Wingless, book 1 of Wingless Series

The creek

The creek has always been my escape, a place to talk without our family around to overhear and judge us.

I sit down.

"I hope this summer is amazing," Nessa says. She pulls a flask out of her pocket takes a swig and passes it to me.

The sun set is glorious. We lounge by some big rocks, I watch the water gurgle and rush by in the creek, a few birds chirp and the only visible light is coming from a couple of the houses past the woods.

Nessa sits up, her hair strewn with leaves; she blows at her bangs.

"I got to head out," she says standing up, she waves stumbling over a log, and vanishes.

It's just like Vanessa to get a good buzz and go home.

I lean against a tree and stare at the sky through the trees. I like the silence. And I don't want to go home.

I decide to head down to the creek, I step from one rock to another, the water hits my feet.

The rocks shift beneath me and I fall. My breath catches in my throat as the cold water hits me- it isn't deep and I'm not drowning, I just lost my footing.

"Crap," I grab for anything that can stop the current from taking me away.

A large hand yanks me from the water and plants me on solid ground before I know what is going on. I figure it's Gray being nosy. I can imagine how many times he will bring up saving my life after this stunt.

I push my hair out of my eyes, my legs are shaking. It isn't Gray; it's a guy that I never seen before.

"What are you doing taking a swim in a creek at this hour?" he ask, his brow lifts. I can't tell if he is mad or freaked out.

"I wasn't swimming. I lost my footing," I say, shoving my flip flop back on.

He stuffs his hands in his pockets and stares at me. I am starting to feel very stupid.

"Why are you in the woods alone?"

"I always come out here," I tell him, planning my escape, making sure if I need to make a mad dash, I have a way out. He's big and I'm sure can outrun me in seconds. I start to feel doomed, this guy is about to murder me and leave my body scattered in the woods.

Odds are against me. And it's a crazy way to go: drunk in the woods not too far from home.

I back away.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

I shrug. "I'm hoping you aren't about to kill me," I blurt out.

His eyebrows rise, he scratches his head, moving closer. I flinch. Instead, like normal people, he extends his hand. I shake it, the fear melts away.

"I'm Ace, and it's your lucky day I'm not going to kill you." His handshake continues as he speaks- I think he's nervous I am going to fall again.

I let go, sitting down on a nearby rock. I study him, his clothes- all name brand. His jeans brand new, very GQ. His shirt showcases his muscular physique. He is the kind of buff  Vanessa drools over.

I wonder why he is in the woods dressed like he is. God forbid he mess up his bright white sneakers.

"Eve," I say, introducing myself.

"Are you drunk?" he asks.

"I don't think I'm drunk, I think I'm clumsy. I don't fall in creeks all the time I swear," I say, I am such an idiot. He caught me flailing like a half dead fish in the creek. He probably thinks I'm crazy.

"I hope not. Glad you didn't drown or anything." He shrugs.

"Yeah, me too," I say. I'm not the best at awkward.

"Well, I'm sorry to have almost died, it won't happen again, thank you." I prepare to leave; I fix my jacket and head to the clearing to go home.

Like an idiot I miss the log I am used to stepping over. And the next thing I know I am face down in the leaves and twigs covered in more dirt.

Maybe I am drunk; I am starting to wish Vanessa clued me in on what she is stealing from her dad, because I am not feeling too good. He helps me up, saving me again.

"Do you need help getting home?" he asks, his hand on my shoulder.

"I don't know. I'm a mess. My parents are going to go through the roof." I swat at the leaves stuck to my legs and wipe some of the dirt off my jacket.

"There's no cleaning any of that off of you," he smirks, shaking his head.

I fix my hair and unzip my jacket--the undershirt isn't so bad.

"I think an escort wouldn't be so bad," I say, he follows me. "So Ace, is that really your name?"

"Yeah, that's my name."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"Oh wow," I say, my cheeks warming. He is older than Gray.

"How old are you?" he ask, looking me up and down as if my age is written somewhere on my body.

"I'm eighteen," I climb the stairs. The lights are off. I think it's safe to make it to my room without my family knowing what happened.

"I was hoping you weren't, like, fifteen drinking alone in the woods. I might have to tell your parents," he says, surveying my house. "I guess your parents are doing well."

"I didn't realize I looked so young. And yeah, they do well enough. Thanks for the help, goodnight." I head for the door careful not to trip for a third time in his presence.