Beautiful Bedlam (25 page)

“I’m sorry Miss Rivers you clearly seem to have me mistaken for someone else.” He said lowly his smile faltered slightly.

“All of that was completely incorrect except for the stellar grades part. You seem to have forgotten that I’m a chemistry teacher. I was actually head of the chemistry club, I’ll have you know.” He added proudly leaning in closer towards her. She couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

“You as the nerdy type? I’m sorry I just don’t see it!” she said trying and failing to contain her giggles. He couldn’t help but laugh along with her. Her laugh was just so damn infectious. “I’ll have you know I wasn’t always this fine specimen of a man you see before you today.”

“Oh?” she asked with a raised brow.

“Rewind just eight years, glasses, acne, short- I’m a really late bloomer, skinny, braces, I ticked just about every box of the nerd’s requirement sheet.” He sighed dramatically. He smiled at her shocked expression. Sienna drank in his broad shoulders, his tall masculine physique and his handsome facial features.

“Wow. Its actually good I have you to remind me that I’m not as smart as I sometimes think I am.”

“Someone’s gotta keep you grounded.” He said softly. His eyes grew serious as he looked in those emerald eyes he so often found himself lost in. She blushed feeling rather hot all of a sudden and looked away. What was wrong with her? Nothing. What was wrong was Sharpe being stupid enough to hire such a young hot teacher. It was ridiculous, Blake was barely in his twenties, was funny, charming and that accent! How could teenage girls not get a little flustered when they stared in to his perfect blue eyes for too long?

“Won’t you get in to trouble for sitting here with me?” she asked quietly. He turned his head to face her, his fingers just touching hers on the white linen-covered table.

“Last time I checked, students and teachers talking isn’t prohibited.” He said softly as his thumb grazed her index finger.
What was happening?

“I’d ask you to dance but I’m afraid it would attract far too much attraction, especially with you in that dress.” Her breath got caught in her throat at that moment causing her to cough in to her fist suddenly.

“Here” He handed her the plastic cup which she took a gulp of immediately before erupting in to more spluttering coughs. He snatched the cup up and sniffed it before sighing.

“What the hell, is there vodka in here? This is your solution to a bad night, alcohol?” he hissed at her, moving away from her feeling completely disappointed with her. He thought she was a lot smarter than that. He was suddenly very aware that she was still too young, probably just barely seventeen years old. What was he thinking? Getting so damn emotionally attached to a student?

“How would I know? I never drink. All I know is that punch has gone bad or something.” She replied pulling a sour expression. His eyes softened at her shock and confusion. She clearly had never even drunk anything heavier than a soda before.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to accuse you or anything-“

“Yes, you did,
Mr.
Blake.”

“Sienna, come on don’t be like that.”

“Like what? Oh you mean like a
child
? Because that’s just the way you’re treating me. Like a child in need of good telling off. Let’s be honest that’s all I’ll ever be in your eyes. A child, right?” she retorted, her voice rising in the end causing a couple to stare at them on the opposite table.

“Lower your voice.” He hissed lowly his aqua blue eyes flaring up warningly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” She sighed turning her face away.

“You didn’t. I’m sorry if I upset you. It was not my intention. Good night, Miss Rivers.”

“Blake, lets not-” She began turning her head back to see him gone. She stood up and looked around the room. He seemed to have left quickly unnoticed.
“…Fight.” She finished bleakly to herself.

“Sienna, can we talk?” Rose asked. Sienna turned to find her standing patiently behind her as if she’d been waiting a long time to talk to her.

“What’s left to say?” she remarked rhetorically.

“I want to talk about the night of Logan’s birthday party-“

“I really do
not
want to know.”

“We never had sex.”

“What?”

“We never slept together.”

“But you said-“

“I know what I said. I lied.” Rose admitted awkwardly.

“But everyone saw you walking in to the same bedroom together. Becca told me.”

“Its true. We did go in that room together and yes we were going to…you know… but Logan was so drunk. Like
really
drunk. He could barely see or walk or talk properly. But when he did all he kept talking about was you.” Rose said somberly.

“Like what?” Sienna asked skeptically.

“At first about how much he hated you, how he hated your dad, and your mom, then he started saying how he hated the fact that you could throw a football better than half the guys, how you pretend you don’t get dirty jokes when he knows you do, how you taste like strawberries and how he hates it when you smile ‘cos when you do, it lights up the sky.” She said sincerely. ‘

A smile that lights up the sky?’ I’m the mystery dream girl?
Sienna’s heart raced and melted all at once as she connected the dots.

“That’s when I knew. He loves you, Sienna. I’m not sure for how long, but I think he always has. It just took him a little longer to figure it out.”

“Why did you lie?” Sienna asked disconcertedly.

“Because he ended up passing out and I fell asleep next to him. And when we woke up, he literally begged me not to tell you, not to tell anyone. He had already assumed that we had slept together and he was so…disgusted and ashamed. I got mad. I was jealous.” She said despondently and wiped her nose with the napkin in her hand.

“Jealous?”

“We started off the same but somehow you’re the one who gets the prince? I’m sorry I know its stupid. I was going to tell you the day Noah told you but Bethany warned me not to. She said you’d never forgive me. Was she right?” she asked quietly.

“I can forgive you, Rose, but I don’t know if we’ll ever go back to the way we were. You broke my trust. You lied. You told Bethany and therefore practically everyone my family secrets, things I tell no one.” Sienna whispered.

“I understand.” Rose replied solemnly and went back to her date who was waiting for her with drinks in his hands.

“
God
. I thought she’d never leave.” Sienna jumped to see Logan standing closely next her.

20.

“How long have you been standing there?” she yelped her hand over her racing heart.

“So I’m guessing the cat’s out of the bag?” he asked timorously completely ignoring the question.

“A smile that could light up the sky?” she grinned at him causing him to blush a little.

“I was drunk!” he exclaimed bashfully just as the lights dimmed a little.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked softly.

“I’m a terrible dancer.” She mumbled as she looked around wanting nothing more than just to escape. She could see people turn to look at them as he grasped her hands and swiftly pulled her on to the dance floor.

“Perfect, because I’m an amazing dancer. See we balance each other out.” He said whilst placing his palms on the small of her back.

“Let go of me Logan, I’m being serious I have two left feet. I make Isabella Swan look like the dancing queen!” she hissed quietly feeling rather panicked.

“Who?” he asked looking genuinely perplexed.
He’s probably wondering if that’s the name of a girl he’s slept with
, she thought bitterly and rolled her eyes.

“Never mind.” She replied wrapping her arms around his neck. She couldn’t help but momentarily close her eyes as she took in the familiar wave of his intoxicating scent that was mostly so indescribably
Logan
with a whiff of expensive cologne.

“I lead, you follow. See, it’s easy.” He whispered to her, his soft lips just grazing her ear as they moved gently with the slow music.  The melodious sound of Andrew Belle’s ‘In my veins’ flew effortlessly throughout the gymnasium and echoed in to the deepest vicinities of her trembling heart and chipped away at his cold hardened soul.

“Why didn’t you just tell me you never slept with her?”

“I tried. You wouldn’t listen. I only found out today. Don’t worry next time I need to make a confession to you I’ll bring along some duct tape.”

“Ever the romantic.” She chuckled wryly.

“Did you mean what you said before…about falling for me?”

“How could I not? I’m sorry it took me so long. Us guys mature a little later; give us some time to catch up. I’m sorry if I made you feel as if I strung you along because I never did, at least not in my mind. I love our friendship.”

“Is that what we are? Friends?”

“The ball’s in your court now Rivers. You know what I want.” he said soothingly as he gently stroked her dark loose curls away from her face. She nodded and shortly after gave him a small smile.

Somehow he always had a calming effect on her. Or perhaps it was because she was like every other girl so easily taken by his good looks and charm? Either way she was smitten. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his impossibly dark eyes. Like a curious infant she wanted nothing more than to stretch her fingers out and to touch his flawless smooth skin and feel the slight rough stubble along his jaw. So she did without thinking.  Maybe it was the ‘punch’ or the romantic music she didn’t know what is was that made her so bold for once. The surprise and pleasure sparked in his coal-colored eyes was evident. His hands moved to her hips and pulled her closer to him and lowered his mouth to hers.

“Don’t.” she gasped just as their lips touched sending shivers down her arms. 

“Why not?” he whispered, his voice still rough and hoarse with desire.

“You know why.” She gulped moving back slightly.
Noah
. It wasn’t right. She had to let him go first. He didn’t deserve to be betrayed like that. Logan still held her hand and spun her back in to his arms.

“The dance isn’t over yet, Rivers.” He whispered almost purring her name. She could feel his warm breath against her cheek. Her hands were clutched to the front of his black tuxedo jacket. She looked up at him in surprise. Her stomach was doing cartwheels at that very moment and she was probably all of five seconds from undergoing cardiac arrest. She turned her head to see that there was at least a circumference of five feet of space between her and Logan and the rest of the dance attendees. They were all looking towards them.

“Everybody’s looking at us.” She whispered to him feeling terrified. Her fingers shook slightly with nerves. She didn’t understand what was happening to her the past year. Recently she couldn’t bear to be in a room full of people, she found it hard to talk to strangers and had the inexplicable unendurable urge to escape whenever any form of attention was thrust upon her. All her warm fuzzy feelings were suddenly replaced by fear and anxiety.

“No. Everyone’s looking at you.” He replied calmly in a rare soft tender tone he reserved only for her. This would have only terrified her further had she not been in the arms of her oldest and best friend, not to mention sometime lover. His very touch and the sound of her voice soothed her enough for not to bolt like Yusain, but not enough to dissipate her fears altogether. She could see Bethany and her cohorts scowling at her. On the other hand she could see others smiling at them fondly and admiringly. Strangely she was more comfortable with the former. He smiled at her confused expression. Why on earth would they look at her? Didn’t they see the eye candy that was Logan Jackson right next to her
? Oh crap, I bet I have something on my face. Or worse my teeth
, she thought as she quickly ran her tongue over her pearly whites.

“Don’t look so bewildered. Why wouldn’t they look? I am dancing with the prettiest girl in the room.”

“What?” she asked shocked, whipping her head back to face him.

“I’m sorry. That’s incorrect.” He apologized somberly his nose grazing her sharp high cheekbones.

“Oh.” She exclaimed and looked down not knowing where to even look, feeling nothing short of mortification and stupidity.

“You are not the prettiest girl in the room. You are so much more than merely
pretty
. You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever met right down to your bones. You never cease to stun me, Rivers,
never
.  And that’s not just some line, or some exaggerated half-truth. I mean it. I just can’t believe it took me so long to see it and now I cant stop looking. I don’t think I’ll eve get tired of it neither.” He sighed tilting her chin up to face him, his eyes glued to her perfectly parted coral red lips.

“Will you slap me in front of the entire school if I kiss you right now?” he asked softly with a hint of that trademark smirk of his that drove her mad.

“Probably.” she gulped.

“It’ll be so worth it.” He sighed and kissed her gently. To his surprise and delight she didn’t push him away or slap him. Instead she kissed him back passionately and ran her fingers through his dark hair. He wrapped his arms around her. He was completely lost in her. They finally pulled away from each other still trembling as they gazed in to each other’s eyes with a mixture of tenderness and wonder. She still felt weak in the knees and was thankful that he still had his arms around her, supporting her. They both seemed to have forgotten they were at the heart of the entire dance and people erupted in to cheers and hoots.