“See what I mean, babes. They have a club, a code, and he looks like he’s breaking that code. The rules are there for a reason.”
She leans back in her chair, eyes on the board in front of us.
“They have it in their blood. It’s in their lineage, babes, and well, we don’t.”
Her tone is ice and for the rest of the period I try hard, I do, to listen and concentrate, but I can’t. The tics break from me. The puffing of air and body jolts are so consuming that I just lay with my head on the desk and allow them to work their way out of my tired body.
The bell goes signaling break. Taking a breath of relief, I can get an apple and water and just relax for five minutes. Walking from English, the halls are now packed with loud students causing my body to overreact. My Asperger’s sets off my tics and it’s tiring. The sooner I find the money for this op the damn better.
A weird feeling washes over me as we walk through a group of students milling by the west set of lockers. It’s like I feel something urging me to turn around. Like eyes are burning into my back. I pause in my steps. Tenley also halts and continues yapping about a party on Saturday night. Colton’s eyes burn into mine as the rest of the boys stand behind him, the members of squad bitch flank their sides. Queen bitch has her eyes set on me with an evil look. Her arms are folded over her chest and a smirk that could make the devil proud laced over her fake ass face.
I slowly turn back around away from them, taking small measured and counted steps towards the cafeteria. I find it full of screaming kids, and quite a lot of them have their eyes on me. I have no clue why, but I sense it’s because of the club of whack jobs on ego trips all standing behind me like Deep Creek’s very own Mafia.
Taking the stairs outside two at a time; I just need air. I pull my phone from my pocket. Dad is on speed dial as no way Mum would come get me. Dad will though, he gets it.
“Whoa! Hold up! Lucy, what the hell was with that showdown in there?” Tenley’s voice cracks out.
“I don’t know, Tenley. You tell me, it’s your school after all,” I bite out, instantly feeling bad as her face deadpans. “I’m sorry, Tenley, I don’t know, slut-bag-dick-ball-play-games-dick-bag-hoe-pants.” The clucking that follows that statement also includes the rocking of my body back and forth.
I can hear kids call from the main doors of the cafeteria as they sit around the picnic tables. “Look at Tic Girl. At it again,” one says to laughter.
“Go-go-go-go on, weirdo,” another snickers out.
“Look at her. Pathetic.”
“What a freak. Put her in the circus.”
The laughter and the comments hurt me, slicing through me like hot knives.
“Look at the state of it, and she thinks Colton’s interested.” I know that voice. It’s the Queen Bee of bitchville. “Yep, she’s dumb that’s for sure. She’s just a pawn in the game is all,” she bites out as my tear-stricken eyes meet hers.
“You’re not worth shit, bitches,” he says as I abandon my phone, letting it fall from my grip. I just run out through the gates and as far from them, their hurtful words, and that freaking shit school as I can.
My mind ran wild as I scaled the hill behind the school and ran off into the depths of the forest. A light mist whipped over my skin as I kept running deeper and deeper. Branches lashing out and smacking me left, right, and center.
All I could see was her eyes and that smirk like she owns me. Well, bitch, game’s on. I’m not going to let them win. This may be the Asperger’s talking like a sudden rush of confidence. The tics soon follow, though, reminding me that I am getting worse. They are getting worse. Being here makes it worse. I’m not sure how to cope, how to handle all that comes with Deep Creek High.
The deeper I go, the darker and colder it gets. The air that was light at the start, becomes harsh and wetter. Sticking to me like a second skin. I wish I could shed the skin I’m in and become a new person. Be someone they take seriously. Not the weird tic girl.
Falling to my knees, the tears take over and the tics become sobs racking my body. Taking all that I have and leaving me a shaking mess on the forest floor.
“Lucy, Lucy. Where the fuck are you?” I hear in the distance behind me. That voice. I know it, and I don’t wanna see him. “Lucy, babe.”
I’m so not his babe. That, obviously, is Larissa.
I try to pull myself up from the wet forest floor. The leaves are sticking to my skin as the cold seeps in. My body is shivering and ticing out of control. My OCD over dirt sets in and the voices all build up inside my head. I park myself against the trunk of a tree and scream, pulling at the strands of my hair. I need the tics to stop. I need the body jolts to disappear. I need to just be damn normal.
Colton skids to a halt in front of me. My eyes burn into his as I pull strands of hair from my head.
“Shit, Lucy.” His eyes scream pain as he looks at me. Pain laced with concern.
“Don’t look at me!” I scream.
“Your eyes lie.” I watch as he pulls his black hoodie from his body. The t-shirt underneath rises, and you can see his V-line, abs and a side tatt that is nothing but fancy writing. Yup, I researched abs and V-lines also.
His body falls in front of me as he threads my arms and head through the thick, warm hoodie.
“What the fuck, babe?” His voice cracks as my lids fall shut and my head rolls back hitting the damp trunk of this rather large tree.
“This, them, it’s all too much,” I say into the air around us as hiccups laced with tics break from my shattered body.
He wraps his huge arms around me, pulling me into him and anchoring me. “It’s so tiring.” I say against his chest.
“I won’t let you fall, baby,” he breathes into my hair.
“Just hold on, babe.” Opening my eyes, I investigate his as I pull myself back.
“You can’t save me,” I hiccup out, surprising myself it wasn’t a tic.
I bask in all the beauty that is Colton in that moment. The pad of his thumb comes to wipe the tears streaking my face in silver shards. His touch is warm and safe. He is safe. Here like this I could fall in love with him, but there, at school with them, I can’t even see myself with him.
“I’m so unsteady around you, Lucy. All I wanna do is fix this.” He breaths into me, his
dark blond hair falls in wet messy strands over his face. His copper eyes, laced with flecks of green, burn into mine. “You take me to a place that I have never been before, babe. You make me feel so much more than the numbness that elite blue blood gives me.” His hand moves to push the wet hair that is plastered to my face and, for the first time, I see a small scar embossed in the inside of his wrist. My hand goes out, pulling his head down. The heat between us is instant. He makes me feel so much. His eyes lock with mine and then back down at the scar as I run my fingers over it. It’s a brand type of scar. It’s hard to make it out. I can see his pulse beat under it, fast.
“I’m no good for you, babe. The club is no good for a beautiful soul like yours.” His voice breaks and my heart hurts. “I wanna help you make sense of all this, but I know that me wanting you could be harmful. Today at school I was trying to get them to see that I want out. I wanna save you, Lucy, from me. Then there’s your tics; I have a plan and they want none of it.”
I run my fingers over the scar, pressing deeper trying to engrain the brand and all it stands for into my skin. “If this is who you are then it’s who I will become to be with you,” I say to him as the jolts start and the puffing of air from my nose begins. “Fuck this!” I scream out. “I hate this.” Tears falls as his hands cup my face. His lips graze mine so lightly and go just as fast moving to my ear.
“I can make this go away, these tics. If I do this, you will belong to me, to them, the club.” His voice is so solid, running inside my ear. Settling inside the soggy, wet part of my inner brain, it makes goosebumps break out over my cooled skin.
“It will mean
that they own us both,” he says. “They already own me as it comes with who my father is. But you, I don’t want this for you. I don’t wanna lose you, either.” His breath is tingling along the skin just under my earlobe. In that moment, as he pulls back, I look into his eyes. I know that I will do anything for this man who has stolen more than my soul.
Waking in a room that isn’t mine, panic hits me as I search my mind for the last memory in it. All I can see, and smell for that matter, is Colton King.
Shit tits and flaming piss I’m in his bed, aren’t I? Like it’s a damn marshmallow engulfing me in the false sense of warmth and his damn cologne.
I can hear muffled voices and the sound of classical music traveling toward my ears when I really lay back and just listen.
Did I pass out? I really can’t explain why I’m here, why my mind won’t allow me to remember. This fucking ticing disorder and damn Asperger’s are a right royal pain in the ass. Searching my damp and rather dirty jeans pockets for my phone, I pull it out, looking at the time; 4pm. My god, my parents will be freaking out. Ivy league school costs a fortune and I have missed another day. I am in the room of the hottest yet darkest boy I have ever met.
Flicking a text to Tenley, I let her know. She will die.
So, guess where I am.
Waiting and waiting …
Um well not dead, thank god.
That’s what she sends back. Why would I be dead?
Well no, why?
A few reasons, one being that you ran off into the forbidden forest by school for starters.
Mmmmm that would explain the dirt and damp clothing. Forbidden. What the hell is that woman on about?
Okay, so I am alive, forbidden forest we will talk about that, but look.
I ruffle my wet hair around me to fan out over Colton’s black pillows (of course they are black). I haven’t even looked around yet. Black bedding that’s uber soft, plush black carpet I have eyed over the side of the bed. Turning my head to the side I see black walls with just two red wine colored walls. One in front of the bed that is home to a massive flat screen TV with a black entertainment unit filled with gaming consoles. The other wall is all glass, just behind this feature TV wall. As I pout my lips for the pic, I send it to Tenley. Slowly I rise from the bed that just wants to suffocate me if I will allow it. I walk over to the glass wall that looks out over the huge estate surrounded by trees and native forests. Raindrops dot the windowpane as I slide the massive glass open and step out. What a heavenly vision the green grass below is. It has a massive logo embossed in it. My fingers run over my wrist; it’s the same image that is on Colton’s wrist. My wrist burns in the exact same spot. I notice nothing is there when my eyes fall to the burning feeling. I just rub my fingers over it and admire the scenery. Lush black and white rose bushes line the black and white pebbled paths. Trees go on for miles. Matte black, classics cars and two SUV’s are parked out front of the massive mansion type home. The vibrating sound of my phone pulls me back inside just as a whip of deathly cold air laces my body, sending shards of ice to roll down my spine.
Girl, where are you?
Oh, nowhere special just Colton King’s bedroom.
Oh hell no. REALLY!!!!!!
I laugh to myself. She used shouty caps. I like that. She will be freaking out with excitement. She has a massive crush on Micah and said if I get an in with Colton, she wants an invite over for a meet and greet with Micah.
Oh, hell yes sister, I am. I’m unsure of how, when and all that jazz but I am and he’s nowhere to be seen. But this room! OMG.
I type back to her as I walk around the room and look in his drawers for anything that will explain the crazy beautiful man that is Colton King, coming up with nothing but a locked drawer inside a drawer. He owns no color at all. It’s all black jeans, black tees, black hoodies, sweatpants and shorts. The only color is his socks. He has red socks and red singlets that match the red boxers. I’m sensing a theme.
You lucky bitch.
Tenley messages back to me as I pick up things, random things, and place them back down. Running my fingers through my wet hair I type back to my new bestie, well my only bestie.
I know, right? Catch you up later, babe.
Be safe, Lucy, you don’t understand how fucked up they can be.
Her concern for me is beautiful but I’m sure I will be okay.
Thanks, babes, I will be safe.
Sliding my phone into my jeans pocket, I decide that I need to find the man that is all mystery and sexiness.
Walking from the room, the carpet changes to a soft grey. As I walk softly, noticing that I have no shoes on, I curl my toes under the carpet and just relish in the way it feels. I can hear the music and voices still gaining volume the closer I get. Taking the stairs, I make my way down. My heart is beating hard inside my chest taking my breath away with each beat. I suppress the urge to tic. I need to find Colton and get home.
Pausing in the middle of the stairwell, I can see them all in a great big meeting type room. A fire is taking up the whole side of the wall throwing out an insane amount of heat. My eyes fall to them all and it’s then that I see her, her arms around Colton as he sits on the black leather couch that wraps around the room. He’s in the middle, she’s flanking his right, and the boys that he is always with flank out around him as the two men and one woman sit on big oversized red leather chairs in front of them. I’m unsure what this is but the feeling I’m getting from them all is intense and indescribable.
The dominance that surrounds them is evident as my eyes widen. As a nose puffing tic leaves me, queen bitch leans her head on Colton’s shoulder and her hand moves to his thigh. Oh, what the hell? I feel anger rise and its scary crazy fast. My grip on the stair well tightens as a voice startles me.
“Hey, Tic girl, follow me.” Turning with my hand over my heart I see a stunning yet very female version of Colton.
“W-hhh-at-um-shit-titts-dick-ball,” I tic out as her hand flies over my mouth and her other hand grabs mine. She pulls me back up toward where I came from but this time to the right of the stair well, through twist and turns that take us past doors upon doors, to a lift. The doors ping open and she pulls me in, letting go of my hand and mouth.
“Fudge-a-dick-sideways-on-a-Sunday-chicken-pie-meow-cluck-cluck-snor- snort,” I tic out. As I begin to rock and panic, the tics become violent fast.
“SHIT,” I hear her yelp out as her hand comes out for mine. “Calm down, aye.” Her eyes lock with mine as the body tics take over.
“You don’t ever grab an Asperger’s ticer and not think it will react like this,” I scream out as I begin to lose control.
“Fuck me. Now I see what Colton’s on about wanting to save you. You have inspired him to be better than the se7en,” she says looking away. As the doors open, her foot goes out to stop it from closing. “Just let me know when you can like move, Tic girl, and we will move.” She winks at me as my eyes scan the area before me. It’s a massive kitchen all shiny and white, with sliver appliances and marble counter tops. It’s buzzing with people, so many people.
“Water. I need water and air,” I get out between 20 different tics.
“Got it.” Her hand comes out. I place my shaking hand on in hers as she pulls me up and into her. Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, we walk, as the body tics still assault me, to the fridge. There is an actual line of fridges. I’m in shock. Taking two waters and two green apples, my fave, from the fridge, she then pulls us from the great, big, white room to the outside area that is under a massive shade cloth and over to the most insane, overly huge outdoor lounges I have ever seen. Pulling me down, she passes me the water and an apple.
“So, you’re the one my brother wants to break the rules for,” she says, taking a huge bite out of her apple. Juice drops fly around us as I just watch her. “You have inspired him to be more than the name and the blood.”
I continue to watch her, holding my body, the water mi
d sip to my lips.
“Drink, breath and feel free to tic. I love it when you do,” she says to me, leaning back on the huge lounge chair. Her body is slim and stunning. She’s wearing red, skinny jeans, unlaced black boots and a black, skintight tee. Her near white hair shines like a halo and her stunning ice blue eyes sear into me as I just watch her.
“Twins. We are twins, Colton and I.” I nod her way as I sip the water, finally my hand to mouth movements work. “He says you sing too. Without a tic; a sight I’d love to see. He has plans for you and him, you know?” She winks at me as I choke on my water.
“Well-shit-balls-love-bag-pretty-girl-plans-nope-plans-don’t-fall-meow-cluck-meow,” I tic out, all with body tics to match. My cheeks heat with embarrassment and I look at her laying back in the sun like a beautiful non-awkward teenager. “I haven’t asked him to change for me. Like, I have no clue what is actually going on here,” I say to her, placing my water bottle next to me then scooting up the lounger further.
I bite into my apple as she looks past the huge infinity pool that is set off over the cliff that seem to drop off the side of this impressive grounds. It houses a water slide, rock pools, waterfall, two spa pools and a lap pool. Small tent-like tee-pee cabanas dot around the area with a BBQ, bar fire pit to set it off in pure lush elegance. I can see pool houses on the other side also. People groom the roses as we speak.
“I am just a girl trying to fit in and not tic,” I say to her as I eat my apple and watch the hive of activity.
“I know, and that’s what he wants to help you do. He’s breaking the rules for you and they will come with consequences because now, you see, the other six outta the se7en think they can take a new blood line, love.” She winks at me before breaking out laughing at the confusion that is plastered all over my face. “He really hasn’t told you anything. Has he?”
The Puzzle Within Page 3
