Disclaimer: All characters belong to the wonderful C.L. Stone and her Academy Ghost Bird series. I am borrowing them for my writing amusement. ^_^
Note: This is North and Sang's first date on the roof, from North's point of view. It starts a little before that part. Enjoy :D
I see her standing a little off to Kota's side as soon as we walk in through the door. She's intermittently shifting from one foot to the other, then finally stops and clasps her fingers behind her back.
It's driving me insane. I want to rush forward and shake away the nervousness from her, working downward from those stiff, skinny shoulders of hers. And that's another thing. She's too small, too thin even for her height. I wonder if her parents aren't feeding her at home, or if she's not eating herself. I haven't seen her eat more than nibbles since we met. That has to change.
We all congregate around Kota's living room to discuss our schedules for the upcoming school year. It'll be different with Sang this year. Better. I'm lucky I won't have to kill anyone out of sheer boredom at school because she'll be around. On second thought, Luke's lucky I won't have as much time to get him back for his antics.
But I'm really not looking forward to high school. Not like my brothers and I haven't all already learned the stuff already in whatever classes we have. Then there's the stupid lot of hormonal teenagers. They don't give two shits about academics. And if they're anything like that asshole Greg that Si wanted to knock out, it's gonna be a whole lot worse for Sang.
Speaking of which.
I see her take a seat smack in the middle of the couch, and immediately plop down to her left. She's glancing back and forth between me and Gabriel, then pauses and flicks her gaze upward when she sees the arm I've placed behind her shoulder. Really, I'm resisting the urge to just throw an arm around her. But that'll have to wait till later. She's still too goddamn jumpy. When I return the look, questioning, Sang quickly turns away, pale cheeks an instant bloom of pink.
Luke starts up about getting bean bag chairs for Kota again. I only half-pay attention, and focus mostly on moving my finger in circles on Sang's shoulder. I watch the side of her face all the while, holding back a grin when I see her blush deepen even more.
Kota then asks who's driving who to school, and I say I'll be taking Luke and Si in my Jeep.
"Good. Logically, I'll take Nathan and Sang," says Kota.
"You mean on the bus?" Sang asks, looking around at us. We all turn to face her, and I feel her stiffen underneath my fingers. "I mean, I don't think I could get away with riding to school with anyone. If I'm not getting on the bus, my sister will know and she'd tell my parents," she adds, quieter this time.
"Aw, shit. I didn't think about that. Don't tell me we're riding this year."
Sang sits up, finally moving away from my fingers. She shakes her head fiercely. "You don't have to. I mean, I can ride the bus. You guys can ride together. It's no big deal. I'll just see you when I get there."
God, she's so fucking gorgeous.
The guys and I exchange glances over her head, each telling the other that no way in hell we could ever let Sang ride the school bus on her own. Especially to the godforsaken shit hole we're gonna be attending.
"It's not a big deal," Nate says, "we'll do it."
I resume circling my fingers on her shoulder.
"But—"
"No, it's fine." Kota cuts Sang off before she can say anything more. "My car isn't totally reliable anyway. We'll ride."
And that's how it's done, baby. I look down at Sang and see her fidget. She still looks uncomfortable. And she's so fucking small. Makes me want to her wrap myself around her and never let go. Maybe hide her away someplace.
"But that brings us to another issue. We need to work on getting your parents used to us. It'll be difficult, but the sooner we find a way, it'll make it easier on all of us."
Easier on us? Fucking shit no. I don't think Kota realizes what he's saying. This girl hasn't been easy on us since the moment we met. Kota knew something was off with her right away. She's too quiet, only hangs out with our lot. She hasn't even bothered to even try and make other friends. And those eyes. I was screwed from the moment I looked into them. Sang doesn't realize that if she were to look at someone in exactly the right way he'd be totally done for. Thank God she's so innocent. But even that's been killing me. It's part of what makes her so damn irresistible.
No. Kota's wrong. There's no way in hell she'll ever be easy on us.
The word instantly brings to mind another kind of definition, and I shake my head slightly before I get into trouble. Instead, I turn back to the object of my thoughts and see she's just sitting quietly now, her lips pursed.
Fuck.
Gabe reaches out a hand to rub at her head. "Don't worry, we've got a plan," he says. Sang stiffens again before they both turn to Kota. "We've got a plan, right?"
"I still think we ought to call on Danielle. If we can get them to be friends, she could invite Danielle over. Her mother might get used to another girl being over there easier and we could slowly start showing up."
Oh, God, no, not her. My brothers all groan in agreement around me.
"Is she that bad?" asks Sang.
"Yup," I say. She turns to me, and I stop circling my two fingers on her shoulder and simply rest them there. She doesn't respond, but she hasn't moved away yet.
We all start discussing Danielle, our schedules and school in general. Sang and I are in the same Homeroom, AP Geometry and AP World History together. Some of the others only have one class with her, and I'm kind of feeling smug that I get to share three. I wonder if I can reach the classrooms before the guys and get a spot closest to her. But I also don't want Sang to be walking around those monstrous halls on her own. Maybe my brothers can walk her, and I'll save her spot. I want to walk with her too, though. Gotta decide something before the year starts.
By the time we have ourselves sorted I'm lying on my side and Sang's on the floor, leaning slightly against the couch. I fixate at the back of her pale, delicate neck.
Not now, Taylor. I clench my hand.
Victor and Sang begin chatting quietly, then suddenly she sits up, eyes wide. "I'm jealous," she says. "Can you say something in Japanese?
Oh. It's only Vic showing off his skills. C'mere and I'll teach you some German, I think. She seems so eager, like a baby chick.
And then I snort. A chick. Really.
Victor smiles and says something, and Sang tries to copy but fails. Her nose wrinkles. Fucking shit she even makes that look adorable.
"What does it mean?"
Victor blushes. Actually fucking blushes. "I'll tell you later," he says. Really wish I knew Japanese right about now. Maybe I'll learn it. Never hurts to know another language.
But Sang looks nervous again. Her fingers over the hem of her blouse, teeth pulling in her bottom lip into her mouth. I'd like to take it back out with mine.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
Focus on something else.
Anything.
I turn to Kota. "Are you going to be okay, Kota?" I ask. I am genuinely concerned about him, after all. "There's periods where we won't see you for several hours." Who the hell knows what could happen at that place.
Kota just shrugs. "Most of these classes are close together on the second floor. I won't be in the hallways for very long."
I notice Sang moving again out of my corner of my eye and see her crawl over to where Si sits quietly, eyes roving over his schedule. He glances up, first at me, then back at her when he sees that she's close, and pats the spot on the carpet next to him.
I strain my head a little to hear them.
"We've only got one class together," says Sang softly.
Si shifts over and places a palm on the floor, just near her butt, arm barely grazing her back. "At least I get you to myself," he says. I stamp down an instinctive yet unexpected wave of jealousy. Lucky bastard, getting her alone for an entire period.
Sang's nervous again. "In a class full of people," she whispers.
"It won't matter if they're there. I don't really talk much."
"Why?"
Why? What the hell kind of question is that? My eyes are probably burning holes into her head, but Sang doesn't notice. She's totally focused on Si right, her green eyes revealing everything she's feeling, genuine curiosity and a desire to know the answer. How the fuck can someone be so beautiful without even knowing?
"Not a lot to say," Si replies.
"You talk to me."
Then he reaches over—hey!—to tuck a silky blond lock behind her ear.
I really want to smack him right 'bout now. Bastard's clearly flirting with her, and she's completely oblivious. "You talk to me, too." He smiles.
Sang's eye widen even more, if that's even possible, and she looks about to say something before we hear a loud knock at the door. My eyes open wide and I sit up immediately, shoving the cushion away and turning my head. Kota gets up first, and comes back. He actually looks scared.
"Kota? What? Who was it?" Luke says. Even he's serious now.
"It's your sister. Your older sister. She's asking for you."
Sang jumps up so fast I barely see it. The others look between her and Kota. I'm just staring at her, at the hand at the base of throat. She looks terrified. Terrified. God I want to punch something.
Silas catches her hand from where he's sitting. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Don't worry. It'll be fine."
Her voice wavers. Yeah, fine my fucking ass. Anyone can hear it. We all know it, too. It won't be fine. Nothing about Sang's family is fine.
"It might require negotiations," she continues, "I have to go calm the waters. I might not be back today."
"Be careful," Silas says. He squeezes her hand once more before letting go. A thousand different scenarios flash through my mind. None of them are even remotely okay. I want her with us and away from that family. I fist at the couch, trying not to let my anger out. She might misunderstand. She won't get that it's not at her, but at her situation.
When Kota returns from walking her out to the door my brothers all start up at once, each clamoring loudly over the other to be heard.
"What's going to happen?" asks Vic.
"Her family's fucking insane." Gabe.
"I think it's just the mom. She's the one who forced lemon and vinegar down her throat," says Nathan.
"Doesn't matter, though, does it? No one else cares," Luke points out.
I turn to Silas, who's now seated beside me on the couch. "What do you think?"
He shrugs. "I don't know what to think. But I don't like her family," he says quietly.
I nod.
"Are you guys gossiping about me again? I swear to fucking Christ why can't you both speak in goddamn English?! Not like we aren't all talking about Sang right now"
"Gabe," I snort, "we are speaking English, you moron."
He just flips me off.
"So what do we do?" I ask, turning to face Kota. He shoves his glasses up his nose, even if he doesn't need to. Even he's nervous about this, but he's trying not to show it.
"For now, nothing. Don't text or call yet, she said it'll be a while dealing with her mom."
"So like what, we just hang around waiting or something?" Nathan says. Kota nods.
"Yes." His voice is firm, mimicking Mr. Blackbourne's. It's an order.
Vic and I share a frown but don't say anything.
Nate sighs and sprawls out on the carpet again, while Gabe and Luke wrestle over video games. Si browses on his phone. Kota brings his laptop down from his room and sits cross-legged on the floor, probably looking up some physics shit or whatever.
I tap on my phone randomly.
"Waiting sucks," Nate grumbles, staring up at the ceiling.
What seems like days later, but really only hours, I can no longer stand it.
"Kota," I grunt, towering over him. He's still squinting at something on his laptop.
"What?" he snaps.
Even Kota seems to be losing his patience.
"We've gotta text her or something. We're all fucking going crazy."
"Yes, fine, go ahead." Kota rolls his eyes. "Not like you'd listen even if I said no," he mutters just as I turn away, though I manage to catch it.
The guys all abandon what they're doing and leap for their phones, and the next minute or so's just filled with the sounds of unlocking phones, sliding and thumbing the screens. I don't know what everyone else's typing, but I just tell Sang to call me.
"Hey!" Nate suddenly cries out. "She just texted back."
"What? Lemme see!" Luke tries to grab for the phone but Nate pulls out of his reach.
"You can text her back yourself dummy!"
I look down at my own phone to see if she's replied back.
Nothing.
North: Goddamn it, call me. I hit send.
Kota's phone beeps a while later as the others are still typing. He answers before the first ring's even up. "Sang?"
I can't hear what she says, so I shout at Kota. Seems everyone else wants to know what the hell happened, too, and soon we're all barking questions at him.
"Hold up, guys." Kota puts it on speaker and we all huddle together on the floor. "Okay, I put you on speaker. Tell us what's going on."
There's echoing on the other end, like she's sucking in a breath. "I'm fine. It's over with. She told me I had to stay in the house."
My brothers and I exchange wary looks. Sang's voice sounds too damn quiet, even for her. Something definitely happened. She's just not saying anything.
"Sang," Nate yells. I shove him over to stop my eardrums from bursting. He glares but continues. "Do you want us to try to come over and talk to her?" he asks.
"No!" she cries out, suddenly too loudly. "Just let her cool off." Her voice sounds stronger now, a bit forceful even, but at a more normal volume. "School starts tomorrow. We'll be busy anyway. I'll be able to get back but not today. I just have to be more careful with how."
"We won't be able to hide this forever," says Kota.
"We'll figure it out. One thing at a time. Don't worry, I'll keep my head down," Sang adds from the other end.
None of the others have anything else to say anymore, it seems. But I'm seething inside. There was something so wrong with her voice in the beginning. She said she was fine, but somehow I knew—I just knew—there was more. No way her mom would let her off that easy for being at a guy's house when she'd burned her throat for simply talking to a guy.
No fucking way. She's hiding something.
I just need to find out what.
That night after everyone's gone off home and to bed, I take my bike and speed back through Sunnyvale, parking in her driveway.
It's late. After eleven.
The rest of her house is dark, but I see a light coming from her window. Thank God, she isn't asleep yet. Although I probably would've woken her if she was. This can't wait. Damn it, I can't wait till morning.
I eye the slanted roof near her room then jump, holding onto the gutter before pulling myself up and crawling across to her window. I tap on her glass, and hold my breath.
Will she open it?
Daring to peer inside, I see her in a tank and shorts. She's looking back at me with a weird look on her face. Not surprised, exactly, but more like she was expecting someone else. That makes me wonder whether any of the other guys came up here like this before, but I stay quiet, still, as she waves and opens the window.
The smell of something sweet and delicate wafts to my nostrils, and I take a deep, cautious breath, trying not to scare her any more than I probably am.
"What're you doing?" she asks, as she pushes up the window.
I hold out a hand. "Come see."
Even in the dark, I can see her green eyes go wide. They nearly glow. Her lips part open in surprise. "North..."
"We won't go far," I interrupt before she can say anything more. Sang hesitates, and then places her hand in mine. My large fingers easily cover her much smaller ones and pull her towards me, making certain to keep us both balanced as we step out onto the roof. I start up the incline.
"Where?" comes Sang's husky whisper from behind me.
"Up."
Once at the top, I point to a flat section of the roof covering the back porch. I release her hand to slide down then quickly offer it again as I settle myself down. "Right here," I say. My voice's never been this quiet, but I suddenly feel the need to be extremely gentle with her. I feel like any moment she'll run if I so much as bark, and I think I need this more than she does. I need to know she's safe, at least for tonight.
She slides down and I hold her by the legs, sliding my fingers down its smoothness before catching myself. Focus. I need to fucking focus. As soon as she sits I settle closer to her side, feel her arm against mine.
"Sit back." My voice sounds foreign to my ears.
We look out at the yard, the woods, the sky. I'm gazing up at the stars, trying to find my namesake but my mind's on the girl sitting beside me.
It's a long while before I feel Sang relax, and I take my chance.
"What happened today, Sang?"
"What do you mean?"
I can't tell if she's bullshitting right now or what. Her voice is quiet, but then it's always quiet. So I position my body to my right side, head propped up with a hand. "I want to know what happened the moment you got back to this house after you left today. You weren't fully honest with us."
Was that a gasp? "I was—"
No, she's going to lie to me again. Not again. I grasp her arm. "You were protecting us," I say, gently but stern at the same time. "I know what softening the truth sounds like. The others might be willing to buy it, but I want to know."
Sang twists her lips. "It's not really that bad."
Goddamn this fucking girl and her endless evasion. No wonder Kota and the rest of my brothers are so worked up about her. Anyone would be. I suddenly feel sorry for Victor. He was probably trying to figure her out earlier, too, with the Japanese trick. Clearly didn't work, but hell, worth a try.
Anything for her.
"Tell me what happened," I insist. "I'll make the decision. Tell me exactly what your mother said."
A single finger traces at her cheek, then she presses the entire side of her face against her hand. I wait.
And wait.
I don't take my eyes off her for a single moment.
Eventually she starts to talk. She tells me how her mother called her into her bedroom, yelled at her, and how Sang responded. Defiantly. Stupidly. Bravely. The brave idiot. And then Sang describes kneeling in rice—fucking shit what?! Kneeling on a wooden floor is bad enough. Kneeling on rice? What the fuck is this woman on? How can a mother do that to her own fucking daughter?
Lost in my storming thoughts, I don't notice a while when she finishes, until it's quiet for a time. I swallow heavily. Try to recollect myself. Calm my burning anger.
Sang's too fucking good for this family.
"Let me see," I say, when I finally manage to figure out a gentle enough tone. Frightening her in this instant is the last thing I want. The words barely come out, but Sang hears me.
"See what?" she asks.
I stuff my hands into my pockets and find the miniature flashlight attached to my keychain. I pull one of her legs closer, tracing my thumb lightly over her knee. The skin there is rough, slightly puckered. I feel her jolt slightly.
Fucking hell.
"Baby," I call her, because in that moment it seems necessary. "How long were you there for?"
Sang shifts. "I don't remember. I wasn't watching the clock."
"Did it start right after you left Kota's?"
"About, yes."
Fucking. Hell.
I glance up at her then, staring right into her eyes, wanting her to see my fear and anger, but most of all my sympathy and pain for her pain. I know pain. All my brothers know the pain of abuse. It's why we all fit. We're such a fucked up bunch of guys who were abused or hurt in some way. It's the same thing we see in her eyes now. That same thing we want to make disappear, forever.
I switch off the flashlight, then pull her hands away from her mouth. "And you called us right after?" I ask.
"Yes."
"That had to be over three hours." I do the math again in my head. "At least," I add, then sigh. "Trouble, trouble, trouble..."
"I'm sorry," Sang whispers.
Sorry? "Stop apologizing for shit that isn't your fault," I all but growl at her.
"I'm the one that left the house."
As if leaving the house is a felony. I turn onto my side again and face her fully. She needs to understand this isn't her fault, that her mother has issues and we understand, a lot more than she thinks we do, but we do. "But you shouldn't be on your knees or swallowing vinegar or any of that shit. It's not healthy for you."
"What can I do? She's my mother."
Kota was right. Too damn loyal for her own good. We saw that when she came back to us, the night after the orientation when we thought we lost her for good after Nate's fuck-up. "I know she is. I'm surprised she lets you go to school. From what you've told me, it sounds like she'd try to home school both of you."
"My dad won't let her. She used to say she would, but he insisted that we go to school like everyone else. He said if she did home school, the state would be way too interested in us. Besides, she was sick so much, he thought she couldn't keep up. If she failed to report to the state, they'd come around and investigate. She didn't like that."
Her situation's sounding more and more shitty and complicated by the second. It also makes me wonder why her dad seems so hell-bent on keeping her and Marie out of the state's eye. I might ask Vic to look into later, maybe. Is he an accomplice in her abuse, then? Does the mom hurt Sang and the dad lets it happen?
I sigh and lean back. My eyes are getting heavy, but I'm not yet done talking. I feel like we could stay forever on this roof. I wish we could.
Then Sang speaks up. "North? Are you and Luke going to start the diner with your uncle sometime soon?"
I don't know if this is Sang's way of changing subject because she's avoiding or wanting to talk about something else, but I play along, just to humor her. "We already purchased the property," I reply, "so we better."
"Is that what you want to do when you graduate? Work with your uncle?"
"No."
"What would you rather do?"
"Travel."
"On your bike?"
I hold back a smile. "Or a better one. Or in a plane. Depends on where I'm going."
"Where would you go?"
And suddenly now she's playing twenty questions. It's like I've let something a part of her loose and it doesn't want to be pushed back in. I like this curious side of her. It's fucking adorable. But now it's my turn. So I face her and ask her the same question she just asked me. "Where would you go?"
She thinks for a second before answering, "To the beach. A nice one with bright blue water and white sand."
That's where she wants to go? The beach?
Well, baby, that can happen.
"We're not far from the beach," I tell her. "We'll go one day."
Fucking fantastic. And now that's probably all I'll be able to think about now. Sang at the beach. The two of us in the water, Sang under an umbrella in the sun, Sang in a bikini, with her sweet smile, and those gorgeous eyes...
I shake my head. Stop right there, Taylor.
"With the guys?" says Sang.
And the dream shatters.
No. Not with the guys. I wasn't thinking of bringing them.
"We'll see," I say instead.
We remain in silence for the rest of the time, just watching the sky. Really, Sang's the one gazing up at the stars, while I steal glances her way every now and again. I can't stop. It's like the more I look the more I want to keep looking. She's fucking addicting. I don't want to stop, and I don't want to make it stop, either.
I want to stay forever on this roof, but we both have school early in the morning, and we need to get at least some sleep. So I help Sang back across the roof and wait until she's safely inside her room again before I crouch down.
She stares at me. "Goodnight, North," she whispers, and somehow I know there's more meaning in the unspoken words between us.
I lean down, bringing my face close to hers until I can feel the heat of her breath and my body reacts. I sweep my fingers across her cheek. "Goodnight, Sang." Before I give in to the urge to go the remaining few inches and put my lips against hers I pull away.
Her eyes, curious and bright, stay with me the remainder of the night, long after I return home.
A/N: Hey guys, this is a continuation of my "Meeting Sang" series that I began a while back. After I finished that one I was really encouraged by all the feedback I received. And I'm also having so much fun writing the boys so I decided to continue with different scenes I like throughout the GB series, from the boys' perspective. This was my first, and I really hope you enjoyed. Feedback is, of course, ALWAYS appreciated. Even the negative ones, I don't mind.