I backtracked into Jon's room. He was looking at me expectantly. I looked at him for a moment before I opened my mouth.
"It's Jace." I said quietly and Jon's face fell. He looked long and hard about what he was going to do before a sudden fear took over him.
"He'll get in here. He knows where the spare key is." Jon muttered quickly, looking around his room. His eyes instantly fell on the wheelchair. He looked from the wheelchair to the crutches and then to me despairingly. I darted to the door as quick as my legs could carry me, grabbing my keys from the shoe cabinet next to the door before shoving them into the other side of the lock. I felt his key push against my own before the letterbox flickered open. I jumped just out of sight and out of the way but I felt fingertips brush past the material of my shirt. I heard Jace sigh on the other side of the door, footsteps receding down the pathway before a car pulled away minutes later. I walked back to Jon's room to tell him what had just happened. Had I led Jace here?
The next morning I walked to school with Simon and told him all about Jace turning up at our door unexpected.
"Why don't you just tell them that you're his sister?" I shook my head. "It's got to be easier than all of this."
"It would lead to awkward questions that Jon isn't ready to answer. Jon wants to be private about this and I have to honour that." I told Simon. "When Jon is ready, then I'll be ready."
"But if you just told them – surely they'd understand if you wanted your privacy." I looked at Simon seriously. "Okay, maybe you have a point."
"All it would do is make Jon's life harder and he doesn't need that right now. He's only just started to make progress. " Simon and I arrived at form first as usual. Surprisingly, Jace and Sebastian rocked up next talking in hushed voices. It was only when they sat down that I heard what they were saying.
"That's not the weirdest part. I'm telling you – it was a girl. I know it was."
"Seriously?" Sebastian responded, throwing his bag under the table. I was drawing mandalas, trying not to obviously listen in, trying to look preoccupied. I already knew what they were talking about.
"I'm about 90% certain mate."
"So he's well enough to see girls, but doesn't want us anywhere near?" Sebastian concluded. "As you do. Cheers mate." He finished bitterly.
"I reckon we should go back there tonight. Both of us. Talk to his mother or something. Surely she can't agree with all of this. He needs his friends. Everyone needs friends. If he can have Aline around, cause let's be honest it's probably her, he can have us."
This was making me feel mighty uncomfortable. I couldn't let them go near my house. Knowing Mum she would just invite them in with open arms. But how could I possibly stop this without dropping Jon and myself in it? Here goes nothing.
"Shame the pair of you already have plans tonight." I smiled, they span to look at me. "Study group. Tonight. Don't tell me you two forgot." I was running with it.
"Alright Lily, calm down." Jace smirked.
"Didn't you run out on the project yesterday?" Sebastian tried to return the joke but failed. He had zero clue about the conversation Jace and I had had. About my father. It had worked in my advantage though, I could see Jace's face change. The way he was starting to feel guilty for what Sebastian had unknowingly said.
"What time are we working on the damned thing then?" Jace broke.
"You tell me, it's your house." I shrugged, finishing off my mandala.
"After school works for me." Jace shrugged.
"I have a detention, so I'd have to head over after that." Sebastian added before grunting. Lily had just entered, a massive book bag hanging over her shoulder.
"So! Let's talk study group." She announced, throwing her bag down at the table.
"We've already discussed it. Tonight, after school. Same place."
"I have debate club after school!" She protested, looking outraged.
"It's alright, Sebastian has detention so he can bring you afterwards." Sebastian looked at Jace like he'd get him back for that one later. Lily dominated the conversation for the rest of the period. As the bell rang, Jace smiled at me.
"Catch you after school." He smirked.
I sat with Simon for lunch.
"I was thinking maybe we could go see a movie tonight?" Simon said, taking a mouthful. I indicated one second while I swallowed my own mouthful.
"I'd love too but I've already got plans." Simon looked at me confused. "I'm going to Jace's for study group."
"Raincheck?" Simon smiled optimistically.
"Definitely." I agreed with a grin.
Once lessons were finished, I headed out towards the car park to meet Jace.
"Always in a hurry." Jordan had appeared behind me, walking leisurely dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and a navy leather jacket. "Scampering here and scampering there." I shot him a look.
"I don't scamper." I laughed as he broke into a smile.
"Scuttle?" He suggested.
"I'm not a crab."
"Trot?"
"Not a horse."
"Romp?"
"You offering?" I turned around and smirked. Jordan burst out laughing.
"You're full of surprises." He said through laughter. "What does today have in store for you?"
"Study group."
"Sounds thrilling. Want to sack it off?"
"Probably not the best idea when I was the one who suggested it."
"Boo." He patted me on the shoulder. "Another time."
Jace: I'm at the car, have you gotten lost?
"I'll leave you too it. Catch you later romper." He smirked before climbing aboard a motorbike near the front of the car park. I wandered the parked cars looking for the one I had been in yesterday. A loud honk echoed around nearly making me jump out of my skin. Jace was sitting behind his steering wheel laughing before winding the window down.
"Come on Barbie, let's go party." He called out attracting the attention of quite a few groups in the car park. Aline and her gang were one of those groups, eyeing me suspiciously. I rolled my eyes as I hopped in the car next to him.
"I think the word you meant to say was 'study'."
"Do you have to be such a thrill killer?" He asked as he started the car. I shrugged.
"You're forgetting I've been to a party with you before. It was less than thrilling." I smirked as I placed my bag on the seats in the back.
"That was Sebastian's party not mine."
"Potato, Potahto." Jace looked at me amused.
"Come to my party."
"What party?"
"It's this weekend. Quite lowkey."
"I'll think about it."
"Say a word about it to Lily and I'll kill you."
"I'll think about it." I mused. Realistically, it was in my best interests to stick close to Jace and Sebastian. The closer I was, the more I could divert them away from Jon and me. Just as I pulled myself from my thoughts I looked out onto the road we were driving down. It was taking a hell of long time to get to his house. Had it taken this long the first time?
"We're going to the store. I need some sugar if I've got to deal with Lily two nights in a row. Plus we have time to kill." He informed me as we pulled up. I sat in the car idly until Jace looked at me, unbuckling my seatbelt. "Come on, out." I groaned, following him into the store. He grabbed a basket swinging it merrily.
"I thought you wanted some sugar, not a full shop." I commented as we headed up the confectionary aisle.
"I need my fix." Jace shrugged as he picked out chocolates and jellies, bonbons and caramels.
"For a week?" I looked on in shock. He eyed me evilly.
"You really know how to wound a man don't you?" He mocked as he eyed up the crisps and nuts.
"You haven't an inch of fat on you Jace. I doubt you're wounded." I laughed, following him along.
"Nice of you to notice." He grinned. "What do you think Sebastian would prefer sweet or salted?" Jace said holding up the popcorn.
"How should I know?"
"Well, what does Jon prefer?" He shot back quickly and innocently. Salted. I very nearly said out loud. Instead I screwed my face.
"How should I know?" I repeated. Jace seemed appeased and threw a pack of both into his basket.
"Anything you want while we're here?" I picked up a cheap pack of mint imperials and placed them in the basket. Jace looked at me pitifully. When we reached the checkout, I fished in my pocket for the money for the sweets. "I'll pay, its fine."
"No, I can get it." He pushed my hand away. "You can make it up to me by coming to my party." I followed Jace back to the car with our three filled bags. Sebastian's car wasn't at the house when we got there. I trailed after Jace up to the house and was in awe once more. The house was unreal. Jace led me through to the kitchen, pouring his assortment of sweets into bowls. I sat myself down at the breakfast bar as Jace pottered about.
"I'm sure Sebastian will appreciate all of this effort." I commented, smiling. Jace looked at me, smiling lightly.
"And that means?"
"You make a wonderful couple." I teased, resting my head on my hands.
"You're hilarious." Jace commented as he grabbed some drinks from the fridge.
"Just own your love."
"Do you get a kick out of winding people up?" He asked, placing a drink in front of me. I shrugged. "Usually that's my gig."
I was just about to answer him when a knock rang out at the door. Footsteps on marble and someone joined us in the kitchen. Sebastian had arrived, alone.
"What have you done with Lily?" Jace asked, concerned.
"Wouldn't you like to know…" Sebastian trailed off, resting himself against the bench before pulling himself up onto it.
"I would like to know actually." I said and Sebastian looked at me as though he was seeing me sat there for the first time.
"All the gory details?" He smirked, leaning forward with a devilish look on his face. Jace chucked a sweet at him.
"Where is she really?" He asked.
"Apparently 'debate class got super duper interesting and she couldn't shouldn't wouldn't possibly dream of leaving early!' So she's heading over here when it's all over."
"Thrilling!" Jace almost bordered on jazz hands. "So, what are we going to do in the mean time?" Sebastian wiggled his eyebrows at me, prompting another sweet thrown from Jace.
"We could totally go in the pool." Sebastian suggested.
"It's just been cleaned." Sebastian pouted. "It'll be ready for Saturday. Don't you worry your pretty little head!"
"Seeing as we've got all of these sweets, how about a movie?" Sebastian instead suggested. Jace seemed to agree. Sebastian hopped from the counter, grabbing a couple of bowls before he led the way. I grabbed another few bowls as Jace brought up the rear. Sebastian led us up three flights of stairs before he turned down a long winding corridor. At the very end of the corridor stood a heavy door that I would imagine led to a studio of some sort. Inside the room was a personal cinema with a 3 row of sofas and a cinema screen.
"You've got to be kidding me." I muttered to myself in the doorway, forgetting Jace was behind me.
"Pretty nice huh?" Jace smirked, skirting past me.
"And you want to have a party, in this house?" I asked, shocked. Jace shrugged.
"I'll lock up rooms like this. I'm not that stupid."
"You sure about that?" Sebastian joked reclining across one of the couches. Jace grabbed what looked like a remote control and reclined on another sofa. I sat myself down on a sofa in the same row, with my legs crossed. Jace connected the cinema screen up to Netflix and trawled through the selections. We'd been looking for about 15 minutes when our phones vibrated in sync.
"Lily." Sebastian and Jace groaned. They rock, paper, scissor'd it for who had to go and let her in. Sebastian won and Jace trudged out of the room.
"So, are you coming to the party this weekend?"
"Do you guys have a party every weekend?" I deflected.
"Sometimes. Are you coming?"
"I think so." I finally agreed.
Thank you for reading my story! I really appreciate every bit of feedback.
All of my love, until the next time.
~Sapph