The morning started with someone banging on the door to the guest room.
Lola turned and pressed her face into the pillow, trying to hide from the sun that streamed in through the curtain-less window.
Yesterday was just a big ball of weird crap that she still wasn't sure happened. She turned on her back and stared at the ceiling. Maybe it was all just a dream. Maybe she fell again, and that was why she was here with a throbbing headache and a million questions.
Just to make sure, she looked up and scanned the room. Yup, still at the Blackwoods' mansion.
"What?" Lola yelled when the knocking sounded louder and louder.
The door opened up. She gasped and flew out of bed.
"Melissa!" Lola pulled her in for a hug and closed the door behind her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked when she pulled back. Melissa's eyes were red, with deep dark circles covering them.
A small frown pressed down on her forehead, and her eyes narrowed.
"Do you see this?" She pointed to her eyes. "Have I ever looked this crappy since you've known me? My eyes look like the hallowed-out pits of a rotten avocado!" Startled and slightly scared, Lola just stood staring at her.
She knew she couldn't speak yet because Melissa was not done. Her voice would raise to a certain pitch when she was mad, and that was Lola's cue to just shut up-something she had learned along the way.
"And why is that you may ask? Well, because my best friend's apartment was busted open, and then I find out she's spending the night at a mansion with one of America's richest families, and she doesn't call, she doesn't text, and she sure as hell doesn't clue me in on whatever the hell it is that's going on. So, what the fuck?!" She put her hands on her hips and stared Lola down.
Lola's lips pressed together, and she twirled the ring on her finger.
"Should I talk now?" Lola whispered.
"Yes!"
Lola winced, and a sigh left her lips.
"I'm sorry, I never meant for you to get excluded, but I myself don't even understand what's going on. Trust me," Lola begged and grabbed her hand. "I'll tell you everything later." She promised her.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The door was suddenly open, and Ash was leaning against the door frame.
"Ash." Melissa batted her eyelashes and moved her fingers through her hair.
All Lola wanted to do was pull her back and tell her to stop, but something told her he'd enjoy that.
"And what was your name again?" His voice huskily rustled out as he scanned her body.
"Melissa," she said sweetly.
"I'm just gonna get dressed, and then we'll head to school," Lola said and eyed Ash. Whether or not the stories from last night were true, Ash was still a pretentious douchebag.
"Cousin, welcome to the party." Lola didn't know who he was talking to until Ash pressed the door open further, and Jax came around the corner.
Standing next to each other, Lola could see the family resemblance. Jax's hair was thicker and lighter, while Ash's hair fell back, slicked over his head, and was as dark as a crow's feathers.
"Melissa." Jax's voice was cool, and his eyes scanned her. His teeth pressed together.
Ash had a few inches over Jax. Lola couldn't help but compare them now that they were both still.
Jax was more calculating. He didn't show what he felt.
Ash was smug with smoldering blue eyes and a more playful approach.
"Hi," Melissa stepped back. She looked between Lola and the guys, and Lola noticed the bag in Jax's hands.
He looked down, his fingers clutched harder around the leather strap.
"Are you ready for school?" he asked.
"Ahh, school. Does everyone look like you two? Maybe it's worth going back," Ash said with a flick of his tongue.
"Sorry, they don't accept new arrivals this late into the semester," Lola said, pretending to feign disappointment.
"Money speaks louder than rules, sweetheart. I can get in anywhere I like." He smirked. His eyes slid over to Melissa, and she blushed under his heated gaze.
"I have to get dressed," Lola said and pushed the guys out of the room. Jax opened his mouth to speak but bit his tongue. Lola closed the door and turned the lock.
"We need to talk," Lola said and turned to Melissa. Lola put on the same clothes from yesterday because that was all she had.
"Tell me, tell me, tell me..." she repeated. When Lola was ready, just before unlocking the door, she tried to find the best way to explain why Melissa couldn't flirt with Ash.
"He's bad news." Melissa's eyes glinted deviously, and a cocky smile moved on her lips.
"Yum," she purred.
"No, Melissa. I'm serious. You can't be with him." Her shoulders fell, and she scoffed in Lola's face.
"Why not? So he's bad news. Tell me one guy in this small town that isn't." She reached back around her head and fixed the bow that was holding her hair back. Two small locks framed her face, and the rest of her bouncy hair fell behind her back.
Her cardigan was buttoned when she arrived, but Lola saw now that two of the buttons had been undone.
Lola raised a brow as she stared at Melissa's cleavage.
"What?" She gasped, playing innocently unaware.
"He's a no!" Lola ordered and unlocked the door. Ash was leaning against the wall and watched as the girls stepped out. His eyes mimicked the glare in Lola's, and he slid his tongue over his teeth.
"I hope you said nice things about me." He mused.
Did he hear their conversation? No, he couldn't have.
"Only the truth," Lola said and faked a smile.
They walked down the hall. Melissa went down the stairs to Jax, who waited by the door.
Lola was pulled back and stopped from taking another step.
Ash released the pressure of his grip, and his glare left burn marks on the side of her face.
"The truth isn't always the best policy. Not when it comes to protecting the people we love," he warned.