Embracing Trouble (Trouble Series) (15 page)

The taxi drove away as Janey started to make her way down the driveway. She stopped when she realized I wasn’t following her.

“What’s the matter?” she asked walking back towards me and then following my line of sight.

I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t move. I just felt an anger that rose up my throat and tried to strangle me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hurt him.

“Had a good night?” one of the footballers asked, eyeing up Janey.

“What’s the matter, Ava?” asked Janey quietly, standing next to me, not taking her eyes off the three guys. “Is it the guy?”

I didn’t respond.

She let out a deep breath, and asked, “Which one?”

I still didn’t respond.

Antony looked me over with an angry stare and snapped, “You think you can play me by wrecking my car?”

Janey grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go inside,” she ordered.

I didn’t move.

Antony stared at me and laughed.

“Come over here and let me finish what we started, whore.”

I saw red.

I lunged for him, not even knowing what I was going to do, but I needed to hurt him somehow. I tried to shove him, but he blocked me with his arm. The pain took my breath away.

“What the hell?” said one of the guys in surprise.

Antony grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him. He had a sick smile still on his face. “Really, Ava?”

“Yes, really,” said a deep voice behind me.

I heard the punch before I saw it and then Antony was falling to the ground. The other two guys rushed forward. I was shoved out of the way. Then they were both on the ground groaning near Antony.

I still hadn’t taken a breath and suddenly gasped for air.

I watched Zac lean over and grab Antony around the collar. He yanked him up, like he weighed nothing.

“Don’t ever fucking touch her,” he snarled. “Don’t even breathe on her. You understand me, you fucking piece of shit.”

“Fuck you,” spat Antony as blood ran from his nose.

“No, fuck you,” said Zac, punching him with such force that he fell back and was knocked out.

Janey grabbed my arm, and instructed, “Come on, let’s go inside.”

One of the other guys got back up again and lunged for Zac, but he was too quick and punched him in the jaw. The guy groaned and fell to his knees as Zac grabbed him by his T-shirt.

“You will never speak or look at her again. Tell your fucking friends. I will kill the next one who does,” he said, shoving him down onto the grass.

I felt Janey pulling me away and I looked back at Zac, not wanting to leave him. I was near Noah’s steps before I stopped and looked over my shoulder. He was behind me, and I suddenly whimpered and fell into him.

His arms went around me and I hid my face in his chest, realizing that I was crying. His chest was warm, and I could hear his fast heartbeat. He held me tight, and I closed my eyes as he stroked my back. His hand moved up to my hair and then rested on the back of my neck.

“I just wanted to hurt him,” I mumbled into his chest.

“Just warn me when you’re going to start throwing punches next time,” he murmured, kissing the top of my head.

I smiled a little and realized that the safest place in my world right now was in his arms. I nestled into him, and my hands touched his stomach as his fingers softly caressed my neck.

I wanted to close my eyes and be soothed like that forever. It was the only thing I wanted, and the only thing I needed. It was so powerful that my heart ached.

I moved my head and looked up at him slowly, silently thanking Janey for her waterproof mascara and fake eyelashes. He leaned down and kissed me with lips that were soft and teasing at first, tasting me. He cupped my cheek, pulling me to him and my body instinctively moved closer against him.

My lips parted eagerly as he slid his tongue against mine and then he took the kiss deeper. With our mouths fused, he leaned me against the car behind me, as my hand travelled up his defined abs and over his chest.

I felt on fire as one of his hands caressed down to my waist and then hip, pulling me to him. His mouth devoured mine and I became lost in the delight of its warmth. Nothing would ever be the same after his kisses. He only made me want him more. I felt short of breath and alive. My senses were on overload as he continued to kiss me.

Then he paused. He stopped kissing me but kept me against him as if he didn’t really want to pull away.

“This is why you needed to stay away from me. None of this would have happened if you hadn’t been with me,” he whispered.

Emotion and anger whirled up inside me. I knew he was pulling away from me again. I wanted to shout at him and tell him that I didn’t care about any of it. I just wanted to be in his arms. I wanted him to protect me. I wanted to feel cherished.

But I said nothing. I just shook my head and then shoved him off me, furious at the extremes he was taking me.

“Ava,” he said.

“Don’t,” I snapped, walking away.

* * *

I was in the same foul mood when I arrived at school the next morning. I ignored the snickering and whispering around me and tried to ignore the word BITCH that had been scrawled across my locker in red permanent marker. I was sure it was Sophie’s handwriting, but what else could I do, other than to pretend it didn’t affect me. I saw Sophie in the hallway before lunch, and she quickly changed her direction and walked away.

I headed into the cafeteria and it seemed that they were all watching me. I focused on Janey’s words from last night and raised my chin. I couldn’t show any weakness. I ordered my sushi lunch, and as I waited to pay at the register, I glanced over at Antony’s table. He quickly looked down at his tray of food.

He had a bandage over his nose and two black eyes. I felt empowered enough to stare a bit longer. Zac had done some damage to his pretty face last night. The other two from last night were deliberately not looking over either, and I realized that Zac’s threats had worked.

I paid for my lunch and then took it outside, not wanting to sit with anyone in there. I forced myself to take a bite even though I didn’t really feel hungry. My phone vibrated. Janey.

Janey:
All good?

I replied back:
Just as I expected

Janey:
Be ready at 5pm. I’m coming to pick you up. Wear something comfortable.

Ava:
Where are we going?

Janey:
Self-Defense class xxx

* * *

Later that night, after our class together, we grabbed some dinner and ate it in the car.

“Thanks for organizing that,” I said happily. “I feel better even though it’s my first session.”

She put a chip to her mouth and laughed.

“You’ll soon be kicking ass wherever you go.”

I laughed and sipped my coke.

“But I didn’t organize it. My darling brother did,” she stated.

“Oh,” I said putting my coke back down in the cup holder.

She laughed.

“You’ve got it bad for him.”

“No, I haven’t,” I lied.

“You sooo have,” she said shaking her head and laughing.

I shook my head.

“He keeps pushing me away.”

“By organizing self-defense classes,” she returned with a twinkle in her eyes.

“He’s protecting me, but he wants me to stay away from him,” I said in annoyance.

“He probably doesn’t want to corrupt you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I know I’m…inexperienced with some things, but that doesn’t mean I’m stupid.”

Janey’s eyes narrowed.

“How inexperienced?”

I took a bite of my burger.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Look at it this way. There are girls every single night, waiting for their turn with the Zac man. He uses and moves on. No care, no responsibility.”

“I don’t want to be his responsibility,” I said annoyed. “I just want him…to want me, like all of his other girls.”

“You will expect more than he’s prepared to give.”

“Maybe I won’t expect more. Maybe I want to just have some fun like everyone else seems to be doing.”

“Then have fun with someone else.”

I pouted and said, “I don’t want anyone else.”

Janey sipped her coke.

“Zac only looks after himself, me, and his two best friends. That’s it. He doesn’t give a shit about anyone else. And now you’ve come along and changed the order of things,” she said. “And we’re all interested to see what happens next.”

“I’m glad I’m so entertaining,” I mumbled.

Janey laughed.

“Enjoy what he’s doing for you, Ava, because I promise that out of all the girls he’s been with, not a single one has had a level of care that he seems to have for you.”

* * *

The next day at school passed painfully, with the usual whispers and furtive glances. A rubber was thrown at the back of my head in math class, which resulted in an irritating burst of giggles.

My books were accidently shoved off my desk in English. I pretended not to care and went about my business. I tried to concentrate on my studies, even though Zac was never far from my mind.

That night, after hours of studying, I went on Facebook and saw a photo in my newsfeed of Noah and Zac with a girl. She had tagged them both at a club, and she was standing in between them. It was obvious she was intimate with Zac as she posed with her tongue basically in his mouth. I leaned back in my chair and let out a frustrated sigh. I knew I shouldn’t be wasting my time thinking about him because clearly, he wasn’t thinking about me.

I heard a knock on my bedroom door, and I looked over to see my father step in. The night was getting even better.

“Studying?” he asked sitting on the edge of my bed.

“Yeah,” I said not even bothering to close Facebook on my screen.

Zac looked back at me, taunting me.

“I’m worried that things aren’t okay with us,” he said next with a frown.

“They haven’t been for five years,” I mumbled, not looking at him.

“She left us, Ava. I wish you’d remember that.”

I didn’t answer.

“I want Sarah to be part of this family, Ava,” he said next.

“Mission accomplished. She already moved in.”

“I need you to accept her.”

“Do we have to talk about this now?”

“It’s obviously a problem, and yes we do. You’re acting out with your black hair and not coming home to all hours of the morning.”

“Oh, my god, Are you serious? I’m ‘acting out’ because I’m being my age for once.” I stated angrily. “Friends have been doing this for years. All I’ve ever done is work. I need to do these things and have some fun.”

He nodded, and replied, “Fair enough. But I need you to be responsible.”

“Really? We’re having this conversation now?” I asked in exasperation.

I knew he had more to say, but I was too annoyed to listen to him.

“Just be safe,” he said standing up.

“Yep,” I said turning back to my screen.

As he closed the door behind him, I looked once more at Zac and then closed Facebook. Life was just great.

Zac

I sat with my laptop, engrossed in the operating system I was hacking into for a new commission. Corporations paid a lot of money for hackers to infiltrate their systems to construct better security measures and I had come back early from a gig tonight to start the job. Noah had also come back early and I was now trying to unsuccessfully block the sounds of him enjoying himself with a girl in his room next door. I scowled as my phone vibrated in my pocket. Janey.

“What?”

“Having fun, douche?” she asked.

“What do you want, Janey?”

“What’s with the photo on Facebook? Trying your hardest to make sure she stays away?”

“Butt out and worry about yourself.”

“Quit being a dumb-ass, and I will.”

“We’re not together, and she’s not my girlfriend, so stop acting like she is.”

“Fine,” she replied. “Then quit her completely, so I can take her out and she can move on.”

“Maybe you need to stay away, too.”

“Ah…no, I really like her, and I’m not too shit-scared to admit it. She and I are going to be great friends.”

“Whatever,” I said ending the call.

I looked at the screen angrily in front of me and then called her back.

“If you take her out, you need to look out for her.”

“Oh, Zac, stop it. You’re sounding like a boyfriend all of a sudden,” she returned, ending the call on me.

Ava

On Thursday night, Janey invited me out with her to a club, and I was happy for the distraction. Between studying, my home life, my friendless school situation, and Zac, I felt a little beaten.

She told me it was an alternative club and she was wearing her Converse, so I wore my own with a short, black, denim skirt and a black tank top that had a small frill around the low neck.

I liked the club instantly when I walked in and heard the heavier music and observed the alternative crowd. There were three levels to the club with the ground floor being mainstream heavy music, the second being hard core techno, and the top floor being a chill-out zone. We had a few drinks at the ground floor and then headed up the stairs to the second level. The heavy beat thudded through my body, and I went straight to the dance area to jump around and enjoy myself.

It wasn’t long before Janey was taking me up to the next level, which had an outdoor section for smokers. She lit up a joint and I watched the smoke slowly leave her mouth. She then offered it to me with a raised eyebrow. I took it from her, quietly anticipating a night of being a bad girl.

“Janey,” said a guy appearing to our side and leaning over to kiss her on the cheek as his greeting.

“Hey, Paul,” she smiled. “This is Ava.”

“Hi,” I said giving him a brief smile as I held onto the joint.