Chapter eight – Love's Seduction

Lexie Danver's – POV

Ok, so this guy is well hot. His eyes began flickering across me, taking in everything. His medium dirty blonde hair falling across his eyes as he tries to hid the staring. Wow no guy – and I am not counting Reid – has ever looked at me like this before, well unless you include Aaron Abbot who was trying to annoy the Sons at the time. As his eyes looked up and met mine, he gave me a gentle smile. Not harsh and possessive like Reid but soft and loving as if trying hard to win my love.

For once I was breathless, my heart pounding, my blood pumping.

"Ehm, um... Should we maybe be getting to the school?" I forced out. Adrian seemed surprised that I could speak.

"Yeah, sure..." He said uncertainly.

"So do you have any brothers or sisters?" He asked once the car started.

"Yeah, I have a twin brother called Caleb and a younger sister named Karis ... well, I think she's younger, hmm. She must be because Caleb is male..." He looked stunned at Karis's name.

"Wow, I am a twin as well! Small world, my brother is called Triston."

"Your new I take it?" I said with flirtatious smile. He grinned back evenly.

"Am I that obvious?" He said with an even bigger, cuter grin. "So, what's a girl like you doing on an old dirt road like this?"

"My brother and Reid weren't being very nice ... we were visiting a family friend."

"And Reid is... your boyfriend?"

"Hell no, though he is sorta good looking. Uh, I don't know why I'm telling you that... He's just one of the four guys I hang around with."

"Four! My, my aren't we the busy girl!" He smirked.

"Well, they're my brother's friends. Reid happens to be the player of them all... can this thing go any faster?"

"Hell yeah!" Adrian said mischievously.

The car started going faster and faster, an adrenaline rush took over me. In about two minutes flat we were at the school. I couldn't help feeling lost looking into the deep pools that were Adrian's eyes, so mischievous and seductive. Every inch of his face is perfect, carved by angels ... or maybe by a fallen angel. I could see two figures entering the school, a boy and a girl, the girl had long brown hair just like ... KARIS.

Karis Clearwater's POV

Outside, I could hear the engine of a car, and I inwardly groaned. If that was Lexie and the others already, I didn't have much time.

"Triston?" I spoke quietly, breaking the silence. He looked back at me, blinking, and a soft smile on his face. My insides melted. "Triston, I need to go." I told him sadly.

He looked dejected. "Oh. That's... that's too bad."

Part of me chided myself. He was a new kid too. What would happen of he got lost? Okay, what would happen if I got lost? My stomach knotted up at that.

"Don't worry," I smiled. "I'm sure we'll be in the same class or something. It's just that... well, my family are looking for me."

Triston's eyebrows immediately shot up, a frown on his face. "Why are you running?" He asked curiously. There was another emotion in his eyes, one I couldn't quite fathom.

Feeling uncomfortable (it's not everyday your new friend finds out you're running away from your family, is it?), I started to explain myself. Like an idiot. "Well, uh, I never knew they were my family until about twenty minutes ago, to be honest. I just moved here from Vicksburg. I dunno if you've ever heard of Vicksburg, it's on out of the way place. So, yeah, I came by train today. I just bumped into my sister, except I didn't know she was my sister-"

He cut my off by placing a hand over my mouth. I panicked – had he been playing me all along? To my horror, he dragged me off down the hallway – and then I heard the doors open, and Lexie laughed loudly.

"Adrian! That's not funny!" She scolded, still giggling.

I breathed out softly in a sigh of relief. So Triston wasn't trying to kidnap me, just save my hide. Noticing I understood, he let go of my mouth, and I grinned, giving him a thumbs-up. "What do you say we go hide?" I whispered, cautious in case I was heard.

He nodded, and then grabbed my hand again. Together, we tip toed down the corridor, using the shadows to our advantage.

We'd only got so far when suddenly, I heard Lexie shout my name, a tad concerned. I rolled my eyes, irritated. As much as I'd often fantasised about having a sister back in the orphanage, I still wanted a little time to wrap my head around this whole "we're one big happy family" idea.

Which is exactly why I was fooling around with Triston now. Noticing my irritation, Triston, broke into a run, snickering like a little kid. Well, that set me off, and sometimes I'm pretty unstoppable when I laugh.

We darted down the corridors, up the stairs, and even ducked inside some of the empty rooms so we could backtrack when Lexie and her new friend Adrian ran past. I felt as if I'd never had this much fun in years... I couldn't stop giggling! And Triston was pretty much the same... I found his laughs and snickers adorable. One of the cutest sounds I'd heard.

After some time (an hour, maybe? I'd left my bag down in the foyer), Triston yanked my hand and we went flying up a set of partially hidden stairs, right up into an attic bedroom. I let my hand go limp; it was beautiful. I felt like marching down to Provost Higgins's office and asking if I could take the room straight away.

Although a tad smaller than the livingroom of the Orphanage, it was filled with rugs to make the wooden room seem much cosier than it already looked. A pair of twin beds sat beside each other, with an amazing window view on an adjacent wall.

"Triston!" I gasped, still in shock. "This is amazing!"

He laughed again, seeming to enjoy my dazed state. I prodded him in the side playfully, and he doubled over, still laughing. "Seriously though, this is the best room I've ever seen in my life." I continued, somewhat envious of whoever would get this room.

He looked over at me, straightening up. "You sound jealous, Rissy" He joked, ruffling up a few of my brown curls.

I smiled softly at his back as he went to sit on a little sofa next to the window. Rissy. I liked that nickname. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I desperately wanted to hear him say it again.

I followed him to the sofa and flopped down into its warm embrace of cushions... man, this was the life! It's just a shame it wasn't my room...

Hey, a girl can dream!

Triston seemed to agree. He wrapped an arm around he gently, and whispered "Don't you just wish this was our room, Rissy?"

I nodded, oblivious to everyone, everything but him.

My good mood was ruined as he nudged me and asked, "Is that guy your family too?" Looking outside, I groaned as I recognised Caleb, his eyes darting all over the place. I swear to God, he's too overprotective. He's only known me for like, three hours or something and already he seems like he's about to call a rescue search.

"Yeah, he is," I grumbled, and Triston laughed at my sour attitude. I didn't mind, though. "May as well go and intercept him before he calls the police or something."

Triston nodded, then jumped up from the sofa, pulling me with him. As me wistfully left the little attic bedroom, I was somewhat stunned that he had picked Caleb out as being my brother.

Lexie Danver's POV

Karis sure was a fast runner! Well anyway if she doesn't want me to find her, I might as well have some fun with Adrian. He's smart, good looking and funny - did I mention good looking? Karis has bolted so I just kept walking along the corridor with Adrian. If she wanted space ... fine, I will give her some. I'll find her eventually. Adrian made a seriously not-funny-but-would-make-you-laugh-because-it's-so-stupid-type of joke. Just as we got to the second floor window a black sports car was pulling into the car park ... damn it! It was Reid and Caleb. Since most people don't arrive until tomorrow the boys could shout as loud as they want.

"ALEXIS ... KARIS ... WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU TWO?!?"

If Karis didn't know I had fallen out with Caleb and Reid ... she sure as hell did now. I tense up slightly. Adrian must have seen this as his arms wrapped around my shoulders drawing me into a tender, loving hug to show that he was there for me. I could hear footsteps coming down the stairs ... scared in case it was Pogue or Tyler. I swung round to face Adrian. He grabbed my hand and we bolted down the corridor and up the second flight of stairs. We walk aimlessly down the third floor corridor holding hands ... I didn't even realise that he was still holding it, my hand fitting perfectly in his, with an always and forever sort of feeling. He gave me a small fright when he started talking.

"So, why are you running from those boys?" He asked tenderly.

"I hid something from them for so long, when they found out, they weren't happy." I reply sadly.

"Did they hurt you?" He asked, shocking me with his obvious anger and passion.

"No, but now they won't take me seriously, everything's ruined. They won't talk to me, they won't listen to me ... yet they didn't want me to leave there side ... I'm not a little puppy that follows them blindly no matter what, that doesn't need love and attention. Why can't they just realise that I am independent from them, that I can be my own person and should be trusted to keep secrets I feel are necessary?" I began to cry, feeling the warm, wet tears run down my cheeks.

Adrian stoked my hair gently and held me till I stopped crying, I looked up his big blue eyes and almost instinctively found myself leaning forward into him, while he himself was doing the same. When our lips touched it was the most magical feeling, but yet, something was missing. I wasn't sure what it was, then I realised ... it was choice.

"Do you love me?" Came a whispered voice, so quiet I doubted whether I heard it or not, I nodded numbly, unaware of anything other than Adrian. I shook my head breaking the trance. What was I thinking, I don't fancy Adrian, he's good looking sure but I hardly know him. And as much as this pains me to say ... I think I love Reid.