Sierra
Chapter twenty-eight
The rest of the weekend went by smoothly between work, sleeping in Cyrus’s arms, among other things, and seeing the videos from Sam. The guys kept messaging me as well and I almost broke down and replied to them. But I didn’t.
Words are merely that: words. I need actions and I’ll get my chance to see them since I’m going back to school today.
“You sure about going back? What about homeschool or even a GED?” Cyrus moves a stray piece of hair from my face as we lie in bed facing each other.
“I’m going. I can do this. Plus, you have school, and then I’ll see you after.
Unless you need to go back to your place.
” A piece of me hopes he doesn’t and he wants to stay here with me.
He’s like my very own security blanket. And there’s a little bit of guilt in me because I don’t want to keep him from doing things.
But him leaving would mean I’d be here alone and I don’t want to be.
Mrs. Butler invited us to dinner last night, and I played the message for her that Sam had made and sent earlier that day. She was in tears. We’re like family to her.
Now today I’m going to be leaving them and coming face to face not only with the guys, but everyone else at school, including Wes.
God, give me the strength to deal with anything that comes my way today.
“We need to get up and get ready to head out then. I’m dropping you off, and I’ll be there to pick you up at the end of the day.” He takes my chin between his fingers, pulling me closer as he leans in and kisses me.
“I can ride the bus home,” I remind him.
“Absolutely not. Rico will also be there today, because he’s getting his name added to your file and removing your aunt. So even if I wasn’t picking you up, he would be.”
“Yay me,” I mock.
He pulls me on top of him, locking his lips with mine as he smacks my ass. My pussy quivers and fuck, if it doesn’t turn me on.
“Let’s get in the shower,” he mumbles through the kiss as he sits up. My legs fall to either side of his body so I’m straddling him.
“No, I like it here,” I whine as I grind my core against his hard shaft.
“Mmmm, I do too, but we need to go. Don’t want to be late on your first day back.”
Groaning, I climb off of him, instantly missing the heat of his body. I head to the shower, stripping off his tank top and dropping it to the floor as I go. His groan does not go unnoticed as I sway my hips walking away. I hear the creak of the bed just before the thud of his feet on the floor.
Forty minutes later and an amazing round of sex in the shower, we’re heading to the front door, each of us with a book bag slung over our shoulders.
God, I hope this day goes by uneventfully. But I have a gut feeling it won’t and my instincts haven’t steered me wrong yet.
“I’ll be waiting here at three-thirty,” Cyrus tells me after giving me a kiss goodbye.
“Okay.” Opening the door, I step out onto the sidewalk in front of the school and take a deep breath.
Cyrus doesn’t leave. Instead, he sits there, waiting, giving me an escape plan if I need it. And it’s taking everything in me not to turn and jump back in his jeep.
One step. It’s one step at a time. I can do this. I repeat over and over in my head.
I’ve only made it a couple of steps when three large shadows appear before me. Looking up, I see Braxton, Zander, and Colton standing in front of me. All smiling at me.
Wait! Is that a smile on Colton’s face, too? Maybe he meant what he said.
“Welcome back, Sierra. We missed you.” Zander wraps his arms around me, squeezing so tightly I can barely breathe.
“Get off her, Zan, you’re suffocating her,” Braxton barks, but as soon as Zander lets me go, he’s hugging me as well.
When he lets me go, I stand frozen, waiting to hear what Colton’s going to say. He was friends with Wes but claims he isn’t any longer. I don’t know what to believe.
“I’m glad you’re back, Sierra. I’m not going to hug you, because I have a lot to make up for before I deserve that honor.
But I will. When you’re ready, I’d like to sit down and talk with you one on one.
Until then I’ll be by your side.” He gives an awkward smile as he rocks back and forth on his feet, his hands slide inside his pants pockets.
“Thank you,” I tell all three of them. “Guess it’s time to head inside and face the music.” I take one last glance over my shoulder and see Cyrus still sitting there in his jeep, smiling at me.
Did he see the guys hug me? I know he says I need to pursue my feelings, and that he is fine with it. But did he actually mean it?
Zander takes hold of my hand as Braxton slips his in my other one and we walk to the front doors, with Colton walking beside Braxton. I can see everyone staring at us, some leaning in to whisper to each other.
I know it’s about me. I don’t need to hear what they’re saying to know that.
“Don’t worry about them. They’re just jealous.” Colton, of all people, speaks up and I’m stunned. I wasn’t expecting that.
Zander and Braxton give my hand a comforting squeeze as we head up the steps to the entrance to the school. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wesley leaning against the wall, Savannah standing in front of him, her hands on his chest as he smirks at me.
His intense gaze has the hair on my arm standing on end. My heart races in anticipation of what’s to come today .
“It’s going to be okay. One of us is going to be with you as much as we can,” Zander whispers, and I give him a forced smile.
Colton steps in front, opening the door for us to enter. The outside chatter stops, but it’s replaced by murmurs inside. I know this is going to be how it goes all day. Hopefully, after a few hours, they will grow tired and I’ll just be old news.
True to their word, after every class, one of them is there, even Colton. While Zander and Braxton hold my hand, Colton carries my books for me.
I give him credit, though; anytime someone tries to say something directly to me or touch me, he’s there defending me like a true knight in shining armor. I'm a little amazed by it, and he’s breaking down that barrier I placed up to protect myself from him.
None of the times I’ve been around the guys have I seen them hanging out with Wesley or any of his followers. While I love them for it, I also fear what the repercussions will be for them.
At lunch they try to get me to eat inside, but I can’t. I need a break from everyone at this school and choose to eat at my regular lunch spot under the tree. And keeping their promise, they follow. They even brought their own lunches.
We eat while they keep showing me picture after picture of Sam and them having fun.
The whole time I have to fight back the tears.
Sam is happy and I’m missing it. Hearing her giggles and seeing her smiling face.
Holding her in my arms and smelling the fruity scent of the body wash she loves.
Mr. Stevenson is giving her all the things I wish I could.
“She misses you. Sam talks about you all the time,” Colton speaks up, giving me the verbal hug I needed.
“I miss her too.”
“You’ll be together soon, this is just a temporary road bump,” Zander says.
“Has it been okay when we’re not with you?” Braxton asks this time. I can’t help but love how each of them is taking turns asking me a question, comforting me, none of them trying to outshine the other.
“Nothing I can’t handle or not used to.” I don’t get a chance to elaborate because the bell rings and I need to get to my next class. Which just so happens to be gym with Wesley and Savannah and all their little groupies.
Yay! It’s one of the two classes I have that I know will have me second-guessing my decision to return and not take the homeschool option.
The guys protest, but I make them go to their own classes and let me be a big girl. The moment I step into the dressing room, Savannah begins to snicker.
“Look who came back. The school slut. Heard you had got beat up by your pimp for not making enough money for him.”
I roll my eyes and ignore her. She doesn’t deserve a response.
“What’s the matter, skank? Did he cut your tongue out?” Savannah asks.
It’s hard, but I undress, knowing they’ll see the fading bruises. In hindsight, I should have put the coverup cream on this morning, but I got a little distracted by Cyrus in the shower.
I hear the gasps when I take off my shirt. Knowing what they see is only adding fuel and a hint of truth to what Savannah is insinuating.
As soon as I’ve changed, I rush out to the gym and take a seat on the bleacher as far away from everyone as I can.
Wesley struts out of the boys’ locker room, his eyes locked on me as he gives Jack a playful shove and heads my way, dropping down on the bleacher beside me.
“Sierra, I see you’re back. You know I ran into your aunt, and she told me some interesting things about you. But nothing she told me was as interesting as something else I found out.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I scoot away from him, but he continues his pursuit.
He places his hand on my knee, squeezing it roughly as he leans in and whispers in my ear. “Seems you like to give it up for anything. I’ve got a twenty in my pocket.”
“Screw you and get your hands off of me,” I hiss, glaring at him, showing him he doesn’t scare me.
“That’s right, it’s strictly hands off, isn’t it? Or wait, I can touch you if you give me permission. Isn’t that right?”
What the hell? Why is he acting so strange and what’s with these questions?
“Wesley, don’t get too close. You might catch something. Who knows if she has something contagious with how slutty she is.” Savannah’s eyes are locked firmly on Wesley’s hand on my thigh, like a missile on its target.
“I’m good. Why don’t you run along. Sierra and I are just catching up.” He waves her off, dismissing her in front of everyone.
She huffs, stomping her foot before storming off, and I know this isn’t going to end well for me. But before Wesley can say anything else, Coach Luck blows his whistle, calling class to order.
“We’ll finish this next period… Lilac.” I go stiff, and I can feel the color draining from my face as he smirks at me before running off.
No, he can’t know. I had to have misheard him.