**Readers,
I am SO sorry I haven't update in forever! I have been so busy with school that I have had no time for delicate. I know that it isn't the regular update day but I hope that you enjoy it non the less. I will try to get the tenth chapter done and ready to update by Wednesday. (:
I am getting no feedback from people and that kind of upsets me… I want to know what you guys want to read! I want to be able to know what direction you want this book to go. I do have ideas for the rest of the book, I just need to put them into words, but I would like pointers from you guys as well. I would greatly appreciate it! I want to hear what you all think.
Please Vote, Comment, and share ❤
Songs for this chapter:
“Southern son” Boy & Bear
“Mississippi” The Griswolds
“Young hearts” Strange talk
♡Enjoy! ♡**
I don’t think in my entire life I have ever been able to say that I was physically lost in a bed. But now I can.
In the morning I wake up surrounded in white blankets and sheets, unable to find which way is up or down. I try to move my body to free myself from the crazy tangled mess of my bed, but I am too tightly wrapped up. I try sitting up as well, but fail when I found out what I am not facing the right direction. I wiggle a little trying to free myself as well, but still nothing. I have been swallowed by my bed. This is such an awkward situation.
“Frankie,” I hear Corry’s voice enter my room and I am instantly red in the face.
“In here.” I squeak from under the mess of blankets.
“Where?” He laughs. I can feel the mattress dip down from the weight of his body. “Oh my goodness.” He discovers my body and helps me untangle myself from the blankets.
He opens his mouth to say something but I silence him by holding up my hand. “Don’t even ask.” I laugh.
“The bed wanted to keep you.” He winks with a laugh.
“Indeed.” I sit up, looking down the bed to see that I had twisted the sheets along with the comforter in a way that restricted my body from moving. “that was interesting.” We laugh.
“Your hair looks awesome,” He comments with a laugh. I turn to look in the mirror and see that it is sticking up in every direction.
“Oh my goodness!” I shriek trying desperately to mat down the crazy mess with my hands.
“It’s kind of cute.” He smiles and I begin to blush.
“Don’t lie to me.” I stick my tongue out at him, earning one of those delightful laughs.
“I’m not!” He contradicts. I shoot him a glare and throw the blankets off my legs so that I can get out of bed. I grab my brush from my drawer and brush the tangled mess away, Corry watches me so do while sitting on my bed. “You always look cute.”
“Thank you,” I blush.
“So, do you want to do something with me today? We could go to the beach again if you want? I know you didn't really get to spend much time there.” He offers.
“Oh, that sounds really fun!” I agree nodding with a smile.
“Awesome! I’ll”- Corry begins but is cut off by Connor standing in the doorway.
“She can’t.” He states.
“Why?” We both question. Corry looks from me to Connor searching for an answer, even though I am equally as unaware of what Connor is talking about.
“She is going out with me.” He shrugs. “She promised last night that I could take her somewhere.” I vaguely remember being tired and promising him that I would go somewhere, just so he would stop talking and let me sleep.
“Where?” Corry asks.
“That’s between us,” His laugh is stiff and obviously mocking Corry.
“You better now take her anywhere dangerous or hurt her!” He raises his voice in anger and points his finger at the obnoxious boy across the room.
“Shut up, Corry.” Connor rolls his eyes.
“I mean it!”
“You’re not my dad, damn it.” Connor glares at him. “Lay off, she’ll be fine.”
They both glare at each other, it is hurtful and cold. You can feel the anger between them in the air. Something I had never imagined was possible, they seemed like the best of friends, brothers almost. But then again all brothers fight.
“What if I don’t want to go?” I ask breaking their cold glares.
“You have to.” I gasp at his answer.
“No, she does not.” Corry objects.
“Yes she does. She made a promise.” Connor turns to the door. “Be ready in an hour.” He leaves the room and I can see the anger clear as day all over Corry’s face.
“You don’t have to go.” He clarifies but I shake my head.
“I said I would go.” I sigh. I am honestly a little eager to be with Connor and to hopefully see more of him. He somehow captures my attention, but in such an odd way. “I should get ready.”
“Oh my god, you’re not serious are you?” He stands to his feet facing me. I don’t feel scared as he approaches me like I do when Connor does. I feel safe when I’m with Corry, not constantly on my toes and holding my breath.
“Yeah, I am.” I answer.
“Why?”
I didn't know why I was serious. Why I wanted to be around him. Why his every action fascinated me. Why I was so bewitched by him. But I was, there was no questioning that.
I don’t answer him, but instead walk to my closet and look through my clothes. I wonder where we will go and what I should wear. I pull a black crop cop off a hanger and lay it over my arm before walking back into my bedroom. Corry is still in my room, sitting on the bed like he was before Connor came in.
“You’re not going to answer me?” He asks.
“I don’t know how to answer.” I confess laying the shirt on the bed.
He looks at me, searching my face for some sort of clarification. I look back at him blankly, playing with the hem of my old t-shirt I had worn to bed. He sighs and shakes his head in defeat. “Alright. Just don’t get hurt!”
“I’ll try not to.” I promise. He stands up and gives me a hug before leaving the room.
I brush my hair out again before tightly French braiding it down my head. I pull my pajamas off and throw them into the hamper in my closet, replacing them with the black crop top I had grabbed from my closet, and a pair of faded jean shorts. I apply my makeup and make my bed in preparation to head down to the kitchen for breakfast. On the way from my room to the stairs I can hear music playing loudly from Corry’s room.
I go to knock on the door to see if he wants to come down stairs and have breakfast with me, but stop when I hear his voice.
“I know,” He sighs. I can see a shadow moving around under the crack of the door. “Yeah well that probably won’t ever happen.” He must be on the phone.
I decide to end my moment of eavesdropping and go downstairs.
In the kitchen I glance at the clock on the microwave and gasp to see that it is already almost noon. The house is silent, none of the other boys or Dad are anywhere in sight.
I make myself a bowl of mac and cheese fun lunch, instead of breakfast, and take a seat at the counter to eat.
“Are you ready to go?” Connor asks walking into the room wearing a pair of white board shorts and a colorful graphic t-shirt. His hair is messy and slightly wet, but it looks good. He has bracelets on his wrists that I have never seen before. I look down and see that he has on a pair of white socks and vans. I direct my eyes back up his body to his face, which holds a smug smile. “Were you just checking me out?”
“No,” I am mortified. I was totally checking him out. I remind myself.
“Yeah sure.” He laughs. I shove the last fork full of macaroni into my mouth, chewing the pasta as my cheeks begin to turn pink. “Are you ready to go?” He asks again.
“Yeah,” I answer taking my dish to the sink. I rinse it out and place it in the dishwasher, meanwhile Connor is watching me. I stand up straight and turn towards him and look down at my outfit. “Am I wearing the correct outfit?”
“Yeah, just wear some sneakers.” He nods and walks out of the kitchen through the back door. I rush upstairs to grab my converse before meeting him outside on the driveway. He is already in his car that is blasting music and air conditioning. I climb in and buckle my seat belt across my chest.
“Where are we going?” I slip my sneakers onto my feet as he pulls the car out of the driveway.
“You’ll see.” He smiles.
“Are you going to kill me?” I joke.
“Do I look like a murderer?” He laughs.
“Do you want me to answer truthfully?” I smirk.
“No, Frankie, I want you to lie to me.” He chuckles with sarcasm.
“I can do that.” I wave my finger at him.
“Not very well.” He fires back. I shake my head and sigh taking a look out the window as he fiddles with the stereo. We go in the opposite direction of the beach or city. I watch the buildings become houses, and houses become rows of trees.
“Where are we going?” I ask after a while. We are the only car on the road, that bends and curves winding up a mountain. Connor has the music playing low as background music as he focuses on the road.
“It’s a secret.” He says resting his wrist on the top of the steering wheel.
“Why?” I question looking over at him.
“Because I said so.” Noticing my gaze he turns towards me quickly and smiles, before turning his attention back to the road.
“You’re going to murder me aren't you?” I tease him.
“Yes, Frankie, I am.” He sighs with a laugh.
“How will you do it?” I play along.
“I haven’t decided yet actually,” We turn off the road and into a little gravel road. “I think I might push you off a cliff.”
“Interesting.” I nod.
“Why do you say that?” We don’t drive much further when the road comes to a stop and Connor stops the car.
“I just thought you’d do something a little sneakier.”
“What are you implying?” He removes his seat belt and turns towards me.
“You’re a mysterious person, I never know what to expect from you, I just thought you’d do something a little better than pushing me off a cliff.” I shrug climbing out of the car.
He looks at me through the car window when I close the door, for a moment. His blue eyes pop in the shadowed light of the car and trees creating shade over us. He smiles slightly before climbing out of his door and locking the car.
“So where are we?” I ask again for what feels like the hundredth time that past hour. We meet in front of the car and I follow him through a small patch of grass and trees until I see a bright break in the forest. When we walk out into the sun the magnificent view comes into sight. We are standing on a cliff overlooking the city and ocean. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen.
Connor sat down on the rocks so his legs were dangling over the edge in the air.
“This is amazing!” I gush, breathing in the breeze that blows against me. The sun beats down on my back as I take a seat beside Connor.
“I know,” He nods. “I told you I’d bring you somewhere amazing.”
“Actually you never told me that.” I wag my finger in the air towards him.
“Well I thought it, because I knew you’d love it.” He testifies.
“No you didn’t.” I laugh.
“Oh really?” He turns towards me resting one leg up on the rock under his chin.
“Yeah,” I look at his blue eyes that rake my face. “you don’t know me remember?”
“Yes, that’s why we’re here.” He nods. “So I can get to know you.”
“Do you think you’ll learn anything?”
“If you let me,” I play with the end of my braid over my shoulder.
“Alright,” I smile, he mimics my expression. “what would you like to know?”
“Oh, I’m not going to ask you some dumb ass questions about like your favorite fruit,” I internally frown thinking about how Corry had done just that the day before. “I want to get to know you, not just some facts.”
As much as I loved spending time with Corry yesterday, and answering all his questions in his attempt to get to know me better, I find this alternative route much better.
Connor looks out towards the ocean, squinting under the sunlight reflecting off the blue water in the distant. “I would like to know about what you were like before you moved here.”
“I’m still the same.” I indicate.
“Not from what I heard,” He shakes his head.
“What have you heard?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Oh you know,” A smirk tugs at his pink lips. “everything about your life before you moved here. How you were the biggest nerd in school, always mastering every test, and eating lunch alone.”
“That is not true!” I point my finger towards him with a laugh. I admit I didn’t have very many friends in high school, and I did get good grades. But his story was a little farfetched.
“Oh no, my sources are never wrong.”
“Who might these sources be?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Tell me,” I press with a smirk.
“No,” He shakes his head.
“Yes,” I raise my eye brows.
He leans towards me placing his index finger on my lips to silence them. His skin is rough against my lips and I am filled with chills. He moves his finger away from my mouth and over my cheek, causing my body to produce goose bumps. I was growing rather used to this sensation that Connor brought with his touch.
He moves his hand and eyes to my hair. I watch his face gaze beyond my face, and feel his fingers play with the loose strand of hair that feel out of my braid. “You talk too much,” He whispers.
“No I don’t,” My voice is equally as hushed as his.
“Yes,” He tilts his head to the side, focused on the small piece of hair between his fingers. “you always have something to say. Do you ever just stay quiet?”
“Of course I do!” I snap, proving his point. His eyes move from his fingers back to my eyes.
“It doesn’t seem like it.” He chuckles lightly.
“You’re never around me,” I tell him. “so you can’t know anything about me. So here I am, for you to get to know.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?” He moves his hand away from me and back to his lap. I am upset when he turns his body back towards the ocean outstretched beyond us.
“I don’t see how this is you getting to know me?” I say.
“Like I said just a bit ago, I’m not going to ask you dumb ass questions. I want to get to know your personality.” He sighs annoyed.
“Yeah, but you said that you wanted to get to know me before I moved here. What does that even mean? I haven’t changed.”
“Oh that is a load of bullshit if I ever heard it.” I widen my eyes but decide to keep my mouth shut as he continues. “You aren’t even the same person you were a couple days ago. Don’t try to put that lie that you haven’t changed since you moved. California changes people, you’re a classic example, so don’t think for a second that you are some sort of exclusion to that.”
“How have I changed?” I ask quietly. I don’t think that I have, and if I have it can’t be anything that noticeable. He is probably just trying to get in my head.
“The way you dress for one.” He points to the gap between my shorts a shirt that shows my exposed belly. I wasn’t too confident when I put this outfit on, because of my insecurity of my body. I was okay with it for the most part as long as nobody said anything. But now was those words fall from his mouth I instantly regret going out of the house in such attire. “you came here wearing jeans and a t-shirt every day and now you look like you stepped right out of a fashion magazine.” I cannot tell if he is complimenting or criticizing me.
“Now don’t get me wrong!” He continues. “I think that the new clothes suit you and that you look really great. But it is definitely a change.” The way Connor talks confuses me too much! I can’t tell an insult from praise. Talking to him is like a constant headache from all the quick thinking.
“So just because I got some new clothes I am a different person?” I fire rather coarsely.
“No,” He sighs annoyed again. “that’s not what I said. There are a other reasons why you seem”-
“What are they?” I ask agitated. Only a couple minutes ago I was covered in goose bumps and sparks were in my belly because of his tough against my skin, and now here I am wanting to hit something because of the way he is making me feel. I hate the way this man has so much control over my emotions, whether he realizes it or not.
“You eat like a fat ass. Pretty soon those crop tops are going to look like shit on you.” I gasp with wide eyes. Connor looks like nothing has happened, like he didn’t just insult me in such a way.
“That’s because all you men eat at that house is fast food and take out!” I raise my voice. He opens his mouth to say something but I don’t let him. “I would eat so much better, but you guys only eat junk. So It’s not really my fault that I might gain a couple pounds. But I am not fat. I fit very nicely in my clothes so don’t you dare try to tell me that I don’t. Because first of all; it’s completely uncalled for, and secondly just downright rude!” I am fuming. My face is turning red from anger and I am glad that I set Connor in his place by setting him straight.
His eyes are focused on mine as I look straight into his eyes. I want to slap away the smirk that is slowly forming on his face. I groan closing my eyes in frustration as he begins to laugh.
“You always have something to say don’t you?” The laughter continues. I open my eyes and scowl at him.
“You are a jerk.” I scoff.
“You like it.” He laughs wiggling his eye brows.
“Oh really? Where do you get that indication?” I begin to smirk, losing my anger towards him. He doesn’t answer me but just laughs and stands up. “Where are you going?” I ask standing up next to him quickly.
“For a walk.” He shrugs his shoulders turning on his heel, walking towards a narrow dirt path leading down the cliff.
I stand there for a second before jogging over to his side to follow. We begin to walk down the path in silence.
“It’s beautiful here,” I praise taking a look at the blue ocean outstretched beside us.
“Yeah,” He is walking a step ahead of me on the path. I can see that at the end of the path it leads towards a small exclusive rocky beach. There are a bunch of sea gulls sitting on the rocks pecking at the sand around them.
We reach the end of the path and step foot on the soft sand. The sound of the seagulls and waves is so peaceful. My converse fill with sand as we walk further, towards the group of birds resting on the rocks.
“Be very quiet.” Connor whispers as we attempt to sneak up on them. He puts his arm out to stop me from walking any further, holding me back behind him. The smell of his cologne tickles my nose and I smile.
He begins to take a step but stops when one of the birds looks towards us. I trip over his leg and he lets out a loud grunt.
“Frankie no!” He laughs catching me before I hit the ground. All the birds jump off the rocks and fly away squawking in the air.
“I’m sorry!” I laugh looking up to see that I am laying in Connor’s arms, only inches from his face. Our laughs die down and we lock eyes, causing the entire world around me to disappear. The waves behind us are just white noise.
“It’s alright,” He whispers with a smile, leaning in to close the gap between us…