I think of all the places I can take him to, and knowing all the kids from school will be at Devil’s Bluff, I shelf that idea. “Ah…” My mind races, and not able to come up with anything, I ask, “Do you want to walk around town? You can see all the stores?” Knowing I need to tell Colton about my looking for a job, I add, “I’ve been thinking about getting an after-school job. If we go to town, I’ll be able to see if there are any vacancies.”
A frown forms on Colton’s face as he steers us in the direction of the main road. “Why do you want to get a job? It will interfere with your study time.”
I shrug, and glancing out of the window at the houses passing by, I awkwardly mutter, “I need to get some form of income. I can’t just live off you and your mom.”
And what if something goes wrong and I have to leave?
COLTON
I know it’s only normal for Brie to think of finances, but it’s the last thing I want her worrying about.
I glance at Brie and see that she’s staring out of the window. She’s clutching her hands together, and it’s clear she’s tense.
I place my right hand over hers and give it a squeeze before putting it back on the wheel. “You trust me, right?”
Brie nods, turning her eyes to me. “Yeah.”
“It’s our senior year, Brie, and if you want to go to college, you’ll have to study hard. It will add a ton of pressure if you get a job on top of all the school work.”
Pressure she doesn’t need right now.
“I know,” she mutters. She lets out a sigh, then explains, “It’s just… what if we get in a fight or I do something to upset your mom? Where would I go then?”
There’s a public park on our left, and I pull the truck over to the curb. Turning off the engine, I push my door open as I say, “Let’s go to the park.”
Climbing out, I wait for Brie and then start to walk. I spot a bench under a tree and head in that direction. Reaching it, I ask, “Want to sit?”
“Sure.”
I take a seat, and leaning forward, I rest my forearms on my thighs before addressing Brie’s worry. “I understand your concern, Brie. I’d be worried as well if I were in your position. All I can say is we won’t kick you out on the street.”
Brie also leans forward, and she tightly clasps her hands while staring at the ground. “You can’t say that for sure. What if something goes wrong?”
Keeping in mind that all the fights Brie had to face were never in her favor, I reply, “Let’s say we get into a fight, I’m not going to demand you leave. We’ll talk about whatever caused the argument and deal with it. Like normal people do.” I turn my eyes to her. “I’m not a petty person, Brie. I’ll never do that to you. The day I brought you home, I took responsibility for you.”
Brie shakes her head, a miserable look tightening her features. “I know you’re a good person, but… I shouldn’t be your responsibility. You’re only a year older than me. You have your own life to worry about.”
Brie needs to feel like she’s contributing to the household, or she’ll never feel like she’s a part of it. I change my strategy and say, “Let me put it another way then. Up until you moved in, I was doing everything around the house.” I suck in a breath of air and admit, “My mom hardly left her room.”
Brie brings her eyes up to mine. “Gosh, I didn’t know. I’m sorry. That must’ve been tough.”
“Yeah, but now you’re living with us. You can help me, and honestly, my mom’s been much better with you around.” I turn toward Brie and place my hand over hers. “Brie, you’re helping us as much as we’re helping you.” I can see my words are starting to get through to her, and a smile begins to play around my mouth. “I promise we’ll never kick you out.” I scrunch my nose, knowing that never is a long time, then add, “Unless you do something terrible, like kill someone.” I let out a chuckle. “And that also depends on who you kill. I’m willing to help get rid of specific bodies.”
Brie lets out a burst of laughter. “Don’t worry. I can’t even bring myself to kill an ant.”
Our eyes meet, and I murmur, “I wouldn’t have invited you to stay if I wasn’t serious about it. I want you to feel at home. Don’t worry about finances.”
“Living with my mother, money was the one thing I’ve never had to worry about,” Brie admits. “I’ve always had everything I needed because my mother didn’t want people talking. Also, my grandparents kept giving her money so she would stay here and not move back to California.” She takes a deep breath. “It’s funny how much can change in the space of a couple of days.”
“Yeah,” I agree. Giving her hand another squeeze, I ask, “Do you feel better now?”
She nods, then asks, “So you’ll let me help around the house? I can do the laundry and keep the house clean. I can –”
I let out a chuckle and stand up, interrupting Brie’s rambling, “I get a feeling if I don’t stop you, you’ll do everything. We’ll split the chores. Okay?”
Brie gets up and nods, a smile stretching over her face. “I’d like that.”
I glance around the park, then say, “Well, we’ve kind of seen the park. Where are we going next?”
Brie draws her bottom lip between her teeth while she thinks, then asks, “Have you been to Anderson’s bookstore?”
I shake my head.
“You’re missing out then. They have the best art supplies in town. Oh, and books, of course.”
Walking back to the truck, I interlink my fingers with Brie’s, feeling much better now that we got that problem out of the way.
“Colton,” she murmurs next to me.
“Yeah.”
Brie brings her other hand to the inside of my elbow and pressing her cheek to my shoulder, she whispers, “It’s nice having someone I can talk to.”
We reach the truck, and I open the passenger door for her with a broad smile on my face.
The drive is quick to the bookstore, and when we walk inside, Brie gestures toward the aisles of books. “That’s the fiction side, and over there, you’ll find all the other categories.” Then she points to our right. “That’s my section.”
I pull Brie toward the sketchpads and ask, “Do you need anything?”
She shakes her head. “I got what I needed before school started.”
My gaze falls on a row of pretty pens and journals, and I walk toward it. “Have you ever journaled before?”
Brie shakes her head and picks up one with shades of soft pink and gold, and the words ‘Unicorn Dreams’ scribbled on the front.
“You want that one?” I ask.
Brie shakes her head and puts it back.
One catches my eyes, and loving the words on the cover, I read, “Shit, I can’t say out loud.” We both chuckle, and then I say, “I’ll get you this one.”
“What for?” Brie asks.
“To write all the things you can’t say out loud.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and steer her toward the biography section. “I’m looking for a specific book.”
“Which one?” Brie asks as glances over the titles.
“Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramahansa Yogananda.” I suck at pronouncing the author’s name and feeling awkward, I explain, “Apparently, it was the only ebook found on Steve Jobs’ IPad.”
We search through the books until Brie shakes her head. “Give me a second.” I watch her walk over to the cashier, and after a couple of minutes, she comes back grinning. “They checked on the system, and they have one in stock. They’ll find it for us. Come.” She grabs my hand and pulls me back toward the cashier.
When they bring us the book, Brie looks happier than me. I give her a sideways hug. “Thanks, that saved a lot of time.”
I pay for the two books with the credit card Mom gave me after we moved in so I could do all the shopping for us.
Leaving the store, I ask, “Where to now?”
Brie glances up and down the street. “The rest of the stores are all basic.”
“Want
to get something to drink?” I ask, pointing at the diner at the end of the street.
Brie shakes her head. “There will be kids from school.”
“So?” I raise an eyebrow at her. “Don’t let that stop you.”
When I take a step in the direction of the diner, Brie grabs hold of my hand. “I really don’t want to go there. We can get something from a drive-thru and go back to the park.”
Not wanting to push her, I relent. “Okay.”
We each get a milkshake before I drive back to the public park. Once we’re seated on the bench, I take a sip, then gesture to the bag with our books. “You’re going to use the journal, right?”
Brie nods, and setting her milkshake down on the side of the bench, she pulls my book out of the bag and begins to page through it.
She stops to read something, and it has me saying, “Read it out loud.”
She clears her throat and shoots me a shy grin before she reads, “You may wander through the universe incognito. Make vessels of the gods. Be ever youthful. You may walk in water and live in fire. But control of the mind is better and more difficult.”
She actually looks impressed with what she just read, and glancing up at me, she says, “I think I need to start reading the same books as you.”
“Why?” I ask with a chuckle.
A look I haven’t seen before settles on Brie’s face, and it makes my heartbeat speed up. “Because you’re the best person I know, Colton. I want to be more like you.”
Lifting my hand, I brush her bangs away from where it’s hanging in her eye. “You’re pretty special just as you are, Brie.”
Her lips curve up as a soft pink blush blossoms on her cheeks.
Chapter 18
BRIE
I follow Colton to the laundry room on Saturday morning. We’ve decided to get all the chores done.
I have to admit, this is the first time I’m excited about doing any kind of housework. If I can do my part, then I’ll feel better about living here.
“Let’s separate the whites from the colors,” Colton says.
I grab my basket, and I dig all my school shirts out of it. Then my eyes fall on the white bra, and my eyebrows shoot up.
Dang.
I glance at Colton while heat spreads up my neck. I obviously didn’t think this through.
Colton notices I’ve stopped and glances at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Ah…” The blush on my face deepens, and I quickly lower my eyes only to stare at the bra again, mumbling, “This is so awkward.”
“What?” He begins to move closer, and I quickly cover the bra.
“Uh…” I let out a breath, then push through and ask, “How are we going to do the underwear?”
Colton instantly bursts out laughing and shaking his head, he goes back to sorting the clothes while saying, “Brie, I’ve seen women’s underwear before.”
Yeah, but they weren’t mine.
I stand and stare at Colton until he says, “Okay, separate yours. I’ll do my mother’s and mine later.”
I shake my head. “It will be a waste of water and soap to wash mine separately.” Shrugging, I add, “Don’t mind me. I’m just being silly.”
I add my whites to Colton’s pile and sucking it up, I pull the bra out of the laundry basket and quickly tuck it under a shirt.
“You’re cute,” Colton murmurs, a huge grin on his face.
When the bundle of whites is in the washing machine, we head downstairs. Colton vacuums and dusts the living room while I take care of the kitchen.
Before we know it, we’re all done inside.
“Now for outside,” Colton says.
I frown at him. “Do you always do everything on Saturdays?”
He shakes his head. “No, but now that you’re here, I’d rather get everything done. That way, we don’t have to worry about it during the week.”
I follow Colton outside, and he points to the flower beds. “You can start pulling the weeds while I mow the lawn.”
“Okay.”
“Get a trash bag from the pantry.”
“Okay.” I dart back inside, and just as I grab a bag, Mrs. Lawson walks into the kitchen.
“You and Colton are working so hard I thought I’d make some sandwiches.”
I nod and begin to inch my way out of the kitchen.
“Brie,” Mrs. Lawson says, and I instantly stop moving. A smile wavers around her lips. “I know you have to get used to me, but I want you to know I’ll never treat you the way your mother did.”
It feels like someone just launched a rocket filled with emotions through me. My eyes begin to blur, and I blink fast in an attempt to keep the tears back. Finally, I manage to nod.
“I know it will take time,” Mrs. Lawson continues. “But I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Lawson.” My voice sounds hoarse to my own ears, and I clear my throat.
“Please call me Cassie,” she says, her smile a little wider.
“Okay.”
“I’ll call you and Colton once lunch is ready.”
I nod again before I dart out of the kitchen. Once I’m outside, I suck in a deep breath of air while trying to regain control over my emotions.
Mostly I feel… sadish? I think it’s because I don’t want to be weird around Cassie, but I just can’t help it.
I begin to pull the weeds while my thoughts run circles around Cassie. I really need to try harder with her. So far, she’s done nothing to hurt me.
My eyes dart to Colton as he comes around the house, and then I can only stare. Holy crap. He has a baseball cap on backward, and it makes him look hot.
He catches me staring and asks, “You okay?”
I quickly nod and snap my eyes back to the flowerbed. “Yeah.”
While Colton mows the lawn, I keep stealing glances, and each one has my heart beating faster.
Colton then goes to the backyard while I’m stuck in front, and I can’t help but pout.
When I’m done pulling all the weeds out, I carry the bag to the back, and as I round the corner of the house, I come to a sudden stop.
Colton’s coming out of the shed and grabbing hold of the back of his shirt, he pulls it over his head.
My eyebrows pop up, and my mouth drops open when I see his abs.
Wow.
Just wow.
There’s a fluttering in my stomach, and as he walks toward me, I can’t deny the fact that I have feelings for Colton.
Shoot. Trust me to develop a crush on my best friend.
When his eyes settle on me, I become nervous, and not wanting him to find out how I feel about him, I carry the bag over to the trashcan before darting into the house.
COLTON
Something’s wrong.
I watch as Brie focuses on her sandwich.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask again.
She keeps her eyes on her plate. “Uh-huh.”
Yep, something is definitely wrong.
“Did something happen?” I ask, determined to get to the bottom of whatever’s bothering her.
She shakes her head, eyes still glued to the plate. “No.”
Placing my elbows on the table, I lean forward and tilt my head. “Brie.”
She sets her half-eaten sandwich down and takes a sip of water before she finally looks at me. “I promise. Nothing’s wrong.”
I keep staring at her until a blush stains her neck and cheeks.
Brie gets up and takes our plates to the sink, then asks, “Is there anything else we still have to do?”
Walking into the kitchen, Mom says, “I’ve taken care of the laundry. I’ve set your clothes on your bed, Brie.” She glances between Brie and me. “What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?”
“Do you want to go out?” I ask Brie.
She shrugs. “Or we can just stay at home and watch a movie.”
“I can make some popcorn,” Mom offers. “But, I suppose you both want to get cleaned up fi
rst.”
“Definitely,” Brie says before she darts out of the kitchen, and all I can do is sit here and frown. She was normal with Mom.
Did I do something?
“What’s wrong?” Mom asks. She comes to take a seat at the table.
I shake my head. “It’s probably my imagination.”
A smile forms around Mom’s lips. “You like her, don’t you?”
My eyes latch onto my mother’s, and it takes a couple of seconds before I admit, “Yeah, I do.”
“Just take it slow. Okay?” Mom warns. “Brie’s been through a lot.”
“I know.” I sit back in my chair. “Trust me, I know.”
There’s a flash of guilt on Mom’s face. “I’m sorry.”
I shake my head, not wanting her to think I was referring to my father abusing us. “I mean, I know Brie needs time. Chances are we’ll just remain friends. It’s probably better that way.”
Mom shakes her head. “Once Brie is settled and things are better, I don’t see why you can’t date each other. That’s if she feels the same way about you. Most relationships start out as friendship. All I’m saying is take it slow, and once things get serious, use protection.”
“Mom!” I get up and start to walk away. “I already learned everything in health class. We don’t have to have that conversation.”
Mom’s laughter follows me as I dart up the stairs. I’m just about to walk into my bedroom when the bathroom door opens, and Brie darts out.
The second she sees me, she points inside. “There’s a spider in the tub.”
I let out a chuckle. “I’ll take care of it.”
I roll some toilet paper off, but then Brie says, “Don’t kill it.”
“I won’t.” I move closer to the bathtub with Brie hovering close behind me. Opening the window first, I then patiently wait for the spider to climb onto the toilet paper before letting the paper hang out of the window. The spider finally climbs off and scurries away. “All done. It’s safe to bathe,” I tease Brie.
She grins happily, and it makes me think it was all my imagination thinking there was something wrong.
Not My Hero: Black Mountain Academy Page 13
