u n t o u c h a b l e
// things will get a bit steamy.
[10 | Rollercoaster Kind of Rush ]
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Maddy ripped apart a poster of a model woman in her locker. There were three nights left before the Runway and she'd been extremely stressed since last Friday. She'd never really shown it but I could tell. From the way she kept drinking her bottle of water, probably mixed with the weight-loss formula, and the way she kept checking herself out in the mirror—it was all obvious signs of anxiety.
"What the hell?" David wondered as Maddy continued to rip the paper apart and cry out when she threw the pieces on the floor. We were on our way to the cafeteria when we passed by the hall where Maddy's locker was located, not expecting to see her doing... this.
There was a crowd forming around her, watching but never really saying anything. Some of them, I recognized were from her party last weekend and I couldn't help but to frown at the smirks on their faces. Of course I harboured some hatred towards the girl, but these were her friends. I would have at least thought that they'd be helping her out. Then again, it wasn't as if Maddy was such a great friend to Lily in the first place. The fact that no one was coming for her comfort shouldn't have been a surprise.
Cole followed David's eyes and a look of surprise was evident in his face when he saw Maddy fall on her knees and started crying.
I decided that it was my cue. I ran towards the girl, leaving Cole and David behind. I was, after all, supposed to be her friend.
"What's wrong?" I asked, pushing through the growing crowd.
Maddy looked at me, her big, blue eyes staring at me with such sadness that I almost wanted to smirk. I already knew why she was crying. At the rate she was going at it with the drink, it wouldn't be a surprise if none of her clothes fit her at all.
"Maddy?" I asked again, dropping on my knees so that we were standing in the same eye level. I placed a hand on her shoulder, hoping that it looked somewhat sympathetic and gave her a light squeeze.
She then wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight embrace, her tears flowing even more now. She was soaking my shirt and it was rather disgusting. Of all the days she picked to be not poise and pretty and be an overall, she picked the day when she's crying on my shoulder.
Hopefully I have another sweater in my locker.
She didn't stop her crying and she just kept going and going. It was starting to get ridiculous.
Maddy was suddenly pulled away from me, albeit reluctantly from her part and I felt someone pulling me up my feet. I looked up to see Cole holding onto Maddy as she cried on him and David holding me up by the arms.
"Come on," Cole growled once I got myself up and balanced. His voice was dangerously low, and his gaze incredibly intense.
He had an arm around the crying girl's shoulder, her face buried on his chest as she cried out, holding onto Cole's unbuttoned blazer. No one said anything as Cole led the way, glaring at everyone who dared to look at his way, while David and I followed behind.
It wasn't until there were no more spectators that he spoke. We were on the third floor, and no one would be around the area during lunch break. We were in front of a locked door, and I wondered why we stopped at this particular spot.
"David, get the keys," he stated, gritting his teeth. David nodded and left. "Penny, get some water, please."
"Right, okay," I muttered and ran down the stairs to the cafeteria to get some bottled water. I didn't expect Cole to do something like this. The look in his eyes was something I've never seen before. From what happened with Ellie and Tristan, Cole looked bothered with what has transpired, but with Maddy's meltdown, he seemed as if he was ready to kill.
Was there something going on between them still? Maddy did say that there was history between the two of them—but I thought that Cole liked Lily. He even said so himself, cryptically but said it nonetheless.
Unless he wasn't actually talking about Lily.
"Penny?"
I stopped my tracks when I heard her voice. With a deep breath, I turned around slowly, facing Ellie Mayes. She didn't seem any better than she has been last time I saw her.
"Ellie." I kept my voice cool and undetached, my eyes displaying no emotion.
She held my gaze and it seemed like there was something she needed to say but hesitated speaking up.
"I heard about Maddy," she muttered finally, her eyes lowering to the floor.
"You heard?" I was amazed. It hasn't even been ten minutes and everyone knew about Maddy's crying, apparently.
"People talk," she said with a small smile. "Is she—is she alright?"
I nodded. "She's with Cole," I replied in a low voice.
"That's good."
She was about to say something else but I cut her off before she had the chance. "Um, I have to get these to them," I said lamely. "So um, excuse me..." And with that, I bolted out of the hall and away from her. Fat chance that I was going to let her think that I forgave her.
When I arrived by the locked door we were at before, I saw David waiting by the door, staring at nothing in particular.
"Where's Cole and Maddy?" I asked, looking around.
David jumped from his spot, sighing when he saw me. He took the water bottles from my arm and gave me a reassuring smile. "They're already up," he explained, opening the door. "Let's go."
I followed him in and saw a staircase that only went up. Climbing up a floor, we reached another door. David opened it and let me go through first.
I found myself inside a greenhouse. I looked around, staring at all the herbs and flowers growing in the middle of winter. I didn't know that the school had something like this on their roof. And how did Cole and David have access to it?
Had Lily ever been here? She never mentioned a greenhouse on a roof to me. Then again, it wasn't as if she told me anything back then anyway. If she did, I would have helped her get through this hellish school.
Cole and Maddy were sitting on a bench in the middle of plants. Maddy had her arms resting on her legs, her head buried in her hands. She didn't seem like she was crying but she was obviously upset. Cole was on the other end of the bench, his head thrown back and he hand an arm over his eyes as he took deep breathes.
"We brought water," I muttered as David and I walked towards them.
The both looked towards us. A small smile appeared on Cole's lips as David handed him a bottle of water and Maddy immediately jumped out of her seat, throwing her arms around me.
"Oh, Penny!" she cried frantically . "This is the worst."
"Um," I mumbled, pulling back from her embrace. "Are you okay?"
She nodded vigorously and pulled me to the bench. "Listen," she said, taking a seat. She sniffled a little and took a deep breath before stating, "That thing we were drinking? It totally doesn't work! At all. We need to sue."
Cole groaned. "Calm down, Maddy."
"What are you talking about?" David wondered, taking a seat in between the space Cole and me.
Cole shook his head disapprovingly. "Some diet thing," he answered, frowning. He obviously did not support Maddy's use of diet formulas.
"It isn't just 'some diet thing,' Cole!" Maddy argued with a huff. "This is serious business! Ugh." She then turned to me and puffed. "We need to get rid of that formula, Penny. We'll take the ones I usually use and hopefully be ready in three days. First, we have to rid of all the carbs and—"
"Maddy, don't drag Penny into this ridiculous diet of yours," Cole's tone was icy; it sent shivers down my spine. I turned to his direction and noticed that even David seemed a little scared. "She's not some toy you can play with."
There was anger in his eyes as he spoke those words.
"Don't be dramatic," she argued, "It's just a little weight loss for the fashion show."
"I'm being dramatic?" He stood up, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at Maddy. I jumped from his actions and so did David but Maddy kept her cool. This was the first time Cole's been angry and I didn't know how to react to it. He's usually so cool and calm.
Maddy only rolled her eyes and turned her head to the side. He glared at her some more. "Please, Cole, as if you actually care."
Then, as if those words were some sort of switch, the anger on his face was gone. All emotion on his face was gone and was replaced by an aloof expression. "Just don't drag Penny into your bullshit, Maddy."
"And what if I do?" Maddy retorted.
Cole stared at her, his face blank. Then, without saying a word, Cole Verdean walked away.
"What was that?" I asked, frowning at Maddy. "That wasn't very nice."
Maddy rolled her eyes, something that was getting kind of annoying. "You want to talk about not being nice?" she demanded, glaring at me. "None of my things fit—my dresses, my skirts, my pants—nothing! And what does Cole say about that? He told me to get over it! What an asshole."
"That's what you were crying about?" David asked, frowning.
Maddy scoffed. "It isn't something someone like you would understand."
I gasped and David spat out a curse before leaving as well.
"Maddy, you're being mean."
She laughed. "And you've just figured it out?" She walked away from her spot and looked out the window. "Anyway, as I was saying. We need to switch. The thing you've been using doesn't work. Starting right now, just eat come celery and drink water. We should be—"
Her friends were there for her and she'd act mean around them without feeling bad.
"Don't you care at all that you hurt David and Cole?" I asked, cutting her off.
"Not really."
I sighed, shaking my head. I had enough of her for the day. First, she drenched my sweater now she wanted me to go on some stupid diet with her? I needed to get out of here.
"I'm going to find them to see if they're okay," I stated, getting up and heading to the door.
"Wait, Penny!" she called. "Don't go yet! We still have a lot to discuss about the Runway!"
What an absolute bitch. I wasn't sure if I could handle the Runway by myself if these kinds of things were going to happen repeatedly. "I'll see you later, Maddy."
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I didn't want to stay for the rest of my classes. So naturally, I called Gavin and told him to pick me up ASAP. He didn't question my sudden decision to skip and said he'd be here once he slips out of his class. I was about to head to the parking lot when I saw Cole standing outside, leaning on the wall with David sitting on the ground.
"Penny," David called when he noticed me.
I smiled and made my way towards the two of them. "Hi," I greeted. "Um...about what Maddy said... she didn't mean them."
"Don't apologize for her behalf, Masterson," Cole stated, his eyes meeting mine. "You don't have to be so nice all the time," he said softly, a sort of tenderness in his voice.
"Yeah," David added with a shrug. "Maddy's just being Maddy. She's probably on her time of the month." Then he smiled and got up from his spot, walking towards me. "I want to thank you again for letting me borrow your book. It's really helping me."
Cole's eyes darted from me to David and back to me, obvious curiosity in them.
"I lent David an old art book of mine," I explained, smiling at Cole. "I figured it'd help him with his missing credit."
He just nodded, looking taken aback by my answer. "Oh, that's kind of you." Then he turned to David and said, "Can I see your recent works?" There was an underlying message under his words. Cole's eyes were impassive but there was something off with him right now.
David got the hint and nodded, heading back inside the school. I was worried that he knew that something was up. If that Sophie chick said something to Cole about me and Lily, Cole would undoubtedly piece things all together and I'd be in trouble.
"Wouldn't it be less troublesome if you went with him?" I wondered, holding my hands behind my back as I looked at Cole innocently. Cole and I have been spending more time alone and although the time we've spent together was nothing more than just two friends hanging out as friends, there are times where it felt like it was more than just that. And right now was one of those times where friends wouldn't be the word I'd use to describe our relationship.
The corner of his lip lifted upwards, a small, sad smile forming on his face. Cole stepped away from the wall and took a step forwards towards me. He slipped his hands on his pant's pockets, leaning down slightly towards me as he whispered: "But then, I wouldn't get you alone now, wouldn't I?"
"Alone?" I wondered aloud.
He was close, so close.
I gulped, taking a step back but he only followed; his steps much bigger than mine. My second step away from him took him three steps closer towards me, in which bringing his body a tad too close for comfort.
"Alone."
"Is—is there something you wanted to talk about?" I stuttered, my cheeks turning a little red when Cole gently placed a hand on my cheek. His skin was so warm, his fingers soft, unlike Gavin's.
"There is," he whispered, his gaze flicking down before meeting my eyes again. "Sweetheart, you don't realize how much I..."
Cole's eyes began to close slightly as the distance between us began to get smaller. My breath caught when I felt his other hand reach for my other cheek, his thumb tracing circular patterns on my skin.
"You—you what?"
He smelled so nice. He was so gentle, the sensation of his touch felt so unfamiliar unlike Gavin's.
Gavin.
Hastily, I took a step back from Cole before pushing him away lightly. "Don't."
Then, as if he was in a trance, the dazed look in his eyes was gone and was suddenly replaced with horror. "Fuck," he swore before taking two steps back and pacing back and forth, raking his fingers through his hair. "Fuck!"
I placed my hand over my chest, my heart beating fast. "Nothing happened," I whispered, my brows furrowing at odd feeling inside me. He probably did that because I looked like Lily up close.
"I'm so fucking sorry, Penny," he groaned, distraught evident in his voice. "I didn't mean it. I don't know what came over me and I—fuck, Penny, you're with Reeves and I'm so sorry."
"It's fine," I assured him, placing a hand on his arm, stopping him from his pacing. He then turned to look at me, looking troubled. "You had a momentary lapse. Nothing happened, okay?"
Cole sighed. "I need a break," he mumbled, not showing any indication that he acknowledged or heard what I said. Then he suddenly placed a hand on the small of my back, pulling me closer to him before placing his lips on my forehead.
"I'll see you Friday."
He was gone before I had the chance to say anything else.
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"You're awfully quiet." Gavin turned his attention towards me, placing his cup of coffee on the dashboard of his car. We were parked on the mall's parking lot, waiting for the day to end. Gavin arrived with a cup of frozen lemonade for me a few minutes after what happened with Cole. We didn't have anywhere to go and I certainly did not want to walk around in my uniform so we stayed inside his car with him drinking a cup of coffee and me my frozen lemonade.
"I'm thinking."
I could still feel the feel of Cole's lips on my forehead, which was insane because I was Gavin. And I could not believe that I left my guard down around him, letting him do all those things to me. It pissed me off that I wasn't able to push him away before he had the chance to get any closer towards me.
Without thinking about it, I grabbed the invitation for Ashcroft's Runway from my bag and handed it to Gavin.
"What's this?"
Gavin eyed the slip of black-and-purple paper I've given him, reading over the words inscribed on it. It took him a few minutes to fully read the invitation and realize what it was.
"You want me to go to Ashcroft to watch your show?" he wondered, frowning slightly.
"It's not like I want you to be there or anything. I just need a ride,g," I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest. A small smiled graced his lips as he placed a hand on my knee. "In fact, give it back. I don't want you to go at all. This is a mistake."
I placed my drink on the dashboard and tried to get the invitation back. Before I got the chance to grab the invitation from his hand, he moved it away, holding it far from my reach. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, sweetheart." There was a gleam in his eyes. He looked at me through his lashes as he leaned closer to my side of the car, placing a kiss on my neck.
I sighed, shaking my head and shrugging him off. "I think you should miss it."
"Why?" There was a look of surprise in his face. I wasn't sure if it was because I shrugged him off or that I said I didn't want him there.
I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest. Cole was going to be one of the models for our team and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep myself intact if he did something similar from today. I didn't want to ruin what Gavin and I had, especially when we weren't done with our plans.
But I couldn't tell him that. It didn't take me long to think of another excuse though.
"Sophie's going to be there."
Gavin chuckled as he shifted closer, wrapping his arms around me. "You're jealous of her?"
"I'm not jealous!" I retorted, elbowing him slightly. He only laughed some more, the vibration from his laugh making me feel something comforting. "She creeps me out and I'd rather not have her around me the whole night."
"She wouldn't be."
I glared at him, flicking the tip of his nose. "Yeah, 'cause she'd be all over you, and you're usually all over me, meaning she'd be around me and I'd rather not—"
"You are jealous." He had the decency to be smirking.
"Shut up."
Gavin smiled, placing a hand on my cheek. "We're in this together, you know."
"Of course we are." I turned to him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. Gavin was taken aback. It was he who usually initiated anything intimate. Having me kiss him first would have surprised me too. "I know too much of your dirty laundry for you to leave me."
"You sure it isn't my irresistible charm?"
I suddenly found myself straddling him, my legs tucked at his sides, my hands resting on his chest. "More like your irresistible physique."
He chuckled, placing soft kisses on my neck. "You wound me, Sweetheart." I felt his finger unbuttoning my sweater. "You sure it isn't the way I make you scream?" A hand was now on my hair, another on my back, under the shirt.
Gavin kissed me hard, his lips hungry on mine.
His fingers dug in my skin and his tongue did something wonderfully delicious. I gasped and he pulled his lips from mine only to plant it on my neck, biting tenderly. "This is hardly the place to make me scream."
I felt him smile on my skin. "Then I suggest you bite on something hard, 'cause baby I'm not finished yet."
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n o t e ;
how was it? Leave comments, s'il vous plait.
i still don't know who Penny's going to end up with in the end.