Page 7 of Stephan

Cassie laughed harder and nudged my shoulder.“No you don’t. Stop whining and let’s watch the show?”

I turned and raised my eyebrow. “What do youmean show?”

“Oh I never miss rugby practice or a game forthat matter. The practices are the best though.”

“Why?”

“Because when they play one side is shirts,the other side is not.”

It took me a moment to get it and then Icouldn’t help giggling. “Cassie, Cassie, Cassie, you do surpriseme. Here I thought you were a good sweet girl.” We both broke intogiggles and turned to watch practice.

I sat for twenty minutes staring at a bunchof half-naked guys wrestling each other for a ball. When the shirtscame off I noticed Cassie and I weren’t the only people drooling,there were other girls watching.

“What do you put in the water here? My Godthey are just…well…they are ripped.”

Cassie shrugged, like gorgeous built teenageboys were normal for her. “About fifty percent of the population inReed Creek is what you’d call upper class. If you hadn’t noticed bynow, Jade, we are in a prime position.” She made quotation marksand sounded like she was repeating what she’d overheard a parentsay. “Reed Creek is in the middle of two large cities and we arecoastal, with some of the most beautiful beaches. If you don’t havea water view you have a river view, some have both. Our school isthe best in the state. So those guys…” she nodded to the boys onthe field, “have the best of everything. We have a gym room at ourhouse. My brother is in there all the time. I know Brad has apersonal trainer and some of the other kids all work out together.”Cassie rolled her eyes. “My mother is a real estate agent. You justheard some of her speech.”

I sat there dumbfounded. It all sounded sological. I should have picked this all up from school, or just bylooking around the town. Suddenly I felt really uncomfortable. Iwas out of my element. In a daze I stared out at the buffteenagers. Sure, in the city school I’d been going to there hadbeen good looking boys, a nicely built kid here or there, butnothing like the group before me.

My thoughts strayed back to Stephan, he wasprobably interested in me because I was the first person to eversay no to him. I watched as he caught the ball and ran, hismuscular chest flexing. It was a pity he was a wanker, because hesure was a hottie. Stephan looked more like twenty-one thaneighteen. “Do you know how old Stephan is?”

Cassie winked at me. “He’s nineteen. He’ll betwenty at the start of next year. Their mother wanted them homewith her for as long as possible. They did a lot of traveling whenthey were younger. Their older brother, Dustan, lives in Americaand they visit him and their cousins a lot. Or so my brother toldme.”

“Okay. Thanks.” He was older than me by overa year. I only had two months until I was eighteen, but it feltlike a lot longer. “Are you eighteen?” I asked Cassie.

“Yep. Scott and I turned eighteen nine almostten weeks ago. Are you eighteen?”

“In just over a month.”

“What? No way. You look older. I thought youwould be eighteen already?”

“Yeah, I’m only seventeen.” Chewing on mybottom lip, I hoped my age didn’t change our friendship. Cassie waslooking at me funny.

“You have no trouble with school work I know.You are usually finished before me and all your answers are right.You don’t look younger than me.”

“Is this a problem? You are only a littleover three months older than me.”

“What!? No. Why would you say that? I’m justa little shocked, I thought Scott and I were the youngest in ouryear.”

“You’re looking at me different. There areplenty of schools that have people in year twelve who are myage.”

“Yeah you’re right, but I’m actually in aweyou keep up with everything. Me and Scott struggled but we have thebest tutors provided.”

“Really, it’s not much difference in ourages.”

“You’re right.”

I stood, needing to stretch, and Cassiefollowed. The coach was rounding the players up on the field.

“Do you want to go? They are wrapping up now.Scott can get a lift home with someone else. I have the keys.”Cassie jingled the keys.

“Yep, let’s go.” I smirked as we walkedtoward the cars, remembering what Stephan had demanded of me. Isaid I would stay with Cassie, I never promised not to leave.

Chapter Three

Stephan

I am going to tan Jade’s hide. Why couldn’tshe stay where I tell her? I turned to Scott. “Looks like you’rewith us. Come on, Derick will drive us back so I can get my car. Ineed to get Jade from your place.”

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