Teagan
Okay, so I'd watched tons of movies set in American high-schools and I'd read dozens of books, but none of those films or books had prepared me for this…alternate universe.
Back home in Ireland where I came from, at the very most four or five hundred students filled the halls of most secondary schools. But here? I'd never seen the likes of it. At least eighteen hundred students roamed the halls of Jefferson High.
Moving halfway across the world had certainly been a huge lesson in cultural differences.
Three hours in and I begrudgingly had to admit that high-school wasn't as bad as I had initially thought it would be.
Aside from that one uncomfortable class I shared with Noah I only received the odd stare here and there in the hallways – most of the students were wrapped up in their own problems.
I prayed it was only one class that Noah and I shared because there was something about the guy that completely unnerved me. He was intense. The way his eyes burned into mine…
"Hey." A tall, bubbly brunette with a wild head of curls stepped in front of me on my way out of History, distracting me from my thoughts, and I had to crane my neck up to see her face.
"I saw you talking with my mom this morning," she told me with a smile. "I meant to say hey then, but I was busy trying to drag Colton out of my closet."
She smiled, revealing a set pearly white straight teeth, and the clearest blue eyes I'd ever seen. "You're Teagan, right?" she asked as she shifted her books to her side.
"Yeah, and you're Hope?" It wasn't really a question. It was pretty obvious from the dark hair, blue eyes and dimples that she was a Carter.
God, they had some good genes…
"The one and only," she chuckled as she fell into step with me. "What's your next class?"
"I've have P.E – gym class." I told her as we strolled out of the classroom. I removed my timetable from my pocket and handed it to her.
"Sweet," she said as she gazed down at the piece of paper. "Looks like we're in a few classes together. So how's your first day going, Teagan?"
"So far it's been pretty uneventful," I told her drolly, blocking out the image of Noah staring at me with those intense brown eyes.
My gaze fell on a group of girls who were staring at us as we walked past. "But ask me again at the end of the day."
"No doubt," Hope chuckled as we descended the staircase to the ground floor. I had to step behind Hope at one point because the staircase was so jammers with other students.
"You made quite the impression on my brothers," Hope added as we made our way through the main hallway towards the exit. "Colton's particularly smitten – he practically talked my ear off on the way to school, rambling on about you."
"I bet seeing my ass helped sway their opinion," I replied dryly, remembering how close to naked I'd been when I met her brothers.
I told Hope about the street fight last weekend and how I'd met her father and brothers. When I mentioned I'd met her uncle Hope had glared silently ahead and I learned very quickly not to bring the uncle up in conversation again.
As we walked Hope chattered animatedly about her summer vacation.
And it was as easy as that.
Hope Carter had clearly decided we were going to be friends and I, being friendless, had gratefully accepted.
While we walked I had the distinct feeling we were being watched. "This is the fish-bowl effect," Hope mused, nudging me softly. "Happens to every newbie. Don't sweat it," she smirked. "By the end of the day one of my brothers will have caused havoc and everyone's focus will be on them."
I didn't doubt her.
I barely knew the Carter triplets, but they seemed like colorful characters.
"Teagan, meet Ash." Hope grinned like a madwoman at the stunningly attractive African-American girl who bumped shoulders with her. "Ash, this is Teagan, she moved into Thirteenth Street during the summer."
"Hey," we both greeted each other.
"So, Teagan, do you have a boyfriend?" Ash asked.
"I had," I told her. "Liam. We were together for three years. He's back home in Ireland – we called it off when we found out I was moving. It didn't make much sense to continue with it when the Atlantic Ocean separated us." Blah, blah, blah, my words felt like something I'd rehearsed off a cereal box – because they weren't my words. They were Liam's…he was the one who'd made the decision. I was the one who'd made a holy show of myself when he informed me of his decision...
"Wow," Ash said softly. She looked genuinely dumbfounded as she led us into the changing rooms. "I thought Hope had it bad."
"What do you mean?" I asked as I unzipped my gear bag and swapped my chucks for my sketchers.
Hope blushed, which I found odd, as she tied the lace on her tennis shoes. "My boyfriend Jordan," she said in a low tone as if it was some hushed up secret. "We've been together since…well, since forever, but he moved away a few years ago." Her eyes lit up as she spoke. The girl was clearly smitten. "But he comes back here for me. He always has. And we've…well we've made it work."
Ash rolled her eyes and tossed a can of deodorant towards Hope. "What she hasn’t told you, Teagan," Ash chuckled in a teasing voice. "Is that Jordan is refusing to work it."
"Work it?" I shook my head and stared at the two girls in front of me. "Help me out here."
Hope's face was beet-root red and Ash was unabashedly snickering.
"I hate you," Hope hissed.
"And I love you," Ash shot back before blowing a kiss. Turning to face me, Ash's brown eyes twinkled with mischief. "It means…"
"It means I'm a virgin," Hope said dryly as she slipped into her shorts and pulled her hair back in a ponytail.
"Not by choice," coughed Ash.
Hope rolled her eyes. "And Slutty Betty here thinks it's freaking hilarious."
"It's not hilarious," Ash shot back. "It's a crying shame. Have you looked at your boyfriend, like ever?"
And it was during that harmless conversation, as I made my way down the steps towards the outdoor football field with Hope and Ash, that I came to the conclusion I could manage this.
High-school was doable and I was even enjoying myself, sort of…that was until I tripped on the second last step and crashed head first into a wall of muscle before bouncing backwards from the impact.
A pair of tattooed arms shot out and grabbed my shoulders, saving me from my second ass-landing of the day, and I could have groaned in despair when I saw who those arms belonged to.
"You just can't stay away, can you?" Noah smirked down at me. "And here I was thinking I'd have to thaw you out before we came to an arrangement…"
"There's not enough sunshine in the sky to do that, buddy," I shot back as I took a step backwards and desperately tried to ignore the way my skin prickled and heated from his touch.
Hope, who had been standing next to me, gestured towards the field. "I'm gonna go warm up, Teagan," she called out before jogging off with Ash.
Don’t leave me with him, I mentally begged them.
I moved around Noah to follow after them, but he stepped in front of me and blocked my path.
I shook my head and went to go around him again, but Noah intercepted my move and blocked my path again.
"Move," I told him as I glared up at his stupid, smug face.
He was a good foot taller than me and I hated that he was using his height as an intimidation tactic. He wasn't even kitted out for gym class, clad in dark jeans, boots and a hoodie, so why the hell did he bother coming down to the pitch?
"I noticed you had your windshield replaced," Noah said as he stepped towards me, forcing me to take a step back from him. I didn't like the way my heart fluttered and my pulse hammered in my fingertips.
That was not good.
Not good at all.
"What's your point, Messina?" I snapped as I stepped backwards. "Hang on…" My gaze locked on Noah's mouth – on what was inside his mouth. "Your tongue is pierced." I hadn't noticed that before now, but then again why would I?
"And?" he drawled, dragging out the word, as he stared down at me.
"And nothing." I shrugged uncomfortably and stepped back. "I didn't realize it before now. That's all."
"Are you sure that's all?" he chuckled, stepping forward.
I wasn’t sure that was all. I wasn’t sure of anything when he crowded me like this…
My brain and my body were on two different picket lines when it came to him.
Noah stepped closer, invading my space and I felt the fencing around the field against my back. "You kinda look like you want to touch it."
Resting one hand on the fence next to my face, Noah lowered his mouth to mine. His breath fanned my face when he spoke. "Do you, Thorn?" he whispered, brown eyes deep, delicious and locked on mine. "Do you want to touch me?"
Yes, yes, bloody hell yes…
"I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot barge pole," I shot back, lying through my teeth, as my heart-rate soared.
Where the hell was the teacher?
Why wasn't someone stopping this big dick from attacking me?
And why did a huge chunk of me not want him to be stopped?
I was a seriously screwed up seventeen year old.
"Just leave me alone, Noah," I breathed, eyes locked on his mouth…on those lips. "You heard the cops – keep your distance."
"I will," he replied, moving even closer to me so that his body was flush with mine. "When you pay me what you owe me."
His eyes danced with humor and the way he lazily traced his finger on my bare arm had my body in flames. I shoved him hard in the chest. He didn't budge. Damn he-man animal…
"Have you thought of how you'd like to pay me back?" His lips were just shy of touching mine.
"I have actually," I breathed. "And it involves you kissing my ass."
Pulling back from my face Noah raised his brows and smirked. "You want me to do what to your ass?" The way he said it, loud enough for our classmates nearby to hear, was disgusting enough, but the sincerity in his voice when he spoke was just evil.
"Bastard." I was fairly certain all the blood in my body had rushed to my face and when Noah stepped closer I swelled with rage…at least it felt like rage.
Holy hell, my body was on fire.
I was pulsing…actually throbbing down there and had to clench my thighs together to get some relief.
This was completely abnormal behavior on my vagina's part considering Liam had wasted numerous nights over the course of our relationship trying to get a response with his nimble fingers but to no success.
Nothing. Nada. Nil.
But apparently all Noah Messina had to do was press against me and my vagina welcomed him like the prodigal prick.
I felt weirdly betrayed by my body.
"Don't be ashamed, Thorn," Noah purred before touching my butt cheek. "I can do all types of things to your ass."
I don’t doubt it…
"Remove your hand from my ass," I warned him as I dropped my hand to his crotch and squeezed, not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to surprise him. "Or I'll remove your chances of fatherhood."
My face flamed and I was the one who was surprised when I felt just how much of him was in my hand…
Noah must have heard the promise in my words, felt it in my touch, because he removed his hand from my ass and backed away slowly.
"You're not afraid of me, are you?" he mused softly as he studied my face.
"Should I be?" I heard myself asking, eyes locked on his.
Noah's brow creased and his tone was oddly serious when he said, "You need to walk away from me, Thorn – before I get addicted."
What the hell?
"Before you get addicted to what, hurting me?" I shot back, truly having no idea what part of my body this bullshit was spewing from.
"Amongst other things," he replied quietly.
"I bet I can hurt you more." I had absolutely no idea why I said that or why I grinned evilly when Noah's face reddened, but my mouth seemed to be suffering from a serious case of verbal diarrhea. "And I've got plenty more paint – just in case the rest of your car needs a makeover."
Noah narrowed his eye in challenge. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Thorn," he told me as he shot me a dark look that said I'm not done with you – not by a long shot.
****
I was used to having P.E with boys, my old school had been co-ed, but one particular boy in my class made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
The way Noah Messina stared at me, smirking maliciously whenever I caught him watching me, was shameless and utterly unsettling.
And why was the teacher allowing him to smoke on the side-lines? If we were caught with a box of cigarettes in my old school it meant immediate suspension.
What the hell was he doing in high-school anyway? He looked like he belonged in a gym – or a prison cell…
Noah caught my eye and rubbed his thumb against his fingers, the universal gesture of money, before raising his brows expectantly at me.
Whatever…
Deciding to leave Noah to his broody staring, I gave him the middle finger before running off and joining Hope on the field.
Coach Johnson surprised me when he decided to play soccer and I, in turn, surprised him – and the majority of my class – when I kicked ass.
I grinned like an idiot when I lobbed the ball over Layton Brooks' head and took a shot at goal. The center-back, Devon Lewis, handled the ball in the penalty box, and coach blew his whistle, rewarding our team a penalty.
"You take it, Teagan," Layton Brooks panted as he patted my shoulder.
"It's in the bag," I shot back cockily. Layton grinned and shook his cute head before running backwards to join our team.
Positioning the ball, I took a few deep breaths before taking my shot. The football hit the crossbar before coming back out the pitch. I lunged forward and volleyed it. Coach blew the final whistle just as the ball hit the back of the net, courtesy of my foot.
Goal.
Oh yeah, I kick ass...
Our team erupted in cheers and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Noah standing on the sideline having what seemed to be a heated argument with someone that looked awfully like Hope's brother, but I shook it off. I was having a moment and he wasn't included in my revelry.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" Layton asked as he jogged over to congratulate me. "That was fucking awesome. You're sure you're a girl, right?"
I placed my hands on my hips and inhaled deeply, emphasizing the fact that I had breasts and not a penis. I'd heard that particular question more times than I cared to remember because of my ability to kick a guy's butt on pretty much any sports field. Sticks and stones… "Last time I checked," I replied sarcastically.
"I didn't mean to offend you." He looked embarrassed. "I've never seen a girl play as well as you. Do all Irish girls play like you?"
"Where I'm from sport is a pretty big deal," I told him as we walked back towards the dressing rooms. "Most of the girls in my area are involved in sports – there's not much else to do. I played basketball and soccer for my school back home. And then football and camogie for my local GAA club."
"GAA?" Layton looked confused as he handed me his water bottle.
"Yeah," I chuckled before taking a sip. "Have you ever played hurling?"
Again a frown. He wore his frown like a boss. Cute…
"I brought a few hurleys – the stick you use to play," I told him. "And sliotars – that's the ball you use – with me from home. I can show you sometime if you want…"
A group of girls passed us then, snickering and whispering. "Tranny," one of them snickered.
I rolled my eyes in disgust. "There's a gaggle of geese in every school, right?"
Layton laughed. "Geese?"
I nodded solemnly. "A hissy tormenting hoard of lookalikes who huddle together in a group hoping to overpower and intimidate anyone weaker than them."
He grinned broadly, exposing a really cute gap in between his front teeth. "So girls are geese?"
I nodded nonchalantly and shrugged. "Some girls are, sure."
"What are you then," he asked in a husky voice, stepping closer to me, and I was pretty sure he was flirting with me. I decided I was happy for him to do this since he looked so damn good in the white t-shirt he had on that emphasized his deliciously chocolaty skin tone. "If you're not one of them?"
"I'm a lone wolf," I shot back with a smile.
"You're all right, Irish," Layton chuckled, his expression sobering quickly when Noah approached.
"Lone wolf, meet the alpha," Layton muttered before jogging on ahead of me. "I'll talk to you later, 'kay?"
I shrugged. "See ya."
"So you like to play with balls," Noah said dryly as he stared down at me with his head tilted sideways.
It was then that it dawned on me…no matter where I lived on this earth one entity would always remain the same, and that was the stupidity of the pubescent male. It was a comfort, really, to know a dick was a dick no matter what school I went to or which town I lived in.
"I'm actually a little disappointed with that one." Shaking my head I stepped around Noah and strode off in the direction of the changing rooms. "I thought you were more original – my mistake."
"Sweetheart, your mistake was getting involved with me in the first place," Noah called out after me.
"I'm not involved with you, sweetheart," I shouted back as I stalked inside the gym.
I barely had the words out of my mouth when I turned the corner and an achingly annoying voice drilled through my ears causing me to look up and mentally groan.
"Ugh," Ellie sneered as she stood in the doorway of the girls changing room, blocking my way. "You're like the proverbial bad penny."
"Yeah, yeah, I keep popping up everywhere." I rolled my eyes and pushed past her and grabbed my bag from the bench.
Swinging around in anger I marched back to Ellie and stood face to face with her, giving her my best bored expression. "If you're going to try and insult me, then at least have the ingenuity to use some original material." My words were dripping with sarcasm.
"Anorexic bitch," Ellie hissed and I held my hand to my chest.
"Ouch. That really hurt." I sighed and wiped a pretend tear from my eye. "How will I ever get over that one?"
"Stay out of my way, Teagan," Ellie said in an oddly serious voice as she stepped closer to me and out of earshot of her friends. "Stay on your side of the fence, stay away from him and we won't have a problem."
With that she turned on her four inch hooker heels and stalked out of the changing room.
I didn't need to ask who he was, and she didn't need to warn me off. I wasn't interested. I wasn't.
****