Eden High: (A Serial Novel Book 3) Read online

  Eden High Book 3

  By

  Jordan Silver

  Copyright©2014 Alison Jordan

  All Rights Reserved

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 1

  SIAN

  “Are you okay? What was that about?” Belle and Tammy found me walking down the hall, looking a tad bit lost after my little run in with Jace.

  “Ohhhh, I see.” She tugged on the end of the shirt that I was now wearing or more like shrouded in.

  “Is he always like this?” I think I was in shock. After the way we’d ended things last night I was looking forward to seeing his face this morning. The excitement was almost more than I could bear.

  He’d been sweet, attentive and funny. Things had gone much better than I could’ve imagined with his parents, and the necking on the couch still gave me that warm feeling in my tummy.

  The only blemish on the night had been the strange car that seemed to be following us when he drove me home, but which I didn’t mention because in the end I decided it was my overactive imagination at work.

  So, our first date had been a success as far as I could tell and I was full of hope for the future.

  Now I’m a spectacle walking down the hall while everyone looks at me like I’d forgotten how to dress myself.

  “Where did he go?”

  “He slammed out the doors, probably headed to the field or something. The guys hang out there sometimes in the mornings before class.”

  We had thirty minutes ‘til class started so I decided to hunt him down and find out what was up with the crazy.

  “You guys don’t have to come with me.” I wasn’t sure what I was going to find once I got there and was trying to avoid any more embarrassment.

  “Oh I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” Belle grabbed my arm and dragged me out the door.

  The guys were standing together, probably discussing pigskin. I saw Shane elbow Jace and nod in my direction.

  Jace turned and looked at me, and even though we were still relatively new; who am I kidding? We are very new, but even so, I could read him.

  I could that see the anger was still there, if a little less heated than twenty minutes ago. I was already coming to know him, weird.

  I stopped walking because seriously, what the hell was going on here? He didn’t even look like the same guy from last night.

  He was dressed pretty much the same as the day before. Today’s Henley was white, and the jeans looked like they cost more than some people paid for half a year’s mortgage.

  But his face and his eyes looked like a completely different person to the boy who’d made out with me on his couch.

  Maybe that was the problem, last night he’d still been the boy from school; this morning he seemed more man than boy. And one pissed off man at that.

  He walked over the rest of the way to meet me and my girls stepped aside. I was nervous as hell and my tummy rolled.

  By now I noticed that others were standing around as well and my nerves were shot. I didn’t know if he was going to walk right by me in his anger or say something off.

  Please don’t crush me so soon after giving me the best night of my life. It was a silent plea that I was hoping someone would hear.

  He stopped in front of me and studied my eyes long enough to make me sweat. I could feel all those eyes on me and was two minutes away from crying.

  I knew ‘she’ was watching this and gloating and that really burned me up. What was he going to do? His face didn’t give anything away. I wish my feet would move, but they seemed stuck.

  All this because I’d worn low riders and a cropped top, but I’d worn them for him, shouldn’t that count?

  He pulled me into him and kissed the hell out of me, just like that. No build up no pre warning. I sighed into his mouth with relief. He pulled away long enough to growl in my ear and make me weak in the knees.

  “You look hot in my jersey baby.” He covered my lips again and pulled me in tighter, like he was trying to draw me into his skin.

  Now I’m all confused. He did his hair sniffing, cheek kissing routine and I all but melted into a puddle at his feet.

  Over his shoulder I saw Mandy and her twits watching, while Belle was giving Jared the bitch brow and Tammy and Shane were conversing about something or another.

  I hadn’t seen this routine before, but the way his boys and most of the pretty girls from school were lounging around out here, I kinda got the feeling that this was a regular occurrence.

  “I look a mess.” He had his arms wrapped loosely around me now, hanging off my ass as he looked down at me.

  His big ass jersey fell almost to my knees and had no definition whatsoever. It had one good thing going for it though; it smelt like him.

  “I missed you last night, and this morning when I woke up. If I didn’t know that your dad would kill my ass I’d kidnap your sweet ass and take you home with me. You sleep okay?”

  “Yeah, but I missed you too.” My face was probably rivaling my car for color by now. I’m pretty sure those eyes were still focused on us. It was too surreal; I had a boyfriend and we were making out before class, how the hell did this happen?

  “Is this something you guys do all the time, meeting up out here like this?” I let my eyes scan the crowd taking in everything, especially Mandy.

  “Pretty much yeah.” Which meant he’d done this with her. Suddenly the morning lost a lot of its glow. He must be a damn good mind reader because he lifted my chin and studied my eyes.

  “Babe, don’t start that shit, that’s how you ended up wearing what amounts to a burlap sack this morning. Stop comparing yourself to her or anyone else that I might’ve dated in the past.

  You don’t have any competition, stop second-guessing. If you want something to gnaw on, gnaw on the fact that with you I’ve done a lot of firsts, all of them good.

  Taking you home last night, that was about more than meeting my parents; that was about sealing up something. I don’t understand all of what I feel for you right now because it’s still too new.

  But I do know that I’ve never felt this with anyone before and never even came close to sharing half the shit I’m already imagining sharing with you.”

  He stroked my hair and kissed the corner of my lips as I tried to make sense of his words.

  I felt that pull with him too, that deep rooted feeling like I’ve known him forever. For the first time I understood the teenage angst of my friends who had been dating long before me.

  There is a sense of forever, but you worry that forever might not last. Then you wonder how you could possibly move on from someone as beautiful as this. At least that was my worry.

  What if we didn’t work? What if he decides one day that I’m not enough? It’s only been a few days, but a few days with Jace feels like half a lifetime.

  It’s the way he talks I think, like he’s so sure of himself, he’s so together, he knows what he wants, and he wants me.

  I could easily believe that this, what we have, what we’re beginning to have, is like what my parents found with each other all those years ago. I can almost feel it deep inside.

  But can I trust that feeling? Or was it just a case of he’s the first guy I’ve ever dated? I didn’t like that thought.

  As silly as it may seem, I couldn’t imagine not being with him. He was just so perfect and I was so scared, afraid to mess this up before we even had a chance.

  “Let’s get
you to class, they’re about to ring the bell.” He pulled me under his arm and everyone else just seemed to fall in line as we made our way back to the building.

  “I can see your mind working Sian, I can’t tell you what to think or feel, but I can tell you that this is not a game. Not for me anyway and I won’t let it be one for you either.

  I wouldn’t have come after you if I weren’t in it for the long haul. If I told you that you came into my world just when I needed you, or that I know without a doubt that this is it, you wouldn’t believe me. But I know it to be true and that’s enough for me.”

  How did he expect me to get through the rest of the day with those words in my head? He was giving me twitchy parts again; I have a sneaky suspicion that my virginity is on its last legs.

  If I wasn’t as attracted to him as I am the poor thing might’ve stood a better chance, but it looks like I was about to lose that shit first time out the gate. How clichéd.

  He walked me to my class and kissed me goodbye before heading down the hall. Belle seemed preoccupied so I didn’t bother her, and Tammy as usual, was in her own little world. Probably working out mathematical equations.

  The whispers started right away. It was strange, but I’d almost forgotten that I was wearing his jersey. The looks soon reminded me though, and all the speculation running rampant within earshot.

  “She looks like an idiot Mandy, don’t let it bother you.” Liz the lackey made a point of speaking loud enough for the whole world to hear her spiffy commentary.

  I had no interest in engaging any of them, which is exactly what they were after anyway.

  But the comments just kept coming fast and furious with a few colorful insults thrown in, as to my lack of any real physical beauty, and apparently my family’s social and financial standing were up for discussion as well.

  Surprisingly it was Tammy who countered the attack and very effectively I might add. With her face set like a thundercloud, she leaned over from her desk next to mine and in a loud and very un-Tammy-like giggle whisper said, ‘so how was your dinner with Jace’s parents?’

  Oh shit, it was like someone had pulled a switch. I was almost afraid to look behind me, and Mandy’s growl was nothing less than zoo worthy. “Get the fuck out of my way you idiot.”

  There was the sound of a slap followed by a screech and some poor girl, who had the misfortune to want to be part of the in crowd ran out of the classroom.

  Tammy and I looked at each other in silent horror. I guess we’d hit the mark, but I felt a little hint of a foreboding from Mandy’s reaction.

  If I found just the thought of losing Jace heart wrenching, I can’t imagine what the reality must be like.

  To have had him and lost! I still hadn’t asked him what exactly had gone wrong between the two of them.

  Now I wasn’t so sure that I should, he seemed to be a bit testy about such things.

  But I was pretty sure that as much as he claimed to be over her, she was nowhere near there.

  BELLE

  There is going to be a lot of trouble I can tell. This place always has a feel about it when something’s about to go down.

  This morning when we were out on the field watching the Jace and Sian show, I’d seen it clear as day. I knew then that I needed to tell someone my suspicions, but who?

  I didn’t want to tell Sian, she was so happy, and I didn’t want to blemish that in anyway. I could tell Jace but first I’d have to figure out how to approach him.

  I wasn’t exactly afraid of him, but I knew the power he and his family wielded here and I wasn’t about to risk getting my dad in trouble.

  That’s the reason I’ve always stayed away from Jace. Everyone else was fair game and had felt the waspy edge of my tongue at one time or another.

  But Jace had the power to destroy my family so I knew better than to mess with that. Plus he’s never done anything to me anyway, not that he eve knew I existed.

  The guys had never really been a problem, well not the football team anyway, though there were other lackeys that Mandy had used over the years to do her dirty work.

  But still, we had never really had any dealings with the jocks. Why would we? Tammy and I weren’t exactly their type.

  I’d ended up picking the runt of the litter, the water guy who was in my estimation, the lowest guy on the totem pole, and decided to relay my message through him. I knew that Jace and his guys would take care of it.

  I had barely got the first word, which would be ‘hello’ out of my mouth, before someone grabbed my elbow and started dragging me away.

  Jared Claiborne. Looks like the football team shared a special breakfast of nails this morning, because the look on his face said he could chew some; pretty much the same as Jace’s had been just a little while ago.

  I tried shrugging out of his hand but he held on tight and pulled me off to the side and away from everyone. My heart of course went into orbit, but I couldn’t let him know that.

  “Are you insane new guy?” I’m amazed that I could get the words out of my mouth past the heart that had lodged in my throat.

  “What were you two talking about?” He blocked me in on the side of the stands.

  His eyes looked into mine like he could see every secret I ever had, along with a lot that I didn’t want him to see. I had to get myself together and quick before I made an ass of myself.

  “Uh, nothing, and if we were…” I decided to go on the defensive.

  “Don’t be stupid Red, now; I’ve been watching you for the last five minutes or so and there’s something on your mind, what is it?”

  He can read my face, what the hell? We only met like two and a half days ago. What does it mean that he knows me that well already? I stared up at him trying to reconcile the reality of Jared Claiborne with the picture I’d had in my head.

  If I were honest, I would have to admit to doing some looking of my own and suffering. I just knew it wouldn’t be long before he ended up with one of the perfect blondes.

  Then my days of being carted around and cornered while he crowded me close will be at an end.

  “Cat got your tongue Red?” He stroked my face. What the hell? I should be kneeing him in the balls right about now, why wasn’t I?

  And why did I feel so tongue tied and weak kneed. Any minute now I’m afraid I’m gonna start primping my hair and checking my lip-gloss.

  “Nothing’s wrong…” What if I was wrong? Then again what if I’m not. I know the skank brigade, and something told me they weren’t going away that easy.

  It probably made more sense to tell him than the other guy, but I just can’t bring myself to talk to him like that. I don’t trust it.

  Looking at Jared Claiborne makes me want things, wish for things that I know I shouldn’t want and can’t have. Guys like him do not ever go for girls that are less than a ten.

  I’ve seen it all my life. The only thing is, this was the first time since I’ve been old enough to know, that it has been a real problem for me.

  I can usually deal with shallow boys preferring shallower girls to me. I’ve learned to shield myself from that shit. But this one snuck up on me and got in under my guard.

  “I’m waiting Red, what’s the matter, somebody bothering you?”

  He seemed like he really cared about the answer and I hated the little kernel of hope that started to unfurl in the pit of my stomach.

  I’d shared my suspicions with him, in between stealing glances at his eyes and his mouth and his chin; sigh. He really is dreamy.

  Now it looked like things were going to get out of hand. I knew that even with Jace’s warning it wouldn’t be long before Mandy tried something, that’s just the way she is.

  And now poor Tammy had stuck her oar in it, she knew they would come after her for that little stunt she just pulled, even though I was proud of her.

  Chapter 2

  JACE

  She’d come close to feeling my anger this morning. I’d seen the look of confusion on her face
when I walked away.

  There were a whole lot of pockets to me I know, and it wasn’t fair that she wasn’t going to get the time she might need to figure them all out.

  My make up doesn’t allow for my girl to get away with certain things so she was going to have to catch on real quick to avoid tripping the wrong wire.

  I’d walked away from Mandy without an explanation. That’s my ammo, you fuck with me I cut you off without a backward glance, don’t have time for bullshit apologies.

  Sian was never going to have that; if she fucks with me she’ll either get her ass spanked or her neck broken. Funny that the one I cared for the most had the worst fate.

  Seeing her dressed the way she was had tripped one of those wires. I’ve been watching her for the past two days so I’ve seen other guys looking too. That’s a big fucking no-no.

  There were some here who wouldn’t think twice about challenging me, and then there were those who would see no danger in just looking.

  I’ll have to deal with both camps at some point, but I have to make sure she’s not inviting that shit in the first place, whether intentionally or not.

  That way when I have to fuck someone up, she won’t suffer any backlash from my fucked up temper.

  “Hey Jace you better keep an eye on that Mandy situation.”

  “What Mandy situation Jared?” We were in lab together, which was only one of the classes we shared. I’d seen him talking to Belle while we were out on the field and meant to rag him about it later but I’d forgotten.

  There was something going on there, but I was too caught up in my own shit to pay much attention right now.

  Belle was cool; even though we’ve never really had too much dealings with each other, I knew that she and her family were good people.

  Because most of the people in this town had worked for my dad or my grandfather before him at one time or another, I knew more than most about the behind the scenes and ins and outs of most of the residents.

  That was only one of the reasons why they didn’t fuck with me. That and the fact that I’ve whipped plenty a preppy boy ass in my days at Eden High.