Page 4 of Keep Me Still
“Your mom would be so sad to know that I’m letting you just ‘get through’ your life.”
“I know.” My head lowers at both the mention of my mother and the blatant, painful truth. “But it’s the best I can do right now.”
I’vemade it almost three full weeks into my senior year. Maybe I haven’t made any friends like Aunt Kate wanted, but I’m doing just fine on my own. I’m busy congratulating myself on my brazen independence and fortitude as I grab my Physics and English books out of my locker to take home. I’m the only senior that has to ride the bus, but that’s fine with me. I grab my iPod and earbuds for the ride, but just as I turn to leave, a large set of shoulders blocks my path.
“Excuse me,” I say, angling around the guy who obviously didn’t get the memo to avoid me.
“This is the weirdest school,” he mutters to himself, causing me to look up. And up, because he’s pretty freaking tall. Bright green eyes and a dimple smile down at me from under a mess of black hair. “Maybe you can tell me what’s going on, because I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.”
“What?” is all I can manage in reply.
“Look, I’m just going to say it because I’m new here and I have nothing to lose.” He smiles again and his perfect white teeth practically gleam. Ah, yes. New Guy from English and History class. Now I remember. Cocky, athletic, and moves around a lot.
“Please, unburden yourself,” I say, leaning against the locker and hugging my books to my chest, hoping he won’t cause me to miss the bus.
“What the hell is going on in this place?” He looks around at students brushing by us on their way out. His expression says he finds them lacking. Maybe New Guy isn’t so bad.
“Um, I’m not sure what you mean exactly.”Because I am the last person you should be asking. I have no idea what goes on around here, New Guy.
I step aside to get around him again, but he tilts his head in this way that makes me feel bad for him.
“I don’t really talk to many people, so I have no idea what’s going on around here.” There. Now that I’ve explained, I really need to get to my bus.
He lets me by but continues to follow. “School’s over. What’s the rush?”
“I have to catch the bus,” I say, knowing I probably won’t make it at this pace. He doesn’t say anything else but walks beside me until we get outside. Just in time to see the last bus pull out. Great.
Aunt Kate’s at the office today, and the last thing I want to do is call and make her leave work. I’m chewing on my lower lip and contemplating my options when New Guy speaks.
“Can I give you a ride?”
No.
“Yeah, um, that’d be great. It’s not far,” I tell him as I throw up a silent prayer that he’s not secretly a murderer or something.
“You really shouldn’t accept rides from strangers,” he informs me with a frown. My stomach tenses in fear that he’s mocking me. Retracting his offer. “Landen O’Brien,” he says offering me his hand and a mischievous grin.
Something about the gesture and his expression has a smile lifting the corners of my mouth as I look up into his light green eyes. They’re nearly crystal clear in the center but darker around the edges. “Layla Flaherty,” I say, taking his huge warm hand in mine. I’ve only shaken hands with doctors so I’m unprepared for the tingling sensation that hits me.
Despite the overwhelming surge of electricity flowing through me from his touch, I’m oddly relaxed as we walk to his truck. I feel like I can breathe. He’s new here. He doesn’t know what happened to my parents or that everyone in school treats me like a pariah. Or why.
Hersouthern drawl is so damn sexy it shoots straight from my ears to my dick. She needs help getting into the truck, and I am a gentleman,of course. But placing my hands on her waist to boost her in makes me realize how delicate she is. Fragile almost. And how much I don’t want to let go. I’m never going to be able to figure this girl out. Her eyes gave me a firm no when I asked if she needed a ride but her mouth said yes. Mmm, her mouth is amazing. Watching her bite her lip in frustration nearly killed me.
The whole ride I’m tripping over my tongue, trying to find something clever to say. The normal Landen O’Brien act probably won’t cut it with this girl since she obviously doesn’t give two shits what anyone else thinks. By the time she points me to her street, I’ve relaxed a little but I’m getting lightheaded from trying to inhale her warm peach and honey scent. Rich and sweet and enticing as all hell. To make matters worse, she’s wearing a dress that bares smooth, tan legs begging to be wrapped around me.
I shake my head to remove the inappropriate images assaulting my mind and clear my throat. “So you like classic rock?” I ask, hoping she does. She’s barely said a word and I’m struggling to fill the silence. There’s a bandage marring her forehead. I want to ask about it but it looks like she worked pretty hard on arranging her hair to cover it so I keep my mouth shut.
“I do,” is all she says. But I sense she’s smirking at me. “Why do you ask?”
“Uh, no reason.” But there is a reason, kind of a lame one, and I think she knows what it is.
“You have it, don’t you?” Her smile makes my heart speed up, and I’m nervous around a girl for the first time in my life.
“Have what?” I ask, still content to play dumb in case this is a sore subject. I’m probably like the millionth person to make the connection. I watch helplessly as she snatches my iPod off the dock in the dash. Shaking my head, I give her an apologetic grin whenLayla, the rock version, comes through the speakers.
“Ah, and you have the ballad as well. Good for you.” She’s still smiling and it’s doing something to me. Either it’s because of me, or because of my iPod, whichever. I could seriously watch this girl smile forever. The thought kind of freaks me out but I shrug it off. When I pull into the driveway she says is hers, I want to think of a reason to keep her talking. And smiling. Like, maybe for the rest of her life. Because apparently this girl makes me lose my mind.
I’m tempted to walk her to her door and ask if I can drive her to and from school every day. But the coach told me I made the soccer team today so I know I won’t always be able to drive her home.
