Stephan (4 page)

Panting for breath I stared up at a grinning
Stephan, his dimples were showing and I gave an involuntary sigh.
Those things were dangerous. I needed to get away from him. I
needed time to think, to gather myself. “Please. Go play. I’ll sit
with Cassie.” His grin disappeared and he stared at me like he was
debating if he did go play would I run. “Please, I promise I will
stay with Cassie.”

“Okay. After practice you’re coming back to
my place though.”

I didn’t say anything, just turned and
hurried over to where my friend stared at me still grinning like an
idiot. “Thanks for helping me, bitch.”

Cassie laughed. “From my point of view you
didn’t need any help. If a Silverman did to me what Stephan did to
you, I would have gladly followed, no questions asked.”

I glared at Cassie. “I hate you.”

Cassie laughed harder and nudged my shoulder.
“No you don’t. Stop whining and let’s watch the show?”

I turned and raised my eyebrow. “What do you
mean show?”

“Oh I never miss rugby practice or a game for
that matter. The practices are the best though.”

“Why?”

“Because when they play one side is shirts,
the other side is not.”

It took me a moment to get it and then I
couldn’t help giggling. “Cassie, Cassie, Cassie, you do surprise
me. Here I thought you were a good sweet girl.” We both broke into
giggles and turned to watch practice.

I sat for twenty minutes staring at a bunch
of half-naked guys wrestling each other for a ball. When the shirts
came off I noticed Cassie and I weren’t the only people drooling,
there were other girls watching.

“What do you put in the water here? My God
they are just…well…they are ripped.”

Cassie shrugged, like gorgeous built teenage
boys were normal for her. “About fifty percent of the population in
Reed Creek is what you’d call upper class. If you hadn’t noticed by
now, Jade, we are in a prime position.” She made quotation marks
and sounded like she was repeating what she’d overheard a parent
say. “Reed Creek is in the middle of two large cities and we are
coastal, with some of the most beautiful beaches. If you don’t have
a water view you have a river view, some have both. Our school is
the best in the state. So those guys…” she nodded to the boys on
the field, “have the best of everything. We have a gym room at our
house. My brother is in there all the time. I know Brad has a
personal trainer and some of the other kids all work out together.”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “My mother is a real estate agent. You just
heard some of her speech.”

I sat there dumbfounded. It all sounded so
logical. I should have picked this all up from school, or just by
looking around the town. Suddenly I felt really uncomfortable. I
was out of my element. In a daze I stared out at the buff
teenagers. Sure, in the city school I’d been going to there had
been good looking boys, a nicely built kid here or there, but
nothing like the group before me.

My thoughts strayed back to Stephan, he was
probably interested in me because I was the first person to ever
say no to him. I watched as he caught the ball and ran, his
muscular chest flexing. It was a pity he was a wanker, because he
sure was a hottie. Stephan looked more like twenty-one than
eighteen. “Do you know how old Stephan is?”

Cassie winked at me. “He’s nineteen. He’ll be
twenty at the start of next year. Their mother wanted them home
with her for as long as possible. They did a lot of traveling when
they were younger. Their older brother, Dustan, lives in America
and they visit him and their cousins a lot. Or so my brother told
me.”

“Okay. Thanks.” He was older than me by over
a year. I only had two months until I was eighteen, but it felt
like a lot longer. “Are you eighteen?” I asked Cassie.

“Yep. Scott and I turned eighteen nine almost
ten weeks ago. Are you eighteen?”

“In just over a month.”

“What? No way. You look older. I thought you
would be eighteen already?”

“Yeah, I’m only seventeen.” Chewing on my
bottom lip, I hoped my age didn’t change our friendship. Cassie was
looking at me funny.

“You have no trouble with school work I know.
You are usually finished before me and all your answers are right.
You don’t look younger than me.”

“Is this a problem? You are only a little
over three months older than me.”

“What!? No. Why would you say that? I’m just
a little shocked, I thought Scott and I were the youngest in our
year.”

“You’re looking at me different. There are
plenty of schools that have people in year twelve who are my
age.”

“Yeah you’re right, but I’m actually in awe
you keep up with everything. Me and Scott struggled but we have the
best tutors provided.”

“Really, it’s not much difference in our
ages.”

“You’re right.”

I stood, needing to stretch, and Cassie
followed. The coach was rounding the players up on the field.

“Do you want to go? They are wrapping up now.
Scott can get a lift home with someone else. I have the keys.”
Cassie jingled the keys.

“Yep, let’s go.” I smirked as we walked
toward the cars, remembering what Stephan had demanded of me. I
said I would stay with Cassie, I never promised not to leave.

Stephan

I am going to tan Jade’s hide. Why couldn’t
she stay where I tell her? I turned to Scott. “Looks like you’re
with us. Come on, Derick will drive us back so I can get my car. I
need to get Jade from your place.”

Scott scrubbed his face with a towel.
“Stephan, I don’t think you can get Jade if she’s at my place. My
parents wouldn’t allow it. They aren’t like everyone here. They
wouldn’t let you just take her. Jade is new and they know it.”

“She’s mine. I n—”

“Stephan, shut it.”

I glared at Derick as he narrowed his eyes at
me. I knew he wanted me to keep quiet. I probably sounded like a
possessive arsehole. It was the curse’s fault, and I couldn’t
explain to Scott or my friends, they’d think I really was crazy. I
knew people thought us Silverman’s were eccentric.

“You’ll see Jade tomorrow at the party.
Right, Scott?”

Scott’s gaze went from me to Derick. He knew
something was going on, just not exactly what. “Er, yeah, sure.
Cassie is dying to go to one of your parties. She’ll make sure Jade
comes. I’ll drive them to your place myself.”

I nodded, not trusting my voice. I could wait
until tomorrow to see her again. I’d call Zeck again when I got
home and see what he’d found out.

*****

Scott stayed for a while and he’d help
distract me. Derick took him home half an hour ago and I’d just
gotten off the phone with Zeck. I sat at my computer shocked at the
information I was reading. Jade was only seventeen, she was a
little over a month away from eighteen. I was nineteen, so there
wasn’t a huge difference in age. She was smart, not only to keep up
with people a year older at school, but she was street smart. I
felt like an even bigger arse as I read about her. Jade’s mother
had died of a meth overdose only two weeks ago. She had no known
father, and there were three different restraining orders against
men her mother had been with. DoCS, Department of Community
Services, had been called several times, but nothing had come of
the visits. There were notes though, and he felt sick as he read
one after another. Why the hell hadn’t they taken her? Jade had
raised herself. She now lived with her mother’s father who was her
only known relative and a drug dealer. Zeck had dug deeper finding
out she received Centerlink benefits from the age of fourteen. He’d
hacked into her account and I could now see how Jade spent the
money, with care at the grocery store, and the cheapest clothing
stores.

A knock sounded on my door and knew it would
be Derick. “Come in.” I didn’t turn to him I kept reading.

“So anything good?” He didn’t need to ask
what I was looking at.

Running fingers through my hair, I cleared my
dry throat. “I’ve been an idiot. I knew we were lucky and spoiled,
but…” I couldn’t tell him. I stood and moved from the computer.
Derick took my place. I laid on my bed and tried not to come up
with images of what Jade’s life would have looked like and what
she’d been through.

After a while the side of the bed sank.
“Fuck, bro, that’s some serious shit. What are you going to
do?”

Ha, that was the big question. “I don’t know.
I’m going to need help. I didn’t want to bother Mum and Dad, but
I’m gonna need Mum.”

“Do you still want her?”

I sat up and snarled, “What the fuck kind of
question is that? Of course I still want her, she’s mine. I just
have to take it slower than I wanted.” I stared at Derick. “I’m
going to give her everything, Derick. I promise she will want for
nothing. I’m going to surround her with everything she could ever
want, luxury, friends, family—and love.”

Derick stood. “You know I’ll support you, and
Mum will love spoiling her.” He walked to the door. “I know you
don’t want to hear this, but you need to go slow and build up her
trust. You won’t be able to just move her in here and expect her to
follow your orders. You need to give her time to get to know you.
Jade is not one of your normal women, so treat her right.” He left
my room, shutting the door.

As much as I wanted to get angry at Derick
for what he said, I couldn’t because it was all true.

*****

Jade

Cassie’s parents were nice, and I learned
were she got her no filter—her father. He just said whatever came
to mind. I didn’t think I’d blushed so much in my life and I’d
definitely not had a sheltered life. He seemed like the laid back
one in the relationship, were Cassie’s mother was all perfectly put
together, not a hair or piece of clothing out of place.

Scott didn’t come home until after dinner. I
was relieved when Derick came with him to the front door and not
the wanker. Derick hadn’t stayed long and he didn’t say a word to
me.

I stayed in the guest bedroom, which was the
biggest room I’d ever seen. The bed felt odd, it was soft and the
sheets were of a high thread count. I’d never had a bed so soft or
sheets so smooth and soothing against the skin. I tossed and turned
all night.

No one woke me in the morning, and when I
looked at the bedside clock I was shocked to see I’d slept past
ten. I’d never done that before. I was an early riser. I showered
and rushed to get dressed so it wasn’t too late when I made it
downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen I was surprised to see
Cassie’s dad at the stove and only Cassie at the table, set with
plates, knives, forks, juice and cups.

“Hi, Jade. I hope you slept okay.” I smiled
at Cassie’s father. I couldn’t tell him I hadn’t. “Yes,
thanks.”

“Are you hungry? Go sit down. I’m doing
sausages, hash browns, bacon, and eggs.”

I sat at the table next to Cassie. I wasn’t
really a breakfast person. I sometimes had an apple or a mandarin,
but nothing like what was being offered. “Yes. Could I please have
a hash brown and an egg?”

“Sure.” He came over with a plate filled with
already cooked food.

I placed the items on the plate.

“So what are you girls doing today?”

I had no idea so I looked to Cassie. “We are
going to go to the beach. It’s such a nice day. A bit cool, but
still hot enough to have a dip and sunbathe.”

“Sounds good, sweetie. You can take the car.
But your brother asked for it tonight.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Cassie said. “Derick and
Stephan are having a party tonight we’re going too. Scott said he’d
pick up Stacy and Renee. The others are meeting us there.” Cassie’s
father opened his mouth but Cassie put up her hand to stop what he
was saying.

“Before you worry, we are going with Scott.
You know the Silverman boys.”

“Okay. Promise me you’ll call no matter what,
even if you need picking up or just want to leave.”

Cassie beamed. “Promise.”

For once in a long time jealousy flowed
through me. I’d never had anyone care about me enough to give me
options like Cassie’s father. The love was obvious between father
and daughter. I hoped Cassie knew how lucky she was to have such
caring parents. I decided I would say something. I hadn’t told
Cassie much about my life before moving here, just the basics like
my mother died and I didn’t have any other relatives beside my
grandpa and I didn’t know my own father. Cassie hadn’t pried much,
she’d been more interested in what my other high school was like
and my friends. I‘d tell her a little bit, enough to understand she
was extremely lucky.

After eating, we changed into our swimmers.
Cassie grabbed towels, sunscreen, and the keys off the hook by the
front door and we headed for the car. She jumped in the driver's
side and I got in the passenger, chucking the towels and sunscreen
in the back. Cassie started the car and backed out of the drive and
we were heading toward the beach.

“You’re really lucky you know, to have
parents like you do.”

Cassie smiled. “I know. My brother’s not too
bad either. What was your mother like?”

“Not like yours. My mum would never have said
anything like your father did. I don’t think she ever asked where I
was going when I went out. I stayed at friends places and sometimes
didn’t come home for days. She didn’t even seem to notice I was
gone. I remember one time she was dating this guy and they were
both high as kites. He got angry at something she did, probably
stole money from him and he started beating her. When I called the
cops and ambulance, the paramedic asked her a bunch of questions, I
remember her saying she had no children. Another similar time she
did the opposite and screamed I was a slut and no daughter of hers
and went crazy attacking me. The cops pulled her off me.”