A Piece of Heaven (Allendale Four 1)

A red sports car pulled up next to me and rolled down the driver’s side window. Spencer propped his arm in the open window and leaned his head out. “Heaven, hey, you need a ride, sweetheart?”

“No thanks,” I said. It was hard to hear my voice over my thundering heartbeat. “I’m fine.”

“You sure? I’ve got a few minutes to spare. I’m sure we can find a way to fill it.”

Another car rolled up behind me and a shadow fell over Spencer’s face. His creepy smile dropped and his eyes darted over my shoulder. My throat constricted, feeling the fear of being enclosed. What now? Who wanted a piece of me now?

I turned and saw Oliver sitting in his forest green Mustang, the engine idling loud. “Heaven, I’ve been looking all over for you. Did you forget we have that test in calculus tomorrow?” He raised his eyebrow and leaned casually across the black leather seats. I stared into his blue eyes and knew that he was offering a lifeline—a rope to pull me back to safety. How did I know? No idea, but behind me was a shark and I needed out of the dangerous waters.

“I totally forgot.”

Oliver smiled and it was like a blessing from the gods. “I figured. Hop in.”

“Hey,” Spencer said, aggravated hurt clear on his face. “We were going to hang.”

“Sorry,” I apologized, which was dumb. Why was I apologizing to a jerk like that?

He frowned, stroking his nasty goatee, and muttered, “Whore,” under his breath and sped off.

Once he was gone I leaned into Oliver’s window. His eyes followed Spencer and his jaw tensed with controlled anger. “Thanks for saving me from that idiot. I can walk from here.”

He set his eyes on me. “You’re not walking anywhere. Not after that. Come on. I’ll give you a ride for real.”

I hesitated. Not because I didn’t trust Oliver. I didn’t think he was a jerk, but any other day would he have stopped to give me a ride? Or was it just because of my new reputation? It didn’t help that a group of students from school, including Mallory and Jennifer, were watching from the doorway of the Quick-Zip.

He frowned when he saw my expression. “Heaven, I promise. I don’t want anything but to get you home safely. Okay?”

I exhaled, feeling the tightening in my chest loosen a little. “Okay. Thank you.”

I opened the door and it groaned and creaked. Inside, I inhaled the old leather and oil permeating from the classic car. I couldn’t help but smile.

“What?”

“My dad had an old car like this. I forgot how much I missed it.”

“Oh yeah? Well buckle up and we’ll go for a ride.”

“I’d like that.” I clicked the metal belt into place.

He revved the engine and glanced over at me, floppy blonde hair falling into his eyes. It took every ounce of willpower not to push it aside. “When you’re ready, you can tell me exactly what the hell is going on. Because that look on your face? It’s not one I ever want to see again.”

I nodded and looked out the window. The kids were watching me—us. Mallory’s jaw was slack with disbelief, and jealousy was written all over Jennifer’s face. I was in the car with Oliver Baldwin. One of the Allendale Four. Sure, they may all think I’m there because I’m nothing but a trashy whore, but looking over at the handsome, sweet boy next to me, I realized I didn’t care.

I knew the truth and that was all that mattered. Oliver peeled out of the parking lot, taking me away from the stares and scrutiny. I knew the truth…at least that’s what I told myself.

*

I don’t know why, but I told Oliver the truth too, and now he sat next to me with a completely dumbfounded look on his face.

“So what you’re telling me is you pretended to have sex with Justin Blackwood, who was worried about his status as a virgin.”

“Yes.”

“And this could be because he may or may not be gay, but mostly because the other guys in Oceanside were harassing him.”

“Right.”

“Some snotty girls shared the photo all over social media, a Fakestagram was born and now you’re the one with a bad reputation.”