Desolate (Riverband #2) (6 page)

REESE

I sat in the judge's office waiting for him to show up. Mrs. Johanna was sitting right next to me. My leg was bouncing.

"You do realize that just because you're eighteen, doesn't mean he will let you, right?"

I nodded. "I know. He's the one over my welfare right now since dad's missing." I shifted uncomfortably in the chair. I was in a lot of pain.

"Did you take your medicine this morning?" she asked when she noticed me wince a little.

I shook my head no. "I wanted to be able to think straight."

The judge came in. "Hello, Reese."

He sat down at his desk. "What can I do for you?" He smiled at me.

He was my dad's best friend and a good man. "I want to get my GED."

He looked at me. "Reese, I know you've been through a lot, and I am so sorry, but your father wanted you to graduate either through homeschool or public."

He smiled kindly at me. "If you can survive everything you have then you can survive two more months of high school."

Johanna put her hand on my knee. She smiled at me. "He's right, dear."

I sighed. "Fine," I mumbled.

"I do have some good news. I have been able to get some money put into an account for you. It should hold you over until we find your dad." He stood up then pulled me into a hug. "We're going to find him. I feel it."

Tears sprang to my eyes. I nodded.

"Now, why don't you go home and get some rest. You go back to school tomorrow."

As I groaned, he and Mrs. Johanna laughed.

~~~

I woke up to my big baby licking my face. I chuckled and sat up. "I'm up."

I saw Havock standing in the doorway laughing. He called Scott over.

Scott barked and wagged his tail. I looked at the time and groaned. "I don't want to go," I mumbled.

"I don't either, but we have to."

"I know." I stood up and grabbed some clothes to wear to school. I pulled out a green shirt that was a tight fit and low cut V-neck.  "I guess I'll go get a quick shower," I said as I kissed his cheek and started to walk past him.

He stopped me by grabbing my arm.

I looked up at him. "Yes?"

He kissed me and smiled. “Are you wearing my favorite shirt for a reason?"

I shrugged. "I haven't decided if it's because I wanted to see you smile or to torture you a little." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I have a feeling you'll accomplish both." He let go of my arm and let me walk past him, but not before grabbing my ass.

I heard his dad clear his throat as he walked over.

I blushed bright red and hurried into the bathroom. I took a quick shower then got dressed. I was thinking about straightening my hair but changed my mind. I scrunched it to make the curls more prominent then stepped out of the bathroom. I didn't put on any make-up. I guess it was going to be a lazy day.

"So, I should warn you about school-"

I put the tester in my backpack and grabbed one of my shots. I injected myself as Havock spoke. He took my backpack from me and slung it over his shoulder.

"Since, I haven't been on my best behavior, girls have been-" he rubbed his neck. "I don't know how to put it into words. Throwing themselves at me?"

He took a step away from me as he watched my face.

I capped the needle and put it in the trash as I thought about what to say. "Oh, this should be fun," I said sarcastically. I stood up and winced as my ribs hurt. “I can just imagine how those girls are going to be now. They were bad enough before.”

"I'll handle it. They won't mess with me after today." He took my hand in his.

"Yeah, uh huh," I said as we walked downstairs.

We ate a quick breakfast then headed to school. I looked out the window as we showed up to the school. "I think I'll spend the rest of my school year in the art room."

We got out of the truck and started to walk inside. I gripped Havock's hand as everyone stared at us.

He leaned down so his mouth was close to my ear. "What'd you tell me the other night? Just focus on me, Princess. Only two more months and we're outta here."

He kissed my cheek as we walked.

Jude came over with Selena. "No freakin' way!" He hugged me. "No wonder I haven't heard from Havock the past few days!"

I gasped in pain as his arms tightened around me.

“Dammit, Jude!” Havock snapped.

Jude let go of me.  “What?  What’d I do?!”

Havock touched the side of my face.  “Are you okay?”

“What do you mean is she okay?  I hugged her, it’s not like I drop kicked her!”

Selena smiled a little at me. "Well, thank God she’s back. Havock's been loony since you've been gone."

Havock ignored Selena and explained to Jude that I had been hurt, leaving out the crazy witch stuff.

“Damn.  Sorry, Reese.  I didn’t know.”  Jude went to hug her again but stopped.  “I just want to hug her.  She’s so cute and she’s back.”

Havock laughed. “No hugging.  Hive five or something.”

Jude smirked.  “I could kiss her.  That’d be more fun.”

“Go ahead.  If you want to die.”

Jude laughed and Selena rolled her eyes.  “This reunion is fab, but I’m over it now.  Can I bum a cigarette before class?” she asked Havock.

Havock handed her one along with his lighter. 

"I’m surprised you guys didn’t know she was back. I figured you guys would've heard already. This is Riverbend," Havock said as Selena passed him the cigarette. 

The bell rang. Everyone started hurrying to classes. Havock groaned when he saw a girl coming over. Jude and Selena laughed.

"Hey, Janzy. Remember Reese?" Havock smiled a little.

I felt my blood pressure suddenly rise.

Janzy smiled at me. "Hey, Reese. Good to see you're back. Not." She rolled her eyes and flipped her hair. "I was coming to tell you that I left my shoes in your truck last week. I need them before Jackson figures out what's been going on."

Selena laughed. "Seriously?! You're talking to him about shoes in the hall of the school and you expect Jackson not to find out?!"

Havock held tightly to my hand. "I gave them to Garrett to give to Felicity to drop off by your house a few days ago."

She smiled. "Oh, then she must still have them. I'll just ask her."  She glared at Selena as she walked off.

My hands started shaking a little. I loved Havock, but seeing one of the girls he had been with while I was gone was making me extremely angry. I was so angry that it felt like something was building inside of me.

"So, math class." Havock started walking.

"You have math. I don't. See ya’ later," I whispered. I looked at Havock. This day was going to suck. I could tell. I was going to have to deal with all the bitches here.

I kissed his cheek then walked off. I was almost to the art room when my arm was grabbed by someone. I looked up and saw Jackson, Janzy's boyfriend.

"Let go of me," I said softly. I had a lot of work to do, and I didn't have time for this shit.

All my classes were different now. I was to have private classes with all my teachers sometime during the day to test me and see if I was behind. So that made art first.

"You better tell your boyfriend he better watch his back."

I jerked my arm trying to get it out of his grip. "I was just about to say the same thing about your girlfriend."

"Janzy was drunk. Havock took advantage of that like he does all girls. You'd be smart to get tested for STD's. Your boyfriend has been around, Sweetheart."

He let go of my arm and walked off.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I then headed to art class.

~~~

It had been a long day and it was time for lunch. My head and ribs hurt and if one more person mentioned Havock to me, I was going to explode. I sat at the table next to Havock and stabbed at my food.

He put his arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. He pulled away when he saw the fire in my eyes. "O-kay," he said as he leaned back in his chair.

"It's been a sucky day," I said coldly as I pushed my plate away.

"Can I do something to make it suck less?"

Selena sat down with Jude. "Someone looks unhappy," she teased.

Havock kept his eyes on me waiting for me to answer him.

"No," I said as I rubbed my temples.

"Do you plan on pouting all day?" he snapped. "Because I'm trying to make this as easy on you as I can. You said no matter what you wanted to be with me. So get the hell over it." He stood and kicked his chair under the table. He left the cafeteria.

Jude and Selena's eyes widened. "Alrighty then," Jude said as he shoved food in his mouth.

"I think he's right," Selena said shrugging her shoulders. Jude elbowed her. She laughed. "What?! She knew the type of guy Havock was even before she was stolen or whatever. She can't be mad."

"Oh hell no," I snapped and went after him. I caught up with him outside the cafeteria. "I'm not trying to pout I'm trying to deal with the fact that my boyfriend slept with at least ten different girls while I was gone. That's a lot to take in. Yes, I still want to be with you and, yes, I still love you but it’s difficult to take in. I'm trying!" I yelled.

"Ten?! How would you know that? I didn't tell you the number!" he shouted.

"That would be the number of girls that have come up to me and in great detail told me what you did with them." I ran my shaky hands through my hair.

He bit his lip.

"Don't look at me like that," I warned as I tried not to smile. I tried to hold onto my anger. I pointed at him and took a step backwards.

He started messing with his lip ring with his tongue and started pulling up his shirt seductively just to make me laugh.

"No," I said as I bit my lip to keep from laughing. "I don't want to laugh. I want to be angry."

He raised his shirt up more, revealing his low rise jeans and the V leading to…oh dear.  He smiled and crooked his finger at me.