Something True (12 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Darla

Pizza City was jammed after the game, but I didn’t mind. It meant Orion and I had to squeeze together on one side of what was technically a table made for two, while Veronica and Josh squeezed in on the other. We’d been there for fifteen minutes, and Orion had his arm around me the entire time. Plus, he kept playing with my hair and touching my leg under the table. I wasn’t sure if it was me or the win or what, but whatever had put him in this lovey-dovey mood, I was cool with it.

“I still can’t believe you won,” Veronica said, reaching for her water. “That was an amazing play, Orion.”

“Agreed,” Josh said. “I thought you were gonna bite it and then you just vaulted over that guy’s leg.” He shook his head, impressed. “Total top-ten material.”

“Thanks. But we’d still be playing if Ross hadn’t made that kick. And if it wasn’t for Donnie, I’d still be pulling my face mask out of the dirt.”

Josh and I laughed. Veronica made a disgusted face.

“Honestly, I was a little worried when you started the second half way down at your own one yard line. I still don’t know how Peter managed to scramble away from that defensive end. I swear I thought they were gonna get a safety.”

I reached for my pizza, trying not to preen. I couldn’t believe I had just gotten through that entire speech without messing up once. Wallace would have been so proud.

“Wow. Have you been watching ESPN or something?” Orion asked.

I took a bite off the tip of my slice, enjoying his shock, and lifted my shoulders. “Maybe.”

My phone beeped, and I glanced at the text. It was from Wallace. Veronica lifted up in her seat to try to see, so I turned the screen away from her.

SENT OUR IDEA TO UR MOM’S ASSISTANT. SHE SAID THEY’LL BE DELIVERED IN AM.

“Who’s that?” Orion asked, munching on some pepperoni he’d stolen off my plate.

“Oh, nobody,” I said, shoving the phone away. Wallace and I had spent half the game going over the schedule for the pancake breakfast tomorrow and brainstorming campaign ideas. I loved the one we’d landed on, but I wanted to wait to share it with Orion. This whole night was about showing him that homecoming wasn’t the only thing on my mind.

Veronica smirked. “Just her own personal ESPN.”

“Huh?” Orion asked.

I blanched. Yes, Orion knew that Wallace had been helping me out with the homecoming numbers, but I didn’t want him to think what Veronica thought—that we’d been flirting. And knowing Veronica, she’d find a way to make it sound even worse than that.

“Darla’s vast football knowledge didn’t come from ESPN,” Veronica said, sitting up straight. “She’s just been spending every free minute with—”

“Orion! Oh my God! Great game!”

Saved by the cheerleading squad. I shot Veronica a wide-eyed glance as Josie Morrissey and some of her sophomore friends gathered at the end of our table.

“Thanks, ladies,” Orion said, squeezing my shoulder. I smiled and took a sip of diet soda, draining the last dregs. Orion instantly signaled the waitress. “More Diet Coke, please?”

“Thanks, baby!” I cooed.

“Anytime, sweetness,” he replied, giving me a quick kiss.

“Aw! You guys are so adorable. We’re totally voting for you two for king and queen,” Josie said, gesturing around at her friends.

Veronica’s jaw dropped. Josh shifted uncomfortably and jammed half a slice into his mouth. Then Josie seemed to realize who we were with.

“Oh, no offense,” she said to Veronica. “But you can only vote for one guy and one girl!”

Giggling, she and her posse went up to the counter to order their food. Orion gave an amused snort and I hid my smile behind a napkin, wiping at my lips for so long it was definitely suspicious.

“Don’t get excited,” Veronica said. “It’s only, like, five votes.”

I put the napkin down. “I know. Please. If anyone’s gonna win who’s not a senior, it’s gonna be you.”

Orion gave me a weird look. What? It had just come out of me. Like a reflex. It didn’t matter that I knew otherwise. If there was ever a moment to appease Veronica, it was now. Two minutes ago she’d been on the verge of skewering me. Besides, he knew I was never going to tell her about Wallace’s numbers. The girl would’ve chomped off my head with her Invisaligned teeth.

Veronica lifted a shoulder, but I could tell she was pleased. “We’ll see.”

Then Orion got a text. He checked his phone, and I saw True’s name before he shoved it back in his pocket.

“Who was that?” I asked, holding my breath.

“Just True, texting about the place mats. We’re picking them up first thing in the morning.” He kissed my temple. “I think you’re gonna love them.”

God, I couldn’t wait until football season was over. Then those two would have no reason to communicate with each other.

“Well. I guess it’s on, homecoming court style,” Josh said.

“It so is,” Orion replied.

They bumped fists, then went right back to eating. The waitress delivered my fresh soda and I lifted it toward Veronica, trying to shove True out of my mind. At least she wasn’t nominated for homecoming queen. Then I might have had to kill her.

“May the best couple win?” I said.

“Sure,” Veronica replied, clinking her water glass with mine. Her eyes slid over me and Orion, as if she was maybe seeing us for the first time. “May the best couple win.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Orion

I got out of my car outside the Graphic Shop on Saturday morning, asking myself for the ten millionth time what I was doing there. True texts and I jump? What was that about?

But then I remembered, for the ten millionth time, she couldn’t pick up three heavy boxes of place mats by herself, and we were supposed to be doing this together. I was here because I was fulfilling an obligation to the team. I was not here for True. I was
not
here for True.

“Orion! Hey! You made it!”

And there was True. She came striding up the tree-lined street with her hair streaming behind her, looking totally beautiful in jeans and a flowing white top. Would it be so bad if I just took her up in my arms and kissed her? Just one little kiss?

My fingers and teeth clenched. There was something seriously wrong with me. Why couldn’t I get my head on straight? Darla and I had a good thing going. She’d been watching ESPN for me, for God’s sake. Until last night I didn’t think she even knew what ESPN was. I just had to focus. Get the place mats into my car and get out.

True’s face fell as I walked right past her and yanked open the door of the shop.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“Nope. All good.”

The air inside the small, bright store was freezing, and the whole place smelled like dry paper and tangy ink. A copy machine whirred against the back wall, spitting out red flyers. There was no one behind the counter.

True walked up behind me and touched my arm. “What’s wrong?”

A sizzle of attraction sliced through me, and I flinched away. “Don’t do that!”

She looked as if I’d just punched her. For a second she shrank back, but then she shoved her hands under her arms and held on to herself. “Do what?”

“Touch me,” I said. “Don’t touch me. Just don’t.”

“Orion, did I do something wrong?” she asked. “I’m only trying to—”

“Where were you last night?” I asked, then immediately wanted to take it back.

True blinked, her beautiful brow creasing over those stunning blue eyes. “Last night?”

“Never mind. Forget it.” I noticed a silver bell on the desk and brought my hand down on it. Hard. The ring reverberated throughout the shop.

“Be right out!” someone shouted.

“No. There’s no forget it,” True said. “If you’re going to yell at me, at least tell me what it’s about.”

“The game,” I reminded her. “We had a huge game, and you weren’t there.”

“That’s what you’re upset about?” she blurted. “Are you kidding me?”

Okay, so she was right. It sounded beyond stupid when I said it out loud. But there was no taking it back now, so I just barreled ahead like a whiny child.

“Yes!” I said. “That’s what I’m upset about. I had an awesome game and you weren’t there. I even scored the winning touchdown.”

The look True gave me made me think of the way a kindergarten teacher might look at a five-year-old who’s just finger-painted her favorite skirt—condescending, amused, and annoyed at the same time. Yep. I was definitely acting like a whiny child.

“If you knew what was really going on here, you’d—”

“I’d what?” I asked. “Why don’t you tell me?”

“No! You know what?” True spat, throwing her hands up. “So I missed one game! Big deal! Get over it! I’m not your girlfriend, remember?”

My cheeks stung as if she’d just slapped me as hard as she could on both sides at the same frickin’ time. Because she was right, of course. I was treating her the way a disappointed boyfriend might treat her. Someone who had a reasonable expectation to be her number one priority.

“Maybe not,” I said, struggling for something to say to save face. “But you’re supposed to be my booster.”

“Um . . . hi?” A tall, broad guy with a red beard and curly red hair walked tentatively to the counter. “Can I help you?”

“We’re from the LCH Boosters,” True said. “You have some place mats for us?”

“Yeah! Yes. Right here.” He gestured to a pile of three large white boxes. “They’re all paid for already, so I’ll help you out to your car.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, grabbing the box on the top.

True took the second and the big guy grabbed the third, holding the door open for us with his foot. We loaded everything into the small trunk of my car—it just fit—and I slammed the back.

“Thank you!” True shouted to the guy as he went back inside.

He gave us a wave, and then we were alone. I couldn’t even look True in the eye. My face felt hot, and the back of my neck was sticky. I yanked open the door and got in behind the wheel, ready to bail. But before I could even start the engine, True was climbing in on the passenger side.

“What’re you doing?” I demanded.

“Going to school for the pancake breakfast. Or were you planning to make me walk?”

She clicked her seat belt and stared straight out through the windshield. So much for staying away from her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

True

We were silent for the entire seven-and-a-half-minute drive to the school. I had to force myself to breathe. Force myself to focus. His anger didn’t matter. He was not the Orion I knew. He was not the Orion I wanted. If I could just get Darla and Wallace to fall in love, he’d return to me. We’d be together. Everything would be as it should.

He pulled the car around the side of the school into a small lot near the cafeteria and killed the engine. I waited for him to look at me. To apologize. To say something to break the awkward silence. But instead he opened the door and started to get out.

“So that’s it? You’re just going to go?” I demanded.

“What do you want from me?” he shot back, so quickly it was as if the words had been on the tip of his tongue the whole ride long.

Gods, he was handsome. Even more so when he was angry. His cheeks seemed more chiseled when he jutted out his chin, and his eyes smoldered.

“Don’t you dare try to tell me that your little tirade back there was about the fact that your booster ditched you for one game,” I said, and he slammed the car door again, cocooning us inside. “Let’s talk about what’s really going on here.”

He lifted his head as if he had no clue what I was on about. “Okay. What do you think is really going on?”

“You!” I said, shoving his shoulder. “You and me! There’s clearly something between us, and don’t tell me you haven’t felt it, because I know that you have.”

He shook his head, looking through the windshield. Down in the main parking lot, more cars were beginning to arrive. The boosters were convening to set up before the guests and fans got there.

“You’re crazy,” Orion said.

“No, Orion, I’m not,” I replied, softening my voice slightly. “You have feelings for me. Why don’t you just admit it?”

At that moment we both heard a laugh, and suddenly Wallace and Darla walked out the side door of the cafeteria.

“Duck!”

Orion grabbed me and shoved me down, my head in his lap, then folded himself over my back.

“She knows your car!” I hissed.

“But she doesn’t have to know we’re in it!” he hissed back.

I rolled my eyes, but once the initial panic was over, I started to feel. Feel the weight of his body pressing against mine. The warmth of him so close. I breathed in the scent of denim and leather and held it inside my lungs until I went light-headed. After a few seconds, Orion hazarded a glance up and out.

“They’re gone.”

He sat up, then slumped down in his seat as far as he could get. I lifted my head and glanced down at the parking lot. Wallace and Darla were chatting with a man outside a white florist van. They laughed. She shoved him. He blushed and shoved her back. They were
so
flirting, and it was so cute. My pulse began to race for real. This was happening. It was really happening.

Then they started to turn. I dove down again, my cheek against Orion’s thigh, my face turned toward the steering wheel. My fingertips automatically gripped the fabric of his jeans. I hadn’t been this close to him in heaven knew how long, and I relished every moment, every sensation, every touch.

“True.” He said my name like a question, like a plea, like a demand.

I turned over so that my feet were on the ground, but my back was across the console. My hair trailed down between his legs. It wasn’t comfortable, but now I was looking at him. Looking at Orion. My Orion.

He lifted his right arm, the leather sleeve of his jacket squeaking, and gently touched my face. My heart pounded.

“True,” he said again, and this time his voice was full of emotion. Full of love. He lifted me toward him, and my breath caught. “I can’t.”

And then he kissed me.

Tears sprang to my eyes. Tears of relief, of joy, of sheer ecstasy. I clung to him and kissed him back with everything I had. I’d waited for this moment for what felt like an eternity. Ever since I’d been torn away from him back at the palace, and even more since the day he’d been sent to Earth and hadn’t known me. Orion’s tongue parted my lips and I moaned. I clutched him to me, wanting to feel every inch of him.

“True,” he whispered, tilting his head as he pulled me to him once more.

“Orion,” I replied, barely able to speak. “My Orion.”

My body burned for him as I found his lips again. I held on to him so tightly I thought my fingers might break. He was mine again. He was mine. And I would never let him go.

Then his phone chimed.

Orion instantly pulled back. Our lips parted so quickly they made a sucking noise. He fumbled for his phone, shaking.

“It’s from Darla,” he said, his voice throaty.

I looked through the window again. Darla, Wallace, and the florist were walking toward the front of the school, toting small vases bright with blue-and-white flowers. They hadn’t yet noticed Orion’s car.

“‘Where are you guys?’” Orion read. “‘We need help with setup.’”

I slumped down and covered my mouth with my hand. I hadn’t a clue what to say. What to do. My brain felt as if it was floating on a sea of murky water.

“What the hell’m I doing?” he said under his breath, pocketing his phone. He moved to open the door, and I grabbed for his hand.

“Orion, no. Please. We have to—”

“I can’t, True,” he said, looking down at me, his expression pained. “I don’t want to cheat on her. I don’t want to be that guy. This was a mistake. I’m sorry. Wait a minute or two, then come in. I’ll come back for the boxes later.”

If only I’d had my powers, I could have stopped him—locked him inside with me until he admitted his love for me. But I couldn’t do that, and Orion opened the door and was gone. Five seconds. In five seconds we’d gone from kissing like our lives depended on it, to him being gone. The world around me seemed empty, like I was trapped in some sort of sun-dappled abyss.

Slowly I opened the car door.

With a deep breath, I stepped out onto the parking lot’s asphalt surface, my legs shaky beneath me. My lips still tingled from the kiss, and I reached up to touch them gingerly. It had really happened. It hadn’t been a dream.

But now that I’d felt his kiss again, now that I’d tasted him and touched him and breathed him in, I needed him even more. I had to finish this, and I had to do it soon. Because if I couldn’t be with Orion, I was going to go mad. Plain and simple. Then it wouldn’t matter what Artemis did or didn’t do to me. Without Orion, all was lost.