Chapter 9 ~ #2
I still can’t believe this amazing group of guys I’ve stumbled across are my brother’s best friends. I always wondered what they were like. Dec had his reasons for us not meeting. I’m not sure what his intentions were—I’ll have to ask J.
I turn my attention back to brainstorming my art project. I’m still not sure what I want my painting to be. It needs to have some meaning behind it—I have to write an essay on it. Stuck in thought, I start planning. Which I mainly just end up doodling on the page.
Eventually, Luc comes out, a stormy look on his face when he slams his books down on the table.
I bite my lip and don't say anything when Alec flinches at the bang the noise makes. Dominic squeezes his shoulder and murmurs something in his ear. Alec nods and reaches a hand up to rest on Dom's still on his shoulder.
Guilt faintly flickers past Luc's face. He quietly apologises to Alec who accepts immediately.
I can see a storm warning in Luc's eyes. I want to offer him comfort or something but I don't know how to help.
It's about one in the afternoon when we take a break. Well, we'd been on a break for twenty minutes talking about how shitty our teachers are but we press pause on that to have lunch.
The guys argue over what to make before settling on grilled chicken burgers.
I'm flipping the chicken when Jace puts his hands on my shoulders. He lowers his mouth to my ear.
"Do you mind getting Alec? He'll be less grumpy if it's not us interrupting him."
"We can take some food in for him?" I suggest.
Jace shakes his head. "He'll work until he drops. He needs a break," Jace tells me and I nod.
I hand him the tongs and he boops my nose. I roll my eyes at his childishness, not being able to contain the smile that creeps on.
I feel his eyes on my legs when I turn and walk away. For once, the feeling isn't unsettling. I don't often wear shorts but it feels nice to not have people comment on my scars when I do. I've had a few dark looks from the guys but none of them ask me what they're from. They already know.
I knock softly on Alec's door. I don't hear anything so I knock again. When I don't hear anything for a second time, I slowly pull the door open.
A soft smile grows on my face when I see Alec, his head in his arms, asleep at his desk. His glasses are dangling from his fingers. I gently pry them away, putting them on the incredibly clean and organised desk.
His features look relaxed and comfortable as he sleeps. He's been running his hands through his hair based on its dishevelled state.
"Alec," I murmur, touching his arm. He stirs quite quickly.
"Hey." Alec says confused as he sits up. His voice is smooth like velvet but it's slightly deeper when he's just woken up. It does things to me I don't plan on admitting to him.
"You fell asleep," I tell him. "Lunch is ready."
"Thanks." He rubs his eyes before putting his glasses on. He blinks as his eyes readjust.
Sensing this as a good as a moment can get, I sit down on the edge of his bed.
He turns his chair to face me when he sees me struggling with what to say.
"I just…I wanted to thank you. I’m guessing you don't have a great relationship with your father but you went to him to help me. I know I didn't show it before but I am truly grateful for everything you've done for me."
Alec's eyes grow softer with each word. Rising from his chair, Alec sits beside me on his bed. He gently knocks his knee against mine.
"I'm glad you're here with us, Rory." He smiles, making butterflies explode like fireworks in my stomach.
"Me too," I say simply.
He looks at nervous for a moment before he says, "I wanted to–"
"Lunch is ready, guys," Mason interrupts, leaning against the doorway.
"We'll be right there," I tell Mase.
"What were you saying?" I turn back to Alec once Mason's gone.
Alec’s already shaking his head. "It doesn't matter," he says before standing. He pulls me to my feet.
As we walk, I realise that although Alec is a little shorter than the other guys, he's still way taller than me.
We sit at the two empty seats at the far end of the table.
Maverick hands me a plate and I murmur my thanks.
We eat in a very uncomfortable silence. I'm not sure what the deal is but nobody's talking. Did something happen while I was gone?
Luc stabs his food aggressively and I spend five minutes working up the courage to say something.
"Luci, are you okay?" I ask tentatively.
"I'm fine!" Luc snaps and my eyes quickly go back to my plate.
There's a bang as someone is kicked under the table. The noise scares me after already being on edge and I jump. Mase rests his hand on my knee.
I stare at my food, my stomach churning.
That's the first time one of them has snapped at me. I shouldn't have expected they'd be perfect all the time but I didn't think it would come from Luc.
There's a small part of myself that thinks I should have said something. Fought back.
"I don't need you to fight my battles for me," J snapped, storming away.
"Hey! J, wait." I ran after him. He stopped, kicking the ground. I saw him trying to control his anger as he took deep breaths, not meeting my eyes.
"I wasn't trying to fight your battles for you. It's my battle too," I said to him quietly.
"He's my friend and I kissed you. I have to tell him," Jace told me before walking away.
I let him go. I never said what I wished I had. He was my brother…and I didn't get to tell him that I’d fallen—
A foot gently taps mine. Alec's soft, saddened eyes flick from mine, to my plate then back up.
I start eating again. It's really good. Apparently Jace has picked up a few things from his Mum.
Jace's mum, Helen, is a genius in the kitchen.
I'm not sure why she didn't go into the food profession.
She's a teacher—a good one at that. I had her for third grade and she was always bringing in homemade sweets and lunch for the kids who didn't have their own.
I think they purposely didn't bring lunch so they could have her food.
"Have you heard anything?" Dominic breaks the silence when we’re finished and sitting there.
Luc says nothing. Alec waits to see if he's going to answer before responding himself.
"He's out on bail," Alec tells Dominic.
Luc pushes his chair back, grabs his empty plate and goes into the kitchen. The dishwasher bangs, making me jump before he storms past and towards his room.
I’m on edge. There’s an itchy, skittering feeling travelling just below my skin.
"What happens now?" Mase asks Alec.
Not wanting to hear things I shouldn't and needing to be alone, I rise from my chair. I head for the kitchen, taking my plate with me.
"Ro.” Jace grabs my hand when I pass him. "You don't have to go."
"It's fine," I tell him, forcing a smile before pulling my hand away.
They're silent as I put my plate in the dishwasher and walk out the front door to the verandah.
"We have to tell her." Alec sighs.
"I agree. She deserves to know," Mason says.
"Do you think she can handle it?" Dominic asks. It's quiet again.
"She's handled our demons so far, hasn't she?" Maverick reminds them
“Ro’s never been one to judge someone for the things they can’t control,” Jace says quietly.
I go to the far end of the verandah where I can't hear them. I sit in Hannah's favourite chair—her wooden rocking chair.
I stare out into the bush, thinking on the last few days.
Out of everything, the biggest shock is Jace. I can't believe he's here. I didn't think I'd see him again.
I thought about maybe going back to our hometown to see if he was still there after I'd left but it would have been a big risk. One I couldn't take.
I'm hoping that once I'm eighteen, my father won't come looking for me. That he'll see I'm not his problem anymore.
Actually, my biggest wonder of this whole thing is how the hell I let Mason and Maverick sleep in my bed. I think I surprised myself with that one.
They've been nothing but nice to be but I haven't known them long. I trust them. Maybe that's why. Jace trust him, and I trust him. Maybe I'm getting so comfortable with them because I trust them.
I'm going to get hurt. There's no doubt about that. Regardless of Rylan's joking yesterday, I wouldn't attempt a relationship with any of them. I wouldn't risk their friendship or my new friendship with them.
What the hell am I doing? What makes me think they'd even want more than friendship with me?
What Jace said yesterday is sticking to me.
‘What's the deal with you and the guys?’ He asked me.
What made him think there was a deal? That there could be a deal?
I'm torturing myself with this when there's no need.
Let. It. Go.
Just let it go.