Falling For Them: A New Adult Reverse Harem Collection

by C. L. Stone

  It unsettled her, maybe even frightened her slightly. She'd never had a seizure quite like it before. She’d never seen anything except colours before. Part of her was worried that it was a significant change in her epilepsy; perhaps indicating something was majorly wrong. She sat up in bed looking at the damp cloth in her hands. If she closed her eyes, the things she'd seen were very clear. She shook her head to get rid of them and immediately regretted it when the pain behind her eyes sharpened.

  She got up slowly and made her way to her bedroom door. As soon as she opened it and stepped out onto the wooden floor of the landing, her mother appeared in her own bedroom door. Her face was pinched with worry and sadness as she came towards Lily.

  "Do you need something, Lily?" she asked quietly, careful to keep her voice low and soothing.

  "No, I'm okay, thanks. I'm going to take some tablets. It's not so bad now and tablets should stop the rest of it."

  "Are you sure, honey? You've only been asleep for two hours." Her mother lifted her hand and touched her forehead gently. Her fingers were cool on Lily's still heated skin.

  "Is that all?" Lily was surprised. Usually a seizure knocked her out for hours before she could function enough to walk about.

  "It's just gone three, we got back here just before one. Maybe it was a smaller seizure, honey."

  "It was different," she admitted, and started to go down the spiral staircase to the living room.

  "Different? How?" her mother asked, following closely behind her.

  Lily went through to the kitchen at the back of the cottage. There was a small dining area in front of the back door that was just big enough for a small round table and two chairs. She slumped down at the table, resting her head on her folded arms.

  "How was it different, Lily?" She got a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water from the tap.

  "It's always been colours before," Lily said quietly. She knew that she had to tell her mother, but she was also aware that it would no doubt mean endless trips to more doctors and probably more scans and MRIs.

  "And this time?" Her mother set the glass and two tablets in front of her and then sat down opposite.

  "It was more like images, pictures." Lily took the tablets with the water. "Thanks." She set the empty glass down and rested her head on her folded arms again, her eyes closed.

  "Images? What do you mean images? Pictures?"

  Lily frowned at the near panic she could hear in her mother's voice and opened her eyes to peer at her.

  "Just random things, places, people. I don't know. It was all jumbled together. None of it made sense. Some of it was people I'd met at college. I think it's probably just stress from the move, Mum."

  "People?" Her mother lifted her head slightly, her eyes on the empty glass. "What people? Who did you meet?"

  "Just some boys at college. Do you want to get me checked?"

  "Boys?" Her mother said it as if she'd said aliens. It made Lily laugh, regretting it instantly as pain throbbed through her skull. She was certain there were tiny people inside her skull, all armed with jack hammers and mining for gold.

  "Yeah, Mum. You know, boys." Lily closed her eyes again.

  "Why? Why would you speak to boys?"

  Lily opened her eyes to look at her mother in disbelief. "What? What do you mean why would I speak to boys? I've been talking to boys since Eric Rundle put that worm down my back when I was five on my first day of school."

  Her mother shook her head and flapped a hand.

  "Yes, yes, sorry. I just... What were you doing when you had the seizure? Were there flashing lights?"

  "No, I was just talking to them. One of them, Matt, is the son of the people who've commissioned you to paint their house."

  "Son?" Her mother's voice went up on the word and Lily was beginning to think her mother was having a turn of her own.

  "Yeah, Mum, you know, a son. Opposite of having a daughter. Their son. Matthew Crowder. Are you feeling okay? Are you worried about my fit?"

  "Seizure, Lilith! You had an epileptic seizure, not a fit!" her mother said sharply, making Lily wince, and her mother reach forward apologetically. "Sorry, honey, I didn't mean to make your head worse."

  "S'alright." Lily took her mother's hand and smiled at her. The tablets were already starting to take the edge off her headache.

  "I think it's the stress, Lily. I've moved us twice this summer and that's a lot for anyone." Lily heard the unspoken let alone someone like you.

  It was true though; it had been a particularly stressful summer. As was her mother's tendency, as soon as school ended she was packing and moving them on. They'd found a flat on the outskirts of Portsmouth, and Lily thought that was it for a year, but then the commission arrived in her mother's P.O. Box and the year became four weeks.

  Just days before the start of the new academic year, they’d moved to Trenance. Lily wasn't even sure where all her school records were at the moment. Portsmouth, or Brighton, or lost in the postal service never to be seen again. Her mother tried home-schooling her when she was younger, but it was impossible for her to juggle painting and teaching, and when she started to paint, the schooling tended to not get done.

  "I was doing so well." Lily sighed heavily. "Longest run yet."

  "Don't worry, honey. I'm sure it's just everything catching up with you."

  "So you don't want to get me checked up?" she asked.

  "I don't think so." Her mother shook her head. "I expect it was a mix of new faces, new places and nerves. Do you feel up to eating yet?"

  It was an abrupt change of subject and one which surprised Lily, but she'd had enough for the day and the need for sleep was creeping up on her again.

  "I think I'll go up to bed. I don't want to miss college tomorrow.”

  "Okay, darling. If you need anything, call me."

  Lily got up, dropped a kiss on the top of her mother's head, and went back up to her bedroom. She crossed to her window, and sitting on the window seat, she pulled one of the curtains open and slid her window up slightly. She could hear the birds singing and the leaves on the trees as they moved in the breeze. The trees seemed even darker today. She caught a movement at the very edge of the tree line and sat up to look closer. She wondered what wildlife lived in the woods. Rabbits and badgers, maybe foxes and even deer. A sense of excitement filled her; as soon as she could, she would be out there, exploring those woods and the beach that lay behind them. She didn't know much about different types of trees, but she could recognise oak, beech, and horse chestnut. It wouldn't be long before she'd be able to collect chestnuts. There was an open fireplace in their living room; maybe they could roast them. That would be fun.

  She watched for a few more minutes, but there were no more movements. She got up, debated closing the curtain, and then decided against it. It would be nice to go to sleep being able to see the sky. If she woke in the night, she might even be able to lie and look out at the stars. She undressed quickly, shrugging into her sleepshirt, and got into bed. When she lay down, she could just see the tops of the trees moving gently. She watched them until her eyes closed and sleep took her. **************

  Her mother dropped her at college the next morning. Her head was clear and she felt fine, but her mother insisted on taking her, and Lily didn't mind. It was probably more comfortable than the bus if it was anything like the others she'd ridden over the years.

  Her mother was heading over to Crowder Manor to meet her employers, so she dropped Lily off a little early. The college ran a breakfast club for the younger kids so it was open when Lily got there. She used her map to find her way to all the classrooms she would need that day. A part of her still expected the map to be a trick. So far, each guided line was accurate though, and she was grateful for it. She knew it would only take her a day or two to be completely familiar with the layout and then she wouldn't need the map, but until then she would be glad of it.

  When she got to her tutor group, only Mr Peters was there. He let her i
n, keeping the door open behind her.

  "How are you feeling today, Lily?" He sat on the edge of his desk and clasped his hands around one raised knee.

  "I'm fine now thanks, Mr Peters." She settled herself into the same seat she'd sat in the day before.

  "Nasty thing, epilepsy. One of my wife's cousins has seizures. Grand mal or what they call tonic-clonic seizures now,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s a shame with all the advancements of modern medicine they can’t cure it. Wendy, my wife’s cousin, hers was caused by a car accident; scarring on the brain.” He didn’t say any more, just smiled kindly at her. She knew he was leaving it open for her to say more or to change the subject if she’d rather, and it warmed him to her.

  “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t get them,” she admitted.

  “That’s tough,” he said. “You won’t be able to drive, will you?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “That’s frustrating. I was doing really well, hadn’t had one for six months, but well…” she faded out, shrugging. There was nothing to be done about it now.

  “Well, you didn’t miss anything much in History yesterday, first couple of days back in a new academic year are always hit and miss.” He got up from the desk and went into the Chapter House. He disappeared inside for a few moments, then came back out with some books in his hand.

  “Here you go.” He came back over and handed them to her. “That’s about all we did yesterday. That and a rundown on what we’ve already studied.”

  Lily looked at the two books, one was titled Russian Dictatorship 1855-1992 and the other one was the British history module, Rebellion and Disorder Under the Tudors 1485-1603. She knew her mother had checked to make sure that the same courses were being studied here that she already started in her last college, but it was still a relief to see she didn’t have to cram a two-year course into one year.

  “I used these textbooks in my last college,” she told him, looking up at him.

  “Excellent, then you should slot right in with us.” He gave her an easy grin.

  “Top of the mornin’ to ya.” An overdone Irish accent caught Lily’s attention. She turned to see the twins coming through the door, bags slung over shoulders and wide grins on their faces.

  “And to you, Masters Nethercott,” Mr Peters said, crossing his arms and grinning at them. Lily couldn’t help the laugh that left her lips at the greeting.

  A few other students were behind them and Mr Peters stood up, checking his watch. She watched as the twins went to the same desks they were sitting in the day before.

  “Hey, Lily, how are you feeling?” Sarah sat down and turned to face Lily. Lily knew that something like an epileptic seizure in the middle of lunch would go around the school like wildfire.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” she replied. Sarah had a shade of concern in her eyes, but there was also the rank curiosity that most people had.

  “I saw Nate Cohen carrying you out yesterday.” She lifted her fingers, blew on the tips and then shook them. “He’s so HOT!” she announced, fanning herself. “Bet it was nice being carried by him.”

  “To be honest, I wouldn’t really have noticed if it was a six-foot gorilla wearing combat trousers that carried me out.” She laughed. “I was just grateful someone did and I wasn’t left lying in my plate of chips.”

  “That must be rough.” Sarah leant towards her a little more. “Do you get them often?”

  “No, that’s the first one in six months, I guess the stress of moving triggered it off. I probably won’t get any more for a while. Or at least I hope not.”

  “Do you take medication?”

  Beth sat down, dropping her bag onto the floor. She was chewing gum and fiddling with her phone.

  “Robert sent me a text,” she said smugly. She looked up and gave Lily a smile. “Hey, Lil.”

  “Robert texted you?” Sarah turned to face her friend. “He finally texted you? What did he say?”

  Lily saw Sarah’s interest had swapped from her to her friend and she was glad. She put her history textbooks into her bag and took out her timetable. She had Maths again, followed by History and then Geography.

  “Okay, people, phones away, let’s make a start,” Mr Peters called. When she looked up, the classroom was mostly full. She saw one or two look over at her, but no one else made any comment or reference to yesterday. She hoped it stayed that way.

  After registration, there were a few minutes before the bell rang. Lily opened her bag and took out the book she was reading. A shuffling noise came from her right, and she turned to see the twins had swapped out desks with the girls who'd been next to her so that they were now beside her.

  “Hey, Lily, how are you feeling today?” one of them asked her quietly. He was leaning on his brother’s shoulder to see her better. She studied their faces, but they were blank of emotion. Only their eyes showed a little concern, or at least she thought it was concern.

  “I’m much better, thanks,” she replied quietly.

  “Matt said you took a swan dive onto the floor and ended up with chips all over you,” the one leaning on his brother spoke to her.

  His twin snorted and shook his head. “He didn’t put it quite like that,” he retorted.

  “Well, it’s pretty much how it went,” she said, looking between them. “Which of you is which?” She still couldn’t see any tells that would help her work out who was speaking. But all she got in reply was a wicked smirk with a wink from them both.

  “You need to figure that out, Lily.”

  “Just call us Nethercott if you get confused. That’s what most people do,” the other twin added.

  “Or get you to wear that orange button badge?” she asked hopefully. The one closest to her snorted and shook his head.

  “That makes it much too easy for you,” he said. “You’ll get a clue this morning as we’ve got Maths first again.”

  The bell rang, and she slid her book back into her bag and stood up.

  “You know Matt?” It sank in what they’d said.

  “Yeah, he’s our cousin. So’s Nate.”

  “You’re all cousins?”

  “Yes, our mothers are sisters,” he replied as they made their way through the door and towards the Maths department.

  “Are Nate and Matt brothers too?”

  “No. There are three sisters; April, our mum; May, Nate’s mum; and June is Matt’s mum. And no, we’re not joking about their names.”

  “April, May, and June. Your grandparents must have had a good sense of humour.” She grinned at them. “They must have had you all at the same time, or thereabouts,” she added.

  “Nate is the eldest, he’s eighteen on the 5th of October, then it’s us on the 31st, and Matt’s is the 2nd of November.”

  Lily laughed, falling into step with them easily. “You’re Halloween babies?”

  “Born just before midnight. Mum was not pleased. She’d been all dressed to go to a party, and we decided to turn up five weeks early.”

  “So who’s older between you?” she asked as they went into the Maths classroom.

  “I am.” They both spoke in unison, and she laughed in disbelief.

  “You can’t both be older.” She chuckled as she climbed the steps to her seat. They sat behind her again, the rest of the students finding seats and chattering loudly.

  “We agreed years ago that the seven minutes he was still kicking his heels inside are irrelevant.”

  She watched as the other twin pulled the button badge from his jacket and pinned it into place on the black jumper he was wearing.

  “Josh,” she said quietly, and he looked up under his fringe at her. His eyes sparkled with wicked humour.

  “Might be.” He smirked, and she rolled her eyes.

  “I think you’re Josh, and I think you’re older.” She called them out on what they’d just said.

  “Why do you think that?” he asked. “He just said I was younger by seven minutes.”

  “Am I right?”<
br />
  “You are,” he replied and regarded her with interest. “How did you guess?”

  “Just a feeling.” She shrugged. “Thanks for the altered map. It helped a lot.”

  “You are more than welcome, Lily Pad.” Josh smirked at her.

  “Alrighty! Get settled, everyone. Derivatives won’t wait for your social lives, and neither will I!” Mr O’Connor came in, slamming the door behind him. Lily was sure he was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, and his cardigan was still inside out.

  “Open up your textbooks to wherever you left off yesterday and work quietly. Any questions, stick your hands in the air. Lily Adair?” She jumped when he called her name but put her hand in the air. He lifted his finger in acknowledgement and came bounding up the steps, two at a time. His hair seemed to bounce with each step, and she found herself mesmerised by it. That was until he slapped her test from the day before on her desk and leant forward, placing both hands on her desk. He had no concept of personal space, and Lily found herself watching his expressive eyebrows as he got right into her face.

  “If you’d gone into that foundation room yesterday, I’d have hauled you in front of the Head today for cheating. One hundred percent, Lily! Well done, well bloody done!” He slapped one hand down in emphasis, making her jump again, shocked at his casual swearing in front of students.

  “I’m going to enjoy teaching you this year, Lily, and you’re going to enjoy being taught by me. Fantastic job. Right, open your book and get on with it.” He turned to go back down the way he’d come, hesitated and looked back at her. “You feel better today?”

  It was obviously not just the students who talked, not that it surprised her.

  “Yes, thank you, sir,” she said, and he nodded firmly.

  “Excellent, if you fit in here, don’t you worry. Just try to fall backwards and not down the steps. Actually. Nethercotts! On your feet, desk either side of her please, gentlemen.” He clapped his hands together. She heard them scrape out of their chairs. “If you start to fall, one or the other will catch you, won’t you, boys?”