Where We Left Off (Phoenix Falls Series Book 1)

Kit isn’t at school today, so when I enter the cafeteria I check the bench along the left wall for any solo seats. There’s one on the edge, away from the bustle of the kitchen and the till, so I slink into it and set all of my stuff down.

It was kind of humid this morning so a lot of people are in especially sunshiney moods. Most students buy their food at the cafeteria and today’s selection does look pretty good. Slushies and fruit salads and some ridiculously cute cupcakes. I always felt odd being one of the only lunchbox kids, but Kit doesn’t mind and that makes me feel less weird.

I drop my satchel next to my feet and pop my food container onto the table.

“Hey beautiful,” a warm voice murmurs gently from behind me.

I startle and my heart starts pounding excitedly but I keep my body still. He’s doing this at school? I look over to Tate’s usual table on the other side of the room and his friends are laughing and shaking their heads at him.

“Hey,” I say. “You shouldn’t be over here.” I speak quietly, so that no-one else on the bench can hear.

“I had to come and check on my favourite girl,” he replies easily. I can feel his smile radiating beside my cheek and it makes me squirm with butterflies.

But then reality sets in.

“Tate, they’re going to make fun of me,” I say, still holding my unopened lunch box, head down. They already are making fun of me.

I feel him step back and then suddenly my stool is swivelled around to face him. His tie hangs loosely, the way that the popular boys wear it, and from this angle he looks ridiculously tall and intimidating. His expression is self-assured and a little smug.

“They’re not allowed to make fun of you. No one’s going to say anything to you about this because, if they do, they’ll have to deal with me.” He flashes me a cocky boyish smile. “You’re mine.”

I try to ignore the flutters in my tummy because I know that this dynamic isn’t really in my favour.

“They think that I’m your prey.”

He grins even wider. “You are my prey. But you’re also-” He fishes out the chain from under his shirt and holds the cross pendant up to me. “-the answer to all of my prayers.”

I duck my head to hide my smile at that one.

“I want you to come over to mine after school today,” he says. “When I was out this weekend I bought some things for you. Well, for us. But really they’re for you.”

He wants me to go into his house? I think I’m sweating. I clutch at my tie and try to loosen it so that I don’t faint in front of him in the cafeteria. Understanding what I’m doing, Tate hooks two fingers under the knot of my tie and he gently pulls it forward, easing the fabric from around my neck. Then he runs his thumb down the length of the tongue until he reaches the tip in the cavern of my lap.

I’m breathing like I just ran a marathon. Thank God I don’t have Gym later.

“I can’t come,” I say.

He gives me a sad frown.

“Why not?” he asks. He places the hand that was behind his back on the table to my rear, leaning closer.

“I have homework,” I answer.

“You can do the homework at mine. Then, as your treat, I’ll show you your gifts.”

I look up at him from under my lashes and he’s bearing down on me, eyes sparkling expectantly and tan skin aglow with excitement.

I shuffle on my stool and touch my tie in the places where his fingers have just been. “If my mom comes home and notices, she’ll think that you’re my boyfriend or something,” I mutter, ashamed to even insinuate such a thing.

He straightens his spine and his chest doubles in size. I cringe. I know. What a repulsive thought that will be for you, Tate.

But then he says, “Good,” in a hard, sure voice. “It’s about time that you had a real man in your house.”

I squeeze my eyes shut because I have no control of my emotions. I think I’m about to pee my pants.

I can feel as Tate bends forward again so that his face is right in front of mine and I peep one eye open. He’s smiling. “Is that a yes?” he asks.

I scrunch up my nose.

“Don’t give me that look like you don’t want to,” he scolds. He’s joking, but I can tell from his voice that he’s a bit nervous too. My heart swells.

“Fine,” I sigh. I roll my eyes like I’m bored of him, but really I want his fingers running down my tie again.

He inhales deeply, a satisfied grin on his face. Then he whispers, “See you after school, River.”

He pushes off the table and walks casually back to his friends. I can hear them rebuking him for his stint, but I don’t have any intentions to look over at them and let them ruin my mood.

When I turn back to my lunch box I squeeze back a smile.

On top of the small grey lid is a red velvet cupcake, topped off with a little heart.

*

After the final bell I head to my locker to grab my jacket and I shrug it on in a pink love-heart daze. The thought of going into Tate’s house is giving me butterflies. Before final period had even ended I saw him and Madden leaving the school grounds which made me feel like maybe he was excited too. Maybe he’s making sure that he gets home before me so that everything is just right. I watched them out of the classroom window until they disappeared from view completely.

I close my locker door but I gasp once it’s shut. I take in the sly face next to me and try to calm my breathing.

“Hey River,” he says patronisingly, eyes narrowed into slits. His mouth is curved into a smile, but it looks more like a snarl to me.

I swallow and fumble the key out of the locker door.

“Um, hi,” I say quickly. I don’t want to talk to him. It’s Huddy, Tate’s friend with the dirty blond hair. He jabs his hand into my arm, trying to get me to shake it.

“We haven’t been properly introduced,” he continues. “Seems a bit selfish of Tate if you ask me. You wouldn’t happen to know what he’s doing after school today, would you?”

My eyes widen in shock and he sneers knowingly. When I don’t take his hand he grabs mine and squeezes it hard. I feel like my blood is going to be crushed out of my skin.

“Has Tate told you who I am?” he asks, our hands still compacted together.

I tilt my chin up. “Yes,” I say. “You’re Huddy.”

His face splits into a wide grin. “Of course he’d say that,” he laughs. He swipes his tongue out over his bottom lip and he gives me a once over. Then he leans forward and says with relish, “I think you’ll find that my name is Hudson.”

I force my hand out of his and I frown nervously into his smug face.

I get it. His name is Hudson. My name is River. Whatever.

He folds his arms over his chest. “I’m not surprised that he didn’t tell you. I wonder what other things he hasn’t told you.” He cocks his head in a way that makes my heartbeat thump dangerously. Whatever it is that he’s insinuating I don’t like it. He coughs loudly, dismissing his digression for the moment, and he continues, “But what is so special about you anyway?”

I’m wondering the same thing about him. Why would Hudson be one of Tate’s best friends?

“You’re just a goody-two-shoes nerd bitch who doesn’t even own a pair of straightening irons,” he says bitterly and then he yanks his fingers through a knot in my hair. I gasp at the sting in my scalp and then I clamp my mouth shut. “What the hell does he even do with you?”

He takes one pace forward and I step back on instinct. His eyes flare with the rejection and I swear his neck flushes red. He fishes something out of his pocket and flicks it at my chest. It hits off my jacket and lands on the floor, but I don’t take my eyes off him to look at it.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get to know you soon enough,” he says, his voice low and menacing. Then he turns on his heel and swaggers down the corridor.

I look down at the floor and instantly jolt backwards in distress.

The item that he threw at me was a condom.