Grievance: Volume 1 Page 7

  "Why do you care?” Dax asked.

  “She’s one of Connor’s best friends,” Noelle said.

  “Oh yeah, that’s right. I forget sometimes how long they’ve all been friends. It must be sickening to always feel like an outsider around them.”

  “Are you fishing for something?”

  “Me? No. I’m just offering you a job,” Dax said.

  “Can I think about it?”

  “Absolutely, just don’t take too long. There are other girls out there who would jump at this chance.”

  “Whatever, are we done here? I’ve got a boyfriend to get ready for.”

  “That was it,” he said, handing her back her phone. “Leave it off and I guarantee you’ll get more action.”

  “How?” Noelle asked.

  “He’s more than likely tried to call you back a couple of times already. He’ll come rushing over here to check on you and be so grateful you’re all right that you might even get a little hand action.”

  Noelle grinned and tossed her phone to the couch. “You’re a genius,” she said.

  “More than you’ll ever know.” Dax opened the door, and smiled as he left.

  Chapter Ten

  Kristen/Emmitt/Connor

  Idling in her driveway, Kristen debated whether she could handle going inside. Going back to Emmitt's wasn’t an option. After the way she ran out; she wouldn’t be able to face him for awhile. Ultimately, it was the chime of her gas light which helped her decide. She killed the engine and stared up at her bedroom window, hoping to not have the same crazy reaction she had around Brian.

  Kristen barely opened her car door, when Tristin came down the walkway, dressed like she had a date. It was just like her to decimate Kristen’s life and go out to party afterwards. It pissed Kristen off that she could still feel hurt by her sister’s actions. Why couldn’t she be as heartless as Tristin? Why did she still wish things were different between them? Even after what she did with Brian, the question still swelled in her throat: Why do you hate me so much? You’re supposed to be my sister!

  "Welcome back," Tristin said as though the past twenty hours hadn’t happened.

  Kristen grabbed her bag and slid out of the car, enraged by the sound of her sister’s voice. She wasn’t about to stand around and listen to Tristin’s gloating. The closer she got the more urgent her desire to shove Tristin to the ground and bludgeon her with her own spiked heels . She clenched her fists to calm the surge of rage rushing through her veins. Kristen rammed Tristin’s shoulder as hard as she could without knocking them both over, but it didn’t do a thing to calm the need for revenge.

  "I changed your sheets and blankets, if it helps," Tristin said.

  Kristen paused and turned to see Tristin rubbing her shoulder. Did she really think she was doing Kristen a favor? "What would’ve helped me was you not tricking my boyfriend into bed."

  "Well, I don't have a time machine so ‘sorry’ is the best you're going to get."

  "You can keep it, because it doesn't mean anything."

  Screeching tires drew their attention to the street. It only took a second to recognize Tristin’s girlfriend, Chelsea, and her bright blue hair as she stomped up the driveway carrying a box.

  "Hey, I was just on my way to–" Tristin was cut off by Chelsea dumping the box’s contents all over her head.

  "Did you think I wouldn't see it? You couldn’t be woman enough to just tell me you're into guys now?” she asked.

  "It wasn't like that." Tristin said.

  "Which part, the sleeping with your sister’s boyfriend, or the fact that you cheated on me with a dude?"

  Kristen’s heart warmed when Chelsea pushed her sister to the ground and proceeded to whack her over the head with a stuffed frog. "What? Cat got your tongue. Tell me which part wasn't the truth!"

  "I will, as soon as you stop hitting me," Tristin yelled.

  Chelsea paused and waited for an answer.

  “It was a joke,” Tristin said as she got to her feet. “It didn’t mean anything.”

  "No, you're wrong. It did mean something. You wanted to hurt your sister so bad that you would sacrifice us to do it," Chelsea said.

  "This wasn't about her," Tristin said, finally noticing that Kristen was still there. “I didn’t do it for that.”

  “If this wasn’t about me then what was it about?” Kristen yelled. How dare she try and lie her way out of this.

  “Look, I said it wasn’t about you, now go,” Tristin said.

  "So you do have a thing for him?” Chelsea asked almost in tears.

  “No.”

  Kristen could tell her sister was lying, which only made her more upset, but it was more jealousy than hurt. Could she really have a thing for Brian? No, there’s no way. She was just trying to get Chelsea to forgive her.

  “She’s lying,” Kristen said. Chelsea was always nice to her, despite how much it annoyed her sister and Kristen always felt she deserved better.

  “Would you shut up? This isn’t about you!” Tristin yelled. "Chelsea, let's just go somewhere and talk about this. I promise, I can explain."

  "What for? We're done," she said heading back to her car. Tristin glanced back at Kristen before running after Chelsea. Kristen decided she’d seen enough.

  She took a deep breath as she approached the front door. She didn't feel dizzy or sweaty so she turned the knob and rushed up to her room before anyone spotted her.

  Once inside, she squeezed her eyes shut as she sat on the floor with her back to the bed. She couldn’t look at it without her chest aching so she curled up on the floor and rested her head on her purse, with her phone buzzing inside.

  ***

  Emmitt texted Kristen to see if she was coming back, but didn’t get a reply. He felt better with people around him, but he also wanted some time to himself. The panic attack earlier still lingered in the back of his mind. They had never been that intense before. It felt so real at the moment, but now that he was looking back on it he didn’t see why he got so freaked out.

  Maybe it was because of Hannah. She lost her dad to drugs and it completely devastated her. She was so anti-substance Emmitt couldn’t even drink around her. The news about Sean being on steroids would definitely break them up, but not without crushing her. She already felt like her dad chose drugs over her, and now Sean had done the same thing.

  “Hey, I need to go check on Noelle, we got cut off and she’s not picking up,” Connor said as he exited the bathroom.

  “Oh yeah, I believe that,” Emmitt grinned. “If you want to ditch me to make out with your girl, just say so.”

  “I’m not. I’m just worried about her. She doesn’t live in the best part of town.”

  “Wait, isn’t Crissana one of the safest cities in the country?” Brian asked from the spot on the floor he had fallen onto minutes prior. Emmitt had no idea he was such a lightweight, but at least it got him to stop whining about Kristen. He had even given up a few details about Tristin.

  “He can’t drive,” Connor said to Emmitt.

  “Well he can’t stay,” Emmitt said.

  “I can walk,” Brian said, pushing himself up by his arms only to fall back down.

  Connor rolled his eyes and punched Emmitt in the arm.

  “Ouch! What the hell?” Emmitt asked.

  “The liquor was your dumb idea.”

  “It worked, didn’t it?”

  “Yeah, but now I have to drive him home.”

  “What’s the big deal? It’s on your way. Unless, you had other plans than just checking on your girlfriend.”

  “We’re out of here. Brian, let’s go,” Connor said, pulling Brian up by the back of his shirt.

  “I’m just saying give the girl what she wants already,” Emmitt grinned.

  “And what if it’s not what I want?” Connor asked, helping Brian out the window.

  “Then maybe she’s not who you want. Trust me there’s a girl out there that would make you for
get all about your little purity pledge, you just haven’t met her yet.”

  “Goodnight Emmitt,” Connor said, pretending to ignore the statement.

  ***

  Damn Emmitt and his theories. Not sleeping with Noelle didn’t mean that he didn’t love her. She was sweet, beautiful, and patient, most days. His heart had been broken by so many girls that couldn’t accept his choice. He wasn’t a perfect guy and some even considered him to be a tease. That was why no matter how dramatic Noelle got he wouldn’t leave her, because she stuck by him and was willing to find alternative ways to getting what she needed, which was why he couldn’t wait to get to her house, after he dropped Brian off.

  “Did I tell you about how she wound her hips?” Brian asked.

  “I heard you through the door,” Connor said, guiding him to his car.

  “It was like…the best I had, best I ever had, best I ever had…” Brian sang.

  “Brian, Emmitt was the one who wanted details. I’m the one who didn’t want to hear it.”

  “Oh yeah, you’re the virgin. My bad man, how the hell do you do that?”

  “Prayer,” Connor said, unlocking his doors. “Now get in the backseat, and try not to puke.”

  “Then why is she texting you?” a guy yelled.

  Connor and Brian both looked up when they heard shouting, that’s when he spotted Sean’s truck. He quickly pulled Brian down beside his car and tried to listen in.

  “You know what? Get out of my car. Go chat it up with your old buddy!” Sean yelled.

  The passenger door opened and Connor could barely see Hannah.

  “Um, why are we down here?” Brian asked.

  “I just want to see something,” Conner whispered.

  It wasn’t like Sean and Hannah never argued, but Connor didn’t like his tone or the way he appeared to be controlling Hannah’s life. Everyone believed it was Hannah’s choice to stick by him, but the way she was acting, he was starting to think Emmitt was right about Sean keeping her away.

  Sean sped off and Connor watched Hannah walk to her front door, with a limp she didn’t have earlier. She was holding her wrist, but it was the porch light shining on her face that made his fist clench.

  “What?” Brian asked as Connor pulled him closer.

  “Look real hard and tell me if it looks like she’s crying,” Connor said, grinding his teeth.

  EPISODE 3

  Three things cannot long stay hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

  Buddha

  Chapter One

  Tristin/Connor/Hannah

  Hiding under her covers offered Tristin no escape from the memory of Brian’s touch. Even when she opened her eyes she could still feel his hands traveling up her thighs, his breath on her neck, and the crush of his lips against hers. She hadn’t talked to Chelsea in days. The whole school was giving her the evil eye, and Emmitt had been calling nonstop. If she had known hooking up with Brian would’ve caused this much trouble—nope—not even with all the fallout could she bring herself to regret it.

  Emmitt obviously couldn’t wait to chew her out. It was six on the dot when his first text woke her. Then came the instant messages on her computer; he even sent her a Skype invite. There were so many chimes and bells going off, her room sounded like a slot machine.

  Tristin checked the time on her phone while still hiding under the covers.

  “Seven-twenty two. I’ll kill him,” she whispered, just as a pic of him covered in whipped cream appeared on her iPhone. She’d snapped it during last year’s county fair. Connor was always talking them into doing the cheesiest crap.

  “The person you are trying to reach is trying to sleep,” Tristin answered.

  “Get your butt up, get over here, and bring some food. I’m starving.”

  “Look, I know your little whoa-is-me act has been working on everyone else, but I’m not your errand girl.”

  “You are today. Unless you want the Sun Vlogger to get that pic of you with your braces caught on my swim trunks.”

  News of her and Brian had already amped up the attention she got from boys. Anymore bad press would all but ensure Chelsea would never take her back. Tristin couldn’t think of a single moment of her life Emmitt didn’t know about, which meant he knew too much for her to ever piss him off. He had accepted she was gay before she even admitted it to herself, unlike Connor. Resorting to blackmail meant he really wanted to see her.

  “One, you should never have dived in after me. You’re lucky you didn’t give me a concussion. And two, you promised you’d never show that photo to anyone,” Tristin said.

  “I changed my mind when you stopped answering my calls. Now hurry up.” He was starting to sound like his normal, pushy self again, which Tristin could have appreciated if he weren’t barking orders at her. Arguing with him was no use since he always managed to persuade her anyway.

  “I’ll be there in an hour,” she said with a huff.

  “You’ve got thirty minutes. And make sure my food’s still hot,” he said before he hung up.

  Maybe spending some time with Emmitt would do her good. He could help her find the screw loose in her head. She missed Chelsea like crazy, but no matter how hard she tried denying it, she wanted to be with Brian again.

  There was a twenty-pound question on her shoulders, as if there was even a decision to make. Brian would never speak to her again, and even if he did, it wasn’t like he would feel the same way she did, if she even knew what that was. Tristin hoped hooking up with him would finally get him out of her head, but it did the opposite. All week she watched him staring at the walls as if he were lost. She wanted to talk to him, but she was afraid of what might come out, given her delusional confession of love and all. Chelsea was who she really loved and should have been the only one Tristin was thinking about. The whole situation gave her a migraine. She needed air and maybe an exorcist to get Brian out of her head.

  ***

  Connor stood in the doorway watching Noelle assembling care packages at the church’s food bank. She had no idea how sexy she looked with her short hair pulled back and her ratty t-shirt half tucked into her shorts. He grinned, thinking how blessed he was to have someone so beautiful and giving. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, but there were plenty of perfect moments.

  They were alone for the first time that morning and Connor decided to sneak up behind her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. “You better be my boyfriend,” Noelle said as he kissed her neck.

  “Or what?” Connor asked as he inhaled her citrusy lotion. He slipped his hands under her shirt and Noelle gasped.

  “Someone might see us,” she said.

  Connor spun her around to face him and lifted her onto the table without objection. There were a dozen volunteers who could walk in at any minute, but that was part of the fun. Connor enjoyed testing his boundaries, within reason. Besides, there was nothing wrong with copping a feel of his gorgeous girlfriend. He gripped her thighs, pulling her as close as possible, tasting her silky lips and skin. The pressure of balancing his values and her needs wasn’t easy, but he was determined to honor both.

  Noelle tugged at his belt and he pulled her hands away. “Sorry, force of habit,” she said out of breath.

  “Yeah, I know,” Connor said, tucking his shirt back in as he pecked her lips, “You good?”

  “I was until you came in here and attacked me. Now all I want to do is go park somewhere.” She pulled him closer, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  The visual of their perfect alignment would inspire countless fantasies for him later, but the voices down the hall prevented him from kissing her the way he knew she wanted him to.

  “Noelle…”

  “Don’t,” she said pushing him away. “I already know what you’re going to say. Just go before I force myself on you.”

  Connor grinned and helped her down. “I love you.”

  “You’re lucky I love you too, or else you would be so dumped righ
t now.” She grinned and pulled him down for one last kiss.

  Despite being the most attention-obsessed girl in school, there was so much he loved about her, but mostly how she found a way to love him when other girls just gave up. That made her special. He hooked onto her belt loops, pulling her even closer than before.

  “And people call me the horny one. Would you go find something else to do?” Noelle pushed him away.

  “Okay, I’ll go, but I’ll be thinking about you while I’m gone.” Connor peeked over his shoulder as he headed for the door and saw her watching him. He loved how much she wanted him.

  ***

  With an ache at every turn, Hannah hadn’t gotten much sleep. She expected the first week of school to be rough for Sean, but being the only person to stand by him also meant standing in the line of fire.

  Yesterday had literally reached a new low. Texting Kristen with him around wasn’t the smartest idea, but Hannah wasn’t about to turn her back on her friend again, and she told him that to his face. He responded with the soles of his Reeboks. Now she was purple from her hips to her knees and too exhausted to do it all over again today.

  There was no sign of her Sean anymore. The hate in his eyes, as she failed to block his kicks, hurt just as much as his abuse. Even with his temper, Hannah felt bad for wishing he’d just go away. She wanted to help him, but his anger ran too deep. He was losing himself, hell he might have already been too far gone, but Hannah believed with all her heart that if she stayed with him that her Sean would come back.

  She couldn’t even understand how she’d become “that girl.” Hannah was nothing like those girls who were abused by their boyfriends. She had her own voice and her own life, or at least she used to. It seemed to have vanished after the accident, when he had forced her to choose sides. At the time she thought she was doing the right thing. Everyone blamed Sean for the accident, even his family, but Hannah knew he could never intentionally hurt someone. Or at least she used to think that.

  Things probably wouldn’t have been so volatile if Connor hadn’t insisted on stalking her between classes. It wasn’t like him to be so badgering, but she figured he was just worried.