Chapter Nineteen: "A Little More In Common Than I Thought..."
IT'S EASY for me not to gawk. Not just because they're not dreamily attractive to me, but because I don't know them personally. I've got flirted with, which isn't something unexpected, but I'm more attracted to guys with brains and a good personality; their looks are just bonuses, honestly.
However, trying to act like I don't know them might be a little more challenging.
Prying my eyes away, I turn to Carly. "Who are they?"
"The hottest guys in school, obvs." She says sarcastically. "But they're the most popular guys in school. They have everything: the looks, the power, the attention; they have it all."
I can debate about that, I think to myself.
"Why are they called the Canadian Brothers or whatever?" I ask.
This question genuinely confused me; none of the boys mentioned them having a reputation at school. They didn't even say anything about having nicknames either.
Actually, now that I think about it, they never really talked about themselves. All conversations were sadly either about me, my injury, or my 'incoherent' speaking.
I really need to work on isolation. . .
"They're brothers, like biological ones, not friendly ones, so that's where that term comes from. They're also born and raised in Canada. . . and they're bad boys. Rebels."
"So they're your stereotypical entourage?" I laugh. It's no shock. The boys didn't speak to me since walking out the door, and I haven't seen them all morning until now. I just assumed that they weren't in any of my classes.
"Kind of." Carly answers. "A couple of them are your typical bad boy heartbreaker, but a couple others aren't."
"So they have the name because they're attractive and horny machines?"
"No, actually," she laughs, "that nickname mostly ran outside, but it started rumouring around at school too, so it just kinda stuck with them. At school, they're actually like that because they skip and stand up to everyone who gives them lip. Out of school, they're supposed drug dealers and run along with gangs and have been to jail a bunch of times."
My heart raced as soon as 'drug' ran out of Carly's mouth. The thought scared the living shit out of me and gave me horrid flashbacks. But like she said, supposed rumours, right, so this must only be assumptions going around?
As much as I knew that these boys would have a reputation of some sort, having that category being the drug cartels shocked me to the point that a Taser wouldn't do damage if it was being compared.
It was one thing having to go through this once, but again? No, no I couldn't get involved again. So much went wrong and I can't risk it.
If the rumours are true. . . God, I'll need to get out of here. I know that from experience, the gang was involved with some Canadian dealers. What if this family was them? None of them looked familiar, but I was always hidden behind a body or left in the car.
The air in the room thickened immensely, and at the thought of Landon and his brothers being in the most dangerous field in society makes me feel sick.
Hopefully, rumours are just rumours.
But then again. . . this school probably knows the 'Rebel Brothers' better than I do.
At this moment, I honestly don't know what to think.
"But those are just rumours, right, I mean theyâ"
"Who knows," she shrugs. "They never talk to anyone besides their small circle of friends."
"They aren't sociable but they're the most popular and hottest guys in school?"
That's a first for me, honestly. If you were popular at my school, you had your boys, your football mates, and the girls on your arm.
"Pretty much." She says in awe.
As what Landon once told me, curiosity killed the cat. "So what else do you know about them?"
Carly struggles to tear her eyes away from where Liam, Lance, and Landon are now sat with two other guys and a girl. "Why the sudden interest in them?"
"Curious as to who rules the school." I lie. If I told her the real reason, oh, God, I'd never hear the end of it. "Who are those three they're sitting with?"
"Oh, that's what their small group consists of. Do you know who any of them are?" Most.
"No."
She squeals, her eyes going back to ogling at them, while I turn back around once she lets go of my face, acting like I couldn't care less. Except for the drug thing. . .
"Oh I love this." She squeaks. "Okay, so that tall one, the tallest, he is Lance. He's probably the most serious one out of them. I've never talked to him personally, but the things he does when we'd have a class or I'd overhear them is that he's really funny. He's actually pretty perverted and boyishâtypically. But he's like really protective of his family. I once saw a guy smack the girl sitting with them and he went ballistic. The kid was hospitalized for two weeks."
Holy shit. Lance had some balls, and that was truly admiring. Even though he was your average perverted teen, he cared for the people he loved and wouldn't let anyone mess with them. My heart melted a bit at that.
"The one right there, beside the girl and Lance, that's Landon. Don't mistaken him for his twin brother, the one beside the one dude and the other side of the other guy, though. He hates it. Anyway, Landon is actually really sweet. I have him in my psychology class and I gotta say, he's pretty charming. He's like, really funny too when he's in class. They threw a party at their house once, and it was probably the best party I've ever been to, so if you want a good time, definitely go to their bashes."
Wow. Parties. I won't be able to get used to that. Hopefully they aren't thrown often. . .
"Liam, his twin, is the exact opposite of Landon. He's an asshole, whether he knows it or not I have no idea, but he'll trash talk anyone who bumps into him, so be careful. He also sleeps around a lotâall of them do, actuallyâand flirts with anything that has boobs and an interest in him, which is pretty much every girl at this school."
"Have you ever?" I ask with raised eyebrows.
"No way." She scoffs. "I'm out of their league. I'm not popular and pretty enough to be in his eyes. Besides, he's really mean and fights a lot. Good sense of humour, I gotta say, but God, I don't think he can go three days without knocking someone out."
"So who are they, then?" I ask, nodding behind me to the girl and two boys who haven't been named yet. From what I see, she's a blonde like me but her hair is only shoulder length. The two boys, however, have the same physical resemblance of the three brothers. They're probably on the football team or something. Quite attractive, but definitely not passing Atticus. They're up there though; high on the scale indefinitely.
"I don't exactly know how they're friends with the Rebel Brothers, but I know that Zach Bressette, the brunette, is captain of the boys football team and Jacob Wilson, the one with like dirty brown hair, is the captain of the boy's rugby. One of the twins plays rugby so I think that's how. Ugh, Maya, I have no idea who the hell she is. She just started sitting with them when Landon and Liam came into high school. I just assumed she was an elementary school friend."
It felt a little nice having insight on the boys' lives outside of the houseâeven if it was just brief descriptions and rumours.
I'm thinking over possible social character traits for the three guys when Carly's lips start forming words that I can't see or hear. "Sorry, what?" I sputter out nervously. I literally just met her; I don't want my first frâacquaintance running off. Though if she figures out the truth, I'll understand. . .
"I asked if I could sign your cast." She laughs. My eyes widen, and for a second I can't speak. I don't know why.
"Oh. Oâof course." I answer, and hold out my arm. Like she carries it around with her in case of emergencies, Carly pulls out a sharpie. To my god damn surprise, it's white.
I have never seen a white sharpie before.
She scribbles away happily on the plaster, adding cute little designs. She's actually an amazing drawer, I'll have to see what else she has talent in. "You're good at drawing," I state, "like, really good."
"You think?" She asks shyly, a blush forming on her cheeks.
I smirk. "Definitely. I mean, compared to me, you may as well be Leonardo Da Vinci or Pablo Picasso."
Her blush deepens. "Thank you, but I'm really not that good."
"I'll be the judge of that." I grin. Feeling slightly confident, I gather the courage to up and get myself an achievement treat. I haven't sputtered out anything native to anyone aside from my English teacher, so I think I deserve it. "How much time of lunch is left?"
Carly puts the cap back on the marker, and places it in something, then checks her phone. "We have about a half hour before the final bell rings."
"Is there a parlor around here? I'm thinking on ice cream or going to go grab a smoothie or something."
"Oh! Yeah, there's one down the street, actually." She chirps. "Not even a five minute walk."
"Wanna join?" I ask her with hopeful eyes. Luckily, Ella caught me early before I headed out for the bus and gave me some Canadian money. Only like ten dollars, but it worked.
"I could use some refreshments." She replies, and without further ado, we stand up and toss our garbage away and our lunch trays above the trash can.
I'm waiting for Carly when I get goosebumps on my skin, and the sudden feeling like someone is watching me. I turn around and look through the sea of students to see a group of kids, staring at me and chatting away. It was obvious that they were talking about me or at least making me think that way.
I automatically assumed they were apart of the popular crowd when I see that their table is situated beside the Rebel Brothers'. Sad thing is, that's my exit route and they're looking at me with an all too familiar glare.
Carly pulls me out of my thoughts again. Thank God. "Ready?" I nod, and gesture for her to lead the way. I take my phone out of my pocket as we're walking to see if I heard from anyone, and I have a message from Lacey.
[hey babe. I didn't get a call from you this morning so I just assumed you forgot. I'm heading out for a group night out with the boys and Jody, and they all miss you. How about a FaceTime call today? 4:00 our time? Love you, Brookie!]
I begin typing an automatic response. I knew I was supposed to call! Crap.
[omg I'm so sorry! I thought you were gunna call but I guess not. 4:00 is 7:00 our time, so that sounds great! I miss everyone too, I'll talk to you all soon!!!]
[i'll be the one calling you this time in case you forget, lol.]
I smile at the text; Lacey knew me so well. I guess she forgot and made the mistake of trusting me with plans, because I'm awfully forgetful and when I do remember, I have the tendency to miss details or leave them out.
Then I get winded, and I'm falling, being so close to having my face make contact with the floor. I don't even have time to react before a strong pair of arms encircle me and catch me.
I hear giggling moments after. "Watch where the fuck you're going, Newbie." It's a girl, and I'm about to ask what happened and to give her my two cents but then I remember that I'm halfway between standing up and falling down.
I squirm out of the person's arm like they're hot lava and fix myself. Carly is stood in front of me with wide eyes, but it's like she also has heart eyes as well.
My face drops. Please don't be a Rebel, please don't be a Rebel. . .
I turn around, and to upmost thankfulness, it's not.
It's the brunette boy.
"Sâsorry." I stutter. I look around their table, to see that neither Lance, Landon or Liam is looking at me, only the girl, the guy, and the guy who caught me.
I turn to see the group who was staring at me, and I immediately grow agitated when I see that one of the girl's feet is out. She purposely tripped me.
"Maybe instead of playing on your stupid phone, you pay attention to where you're going next time." She snarls.
"Bâbutâ"
"But nothing. Use your brain."
My face pales and I hide behind my hair as I begin walking to Carly, who remains speechless. I get pulled back before I even take two steps though.
I'm spun around, and I'm face-to-face with either that Jacob boy or the Zach one. Shit, which one is which? "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes I am fine, thanks." I blubber.
I knew it was a matter of time before I cracked.
He doesn't seem fazed though. "What?" He laughs gently, but not in a mocking way. He was actually confused, and surprisingly he looked worried.
"I gotta go," I whisper, and look at the brothers, who are actually staring at me with no emotion, and I just shake my head. I don't understand why they didn't do anything, but I guess I shouldn't have expected anything more. They're popular and know this place, I'm new.
We're on different social levels, too.
Who was I to think that even for a second, those boys would actually be considered a friend to me? I should have known that I was simply the girl who lives with them. The girl who was practically kicked out of her own house and shipped to a stranger's care.
I've been fostered.
I was stupid to think I had a chance at friendship with them. Especially with Landon. It hurt a bit knowing that he was so nice and flirty to me at the house but never spared me a glance through the hallsâeven if I hadn't seen him. I thought we were on terms that could be considered pre-acquaintances, but I guess that's out the window.
This isn't going to be a one-sided friendship. I'm done with that routine. It's time for me to get my shit together and not take jokes.
We're friends or not. I'm not playing games.
Even if they're hot.
Once we're out and away from whoever they were, Carly turns to me and stops. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I sigh. "IâI mean yeah."
"Don't pay attention to Annabelle or Mary. They're just stuck up sluts. You being the new girl just makes it easier for them to pick a target on you."
I scoff. "I'm not worried about them," I tell her honestly. "Bullies are the least of my concerns."
"That's good." She smiles. "Just don't mess with them, okay? They know how to mess lives up, like really bad. Just try to ignore them and think before you act."
Ah, I'm liking this. But the consequences, I don't know. I don't mind this place; nobody knows me. That being said, I could run the school if I wanted to, but I'd have to work my ass off to do so.
As much as I want to test her capabilities, I know I need to get to know my way around. Some escape routes, plans, stores, and the people.
How they play their competition.
"We'll see. I'm not going to tolerate it if that's their plan; I don't work like that."
Carly sighs. "Just be careful. They're dangerous, honestly Brooklyn."
"Let's just go eat and pretend the past five minutes never happened, yeah?" I say, and follow her out the doors.