Ch. 15 Little Girl with Lips Untold
(LUKE)
The text message sound on my phone and subsequently Owen's phone going off is what wakes us all up. Maya and I had fallen asleep on the sofa bed with Owen and Clare, the girls in the middle, their backs to each other and using our chests as pillows. Both Owen and I yawned reaching over to get our phones to see who had texted us. The text was from Coach for the whole team to meet in the gym in one hour. I figured the meeting was about Dallas given the early hour and what had happened yesterday.
"We have to go Coach wants the team to meet in the gym in an hour," Owen said before kissing Clare softly. Clare kept hold of Owen when he tried to pull away; he put an arm around her and kissed her again. "I'll see you at school, take my keys and drive my car so you guys can get to school. Adam, Maya and Tris will stay with you just don't go cuddling up to them." Owen said which finally got Clare to smile.
I kissed Maya and we both got out of bed by hopping over the back of the sofa. Owen went up to his room to get dressed, I didn't have a change of clothes but I didn't have time to run home and get one either so I texted Becky and asked her to grab me a change of clothes. I did take a quick shower and Owen and I grabbed a quick breakfast, we went in my car of course since he left his keys with Clare. Coach, both assistant coaches, Principal Simpson and Officer Turner were already in the gym when we arrived as well as most of the team, the only ones missing were the twins and Rookie. Dallas was missing too but as we were pretty sure the meeting was about him that wasn't surprising. The rest of the team was sitting on the bleachers so we joined them. Rookie was next to arrive, he didn't even look at us just sat down as far away from us as possible. Finally the twins came and as soon as they sat down coach started speaking.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why we called you here so early," Coach said, Owen and I exchanged a look because we knew why. "Thank you all for coming out so early, I'm sure you've all noticed that your team captain isn't here and he will not be at practice this afternoon either. He is currently suspended from the team and the school because of an incident yesterday evening at the school. The terms of and exact disciplinary action to be taken are still being discussed. None of you are to have any contact with Dallas until further notice and none of you can talk about what happened yesterday, if you know anything, with anyone and that includes each other." Coach says this last part while looking directly at Owen and me.
"We will be conducting interviews with each of you throughout the day, you may be pulled out of class in order to do so and anyone that we don't get to before the end of the day will be interviewed during practice this afternoon." Principal Simpson informs us.
Greg raises his hand and Simpson nods to him. "What's this about? What did Dallas do?"
"We can't discuss that with you just know that anyone caught speculating or spreading rumors to anyone else will be given a weeks detention. Luke and Owen if you'll please come with us to my office we're going to interview you two first." Simpson says.
"The rest of you can go but stay on school grounds and come to Principal Simpson's office when called." Coach instructs.
Owen and I get up and follow Simpson, Coach and Officer Turner to the Principal's office.
"Luke we'll interview you first, Owen you can wait out here neither of you are in trouble we just have some questions about what happened yesterday evening and Dallas' recent behavior." Officer Turner informs us and we nod. "There's one more thing I went to Clare's house yesterday to tell her mom what happened, recommend counseling and ask her a few questions but she was completely uncooperative and refused to even talk to me. I'm going to have to interview Clare today and get a statement from her, as a minor she has the right to have a parent present but I can't seem to find her father and her mother I don't think wants any part of this. Omar Torres is going to be acting as her attorney and Audra Torres I'm sure would be there during the interview as well in place of Clare's mom but I though Clare might feel more comfortable with one of her peers with her." Officer Turner tells us.
"I'm her boyfriend I'll be there," Owen says quickly and firmly.
"That may not be a good idea Owen Clare may not want to say certain things in front of you." Officer Turner argues.
"If she doesn't feel comfortable having Owen with her then I'll be with her or we'll both be with her whatever Clare is comfortable with." I tell them.
I follow the adults into Simpson's office and sit down, Coach sits by me and Simpson sits behind his desk while Officer Turner sits in a chair next to the desk. They tell me I'm not in trouble again and they're just going ask me a few questions and they're recording this. They ask me a few questions about Dallas' behavior, how he treats girls, had he made any threats or done anything else to Clare or anyone else that I knew of. I told them every slimy thing I'd ever seen Dallas do or influence which was a lot and I hate to admit it but I participated in a few early on myself, that was before Maya though. The whole thing takes about an hour, school is open now and other students have started to arrive.
"Thank you Luke can you send Owen in please?" Simpson requests when I'm done.
"Yeah sure," I nod getting up and leaving Simpson's office.
"They're ready for you it wasn't bad at all. I'll go out front and wait for the girls, Adam and Tris to get here. I'll watch Clare don't worry." I tell Owen.
"Thanks," he smiles a little and then goes into Simpson's office closing the door behind him.
I go out to the front steps and sit on the banister; it isn't long before I see Clare pulling up in Owen's car with Maya in the passenger seat and the guys in the back. Clare parked and I walked over to greet them, I wanted to kiss Maya but we were in too public an area so I stood by Clare and smiled at Maya instead.
"Where's Owen?" She asked.
"Talking with Coach, Simpson and Officer Turner, don't worry Dallas isn't at school and I'll stay with you until classes start." I assure Clare and she gives me a small smile.
"We all will," Adam told her.
I turned placing myself between Maya and Clare as we started walking back to the entrance and I saw Mom's car pull up with Becky. I wave to Mom as she drives away and Becky joins us.
"Hi Adam," she smiles flirtatiously at the boy, "here's your clothes Luke." Becky says handing me a bag without looking away from Adam.
He's looking at her with about the same love struck expression she's wearing; it's blaringly obvious they like each other.
"Thanks Becks, I'm gonna go in and change you guys should come in too and stay with Clare." I instruct as we all start walking into the school.
"So what happened? You sounded all worried and angry when you called last night." Becky says as we near the boy's washroom.
Before I can answer Bianca appears, surprisingly with Drew and they both come over to Clare.
"Dallas is on house arrest, with Mom and she's going to make sure he's severely punished. Dad's going to act as your attorney during your interview today." Drew informs her.
"Hey I'm all for grinding Dallas' balls with my boot and just letting Owen and the guys beat the tar out of him." Bianca says with an outraged tone as she hugs Clare.
"Umm what did Dallas do to Clare?" Becky asks confused.
"He tried to rape me in the girls locker room yesterday after school." Clare confesses quietly so that no one else hears.
"Oh my god are you okay? No of course you're not stupid question." Becky says hugging Clare herself.
"He didn't succeed, Luke saved me just in time but…" Clare's sentence trails off as she bites her lip and looks uncomfortable.
"Well thank god you were there Luke," Becky says smiling at me.
"Yeah if I hadn't stayed after school to retake that math test…" I stop seeing that Clare's about to cry just thinking about what might have happened if I hadn't been there. "Can you guys stay with her a few minutes? I need to change and Owen is in Simpson's office giving his statement." I say looking at Drew and Bianca because I already know the others are staying with Clare.
"Yeah of course," Bianca smiles putting an arm around Clare's shoulders.
Drew nods and I go into the washroom to change, going into a stall and hanging my Ice Hounds jacket on the door since I can wear that again today. Becky brought me jeans and my black and white striped shirt. I stuff my dirty clothes back in the bag Becky brought and just figure I'll stuff it in my locker for the rest of the day. When I come out of the washroom I see the group standing near the opposite wall. We slowly migrate to the lockers going to mine first, then Adam, Clare's and Becky's lockers then Maya and Tristan's lockers where we see Zig and Nicole at their lockers and they join us. By the time the bell rings Owen still hasn't rejoined us so I walk Clare to class with everyone else. Drew tells us he'll be back at lunch and leaves after Clare's in her class. Maya and Tris head off to French class and I go to science with Becky. I met Clare after class and Owen was finally done. Maya, Tris, Zig, Nicole, Adam, Becky and Bianca all joined us. We went out to the outside picnic tables and sat down.
"Eli knows something is up what do you want me to tell him?" Adam asked Clare as we all sat down on a bench or the table and since there were so many of us I could sit next to Maya without it being suspicious.
"You can tell him, might as well, I know Simpson and the Ice Hounds coach are trying to keep it from getting around but that's probably not possible." Clare sighs and Owen wraps an arm around her as Maya takes my hand under the table.
"When they're ready to talk to you Owen and I will go with you since your mom doesn't want to have anything to do with it." I tell Clare.
"That's not surprising, I'll have to be careful how I act at home or I'll be shipped off to Zimbabwe or Haiti or something." Clare says with a sad yet sardonic tone to her voice.
Everyone else at the table either looks super confused or questions "Huh?" All of us that is but Adam who's sitting on the other side of her, he hugs her tightly and squeezes her hand as a show of comfort.
"We won't let her ship you off anywhere and if she even tries then we'll come find you and bring you back. Although if she even threatened I'm pretty sure Owen would just kill her." Adam said.
"Damn right I would, never letting you go again." Owen said kissing her softly again.
"See so you act however you feel like acting around us and around your mom, although if you get the desire to go up to the roof let me know so I can send Owen with you." Adam says.
This comment makes Clare smile a little and nuzzle into Owen a little more. There's obviously some story or inside joke that's lost on the rest of us, including Owen.
"Anyone hear what's going to happen to Dallas yet?" Zig asked, we had already told him and Nicole what Dallas had done with Clare's permission of course.
"If Audra doesn't castrate him I'll do it." Bianca offers.
"He should get jail," I comment.
"This talk is depressing you need a distraction," Maya says when the smile on Clare's face fades and she looks a little despondent again.
We started talking about weekend plans and Clare just sort of tuned out and cuddled into Owen but she looked happier at least. I was holding Maya's hand under the table and rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb. When the bell rang for classes again we all got up to go in but Officer Turner stopped us at the door.
"Clare we're ready to speak with you now," he informed her.
"Okay," she said quietly.
"Me and Luke will both be with her," Owen stated and Officer Turner nodded.
"Is my dad here?" Adam questioned.
"Yes he's in Principal Simpson's office now, if you three will come with me the rest of you should get to your classes." Officer Turner said.
Maya, Becky, Adam, Bianca and Tris all hugged Clare and said comforting things. Maya brushed her hand past mine as she went inside and then Owen, Clare and I walked with Officer Turner to Principal Simpson's office.
(MAYA)
Tris, Zig and I left math class when the lunch bell rang, going to our lockers to stash our books before meeting everyone else on the football bleachers. Usually Luke and I sneak away to our spot under the soccer bleachers at lunch but given what happened yesterday we figured Clare wanted as many friends around her as she could get. We all put our books away; Zig grabbed his lunch as did Tris and I. Mrs. Milligan had been nice enough to pack lunches for everyone that had stayed the night at her house including Luke and Owen even though they left before us but Tris had their lunches. When we got out to the bleachers everyone was already there including Eli who had probably been told everything by Adam and Drew who already knew and was joining us for lunch. There was an empty spot next to Luke so I took it and no one questioned it. Tris sat by his brother handing him and Luke their lunches and of course Zig sat next to Nicole.
"Any news on Dallas?" Eli asks as soon as we're all sitting.
"Mom's making him clean out the attic until his other punishments are decided but that's all I know, Dad said he couldn't discuss it." Drew tells us.
"How'd your interview with Simpson and Officer Turner go?" Zig asks Clare.
"Fine I guess, they wouldn't tell me anything that was going to happen to Dallas and they just wanted me to tell them what happened and asked me a few questions." Clare shrugs as she slowly nibbles some chips.
She looks sad again or worried or something else, nothing good so I try to think of a way to change the subject to something happy. I'm not the only one that notices this it seems as Drew changes the subject for me.
"I think I'm gonna come back to school and move home," he announced.
"Good," Adam, Owen, Bianca and Clare said at almost the same second.
"When did you decide that?" Luke asks him.
"I don't know but my parents, Adam and B have sort of been bugging me to do so since I dropped out. I'd talk to Simpson today but he's busy dealing with Dallas' idiocy. But I should probably give Max some notice anyway." Drew says.
"Good then you'll be here for Spring Formal, I'll buy a super hot dress!" Bianca smiled.
"I completely forgot about Spring Formal; want to go dress shopping this weekend Clare?" I offer figuring shopping is a good distraction for Clare.
"Sure I need a dress anyway," she smiled.
"I'll come too we'll make it a girls day, you want to come Becky?" Bianca offers.
"Sure I need a dress too and I am on the dance committee so I should go, are you going Adam?" Becky asks a little nervously.
"Uh yeah I guess so," Adam replies slowly also sounding nervous.
"Great so then I'll see you there," Becky smiles.
"Oh my god this is just sad you two move slower than molasses and I can't take it anymore. Adam would you like to take my sister to the dance? She really likes you and it would mean a lot to her and you two might not drive me crazy anymore." Luke says with an exasperated tone.
"Yeah I would love to take Becky to the dance," Adam smiles.
Becky also smiles and blushes a bit and they move a little closer together.
"There problem solved," Luke smiles and Clare and I giggle a little.
"Well since everyone else has a date you three want to go together as friends?" Tris asks me, Luke and Eli.
Tris knows about me and Luke now but Eli, Drew, Bianca and Becky don't and neither does the rest of the school so Luke and I can't exactly go together.
"Yeah sounds good," Eli shrugs.
"Sure," Luke nods and I nod too.
"We should all go in one big group, rent a limo and everything." Drew says.
We eat while making small talk for a while and then Jake walks up with Katie.
"Maya you're hanging out with Bianca and Drew?" Katie snaps at me.
"She's also hanging out with Adam, Tris, Zig and his new girlfriend and Clare." Jake points out in my defense and I smile at him.
"I'm here for Clare, she needs her friends and it's none of your business who I hang out with Katie." I snap back.
"It is too and hanging out with the slut that…" Katie starts ranting when Jake cuts her off.
"Katie stop I came to talk to Clare you insisted on coming so please shut up so I can." He says in an irked tone. Katie glares at him but she does shut up and Jake looks at Clare. "Helen called me and told me to come home late but she wanted me to tell you to come straight home. What's going on Clare?" Jake inquires.
"With my mom who knows she probably wants to censure me," Clare says rolling her eyes and Taking Owen's hand.
"Yeah okay but why? You stayed at a friend's last night, Officer Turner came to the house and your mom's been crazier than usual." Jake remarks.
Clare bites her lip and turns into Owen; he puts his arm around her tightly and kisses her forehead. "I'll tell you later," she replies so quietly Jake barely hears her.
Jake looks like he's about to say something else but Katie pulls at his hand, pulling him toward the school.
"Jake come on lunch is almost over Clare is fine be with me." She whines and pulls Jake away.
Jake rolls his eyes a little but allows Katie to pull him away. We finish our lunch in peace and then all say goodbye to Drew as he leaves and the rest of us go back into school. Clare and Owen share a kiss before she goes to class with Adam and Eli. I walk to my locker to get my social studies book before going to class but while I'm at my locker Cam walks up.
"Can I talk to you a minute Maya?" Cam asks.
"No you can't!" Owen answers for me appearing from out of nowhere.
"Please Owen I just want to apologize I'm not going to do anything. When I heard about what Dallas did, when I really thought about what he was telling me to do I felt sick. I'm really sorry I never meant to hurt you or be a jerk." Cam apologizes sweetly, I smile and Owen relaxes. "I know I probably messed up any chance of ever going out with you or even being friends possibly but seeing as we both have social studies can I walk you to class?" Cam asks.
Owen looks at me silently asking if I'll be okay and I smile at him.
"I'll be fine Owen go to class, sure Cam we can walk to class together." I say to Cam and we walk to social studies sitting at our desks.
Cam is silent the whole way and looks away from me as soon as we're sitting but I'm just glad he stopped being a jerk.
(LUKE)
"Welcome team before we get started we have a couple of announcements. Number one Mike Dallas is no longer a member of the Ice Hounds he has been expelled from DeGrassi and kicked off the team for behavior against the team code of conduct and culminating in an attack on a fellow student yesterday. Who the new team captain will be and who will be moved from second string to first string is still being discussed. Now I hope you're all ready to work hard because our first practice back will be brutal starting with suicides." Coach says.
We all groan but start on suicides and after a grueling two hour practice we finally go back to the locker room to change and shower. Owen and I walk out together speculating on who will be moved from second to first string and of course hoping it would be Owen. We had no idea who could be made captain.
"Come on man it's gotta be you, you're way better than all the other second stringers, you should have been first string to begin with." I tell Owen as we approach the parking lot.
"Yeah I hope so I barely see any ice time now if I'm…" Owen is saying when I see something somewhat out of place and interrupt him.
"Hey isn't that Clare sitting on your car?" I query nudging him and pointing to his car.
"Yeah it is," he says walking a little faster and I keep in pace with him. Clare looks up when she hears us coming and gets off the hood of the car. She's been crying, still is actually as she wipes some tears away and Owen wraps her in his arms. "What happened Gorgeous did Dallas try something again?" He asks her and she shakes her head against his chest.
"My mom kicked me out," she sobs.
"She did what? Why would she do that?" I ask putting my hand on her back.
"She knew we had sex during the tournament and she blames said that Dallas tried to rape me because I was a teasing tramp and I deserved it. She said I'd turned into a harlot and I couldn't live in her house any longer because she wasn't running a brothel." Clare informs us through her tears.
"You're mom's a bitch!" Owen says through clenched teeth and I'm just shocked her mother would actually say something like that.
"I know that but I don't know where I'm going to live, I don't even know where I'm going to sleep tonight." She says.
"Hey don't worry about it, you'll sleep at my house again tonight and we'll figure out the rest tomorrow." Owen assures Clare then tips her chin up to kiss her gently.
"Kay," Clare nods and then looks over the side of the car and we follow her gaze. "I managed to pack a suitcase I have enough for a few days."
"I gotta get Clare back to my house, we'll see you tomorrow." Owen says to me letting go of Clare to get her suitcase.
"Yeah see you guys tomorrow, it'll be fine Clare don't worry we'll figure it out." I tell her giving her a tight hug.
She smiles just a tiny bit and gets in Owen's car, I wave to them as they drive off and get into my car. When I get home my family's still at the dinner table and Mom makes me a plate as I sit at the table. I tell them about Dallas getting kicked off the team and out of school. Becky tells them that we're all going to the dance as a group, I think she's a little worried about how they're going to react to Adam being trans and all. I'm not sure how they'll react either but I know they want Becky to be happy.
"Well it's been a big day for you kids," Mom says.
"Yeah it has and not just us when we got out of practice Clare was sitting on Owen's car and she had a suitcase, her mom kicked her out." I inform them.
"Her mom did what?" Mom exclaims.
"Why would her mom kick her out?" Dad inquires.
"She's crazy and called Clare a harlot. Clare's sleeping at Owen's house tonight but she's worried about where she's going to live." I tell them.
"Oh gosh poor Clare, can I be excused I want to go call Adam?" Becky requests.
"Okay Becky please clear your place," Mom says.
"Can I be excused too I have lots of homework?" I request.
Mom nods and I clear my place, I can her Becky on the phone with Adam even in my room and so I turn on music to block it out. After two hours of homework I brush my teeth like I'm getting ready for bed and say goodnight to my family, locking my door on the inside and leaving my music on low. I climb out my window, down the tree getting in my car and driving to Maya's. I park a couple of houses down and walk to the side of the house and her window knocking softly. Her curtains open and she smiles when she sees me, opening her window.
"What are you doing here?" She whispers.
"I had to come," I reply climbing through the window and kissing her softly.
Maya smiles and puts a classical CD on to muffle our voices. "My family's not asleep yet we'll have to whisper." She says and I nod as I take off my shoes and we sit on her bed. "You don't usually come over so early." She points out.
"Yeah I know but I really wanted to hold you, Clare got kicked out by her mom." I tell her taking her in my arms.
"Poor Clare, how could her mom do that after everything she's been through? Is Clare okay?" Maya asks leaning into me.
"I'm not sure that okay is the right word but she's sleeping at Owen's again and he'll take care of her." I inform Maya.
"Where's she going to live though?" Maya questions with deep concern for her friend evident in her voice.
"I don't know but we won't let her be homeless, I'm sure my parents would let her move in with us. Don't worry about it okay we'll figure it out." I tell her and she nods.
A knock on the door startles us and Maya jumps in my arms.
"We're going to bed Maya, turn down the music and lights out in an hour." Her dad calls through the door.
"Okay Dad," Maya calls back getting out of my arms to turn the music down a little.
I get up and turn out her light, lock her door and pull her to the bed setting her on my lap. I take my shirt off and then hers and join our lips together. Her arms go around my neck and my hands explore the supple skin on her back. I lie her back on the bed, one of my arms holds her while my free hand finds its way under her panties and pajama bottoms. Softly over her belly and her legs open just a little as my finger makes its way between them. She moans slightly as the tip of my middle finger goes into her and her legs part a little more. She feels awesome, warm and soft and every time I move she moans gently into the kiss and bucks her hips a little. I know we have to keep quiet so I'm trying to go slow but after a while she's moving her hips fast on my finger and I move faster to keep up with her. Her moaning gets a little louder and I kiss her a little harder to muffle it. She stops kissing me and exhales a moan against my lips and I know she's done. Her body continues shaking slightly and she sinks into her pillow a little more, her eyes fluttering. I bring my lips to hers again, wrap her in my arms and the two of us fall asleep within minutes of parting our lips.
Update soon with the problem of where Clare will live solved, the new team captain and probably another person or two finding out about our favorite secret couple.