“I can’t be with you,” I tell him.
“I know,” he says, then smiles. “You know I am going to try to win you back.”
My stomach is suddenly in knots and I feel like I’m going to puke. “Estaine, no. You can’t. You should move on.”
“You should know me better than to think that,” he says.
“Everybody thinks I’m dating Sander,” I tell him. “I’m actually thinking about telling everybody that I am, just to make things easier.”
“And I know the truth about Sander,” Estaine says.
“I don’t want to have this conversation,” I say, looking away from the bench. “I’ll talk to you later, Estaine.”
“Okay,” he says. I can hear the smile in his voice. “Bye, Phoenix.”
I walk away, towards Sander. He’s far enough away that he didn’t hear the conversation, but I’m sure he can see the annoyed look on my face. I don’t stop when I get to him. I just keep walking.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“Anywhere but here,” I answer.
“What did he say?” Sander asks.
I stop and turn around so I can talk to him. “Well, basically, I told him that I wanted to be friends. And he said he wanted that, too. And more. Then he proceeded to let me know that he was going to try to win me back.”
Sander laughs.
“It’s not funny,” I say, resisting the urge to hit him.
“I think it is,” he says. “And don’t worry. That’s just a phase. Nobody likes to get dumped. He’ll eventually move on.”
“Did you try to win back the girl who dumped you?” I ask.
“No,” he answers. “But I was in a different country and she was, literally, dating somebody else; so why would I?”
“Maybe I should date somebody else. That would help him move on,” I say, smiling at my clever idea.
“Yeah. And what’s the guy you plan on dating going to say when you dump him?”
I have no response for that.
He’s right.
Gah...
“It’s a vicious circle,” Sander says. “Maybe next time, don’t say yes to a guy you have lukewarm feelings for.”
I stick my tongue out at him before starting to walk again. This time, I am walking towards my first class.
English with Mr. Anderson.
Oh, boy.
You and me. Homecoming.
“Phoenix!” I hear somebody yell, then I hear the sound of high heeled shoes running towards me.
I turn around to see Paige Lawson running towards me.
“Phoenix, hey,” she says, smiling once she reaches me.
I nearly fall over at the sight. Paige? Smiling? At me?
“Yes, I broke up with Estaine,” I tell her, before she can ask. “If you want to date him, go for it.”
Not that he would ever go for her. He has better taste than that.
“No, silly,” she says, waving a hand at me. “I’m so over that school girl crush I had on Estaine.”
“Oh,” I say. “Sander also isn’t my boyfriend. So if you like him, go for it.”
This causes Sander to sling an arm over my shoulders. “But I am madly in love with her. So I wouldn’t bother.”
I roll my eyes.
“No. Gosh, Phoenix, you’re so funny,” she says, laughing again. “Actually, I heard that Charlie Underwood is your brother,” she says.
Ah.
Now I get it.
She has a thing for my brother, so I am suddenly her new BFF.
“Charlie is my brother,” I say.
“I can tell. You two totally have the same eyes,” she says.
I smile, but not to be polite. Nope. I’m smiling because Charlie and I aren’t related biologically. Which isn’t even the funniest part. While I have blue eyes, Charlie has green ones.
Sander laughs, but quickly coughs to cover it up.
Clearly Sander knows we have different eye colors.
“So... is he single?” Paige asks.
I nod. “Yes. Well, I think he is. Who knows. Charlie likes to move fast in relationships. So, if he has a girlfriend, he’s gotten one since I saw him at breakfast. But don’t worry, he goes through girlfriends as fast as you take selfies.”
She smiles. “Great.”
I turn to walk off, but she paces beside me.
“So, do you mind if I sit by you at lunch?” she asks. “I know we didn’t get off on the best foot and all, but I really think you and I could become really great friends.”
Friends?
Paige Lawson thinks that she and I could be friends?
“Paige, the last time we talked, you threatened me,” I say.
“Yeah, but I thought we were putting the past behind us,” she says, smiling at me. Her smile is so fake.
“Fine,” I say. “You can sit with us.”
Because, even though Paige is a complete wench, I’m not. Besides, I know Charlie’s type. And Paige isn’t it.
Well, maybe a little. But I’ve already told him how mean she was to me, so I know that he won’t date her.
“Excellent,” she says, clapping her hands excitedly.
With Sander on one side and Paige Lawson on the other, we walk into the dining hall for lunch. Once again, people turn to look. Probably because I am standing by my arch nemesis. She has not made her distaste of me a secret, so I’d be shocked, too.
Paige doesn’t look like she minds people staring. Actually, she looks like she’s quite enjoying it.
“Phoenix, I’m beginning to think you’re popular,” Charlie says, once we get to the table. I take a seat in my new “normal” seat.
I roll my eyes at Charlie’s. “No. Drama and gossip just seem to follow me in the school.” Speaking of drama following me. “This is Paige Lawson. I told you about her at the cabin, remember?”
Charlie nods, a spark of recognition in his eyes.
“Paige, this is my brother, Charlie.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Paige says, now acting shy.
There is not a shy bone in this girl’s body, so this is laughable.
“Sander and I are gonna go grab some food,” I say, leaving her at the table with everybody else.
Let them deal with her.
“You’re too nice,” Sander says.
“What would you have done if you were me?” I ask.
“I wouldn’t have been nice to her, for starters,” he says.
I shrug.
“Come on, Phoenix. That girl has been mean to you. Go dump food on her head or something,” he says.
I look down at the grilled cheese and fries on my tray. “But I want to eat it. They have the best grilled cheese here.”
Sander rolls his eyes. “Like I said, too nice.”
I ignore him and sit down at the table. Paige is now sitting in the chair closest to Charlie and her body is basically rubbing against the side of his. The sight makes me want to vomit, but Charlie looks like he’s just as uncomfortable as I am.
“Phoenix,” Paige says cheerfully. “We were just talking about homecoming. It’s coming up in a few weeks, you know?”
“What exactly does homecoming entail?” I ask.
At my school in Malibu, we didn’t make a big deal out of homecoming. I know it’s a big deal for most American schools though, I’ve seen enough TV shows and movies to know that. We’d have a game and a dance, but that’s it.
“It’s a whole week of celebrations,” Paige says. “There is spirit week, which is everybody’s favorite. All our parents are in town. And we always play a game against West Raven.”
At the mention of West Raven, my heart drops a bit.
Brooks won’t be coming for any more games.
I’m going to miss seeing him there.
“Then there is the dance,” she says, twirling her blonde hair around her finger. “I’m trying to convince Charlie to go with me.”
Ha.
Good luck with that.
“I suppose
you’ll be going with Sander,” Paige says.
My goodness, this girl can talk.
“Or me,” Estaine says, as he takes a seat at our table. “If I can convince her to go with me.”
Charlie smiles, clearly amused.
“At least you don’t have to ask one of your friends to take me this time,” I say to Charlie.
“I don’t think that Elliot minded,” Charlie says.
“Elliot is an idiot,” I say, remembering how he kept trying to put his hands a little too low on my back while we danced. Needless to say, we only made it through two songs before I hid in the girl’s bathroom and waited for my Uber driver to pick me up.
“Wait... you asked one of your friends to take her to a dance?” Sander asks.
“Yeah,” Charlie says.
“Nobody in Malibu ever would’ve asked me otherwise,” I say.
I hear Bryce laugh and I kind of want to punch him. I know he doesn’t like me, but he doesn’t have to be a prick about it.
“I would’ve taken you,” Jason says.
I look at Teagan to see if his comment makes her mad, but she’s smiling.
“I would’ve taken you, too,” Teagan says. “Boys are overrated anyway.”
I laugh. “Teagan, you and me. Homecoming.”
“Sorry, she’s all mine,” Jason says, putting his arm around her.
I expect Teagan to be all giddy about his comment, but instead, I find her looking at Charlie.
Oh, gosh.
I seriously hope she doesn’t start getting feelings for my brother. That might make things awkward.
“It’s okay. I really can’t dance that well, anyway,” I say. “I’ll probably stay in my dorm and watch Supernatural reruns.”
“No, you won’t,” Sander says.
“Why not?” I ask.
“Because homecoming happens to fall on a very important day in October and there is no way that I am letting you stay in your dorm room alone on that particular Friday,” Sander says.
“Homecoming is on the twentieth?” Charlie asks.
Well, crud.
“What’s so special about the twentieth of October?” Teagan asks.
“It’s my birthday,” I answer. “I’ll be seventeen.”
“Charlie, you totes missed Phoenix being asked to homecoming,” Paige says, turning the attention back on herself. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her face so red.”
Her mentioning that brings tears to my eyes.
I stand up, no longer hungry.
“I’m going to head to class early,” I say, excusing myself from the table.
Definitely better.
I wish I had said yes to Brooks. I wish I had told him that I would go to homecoming with him, because what would it hurt if I had? I know I was dating Estaine then, but I could’ve gone with Brooks as friends.
My mind goes back to the last conversation I had with him. It was a good conversation. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I know that we were laughing. He called to apologize for the whole homecoming incident, but I had forgiven him long before then.
I’m so glad he called me. I would’ve called him eventually, but it would’ve been too late then, and I don’t think I could handle the guilt of it all.
“You okay?”
I look up and see Sander sitting beside me on the bench.
“You startled me,” I say, putting a hand over my heart. “I forgot for a moment that you’re not just a friend, but also my babysitter.”
“Bodyguard,” he corrects. “But I’m your friend first. Always.”
“My friend who happens to never leave me alone,” I say, taking a deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “But this is better than the alternative.”
Alternative being me getting kidnapped again.
So, yeah. Definitely better.
“Thank you,” I say to him. “I don’t say it enough, but you are the reason I am safe here. I mean, I know it’s your job, but I’m glad it’s you here.”
“I already told you—I read your file and I chose to come here,” Sander says. “And I’m glad I did. You’re a wonderful girl and I’m glad I get to be one of the people keeping you safe. Nothing could make me leave your side until I know that you are one hundred percent safe.”
I grin at him, because how else can I respond to that?
“Also, I am convinced that every guy you knew before coming to East Raven is an idiot, because, how did you not have guys asking you out every day in California?” Sander asks.
“Is that your way of telling me I’m pretty?”
“No. Not pretty. Beautiful,” he says.
His words cause my face to warm.
I’m not used to being called beautiful. And I definitely don’t know how to take it.
“Does that mean you want to take me to homecoming?” I ask, completely joking.
“Honestly, it’d probably be easier that way,” he says. “Because if you go with somebody else, they’re going to have two dates. You and I are a package deal.”
Which literally means I can go with Estaine or Sander.
“I hope you look good in a tux,” I say.
“I’m stunning in a tux,” he says.
I don’t doubt it.
But then again, Sander looks stunning in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
He’s just a very gorgeous guy.
Not bad to look at.
Tonight, there is a party at the docks. But then again, when is there not a party at this school? I wasn’t going to go, but Charlie practically begged me to. Apparently, he needs me to introduce him to more people, but he and I both know he doesn’t need my help.
Charlie has always been the outgoing one. He makes friends and I kind of just borrow them, I guess. I didn’t really fit in that well in Malibu, though I suppose I didn’t really try all that hard. Here, I have tried and I have made friends. I still mostly keep to myself, which is okay, but I also need to try to have friends. It’s not healthy to always be a loner.
Sander is not happy when I call him and tell him that I’m going to the docks. I tell him that he doesn’t have to come, but that clearly didn’t go over well, because he was at my dorm window within thirty seconds—a new record.
“Your brother is a bad influence,” Sander says.
He tries to help me out of the window. He always does. But I ignore his hand and jump onto the ground beside him.
“I’ve told my parents that for years,” I say, grinning at him. “Charlie wants me to introduce him to people.”
“You already introduced him to everybody you know,” he says.
I laugh. “I told him that. Really, I think he just wants to hang out with me. I think he missed me.”
A few seconds later, I hear movement behind me.
“Boo!” Charlie says loudly, grabbing my shoulders.
I just laugh.
“How did I not scare you?” he asks. “That always works.”
“Hey, I’ve been trained by the Secret Service and the CIA,” I say. “Sorry to tell you this, but your time of sneaking up on me and scaring me is over.”
“Better yet, she is being trained by me,” Sander says.
“You work for some super-secret branch of the government or something?” Charlie asks him, as we make our way towards the docks. “Are you not CIA or Secret Service?”
It’s about a half mile walk from our dorms to the docks. There are quite a few people going tonight, like always. And I wonder how the school doesn’t catch on to all these students sneaking out of their dorms. Maybe they just don’t care as long as nobody gets hurt.
“I’d tell you who I work for, but then I’d have to kill you,” Sander says to him.
I laugh, remembering how he told me something similar when we first met. Except he told me the only way he could tell me about his training is if we got married. At the time, I thought he was joking, but now I think maybe he’s serious.
“Why the serious look, Phoenix?”
Charlie asks.
“When I asked Sander about his training, he said he could tell me if I married him. I’m now wondering if he was serious,” I say.
Sander laughs. “I wasn’t joking.”
“Wait, so is this some kind of family thing? Like, if she marries you, I can know too?”
“Sorry. Doesn’t work like that,” Sander says.
“Darn,” Charlie says.
“We would never work out anyway,” I say. “Sander and I would be explosive together. We fight all the time.”
“Some might consider that a good thing,” Charlie says.
“I’m here to do my job and that’s it,” Sander says. “I’m not going to date your sister.”
“Why? Do you think she’s not good enough for you?”
Charlie’s words make me smile. Of course he would take what Sander said negatively.
I don’t want to date Sander. I wasn’t kidding when I said we’d be explosive. The world couldn’t handle that much sarcasm in one couple.
“I’m not too good for her. She’s the one who is too good for me,” Sander says.
His words shock me. I want to argue with them, but honestly, I’m not sure what to say. If anything, Sander Soto is too good for me.
“Nobody is good enough for my sister,” Charlie says, as we walk into the clearing of the trees. It seems like everybody is out here tonight, wanting to hang out. I think everybody is still a little shaken over what happened to Brooks.
If only they knew the truth about what really happened. It’s probably good they don’t, because then they’d constantly live in fear, like me.
It takes all of five seconds for Charlie to ditch me, which I knew was going to happen. Really, it’s not his fault. A girl smiled at him and he followed her.
“Now what?” Sander asks.
I shrug. “I knew this would happen. Charlie doesn’t need me. He’s the charismatic one. Within a month, he will have the entire school eating out of the palm of his hand and I will be the tag along.”
“I could never see you as a tag along,” Sander says.
The two of us sit down on an empty bench, near the fire they have going. It’s been warm the last few days, but tonight it’s a little chilly, so the fire feels good.
“It’s how I’ve always been,” I say. “I’ve always been more into computers than people. I guess coming to East Raven changed that. But I’m not good at the whole being social and making friends thing. Even though I have friends, it all kind of happened by chance. Teagan was my roommate, and she introduced me to everybody.”
Never Ever (East Raven Academy Book 2) Page 15
