The Academy - Friends vs. Family (26 page)

T
ime
O
FF For
G
ood
B
ehavior

The guys collected their bags and my book bag to walk over to
Kota’s house. The new clothes were to remain on Nathan’s table for now. Gabriel
only took out pajamas for me that evening and a set of shorts and a t-shirt for
the next morning. I wasn’t sure how Gabriel took over the reins of what I wore
but it seemed so important to him and I didn’t have the heart to question it.
Part of me was grateful. I was always unsure what was the right thing to wear
and Gabriel’s decisions lightened my burdened mind. I already felt guilty that
Victor bought the clothes. Letting Gabriel make decisions about them eased
that. They weren’t my clothes. They were ours. Sort of.

The skirt did feel amazing. The lace tickled my thighs when I
walked.

Gabriel wanted to walk over in front of Danielle’s house to parade
me like a model in case she was watching. Kota and the others didn’t want to
egg her on.

I was beside Nathan as we trailed behind the others toward Kota’s
house. I stopped in the street, and glimpsed at my parents’ house down the
road. Nathan paused, following my gaze to the two story gray house.

“I already checked on your mom,” he said, reading my thoughts. He
wrapped his hand around mine, and tugged me toward Kota’s. “There was an empty
soup cup by her bed. She was asleep. I made sure to leave some crackers for
her. Marie wasn’t there.”

My eyebrows popped up. “You did all that?”

He nodded. “Luke checked on her while we were at the mall, too.
She’s fine.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t sleep over,” I said softly, unsure if I wanted
the others to hear. “My dad isn’t there. Should she be alone?” It felt wrong to
abandon her. A couple of hours out, that was different. Usually my father came
home in the evening and was there on the weekends to watch out for her. Now he
wouldn’t be. Despite her mood swings, she was still sick, dying. What if she
needed something in the middle of the night and no one was there?

Nathan’s blue eyes darkened and he squeezed my hand. “I’ll check
on her again tonight. I promise. Okay? Try not to worry about it tonight.”

“If you’re sure,” I relented. She wasn’t his responsibility. Was
it selfish to let him so I could enjoy the night out?

His serious face lightened. “You’re too sweet for your own damn
good.”

My cheeks warmed again as he tugged my hand, holding it.

We were almost to Kota’s drive when North paused, turned around
and faced the opposite side of the road. He cupped his hands around his eyes,
as if trying to ward off the sun’s glare.

I turned, as did Nathan. Everyone stopped.

Micah and Tom were headed down the road together behind us. Tom
was waving. Micah looked annoyed. Behind them trailed Jessica. I wondered if
they were actually friends, but I realized that on this small street, those
boys might be the only kids her age within walking distance. Or maybe she was
friends with Tom. He seemed nice.

Their group caught up with us. “What are you guys doing?” Tom
asked, and he eyeballed me. “Is there a school dance or something?”

Gabriel smirked. “Not tonight.”

Jessica shared a look with me, and a small smile. I took it to
mean she liked the clothes. It made me feel a little more comfortable in them.
“You’re staying the night?” she asked.

“Yes, I think so. Aren’t you?”

She shook her head. “I’m waiting on a ride to my other friend’s
house. I’d stay but I promised her two weeks ago I’d go to her sleepover.”

She didn’t think anything was wrong with me sleeping with the guys
at her house. That made me feel better, too.

Micah blew a raspberry. “That’s it? You’re sleeping at Kota’s? She
made it sound like you were doing something kinky.”

Kota lifted an eyebrow. “She who?”

“Danielle,” Micah said. “She was going to pay us twenty dollars to
come take a photograph of Sang and you all being stupid.”

Silent communication flew between faces of the boys. A photo?

“I think she meant to put her on Facebook,” Tom said. “Or maybe
Photoshop her face onto a pig or something. I wasn’t going to take a horrible
one.”

“You guys are the worst spies,” Luke said. “Don’t you know if
you’re going to take secret photos that you’re not supposed to tell?”

“I don’t care,” Micah said. “I was going to take one picture. It’s
all high school drama to me. Personally, I couldn’t care less. Danielle’s
stupid.”

I looked at the guys, but it was Nathan who caught my glance. His
expression mimicked my own concern. This wasn’t just stealing my clothes. This
sounded more like she didn’t like me at all and was trying to get… revenge? I
didn’t understand why.

“Jessica,” Kota said, disappointment dripping from his tone. “I
can’t believe you’d agree to this.”

“I wasn’t there,” Jessica said. “I was leaving the church and when
I walked past on my way home, she stopped talking to them. She wouldn’t talk to
me.”

“Here,” Luke said. He pulled out a wallet from his back pocket,
unfolded four twenties, and passed two to Micah and two to Tom. “I’ll pay you
both double to take a picture of someone’s butt and tag Danielle on Facebook.”

Tom brightened, taking the money. “I bet I can get Derrick to post
it on a day she isn’t able to log in. Maximum exposure.”

“Then it’ll be your butt on her page,” Micah said. “But fine.
We’ll do that.” He turned around, heading back down the road. Tom followed.
Jessica stayed with us.

“Should we be pranking her like this?” Victor asked.

“Probably not,” Kota said, but he turned, heading back toward his
house. “But I let her get away with stealing Sang’s clothes. This will show her
we’re not going to sit by idly any more. If she wants to humiliate Sang in some
way, she’ll have to take on all of us, too.”

The others muttered in agreement.

My heart thumped, and I tried to smother the feeling that I was
very happy about this decision.

Kota led the way to his front door, pulling his keys out of his
pocket and unlocking it. He entered and held it open for us to join him,
collecting in the foyer. Jessica floated past all of us, heading down the
hallway to her room.

“Kota?” his mother called from deep in the house. “Is that you
guys?”

Nathan released my hand. My fingertips tingled as he had held it
so tightly, but I wondered why he let go as soon as Kota’s mother sounded
close. Was it bad we were holding hands?

“It’s us,” Luke called to her. “We’re home.”

I smiled at the thought of him saying it as if we all lived there
together.

Erica came out from a hallway. Her green eyes lit up and she
smiled. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Luke’s neck, who was the
closest, and kissed his cheek. He air kissed hers and stood back. She did the
same with everyone, lastly me.

When she finished hugging me, she stepped back, still holding on
to my hands and looking over the clothes I was wearing.

“Oh my goodness,” she said. “You are adorable.”

“Gabriel,” I tried to explain but it felt awkward to finish the
sentence. He helped me buy the clothes? He dressed me?

Erica shook her head and pressed fingers to her lips quickly. “Oh
yeah, he’s good. This is gorgeous.” She hugged me again and whispered in my
ear. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

I blinked rapidly, trying not to tear up. Did she mean it? Was I
wanted?

She stepped back and we moved into the living room together. Our
bags were dropped against the far wall. Silas and North sunk into the couch.
The others took the floor with Kota and Luke disappearing upstairs. Loud
thudding thundered from Kota’s stairwell. They reemerged with huge bean bag
chairs.

“Alright,” Gabriel said. “It’s about f... time.” He glanced at
Erica but relaxed when she didn’t appear to notice the slight slip.

The beanbags were all the same dark blue color, big enough to sit
two people and they were about as high up off the ground as the couch. It took
a couple of trips to get all four downstairs. The coffee table was tucked
against another wall by the bookshelves to make room.

I wasn’t quite sure where to sit until Silas scooted over on the
couch and patted the seat next to him. I sat down between North and Silas,
feeling eerily tiny next to them.

“Okay, kids,” Erica said over the chatter. Everyone else collapsed
into the bean bag chairs and quieted. “Quick rule check. Since Sang’s here, we
have to change it up slightly.”

“Aw man,” Gabriel said, but he was grinning.

“Everyone sleeps downstairs tonight,” she said, pointing to the
blue carpet. “Not that I don’t trust you boys but I want Sang to be
comfortable. Besides, I don’t know if all eight of you will fit upstairs
together.”

I leaned into Silas. “Do you all do this often?”

Silas nodded. “Either here or at Victor’s house. The rest of us
have small rooms in our houses so it’s kind of tough with all of us.”

“Also,” Erica continued. “If I hear from Sang you guys are picking
on her, I’ll beat you senseless. She’s a girl so treat her like a lady.”

There was a collection of giggles.

“Other than that, the house is yours. I know it is still kind of
early but what do we want for dinner?”

“Sang has to make it,” Nathan said. “She lost.”

“They cheated,” I said but they all laughed. I did, too.

“That’s good,” Erica said and she winked at me. “Since you have to
cook, you get to pick. We’ll worry about it later.” She waved her hand in the
air as if dismissing us. “Other than that, try not to break anything expensive
and...”

“Don’t set the house on fire,” they all chorused.

My eyes widened and I looked at Silas.

“Long story,” he said.

Maybe I was a little jealous that they had spent all these years
together and I was just starting to get to know them all. Would I ever know
these tiny secrets they shared?

Erica said she’d be in her room and to call on her if she was needed.
She disappeared down the hallway. Jessica appeared a second later and barely
waved to us as she headed out the front door. She had an overnight bag attached
to her shoulder, so I guessed she was leaving for her sleepover. I was going to
be alone with the boys.

Kota found the remote to the television and the others were trying
to decide if they wanted to watch something or play a video game.

North stretched and settle back into the couch, his arm going
around my shoulder. It rattled me funny. Did he wait until Kota’s mother was
gone to do it?

North sniffed at the air and leaned toward me. He pushed his nose
to my neck and he inhaled deeply. “What is that?” he asked, sitting back. His
intense dark eyes and the curl of his lips made my insides twist.

“Something Gabriel made.”

“What is it?” Silas asked. He put his nose to my neck and
breathing in. “It’s sweet. Soft.” He straightened again. “It’s a good match.”

My cheeks tingled with heat. “How’s the diner going?” I asked,
deflecting.

“It’s missing a couple of walls now,” North said. “The freezer is
installed. We’re waiting on the delivery of some little things and we need an
inspection. Needs new paint. We should be up and running in a couple of weeks.”

“Can I help?”

He turned his head to me, his dark eyes curious. “Willingly?”

I smirked. “I think I can hold a paintbrush better than a sledge
hammer.”

They both laughed.

“We’ll call you if we need help,” North said. “Besides, you do owe
me a day of work.”

“It doesn’t have to be a favor. Really. I’ll come help. I’m right
up the road. I can come when you want.”

North’s eyes softened. “Just don’t get into trouble.”

“She is Trouble,” Gabriel said. He was on his feet and he walked
over to me, holding out a hand. “Come on. I want to see that skirt work.”

I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but I let him take my
hand and stood up, wobbling slightly on the heels of the boots. Gabriel guided
me until he was at the corner of the room where there was a stereo system. He
found the power button and was flicking through CDs to pick out something to
play. He found a Relient K album and popped it into the player. He hit the play
button and twisted the volume up to ear ringing.

My hands started to shake and my heart was thudding. Did he want
me to dance?

Gabriel wriggled his hips and bobbed his head to the beat. He
snapped at me and slipped forward, his hands positioned at my hips. I panicked,
my hands fluttered on their own to his chest. He half smirked and started
pushing my hips until I moved with the music at the same pace he did. Once we
were dancing together, the anxiety started fading. I just swam in a bikini with
these guys. What was dancing now?