Beauty and the Outcast (New Hope)

Her plump lips twitch as she fights a smile.

I take it as a win. For today at least. Who knows what I’ll fuck up tomorrow?

13

Whitney

“Rise and shine, my little lush.” I peek one eye open to see Faith’s smiling face over me.

“You’re one to talk.” I roll away from her. I think we each had three or four drinks. I didn’t think that was much, but I guess for someone who’s never drank before it is. The pounding headache I have would agree.

“Knox woke me up so I’m returning the favor since you’re the reason he woke me up to begin with.” I roll back over to face her. She lets out a giggle.

At the mention of Knox a rush of everything that happened last night comes flooding back to me. I don’t know if I should hide under the covers or smile.

“Why did he wake you up about me?” She holds up a bottle of water in one hand and Advil in the other.

“So. How long have you been crushing on my twin?” She lifts a brow.

“Crap.” I hadn't even thought about it that way. I know they are brother and sister, but it’s crazy hard to remember they are freaking twins. They’re so different. “I’m sorry.”

“Nope. No way. I’m way into this romance.” Her smile as she says it makes me relax. Faith has been so good to me. I’d hate to mess up our friendship. I push myself up, taking the water from her. She shakes two pills out for me to take.

“Thanks.” I pop them in my mouth and swallow. I only really have a headache. My stomach is fine thankfully. I’m sure that had something to do with Knox pumping me full of water when we got back to the house. He made me some toast too.

“So?” Faith is chomping at the bit for details.

“I don’t know what to say. Last night was new to me.”

“Hmm.” I can almost hear her thinking. “Wait. Has he been being all grumpy and MIA because of the two of you?”

I shrug. “We had a misunderstanding after the whole Jett thing.” She knows the story. This family doesn't actually keep much from each other.

“Gah! How did I miss this?” She falls back onto the bed dramatically, making me laugh before she rolls to the side, propping her head up with her hand. “He lets you touch him. That in itself should have clued me in.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“He doesn't like people touching him. I mean Mom and I can steal some hugs from him, but other than that he’s not having it.”

“Oh.” Me kissing him out of nowhere must have freaked him the heck out. He did say I could kiss him anytime I wanted, but what if that was him trying to make me feel better?

“I think it’s safe to say the no touching rule doesn't apply to you.” I duck my head, my cheeks starting to warm. The idea that Knox doesn't want others to touch him besides me makes me feel special. But I’m not sure if that’s really even the case.

“What about the other girls he’s dated?” Gah. I should not have asked that. I so don’t want to hear about him with other girls. From what I’ve heard around school he never dates anyone that’s in high school, but if anyone knows the truth it would be Faith. My mind is still hanging on to the whole Jamie name too.

“I don’t know crap about his dating life if he has one. Why do you think I’m so shocked?”

“A girl in one of my classes asked me to set them up since I know him. She said he normally only dates girls in college. She mentioned something about the lady that works at the front desk in the office at school too.”

“I’ve never heard any of that.” She shakes her head. “People make shit up when they don’t have answers. The gossip train is in full force at Montgomery Hall Prep.”

“Most gossip starts from a sliver of truth.”

“Don’t give it any thought. If you like Knox and he’s into you, then let it happen. Knox isn’t going to step out on you. I know he can be an asshole at times, but usually there is a reason for it.”

I only nod, not sure if that’s actually a good thing. What if I made him mad one day? Would he go out and do something to get back at me? I hate to think that, but my mom’s current husband is a lot like that. If you don’t do what he wants, he’ll find a way to make you pay for it.

“Ace is picking me up to run a few errands. Want to come with?”

“No, it’s fine. Go hang with your boyfriend.”

“Meet us for lunch at least? We can go over our notes so far.”