"You just haven't been hanging out with us lately," Zack replied to his best friend, his voice indifferent as usual.
"Yeah, you didn't go to our beach party last night," Tanner added, looking serious for once.
Lucas sighed. He didn't want to deal with this and he had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. What was up with his friends? He had done something else for one friggin day. The next thing he knew, they were asking him, actually more like bombarding him, with all this shit and acting all mopey.
"I have a cast," he said, reasoning with all of them. "You know I'm not allowed to get it wet."
"You didn’t have to go in the water, you could've just gone for the company," Adriana offered, taking a step forward.
He didn't want to say anything more since he didn't want his friends to find out that he had just been at the beach with Sicily.
"What the fuck," he said to himself, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. You guys want to hang out?" he asked them in an irritated tone. "Come to my house and hopefully my almost-divorced parents can join in the fun too."
Zack couldn't help it anymore. Lucas was acting immature again, and so, he pulled his best friend away from the rest of the group. They were at a corner, and none of the others dared to join them.
"Stop acting all fucked-up," Zack said, glaring. "You’re looking and acting like a jackass."
"It's not my fault," Lucas returned, holding one of his arms up in the air. "Mallory just popped a vein, and God damn it, she's been hanging on to me like I'm a tree and she's my fruit. Do you know that some people thought we were a couple because of how she acts all the time?"
"What about Sicily?" Zack then questioned. "In my opinion, they're similar to each other, you know."
Lucas let out a grunt before he put a hand on his friend's shoulder and said, "They may be cheerleaders and downright bitches, but those are their only similarities."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I like a girl who can stand up for herself," Lucas said in a tone of finality.
Zack didn't need any more. He got it the moment Lucas said that sentence. The good thing about Mallory was that she was affectionate when she liked someone or something, and her gift was her curse too. She could be overly caring and that was annoying. In this case, she’d been irritating Lucas for years.
"Dude," Zack said, trailing off. "Are you saying you like her?"
Lucas had to reach behind him for support to avoid his almost-fall. What Zack said completely caught him off guard. "Where did that come from?"
"You practically said it yourself," Zack said, smirking and enjoying, for once, his friend's apprehension.
"Well, to straighten things out," Lucas said, breathing a deep sigh. "Sicily's nicer than what I thought her to be, but I don't like her, and that's that. She's just…amusing."
"You make her sound like she's a toy," Zack said, retuning his friend's grin with a smirk. "And speaking of her…" he then drawled, looking past his friend.
Lucas turned around and came face-to-face with Sicily who had changed everything she wore. He noticed the black straps of her bra beneath an orange tank top, and instead of the white shorts she had on at the beach, she was wearing a pair of denim shorts. She still looked hot to say the least.
"Are we going now?" Lucas asked her.
They both knew he could easily ask any of his friends for a ride home, but he didn't want to. He couldn't admit it out loud to himself, but he was starting to enjoy her company, the humor she gifted him with. She was fun and entertaining and she kept him on her toes.
"If you want to," she said, staying in the background.
"Okay," he said to her before he turned to face Zack. "I guess we're leaving, dude."
"Okay, see ya," Zack returned, exchanging a hand shake with his friend. "Bye, Sicily."
Sicily gave Zack an awkward 'bye,' and Lucas only laughed silently at that.
"I'll see you guys later, I did invite you to come over," Lucas then added as he ran a hand through his jet-black mop of hair.
"We'll be there," Zack said with a wink.
Sicily, discreetly, eyed Lucas and hoped he would let her go this time. She didn't want to hang out with Mallory and Adriana, but Lucas held all the cards as she was at his beck and call for the day. She had no say in this.
"You're not going anywhere," he said mischievously as he took her hand and led her back to her car.
Chapter 10: Commit That Deadly Sin: Envy
Sicily was back at the Mercer's mansion, and as always, she dreaded the thought of spending time with Lucas’ friends. After all, they hated her and she hated them right back. The afternoon was doomed from the beginning.
She tried to keep a low profile and for the most part it worked. If someone paid her any attention, it was only to insult or degrade her. She wanted to leave but of course Lucas wouldn't allow that. Even though he didn’t talk a lot, it was apparent that Lucas was the leader of this group. He had everyone's attention and focus. Sicily considered that in her group of friends she was the one that everyone revolved around.
"You guys know where to go and what to do," Lucas said as he ran a hand through his tousled black hair. "Just help yourselves."
"I'm going to go to the garage," Sicily said, turning around to face the main door. "I'll be back."
"That's a good idea," Mallory said snidely. "What would be even better is if you don't come back."
"Then maybe I should stay," was Sicily's reply.
She smirked when she said that even though she knew she was outnumbered and was the outcast in Lucas' little group of friends. She was never going to give Mallory the time of day, so why should this incident be any different?
"Fine," Mallory said, and that confused the other head cheerleader. "Suit yourself."
Sicily didn’t trust Mallory’s agreement to let her stay. She still hated the Marina's Queen and Sicily knew Mallory wasn't one to give up a fight. She let it go and just decided to do her own thing. She didn't need to socialize with them and so she sat at the back of the Game Room while the guys played video games and the girls exchanged gossip.
"We should play the Wii," Tanner said, turning on the console. "You can still play tennis can't you?" he then asked Lucas.
"This game would be in the garbage if I couldn't," was the owner's reply and Sicily couldn't help but roll her eyes.
That comment was a certified Lucas Mercer remark—sarcastic and blunt, and she couldn't help but think how he always managed to get away with being such an ass. Sure she was a bitch, but at least she talked more often while Lucas rarely said anything. And when he did, it was usually something extremely venomous or completely devoid of emotion. You got full on hot or cold with this guy.
"I bet you can’t even use that arm of yours to throw out the trash," Sicily said, intervening in on the guys' conversation.
"I can practice my skills on you," Lucas returned smirking. "Come stand over here and let me throw garbage at you."
"And risk getting my face ruined?"
"Why not," Mallory cut in.
"I'd rather not," she said, sinking back down on her seat at the corner of the room.
She shook her head and mentally slapped herself. She just wanted to shut up and get through the day without popping anyone's vein. She had no problem starting a fight with Lucas or with any of his friends, but that was if she were alone with any one of them. There were five of them an only one of her. Not good odds.
"Then shut up and be invisible," Adriana added, rolling her eyes before she turned away from Sicily.
Sicily wanted to respond. She had already thought of something to say. But that would probably get her into more trouble, so she closed her mouth and kept quiet. She kept silent for a good one hour and thirty minutes despite all the unpleasant looks and remarks she got from Mallory and Adriana. She wanted to get back at them, but no one was going to back her up. Lucas hadn't even paid attention to her ever since they got back from Target. He just kept talking to Z
ack and Tanner though he seemed bored.
"I have to congratulate you," Mallory said, opening her mouth to form a perfect cherubim-like smile. "You haven't pounced on me like the animal you are."
"And I thought I was going crazy," Sicily said to herself with a roll of her eyes. "Why would someone like you want to talk to an animal like me?"
"I thought you liked the attention," was Mal's reply as she feigned a look of innocence.
Sicily's lips moved until they formed a thin line. However, after a few seconds, she couldn't help but open her mouth. She didn't want to be the underdog, but Mallory was making her feel like one. "I prefer not to share it with you," she said, stepping up her game.
"It's not like you have a choice anyway,” was the other's response as she brushed her auburn hair away from her face.
Before the banter could go on any longer, Tanner stepped in between the two and separated them. He liked Sicily and even though Mallory was closer to him than Sicily was, he knew his fellow Marina-er was going overboard. He didn't prefer Sicily over Mallory or vice versa. It was just that at that moment, Sicily seemed like the loser, and he didn't want to leave her to Mallory’s not real tender mercies.
"Stop it," Tanner said to Mallory as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Is the Almighty Sicily Carmichael finally giving up?" she said to no one else but Sun Coast’s cheer captain.
Sicily couldn't help it anymore. Mallory was making fun of her, and she just wasn't going to allow that. She knew she had an ego and a big one for that matter considering she was a girl. She wasn't going to let herself get trampled on by Mallory. Hell no.
"No, my brain just went dead for a few seconds," Sicily returned, wanting badly to leave already. "If you can't read between the lines, then let me tell you what I mean. You. Bore. Me."
"Bitch."
Sicily wasn’t affected by what Mallory said. “Thank you, Mal, but you’re not the first one that noticed my best attribute.” Bitch was such an overused expletive she never took it seriously anymore when someone called her that.
Mallory, on the other hand, was waiting for Sicily to say something, and when she didn't, she thought that Sun Coast’s head cheerleader had finally decided to give up. "Sucks to be you, I bet," Mallory continued, confident that she had the upper hand. "Don't tell me you're going to go all-emo now like you did before. If you want, I can buy some anti-depressants for you."
"Mallory, shut the fuck up." Tanner shook the other girl to make his point.
Sicily never expected it to happen, but when it did, she couldn't help but show the smile on her face. Someone had stood up for her and that meant a lot, especially since that person barely knew what Mallory was talking about. The anti-depressants were something that few knew about. She knew Tanner was practically clueless about the history between her and Mal.
"Tanner, what the hell?" Adriana said, raising her voice. "You're supposed to be on our side!"
"Not really," he said, scratching his head in slight confusion.
"Why the fuck did you just tell me to shut-the-fuck-up?" Mallory demanded.
"Because you're becoming just as much as a bitch as she is," Tanner returned, stepping over to Sicily's side, as he put a comforting arm around her.
Sicily didn't know why Tanner hugged her, but he did, and she allowed him to do that to her. The warmth he gave off was comforting, and she felt that that was what she needed the most with the way Mallory had treated her just a while ago. Sicily and Tanner stood in each other's arms for a few seconds until Lucas spoke up.
"I think you guys should leave already," he said as he sat on the couch where Zack and Adriana were. "My parents are coming home soon."
"So?" Mallory said. "I'm sure they won't mind if we stay a little longer."
Lucas couldn't help but feel irritated with her unsympathetic stance. "But I do mind," he said, cutting her off before she could say any more.
Mallory didn't get how sensitive it was for Lucas to talk about his parents. She didn't know that he hated seeing them and talking about them. She was just here in his house, for the fun, for the games, for the gossip, and for the company. She probably wouldn't care if Mr. and Mrs. Mercer threw a fit right this second. She would probably even tell the whole school what happened next Monday.
"What's with your mood swings?" Mallory forced. "You never used to be like this."
"I could ask you the same thing," he returned before he raised his voice to sound commanding. "Why are you always on my case? You're always interrogating me about my whereabouts, and just to let you know, you're not my mother. I can't even handle my real one. Why the hell would I want another one?"
Malloy shook her head. He just didn't get it. She was jealous…of Sicily.
"It's all because of her!" she then said, pointing to Sicily who was just silently sitting on her seat minding her own business. "You're always with her! I thought you hated her!"
"Guys, stop it," Zack intervened and Sicily breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't want to be part of the drama happening in front of her. It was their group's problem and last time she checked she wasn't part of the group. She wanted to leave, but she knew Lucas wasn't going to allow that, and then Mallory would more or less throw another jealous rage.
"Can't you just leave us?" Mallory said to Sicily when she didn't know what to say to Lucas. "Lucas and I need to talk. That doesn't require him to use his arm, so we don't need you here."
Sicily picked up her bag and put the strap over her shoulder before she gathered her other belongings that were spread out on the floor. She gave them all a nod and was about to open the door and leave.
Lucas stopped her again. "You aren't leaving," he said, his gaze holding her in place. "But you should," he then continued, facing Mallory.
"I'm not going anywhere," Mal said in response, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Then she stays too," Lucas said and Sicily was surprised with his remark.
Was he defending her? Or was he just making fun of Mallory and playing around with her? Either way, Mallory was embarrassed and Sicily couldn't help but feel better. Mallory deserved the attitude that Lucas gave her.
"She's not even our friend," Mallory said, whining.
The others, Lucas, Mallory, and Sicily excluded, left the room to go find something else to do. The room was spacious, but Sicily could feel the breath get sucked right out of her lungs.
Lucas watched Mallory who was, in turn, glaring at Sicily. Each of them felt trapped, but Lucas hid his anxiety the best. He looked completely unaffected by this confrontation. But deep inside he was experiencing a whirlpool of emotions with confusion being one of them. He was confused as to why he wanted to defend Sicily from Mallory. Maybe it was because he felt sorry for her, but he was still unsure. Mallory was stepping on her, on her pride, and he didn't know why he just couldn't let that be.
"What's gotten into you?" Mallory asked when no one spoke. "You've been distant from us lately."
"What's your problem?" Lucas asked, his temper rising. "Can't you just leave and go to some party?"
"I will when she does," she returned, giving Sicily a sideward glance.
Sicily let out a grunt and stomped her foot as she looked rather degradingly at Mallory. Her past best friend was acting like a kid, very, very immature, and Sicily was just so tempted to strike out. She knew Mallory liked Lucas. What she hadn’t known until now was that Mallory was obsessed with him.
"Then I'll leave," Sicily said, speaking for the first time since Tanner and his company left. "And with a smile on my face too, if that will make you any happier."
"Gladly," Mallory returned, opening the door as she moved to give Sicily the room to walk out.
Sicily walked out of Lucas' Game Room, half expecting him to stop her again. Before she went to the main entrance to finally end her drama-filled day, luck intervened and a hand on her arm stopped her from leaving the mansion.
"Where are you going?" Theodore asked with wa
tery eyes as if he'd also had a very rough day. "You're leaving already? But it's not even dark yet.
Sicily couldn't help but smile at Lucas' younger brother. He sounded so innocent and so young, though his face said otherwise. He was clearly affected by his parents' divorce with the way his grey eyes turned cloudy when he looked at her. She couldn't leave, not now, not with Theodore hanging on to her so tightly.
"Why? Do you want to play or something?" she asked the child with a smile.
She didn't know why, but she was drawn to Theodore, and it would be so much easier if Lucas' attitude was like his younger brother's. That would have saved her a lot of comebacks and curses. Speaking of the eighteen-year old himself, he was dragging Mallory down the stairs, and with the way his lips formed a thin line and the way his eyebrows furrowed together, it was obvious he was mad. If only Mallory could get the hint that he didn't want her in his house.
"Why are you still here?" she asked smugly, stopping in her tracks. "You were supposed to leave like fifteen minutes ago."
"I decided to stay," was Sicily's reply as she brought Theodore closer to her. "Theodore and I are going to play a game."
"You don't get it, do you?" Mallory asked.
"Get what?"
"That I don't want you here!" she shouted and the sudden elevation in her tone of voice surprised everyone, Theodore most especially.
"It's not your house," Lucas said forcefully, and then, all of a sudden, his patience broke. Finally. He shouted at Mallory and Lucas was never one to shout until things got serious. "You're acting like a bitch in front of my brother!" he said. "This isn’t your home Mallory, you don’t get a say in who visits. And you certainly don't throw a fit in somebody else's house! I live here and I want you to leave, now."
That silenced Mallory. She could only cry as Lucas glared intensely. All she wanted was for Sicily to leave, and that, as simple as it already was, wouldn't happen. What could? After a few minutes, she stopped sobbing as she wiped her face dry with her hand.
"Lucas, I…I-" she said, uncertain as to what she should say.
Breaking the Arm, Healing the Heart Page 13
