Eden High: Series 1 (Eden High 1-6)

“Yeah, we’re working on something together so the four of us are taking over your house.”

“Great, you can ride with me.” Sian chose that moment to walk out the door and of course she gave me a sly look and a wink.

“What’s going on out here?” Jared put his arm around me and turned me towards the hallway.

“Meet us at home sis.” Her mouth hung open until we were out of sight. What was this guy trying to do to me?

I was torn between wanting to disappear into the floor, because of all the stares, and wanting to just eat him up.

He didn’t seem to care that I wasn’t the thinnest or the prettiest girl, in fact as we walked, he talked to me with all his concentration focused on me, he never took his eyes off mine, and that hand stayed right where it was.

By the time we reached his car I was a bundle of nerves. “Jared, what’re we doing?” wow, I’ve never been pinned to the side of a car by a hot guy before, there’s something to say for it.

“What do you think we’re doing Red?”

I shrugged my shoulders and held my breath as I looked up at him. Why did he have to be so pretty? I just know he’s gonna break my stupid heart.

“I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you start guessing and I’ll tell you when you’re getting warm?”

And then he kissed me. Not a long tongue tangling snog fest, just a quick touch of his lips on mine.

The small contact sent shockwaves through me and I barely restrained myself from attacking him right there in the parking lot.

“You’re going to screw me over aren’t you?” He studied me in a way that made my toes curl and my heart knock against my chest.

“Over, under, from behind and a few other variations in between. Not to worry though, I’ll give you time to get used to the idea. Say about another week or so.”

When I finally got what it is he was mumbling about, I almost unhinged my jaw, my mouth fell open that far.

He chose that moment to open the car door and seat me inside. I stared straight ahead like I was strapped in a straight jacket, and the jackass just laughed, like he hadn’t just knocked me for six.

His holding my hand as he drove was the last straw for me, and I felt myself give in to the wonder of having my first boyfriend.

At least I think that’s what was going on here; either that, or I was having an out of body experience.

We kept sneaking looks at each other and I found myself more than once grinning like a fool at him.

This was going to be one hell of a school year.

Chapter 12

SIAN

It was my idea to invite the girls over for a kind of afterschool powwow, so we could make plans for the upcoming Halloween party, which apparently was so big, that it takes weeks to plan.

I also thought I’d use the opportunity to talk to Cass, but those plans went out the window when a caravan followed me home.

I pulled through the gate and down the driveway, wondering what the hell the crazy one was up to now.

“Jace what’re you guys doing here? I thought you wanted to go over plays for your big day tomorrow?”

“We are, right here where I can keep an eye on your little ass.” I rolled my eyes at him and went in the house.

Mom was a real trooper and didn’t even bat a lash at the extra bodies that tromped through her kitchen. Though her eyes did widen at the sight of the mark on my neck. Crap, I pulled my hair forward to hide it but the damage was already done.

“Ahem, there’re snacks in the bin and juice in the fridge, try to finish the milk if you can guys and please, don’t get mud on my freshly waxed floor.” She said it all with a smile on her way out the room.

The others didn’t seem to mind the extra company and the truth was I was glad that Jace was here. After the day I’d had, I was still a little raw, and not just between my thighs.

This whole thing was getting out of hand, I couldn’t help thinking that we’d gone beyond high school pranks and had now entered the world of crime and real danger.

How did she know that he had taken me to the guesthouse for our first time? And more alarming than that, why would she go to those lengths to convince me that they had slept together?

She had to know how he would react once he found out what she had done; she’s always claiming to know him so well after all.

“Come here a second babe.” Jace tugged me up from off the floor where I was helping Belle put the finishing touches on the design for her costume.

That was her thing, clothing design and she was pretty good at it, though she’s kept it hidden from everyone except her parents and Tammy until now.

“Where are we going?” No one else seemed to notice our sudden disappearance, since they were all having so much fun.

The music was loud, but not too loud to bring the parents running, and there was food and drink all over the playroom, where we’d decided to take the impromptu party.

He didn’t answer me, just led me from the playroom, which was conveniently located at the very back of the house and was right around the corner from the stairs leading down to the basement.

He took me down those stairs now without turning on the light. We didn’t go too far since the basement hadn’t been finished as yet. There were still boxes of stuff lining the walls and heavy pieces of furniture strewn around.

We got to the bottom of the stairs and he turned me to lean against the rail. “I miss you.”

His mouth came down on mine and I forgot to be afraid of being caught making out in my parents’ basement, because when Jace Saunders kiss me, nothing else matters, and all else fades away.