"Bite me," I dared her.
"Where do you want it?" Faith asked. "I know you haven't seen each other in two days, but classes do start soon."
"She's got a point," Preston admitted.
"I'll see you in Drama class then," I said. Preston nodded. I smiled slightly when he kissed my cheek and took off towards class.
"You are so not passing as a couple," Faith remarked.
"What?" I asked.
"Riley, you kiss each other like you're related and hug each other like one of you might have something contagious. Christ, you two barely do anything that regular couples our age do," Faith said.
"Faith, you know me," I said.
"Not really, no." Faith said.
That's true. I think out of all the people in the school, maybe four of them know just how fucked my life is: my brother, my cousin, Landon and the guidance counsellor.
"I'm not one for going fast," I explained.
"Yeah, but you've been going not-fast for the last three months," Faith said. "The boy is gonna get bored."
I didn't reply. I decided, instead, to think about my earlier comment. My life was pretty much a wreck. If not for losing my best childhood friend, then for constantly being in the hospital. It started when I was born eleven weeks early. Then, when I was three, I was in the car when Dad got into a really bad accident. He had a broken arm and leg, the car was ruined and I was close to dying. That wasn't the worst of it, though.
The windows had all shattered and a particularly large chunk of glass had punctured my lung. I was in fairly bad shape when I met Landon for the first time. He was in the hospital, too, because he had gotten stung by a bee, which was serious for someone like him, who was highly allergic to stings. Anyway, he was walking around unsupervised one afternoon and then wandered into my room. He was mischievous even then, and figured out a way to turn on a few lights so we could play a game. One of the nurses who was taking care of him came in after about twenty minutes and started scolding him for leaving his room unsupervised. That's how I met Landon-the four-year-old troublemaker.
Before he left, he made me promise that when he came back in a few days to see the doctor again, I would still be there and would be ready to play another game with him. He was the reason I think I got better quickly. My lung never healed correctly, though. I would think I was on the brink of having an asthma attack sometimes, since I had some respiratory problems as a result of the wreck. If I got too worked up or used too much energy, then I started feeling dizzy which sometimes caused me to faint.
I reminisced our childhood together through my English and Spanish classes, as I often did. Then lunch came and I met up with everyone who was involved with the play in the Drama Room. Mrs. Wilson made the announcement that all of the roles had been filled. The next month, rehearsals would start in earnest and I still needed to fine tune some of the songs, so I was becoming a little panicky.
"Riley, how are the songs coming along?" Mrs. Wilson asked cautiously.
"Umm, most of them are about done," I said. "A few of them still need some work."
"Well, you have some time." Mrs. Wilson said. "Maybe Landon can continue to help you out. You told me yesterday that he had helped you already."
"I'm not so musically-inclined, but I'll see what I can do," Landon said modestly.
I squirmed as I felt Preston's hand on my waist just as Landon shot a small smile my way. Oh great, just what I needed, Preston being possessive! I smiled as Mrs. Wilson started passing out the scripts.
The meeting went quickly. Fortunately, all of us were allowed to eat our lunches in the room, so we were able to discuss the play while we ate. Because I didn't want to hear about it from Landon later on (we had planned another meeting for that night), I made sure he saw me eat.
During lunch, a few of my friends told me that Landon was giving me looks while I was preoccupied with discussing the play with Mrs. Wilson. I didn't see any of these looks and, I hope, I didn't send any myself. Was it possible that our friendship really wasn't as dead as I thought it was?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
"SO WHAT ARE you doing for Halloween?" Landon asked me while we were in my bedroom, working on the music for Freedom.
"The girls and I are doing a park concert kind of thing," I said. "There's some big, Halloween party down at Riverside Park."
"Oh right," Landon said. "So you're the mystery band."
I nodded, but my attention was mostly on the computer screen in front of me, as I adjusted the music I had playing. "Okay, what do you think of this?"
Landon's eyes were on the ceiling and he bobbed his head with the sounds emanating from my computer. I watched his lips move, as he mouthed the words. That, plus our recent little talk, reminded me of the last Halloween we had as friends, three years ago....
"Riley!" Landon yelled.
I spun around and watched him as he ran across the field to me. He stopped right in front of me.
"Hey Landon, long time no talk," I said.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," Landon said. "Look, I need your help again."
"Okay, whatcha need?"
"I need you to teach me how to...to..." Landon stumbled. I raised an eyebrow. "I need you to teach me how to kiss."
"What?" I asked, stupefied.
"Come on, Riley, please!" Landon begged. "Lydia's expecting it and I don't wanna mess it up. You know wants to kiss me."
"Ew, so?" I asked. "Landon, this is something I really can't help you with."
"Why not?" Landon asked.
"Because I'm probably no better at it than you," I admitted. "I've never kissed a guy. I've never even played Spin the Bottle."
"Well then, we can help each other!"
"That's like making out, Landon."
"Please, Riley, I need to learn and you're the only girl I know who would do it!" he dropped down on his knees like he was begging.
"Alright!" I said. "Let's get it over with."
Landon stood up with a smile and I couldn't help but laugh as stood there blushing, his jeans now stained green at the knees.
I laughed at the memory. I did help him and I'm pretty sure that night made both of us experts in kissing.
"Riley? Hello, are you still there?" Landon said, waving his hand in front of my face.
"Nope," I said, smirking as I turned my head to look at him.
"Did you zone out on me?" Landon asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Okay, so what do you think?"
"I think that song is complete, so you can move onto another one."
I smiled, opened another song file and started my adjustments on that. When I felt hands on my shoulders, I looked back to see Landon's face just inches above my own.
"Is there something interesting on my computer screen?" I asked.
"Yeah, the background," Landon said.
It was a picture from a few years ago, the Halloween in which Landon was dressed up as Gambit from X-Men and I was dressed as Rogue. I didn't even think about taking it off with Landon coming over. I remember Dad not being very thrilled about me getting white streaks in my hair. Bridgette was also in the picture, dressed as Jean. We had all decided to wear matching costumes because it was the last year that Noah would be trick-or-treating with us. He was dressed as Wolverine. As usual in pictures from back then, Landon and I just had to be in the middle and doing some silly pose. We were giving each other bunny ears, but also my front leg was around his waist and I was kissing his cheek. Just to be stupid, I remember Landon pretending to faint after the picture was taken.
"That sure was a crazy Halloween!" Landon observed. I shook my head.
"It was the last one we spent together," I remarked.
"Really?" Landon asked.
"Yeah, the next year you spent with Lydia, remember?"
"Oh yeah. That was a fun Halloween though, wasn't it?"
"Yeah it was! Especially with you pretending to faint every time I touched you."
"I did not!" Landon countered, removing h
is hands from my shoulders.
"Oh, you so did!" I accused him, turning around and standing up.
"Did not!" Landon shouted.
"Did-" I was cut off, not by Landon's hand as I expected, but by his mouth. I froze, partly because I was shocked, but partly because I didn't want to move. I began to relax when I didn't feel the urge to pull away from him. After a lingering kiss-far better than the one we shared several Halloweens ago-we both lounged on the bed in blissful silence. After a moment, Landon sat up.
"I should..." he started.
"Yeah," I said.
"I'll...umm..." Landon said.
"See you later," I said
"Right," Landon muttered, making his way off the bed and grabbing his stuff. My eyes followed him out the door and I heard him call hasty farewells to the rest of my family. I dropped onto my computer chair and stared at my lap.
"What was that all about?" Mom asked, coming into the room and closing the door. She sat on my bed and I lifted my eyes to look at her. "Riley?"
"He...I...we...and..." I couldn't get it out.
"He kissed you?" she asked. I nodded, groaning and dropping my head into my hands. "You might need to elaborate."
"No!" I said. "No elaborating. It was...it was just...I don't know, but I'm not talking about it."
Mom just nodded, kissed my head and told me I should get some sleep before she left my room.
"You look like hell!" Alice observed.
"Gee, thanks," I said, sitting next to her in Spanish class. I had just gotten to school late. "I had a doctor's appointment, remember."
"Okay, but you still look like hell," Alice repeated.
"Girls, attention up front please."
"Sorry," both of us said.
When lunch came, we found ourselves sitting outside with Bridgette and Faith, as usual.
"So what songs are we playing at Halloween?" Faith asked.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my song binder. "I'm not sure. You guys pick." I handed it over, took out my sketch book and started drawing some random things for art class. I jumped as a folded piece of paper fell onto the page I was drawing on. I looked up to see the girls glaring at the group of people walking past us. I followed their gaze towards Landon, who gave me a look. I opened the folded paper.
Sorry about last night.
"What's that?" Bridgette asked.
I folded the paper up quickly. "Nothing," I lied, but Bridgette knew I was not telling the truth. The bell rang and we all started to head back in, but she pulled me back and we let Faith and Alice walk ahead of us.
"Okay, what was that really about?" Bridgette was dying to know.
"Landon kissed me last night," I confessed.
"What? Oh my, no wonder you're like this! Well, do you think Lydia suspects or knows anything?"
"No!" I said. "Why would he tell her?"
"Good point," Bridgette agreed. A few minutes later, we walked into Drama class and didn't talk about it again for the rest of the day.
"I think you should do it again," Mom said, later that night.
"But why?" I asked.
"Because, there are a lot of differences people go through between the ages of twelve and sixteen," Mom said.
"Yeah four years," I said, looking down, "and a few bra sizes."
There was a slapping noise and both of us looked up at Noah, who had clapped his hands over his ears and started muttering stuff so he couldn't hear anything.
"You could pull it off better now," Mom said.
"Are you going to shut up about this?" I asked.
"I don't think so," Mom stood her ground.
"Fine, I'll use that as a costume again," I said. "I'll call the girls to see if we can set up some kind of theme. Preston should be here by the time I'm done."
"You're still dating him?" Noah asked, dropping his hands.
"Yes, I am," I said. "God, what is it with you guys lately? First Landon and now you need to know everything."
"I don't like Preston, I must admit," Noah said.
"Of course you don't! That would make my life too easy if you did."
"Shut up, Riley."
"I don't like Charlotte, but you don't hear me bitching about her."
"Uh, yeah I do, actually," Noah said. He had started dating her a while back and it still puzzled me what he saw in her. I found Charlotte to be cold and disinterested in what my life was all about. Plus, my friends did not like her either.
"Whatever-I've got phone calls to make," I said. I went up to my room and called my cousin to tell her about my costume decision. She seemed pretty happy about it and staked claims on using her old costume. Faith and Alice argued about who would be what, but then they finally decided on their costumes too. The girls and I were certainly going to rock the Halloween party!
By the time I hung up, I heard Noah and Preston talking downstairs. I hurried down to see my brother shooting death glares at my boyfriend. Noah filled the typical older brother stereotype so well sometimes. I managed to get Preston and me out of the house before Noah started on his dating lectures.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
FAITH DID CAT calls.
Bridgette whistled.
Alice did both.
"Is it really that good?" I asked.
"Girl, Anna Paquin had better hope you never show this look in Hollywood because they'll kick her out and make you Rogue," Faith said.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Faith had made the green and yellow body suit, Mom had somehow found me yellow boots and gloves, Bridgette had dyed the white streaks into my hair before Dad could protest and I had made up the belt using a few things I had lying around. The brown jacket I already had, as well as the green headband.
"I can't believe you guys have done this before," Alice said.
"Well, it also works a hell of a lot better now than it did a few years ago," Bridgette said.
I looked at her. Instead of going with the regular Jean look, Bridgette decided to be Phoenix. Faith made her own outfit, again. I had given her my yellow sash-belt thing and Aunt Shauna had found the yellow gloves and boots, both of which were longer than the ones I had.
Faith-who had parents who let her dye her hair whatever color she wanted-had Bridgette dye her hair white which worked really well and we used the leftover stuff in my hair. Instead of going with the classic white Storm outfit, Faith chose the more revealing X-Men legends outfit, which showed off her abs and stomach and, like Bridgette and me, had yellow gloves.
Alice had temporary red hair dye in her hair and yellow contacts. Faith had made her an outfit that matched her own, but was red instead of black. Alice had short black gloves on and we had just finished coloring every visible part of her skin blue with body paint.
"Good thing it's Friday and we're all sleeping over here afterwards," Alice said, now standing in front of the mirror and looking at her blue skin. "That way, my parents won't see me all blue."
"You're parents are uptight," I remarked.
"Why am I always the one who must have different colored skin?" Alice asked.
"Because Faith beat you in Rock-Paper-Scissors," I said.
"And the coin toss," Bridgette added.
"And the staring contest," I added further.
"Okay, I get it!" Alice said.
"Besides, you look hot as Mystique," Faith said. "I don't pull off blue so well, remember?"
"Good point," Alice agreed.
"Hey girls," Mom said as she entered the room with her camera. We all turned around and quickly got ourselves together in a pose so Mom could take a few pictures.
Then the doorbell rang and I went downstairs to answer it.
"Trick or treat," Preston shouted.
"No costume, no candy," I told him firmly.
"But I'm a high school student!" Preston protested. I laughed and let him in.
"Where's your Halloween spirit?" Mom asked.
"I've never really had one since I hit twelve," Preston admitted unflinchingly.
"Party pooper!" Mom shot back. She walked out of sight into the kitchen.
"Does anyone in your family actually like me?" Preston asked.
"I like you," I reassured him.
"Other than you, I meant," Preston said. Bridgette raised her hand.
"Everyone else apart from my aunt, who hasn't met you, is male-so they don't count," I said. "And my mom does like you. She's just a big Halloween freak, in case you haven't noticed."
"Your mom is a big 'any holiday' freak, Rap," Faith said.
"Good point," I agreed. "Hey Mom, we're going now okay?"
"Do you have your cell phone?" Mom called.
"Yeah," I said.
"Wallet?"
"Yes"
"Key?"
"Duh!"
"Is your cell phone's battery charged?"
"Yes, I just charged it."
"Then have fun, guys."
"We will," all four of us called out as we left. The party wasn't far from my house, so we just walked like we usually did.
"You and Faith are so lucky that you have like, little to no rules," Bridgette said.
"Charged cell phone, wallet and house key," I checked off to myself.
"That's because we haven't done anything that our parents know about, that got us into trouble," explained Faith.
"Bite me," Alice said.
Strangely, she was the one who did get into trouble a few years back when she used to shoplift. But she eventually told us that it was only to get her parents' attention and it worked. We walked the rest of the way to the park making small talk. It was convenient that we weren't the ones who were in charge of instruments. We actually had a "manager", Lorne Cowan, the assistant Music and Drama teacher at school. He usually brought the instruments to all of our gigs.
"Holy...Wow, look at all the people here already!" Bridgette exclaimed.
"Yeah," I said, "and the party doesn't even start for another half hour. Where's Lorne?"
"Looking for me, baby cakes?" We all turned around to see Lorne, our manager, step out of his van.
"Hey, peaches!" Faith called.
Lorne was only about a year older than Noah and he was the gayest person you could ever meet, so you would think that Preston would have lightened up around him. But no, he still found it necessary to make sure everyone knew I was his girlfriend. I normally didn't mind it too much, but, around someone like Lorne, it became a little irritating.
If I Never Knew You Trilogy Bundle Page 13
