All Grown Up (Eden High)

I sat back and listened to the men argue about what to do about this new wrinkle while I sat on some pertinent information. Mengele and her fucking bastardized Cantonese had taken me weeks to learn and decipher, but if her mind hadn’t worked pretty much like mine, I would’ve been lost. Fuck! I guess Elena got her wish after all. She always cursed me with the threat of having a kid just like myself someday.

I can’t think about that shit right now, though. I have to decide whether or not I was going to confront this rogue player or let her do her thing. I’m almost excited to see just what the hell she plans to do at the prison. I hope she’s not planning on breaking in. Shit!

Alex

Waiting for school to end was torture, and I was there to pick her up half an hour early. I spent most of the day trying not to think about tonight, or tomorrow rather, once the clock struck twelve midnight. I kept myself busy trying to help my brothers figure out what their wives were up to; it helped keep me from being a damn pervert. Now I’m sweating because, in just a few more hours, she and I will be on our way.

I must’ve checked her gifts a thousand times to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything and endure the ribbing from the others along with pointers on what to do with my woman as if I’m a virgin. At least Jace wasn’t threatening me with shit, so that’s progress. My mind ground to a halt when I saw Liz walk out the door looking like a zombified version of herself.

I hadn’t thought about the notes or Mandy in hours, something I realize now that the others had gone to great lengths to avoid for my sake. I know they want us to enjoy this time together, her and I, but seeing her brought it all back again. When she saw me and faltered in her steps, I almost wished for her sake that she’d come forward and say something, which she looked like she was about to but changed her mind at the last minute.

I almost felt bad for her because of what Track has planned for her if she doesn’t come forward, and that’s if he gets there before Jace does. “Idiot!” I muttered the word under my breath when she turned and walked away fast in the opposite direction. I shouldn’t care anyway because although she wasn’t as bad as Mandy, she’d gone along with her bullshit.

I stopped thinking about her when my girl came through the door—the smile on her face when she saw me melted my heart. I couldn’t hear what the others around her were saying but knew it had to be about me since their attention was solely focused in my direction. I got a good guess, though, when the smile left her face, and for a split second, I saw the little lost girl she used to be when these fucks were messing with her.

I started to walk towards her, ready for a fight with a group of high school girls, but I guess I’d read the situation wrong because that look fell from her face, and she lit into them. All I caught when I got close was ‘mine’; then she did one of those things my sisters-in-law are fond of doing when they're in one of their moods.

It’s a simple toss of the hair over the shoulder thing while their eyes smoldered at whoever was in their crosshairs, and she did it splendidly. I was so damn proud of her; I almost cried like a simp. But instead, I met her halfway and laid one on her in front of her friends and whoever else was there. I forgot how assholish high-school kids could be until they started the hooting and clapping as we walked away.

Cassie’s face was red with embarrassment, and I could barely get her to look at me once I got her back to the car. “Don’t think about them babe, how was your day?”

“It was fine. I could hardly concentrate, though; I wanted to be home with you and the others.” I took her hand in mine as I pulled off and raised it to my lips.

“We have the whole weekend ahead of us, and it’s your birthday. You’re going to have plenty of time to see your girls. By the way, we need to go somewhere before I take you home.” I didn’t know we were going to the island, so I hadn’t planned ahead for that. Thankfully, my mom, of all people, had made some calls and set up an appointment with a boutique owner so I could take her shopping, and Jace’s mom had her stylist coming in a few hours.