Forever Love Page 7

  I don’t know whether I should I be offended that he's saying my outfit is basically gonna give the come on to guys, or flattered that he's bothered by it.

  "Nuh uh, we've already had that conversation. I don’t give a fuck what you think about what I wear, it's none of your business and-"

  "None of my business?"

  Wow, he looks sexy when he's angry.

  "No, why would it be? And please explain what the hell is wrong with my outfit because last I checked my tits arent hanging out the top and my ass isn't hanging out the bottom. In my book, that means it's ok."

  "There's nothing wrong with your outfit, you look fucking gorgous. You'd look gorgeous in anything. I'm just dreading this ok, I don’t want other guys looking at you."

  I don’t know what to say to that. If this was any other guy I'd have given them a reality check but with Noah it feels different. My feelings are way too confused right now. I still can't offer him what he wants, I can't be his girlfriend or whatever the fuck it is. Part of me likes the thought of being his girlfriend though, holding hands walking down the street and making out in the car or whatever it actually is that people in relationships do. I've never done that stuff before, it's only ever been wham bam, thank you ma'am.

  This is why I wanted alone time, to think all of this shit through. I've got enough to deal with today without this on top of it. I decide to ignore his last statement until I can ponder it a little more thoroughly.

  "Come on, let's go. We're gonna be late and I really don’t wanna be the new kid walking into class when everyone else has already sat down."

  Noah looks at me for a few more seconds, then gives a nod of his head and starts the car back up.

  Luckily we're only round the corner from the school so there isn't much more awkward silence. The parking lots full but Noah swings his car into a free spot right next to the single storey school building. Dickwad Brady is leaning against some big ass SUV in the next space over with his face firmly attached to Cindy's. They must have their own spots since its too coincidental that there's a free spot in an otherwise jam-packed parking lot, right next to Dickwad.

  Noah gets out of the car, pulling both of our backpacks from the back seat and coming round my side to open the door. He scowled at me earlier when I went to open my own door as if I committed some capital offense. I might as well give him a break and let him get his own way some of the time. I'm not into that feminism bullshit anyway, its nice to have people do nice things for me.

  Cindy pulls from Dickwad and comes running over.

  "Oh Liv, you look great. Its so cool you're gonna be going here."

  "Hey you look great too." And she does in her white skinny jeans with a light green cami. She's a beautiful girl with shoulder length black hair and pale skin.

  I like Cindy and figure I could easily become friends with her. Then again, you'd think we were already friends despite the fact we've only ever had a single conversation.

  Dickwad bumps fists with Noah and then has the nerve to come in and give me an awkward one armed hug. I'm sure he does that shit to piss Noah off since he's got a shit eating grin on his face and Noah looks about ready to kick his ass. Cindy gives me a questioning look that I have to look away from. It's not like we're normal people that just go to the same High School that made out. No, we live together and everyone sees us as step-brother and sister. Everytime I think of Noah as my step-brother I get a sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. Not because I think we're doing anything wrong, but because everyone else will. I don’t know when I started giving a fuck what other people think, that shit never usually bothers me. A lot of things seem to have changed in the five days since I got here. I definitely feel lighter, I don’t know if that’s because I'm two hundred miles away from the Bitch or if it's something to do with Noah. Probably both. I'm definitely not cursing as much as well since I usually have a real potty mouth.

  "At least we're not late." Noah says to me while giving me his standard half a grin.

  "Dude, first period's free for Seniors remember. Apparently its to get all our lockers and classes sorted." Brady looks mighty pleased.

  "Do you need to go register Liv?" Cindy asks.

  "No it's ok, my Dad sorted it all in the Summer for me. I've got my class list and locker number."

  "What's your locker number? Hopefully you're near my girl here since those lockers are like a pit of snakes."

  I unzip my backpack and pull the scrunched up papers out, flicking through them. I'm not exactly one for organization. Hell, if I let Pam anywhere near these, the neat freak would probably laminate them.

  "Erm 468."

  Noah snatches the paper from my hand before giving Brady a look. I'm completely baffled.

  "This has gotta be a mistake." Noah says clutching onto the paper.

  "Why? What's wrong?"

  "Anything in the four hundreds is the guy side. Five hundreds is the girls. Your locker's basically smack bang in the middle of a bunch of guys." Dickwad answers, smirking while looking at Noah.

  "Oh well, it's just a locker,"

  We walk to the senior corridor which is bustling with students. I've had more than a few stares and whispers and even a few whistles. Noah walks me to my locker which is as Dickwad said, smack bang in the middle of a bunch of guys. His face is like thunder, I glance to the other side of the corridor which is filled with giggling, squealing girls. I more than feel the attention on me as I open my locker. If it wasn’t bad enough that I'm the new kid, I'm now the only girl surrounded by a bunch of horny guys.

  "Don’t you need to go sort your locker?" I say to Noah though he completely ignores me.

  A small guy with thick rimmed glasses comes the other side of me. He does a double take and I almost burst out laughing at his panicked expression.

  "Hey, Carl isn't it?" Noah says nearly causing him to have a full blown panic attack. I wonder if I should get the nurse or something because this guy looks as if he's about to keel over.

  "Y-yeah." His voice is nasally and I can't believe how cliché he is. Poor kid just needs acne and braces to go full throttle into the nerd category.

  "Swap lockers with me?" Despite Noah putting it as a question, it definitely isn't one.

  "S-s-sure." If it wasn’t so tragic, the way Carl escapes as if he's running for his life, it would be funny.

  "You didn’t need to do that. I can more than look after myself."

  "I wanted to."

  He opens what was formerly Carls but is now his locker as a pink clawed hand grips onto his arm.

  "Noah, you never called me." That whiny voice sounds vaguely familiar and when I see the red head twirling her hair next to him I know why.

  What's her name again? Whiskey? Vodka? Brandy, that’s it. Poor girl, she doesn’t stand a chance of ever being taken seriously in the real world with a name like that.

  An unfamiliar feeling comes over me as I watch her with her hand on his muscled arm. I've only ever had this feeling once before, in the coffeeshop with that slutty waitress. I don’t like it, makes me feel all insecure which is a foreign feeling to me since I don’t usually give two shits. I'm about ready to rip her arm out the socket when Noah extracts himself from her grasp, stepping away from her.

  "I never said I'd call you Brandy."

  She pouts, which I'm sure she thinks looks sexy when in reality she looks like a fish. She looks over at me, squinting her eyes.

  "This the whore that was at your house the other day?"

  My blood boils.

  "Oh hell no. You did not just call me a whore."

  "Liv calm down. Brandy you're out of fucking line."

  "Fuck your little whore, Noah. You'll soon come running."

  Noah barks out a laugh, his face looking furious.

  "Are you kidding me? You sucked my dick once in the parking lot and then begged to do it again for weeks before I was willing to chuck you a bone the other day. Don’t ever fucking call her a whore again, nobody likes a bitter bitch
Brandy."

  I have to bite my cheek to hold in my laughter at how affronted she looks. Though him just announcing their full history saves me having to pluck up the courage to ask later. She flounces off. Must be because it’s a small town cause in Atlanta she wouldn’t stand a chance with an attitude like that. I'd be lying if I said the way Noah just stuck up for me didn’t make me feel all warm inside. He shoots me one of those megawatt smiles that just about leaves me a puddle on the floor.

  I tell you one thing, if I was into the whole boyfriend girlfriend thing, I don’t think there would be anyone more perfect than Noah.

  Chapter 8

  Noah

  It's five days since we went back to School, ten days since I met Liv. I thought the fuckery she's doing to my head would have passed but its just getting fucking worse. I've driven her to School and back every day cause I like her next to me too damn much. She kicked up a stink about it at first and I was considering letting her tires down, cause that’s how much she's making me lose it, so that she wouldn’t have a choice. I have to bite my tongue every time she comes down the stairs in her itty bitty skirts that show off her legs and tight ass. I really have to resist the urge to throw her over my shoulder caveman style and carry her upstairs to change. I've had to shoot more than a few warning glances at jerks who try to check her out, they all think I'm just being overprotective because she's my Step Dads daughter. I can just imagine what the masses would be saying if they knew the reason was that even just the thought of someone else looking at what's mine has me itching to put holes in walls.

  Liv's still playing hard to get but I think I'm wearing her down. Everything she does just makes me like her even more and it's scaring the fuck outta me. The other day at dinner my mom was telling Liv about her wedding to Phil, I swear I almost choked on my chicken when a picture of me and Liv getting married popped into my head. I mean what the fuck's going on with that shit?

  We haven't kissed since the night of the party and it's hard as hell but I realize I've gotta take it slow with her. After our conversation in her bedroom that night I couldn’t get it out my mind what she said about fucking other guys. It near enough kills me to think of her with anyone else, she won't be with anyone else for the rest of her damn life if I have my way. It's weird because I've never even considered getting in a relationship with a girl but as soon as her lips touched mine, I knew she was it. I probably should be running in the opposite direction, what with the shit I'm feeling.

  It's Saturday morning and I've never been more grateful for the weekend to come. Every night this week Chase has had friends come over for dinner. I have a theory that they're only here to see Liv since we've never had this shit before.

  After my shower, I throw on a pair of jeans and a black Henley, since Liv said she liked it when I wore it earlier on in the week. I know I sound like a sap but ask if I give a fuck. I knock on her bedroom door, knowing she's not up yet but I can't resist. What can I say, the girl looks hot as fuck when she's just woke up, with her hair all mussed up and shit.

  "Liv wakey wakey."

  I know shes gonna go ape shit when she sees it's only half seven in the morning but I want us out of the house in the next hour so we have a full day to do the stuff I have planned. I haven't brought up the whole girlfriend boyfriend shit she's so freaked out about, though she was right when she said that’s what I want. I didn’t realize until she said it but I want everything with her. No other girl compares, she's the color in a gray world, to me anyway.

  The door swings open and she stands there with her hands on her hips looking amazing. There's not many chicks who can wake up looking as gorgeous as her.

  "Is there a fire?" Her voice is calm but there's a little bite to it that’s betraying how pissed she is.

  "No but we have a full day of stuff to do, so you gotta get up and dressed."

  She raises her eyebrow at me, I've come to call it the bitch brow since she only really does it when shes about to bitch, usually at me.

  "You know when two people have plans it's usually standard procedure for them both to know. Not banging down the door at the crack of dawn giving orders out."

  "I'm letting you know now so get dressed and meet me down stairs in-." I look at my watch. "Twenty minutes." I go to turn away but figure I'll get one last comment in first. "Unless you want some help getting ready." I shoot her a wink which has her rolling her eyes and slamming the door in my face.

  I briefly wonder as I go downstairs if my feelings can be trusted, if I'm making the right decision in pursuing her. I don’t think I could stop if I tried but I know that shit's gonna get real soon. There are gonna be obstacles round every corner. I look to the ceiling.

  "Dad if your up there, give me a sign that this is the girl for me, that I'm not just fucking things up."

  I don’t expect an answer but I still feel the disappointment when there's only silence.

  ***

  She's doing it on purpose, she's gotta be. I mean, the girl is a frickin goddess. She toddles in the kitchen is some short ass shorts that are practically underwear. Listen, I'm a full blooded male, that shit affects me, I just don’t want it affecting anybody else. She's got some T-shirt on that hangs off her one shoulder, Christ even that gets the blood pumping to my dick.

  "I'm ready, now why the hell did you get me up at the ass crack of dawn for?"

  "It’s a surprise."

  "I don’t like surprises."

  "You don’t like surprises? Everyone loves surprises."

  "Nuh uh not me." She furiously shakes her head from side to side and crosses her arms.

  "Well that’s just too damn bad, isnt it?"

  She scowls at me. I don’t know if she thinks that shits meant to be scary but the only affect it has is making me horny as hell.

  I grab her by the hand, feeling that familiar jolt of electricity that send those bastard butterflies doing flip-de-flips in my stomach. I pull her along to my car and open the door for her. My Dad didn’t get the chance to teach me much about girls but the one thing he did instill in me, always act like a gentleman. I think Liv likes it anyway, judging by the smile she has on her face everytime I do it.

  "So what's the point of this?" She says gesturing around her.

  "Getting to know each other."

  "Ok." She stretches out the word before giving me a suspicious look and sighing. "What do you wanna know?" She sounds completely resigned and I don’t know what the hell for. What the hell does she think I'm gonna ask her? I'm definitely gonna have to think about her reaction later.

  "Everything of course but let's start with your favorite color."

  She looks back to me, a beautiful smile breaking out across her gorgeous face. Takes my breath away how stunning she is.

  "Red."

  "See that wasn’t so hard, was it? Mines green."

  "Like your eyes." Her voice sounds dreamy.

  "Awww you been staring into my eyes Liv?" I shoot her a playful smirk that gets a giggle out of her.

  "Ok, ok my turn. What's your favorite movie?"

  "Ferris Bueller's Day Off of course."

  "Really. I'm surprised, I was sure it would be a Stallone movie." She laughs.

  I groan which just makes her laugh even more.

  "Listen, don’t tell my Mom but I totally hate that guys movies." She continues to laugh, man her laugh is contagious and I'm soon chuckling along with her. I pull myself together. "You know once, I rented the second Beverly Hills Cop movie and as soon as I told her she demanded I never bring it into her house again. Apparently it had some actress in it that used to be married to him." I feign a sigh "To this day, I've never had chance to watch the second Beverly Hill Cop movie."

  "Oh poor you, how did you cope?" Liv clutches her heart and then proceeds to imitate playing the violin. Smartass.

  "What's your favorite movie?"

  "I don’t know. I guess if I had to pick one, it'd have to be Full Metal Jacket."

  Shit, well I didn’t exp
ect that. The shock must show on my face.

  "You surprised?" Liv asks with a smug smile on her face.

  "Fuck yes. I was expecting some chick flick like the netbook or whatever the fuck that movie's called that chicks seem to dig so much."

  "Well, I'm not a normal chick."

  "Oh there's no denying that."

  The tension shifts in the car as Liv looks through the window, frowning as she recognizes where we are. I pull up to the tatty old gate at the end of the old dirt road and pull the car to a stop. I can't wait to show Liv how different this field looks in the daylight. I know she couldn’t see the white Phlox flowers everywhere the other night. I wanna share everything about this place with Liv, it's my favorite place in the world and in the last ten days she's become my favorite person. As I go to get out, I turn back to her.

  "By the way, what's your favorite flower?" I wonder.

  She smiles a warm smile.

  "Phlox, I know it’s a weird flower to like but I love the smell of them."

  Well shit. If that’s not a sign I don’t know what is. I know I'm smiling from ear to ear. I look up at the sky when I get out the car.

  "Thanks Dad." I whisper.

  Chapter 9

  Liv

  Its breathtakingly beautiful. The fact that I only just told Noah that these are my favorite flowers, well that just blows my mind. I take a deep breath in, inhaling the the sweet honey like smell. I have no idea how I didn’t smell this the other night when we were here. The small white flowers are everywhere, making a blanket of white against green. I'm sure my smile is a mile wide.

  "This is amazing. I can't believe it. How?" I can barely get my words out with how in awe I am.

  "Coincidence." He's got that same twinkle in his eye he's had since we got out the car.

  "I'm not a believer in coincidences."

  "Fate then."

  I smile and take in the stunning view in front of me. The man of my dreams, in what I can only describe as a place from my dreams. I take a mental picture of this moment for when its all fucked up. Nothing can be this perfect and if anything, the unbelievable happiness I feel soaring through me is accompanied by fear. Fear that this is something I want to keep with me. So much for making life as simple as possible.