Sang and her boys have finished their Ashley Waters High School mission.
Time to turn up the music!
All characters are from C.L. Stone's Academy Ghost Bird series.
This is a short fan fiction scene
I step out of my bedroom and suddenly wonder where all the boys are, there is usually someone around. I stop in the hall and listen and hear a rumble of voices through the floor beneath my feet. I can clearly hear the low tones of Silas and North's bass and the tenor of Kota's voice followed by Gabriel's boisterous laugh. I smile and follow the familiar tones down the stairs. This used to be the house that Luke, North and Uncle lived in but with the help of all the guys, they fixed it up and Victor and Mr. Blackbourne bought it off of Uncle for our team.
Gabriel, Nathan and I moved in immediately. The others stay overnight frequently and already have their own rooms but can't move in completely until they're 18 since their parents would question it. Officially, as far as my father is concerned, I now live on campus at Lafayette Academy with a full scholarship which includes year-round room and board. My father talked to some of the Academy members posing as school administrators and signed forms allowing the school to guardianship of me until I graduate. They explained to him that, with our current home situation, this would be the easiest solution for report cards, permission slips and the like. It took some convincing, he said he really didn't want me to leave Marie alone, but eventually he saw reason. I think Dr. Roberts was particularly convincing.
I walk into the living room of our house and see North and Kota in deep discussion in the corner at a writing desk. Silas is near by and interjects occasionally but seems mostly content to sit and listen to them banter. Gabriel and Luke are sitting on the large sectional sofa trying to teach Sprinkles to "sit". I grin when I see that just behind them, Dr. Green tries to distract Sprinkles from his training with treats he keeps pulling from his pocket. Nathan and Victor are near the window tapping at their phones. The only one that seems to be absent is Mr. Blackbourne. Gabriel spots me and calls me over.
"Oy, Trouble! Get your cute ass in here!" he shouts, getting the attention of the others. "Where have you been? Don't you know we need to celebrate?"
"Meanie!" I pout, "What are you talking about? Celebrate what?"
"The end of our assignment, silly girl. We never have to step foot in that hell hole again!"
We had finally found enough evidence to turn over to the authorities. They had arrested Mr. Hendricks and his accomplices and we were able to safely remove ourselves out of the school and the line of fire. Another Academy team was now silently overseeing the investigation making sure our presence at the school was kept out of it.
"Okay. How are we celebrating?" I asked Gabriel.
He jumps up from his seat and wraps his arms around me, pinning my arms down to my sides and lifts me up until my toes are barely scraping the floor. He spins me around until I'm giggling and North barks a chastisement about making me dizzy and sick. Gabriel stops, giving North a mock glare over my shoulder. Turning once more, much slower, he carries me like this to the entertainment center before setting me on my feet again.
"We start with music, of course!" He searches through his music selection before turning to me with a grin, holding a hand out to me. "Come on, Trouble. Show me those dance moves."
The music started, an upbeat pop song. Luke abandoning his training, jumps up to join us with a giant smile, leaving Sprinkles with a hand full of treats for his valiant sitting efforts. I hear some of the guys chuckle as they watch our silly antics. Jumping, rocking, twirling, swaying and the occasional shimmy. Nathan, Kota, Silas, Dr. Green and even Victor, one by one they take turns as the songs change joining us as a group or dancing with me alone, holding my hands, spinning me or holding me close as we rock and sway.
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North stayed sitting on the side with and amused and exasperated look on his face while we celebrated. I would smile and wave at him as I spun around with the others, when his rare smile appeared I rewarded my grumpy boy by blowing him a kiss and watched the smile grow a little more.
"What exactly is going on here?" A voice suddenly boomed. Our dance party halted and we turned as one to see Mr. Blackbourne standing in the doorway. His standard gray suit and maroon tie perfectly pressed. Not a wrinkle or a hair out of place. Gabriel reached over and turned the music down to the background.
Kota stepped forward, "Just a little team celebration."
Mr. Blackbourne's silver gaze landed on me and I pressed my hands to my sides to keep from trembling under his scrutiny but I held his stare.
"I see." He looked at me for another beat before pulling his eyes away and moving toward the couch. He began removing his suit jacket, folding it over the arm of the couch opposite of where Sprinkles now curled up and slept. One at a time he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled his sleeves to his elbows but he left on his tie. We watched in silence as he performed each action. Then he turned toward our group and walked toward the entertainment center parting through us like water. Carefully searching through the music selection he pressed a few buttons before turning back around and facing me. He reached out his hand, slowly approaching me, "May I have the next dance, Miss Sorenson?"
My eyes widened with surprise but I immediately took his offered hand and stepped toward him as the song began and the others made room. He had picked an upbeat jazzy tune and pulled me gently into his arms and started spinning me around the room with a practiced grace. I followed along, stumbling once or twice but he never showed any impatience with my lack of skill. Suddenly he twirled me out with one hand, taking me by surprise, forcing a giggle from my lips. When I returned to his arms I saw his millimeter smile appear making my own smile beam back at him. I heard Gabriel and Luke laughing and cheering for our dance but my whole focus was on Mr. Blackbourne. I was prepared for the next time he twirled me but I wasn't prepared for the dip at the end of our song and squeaked a little in surprise.
The rest of the boys clapped for our dance as he brought me back to rights. He gently lifted my hand and placed a light kiss on my knuckles before releasing me. "Thank you for the dance, Miss Sorenson"
"It was my pleasure, Mr. Blackbourne." I replied with a small curtsy bringing his millimeter smile back.
He straightened and turned toward the others, "Carry on. Except Dr. Green, I'm afraid I do need you for a moment." He gathered his jacket from the arm of the couch and began unrolling his sleeves while nodding once more to me before exiting the room.
Dr. Green gathered me into a hug, "Sorry, Pookie. Duty calls."
"That's okay, Dr. Sean. I'll see you later?" He nodded and leaned down quickly to press a quick kiss to the forehead before releasing me and following Mr. Blackbourne out of the room.
Gabriel walked behind me, "Well fuck, Trouble. I don't think we can top that show. What do you want to do now?"
"How about I make us some dinner?" A grumble of approval rippled through them and I smiled and headed out of the room toward the kitchen. Despite my offer to make it, they all followed me out of the room. Offers to help mingled with other conversations and general ribbing.
"I'll set the table" "Why do you let that skunk up on the furniture?" "Do you need me to chop anything for you?" "I think it's time to get some new summer clothes for Sang, we should go this weekend" "Can we have pancakes for dessert?" "I'll grab the cups, what does every one want to drink?" "Are the new cameras up around the perimeter?"
All the chatter followed us into the kitchen and throughout dinner.
Where once my world seemed so alone and quiet it is now full of noise and friendship and love from my new family. I will never again be alone or forgotten.
