HIDDEN CREEK FOREVER: a hidden creek high novel, page 11
There was a moment of peace that hit me. When everything was completely quiet. Just the faint noise of the ocean. Where time slipped through my head, leaving me thinking about how long I had left until Aira was mine for good. Where we could set up here in Hidden or just hit the road and say fuck it and do whatever we wanted to do.
It was almost too perfect to believe in.
Too perfect to believe in…
“Wes.”
I turned and saw Aira standing in the doorway to the house.
Her face…
“What happened?”
“It’s about Emma…”
* * *
I met everyone in the parking lot of HCH.
Of all the fucking places to be.
On a day when we didn’t need to be there.
“She wasn’t at Liam’s,” Charlotte said.
“Well, she was at the fight,” Nova said. “She left with Eric.”
“But where did they fucking go?” Kailey yelled.
“So nobody’s heard from her?” I asked.
“Nobody,” Aira said. “We’ve called. Texted. I mean…”
“What?” Charlotte asked.
“We can call the cops,” I said.
“No,” Flynn said. “They won’t listen to us. We need to go to her house.”
“Or just go look for her,” Leo said. “Instead of standing around like fools.”
“I’m going to call Ryker,” I said. My eyes went to Kailey. Her face dropped. “He was looking at Eric. Or at least he had his worries.”
“He likes her, huh?” Kailey asked.
“No,” I said. “He likes you. But he’s got my blood. We’re assholes, Kailey. Every single one of us.”
She swallowed hard and nodded.
“Let’s just find her,” Nova said as she took Kailey’s hand.
“We need to look everywhere,” I said. “Just split up and go. I’ll take Aira over to Emma’s place.”
“We can go back to Liam’s,” Kailey said. “I mean, maybe she showed up? Late?”
“Do that and then hit the beach,” I said.
“The piers,” Nova said.
“I’ll have Ryker and Walker check the Tech area,” I said.
“I’ll work my way back toward BFH,” Leo said. “But I won’t get too close. Don’t worry. They have to be somewhere.”
“I hate that fucking guy,” Charlotte said. “And I don’t even know him. And I hate the way Emma gets when she falls for someone.”
“We can get mad at her later,” I said. “First, we find her ass.”
We all split up and Aira sat in the passenger seat of my SUV with her phone out. I could tell she was secretly hoping that Emma would just call or text.
“So, this shit with Ryker is getting fun,” I said.
“It’s a mess,” Aira said. “He had a thing for Emma. Then he fucked Kailey. Asshole.”
“Nah,” I said. “Kailey enjoyed it.”
“Seriously?”
“Emma gave him the cold shoulder anyway,” I said. “I think they’re all stupid.”
“You’re so comforting right now, Wes,” Aira said.
“Don’t get pissed at me.”
“Too late.”
“Fine,” I said. “The madder you get, the hotter you are in bed.”
“I’ll never be in your bed again,” she said.
“You weren’t in my bed last night, darling,” I said with a wink. “And you were pretty wild…”
Aira’s cheeks turned red.
I laughed.
“You know, nothing about this is funny,” Aira said. “Everything happening.”
“I know, darling. We’ll find Emma.”
“Finding her doesn’t fix anything.”
“She’ll figured it out. Some people just aren’t meant to be together. And until shit gets…”
I let the words fall away.
Fuck, I could be talking about myself. And Aira. And how crazy things are when we’re together.
“Exactly,” Aira whispered.
We remained silent for the rest of the ride to Emma’s house.
She lived in a development just off the ocean (big surprise). All the houses were the same. Giant. White. Pillars. A thousand windows. A line of cars around the driveway. Each one more expensive than the next.
This was high living in Hidden.
Who could have the most cars and the biggest house.
And they all wanted a piece of our land and shop.
Which they’d never get.
“How do we do this?” I asked.
“Ring the doorbell.”
“No, Aira. Think straight. If she’s not home, then what?”
“Then whoever answers can panic,” she said.
She got out of the SUV.
I caught up and took her hand as we climbed the wide set of steps.
The front door was a mile high and a mile wide.
There wasn’t a doorbell though.
Aira pressed a button on the box built into the wall.
A voice came over. “Hello?”
“This is Aira,” she said. “I’m looking for Emma. I lost my phone and can’t text or call her. Just thought I’d check to see if she was home.”
I glanced at Aira.
Nice lie, darling.
There was no response.
Aira pressed the button again. “Hello?”
There was still no response.
“Now what?” Aira asked.
Before I could answer, the heavy front door slowly opened.
“What are you doing here?” Emma’s voice asked.
I put my hand to the door so she couldn’t shut it.
“Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” Aira yelled.
“Guess you didn’t lose yours, huh?” Emma asked.
“I’m not the only one lying then,” Aira said.
“Hey, let us in for a second,” I said.
“Just get out of here,” Emma said. “I’m tired. I don’t feel good.”
“Liar,” I said.
“I have my period,” she said. “It’s terrible. The worst I’ve ever had. Want me to describe it to you?”
“Sure,” I said. “Blood doesn’t bother me. I’d ride the red river all night long.”
“Wes!” Aira yelled.
She punched my arm.
I pushed at the door and slipped my foot in.
I had enough to get half my body inside the house as Emma stood there with one hand on the door. And she had a baseball bat in the other hand.
I looked at her and it was like the world stopped.
“Shit,” I whispered.
“Eric crashed his motorcycle,” Emma said.
“Open the fucking door,” I growled.
“Let me see her,” Aira said.
She pushed at the door and Emma finally caved.
When Aira saw her, she covered her mouth.
“It’s not that bad,” she said.
“Get over here,” I ordered her.
Maybe not the right way to handle the situation but my blood was boiling.
I grabbed Emma’s shirt and lifted it up.
“Wes!” Aira called out again.
Emma tried swinging the bat. I hooked my arm around it and pulled it away.
“No marks on your side,” I said. “And your face wouldn’t look like that from dropping a ride.”
“I was wearing a full helmet,” Emma said. “So I hit my face off the helmet.”
Aira looked at me.
That was all bullshit.
Such fucking bullshit.
But I nodded.
“Okay,” I said. “You hit your head. But nothing else.”
“We weren’t going fast,” Emma said. “We were just trying to get out of the fight. That got crazy, right?”
“Why didn’t you answer any of us?” Aira asked.
“I just wanted to come home. Sorry. The whole thing sort of scared me.”
“Scared you?” I asked. I flipped the baseball bat in the air and put the gripped end to her hand. “Better keep this close.”
“Yeah,” she said.
“I’m going to get going,” I said. “Have to catch up with my cousins.”
“I’m staying,” Aira said.
“No,” Emma said.
“Yes,” Aira said.
“Better yet,” I said. “Both of you come with me. I’ll drop you off at the beach with Charlotte, Kailey, and Nova. Maybe some sun and surf will heal those marks up faster, Emma.”
She looked at me and curled her lip.
Keep that anger, Emma. You’re going to need it.
“Bring your baseball bat,” Aira said.
“Wouldn’t leave home without it,” Emma said with a forced grin.
So strong and so pretty yet broken so easily.
That was the curse of having a heart.
I looked at Aira and she slowly shook her head.
This wasn’t going to end well at all.
Chapter 12
Aira
I looked down at Emma’s phone and saw Eric’s name on the screen. The little fucking emoji hearts around his name pissed me off. I had never seen Emma fall for a guy before so this was new to me. To everyone else it was the same old Emma.
But what Eric had done - and would keep doing - that was new.
And that wasn’t going to work.
I stood up and walked away from the phone.
I wanted to answer it and call him a piece of shit. Among other things.
Instead, I ran to get Wes.
He was huddled up with Flynn, Leo, Ryker, and Walker.
When I grabbed his shirt, I said, “You. Me. House. Now.”
Of course Walker stuck his fingers into his mouth and whistled.
Then he said, “Get it girl…”
I lunged at him, slapping his face.
“Whoa!” Ryker and Flynn yelled.
“Rough stuff tonight, darling?” Wes asked me, trying to look cool in front of his friends.
I ignored the comment and forced him from the beach to Jett’s pool.
We stood at the edge of the pool with the lights changing.
Jett was actually home for the night and I could feel him maybe looking at us through the kitchen window. Everything about the rest of the day into the night had been awkward.
“She’s going to keep lying to everyone,” I said.
“That’s her lie, Aira. Her secret. Do we really want to do this again with the secrets?”
“This is driving me insane. Guys like that…”
“He’ll get his soon,” Wes said.
“From you? From the others? No. Emma needs to do this.”
“Look at you right now. You sound like me.”
“You saw her fucking face, Wes,” I said through gritted teeth.
“And I want to run him over,” Wes said.
“He keeps calling her. I want you to keep everyone here. I’m taking Emma.”
“Taking Emma? Where?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
I turned and touched my forehead.
I paced alongside the pool.
I waited for Wes to offer advice.
He didn’t.
He just waited.
Which pissed me off even more.
I finally turned. “Say something.”
“Like what?” he asked. “Go do what you want, Aira.”
“I’ve been such a bitch to Emma,” I said. “A real bitch. Same with Noelle. And I’m not trying to make friendships or forever bracelets here. But… something has to give. Noelle never got what she wanted from the Ryland thing.”
“But you can give Emma something?” Wes asked.
“Yes.”
“Or maybe you’re trying to cover up your hate for your father,” Wes said. “Go face him before you face everyone else’s problems.”
“Fuck off, Wes,” I snapped.
I pushed by him and ran back down to the beach.
By the time I got back to Emma’s phone… it was ringing again.
I grabbed it from the towel and squeezed it tight.
Emma was down near the water, hugging herself.
This ends… tonight.
* * *
I grabbed the wheel and Emma screamed.
She slapped my hand as the car darted to the side of the road.
“What the fuck is your problem?” she yelled at me.
“You,” I said. “I’m not supposed to ask this but what the hell is wrong with you?”
Emma swallowed hard. “Nothing.”
“He did that to you. On purpose.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Why do any of them do it?”
“There were others?” I asked.
“No. I didn’t mean it like that. Just in general. Why people… whatever.”
“No. It’s not whatever. What are you going to say to him? Do to him?”
“I’m ending everything,” Emma said. “That’s it. End it and walk away. Let him stare at my ass one last time. Motherfucker.”
“No,” I said. “That’s not good enough.”
“What’s your problem?” she asked again. “You looking for a fight or what?”
“I’m looking to make this all stop,” I said. “Now drive.”
I told Emma she had two choices that were the same result. Either she was going to text Eric to meet up or I was.
It was that simple.
She sent the text.
And we were meeting out behind Zen’s.
It would be dark and quiet but close enough to other people.
Just in case we needed it.
When Emma parked, she grabbed my hand.
“I’ll go alone.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“What if he hurts you?”
“I’ll take my baseball bat.”
“Emma…”
“I can’t explain it,” she said. She choked on her words. “It was fast. Crazy. I wasn’t sure how I felt with Ryker suddenly sleeping with Kailey.”
“That’s what this is?” I asked. “You’re jealous of her?”
“I don’t know if it’s jealousy. Of her. Or Ryker. I don’t like him. Hell no. But just…”
“You’re used to the attention.”
“Which is sad. But I’m used to calling the shots. Getting what I want.”
“Is that what happened with Eric?”
“For the most part,” she said. “It was pretty intense. And I just lived in it. It’s my addiction in a way.”
“I used to hurt myself, Emma.”
“I know. I was there for it all.”
“That’s why I’m here now for you. I get it. I used to do that to myself… and the rush was taken by the pain. The only way to make it happen again was to…”
“Do it again,” Emma said.
“But then you stop.”
“But then you stop,” Emma whispered.
She got out of her car and walked with her baseball bat in her right hand.
If she really thought I was going to wait in the car, she was out of her damn mind.
Once she was out of sight I got out of the car and stuffed my hands into the hoodie pocket. Wes’s hoodie. Now mine forever.
I stood at a metal table and saw Eric standing at the top of the concrete steps that went down to the beach. Emma kept a little distance and looked worried.
I hated that she looked worried.
She never looked worried.
“You brought a bat?” Eric asked.
He was rough, his face scruffy, black sunglasses on his face even though it was dark out. A leather jacket. Black jeans. Black boots. Everything about him wrong.
“You know why I’m here,” Emma said.
“To say some dumb shit and feel good about yourself. Save yourself the trouble and get on your hands and knees in the sand. So I could make you remember what it’s like to be with me.”
“Oh, I remember. Well, actually, it’s mostly forgettable. Thrusting three inches four times fast doesn’t equal twelve.”
I grinned.
Eric moved toward her and she stepped back.
She lifted the bat.
“Go ahead,” Eric said. “Hit me. Fucking hit me with a bat, bitch.”
“You’ll never come near me again.”
“What are you going to do? Shove that bat up inside you?”
“I’ll shove it up your ass after I break it over your head,” Emma said.
Good girl. Get him.
Eric laughed. “You’re all the same. Tough tonight. But believe me, if I wanted that bat out of your hand I’d take it.”
“Then take it,” Emma said.
“I’d rather see you stand there. On the verge of tears. Knowing I fucking own you.”
Eric spit at Emma’s feet.
I had no idea why but that did it for me.
I ran in and out of the metal tables toward him.
He was huge compared to me.
About the same size as Wes.
A guy built for bad stuff.
“Hey, Eric,” I cried out.
He turned and looked at me.
“How’s this feel?” I asked as I threw a right fist.
I managed to hit him in the jaw.
Oh, did that hurt my hand though.
Eric barely moved.
It was not the cool fight scene you’d see in a movie.
He didn’t topple down and cry.
His head barely moved.
Now he looked at me with wide eyes.
I wound up to swing again.
Emma finally swung the bat, smashing Eric in the back.
That got Eric’s attention to her again.
He turned and I threw everything I had into shoving him.
He side stepped and went down just one step.
Emma wound up and was ready to swing again.
“Stupid bitches,” Eric said. “You think it’s that easy?”
“Yeah, they do,” another voice said.
I looked and gasped when I saw Wes coming toward the scene.
He flicked a cigarette into the night and wound up, hitting Eric in the eye.
“That’s for Emma,” he said.
“Fuck this guy,” Leo said as he grabbed Eric by his leather jacket.
And just like that, he was swarmed.
Wes, Leo, Flynn, Ryker, and Walker… they all pummeled Eric down the steps into the sand. Kicking, punching, and stomping on him.
Emma stood at the top of the steps and watched it unfold.
