Fast (The Fast Series)

by Ringbloom, Ryan

  Why is he shouting? “You’ll see me the rest of the day too. Won’t you?”

  “Yeah, I’m just making sure we’re all set for later.”

  Robin who’s sitting on the other side of Kent noisily flips a page in her book.

  “You can come too, Robin.” Kent puts his arm on the back of her chair.

  Robin doesn’t look up from her book. “No thanks. I don’t need any help with math.”

  “Well, you can still come over and hang out with us.”

  “No actually I can’t. I don’t need a ride home after practice either. I’m going out with Sarah and Megan.”

  “Are you mad about something?”

  Robin shrugs. “Nope.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  The little spat playing out in front of me is bizarre. Kent’s goading Robin into admitting something. Whatever it is, Robin’s not biting; she packs up her books and leaves the table without saying goodbye.

  “I think she hates me.” I motion my head in the direction of her empty chair.

  “No she doesn’t. I’ve known Robin a long time. She’s just working some things out,” Kent says.

  “Alright, because I don’t want to get in the middle of something weird with you guys.”

  Kent’s eyes follow Robin as she works her way through the cafeteria. “Trust me you’re not getting in the middle. I would never let that happen,” he says pushing his chair away from the table.

  As we’re walking out of the cafeteria Kent puts his arm around me. “I can’t wait for you to meet someone later.”

  “Oh yeah, who’s that? You’re little brother?” I ask, excitedly.

  “Yes,” Kent gives me a smile. “That is exactly who.”

  Robin

  I’m not sure how I survived another torturous day of school.

  Kent and Ashley laughing through first period, Kent and Ashley walking in the halls, Kent and Ashley having lunch together. Kent and Ashley, Kent and Ashley, Kent and Ashley…AHHHHHHH!

  If that’s who Kent wants, fine.

  But it’s not fine. It’s not fine at all.

  Sarah walks up next to me in the hall. “What do you think is going on with Kent and Ashley?” She giggles with excitement, like it’s the biggest gossip to ever hit our little group.

  “I don’t know.” I shrug and roll my eyes a little bit.

  “I figure if anyone knows it’s you. I mean you’re always with Kent, so tell me, are they together now?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Find out!” Sarah’s still all giddy.

  I’m about to lose it. “Why, what does it matter?” I snap at her.

  Sarah shoots me a look of surprise. “Uh-oh. Looks like I hit a nerve.”

  I take a deep breath controlling my tone this time. “Listen if they’re together, I’m really happy for them. I mean it. He’s my friend so of course I hope he’s happy. I just don’t want to keep talking about it.”

  “Okay, sorry, I won’t bring it up again.” Sarah backs off the subject and now we’re just walking without talking.

  I hate the way I’m acting lately. I want to blame it on Ashley, but it’s my own fault. My chances for something more with Kent came and went. I didn’t speak up for myself and I lost him. A plain girl like me can’t compete with a blonde bimbo like Ashley Simons.

  Ashley dresses like a tramp, flirts like it’s her job and speaks her mind, even though most of her speaking is ridiculous, useless information. Plus she has a reputation. How can I compete with that?

  I can’t. It’s time to give up.

  Ashley

  Perfect, Josh is waiting for me at my locker. “Want to do something later?” He’s wearing sunglasses inside because that’s what douchebags do.

  “No.”

  “Why not?” Josh runs his finger over my exposed bra strap.

  Yuck, those disgusting hands. I step back and slip the strap back into place under my tank top. “Because I don’t, Josh. We’re not together anymore. You’re with Tessa. You cheated on me. Do you need me to go on?”

  “I’m not with Tessa. That was a mistake Ashley. Come on, hang out with me later.”

  “No thank you.” I slam my locker shut and turn away glad I already have plans to go to Kent’s house. I’d like to believe I wouldn’t hang out with Josh, but it’s a good thing I don’t have the option.

  It takes forever, but four thirty finally comes. I think I’m actually a little excited to go to Kent’s house. I’ve never been invited to do homework with a guy before.

  Kent greets me at his front door with a big smile. I follow him to the back of the house peeking into the rooms we pass on the way. The house is an average size, not nearly as big or as updated as my house. But this house is so much better than mine. Instead of hard marble floors, there’s worn carpet. Instead of top of the line stainless steel appliances, there’s good grades on test papers hanging on the refrigerator. Baby pictures in crooked frames line the hallway, not over-priced art picked out by an interior designer. The sounds of an energetic house surround me compared to the silence I’m used to. My insides start bubbling with delight. It’s a welcome change spending the afternoon in this amazing house.

  We sink back into one of the two overstuffed, brown couches. Immediately, Kent leans in, brushing his arm against mine. My stomach pulls in tight. Shit, I hadn’t expected this right away from someone like Kent, but whatever. My body goes rigid waiting to see what his big move is gonna be, might as well get this over with.

  “Move over a little, I need to get the remote.” Kent prods me forward and grabs the remote to the television from behind me.

  I am so relieved to have totally misread the situation. I mean, I know I’ll hook up with him eventually. It’s just nice to not have to do anything right away. I search my bag for my gum. “Wanna piece?” I offer, but he passes.

  Kent flips from show to show on the TV while I chew my gum. He has a funny remark for every show we land on. Nice, kinda funny, friendly, it shouldn’t be too hard to convince myself to like this guy.

  After about twenty glances at the clock on the cable box, at three minutes before five, he shuts off the TV.

  “Okay, let’s work on your math,” he says.

  We move to the floor and sit with our legs crossed in front of the coffee table. Kent spreads my work out in front of us. Then he just stares at it.

  “Hmm.” He taps his pencil on the table.

  “It’s that bad?” I ask. I’m not shocked. I really do suck at math.

  Meticulously, Kent draws thin lines on the paper. I’m looking down at the precise configuration. Huh? Great, I don’t even know what that symbol is. A hash tag?

  “What is that?” I have to ask.

  “Tic-tac-toe, I’m x’s.” He draws an x in the center.

  That I do know and it is much more fun than math. We alternate turns playing until we’re interrupted by a massive presence in the doorway.

  “Sorry, I didn’t know you had company,” the presence says in a throaty voice.

  My eyes land first on the damp t-shirt of the guy framed in front of me and work their way up. He lifts his shirt up and wipes the sweat from his face and my eyes drop back down to his cut stomach.

  “This is my little brother Patrick, I’m not sure if you know him. He goes to our school too, he’s a junior.” Kent waves for Patrick to come over. “Pat, this is Ashley.”

  I have to tell myself to close my mouth and stop staring. The gum in my mouth has gone soft and watery. I don’t know him. He doesn’t look familiar to me at all. A million questions are flooding my brain. He goes to our school? How do I not know who he is? Does he know who I am? This is Kent’s little brother?

  “We’re just working on math.” Kent’s eyebrows furrow together, he lifts his pencil in the air struck with an idea. “You know what? Maybe Patrick can help. He’s great at this kind of stuff.”

  The two brothers lock eyes.

  “I was just working out so I’m going to jump in
the shower. Maybe next time.” Patrick turns to leave.

  “Alright, next time.” Kent picks up one of the papers. “You know what Ashley; whenever you’re unsure just put a bunch of x’s. It may not be right but it looks like you did a lot of work.”

  Patrick stops, turning back around slowly and locks eyes with his brother once again.

  “What’s the matter Patrick? Isn’t that what you always say to do?”

  “No, it’s not. I would never tell someone to do that, it’s wrong,” Patrick says, through clenched teeth. I can’t help it. I’m still staring at him.

  “I don’t want to do that if it’s wrong.” I’m confused. Why did Kent tell me he could help with math if he couldn’t?

  “I don’t blame you Ashley,” Kent sighs. “Sure you can’t help us out Patrick?”

  Patrick’s jaw tightens with frustration. His muscles flex right through his t-shirt and I have to remind myself again to keep chewing my gum.

  “Please?” I ask, unsure if I want the help or just want to hang out with him.

  Patrick turns his stare in my direction. I hold my breath, desperately wanting him to say yes, despite the fact that I know nothing about him and find him a little frightening.

  “Can I least go change my shirt?”

  “Yeah, go ahead.” Kent flashes his brother a cheesy grin. “We’ll just wait right here for you.”

  When Patrick’s out of sight, I release the breath I’m holding in. “I think I’m scared of him.”

  “He’s harmless.” Kent assures me.

  “He doesn’t look it, or act it.”

  “Trust me there isn’t a better guy out there than Patrick.”

  I’m not convinced, but with a guy who looks like that, I am willing to take the risk.

  We go back to playing tic-tac-toe. Another tie game.

  The moment Patrick re-enters the room Kent jumps up from the floor. “I’m getting a drink, does anyone want anything?” It didn’t matter if we did. He leaves the room without waiting for us to answer.

  Patrick’s changed into jeans, a black shirt unbuttoned just enough to expose the top of his chest and his long sleeves are rolled up. He sits down on the couch, not next to me on the floor, and holds out his hand. “Alright show me what you’re having problems with.”

  I deposit the paper into his hand.

  Patrick scrutinizes my work while I take the opportunity to do the same to him. Light brown hair with a few strands of blonde and just a hint of curl. His eyes look hazel, but maybe they’re green. I chew my gum a little faster as his muscular forearm flexes. My eyes follow his tan skin and soft hairs down to the silver watch on his wrist. Most people I know don’t wear watches. It’s a sexy look, matching the sexy scent of cologne over…hot sweaty guy who just worked out. Chew, chew, chew.

  “What’s this?” Patrick points to the row of games doodled along the edge of the paper.

  “Tic-tac-toe,” I giggle and chew.

  “Lovely. This is how my brother helps you. Listen, do yourself a favor. Don’t let Kent help you with your homework anymore.”

  Patrick is much more serious than Kent, very business-like, not as laid back as his brother. His facial expressions make him hard to read.

  Gum. I need more gum. The piece in my mouth is shot. “You want a piece? It’s strawberry. The best kind.” I spit my old gum in a wrapper and plop a fresh piece into my mouth.

  Patrick’s eyes close and he inhales deep through his nose. “No, thank you.” He shakes his head and opens his eyes. “It smells good though.”

  “And it’s pink.” I don’t why, but I stick the gum through my teeth and show him.

  He raises his eyebrows, skims his lips with his tongue and swallows. “Well, like you said it’s the best. Okay, so back to work.”

  I am totally turned on by his sexy reaction to the scent and sight of my gum. I’m tempted to take another piece out.

  Patrick is patient with me and he’s obviously very smart. He’s a year younger and able to help me with my homework. Equations are actually making sense the way he explains it. All that beauty and brains too. Who would have guessed?

  “Hmm, it’s funny. I thought Kent would have been more of the nerd, not you,” I say to him when we finish the last equation.

  “A nerd?” Patrick growls. “I just spent an hour helping you with your homework and you call me a nerd.”

  Oops, I don’t know what to say. I put my foot in my mouth all the time. You’d think I’d have learned better by now. My eyes dart nervously around the room. Where the heck is Kent? He left to get a stupid drink an hour ago and still hasn’t come back.

  “I just meant smart,” I finally say to him. My voice is over the top sweet. I sound like Tessa.

  Patrick stands up from the couch. “I am smart. Are we done here?”

  “Yes, thank you for helping me.”

  Patrick grunts a response before exiting the room. I didn’t mean to make him so mad. Maybe he would have stayed if I didn’t call him a nerd. Not that I want him to stay. It’s strange I never met him before. Did I? Was I just forgetting? No. You don’t forget someone like that.

  Kent comes back in from his hour long journey to get a drink. “Did Patrick help you?”

  “Yeah, he did.”

  “What’s the matter? You have a weird look on your face.”

  I stop thinking about Patrick. Back to Kent, my future boyfriend.

  “I just like it better when you’re here. You’re nicer.”

  “I think you’re nice, too.” He smiles and gives me a quick wink.

  Alright, I’m studying Kent’s features once again, the long hair, the pale skin, and the skinny body. Still not cute, but he’s getting there.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Robin

  Seeing Ashley’s little white Mercedes parked outside Kent’s house is killing me. I mean it. I should lie in the street and have her park the freaking car on top of me. Because that is what it feels like.

  I can’t concentrate on anything until the white car finally pulls away. My anger has officially turned into full blown sadness.

  The next day, the morning drive to school is a quiet one.

  We pull into the parking lot and Patrick’s the first one out of the car. I gather my stuff for another long day of school.

  Kent takes the keys out of the ignition but stays put in his seat. “Do you mind staying in the car for a second so we can talk?”

  I shrug.

  “You’ve barely talked to me the last few days. Why?”

  “I don’t know. You’ve been busy.” I play with my nail refusing to look up. If I see his face I might crumble and say the wrong thing.

  “Is it because of Ashley? Does it bother you I’m spending time with her?” Kent asks.

  Was he stupid? Of course it was because of Ashley.

  It’s the right time to say something, because if I don’t I’ll lose him for sure. I want to tell him to stop seeing Ashley and tell him I’m in love with him. In order to do that I need confidence and a backbone, I have neither. Instead, I decide to say, “I like Ashley and you guys are good together. I’m just backing off now that you have a girlfriend is all.”

  Kent flings the car door open and steps out. “Good talk, Robin,” he fumes before slamming the door. He storms toward the school and doesn’t look back at me.

  Last chance blown, he gave me an opportunity to say something and I couldn’t. I basically just gave him my blessing to go for another girl.

  When we were younger we made up a secret code using hand signals. It was a private way for us to communicate and I didn’t have to say anything. Kent made it up because I was so shy. Eventually we knew each other so well we didn’t even need the secret hand signals. We could just look at each other and know what the other was thinking. So, how does he not know the way I’m feeling?

  First period is more unbearable than usual. Kent and Ashley have some private joke that keeps Ashley giggling her annoying giggle the entire class. She slip
s Kent a piece of paper and whatever is on it makes Kent burst out laughing.

  At lunch I sit on the opposite end of the table from them. No more sitting next to Kent.

  I glance across the table. They look happy.

  That makes me so miserable.

  Ashley

  Kent invites me over again even though I don’t need any help with my work. It’s an easy invitation to accept. I’ll take his house over my house any day. We’re in the middle of watching TV when Kent receives a text from his mother needing him to run an errand for her. I offer to go with him, but he tells me it’ll only take two minutes.

  Fifteen minutes and counting, he’s still running that errand. I take a romance book from my bag and start reading.

  A round little face peeks around the corner at me. “My brother says I can’t come in here.”

  I put my book down in my lap. “Are you Matthew?”

  The boy nods.

  “I’m Ashley, you can come in. Kent told you not to come in here?”

  “No not Kent, Patrick. He said we can’t play video games today because some nerd was here.”

  “Patrick said that?” I shake my head annoyed. But at the same I’m kinda wondering if I’ll get to see him again. A quick search through my purse for a mirror, teeth good, make-up good and nice, my hair looks real good.

  “Yeah and I really want to play. Are you gonna be here for a long time?” Matthew asks.

  “I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but you can come in and play your game.” I would love nothing better. Little kids are awesome.

  Matthew’s face lights up. “Can Patrick play too?”

  “Of course.”

  He bounces out of the room and returns a few minutes later with a reluctant Patrick in tow.

  “It’s okay Patrick,” I say, surprised at how snotty I sound. “You guys don’t have to stay away just because a nerd is over.”

  “Well, I see you reading a book and that’s what nerds do. They read books, right?”

  There’s no trace of humor in his voice. He’s unbelievable. I’d do anything for a clever response right now. Think. I got nothing.