Their Goddess - The Roses, Book 3 (Completed)

Part 2. Genevieve

I hang onto Nick's arm as he leads me out of the common room, I had been nervous knowing that they were watching me until Riki had stormed out followed by his brothers.

"Chin up Pixie" Nick teased and I looked up at him, "don't call me a pixie" I laughed only to stop as my eyes caught the three boys watching me across the car park.  "ohh, look who's watching, my little Pixie has a harem" Nick teased, pulling me around so I couldn't see them, I could sense his grin and pinched his side "Don't draw their attention please" I whined, making him laugh again as he guided me to his car.

"Why don't you give them a chance, I wouldn't say no" Nick teased as he drove me home.  "You have them then" I groaned closing my eyes and seeing their faces in my minds, it had been two years and still I felt the pull to them, in fact it had just got stronger, I had avoided them, made friends away from theirs but still they were always there.  And since their birthday party I had been even more aware of them, but now I felt hunted, as if they were surrounding me and I had panicked until Nick had given me a solution.

I had seen the boys watching me at the party and earlier when I had spent time with the family. I had been able to avoid being alone with them, keeping close to their sisters and Miss Eva but I had known every time their eyes were on me and every time they came near. When Nick, my best friend had asked me why I was so jumpy, I had caved and told him about them and how I felt.  He had told me about his struggle to tell his parents about being gay and suggested he be my boyfriend shield until either of us was ready to move on.  I had agreed and since then Nick had been my buffer from their watchful eyes.

xx

I looked down at the images and smile, Miss Eva is going to love them, and whilst nature photography was my usual work, the boudoir shoot she had persuaded me to do for her was incredible and I just need her to tell me which one she wanted out of the three I had narrowed it down to and then I could get it printed and framed.  Miss Eva was coming down to the studio this evening to choose and show me some frame options, I just hoped she was alone.

"Evie they are stunning, oh my god, how do I choose" she enthused looking at the images on the monitor, I smiled happy that she liked the work, "why choose, why not have all three as a collage, if we use a custom mount then you just need to choose which one is the main image and I can put the other two in as well" I offered and she hugged me. "Yes, oh, they are going to love it" she cried happily and pointed to my favourite image "that one as the main" she decided before we started looking at the frame choices.

xx

"Miss Eva had a frame delivered for you" Mum told me when I came in from my walk the following day, "I had it put in the studio as it was so large".  I thanked her and grabbed the key heading down to the studio to see how the frame and mount looked, anxious to get the pictures in and the project finished. Stepping inside my studio I felt peaceful and happy, I lifted the frame up onto the desk and looked at the address, funny it had gone directly to Miss Eva, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I scanned around the room, No, Mum would not have let them near my space, I glanced at their pictures hidden amongst the other artwork and sighed, willing myself to forget them as I reached for the scissors to undo the packing.  if I got it done this evening I could delivery it to her on the way to school in the morning.

xx

I look at the message on my phone, Nick is running late and wont be in the common room yet, I stroll across the car park towards the little park and perch on the bench, leaning back and closing my eyes.

"What are you doing out here?" Noah's voice breaks the silence and I open my eyes hoping he's not talking to me. "Genevieve?" he prompts and I groan, looking up at him.

"I'm enjoying the sun, what do you want Noah?" his gaze holds mine until I have to look away. Tensing as he drops down next to me on the bench.  "i'm waiting for my brothers, we usually meet here if its nice".  I panic looking around but not seeing them, I start gathering my bags but Noah's hand on my arm makes me freeze. "please stay" he asks softly.

I keep my head down, not wanting to look at him "why?"

Noah's hand slides down my arm to tangle with mine and he twists my hand, playing with my fingers in his.  "Because you want to, because I want you to stay, we can talk" he said, but at my raised eyebrows he added "or not, I can do silence".

I look at him, my eyes scanning his face waiting for the punchline, was he pranking me, his hand curled tighter round mine as I tried to pull free. "Evie, please, I know it seems strange but I want to get to know you better, the summer we first met, I want that again" 

I huffed at him "you want a prank war?"

"No, I want us to have fun, spend time together, all of us, you me, my brothers, we miss you" he explained but I didn't get it, "why?" I asked again and he sighed "I like you, we all like you, we have always liked you." 

We stared at each other, I didn't know what to say about his confession, dare I believe them, did it matter, in a few months I would be heading off to university, could we be friends for the summer, it would make it easier when I bumped into them on the estate, but I couldn't let it be more than that, I had to protect my heart.

"Friends?" I asked and he smiled at me "friends" he replied before turning to face his brothers who were heading towards us across the park and I thought I heard him say "for now" but I wasn't sure.

Eli and Riki stopped in front of us and I blushed as they took in my hand in Noahs, I pull and he lets go, rising to stand and pull up his bag, "see you later friend" he grins before dragging his brothers away, smirking at Nick as he passes him coming my way.

"What was that all about?" Nick demands reaching me.

"I think I just agreed to be Noahs friend, oh shit I just agreed to be Noah's friend." I mumbled sounding slightly panicked as Nick laughs at me, our eyes shifting to follow the boys across the car park, widening as they see Mandy watching us and scowling.

"Best be careful, looks like Mandy is on the warpath" Nick warns as Mandy turns and storms inside and I groan "its not like she can do anything to me but I'll stay out of her way".