by Nicole Thorn
“You’re welcome.”
When he kept smiling I asked, “What?”
He waved his hand and sighed. “I just pictured you, all old and grey and recounting tales of how I won your heart to our grandchildren. ‘And then he gave me chocolate milk and I just knew…’” he did a poor American accent.
I felt my face drop when he spoke. I’d never be old and grey. With him or anyone else. I’d never look much older than I did right now. He’d get old, forget things, die. And I’ll look around twenty. I’ll be five hundred years old and not look any older for the time.
“Are you alright?” he put his hand on mine.
I stared at our hands and said, “No. I’m not alright.”
“Did what I said upset you?”
I finally looked up. “Not for the reason you think it did,” I couldn’t hear any emotion in my voice.
His forehead creased with worry. “Then why?”
I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t even hint at it. “Another thing I can’t tell you, Hale. And that won’t stop. I’ll always have secrets from you and there’s not a thing you can do to get them from me. Why would you want a person like me to love you?”
He didn’t speak for almost ten seconds. “Because you seem to be the only thing I’ve ever found that can make me forget how badly I hate myself. The only reprieve I have is when I’m near you. So I don’t mind the secrets you have from me. They’re yours to keep.”
I turned my hand over so that our palms were touching. I held his hand tighter. “I’m trying to be fair to you. Nothing about us would ever work. I’m toxic.”
“You’ve got that the wrong way round, Lamb. I’m the toxic one. But I’m trying to be better. I’m trying to be better for you. I want to be the kind of person who deserves someone like you.”
God, he just couldn’t hear me. He thought too much of me. He saw me as some kind of angel rather than devil. And he was so, so wrong.
I pulled my hand back and opened the milk he gave me. I had nothing left to say to him and I was tired of wasting my breath on it. He’d eventually realize that he was wrong. That I was the one who wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t his Lamb.
We ate in silence and my eyes went everywhere but to him. My gaze fell on Dottie while she was with her friends. They were all sitting around in a circle. Laughing and having a good time. I was glad that she seemed to be at least a little bit alright. The time away must have done her well.
When lunch was over, Hale and I started heading for Art. Well…Hale headed for Art. I started walking the opposite way when the hall forked.
“Where are you going?” Hale called out. I turned and he was already following me.
“I’ve got something I need to finish.” I had to find that Brooks guy. I would have done it sooner but Ethan took priority over that. But now I had nothing stopping me. I knew Brooks’ next class and I knew where to find him.
“What might that be?” Hale said when he was beside me.
“I’ve got a file to get. God only knows what Brooks plans on doing with it. But I’m not giving him the chance to do a thing.”
“What do you plan on doing?”
I shrugged. “I’m going to find him and get the information I need.”
Hale looked uncomfortable. “Are you still planning on flirting with him?”
“I’m going to do whatever I have to do.”
He grabbed me by the hips and stopped me from moving. “Rory, I’m asking you not to do that.”
“Why?”
His hands moved up to my ribs. “Because I’m a jealous man. I can’t stand the thought of someone other than me touching you. Especially if you’re doing it for my sake. Leave him with the file. I don’t care what he does with it.”
“I care. I care about you and what happens to you. So I’m going to get the file.”
He looked genuinely pleased with my statement. “Fine. But no touching, please.”
I looked down at his hands. “You too.”
Instead of letting go, he pulled me to his chest and his hand went to my back. I was worried he might feel my wings, but he kept his hands low. “But I love touching you.”
“I don’t,” I said flatly.
He dipped his head down and spoke quietly. “That’s because you haven’t let me really touch you yet. If you did, I promise you’d enjoy it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not happening.” I pushed him away and started walking again.
Brooks would be headed to his math class around now. If I hurried, I could catch him in the hall. Hale was behind me and when I spotted Brooks, I stopped him.
“Hale, you need to stay here. If he sees you he might bolt. Can you handle staying behind?”
He looked like he wanted to say no. “I suppose. But if he tries anything—”
“Then I can handle myself. I can break his arm in less than a second. He doesn’t scare me.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “I’d very much like to drag you to a closet right now.”
I started walking backwards and away from him. “I’m really more of a kitchen table kinda girl,” I smiled.
He held up his hand and mouthed the word ‘six’. I rolled my eyes again and turned to head for Brooks.
I caught up to the blonde boy and called his name. He stopped short of going into his classroom and looked to me. The halls emptied and we were left alone.
“Hello,” I said, as pleasant as I could. “I need to have a word with you.”
He eyed me. “I know who you are. My girlfriend has been bitching non-stop about you.”
“Of course she has. And I bet she’s told some interesting lies about me.”
He shrugged. “She’s got a habit of exaggerating for her own amusement.”
“I bet. Anyway, I need that file you stole. The one about Hale Wyatt.”
His face didn’t change. “Sorry, babe, but I can’t do that. I’ve got some grandiose plans for that thing. My girl promises great rewards when the job is done. And she’ll finally shut the fuck up about you and that kid.”
“Please. Hale didn’t do anything wrong and he doesn’t deserve this.”
He smiled. “Well, sweetie, I guess you don’t know what the file says then. Big secret for that boy to be keeping from you. Look, I respect what you want to do for your boyfriend, but I have to keep my girl happy,” his thumbs were hooked in his backpack straps. “High maintenance but the girl gives it up whenever I ask for it. Unless you can make a better offer, I need to look out for my best interests.”
What a pig. “Hale and I aren’t together. He—”
“Oh come on,” he scoffed. “The whole school knows you’re screwing. I’m sorry that you’ve been getting Hell for being with a killer, but—”
I shoved him against the wall. “He’s not a killer. Give me the file or I’ll kick your ass.”
He laughed. “Really, talk to your boyfriend. That’s the kind of thing a girl should know about a guy she’s in bed with.” He looked me up and down, “Too bad. You hold out all those years and just give it away like that. Shame.”
I held him tighter to the wall. “I didn’t give anything away. And if I did, it would be none of your business or anyone else’s. One more chance to give me that file.”
He ignored me. “Kenna told me about what she saw in the locker room.” He kept wearing that smile. His head turned and I saw Hale quickly approaching. “How’d the daddy’s boy react when he saw? Couldn’t have been that bad if he’s still hanging around with you. Or are you just that good at—”
My hand crossed his temple and he dropped to the ground.
“Well,” Hale nudged the sleeping boy on the ground. “I guess you were right about taking care of yourself.”
I started going through Brooks’ backpack. I huffed when I didn’t find the file. “Damn it. It’s not in here. Let’s hope the boy is as stupid as I think he is.”
I dug around for something and was almost shocked to find it. His school schedule. I scanned i
t and found his locker number. Then I dropped his backpack.
“Locker 239,” I said.
“Let’s go,” Hale started walking.
I didn’t. I dropped and dug around in the boy’s pockets. I pulled out his keys and his phone.
Hale turned when he noticed I wasn’t behind him. “What are you doing?” he said as he walked back to me.
“Oh, I’m not done with him yet. He hurt you, so I’m gonna hurt him.”
“As opposed to hitting him?”
“Yes,” I pulled his contacts up and started looking for Kenna. I tapped out a message and Hale asked what I was doing. “Writing something for his girlfriend. ‘This morning was amazing. Same time Monday? In the coaches office when Kenna is at cheer.’ Smiley face…” I said as I wrote out the text and sent it.
“You are an evil genius,” Hale mused.
Half right…
I put the phone in his pocket again and left him. He should be up in about ten minutes or so. I heard his phone beep four times as I walked away.
I went into the girl’s bathroom, twirling the key chain around my finger on the way in. “And now…” I walked into a stall and dropped the keys in before I flushed it.
“Round and round it goes,” Hale laughed as it went down. Then we headed to the locker.
The combo had been on the paper and I unlocked the thing keeping me from the inside of the locker. Then I found it. Right in between two unused textbooks.
The file.
I grabbed it and headed to the parking lot. I stopped in the middle of the lot so I could go unseen, being blocked by cars. I dug my Zippo out of my backpack and flicked it on.
“Wait,” Hale said. “Aren’t you going to read it?”
My eyes narrowed on confusion. I though he knew my intentions. “No. Why would I?”
“…So you’ll know what rumors are true and which are lies. Don’t you want to know?”
“No. Whatever you want to tell me, you can. It’s your choice and I’m not letting Brooks or anyone else take that from you. Your secrets are yours and no one else’s.”
I lit the file up.
While it burned in my hands, I looked up at Hale. I couldn’t place what I saw in his eyes. Gratefulness? Yes, but it wasn’t just that. It was something else and I had no clue what it was. Something that left me feeling warm.
The file got down to my fingers and I dropped it to the ground. It wouldn’t have burned me but I couldn’t let Hale see that I was fireproof. He didn’t need more pieces to my puzzle. He was smart enough to figure something out if he had enough to go on.
“Back to class?” he asked.
I thought about it. “No. I think I’m just gonna go home.” I’d miss out on the Kenna fallout but I didn’t care much. I’d hear all about it Monday anyway.
“I might as well go home too,” Hale decided.
“See ya,” I said before I started walking to my hiding spot.
“Don’t you have a car?” Hale asked.
I turned. “No. I walk.”
“You live miles from here. You do that every day?”
“Yeah. It’s no big deal. I don’t mind the walk.” Mostly because I don’t actually walk.
“That’s ridiculous. I’ll bring you home from now on. Come on,” he started walking to his truck.
“I really don’t need you too.”
“I do.”
“Hale!” I said when he kept walking.
He finally turned back. “Do I have to carry you or will you come willingly?”
I crossed my arms. He took that as a challenge. He walked over and effortlessly picked me up.
“HALE! I’m in a skirt!”
He looked down and smiled. “Yes you are,” he didn’t stop though. He just kept walking while I tried to cover myself.
He set me in the passenger side of the car and closed the door. I was glaring at him while he got into his side.
His eyes scanned me. “Need help buckling up?”
“No,” I said with attitude.
He leaned over and reached for my seatbelt, pulling it down and clicking it into the lock. I kept glaring.
“You’re cute when you’re trying to be mad at me,” he turned the key and the engine came to life.
I was now roped into getting rides home against my will. Were all friendships like this?
We pulled up to my house and I picked up my backpack.
“Alright then,” Hale sighed. “I accept kisses as payment for rides.”
My eyebrow went up. “Technically you kidnapped me.”
“Details,” he shrugged.
I would hate myself for what I was about to do. But I did it anyway. I leaned over and put my hand on the side of his face, pulling him down to me and kissing his cheek.
My lips lingered longer than they should have and when I pulled back, I kept my hand on him. When he turned his head, his face was a few inches from mine. When he started leaning in, I jumped out of the car and ran into my house.
Chapter Twelve: Just Tonight
Monday morning I woke up next to something warm and pleasant. I rolled onto my side and cuddled up to whatever it was. Then I felt a hand rubbing my lower back.
“Morning,” I heard Hale say.
No…he wasn’t in my bed. He couldn’t be in my bed right now.
I opened my eyes and…he was in my bed.
“What the Hell are you doing?” I asked in a sleepy voice.
“Your mother let me in. I decided that since you don’t have a ride home, you probably didn’t have rides to school either. So, I’m bring you to school and home now.”
I groaned and sunk into my bedding. He pulled it back over my head. “Better get dressed or we’ll be late. Your mother is making us pancakes.”
“I…hate you…”
“Don’t make me drag you out of bed, Lamb. I’d like you to have at least a little dignity.”
I groaned again. “Leave me alone. I wanna go back to sleep.” I rolled onto my stomach and covered my head with a pillow.
“None of that now,” he stole my pillow from me. “Come on,” he flipped me over and I stared daggers at him.
“I’m going to get you back for this one day.”
“Give me your worst,” he challenged me. And I’m not one to refuse a challenge.
I shot up using every ounce of supernatural speed I had to get him off guard. I pushed him down to his back and got on top of him. I roughly held him down by his shoulders.
“Oh no,” he said dramatically. “What torture this is. I hope you don’t take off your clothes next. That would really teach me a lesson.”
I narrowed my eyes and said, “You’ve seen me hurt people before. Why do you think you’re safe?”
His hands moved up my thighs and his eyes followed. “Because you wouldn’t hurt me. You said before that you cared about me. So I’m safe.”
“You wish. Stop coping a feel, would ya?”
He smiled. “If I was coping a feel, you’d know it. For example…” He moved his hands to my back and pulled me down so I was pressed to him. Once I was there, he slid his hands down to my ass. I gasped and he just smiled back at me. “That, my dear, is coping a feel.”
I wanted to kill him when he didn’t immediately move his hands. But, I could have moved. I was so much stronger than him. I could crush every bone in his body if I had a mind to. So why did I not want to move an inch?
“Feel free to reciprocate in any way you’d like,” he offered.
I was about to move off of him—probably—when my door swung open. Hadley was on the other side in her jammies. It was a button up flannel shirt and matching pants. There was a pancake in her hand. Just…just a half eaten pancake…
“Well then,” she smiled. “I was gonna tell you that breakfast was almost ready. But I can see you’re busy.”
“This isn’t what it looks like,” I said as I sat up on Hale. “I swear to God.”
She snorted. “Yeah, cuz God gives a fuck what we do. P
retty sure we’re on some kind of list He keeps of damned souls. But,” she reached into her pocket and pulled something out, tossing it at us. “You should have these before I go.”
Condoms hit us and I tried not to blush. “Why do you keep condoms in your jammies?”
She shrugged. “You never know.”
“I thought you were back to girls this month.”
Another shrug and the same statement was said before she walked away.
Hale was examining one of the condoms when I looked back to him. I ripped it out of his hand. “Not even.”
He sat up and I almost fell back. But he caught me and set me across from him. “Don’t worry. I have no intentions on using one. Unless you want—”
“No!” I growled. I wasn’t even sure if we’d need one. Humans had a more difficult time getting something supernatural pregnant. Except topside demons. That was pretty normal.
I got out of bed and left Hale in my room.
For the rest of the week Hale woke me up so he could take me to and from school. I decided not to kill him and to just deal with it. Mostly, he was sweet and just woke me up with a tap on the shoulder.
So when I woke up Saturday—the day of our date—and didn’t see him, I was almost worried. He was supposed to be here at ten. It was only nine but for some reason I thought he would come sooner.
Still, I got up and I got ready. After my shower I put on a sundress that was baby blue and white. Then I lounged on my bed and stared at the ceiling for a while.
Hale didn’t bother telling me what the plan was for today. But he spent most of the week teasing me about it. Talking about how much I was going to love it and how I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of him by the end of the night. I was sure he was wrong. I had no feelings like that for him whatsoever. He was very pretty but that didn’t mean I had to fall for him.
Walter had been teasing me too. I made the mistake of telling him and he was convinced that since I’ve never slept with anyone, that the first time I got the chance, I’d rip Hale’s pants off. Not likely.
There was a knock at my door a second before my mother opened it. “Oh good, you’re up.”
