What We'll Leave Behind: a prequel [Preview]

Chapter One

Chapter One

Julian

"Hey, kiddo. You excited to start the big year twelve?" Julian Moors asked as he reached over Clara Lawrence's shoulder and grabbed a skewer of barbecued meat. It wasn't that difficult, considering he towered over the teenager.

She shook her head. "Nope."

Julian closed his mouth just as he was about to take a bite of the cubed beef and then set the skewer on a clean plate. "Why?" he asked, glaring at her.

When Clara didn't answer, Julian placed hands on her cheeks and brought her face closer.

"Tell me."

"I am so uncomfortable right now that I don't even have a remark for this," his older brother, Rob, said.

"Piss off," Julian hissed.

Clara took a step back and then looked at Rob, her cheeks tinted a slight pink. Just like Julian, Rob had kept an eye on Clara while her brother, Alex, attended university in America.

Rob had taken a pull from his beer before he raised his eyebrow. "Better not let Alex see the way you act around Clara. He'll think something of it."

"Alex has nothing to worry about. Look. He's with your dad," Clara pointed out.

"Noel not coming?" Julian asked.

"No, he's staying in New York," Rob replied.

Clara picked up a cup from the table and mumbled, "Thank God."

Julian chuckled at what she thought they hadn't heard.

Rob looked at them before he shook his head and walked away. Unlike the others, Julian was friends with Clara. He wasn't her protector. He'd never wanted to be, and he'd never believed she needed one. Alex had always been a protective bastard over his little sister.

"You going to explain to me why you aren't excited about year twelve?" Julian asked as he faced her.

Clara brushed her long, curly, brown hair over her shoulder and sighed. "You all left a legacy that overshadows me. People want to be my friend because of you boys and my brother. Not me."

Julian playfully elbowed her. "Don't be an idiot. You'll have a great final year."

She smoothed her hands down her blue dress and hummed an incoherent reply.

"Trust me, kiddo. You'll be fine. Just wait til you get to university. Boys will be all over you."

That was when she laughed. "Suuure. A boy noticing me will be a miracle."

He groaned at her remark. "Clars, all it takes is one man and you'll be set. I'm sure it'll happen before you know it."

Her lips formed a frown and her brows knitted. "My brother wouldn't approve of anyone. He'll send me to a convent if he has to."

Before he could reply, he felt the buzzing of his phone against his thigh. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out to see a new message.

Noel: Sorry I can't be there for your good-bye party. Alex needed to be home with his sister more than I needed to be back in Melbourne. Party it up in Thailand before you enter the big bad world. I'll see you soon.

Julian smiled at the message from one of his best friends. It had been years since he had seen Nolan Parker back home. But Noel and Alex had just started as junior accountants at G&MC, one of America's largest accounting firms.

Julian: Thanks, man. Wish you were here with us.

Noel: You sound like I've died.

Julian: Might as well have. You're boring as fuck lately.

Noel: Welcome to the real world, asshole.

Julian: Thanks, asshole.

He looked up to see Clara staring at him curiously. "That was Noel. He says hi."

She let out an unbelievable laugh and then shook her head. "I doubt it."

"What do you mean?" he asked as he returned his phone to his pocket and reached for a bottle of water. The hot sun had caused him to sweat, and he was feeling parched.

Clara picked up a piece of sliced watermelon. "Nolan Parker is not important. What is important is if we're still on for lunch and a movie when you return?"

Julian kissed the top of her head. "You got it, kiddo. I'll never break our promises."

"Just have fun and be safe, okay?"

He placed his hand on her shoulder and looked down at her. Her big, brown eyes were shining. Clara was like an adorable little sister for him.

"I promise, Clara."