by KC Kean
“Linda, this is Eden. Eden, Linda,” Archie offers, introducing us, and her face lights up with her smile. Laughter lines scatter her face, showing her age, but it melts my heart seeing her raw happiness.
“Hi,” I murmur, attempting a half wave, but she instantly wraps my hand in both of hers.
“Someone got the D last night, didn’t they?” she says with a chuckle, and I gape openly at her in shock.
Archie bursts out laughing, failing to smother his outburst with his hand as he gains control of himself.
“Linda, she hasn’t even been here twenty-four hours. She’s had no time for that yet. Unless it was the plastic variation,” he adds, shooting me a wink, and I want the floor to open up beneath me. Send me to hell now.
Linda joins in with his laughter, finally releasing my hand, and I try to act unaffected. If only he knew what I’d gotten up to last night. There was definitely nothing plastic about it.
Finally managing to calm themselves, Linda pulls her little notepad and pencil from her apron and asks what we would like.
“I’ll take a spicy breakfast burrito and a soda, please, Linda,” Archie orders, and I can’t deny that it sounds good.
“I’ll take that too, please.”
“Good choice, girly, you’ll fit in well around here, I’m sure,” she offers before hurrying back to the kitchen.
The second she is out of earshot, I fix my glare on Archie, who already has his hands raised in surrender.
“I’m nosey, and I have a big mouth. I apologize. You’re finding out all of my flaws in a very short period of time. I just can’t help myself, but you should have seen your face.” He chuckles, and a snicker passes my lips in response.
Dammit. I need to work on my stern look around this guy. He has me losing my resting bitch face and shitty attitude.
Falling into a comfortable silence, neither of us says anything as we watch the sports news flicker across the screen. An MLB game was played last night locally, and the recaps are being run repeatedly on a decision the referee made.
I watch as they slow the clip down again when I hear Archie murmur beside me.
“Cancer.” My heart almost stops as I turn to face him, seeing the pain in his eyes as he opens up to me. “My mom, she died of cancer,” he clarifies, running his hand through his blond hair, and I instinctively reach out to squeeze his arm.
“I’m so sorry, Archie,” I offer, knowing it does nothing to heal his pain, but it’s the only words I can find.
“Thanks,” he mutters as Linda drops two glasses of soda at the table, along with our breakfast burritos. She must sense the emotion at the table because she says nothing and heads straight back to the kitchen.
Deciding to spill my truth before I start eating, I take a sip of my soda, trying to relax my suddenly dry throat.
“My dad was killed, Archie. Less than a week ago. Shot between the eyes in our family home while I was at a party.”
Finally, bringing my gaze to meet his, I find him staring at me with his mouth wide open. I don’t think he expected me to say that.
“Eden, I—”
“It’s okay,” I whisper, shaking my head. “Everything is just really raw right now,” I admit, and he nods in understanding.
“Of course it is, Eden. You don’t need to explain yourself.” He pats my hand on the table in gentle support, but it makes me feel clammy, and I pull away. “Does that link back to why you’re here?” he asks, taking a bite of his burrito, and I frown at him for questioning me further when he just said I didn’t need to explain myself. He really is nosey.
Although, his question does make me pause.
“Archie, why do you think I’m here?” I ask, intrigued to find out what he’s been told by Richard.
“Oh, my dad just said you would be spending your senior year with us, he didn’t say much more than that, and I honestly didn’t question it. One thing I’ve learned growing up in Knight’s Creek is that you don’t question shit the adults say because you’ll never get the truth. There’s always some form of ulterior motive in play. Besides, you’re a cute little cookie, and you’re going to be my wing-woman this year. I’ve already decided.”
I try to process his words as he swiftly changes the subject, and I agree, it does seem like the adults in this town are playing a real-life game of chess and we’re their pawns, if what everyone has said so far is true. My mom, Richard, and the way that bitch acted with my mom solidifies it. I’ve lived in enough towns to see the signs.
Deciding to accept his change of subject for now, I offer him a fake glare. “I am not a cute cookie. I’m a badass bitch. You just make me nice for some reason. This is not my usual demeanor,” I say with a pout, and he only smiles wider.
“Whatever you say, cookie.” He grins, chowing down on his burrito, and I decide to join him.
Oh my fucking god. It’s delicious. I groan as the spice explodes in my mouth, and my eyes close as I savor every bite.
“This is the best damn burrito I have ever had!” I exclaim, and Archie chuckles at me.
“I told you—food coma.”
He’s not wrong. Wasting no time talking, we demolish the food on our plates, him a lot quicker than me admittedly, but I’m still impressed I manage to eat it all. I love this place. The general vibe, people chatting, the usual sounds of plates being stacked and cutlery clattering around makes it feel homey.
“I think I need a nap,” I say on a sigh, slumping back into the sofa, and Archie grins.
“Same. So are you ready for me to give you the lowdown on school starting Monday?” he asks, bursting my bubble of joy.
“Archie, you seem like an awesome guy, really, but I don’t think that’ll be necessary. I’m not going to be around long enough to give a shit.”
“What do you mean? My dad gave me all this stuff for you.” He frowns, pulling the papers from earlier from beside him in the booth. I’d totally forgotten about them.
Offering them to me, my eyes flicker over confirmed school applications that had been completed on my behalf, along with the school’s welcome pack.
Asheville High?
Everything is so fucked up right now, and the only person I have to talk to is Archie. Deciding I need a sounding board for all this shit, I place the papers back on the table in front of me and clasp my hands together as I meet his gaze.
“I didn’t know I was coming here until yesterday morning when I was forced into my G-Wagon by my mom at the risk of our lives. There was someone there, watching us, making sure I got in my car and headed here. I believe that same someone is linked to my dad’s murder and lives in Knight’s Creek. So I have no idea why I’m here, but I want answers, and I want the murderer convicted.”
Relief floods my veins at being able to speak about this with someone, but it takes me a moment to realize he isn’t surprised by my words. It reminds me of the ulterior motives he mentioned earlier.
“I’m here for whatever you need,” he states, honesty and determination laced in his voice. “But one thing about Knight’s Creek, Eden, is you have to beat them at their own game. And to do that, you have to play the game first.”
Shit. I know he’s right. I need to blend in, get the lay of the land, and then I can figure this shit out. I’ll get no information if I just run around guns blazing, demanding answers in a town like this.
“Asheville High, here I come.”
7
Eden
Glancing at my reflection one more time, I’ve kept my makeup natural today. Running my fingers through my wavy blonde hair, I decide I’m good to go.
“Eden, hurry up,” Archie calls out from downstairs, and I fight back my eye roll. If we will coexist in this house and if he wants a ride, he’ll damn well wait another minute.
I’m grateful Asheville High isn’t so prestigious we have to wear a uniform. Instead, I get to rock my ripped skinny jeans with my long-sleeved white lace-up top. The lace ties in a bow at my breast, revealing a hint of my bra b
eneath.
It’s hot as hell, but Archie promised the school was perfectly air conditioned, and I didn’t want to show up on my first day with my ass hanging out. I’d save that for tomorrow.
Grabbing my drawstring backpack, I add another layer of my favorite lip gloss nervously when my phone vibrates on the bed. Rushing to grab it, my heart sinks a little when I see a text message from my mom and not an actual phone call.
Mom: Have an amazing first day, Eden. I love you. We will get through this. As your dad would always say, knock ߵem dead.
I grip the phone tightly in my hands. I do not need her trying to channel my father, today of all days. Taking a deep breath, I quickly type out a simple thanks in response and head out to find Archie.
Waiting at the bottom of the open stairs, tapping away on his phone, Archie looks up as soon as he hears the stairs creak.
“About time, cookie, let’s go.” He sighs in exaggeration.
Over the past few days, I’ve barely left the house, except for running up and down the beach every day. Archie has been around on occasion, dressed in shorts and a tank top at all times, a total stereotypical California guy like I’ve seen in magazines, which is why he looks so different now in his skinny jeans and fitted black top. With his aviators perched on his nose, he looks way cooler than I give him credit for.
“Holy fuck. Who knew Archie Freemont had game?” I respond, ruffling his hair as I pass him.
“Archie Freemont always has game I’ll have you know,” he retorts, and I snicker as I unlock the G-Wagon.
“And does Archie Freemont always talk about himself in the third person?” I throw back, and he gives me a pout. It’s so easy to relax around him. I should definitely be more concerned than I am. I don’t usually fall into sync with someone so easily.
“Just drive, cookie. You never keep the boys waiting.”
Climbing in, we simultaneously fasten our seatbelts, and as I start the engine, he tries to take over the music system. Quickly smacking his hand away, I link my Spotify account up and let my new playlist filter through the speakers.
“Hey, no fair,” he grumbles, and I don’t even look in his direction. Instead, I focus on the road as I start moving while he inputs the school address into the GPS.
“Is this your G-Wagon?” I ask, not giving him a second to answer. “Nope, it definitely is not. You want your music on, you get your own vehicle, comprende?”
“Com-what now? You’re extra sassy this morning,” Archie states, and I can’t even argue with that statement.
New surroundings, new school, and new people mean my defenses are on high alert. Slay them before they slay you.
Taking a deep breath, I quickly glance in his direction, and he’s already grinning at me. Douchebag.
“Sorry, the whole new school vibes are rattling me,” I say honestly, turning at the end of the road.
“It’s all good, cookie. We just don’t keep the boys waiting.”
Shaking my head, I don’t know what to ask first. Why the hell he keeps calling me cookie, or who the fuck are these boys? I decide on the latter since the nickname doesn’t make me all that mad.
“Why should I be worried about keeping some boys waiting? I couldn’t really give a shit.”
Archie chuckles, wiping his hands on his jeans as he stares me down. “I forget you don’t know the whole ins and outs of Knight’s Creek. I’m on the football team.” He leaves his sentence open, clearly waiting for me to say something, but I just shrug.
“I assumed so.”
Sighing, I can feel his exaggerated glare at the side of my head. “The Asheville football team is what Knight’s Creek lives for. We are motherfucking beasts on the field and pretty much have every girl dropping at our feet. Especially my friends. They practically run this town.”
Run the town? How do three seniors run the town? He must see the doubt in my eyes, and his tone becomes a little more serious.
“Seriously, Eden. My friends are awesome to me. Everyone else, not so much.”
“Noted.”
“They were actually at my party the other night when you showed up. You would have met them if you came down. Party pooper,” he says with a pout, lightening the mood again, just as we pull up outside the school parking lot.
“What the fuck?” I mumble, taking in the building before me.
I’ve been to enough schools to know when one screams of money. I even did a stint at a boarding school at one point, with uniforms and massive living quarters. But none of them have ever seemed this grand.
Four stories high, the ground floor is lined with archways with an undercover walkway running around the building. But it’s the staircase leading you up there that holds my attention. The steps lead outwards before turning back on themselves, like a grand stately home.
Following the cars in front, I circle the parking lot.
“Head straight to the front, and you can park in my spot,” Archie offers, and I frown.
“You have your own spot?” I clarify, and he nods in agreement.
“Yeah, football players get priority parking, with the cheerleaders right behind them. Then the rest is carnage.” He says it so casually. It baffles me, but I don’t call him out. Not yet anyway.
Pulling into his spot as he guides me, I spy the huge group of guys surrounded by girls twirling their hair, and I instantly know I located the football team and cheerleaders. I hope Archie doesn’t expect me to play along with his little group.
I’m my own person, and that is most definitely not my group.
“I know my crew is not going to be your crew, cookie, but I have your back no matter what. Just don’t do anything to piss off the three Allstars of Knight’s Creek, all right? Like, they’re my closest friends, but I’m not in their inner circle, so I can’t do anything to protect you from them.”
He clearly knows me well enough already to see I don’t really give a shit about people’s status, but I acknowledge his warning nonetheless.
Swinging my door open, I jump down from the G-Wagon. Using the tinted back window, I flatten the wispy pieces of hair floating around my face and slip on my sunglasses.
I meet Archie at the front of the SUV, where he has my backpack in hand. Slinging it over my shoulder, I walk alongside him since his friends are a little up the path, closer to the stairs.
“Where do I go once I get inside again?” I ask, needing to get to the office before the first bell rings.
“I can walk you if you like?” he offers for the hundredth time, but I’m already shaking my head. “Fine, Miss Independent. As soon as you get through the doors, you turn right, and it’s at the end of the hall.”
“Thanks,” I murmur in response as he slows, his friends turning to see him, and my heart stills.
Shit.
Standing dead center of the group in front of me is Mr. Broody.
The same Mr. Broody who brought me to orgasm twice while everyone partied downstairs, too lost in our own minds to care about each other’s names, wanting nothing more than to chase the ecstasy we both found.
I refuse to blush or acknowledge him as I take note of the two guys standing on either side of him, and I instantly know these are the three Archie was talking about.
“Freemont, my man, I thought you were going to be late,” one of the guys chastises as he walks towards us, wrapping his arm around Archie’s shoulder and standing right in front of me.
Wearing a plain black wool hat in the dead of summer, his brunette hair flicking out at the sides, I’m completely blindsided by his bright blue eyes and tanned face. Slightly taller than Archie, he smiles down at me, his teeth pearly white as he takes me in from head to toe.
“What’s up, Holmes?” Archie responds, glancing at me with wide eyes, confirming this is one of the big dogs he spoke about earlier. The eyes must be a warning to make sure I don’t cause a scene.
“Never mind me, Freemont. Who is this little beauty?”
With no sense of personal spa
ce, he steps closer, capturing a lock of my hair between his fingertips.
My skin prickles under his inquisitive gaze, and my eyes flicker behind him, coming straight in line with Mr. Broody, who stands stock-still, hands clenched at his side as he watches us.
Returning my stare to Holmes, who stands in front of me, I clear my throat.
“Sorry, I’m late,” I murmur, feeling the eyes of everyone in the group, including the bitchy glares from the girls. Swiping my hair back out of his grip, I sidestep everyone, and my eyes are drawn to the quiet blond standing beside Mr. Broody, locking on to the tormented soul I haven’t met yet.
Forcing myself to keep moving, I bypass everyone, including Archie.
“Fuck, baby, why you got to look so hot when you walk away from me?” Holmes calls out, and a smirk graces my lips.
Fucking player.
That’s just my type. But I’ve already fucked his friend. Shame. I wonder if they’ve ever shared before?
Shut up, Eden.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out as I take the steps up to the entrance.
Archie: If you need me, just call or text. Behave!
Rolling my eyes, I refuse to glance back at them as I step inside the building, suddenly surrounded by a sea of people. Perfect. I love nothing more than slinking into the background undetected.
There’ll be no reason to have to behave then.
Xavier
What the ever-loving fuck was that?
Forcing myself to unclench my hands, I swipe my hand over my mouth, trying to count to ten in my mind to calm the stress building inside of me.
I knew I should have stayed away from her. Dammit.
Our parties are always at Archie’s, since no one is allowed in our home and he only lives a little farther down the beach. The Allstars’ end of summer party was just like any other, until a blonde siren snuck out of Archie’s front door and took off jogging down the sand.
