Jackson (Broken Hill Boys 2)

I grab my shit and head out to my locker. It’s only lunchtime so I still have a few more hours of school to endure before I can get my ass home and climb into bed with the chance to forget that today ever happened.

Maybe I’ll call mom’s masseur and see if she can make a last-minute appointment this afternoon. Maybe I’ll see if she’s got time for Chloe too. After all, she’s been a little stressed about exams lately. She’s my little nerd girl like Brylee and I don’t doubt that they’re both going to go far in life.

I walk down the busy corridor, bumping into the other students as they hurry to get their things in their lockers so they can make the most of their lunch break. I stop by my locker and do just that before sliding my phone out of my back pocket and scrolling through my contact list, searching for our masseur’s number.

An arm curls around my waist before a body presses into my side and I glance up to find Jackson grinning down at me. “Come with me,” he murmurs, giving me only the briefest second to close my locker before pulling me away at a pace that I can hardly keep up with.

He pulls me along until he comes to a door that says ‘staff only’ and I hold back, but he tugs on my arm and pulls me straight through the door, leading us into a spiral stair-well. “Where are we going?” I whisper-yell, terrified of getting caught in here and then having to explain to my parents why I got suspended from school.

“Just…trust me, okay? I promise you’ll like it.”

I groan but allow Jackson to keep pulling me up the stairs and I’m once again reminded that my fitness levels are dropping, and if I intend to keep spending time with this guy, maybe I should do something about that.

My skin burns under his touch and I find his excitement contagious. “How much longer?” I pant, trying not to die on our way up.

“We’re nearly there,” he says. “Just a few more.”

As promised, we reach the very top of the stairwell and he breaks through yet another door that reads ‘staff only.’

I find myself screeching to a halt as I come flying through the door behind Jackson. We’re on a garden rooftop at the highest point of the school which overlooks everything and showcases the mountains in the distance and the beaches of Haven Falls to my right. Absolutely everything is seen. The train lines, the old mall, even the mountain resort in the hills.

“Wow,” I breathe, taking it all in.

“I know, right. Pretty fucking awesome, huh?”

I walk through an incredible, blooming garden to get to the edge of the building and peer over the side to get the full view. “Awesome?” I scoff. “That’s an understatement. This is simply spectacular. It’s incredible. How did you know this was up here?”

Jackson comes and stands behind me, placing a hand at each of his hips as he looks out over my shoulder. “I didn’t,” he says. “I just found out this morning while playing a bit of a…uh, prank on Jesse and realized that I had to bring you up here.”

I turn in his arms, looking up at that face that has begun to capture me in ways that I can’t even begin to understand. “Do I even want to know?”

He shakes his head as he tries to hold back a devilish grin. “Trust me, it’s better if you’re left in the dark on this one.”

Oh, geez. The possibilities of this are endless. All I know is that no matter what, I will be steering clear of Jesse Ryder for the rest of the day. Maybe the rest of the week just to be safe. “You know, you and Jesse would probably be really great friends if you just gave each other a chance.”

Jackson laughs. “That’s never going to happen, babe. Besides, the guy is dating my sister now, it’s only natural for me to hate him.”

“You two are such boys.”

“Why thank you,” he grins wide.

I roll my eyes at his display, but can’t help but steal a moment to glance around the rooftop. There’s a beautiful garden to one side and some expensive seating that looks as comfortable as my couch at home, but that’s absolutely nothing compared to the basketball court, private bathrooms, and outdoor kitchen area that seems to spread the whole way over the top of the building. I mean, I know it’s a private school which in turn comes with high fees, but this is just taking advantage. It certainly pays to be a staff member of Broken Hill High.

“This place…” I murmur, unable to find the words.

“I know,” he laughs. “The teachers are up here living the life while we’re down there all jammed packed into the cafeteria like sardines.”