Behind the Lights (Tommen legacy 1)

Chapter eighteen

    GRACIE
I sat at our typical lunch table with Rosie and Aine, who were bickering about something. I ignore them as I stare across the canteen; Rory runs a hand through his hair and aimlessly chats with my brother.
Rory and I have taken things slower than a snail's pace. I've talked to him in person two times: once when I ran into him in the hallway and another when I had to meet my brother before we went home. We've texted daily, but that's about the extent of it. I know he likes me enough to almost kiss me, but I don't know if I care about him telling him about my past. No, Rory wouldn't be one to be like that.
    When we almost kissed on his deck, I felt like my heart would explode. The way they knew everything about me made me feel safe in his presence, but I couldn't kiss him. I knew I needed to take this slow after what happened with Ronan. I know jumping into a relationship is not the best for me, even though Rory would never do what Ronan did to me.
Rosie breaks off the argument with Aine, noticing my staring eyes. I am surprised they haven't glazed over for how long I have admired Rory's perfect features.
"You're staring again, babe", she knocks on my shoulder.
"I am not!" I mimic back.
"Jesus Christ Gracie, what's happening with you and Rory? You spent the night at his house last week and watched him like he's god damn     Ryan Gosling  with his shirt off, yet you're leaving us entirely in the dark." She knows I'm not one to share everything about myself, but I owe her some explanation.
"I don't really. I know he likes me, and I like him, but I'm just scared of what could happen if we take things too fast."
Rosie's expression falls into something synthetic as she places her hand on my shoulder, looking at me affirmatively
"Gracie Gibson," she raises her eyes at me, "I am damned sure Rory would never let you take things not at a pace for you, he wouldn't rush you into things and he sure as hell won't violate you. Rory is not Ronan ye hear?"
"I'm scared." I admit feeling exposed.
"Girl," taps in Aine, sweeping her ginger locks off of her shoulder, "We will help you navigate this okay?" She gives me a light smile. Aine has that type of beauty you long for: long hair, perfect teeth, eyes that capture every boy's head, a slender frame, and a great personality. She's straight out of a magazine, I used to strive to be her car in copy but once I realised my metabolism doesn't work at the speed of light I gave up. Aine looks at me with a scowl, "and girl," she says, "if that man ever does you wrong, you come straight to us. We will kick hiss posh ass!" did I mention Aine is also a fucking good friend. Aine doesn't come from great amounts of money like the Kavanaghs', but she's not quite poor either, living in a moderate neighbourhood like my family, but Aine likes to think that anyone with the slightest bit more money than her is posh.
"Rory isn't posh!" I say defensively, even though Rory might be the definition of posh, besides the fact  he doesn't act like it, Rory comes from a boat's load of money.
    Rosie and Aine give me looks telling me they know my bullshit, and I just giggle at them dropping my head and shaking it.
"Girl!" Rosie says, "we both know Rory is a D4 head."
"Well, the lot of us can't say much, considering we all go to a private school."
Rosie rolls her eyes as a large arm drops on my shoulder making me jump out my seat with a little shriek.
"Jesus Gracie," says the familiar deep voice of my brother, "skittish today aren't we," he jokes plopping down next me keeping his arm around my shoulder.
"Rosie rolls her eyes as a large arm drops on my shoulder, making me jump out of my seat with a little shriek.
"Jesus, Gracie," says my brother's familiar deep voice. "Skittish today, aren't we?" he jokes, plopping down next to me and keeping his arm in place.
"Ew, Corey," I slink out of his hold. I love my brother, but boys are gross. I know I sound like a little kid, but it's true, all boys except Rory, at least.
"Soooo," Corey drags out, looking around the table, "where's Caoimhe today?"
"Is her brother not your best friend?" Rosie raises her eyebrows at him. We are all protective over C. We don't know the extent of her mental health, but it's obvious she's in a terrible place right now. Today, she texted that she wouldn't be at school, but that was the extent.
Corey completely ignored the question and turned to face me, "so ..."

"Spit it out, jackass," whenever Corey wants something, he always tries to butter me up; it used to work when I was ten, but once I realised his ploy, I have been quick to catch his bullshit.
Corey raises his hands defensively, a grin tugging at his lips, "It's not for me, sister; Rory was too pussy to come over here and ask you to sit with u, so here I am" he gestures to his body, dressed in the typical Tommen uniform.
My face constantly blushes, a trait I'm not too fond of. By any coincidence, I turn as bright as a tomato. I turn and look at Rory. He is halfway across the room, but I can see slight annoyance and excitement in his expression as he watches my brother. His eyes meet mine, and a subtle smile tugs on his lips, making me blush more.
Turning towards my friends, I look at them for help.
"Girl, what are you waiting for? Get your ass over there," Aine chimes, a big, bright smile plastering her face.
"I-um," I stutter; I know sitting at the rugby table will draw attention. Attention, I loathe. 'Since the attack, the gossip has died down, but I still get snide comments in the hallways, calling me a 'liar' and a 'slut' or some other derogatory term. When the assault happened, my friends and my brother tried to expose Ronan for his actions. but no one heard them; Ronan infested the school with lies about me and how I had been begging to fuck him all summer. It was terrible. I was the talk of Tommen for months, receiving bullying and hate daily.
My stomach turns with bile, just thinking about drawing unwanted attention.
My brother puts a hand on my back, seeing my discomfort.
"It won't be like that," Rosie says, "Rory won't draw attention, and he will keep you safe."
I nod, anxiety still taking over my system.
"And Rosie and Aine can sit with us too; we don't mind," my brother chimes in.
I look at my friends expectantly, and they nod encouragingly.
"And Caoihme comes too when she gets better," Corey adds.
"Boy, you're whipped," I hear Rosie snicker under her breath.
Corey, hearing, shoots a dagger through his glare at her.
"What it's the truth," Rosie laughs.
"Fuck off."
" No"
"You're a bitch."
I gasp, hitting my brother's arm, "Corey! Don't say things like that to women."
"What it's the truth."
"Yeah, Corey," Rosie's eyes go big, and she makes a putting face, "Don't say things like that."
I roll my eyes at these two antics. Please put them in a room together; I want to know who would snap first and kill off the other.
Hanging the subject, my brother turns towards me, "So?"
"Yeah, alright," I shrug, still nervous but desperate to see Rory again.