Oblivion

RAINEY

“You know, it’s kind of surprising your mom hasn’t started griping about me being here yet.”

Riley’s trying to tie the plaid tie around her neck, her face scrunching up when it ends up looking more like a knotted mess than a tie.

“Let me help you with that.” I flash her a soft smile, quickly pulling on my boots before joining her by the mirror.

“My dad had a talk with her. It’s the least she can do after not telling me you were in the hospital.”

I start to tie her tie, the thick end crossing over the narrow one, while she watches my reflection in the mirror.

“Do you think that’s why she’s being nice? Or maybe she’s starting to like me.”

I can’t help but scoff. ~Yeah, right.~

I tighten the tie under her collar, adjusting the perfectly formed knot. She wrinkles her nose, looking displeased.

“This is just a piece of fabric hanging around my neck. I look like a rottweiler, for crying out loud.”

I laugh. “It’s not that bad.” I step back, giving her outfit a once-over. “Your skirt seems a bit short though.”

“I had to ask the lady to take a few inches off. I looked like a nun before, Rainey.”

I giggle. “Just hope Cameron doesn’t notice. Are all the skirts this short?” I put my wrist band in my mouth, gathering my hair up into a messy bun.

The number one rule for girls at Crosshill is no short skirts. But somehow Olivia always gets away with wearing hers thigh-length. I guess having a mom as the headmistress has its advantages.

“No, the rest are like wedding dresses.”

I chuckle, sitting on my bed to tie my shoelaces.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask…”

“Yeah?”

“Why were you and Ansel coming out of the bathroom together yesterday?”

My hands freeze on my shoelaces as the memory of Ansel’s naked body flashes in my mind. I shake my head, trying to clear the image.

Ever since that incident, I’ve had a hard time focusing on anything else. Even when Riley and I were at the mall yesterday, I was distracted. It felt like part of me was still in that bathroom, where Ansel had held me from behind.

My cheeks heat up, and Riley spins around, grinning as she tries to get a look at my face.

I try to keep a straight face as I finish tying my shoelaces, but I must not be doing a very good job because she starts to giggle.

“You’re blushing. Oh my God.” She leans against my dresser, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened. I—I just kind of walked in on him when he was naked.”

Just saying the words makes my breathing uneven. I suddenly feel hot and sit up, unbuttoning my blouse a bit to let in some air.

Riley’s mouth drops open. “Wait—what?”

“It was an accident.”

“Oh my God,” she gasps, rushing over to sit in front of me. I think she’s forgotten we have school this morning.

“Okay, okay. I’m so excited. Tell me, what did it look like?”

I can’t believe what she’s asking. “What are you talking about, Ry?”

“You know, his…size.” She whispers the last word, and I can feel my face turning the color of a ripe tomato.

I don’t understand how Riley can be so bold when talking about other people’s sex lives, but she gets all shy when it’s about her own.

“Um…”

I think back to Ansel’s naked body. I didn’t exactly study it, but what I saw was hard to miss.

More specifically, ~his size was hard to miss.~ It’s the first thing anyone would notice.

I unbutton my shirt a bit more, trying to cool down. “Do I really have to say?”

“Yes, or I’ll bug you about it all day!”

She clasps her hands together, and I know she won’t let this go. “Big? Small? Medium?”

I’m not exactly an expert on this subject, but I think I can make a pretty good guess about which category Ansel falls into.

I fiddle with my tie, feeling nervous. “The first one.”

Riley gasps dramatically, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God. Really?”

I nod.

“Wow.” Her eyes are wide with surprise. “So he’s smart, good-looking, and well-endowed. He’s like a dream. I can’t believe it.

“Just think about it. If you two were to have sex—”

“That’s enough,” I laugh, standing up while Riley grins at me.

“Where are you going? We’re not done talking!”

“Yes, we are. Come on, get up. Do you want to be late on your first day?”

She groans, flopping back onto the bed.

I laugh at her dramatics as my phone dings from the nightstand. I pick it up, brushing some stray hair out of my eyes, still smiling.

Ansel

Good Morning, we are almost there. Are you guys ready?

“Is that the ~big guy~?” Riley props herself up on her elbows, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

“Ry, don’t call him that. And you can’t tell him I told you about that.”

“I won’t,” she giggles, pretending to zip her lips shut. I can’t help but laugh as I type out a response.

“Are they close?” She grabs her backpack from the bed, and I follow suit, slipping my phone into my skirt pocket.

“Almost. Let’s wait on the porch.”

***

We exit my room and start our descent down the stairs. I can’t help but chuckle as Riley continues to fiddle with her necktie.

She’ll need some time to adjust to this. I remember feeling the same way on my first day.

“Ry, quit messing with it. You’re going to wreck it.”

“I feel like I’m suffocating.”

I burst into laughter, leaning against the stair rail for support.

“Seriously, Rain. I can’t breathe.”

“If you couldn’t breathe, you wouldn’t be talking.”

My laughter abruptly stops when I spot my mom at the kitchen island. She’s holding her phone, shaking her head with a look of concern.

Normally, I’d breeze past her without a word, but her expression is so troubled that I can’t help but wonder if something’s seriously wrong.

“Everything okay?” I halt, causing Riley to nearly collide with me from behind. She steadies herself and looks at my mom with the same curiosity.

My mom sighs, pushing her hair back. “No. I haven’t heard from Jeff. He left for the gym yesterday, and I haven’t seen him since.”

Riley and I exchange glances, and an uncomfortable silence fills the room. I honestly don’t know what to say. I really don’t care.

“Um…have you tried calling his friend or—”

“Obviously, Rainey.” She rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed. “That’s a stupid question.

“Of course I called Greg. Do you think I’d just sit here and not do that? God, don’t ask dumb questions. I’m not in the mood.”

I raise my hands in surrender. “Okay, fine. I was just trying to help.”

She closes her eyes, waving me off. “Just go to school, please.”

~With pleasure.~

My mom seems determined to keep our feud alive. No matter how hard I try to mend our relationship, she always finds a way to remind me why I keep my distance.

“Let’s go, Ry.”

Riley nods, but there’s a strange look on her face as she follows me out the door, glancing back at my mom with a furrowed brow.

We wait on the porch for the brothers to arrive. The morning is bright and sunny, tempered by a cool breeze that balances the atmosphere.

My mom’s frustrated muttering can be heard from where we stand, and I shake my head, reaching into my pocket for a pack of gum.

~I wish I cared. But I honestly don’t. Not after what that man and his friend did to me.~

I unwrap a piece and pop it into my mouth, then offer the pack to Riley. She shakes her head and tightens her grip on her bag straps, that odd look still on her face.

I sigh. “What? Why are you making that face?”

She shrugs, scuffing her boot against the porch. “What do you think happened to Jeff?”

I bite my lip and put the gum away, shrugging. “I don’t know. I don’t care. If he died, I wouldn’t care either.”

She stares at the ground after my response, her lips twisting in thought, and I let out a heavy sigh, tilting my head to the side.

“What, you feel sorry for him?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what?”

She turns to me, and I see a guilty look in her green eyes.

“Rain, I actually told Al—”

Beep Beep!

We both look toward the gate, where Alex’s car is now parked.

He waves at us from the driver’s seat, and we quickly head down to the car, our earlier worries forgotten at the sight of our boyfriends.

I see Ansel’s dark hair over Alex’s shoulder, and my cheeks instantly flush.

We slide into the back seat, and the fresh, clean scent of the boys fills my nostrils. I’m not sure if it’s cologne or body wash, but it smells amazing and distinctly masculine.

The windows are rolled up, and the air conditioning is on, causing goosebumps to form on my bare thighs.

Alex kisses Riley, and Ansel turns to smile at me. Unable to hide my excitement, I scoot to the edge of my seat, resting my arms on his. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” He gives me a quick kiss, and a warm feeling spreads through my stomach.

~I’ll never get used to his greetings.~

He licks his lips, and his eyes meet mine. There’s a spark of desire in them.

“Your lips taste good.” He bites his lower lip, and I blush uncontrollably, not just because of the intensity in his gaze but also because of how handsome he looks right now.

He’s wearing his glasses today and, as always, his uniform is perfectly pressed. Whoever ironed his clothes did an excellent job—the creases in his pants are sharp and precise.

His wrist is adorned with a wooden bracelet and a Rolex watch. I notice the promise ring on his finger, and a wave of satisfaction washes over me.

I made sure to wear mine too, along with the necklace he gave me. Even though Crosshill has a strict no-necklaces rule, I can’t bear to leave it behind.

It gives me a sense of comfort and security, much like being near him does.

“It’s probably the gum.” I smile, and he returns it, his dimples making his grin even more heart-stopping.

“You okay?” There’s a hint of concern in his eyes as he gently strokes my cheek, and for some reason, I detect a touch of sadness in them.

I nod, leaning into his touch. His presence is always so comforting. “I’m fine. You?”

He rests his head against the headrest, his gaze never leaving mine. “Just tired.”

I can see it. His Sunday must have been a whirlwind. Even though his body language screams exhaustion, his eyes still have the power to make my heart flutter. They’re so full of determination and intensity.

“Al, you look beat too. What did you guys do today?” Riley toys with Alex’s black earring, shooting a glance at Ansel. Both of them wear odd expressions.

“Just ran some errands around town.” Alex drums his fingers on the steering wheel, nodding along to the soft music playing on the radio.

“Did I mention how hot you look in your uniform, Ry? I couldn’t take my eyes off your legs when you were walking towards the car.”

Her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink, and I can’t help but chuckle. She was so forward earlier, but now a few words from Alex have her blushing like a schoolgirl.

“Thanks.”

“I don’t want any of those Crosshill guys ogling you. I’d hate to have to pay one of them a visit. Ansel, can you keep an eye on her for me?”

Ansel grins at his brother’s request. “Sure.”

“I’ll swing by to pick you guys up later.” Alex turns onto the street leading to Crosshill, and Ansel takes my hand in his, our fingers intertwining.

He presses a kiss to my knuckles. “Want to come over after school?”

I smile as he rubs his thumb over my hand. “Yeah, okay.”