Eleven years ago…Drake hadn’t spoken to me since the incident with the mayor. He had been quiet the past few days, and not even our classmate could talk to him. He was distant from Jason too, and my brother knew he shouldn’t bother him. I had the urge to approach him since I thought we’d finally become close, but I didn’t want to make anything worse, so I kept my mouth shut.
The bell rang after the PE class while Arianna and I went to the girls’ locker to change.
“Do you think Drake is okay?” Jenny abruptly asked, interrupting our current conversation.
My senses were automatically on high alert after hearing his name.
Arianna glanced at Jenny, then pulled her t-shirt off her head. I continued peeling off my tops, trying not to let my curiosity show.
“Drake Mallory is transferring to his rightful class if that’s what you’re talking about.” Peach, our class president, joined in. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean?” Mae asked.
“I mean, he’ll be a senior starting next week,” Peach rephrased.
Arianna and I shared a surprised look before taking my clothes from my locker to change.
“Really?” Mae gasped. “He’s meant to be there, I guess. What do you think happened? He doesn’t look happy with it at all.”
The class seemed to have noticed his sudden distance as well. Drake was used to being friends with everyone. Did it have anything to do with his dad? He told me the mayor wants him to attend the senior class.
The rest of the girls walked out of the room, and I remained frozen. Arianna stayed with me, and she was already dressed.
“You okay?” she asked
“I’m fine.” I looked at her. “Me, at least.”
“You’re worried.” She leaned into the locker and crossed her arms. “I can’t blame you, though. You two got pretty close to being in a—” She sighed. “Why don’t you talk to him? I’m sure he’ll give you some answers.”
“I’m not sure if he even likes me that much, A. It’s just me, I think.”
“Sis, Drake’s all over you, obviously. Jason would acknowledge that too. He’s just giving you space so others won’t make it like, the talk of the town, or something. He’s Mr. Popular, the mayor’s son, and a prodigy after all.”
I scoffed. “Which made me no match for him. I’m not smart.” Arianna’s words comforted me though. I slipped on my shirt and denim then tied my hair in a ponytail.
“Talk to him today. It’s been two weeks.”
“I’m not sure.”
“What, are you playing shy now? I’ll let Jason know.”
“What?” My eyes widened. “You can’t possibly tell Jason about this.”
She rolled her eyes. “He knows. It doesn’t matter.”
“What can you possibly tell him then?”
“Oh, my God!” She looked at her wristwatch. “Later! We’re going to be late for the next class. Come on.”
We stormed out of the locker room and basically sprinted our way to math class. Unfortunately, our teacher was just about to walk in.
“Ms. Hart and… Ms. Hart. Why are you two running?”
“Sorry, Ms. Evans!” Arianna and I said at once and got inside the classroom. I spotted Drake’s seat before I sat, and I found him there, staring at the window. At least he was still attending the classes.
I settled in my seat and tried to listen to Ms. Evans’ discussion, but half my mind was clouded with the thought of Drake transferring to senior year.
In the afternoon, Arianna told me Jason wanted to meet on the school’s rooftop, but I already felt what this was all about, and I was not backing out. I arrived first on the rooftop, but Jason wasn’t there, obviously, because their trap had caught me off guard.
As expected, Drake appeared from the door. His expression was slightly confused. “Jason said—” he paused. “Never mind.”
“Drake,” I called.
He slipped his hands into his pocket and walked forward but stopped a few meters. “What is it, Alayna?”
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
He didn’t even bother to look my way. “Alayna, you should probably stop getting acquainted with me,” he says straightforwardly.
My chest tightened. “Why? Is this about the mayor?”
He shut his eyes briefly. “It’s not. It’s about the fact that we shouldn’t be friends anymore.”
“I get it. Your dad probably told you to stay away from me.” I gritted through my teeth, gripping my fist in unison.
“It’s not like that.”
“You came here because you thought Jason was here, but you wouldn’t come if it was me?”
“Alayna, I told you, it’s not “Then what?” I demanded, suddenly feeling stupid. I began to question why I was even trying.
“Because I don’t want to hurt you!” he snapped. He then pressed the pressure points of his temples.
Silence.
“Your detachment is bothering me.”
“Then don’t bother,” he blurted out. “Don’t mind me anymore, Alayna. You won’t understand, anyway.”
“That’s not fair. You owe me at least some explanation.” We sounded like we were breaking up when we weren’t even dating.
“I’m sorry. Just go home now; it’s getting late. It won’t be good for you.” He turned around, facing the rooftop’s exit, and marched away.
He was being like this, but he was still worried about me. How could I possibly forget him?
I gathered all my courage and ran toward him. I slipped my arms around his waist and embraced him from behind. “No. I’m not going home without you.”
I felt his muscles tense at first, but slowly, his body relaxed.
“Laynie,” he whispered.
“You told me to spend time with you, and we did. When you told me you never share too much about yourself with anyone, you did with meHe sniggered. “You make it sound as though you like me.”
“I doDrake held my hand and took it off his body so he could turn and face me. “What did you just say?”
I sobbed. “I like you.”
He cupped my face, and without warning, he crushed his mouth with mine. He kissed me so deeply I forgot how to breathe for a moment.
I had never been kissed before.
Did kiss naturally taste so delicious? I could taste a slightly salty liquid mixing with our mouth, or was it my tears?
“Wait.” I pushed away from him slightly, then touched my stomach. I suddenly had a funny feeling inside. I felt it before, but it wasn’t this intense. “My stomach seems grumbling. Am I hungry? But…”
Drake chuckled and finally grinned sweetly. He smiled for the first time in two weeks because of me. “You’re not hungry.” He kissed me again, and his lips were practically eating me alive. His movement was soft, confident, and…
Oh my God. He bit my lip, practically making my legs buckle. But it was good. So good Now“He was there, and you didn’t even bother telling me, Alayna?” Brandon blurts out as soon as we’re in the penthouse, throwing his suit jacket across the room in anger. I jolt in surprise.
I don’t know what Drake’s game is anymore. He deliberately told me not to tell Brandon anything, but he flaunted his presence in front of everybody.
I’m not sure what excuse I would tell Brandon, nor would I want to make any excuses. I want to tell him so badly, but something is stopping me.
Brandon shakes his head in disappointment and loosens his necktie. “Stay the night here.”
“But Brandon—”
“It’s not a request. You’re not getting away from this.” He demands through a clenched jaw before stomping upstairs.
I collapse on the couch in frustration, slinging an arm over my eyes. How am I supposed to explain this to him?
I barely have a second to breathe when Brandon comes back downstairs, already dressed in a white shirt and gray sweatpants. He then hands me a silk lavender-colored nightgown he purchased along with the new dresses.
“Would you let me change first?” I ask.
“Fine,” he says coldly.
I hurl out a sigh and go to the bathroom, quickly slipping into the nightgown. I wash my face to remove the over-the-top makeup, then brush my hair so I’d look moderately presentable.
I find Brandon standing by the window afterward, holding a glass of liquor.
“Brandon?” I call out.
He turns around and gestures his forefinger to the couch. “Sit.”
I quietly oblige and settle on the couch properly. Brandon doesn’t sit with me, but on the sofa across from me. Eyeing me patiently, he puts his liquor glass filled with scotch on the table and folds his hands delicately on top of his lap.
“I’m leaving tomorrow, and I can’t seem to let this go. So you’re going to tell me right here. Right now. What. The fuck. Happened.” His tone is stern and unmerciful.
“I’m afraid,” I say honestly. I don’t wish to get on his nerves the night before he leaves, but I’m not planning“And that excuses your behavior?” Brandon pours more scotch into his glass, drinking it straight.
“Brandon, you shouldn’t be drinking that much—”
He slams the glass down, and I quiver in shock. “Why, Alayna? Why didn’t you tell me?”
I hang my head, unable to look at his face. “I already told you why.”
“Because you’re afraid, yes. That’s it? I know you better than that,” he accuses. “You haven’t told me anything about this man, and I respected that. You wanted your privacy, fine! But this is different.” He points his finger down. “Please don’t make me force this on Jason because we both know it won’t be good.”
My lips and my hands tremble. “Jason doesn’t know. Please don’t ask my brother anything without asking me first.”
He grunts furiously. “But that’s the problem, Alayna. You’re not telling me anything!”
“Because there’s no point,” I press.
“Then what am I supposed to do? Just let your fucking ex-boyfriend do whatever he wants and let him get into your life again?”
“He won’t. I won’t let him.”
“You were shaking when I held you earlier. As far as I’m concerned, this isI squeeze my eyes shut.
“Do you still have feelings for him?” he adds.
“No!” I deny. “How could you think of that?”
“The question is, why can’t I believe that?” his voice lowers, but his expression is displeased. He gulps his liquor straight again and puts the glass down with a loud thud.
“What now? You’re saying that you don’t trust me?” I accuse. “You speak as if I’m the one who’s lied in this relationship.”
“Withholding the truth is the same thing.” He runs his fingers to his scalp roughly then he stands up. “You probably didn’t even think of telling me about his attendance tonight. Sleep upstairs and rest,” he dismisses.
I look up at him, hurt. “How about you?”
“I’m right behind you,” he mutters.
I spring up as well. “But it’s not like that, Brandon. All my life, I tried to get away from my past. I tried to shut it down and wished I would hit my head so I wouldn’t have to constantly be reminded of all of this. Reminded of him“There’s something that what?”
“I’m not like this before. Drake, he…” My lips ache, as this is the first time I mentioned his name in front of Brandon bravely. “He still holds me. In a way. A part of me.” A tear runs down my cheek. I feel like I’ll explode at any moment.
Brandon’s eyebrows crease. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
I hug myself and sob. “You won’t understand.”
“Goddammit! Don’t cry on me right now. What did you just say?” he shouts furiously.
“But I’m not in love with him, I swear.”
“You’re not making any fucking sense right now.” He shut his eyes for a moment. “The only thing I can see is that you haven’t moved on.”
As a matter of fact, yes, I still haven’t. I hate myself more for acknowledging that “It’s hard for me to look at your face right now, Alayna,” he says gruffly. “Get upstairs before I lose my mind.” He picks up the bottle of scotch and glass and walks to the kitchen.