Eden High: Part Two (Eden High #2) Read online

  She’d be my first virgin; the thought did something strange to my gut and I thought it best to get as far away from her as possible for now, before her dad threw me out if he caught me manhandling his little girl.

  “Go to your room Sian, I’ll say bye before I go.” I touched her cheek one last time before turning her around and giving her a little shove to get her moving.

  “Tell your brother I’m here would you.” She must not be thinking straight because I’d be damned if she didn’t do exactly like I said.

  I didn’t fool myself into thinking that it would always be that way though.

  ***

  Chapter 3

  “Hey you made it.” Jared came into the room and we shared a pound.

  “Yeah but there’s been a change of plans. I ran into your sister so she kinda knows why I’m here. Where’s your dad?”

  “Were you really serious about that?”

  “Didn’t you tell him I wanted to speak to him?”

  “Well not exactly, I only told him that you were interested in Si and left it at that just in case you know, you chickened out.”

  I gave him my signature smirk and shook my head. “Not my style bro, so where is he?”

  “He’s in the study, here I’ll take you. I hope you know what you’re doing.” He shook his head as he led me through the house.

  I looked up above the landing. She was up there somewhere, my girl. Damn, I haven’t been this excited since I made the team.

  Her father was sitting in a recliner reading the paper when we walked in. “Dad this is Jace, the team quarterback. Jace my dad Jackson Claiborne.”

  I reached out my hand to shake his. “Good evening sir.” ‘Always look a man in the eyes when you’re talking to him.’ That’s what my dad always says, so that’s what I did.

  He grinned at me and retook his seat after pointing me to one across from him.

  We talked football for a minute and he asked about the town, my parents. The usual I guess for a friend that his son had invited to his home.

  “Sir is your wife here?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Oh shit.” We both looked at Jared.

  “Uh dad, um remember I told you about the kid that was interested in Sian?”

  “Yes.” Now he was looking back and forth between us.

  “Well this is him, he uh, told me to tell you he was going to come by and have a talk but I didn’t know if he would follow through so I didn’t say anything earlier.”

  Her dad turned and looked at me with a strange look in his eye. Then he seemed to settle some inner musing and shook his head.

  “And the reason you’re asking for my wife?”

  “This concerns both of you.” I could see that had thrown him, but couldn’t tell from his reaction if he was pleased or flabbergasted or both.

  I wasn’t much interested. This was something I felt I had to do for a few reasons. I would be the first guy he allowed his daughter to date; this was a new town, and they were now getting settled so he didn’t have the benefit of having known me, and my family for years.

  Sian, I’m sure, was his little princess no doubt and I’m sure he’d appreciate the direct approach as opposed to sneaking around behind his back.

  By coming to him like this I was showing good faith that my intentions were on the up and up, well for a teenager anyway; and hopefully giving him the peace of mind that his daughter was safe with me.

  I’d given this shit a lot of thought after seeing her and wanting her. If the need was just a high school run I would’ve just cornered her in the halls at school and asked her out. But I wanted more, I don’t know how I knew that, I just did.

  “Son go find your mother and send her in here.” He was talking to his son but his eyes stayed on me as if he was trying to figure me out.

  A more mature replica of my girl came into the room not five minutes later. From the way she looked at me I was guessing Jared hadn’t shared any deets with her, which was fine by me.

  Her husband pulled her down to sit next to him on the arm of his chair and I relaxed a little. I’d seen my dad make that move with mom more times than I can count.

  It spoke of closeness and the kind of love that was just as comfortable as your own skin.

  I knew how hard that shit was to come by. My parents didn’t just talk at me over the years to get me to tow the line. They shared things that most people might have thought too graphic, too much for one so young.

  But my dad, because of his own life experience didn’t want his only son to learn the hard way. Being a kid in Hollywood is hard enough as it is. Without the proper mindset, you’re fucked.

  So I might look at things a little differently from my peers, or I may put more stock in things that a guy my age would normally overlook, whatever the case, it’s served me well so far.

  “Hello.”

  “Honey this young man is Jace Saunders, he’s captain of the football team and the quarterback.”

  “Oh so he’s Jared’s friend.” She smiled but there was still a question in her eyes.

  “Uh, yes, but that’s not why he’s here. We’re both here now Jace as you requested, care to tell us what’s on your mind?”

  Shit, I had this all worked out in my head but now that I was in the clutch shit didn’t seem so simple.

  What if I fucked this up? what if they hate my guts and tell me to get the fuck out and stay away from their daughter?

  I have never in my life faced such a dilemma. Usually it was the other way around believe it or not. You’d be amazed at the lengths some people will go to to get a leg up in Hollywood. Like throwing their daughters at me.

  But I knew from what little I’d wormed out of Jared, that they weren’t the type. They seemed to be on the up and up and really gave a shit. I was happy for my girl that she had that, but it might pose a problem.

  Man the fuck up Saunders. I’ve never backed down from something I wanted before, that’s another thing dad taught me, and I haven’t wanted anything this much in a long time.

  I looked at them both as I gathered my thoughts and tried to put the words in the right order.

  “I saw Sian for the first time yesterday. I was making my way to the field for practice and I saw two girls, cheerleaders, standing apart from the rest.

  I walked over, not sure why. One of the reasons was because I knew she had to be the new girl everyone was talking about since she didn’t look familiar.

  The other was that I could see something was off. It was the try-outs obviously and the other girl looked a little distressed so I was going over quite frankly to make sure that Sian wasn’t giving her a hard time.

  I snuck up on them I guess you can say, and was pleasantly surprised when I heard what they were saying.

  I hadn’t seen her face yet, had only heard the kindness she was showing to someone else. And I knew right then and there that she was someone I wanted to get to know.

  I spoke to Jared and I understand that she’s never been allowed to date before. We all know I could’ve gone about this a whole different way. But I don’t want that for her, I want more for her, for us.”

  I think I shocked them for a minute from the expressions on their faces. “Oh my.” Her mom shook herself as if she’d got a chill and her dad was still studying me as if he didn’t quite know what to make of me.

  “How old did you say you were again son?”

  “I’m seventeen.”

  “Wow, well, I don’t know quite what to say. I mean, damn, what do you think babe?”

  He looked to his wife who was looking at me like I was a new species. I’m sure she’s well versed in teenage boy since she has one of her own, but I’m also aware of how I can come off to people sometimes. I like keeping adults on their toes.

  “Well, I think Jace is a very nice young man and he’s made an excellent case for himself. Kinda reminds me of another great young man hmm.” She bumped his shoulder with her hip and he took her hand.

&nb
sp; “Yeah but remember…” he mumbled something under his breath and I could only surmise that it had something to do with sex, because his wife reddened and ducked her head after admonishing him.

  “Well son, since you’re so smart and all I guess you’ve already figured out that my answer’s no hell no,” I didn’t even flinch just kept my eyes on his, ‘never show your hand too soon’, that’s another one of dad’s life lessons.

  “But, we both know that once that bull is out the gate well…”

  “Jackson stop talking to the poor boy in riddles and come out with it.”

  “Oh I’m pretty sure he knows what I mean. Anyway like I was saying, my no isn’t a personal no, it’s a dad’s duty to keep all sniveling little piss-ants away from his little girl.

  I’d still be saying no when she’s thirty, but I’m pretty sure that we can’t really stop you two at this point if this is what you want.

  I have to say I’m very impressed with the way you came here to us. It shows you have something that quite frankly I’d despaired of ever seeing again, especially in one so young.

  With all that being said there’re a few things that we have to clear up. If Sian isn’t interested it’s obvious that you will leave her alone, though I don’t think that will be the case.

  And, just because I admire your approach doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t break every bone in your body if you make her cry. Understood?”

  “Yes sir, you won’t regret it.” We stood and shook hands while I came down from that precipice I’d been balancing on.

  As confident as I was in myself, there had always been the chance that there could’ve been a problem. Now with that out of the way, I just needed to convince my little slugger.

  Chapter 4

  SIAN

  “Jared.” I dragged my brother into my room when I caught him out in the hallway. “What’s going on, why is Jace in there with mom and dad?”

  “I don’t know sis you’ll have to ask him when he comes out.” He smirked at me and I was about to gut punch my second jock for the night. I was a little worried though and it must’ve shown on my face.

  “Sis, do you like, like Jace even a little bit?” What kind of moron was he? Didn’t he know no teenage girl worth her salt would discuss such a thing with her brother?

  I started to give him my withering glare designed to make all lesser beings whimper, but he caught me off guard with his next words.

  “This is serious sis; I don’t even think you two have even met yet, well before tonight. But are you interested in him?”

  “What if I am?” I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. I still wasn’t willing to give anything away yet.

  I haven’t been thinking straight since that car pulled up in our driveway and now he’s downstairs locked away with both my parents, after sending me to my room of all things.

  I was having an out of body experience, that’s the only explanation for what was going on here. And that kiss; well it was more like a peck really but…

  “I think he’s a nice guy Si, like seriously nice.”

  “Yeah but he has a girlfriend.”

  “I don’t think so, I think they broke up. He doesn’t say much about it which is another great thing about the guy, but I’m pretty sure they’re not together. Plus I don’t think he’d be here practically asking mom and dad for your hand if he wasn’t serious…”

  “He did what?”

  “Oh shit…” He tried scampering away but I was too quick for him and blocked off the doorway.

  “Start talking or your signed Danny Marino pigskin is going the way of Jimmy Hoffa.”

  “Dude, don’t even joke about that shit.”

  I had to roll my eyes at him, because he was acting like I nut punched him.

  “Spill.” I advanced on him and he backed up, dad would skin him if he even looked at me wrong and I had no problem using that to my advantage. I know it’s unfair but meh, you use what you’ve got.

  “Start talking Jared Claiborne, what is going on down there?”

  “Oh man, look here’s the deal. I’m not really sure since I’m not in the room. I think you should wait until mom and dad calls you or something.”

  “But you said he was asking for my hand.”

  “Kinda, sorta, I think he’s asking if he can date you, but I’m not sure.” He tacked on that last piece when I folded my fist and gritted my teeth.

  “How can he be asking them when he hasn’t even asked me?”

  “Actually I think his approach is very affective, I’m thinking of using it myself next time I meet a girl. Dad was looking kind of shell-shocked.”

  “I guess it is kinda sweet and old fashioned…”

  “Sian, come down here please.”

  Oh shit oh shit oh shit. I was suddenly the most nervous that I’d ever been in my life. I didn’t know what to do.

  The thing was I wasn’t certain if I was more nervous about a boy asking my dad to take me out, or the fact that that ‘boy’ was Jace, the hottest guy in the world, and he was interested in me.

  “Coming dad.” I looked at Jared but he was no help the idiot. He was grinning like the fool that he is as I crept out of my room at a crawl.

  This is almost embarrassing. The hottest guy ever was standing in my kitchen with my dad and they had been discussing me.

  What if dad had said no? I sped up a little faster on that thought. If he had I’d just have to change his mind.

  Uh-oh, I didn’t have time to pursue that thought because mom met me in the hallway outside the kitchen and hugged me and kissed my forehead with this look on her face like she was sending me off somewhere.

  “My little girl is growing up.” She sniffled into a tissue and pushed me towards the kitchen. “Go on honey your dad is waiting.”

  What the hell, had that freak really asked for my hand in marriage or some crap?

  “Dad what’s wrong with mom?” It was as good a cover as any, to hide my nervousness. I didn’t look at Jace just long enough to see him lounging back against the island with his arms folded and his legs crossed.

  He didn’t look like he’d been asked to leave, or threatened with dad’s gun and I felt a stirring in my heart. A soft warm flush went through me and I felt like smiling.

  I can’t even believe this is really happening. I’m about to have my first boyfriend. I mean why else would he go through all this trouble?

  Oh crap, what if he doesn’t like me? He’s accustomed to more worldly girls and I’m so…well he can get stuffed if I’m not good enough for him the pig. I gave him the stink eye and heard my dad snicker.

  “Sian I’m sure you know Jace, why don’t I leave you two alone to talk and I’ll see you before you go to bed.”

  Huh? That’s it? what the…dad left and Jace walked over and took my hand, leading me to the little breakfast nook in the corner.

  He sat me and bumped me into the corner of the window seat before sitting down next to me.

  He didn’t say anything for the longest time, just looked at me like he was studying me for a test.

  I was starting to squirm under his hot gaze but then he took pity on me and looked beyond me out the window.

  “I’ve never done this quite like this before; approached a girl’s parents to ask them, no tell them, that I was going to be dating their daughter.

  I’ve never been nervous about anything in my life, not really. Not even when I went out for the team. Tonight, sitting in that room I was nervous as hell.

  I guess you’ve pretty much figured out what’s going on here. I’m here to ask your parents if I can take you out, they said yes if it’s okay with you.

  It’s okay with you because I’m not really giving you a choice for it to be otherwise.”

  Now he looked at me and the intensity in his eyes was almost too much. There was so much heat there in that one look and I wasn’t sure that I was up to the promise of what I saw written there.

  He took my hand and held it, turning it ove
r in his, “so small,’ the words were barely above a whisper and then he inhaled deeply and sat back with his eyes closed, head resting against the wall behind us.

  “We‘re going to have a great time together Sian, I promise you that.” He brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. Then he stood up, pulling me up with him.

  “I don’t want to push my luck too far tonight, your dad is being very understanding right now.” He trailed his finger down my cheek to my lips and gave me the briefest of kisses.

  I automatically got up on my toes and tried to hold the kiss longer. He teased his tongue across my lips, gave me a squeeze around my waist and then put me away from him.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep tight beautiful.” With one last peck to my lips he was gone and mom was calling down to me. I stood in that spot for the longest time not willing to move less it was a dream.

  Chapter 5

  ***

  The next morning I was a mess, I thought I was going to wipe out on the way to school. I had nervous butterflies, sweaty palms and twitchy parts all working at the same time.

  I kept imagining what it would be like to be with him, it’s all I could think about last night and this morning.

  It’s a wonder I didn’t give myself away with my mooning at the breakfast table.

  Dad was already looking as though he regretted his decision to let me have a life. One whiff of my hot shorts and he’d lock me away somewhere for sure.

  I might not have been allowed to walk two feet next to a guy other than my brother before in my life, but I do know what sex is. And my mind has been full of sex with me, and one Jace Saunders.

  Oh my word I can’t believe I’m thinking bout sex with Jace Saunders, the hottest guy in school.

  Pay attention before you run over some innocent bystander. I barely stopped myself from running into the back of the car in front of me when he pulled up to the stoplight.

  My mind was all over the place, running from one scenario to the next without any let up. Of course I imagined every horrible thing that could go wrong between us as well.