Lying on his bed, Lacey rested her head on his chest listening to his heart beat and feeling the rhythm of their breathing. With their legs tangled and their forms so close to each other, she felt warm and comfortable. Softly sliding her hand on his lower arm until her fingers intertwined with his, she smiled when he locked his fingers, then she locked hers. His other hand squeezed her shoulder lightly. They weren't talking, they were just in a comfortable silence that made them both happy. She wasn't angry anymore. Tom couldn't begin to discribe how happy that made him. He had to admit though, that he was a lot relieved that it hadn't ended with them breaking up. It sounds stupid but it could have been possible. He knew what she wanted and with no reasoning what so ever, he almost wrecked it. Her decision to stop sneaking around was a good idea. Now that Tom is in her life, she can't imagine him not being in it. She loved him, so the thought of losing him felt dreadful. Unles
Almost five minutes after Tom had arrived, Lacey arrived as well. He got out of his car and discretely went to hers and sat in the back seat. It was 4:43. p.m which meant they still had a few minutes to kill before they had to go in for the match. Still sitting in the driver's seat, Lacey turned back and locked eyes with him. He stared at her smiling and she stared right back doing the same. It was cold out and the both had their jackets on. "See I told you your hair is longer." Tom stated. "I know it is." She tugged a braided strand. She had braided one small part of her hair on each side and joined them together at the back while the rest of her hair fell in place. "You look beautiful.""Why thank you handsome." She smiled wider and he chuckled. "So who do you think is going to win this match?" They talked and laughed until they decided it was time to go in. He looked outside the window to make sure it was safe before he stepped out of the car. The parking lot had more
Lacey walked straight into the den and sat beside her mother. She looked at the glass of white wine in her hand. "Lacey Atkins, where have you been?" Smiling, she looked at her mother's stern looking face. "There's no need for full name calling mother. I went to see a friend." Her mother's mouth hung open. "Really?""I knew that would get your attention. Yes really." "That's new, even for you.""Well, it's my last year in high school, so I thought, you know, why not." She smiled broadly. "That's great." Lacey nodded. "Does this mean there's a boyfriend?" Her smile vanished. "No mother, not since Dennis. How about you?" Her smile reappeared as she tilted her head. "No sweetness. I'm not discussing that with you.""No answer usually means yes." She got to her feet. "It also means NO."Lacey glanced at her with a nod. "Good night mother." She raised the glass. "Night. And be quiet, Sadey's asleep.""Mm hmm." Tom sat in the driver's seat and close
Game season was over, they won all their games. A great end to their last year in high school. There was the homecoming dance, Tom was there for a few minutes but then he left. Lacey wasn't there so why was he there? Tate was crowned homecoming king. He heard all about it the next day, he was too busy with his girlfriend to care about the events of one night that he wasn't interested in. Lacey threw another M party that she did not attend... technically. He helped with the clean up. Then there was Christmas then new year... and school all over again. With all this change, one thing was constant... Tom owed three college guys money and he couldn't pay up, and they didn't stop asking for it. "You really should keep your promises kid." "I will keep it. I just can't give you anything right now. Give me a few months." He asked for the second time in the new year. So much for ignore them and it'll go away. "Why does it have to take so long? You're a rich kid who goes to a rich
They went about their Monday as they normally would have. Tom ignored the warnings of the college guys. And Lacey stayed away from her ever chatting friends. Jody and Fay told the group about the sketchy hooded guy they saw making out with some blond. A good job on Tom's part, who knows what would have been the story by now... she didn't want to think about it. While they went about their businesses as the days went by, neither of them realised that someone was watching them while they met up after school. And also... someone was beginning to notice her more and more. Not them together... just Lacey. While Darin listened to music and kept his eyes on his laptop screen typing, his girlfriend sat on his bed admiring him. "Babe." He grunted in response. "Look what I got." She pulled up her shirt sleeve to reveal a tattoo of the his name on her upper arm. He looked at it and went right back to typing. "Well?" He didn't answer. "Do you like it? I thought you would like it." "
"Hey." He walked up to the guy who had just been talking to Dennis. "Quick question." "Yeah?" The guy folded his arms. Not really in the mood to talk."Relax. I just want to know something." He smiled. "What?""Dennis had a girl in freshmen year right?" "He always has a girl.""I know. Just... you remember her?" He had to play it right. "Yes.""She never came back right? I mean, cause of whatever happened between them." He scoffed. "She did. And I know this because Dennis wouldn't stop talking about her. I don't know who she is per say, but I know her name is Lacey" That's what he wanted to know. Lacey. That's what he had been trying to remember. He nodded. "Atkins. You should have heard of her. She's the girl Tom kissed last year." "Really?""Yeah dude. There was video and everything. How do you not know this?" "I guess I just forgot. Wow!" He laughed. "Who was his girlfriend after her?" He dug his hand into his pocket. "I dunno man, I thi-""Damn
He made a sweet combo that had the guys in the living room hailing him. He laughed at his easy triumph while his opponent seemed to be struggling. "Relax dude. You'll get it." He bumped shoulders with him. "I know I will. I'm just warming up.""Dude, you've been saying that since you started." One of the lookers said. "This round isn't over, I can still beat him.""Of course you can still beat me. It's good to have faith." He kept pressing the controller, eyes never leaving the screen. "The thing is, I just won't let you beat me." "If this were on the field I'd kick your ass.""If this were on the field you'll be on your ass." They laughed at his comment. His phone buzzed in his pocket. He dropped the controller and took out his phone. "Mate! Don't do that. He'll get you."He laughed. "There's still time. I have to take this. David play for me would you? I'll be right back." He looked at the buzzing phone. He walked out of the living room and went into the first ro
Upon hearing the words 'took her' Darin unfolded his arms slowly, and let his left hand graze his right knuckles, over and over again while Tom spoke. Marvin on the other hand, used the opportunity to take out a cigarette but couldn't bring himself to light it. Why was he listening? Why was he still listening when he could be doing something else? Darin cracked his knuckles, slowly walking up to Tom. While Tom still tried to explain how everything got to the point it was in, Darin's boot made contact with his stomach, sending him stumbling back towards his car with a groan. Before Tom could pull himself together Darin had him by the collar, lifting him up. This was all a bad idea. "I told you." Darin punched him in the face. "I told you if anything happened to her I would hurt you. Here's me keeping that promise." He dragged him by his collar to the ground and began raining hits down on Tom. Using both his hands and feet. Marvin finally lit the cigarette. "Clearly, this
Hands on her hips, a stern look on her face and her friends beside her, she watched Jody walking down the hall among other students. "Jody right?" She got the girl's attention. A smirk taking over the stern look. "Yeah?" Jody walked up to them."You're the witch's friend aren't you?" "I don't know any witch.""Ugh! Lacey." She rolled her eyes. "Oh! I said friend. But that's not remotely true." "What do you mean by that?" Jody folded her arms. "I am Lacey's friend." "You don't have to play that game with me.""I'm not playing." She scoffed. "Yeah. Sure. But, you did see me and my friends by her locker. I know that for a fact." "What are you talking about?""I'm not buying the fake innocence. She saw you" She pointed at one of the girls beside her. "Look at us getting into Lacey's locker, she saw you walk away." Jody wanted to speak, she cut her off. "The day the witch had that locker room incident." J
He didn't hear from Lacey after school and he didn't call her. Instead, he thought he needed to talk to someone older than him to make sense of everything. After all, she's upset with him and he's upset with her. No sense whatsoever. But when Sawyer rubbed his face, and shook his head, he couldn't help wondering why. He just heard the whole story and that was his reaction. Shaking his head and now a chuckle? He was quickly regretting his choice. "I wonder why I didn't just zone out when you started talking." Tom glared at Sawyer's face on his phone. "You're an idiot Tom. You know that?" "What?" "Maybe I should date her. And you stopped therapy." "What is it?!" His patience wearing thin, he chose to ignore those comments. "What did she tell you?" "The therapist?" "No! Lacey. When she said she didn't want Tate or the school to know about you guys, what was her reason?" His forehead creased. "Opinions. Something about opinions. What ab
After not particularly enjoying the party, since his mind was filled with thoughts of opposites and things in common, he went home. The silence of the house could have been soothing if he wasn't so consumed by what the two girls had said to him. The more he thought about it, he got restless. So he called Lacey. She picked on the first ring. "You are lucky I'm awake." "Damn it! I didn't even think of that." He clicked his tongue and rubbed his forehead. "How was it?" "It was okay. A lot of people asked about you. Kept telling them you were busy." "Wouldn't they expect me to be out with you next time?" "Then I'll tell them something else." He didn't wait for her to reply. "We're different." That wasn't how he wanted to bring it up. "Of course we're different. I'm a girl, you're a boy." "No. I mean, like we have nothing in common." "Ohhhh! Someone put it in your head didn't they? You're a little late to this party."
How hard could it be to pay attention in class? Cory shook his legs impatiently, trying desperately not to call out to his friend and tell him what he had heard. When the bell finally rung and students got to their feet, he wanted to go to him and report the news. But damn it they were still in class and who knows who might hear what. When they were out of class, he went to him. Joe following behind them, as if he knew something was up. Almost every time they talked they had to look over their shoulders, and this time was no different. After all, they started a fire that could have spread further than it had. "They aren't searching for anyone." Cory blurted out. They each looked around, though students were walking all around, in their own worlds. Who would care to listen to their conversation? "What are you talking about?" Their friend asked, Joe listened with crossed arms. "The fire." He whispered the phrase. "They aren't searching for a culprit." Co
"Enjoying the table Lacey?" She planted her hands on her hips. The group fell silent. Lacey cast her eyes down. It's all part of the getting it over with process right? "You had these two fighting." Abby stated. "So in the end I was right. I heard you've been together for a while. She did steal you from me!" The students around heard that. Tom scoffed. "It was after the kiss in front of the class." "So what? You are under her spell!" Everyone definitely heard that. "The little witch!" Of course he was under her spell. He's crazy about her. "Did you hear me say it was after the kiss in front of the class?" Tom got up, jaw clenched, clearly getting angry. "Do I need to repeat it?" "Bu-" "It was after the kiss in front of the class!" He yelled. He too knows how to get everyone's attention. Lacey bent her head to hide her smile. "You know very well why I broke up with you. So this crap has to stop. It is for the sake of your reputation that none of u
He hadn't gotten the chance to talk to Tom yet. He saw the videos and heard it from the guys but he hadn't talked to him yet. Seeing them standing there like he hadn't been asking her out weeks ago made him so angry. So angry at the thought of Tom doing this to him. Ready to hit something, something he had been waiting to do since he found out, he slammed his locker shut and stumped over to the new couple by Lacey locker. Tom saw him and his smile faded away. "Good. You see me. That's a perfect reaction." Tate punched him. Tom bent over, holding his left side below his ribs where the punch had landed. "You took her right from under me!" He went in for another punch but Tom dodged it, still bending. A crowd was forming. Lacey had stepped back. "She's not yours to take!" Tate hit him again. Tom can't fight his best friend. Not when his reason for being angry is right... ish. "You knew. You knew I- and you do this?!" He hit him. Over and over while the stude
Lacey pulled out the band that held her hair up the moment they drove away from the school. Becket glanced at her, worried. "Are you okay?" She was hiding her feelings again. Looking out the window, she answered, "No." She felt numb. The entire school had watched her call for Tom and then seen them together. Why had she shouted? She could have just called his cell phone. Now they aren't a secret anymore. The whole school really should have burnt down. With Lacey gone, all eyes were on him. It didn't help that of course, a few phones were out and obviously there are now many videos and photos of them. The silent crowd was beginning to chatter. Unlike Lacey, he could handle the crowd. He held his head high and walked back to his car. He looked at Shocked David and George standing in front of his car watching him and spoke before they could. "Move." "Dude wh-" "Move. Don't make me ask again." He cut George off. Damn it. He wanted everyone to
Lacey stared at Becket who wouldn't stop smirking as he drove her to school. The motorcycle was not needed. "We would have made things better ourselves." There was no way Marvin and Darin would get that involved in her relationship with Tom. So who else if not him? "What are you talking about?" He couldn't stop smirking, his lips twitching. "You and Sadey. Getting Tom and I to talk." "What? Marv-" "No." "You're right." He sighed. "You both looked so sad. At least he did anyway. Always hiding your feelings." He stated. "I asked Sadey if you were fine and she said no. So. I thought you know... It took a lot to get her to agree." "Thanks. You might have helped before. But it wouldn't have taken anything to end that call the moment I knew it was him." "I'm glad you di-" His phone rang and he tapped on his bluetooth earpiece. "Good morning ma'am." "Are you taking Lacey to school?" Lucille asked. "As we speak." "Not on that
He sat in his living room glaring at the TV. All his questioning and she hadn't said a word. Not a thing. The thought of it made him want to punch something. But his hands were already hurting. He looked at them and Becket's words came back to him. Why would he say that? He got to his feet. Why should he go back to Tate. What could Tate possibly say? He grabbed his car keys and walked out of the house. Why was he even doing what Becket said? "So you guys just kissed? After that life threatening threat?" He asked when he got the chance. Both boys sitting in Tate's game room. "Well not exactly." Tate answered.Lacey found the nearest empty class after meeting with the guidance counsellor and was pacing. Her forehead creased in thought. The girls were still busy trying to explain why they had been unable to help her with Abby. It was clear and obvious to her that Jody played a part in it. She was in the locker room after all and she came up with the game idea. The stupid