Unspeakable (Freedom Series Book 1)

by Michelle Pickett

  “Oh. Sure.” I handed him my cell, and he programmed his phone number into my contacts. I added my number and address in his, handing his phone back to him. Jenna plucked it out of my hand before he could take it.

  “Here’s my number. You know, in case Willow doesn’t answer.” Jenna smiled and handed Brody’s phone back to him.

  “Thanks.” He didn’t give her his number.

  “Okay. I guess I’ll see you later. Gotta get to class,” Jenna said. She walked backward toward the door—still staring at Brody—and ran smack into my biology teacher.

  I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my giggles. Brody chuckled next to me, shaking his head, and Tim picked up his books, mumbled something about Jenna’s ditziness, and walked to his seat.

  Smooth, Jenna. Way to make an impression.

  It was the slowest day in history. I didn’t think school would ever end. When the last bell finally rang, I rushed to my locker and stuffed my books inside before jogging to the student parking lot and climbing into my Chevy. I wanted to get home and finish my homework, so I could shower and change before I left for the bowling alley.

  After going through what felt like a hundred outfits, cussing out my hair because it wouldn’t lay right, and carefully applying my makeup, I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

  “Willow? Are you going somewhere?” my mom called.

  I went into her bedroom. She was lying across the bed on her stomach, two empty beer bottles on the floor beside her and a full one in her hand. “A bunch of us are going to the Super Bowl and then The Dive for burgers after. I asked you earlier, remember?”

  “Tonight’s not a good night.”

  Breathe. It’s gonna be fine. Breathe

  “What… why?” My heart sank. “You said it was okay for me to go.”

  “It just isn’t a good night to go out. You know how things go. Your dad wants tonight to be a family night.”

  “He isn’t my dad,” I muttered.

  Ralph walked out of the bathroom attached to their bedroom. “You have no idea how happy I am that I’m not your real dad. And I don’t give a rat’s ass what your mom said about you going out tonight. You’re staying in unless you’re planning to meet Jaden.” He looked at me with raised eyebrows. When I didn’t answer, he smirked. “I didn’t think so. You’re not going anywhere.”

  I looked at the bed. “Mom—”

  “I said no,” Ralph shouted, and I flinched.

  Breathe. Just breathe.

  “Fine.” Running back to my room, I locked the door behind me. After I threw my stuff on my bed and stripped out of my clothes, pulling on a pair of boxers and a tank, I texted Jenna.

  Me: Can’t make it tonight.

  Jenna: What? Why?

  Me: Home stuff. See you tomorrow.

  Jenna: I’m sorry.

  Me: No biggie. Have fun.

  I used the rest of the night to do schoolwork and wonder if Brody showed up at the bowling alley. I finished my homework for the next day, including the extra credit. It was too early for bed and I was too keyed up to sleep anyway, so I worked ahead in calculus and biology and finished a paper on the Civil War for American history that wasn’t due until the next week.

  I’d hoped to get a text from Jenna telling me about how her night was, so I waited until midnight before I crawled into bed.

  That night, images of Brody’s bright blue eyes and amused grin haunted my dreams. It was better than the nightmares that usually invaded my sleep.

  Just breathe.

  I looked in the mirror the next morning. My dark hair was a mess. The normal waves hung limply to my shoulders. Dark circles surrounded my eyes, their hazel color washed out from lack of sleep. I sighed. I didn’t have the energy to care what I looked like. After I ran a brush through my hair, I twisted it into a messy bun at the back of my neck. I dabbed a little makeup around my eyes to hide the circles and slashed on some mascara. A swipe of lip gloss and I called it good.

  I pulled on a pair of sweats, a pink tank top that said, Zombies Eat Brains (You’re Safe), a zippered hoodie, and my hot pink sequined tennis shoes and forced myself to go to school.

  “You look like crap,” Jenna said. I glared at her and grabbed my books out of my locker. “And I am going to burn those shoes the next time I’m at your house.”

  “Thanks. You’re a sexy beast, too.”

  She leaned her shoulder against the locker next to mine. “Missed you last night. It wasn’t nearly as fun without you.”

  “Thanks. Brody show up?”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. I swear her eyes glossed over and pink cartoon hearts floated above her head. I wouldn’t have been surprised if violin music had started playing, cartoon rabbits scampered around her, and bluebirds landed on her shoulders. It was sickening… I was totally jealous.

  “So, what’s he like?”

  “Eh.”

  I glanced at her. “What’s that mean?”

  “He’s the tall, dark, and handsome that smutty romance novels describe. He must top six feet, and he seems to be the whole package—brains, looks, and wicked funny. All the girls swooned over him.”

  “A real ladies’ man, huh?” I rolled my eyes.

  Jenna shrugged a shoulder. “I guess. He stayed for one game and then left with Tanya.”

  “Great taste in women. I suppose if the stories about him are true, he’s gonna know how to find the easy girls.”

  “Time will tell, I guess. See you in history.”

  I shut my locker and jumped when I came face to face with Jaden. “So Jenna’s gaga over the new guy, huh? Big surprise. She’ll go after anything with a pulse. Sometimes, I wonder if a pulse is even needed.” He laughed at his lame joke.

  “I’m late, Jaden. I’ll see you at lunch.”

  He pushed off the locker and fell in step with me. “I’ll walk you to class.”

  We were silent on the way. When we got to my classroom, I looked over my shoulder. “Bye. Save me a seat at lunch.”

  Jaden grabbed my wrist, pulling me backward against his chest. He wrapped his arm around my waist, nuzzling his face behind my ear before turning me around and kissing me. His mouth was hard against mine. Putting my hand on his chest, I pushed him. He smirked and walked away.

  I turned and walked into class. My eyes met Brody’s. He rolled his and made a disgusted face. “I like your shirt,” he said when I reached the table.

  I had to look down to remember which one I was wearing. “Oh, thanks. I wore it just for you. You know, to comfort you in case of a zombie attack.”

  He laughed. My heart nearly stopped at the sound. Dear God, it was like music from Heaven.

  It was movie day in biology. I was looking forward to sleeping during it. Folding my arms on my book, I laid my head on top of them, closing my eyes. Near the end of the movie, Brody scooted his chair close to mine and interrupted my nap. “So, you date the captain of the football team. You’re one of those,” he said quietly.

  “One of what?” I asked, not bothering to open my eyes.

  “A bimbo jock chaser.”

  “Hmm, and you’re one of those.”

  “I can’t wait to hear this,” he murmured. “One of what?”

  Sighing, I opened my eyes and looked at him. “A piss poor athlete who’s jealous of the real jocks. At least you know you’ll always have a job when you finish school.”

  “Oh?” Brody looked at me and quirked an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Mr. Victor, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, ‘Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.’ So you don’t have to worry about your athletic shortcomings. You can rest easy with the knowledge that you’ll always be able to teach.”

  Brody laughed. “Nice. I’m glad to know I’ll be a productive member of society.”

  “That remains to be seen. How was Tanya?”

  He grinned and shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve had better.”

  “Ugh, you’re a pig.”

  “You asked.” He leaned c
lose to my ear and murmured, “So you’ve been asking around about me?” He tapped his pencil on the table.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  He can’t possibly know that. I’ve only talked to Jenna and Tim. They’d never tell anyone I’d asked about him.

  “You’re delusional. Why would you think I’ve been asking about you?”

  “You know my last name. I didn’t put it in your contacts when I gave you my cell number,” he whispered. He was so close his breath fanned over my neck, moving wisps of hair. His cologne swirled around me, sun, salt water, and something all him. “And you know about Tanya.”

  Smiling at him, I used my thumb to flick off the top of my pen and reached over, drawing a large circle around his name on his homework.

  “No, Mr. Victor, I just know how to read. You should learn. And everyone knows about Tanya. She’s as easy as you are.”

  The bell rang. I shoved my things in my bag and threw it over my shoulder, walking away without looking back. But I wanted to look back. He was quite nice to look at, but he was off-limits. He was also maddening to the point I wanted to scream. So I kept my eyes focused straight ahead and settled for picturing him in my mind.

  I can’t believe I’m stuck with him in biology for the rest of the year. Ugh. I wonder how much a hit man costs. I have my college fund… maybe that’d be enough.

  Jenna was waiting for me outside biology. “I see you and Brody are talking. Anything interesting?”

  “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?” I teased with a smile. “Don’t worry. It isn’t like we were having a conversation about anything important, unless you consider him calling me a bimbo important.”

  “He did not!”

  “Yeah. He’s already activated my bitch-mode, and I’ve only known him two days.”

  Someone chuckled behind me. I looked over my shoulder and let out a frustrated sigh when I saw Brody.

  “He’s behind us, isn’t he?”

  I smirked at her. “Now’s your chance, Jenna. Ask him out,” I said loud enough for him to hear.

  She elbowed me in the ribs, glaring at me before ducking into her classroom. Laughing, I waved and jogged up the stairs.

  “Where should we sit?” he asked when I turned the corner into my next class.

  “What are you doing? We don’t have this class together,” I said through clenched teeth.

  Brody twirled his pencil between his fingers. “We do now. My schedule changed. So, where do you sit?”

  I didn’t answer him. Walking to my seat, I threw my books down.

  Brody looked at the girl in the seat next to me. “Bummer. I thought we could be table buddies again.”

  “You do realize this is AP English, right?”

  “Yes. Oh, look! There’s an empty seat behind you. We can pass notes during class.” He winked as he walked by.

  Ugh, he gets more annoying every time he opens his mouth.

  I turned in my seat and looked into his eyes. And forgot what I’d wanted to say. His eyes were such a brilliant shade of blue, framed by the longest, blackest lashes I’d ever seen. Girls would kill for his lashes.

  He quirked an eyebrow at me when I didn’t say anything.

  “What class do you have after this one?” I finally asked.

  “Computer science. Should I save you a seat?”

  “Thankfully, we don’t share that class.”

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t want me in your classes.”

  “Ya think?” I turned toward the front, grinding my teeth when I heard him chuckle softly behind me.

  As soon as English class was over, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the classroom, trying to disappear in the crowded hall.

  “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re going to explode,” Jenna said as soon as I walked into American history.

  “Two words. Brody. Victor.” I ticked them off on my fingers.

  “What about him?”

  “Evidently his class schedule was changed, and we now share the same English class.”

  “You lucky bitch!”

  I moved out of the way of someone trying to get down the aisle before looking at Jenna and nearly yelling, “Lucky? He called me a bimbo! How am I lucky to be sharing classes with him?”

  “Do you sit together in English, too?”

  “Ugh! Are you listening to anything I say? He’s a tool.”

  “Yeah, but he’s a gorgeous tool.” She laughed.

  I dropped into my seat. “Can’t deny that.”

  This day sucks.

  I didn’t realize how much my day was going to suck until I walked into my next class.

  “I saved your seat for you.” He gave me an amused grin. I wasn’t sure what was so funny to him. I was pissed.

  “Why are you here? How’d you know I was in this class… and where I sit?”

  “I figured it was a good bet that since we are in the same AP biology and English courses that we’d share other AP classes, as well.” He shrugged a shoulder. “As far as knowing where you sit, I asked.”

  My heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. “Who’d you ask?” I whispered.

  “Why? Are you okay?” Brody stood and reached for me.

  I flinched away from his hand. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

  “You’re pale and look—”

  “Who’d you ask?” I asked him again. If Jaden found out he’d been asking about me, it was going to cause problems… for both of us.

  “I didn’t ask anyone. I saw the seating chart on the teacher’s desk.”

  I sighed. “Good,” I said, distracted. Putting my books down, I slipped into my seat next to Brody. “That’s good.”

  We didn’t speak to each other the rest of the class period. It wasn’t until I was gathering my things to leave that he spoke.

  “I guess I’ll see you after lunch in AP calculus,” Brody said, walking past me.

  “Yeah, lunch will give me time to mentally prepare myself for your annoying presence. I’ll save you a seat.”

  After lunch, I sat in my usual seat in calculus. I looked up just as Brody walked into class. I moved my messenger bag from the seat next to me. He hesitated, looking around. I looked down and flipped through my textbook. Seconds later, I felt him pull out the seat next to me and sit down.

  “I thought you were kidding about saving me a seat,” Brody said.

  I shrugged a shoulder. “I figured I was fighting a losing battle. There are other open seats. You aren’t obligated to sit here.”

  “Am I welcome to?”

  I glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you want me to sit here?” he asked quietly.

  “Why would I care where you sit?”

  He grinned. “Just curious why you saved the seat for me.”

  “Like I said, there are other open seats. Take your pick. And for the record, I didn’t save the seat for you. It’s an open seat. No one sits there, so it didn’t need saving.”

  He folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs out in front of him. “I like this seat. I think I’ll stay here.”

  “Whatever,” I muttered. “What class do you have next period?”

  “Why? Are you gonna save me a seat?”

  What constitutes the insanity plea for murder? Could I strangle him and claim temporary insanity?

  “Nope. I want to know if this torture is going to continue.” I flipped through my notepad and tried to ignore him. Impossible.

  He laughed, and I felt a little flutter of something in my chest. I bit my bottom lip to hide a grin.

  When calculus was over, Brody and I went our separate ways. I was sure I was done with him for the day, and I let out a sigh of relief. I hated how he made me feel off balance, how he was able to get under my skin. And I especially hated the flutters I felt whenever he laughed or leaned close to say something. It confused me. Like it or not, I was with Jaden and even if I wasn’t, Brody had a r
eputation. I wasn’t looking for a one-night hook-up, not even with the gorgeous Brody Victor.

  I walked into the library for independent study, a glorified name for study hall. Most seniors skipped out on the last hour. I usually spent it in the library, working on homework. The less time I spent at home, the better.

  I always sat at a table in the back of the library where it was quiet and isolated. Putting in my ear buds, I turned up my iPod. Spreading my calculus notes out, I flipped open my textbook and started working out the homework problems. Concentrating on solving the problems, I didn’t notice him until his shadow fell across my papers. I looked up, and my heart skipped.

  I watched Brody’s lips move and him gesture with his hands.

  I pulled the ear buds from my ears. “Really? You’re here, too? Look, this is my area. There are dozens of cubicles in the library where you can study. Find one, preferably the one farthest from me.”

  “What happens if I like this side of the library?”

  “Brody.” I sighed. “Your village called. They want their idiot back. Run along now.” I flicked my fingers like I was shooing a fly away.

  A ghost of a smile crossed his lips just before he winked at me and walked by. “See you tomorrow, Willow,” he said over his shoulder.

  Ugh, tomorrow. I think I hate school.

  Friday night. Another night of football. I’d love going to the games if I could spend the time with Tim, Jenna, and our other friends, eating too much junk food, gossiping, and ogling the football players in their tight uniforms. Instead, every move I made was watched, scrutinized, and reported to Jaden later.

  Then there was the inevitable fight. There was a party if our team won—the Cassidy Cougars were undefeated, so there was always a party—and Jaden would want to go. I couldn’t because of curfew, which would cause a fight. Every Friday, it was the same thing. It would’ve been so much easier if I drove myself to the games each week, but Jaden insisted on driving me himself. Possessive.