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

I don’t want you standing around out there, it’ll be dark by the time we get back so go straight home and I’ll come and get you after.”

“Fine mister worrywart.” I dropped her off at her class, which was just about to start, before heading for my own.

I wasn’t too worried about those girls fucking with her at the game, because I’d pretty much dealt with that shit, but I still didn’t trust any of them around her.

Things had been kind of strange on the Mandy front. She was acting almost rational which, I knew to be a crock, which meant she was up to something and her something here of late has always involved my girl.

I was giving serious thought to tagging her, the way dad had mom tagged. I don’t know why I hadn’t done it already.

I should get on that this weekend. The trick was to tag her without her knowing it. If I had been thinking I would’ve put it in her engagement ring, but my mind hadn’t been there then.

Shit, she was right. I was turning into an old woman; no wonder dad had so much shit going on. Whoever said this love shit was all flowers and music hadn’t done love in the twenty-first fucking century.

It was headaches and worrying and not wanting to let her out of your sight for fear that something might go wrong and you wouldn’t be there to help her.

‘I finally get it dad.’ For years he’d been trying to explain what I jokingly called his psychosis, but fuck, if I didn’t have the same illness.

Chapter 6

SIAN

Wow, I had no idea our guys were this good. The crowd was going wild as Jace threw for his fourth touchdown of the night.

It was an away game, but you couldn’t tell from the number of Eden High supporters in the stands.

I kept my eyes on Jace the whole time he was on the field, which was a lot, since his defense was kicking ass.

I was so excited for him, because there were scouts here tonight; men that could help him achieve his dream.

He’s only been talking my ear off about it for the last week. I was excited for him and a little apprehensive.

He will be going away to college a whole year before I do. He’d already informed me that I will be attending the same university as he, and I have no real say in the matter.

But what about that year in between, what if he meets someone else? Our relationship had just started and it will be a whole year before I had to actually worry about such things, but each time the thought crossed my mind I felt sick and scared.

I should’ve known that he would pull what he did after the game, when he ran off the field and snatched me up in his arms to the roar of the crowd.

“I think I should always fuck you twice before a game babe, that was my best day on the field yet. Don’t forget what I told you, straight home off the bus.”

“I remember, stop fussing and have fun, is your dad going to be in the locker room with you?”

“Yeah, that’s always been the plan, come I’ll walk you to the bus.” There were a lot of stops for congratulations and our friends were being their usual noisy selves.

“I wish you could ride back with us.”

“Yeah I know, but those are the rules. I have to ride back on the bus with the other girls, Belle.”

“Fine, then we’ll see you there. Don’t forget we’re coming over to Jace’s place tomorrow to celebrate so you two lovebirds don’t stay up too late tonight.”

I shooed them away once we all made it to the bus. There was a lot of chaos and commotion with everyone trying to get to where they needed to be so they didn’t get left behind.

I saw Jace turn and wave to me before he got on the bus with the rest of his team. I still didn’t understand why the cheers and the team couldn’t ride together, but apparently there had bee an incident a few years ago that changed everything. Whatever! The game was over and I was looking forward to tonight.

I rushed back to the seat all the way in the back, my mind already on what clothes I was going to pack for my first overnight visit with my guy.

My phone beeped with a text and I shook my head even as I laughed and made my way back off the bus. The coach wasn’t here yet, I still had five minutes at least to spare.

Chapter 7

JACE

Where the fuck is she? I’d been home for almost an hour already. Which means she had more than enough time to get home and shower and be waiting for me to pick her up.

All my calls had gone to voicemail and she wasn’t returning them. My gut knew that something wasn’t right, but I refused to let my mind go there.

I admit that I’d been feeling that something wasn’t right. I put it off as this damn secret she’s been keeping, but now...

I was about to head out the door when the doorbell rang. I pulled it open, ready to blast her for driving here alone this time of night, but my words died in my throat.

“Jared, what happened?” The look on his face, plus the way he just looked at me as if he couldn’t form the words, and I knew.

I wasn’t aware of falling until dad caught me. “Where is she, what happened to her? Tell me.” I knew she wasn’t dead, I would’ve known if she were dead.

I should’ve known, all day I kept feeling that something was wrong. Why hadn’t I just insisted she ride with me, fuck the rules?

“She’s gone.”

“Gone where, where the fuck is she?”

“We don’t know; mom and dad are waiting for a ransom note or something, but so far nothing.”

“How long has she been gone?”

“Since the game, she didn’t come back on the bus with the other girls and no one else can remember seeing her since we left the field.”