
He looked at me sympathetically. “I’m sure he would if he could.”
Robbie and I may not have gotten off to the best start, but his eyes held sincerity. Looking at him, I shrugged. “Thanks for saying that.”
“Ariel, the guy went to jail for you. I’m sure there is a good explanation.”
“I never wanted him to do that.” I let out a shaky breath. “But honestly, I’m not sure how he feels about me.” Tears filled my eyes as I tried to keep myself in control. “Jaxon could be in real trouble. If I had been firmer with Trace about how I felt about him instead of just ignoring him, maybe it wouldn’t have blown up today and Jaxon wouldn’t have lost his temper.”
“Don’t blame yourself. The whole school practically forced you to be with Trace. You were new and didn’t know who to trust. Screw them.”
I snorted out a half laugh. “Thanks.” For a kid so young, he held a lot of wisdom.
Robbie nodded, trying to twirl the basketball on his finger. He dropped the ball and ran after it. Coming back to me, he lifted his chin toward the house. “Mom was looking for you a few minutes ago.”
I glanced toward the house. “Great. Wonder if my father is punishing me some more.”
I walked inside with Robbie following me. Amanda was sitting on the sofa. She tried to give me a weak smile.
“Robbie, stop bouncing that ball.” She looked at me. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. Do you think I could have the keys to my car?”
She took a deep breath. “Honey, I’d love to give them to you, but it’s not my place.”
“I don’t understand?”
“Your father thinks you’ve had too much freedom. He has temporarily taken away your car and will have Mikey keep it locked up in the garage. I can drop you off at school until he has some time to get over this.”
Robbie snorted. “That’s ridiculous. Ariel did nothing wrong.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t understand. Joseph is concerned about her relationship with Jaxon.” Looking at me, she swallowed hard. “Honey, he thinks maybe Jaxon may have influenced you to make some bad decisions. He’s only looking out for your best interest.”
“Why? Because he’s from Northside?” Robbie’s sarcastic tone mirrored my own frustration.
“Robbie, this doesn’t concern you,” she said sharply.
My head was spinning. “Where is my father?”
“He had an errand to run. You can talk to him when he returns.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “None of it matters. Jaxon isn’t taking my calls anyway.” I turned and stormed off to my room.
Chapter 29
Ariel
“Ariel?”
The voice was faint, and I wasn’t for sure if I’d heard it. I glanced at my clock. It said three thirty in the afternoon. I hadn’t gone to school and watched television all day in my bed, refusing to go downstairs in case my father was around. I must have fallen asleep.
“Are you awake?” came the voice outside my door.
I didn’t have the energy to answer but stared at it.
After a few seconds, the knocking came again. “Ariel? Let me in. I need to talk to you.”
I took a deep breath and dragged myself off the bed. I slowly walked to the door and unlocked it, opening it a crack. “I don’t feel like talking.”
Robbie looked behind him then leaned over. “I have some news.”
I lifted my brow and opened my door enough so he could squeeze through. Closing the door, I stuck out my hip. “What is it?”
“The school was full of rumors. People are saying your dad sent you back to boarding school.”
I rolled my eyes. “Figures. What about Trace?”
He shook his head. “They’re saying Trace is still in the hospital, but that isn’t true. I heard Joseph telling my mom that Trace is home for a few days. His arm is only sore, not broken. He’ll skip this week’s game, but the doctors think he can play next week. The story is that the other Northside guys joined in and that’s why he was so bad off. They said Jaxon was some gang leader and used a weapon.”
I grunted. “That’s not true.”
“I know, but the only witnesses aren’t talking. Apparently, the Northside kids who were there were expelled along with Jaxon. They aren’t allowed on school property. Other warnings went out to Northside students about some zero-tolerance policy and anyone who remotely looks the wrong way will be expelled.”
My mind raced. I just wanted to talk to Jaxon. “What are they saying about Jaxon?”
He stared at me. “You still haven’t heard from him?”
I shook my head. “I was hoping today… but he didn’t call me. I stopped texting him.”
“My friend Rick knows a few guys from Northside. He’s out of jail.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “How long ago?”
Robbie shrugged. “I don’t know. But I heard his brother picked him up and some kids from Northside were going over there after school. He isn’t allowed near Matter Point.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “I just need to talk to him.”
He took a step toward the door. “Ariel, it may be a good idea to give him some space.”
I looked at the floor.
“Are you going to school tomorrow?” he asked.
“Amanda said I could stay home the rest of the week.”
He nodded. “I can bring you some pizza later. I heard your dad wouldn’t be home, and my mom is going out with her book club.”
“Thanks, Robbie.”
I stared at my phone for the rest of the night. Why hasn’t he tried to contact me? Even if it’s to tell me he doesn’t want to see me anymore? I couldn’t concentrate on anything and hadn’t attempted to do any of my homework. I did eat some of the pizza, but I ignored Amanda’s knock to check on me.
Even texting Isabel didn’t cheer me up as it usually did. If anything, it made me worse. She had been hanging around Tracy Moore, who used to make fun of us. I guessed Isabel had gone on a date with Tracy’s brother, Chandler, and the three of them have been going on double dates. I shouldn’t be jealous, but I couldn’t help myself. Everything was crashing down around me.
Squeezing my pillow, I changed positions to get more comfortable. I wondered how Jaxon would fit into my world of boarding school friends. Double dating with Isabel and her boyfriend would probably be a disaster. Chandler would probably ask Jaxon where he summered and if he played polo. Jaxon would talk about cars. My heart hurt at those thoughts, because the truth was that I didn’t care. I was in love with Jaxon, and I would follow him anywhere if he would only ask me to.
I texted Isabel again, but with the time difference, she was getting ready for bed and then had school. I missed her so much and wished I could see her. I felt so lost at Matter Point. The only people I had left to talk to were my stepbrothers. I would never have imagined Robbie being my lifeline to the outside world, but the kid had grown on me.
I finally gave up around eleven thirty and went downstairs to get a snack. Coming out of the kitche
n, I noticed a light on in my father’s study. I tiptoed around and saw the desk was empty. I felt as though I was invading his space, but I was curious and sat in his chair, spinning it around. I remembered that when I was young, spinning in the office chair was one of my favorite pastimes. I looked at all the books on the bookcase and noticed a picture on the fireplace mantel of him and Amanda on their wedding day.
I walked over and took it off the shelf. Amanda looked so thin in the picture, but she glowed. I wondered what she saw in my father. She seemed so full of life, and he seemed to suck the air out of a room. Placing the picture down, I noticed other pictures. Some of them were of the boys on the boat with Amanda, and one was of me in my gymnastics gear before I went to boarding school. I was standing with my grandmother, and she was hugging me. I had won third place for my performance on the balance beam.
I traced her image with my finger as an ache filled my chest. “I miss you.”
I put the frame back on the shelf. Staring at the pictures, I couldn’t help wondering if that was the only picture he had of me? Surely there were other memorable moments from my life. Glancing around the room, I noticed a few photo albums in a basket near the corner. It looked as if it had been recently moved. I took a few steps toward it, looking back at the study door to make sure no one was around.
One of the albums looked worn, and I noticed some yellowing on the first page. A smile slid across my face as I recognized my grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day. The picture was in black and white, but I knew it was her. I saw pictures of my father as a kid, blowing out birthday candles.
A few pages stuck together as I tried to pry them apart. One of the inserts was loose, and there seemed to be a few pictures stuck in there. I tugged at the plastic and pulled one of them out. In it, a woman was standing beside my father. The smile on his face was nothing I had ever seen before. She was beautiful, stunning, and I knew without a doubt she was my mother. I had one other picture of her, but it wasn’t very good. In this picture, she was clear and seemed genuinely happy. I looked at the back and read the date, realizing she must have been pregnant with me during this time. I wondered if she knew it. Judging by the outfit she was wearing, she wasn’t showing.
I stuck my fingers in the plastic and pulled out a few more pictures. They were all of her as she posed on rocks near the lake and a few near the arch in St. Louis. In one, she was kissing my father, and in another, she was blowing a kiss to the camera. She seemed larger than life. I wondered what had really happened to make her abandon me when I was a baby? My grandmother had told me once that she didn’t deserve to be a mother, and my father refused to speak about her or have her name mentioned. He became irate when I had asked about her when I was little. Not that he saw me much. Still, I often wondered why she’d left. Was it me or him? Or did she despise us both?
Chapter 30
Ariel
It was finally Friday. The week had passed in a blur, and my only contact with the outside world was Robbie. Ritchie had tried to entertain me too, and I found myself playing video games with him. A small part of me even enjoyed it. The last couple of days, we both waited for Robbie to come home, and last night, all three of us stayed in Ritchie’s room and watched a movie. I was starting to like having siblings. Amanda seemed to like it too. She allowed us to all fall asleep on Ritchie’s bed.
I’d blocked Paisley, Gretchen, Trace, and any other Matter Point High School student’s phone number I had saved on my phone. I didn’t want to hear from anyone, and the only person who wasn’t blocked refused to contact me. I knew he was out of jail and home. I’d even seen pictures of Jaxon with a few of his Northside friends, by his brother’s shop, on social media. It turned my stomach that Jaxon seemed okay with his expulsion from Matter Point and had no qualms about not seeing me. What if I was hurt? Did he even care anymore?
I had to return to school on Monday. The principal had told my father that the school had calmed down and Trace would return as well. I didn’t see why I couldn’t finish the semester somewhere else. Anywhere else. College couldn’t come soon enough.
I heard the front door slam, then Robbie’s backpack hit the wall of his bedroom as he threw it inside. A few seconds later, he was standing in my doorway.
“We have to talk.” He was slightly out of breath as he entered my room and closed my door.
“What’s up?”
He crossed his arm and lifted the corner of his mouth. “Well, it’s Friday and both of us are going out.”
“Correction,” I said matter-of-factly. “I’m staying in my room. Have fun tonight.” I collapsed back on the bed and laid my head on a pillow.
He rolled his eyes. “You are going with me.”
I shook my head. “No thanks.”
He stared at me. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind? I’m going to Creston.”
I dipped my brow as his words shook me out of my funk. “Creston?”
“Yep.” He nodded knowingly. “My friend Eric just got his license, and he’s taking me to the mall in a few hours.”
“What about Amanda?”
“Hmm.” He tapped his jaw as if he had a secret. “Mom thinks we’re going to the movies at Matter Point Cinemas and even encouraged me to take you to get you out of the house. I thought we could take a side trip.”
My eyes widened. “You think your friend would take me?”
A smile glided across his face. “I know he would.”
I looked at him cautiously. “What will it cost me?”
“Nothing.” He sat on the edge of my bed. “Look, I know I’m not your real brother, but I still don’t like the way Trace put his hands on you. It’s not right the way the school is blaming Jaxon when he was only defending you. I know your dad won’t let you drive, and I want to help.”
I looked at him for a minute to make sure he was serious. Sitting up, I hugged him, apparently shocking him as his whole body stiffened awkwardly.
“Give me a minute to take a shower. I have to find something to wear.” I hopped off the bed as Robbie walked to the door. “Robbie?”
He turned and raised his brow.
“Thanks.” I looked down as I twisted my hands. “I know we got off on the wrong foot. But for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re my stepbrother.”
He lifted the corner of his mouth and nodded as he walked out the door and closed it. If Jaxon was going to ignore me, he would have to tell me to my face. I just hoped he was working tonight.
The ride to Creston was the longest of my life. A million thoughts rushed through my head. What would I tell him? How would he react to me dropping by unannounced? Part of me longed to bury myself in his arms, but the other part of me was angry. It had been a few days. How could he not try to contact me? Even if he’d lost his phone, he could have tried to find me.
I heard bits and pieces of Robbie’s conversation with his friends. Hunter, one of the kids, sat in the back with me. I ignored his odd stare and took my time looking out the window. Familiar scenery had me shifting in my seat.
“Ariel!”
I jumped and looked up to see Robbie staring at me from the front seat. I guessed he had asked me a question. “Huh?”
“I asked you where he lives?”
“Oh, are we going there first? I thought you wanted to go to the mall.”
“We will, but we’re meeting some people there, so unless you want a crowd, we’d better do it now.”
I nodded. “Get off on exit 5B, then go about three miles and turn right over the bridge. His shop is at the end of the road.”
His friend nodded, and they continued their conversation about some girl who supposedly liked one of their friends who had a girlfriend. I barely paid attention as my nerves were slowly making me nauseated. I took a deep breath as I twisted my hands in my lap. I touched up my makeup as I felt the car go over the bridge.
&nb
sp; “Are you okay?”
I looked at the kid sitting beside me. I had seen Hunter around school but didn’t know him well. I nodded as I rubbed my lips together.
He looked down. “I don’t believe the rumors, you know. Trace Jenkins had it coming. Hitting a girl isn’t cool.”
“Thank you. I was sure the whole school hated me for what Jaxon did to the star quarterback.”
“No one hates you. In fact, I think most of the guys at the school are relieved.”
“Relieved?”
Hunter nodded with a smile. “Because now we know you’re single.” He winked as Robbie groaned in the front seat and Eric laughed.
“Real smooth, bro,” Eric said as he slowed down near Jaxon’s shop.
They all looked at the shop as I grabbed my stomach and took a long breath. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Hunter patted my arm. “Don’t worry about this guy. If he doesn’t see how lucky he is that you’re going out of your way to see him, then he’s crazy.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “You’re a real charmer, Hunter.”
Eric parked at the edge of the parking lot. I noticed Jaxon’s brother, Jake, and a guy with tattoos standing outside. My heart pounded when I saw Jaxon stacking the piles of tires. His muscles flexed, and my chest tightened as I remembered how he’d touched me with those hands.
Jaxon’s brother was staring at our car now, and I knew I had to do something or leave. Putting my hand on the door handle, I let myself out and looked back at the guys. “Please stay in the car and wait for me.”
They nodded as I closed the door and walked toward the garage. Jake whistled at his brother, and Jaxon squinted as a look of confusion mixed with a touch of caution came across his face. He didn’t make a move toward me as I walked toward him. Jake went inside the garage, and his friend walked up the side stairs to the house. Looking around, I realized we were alone.
