Never Been Kissed

- TWENTY-SEVEN -

-•TWENTY-SEVEN•-

Laurel and I tore through the small airport at breakneck speed, eyes frantically darting to the electronic flight guide hanging suspended at the top of the airport and listening to the tinny voice narrating flight numbers from an old PA system.

I'd pieced it all together. Beck was going to see his father after all. The reasons for that weren't too clear but what I knew was that Asher was helping him, and when Asher put his hands on anything, it turned sour. I guess that he was the proverbial King Midas, except, he didn't spread accidental gold beauty in his wake, but purposeful repugnance.

We raced around the travelers lingering in the wide outer space as they waited for their connecting flight time to be called, and those who were grabbing their bags off the baggage handling machine. A lot of people glared at us as we jostled them, but at this point, I couldn't care less. I just wanted to rescue my friend.

On the way over here, Laurel had told me that Beck wanting to see his dad wasn't a very good idea. Though she didn't know what his intentions were for seeing his father, she knew he wouldn't take it in stride. Apparently, he'd wanted to get a restraining order put against his family after the divorce. Proof that he wanted nothing to do with them. Beck tried to stay in touch, but it was hard, seeing as his father didn't give a royal crap about him. The story was heart wrenching, and Beck, being the boy I liked way too much for my own good, didn't need to be around him.

Which was why I was tearing through this airport looking for any sign of him.

"Flight AA10112 from Starbuck to New York City is preparing to board. I repeat, Flight AA10112 from Starbuck to New York City is preparing to board. All passengers please assemble on the runway. Thank you." The tinny PA system's voice stopped me in my tracks.

That had to be Beck's flight.

My eyes locked on to the long line of people going through customs and the glass window looking out onto the runway and I knew that we weren't going to get Beck in time. It was an almost tangible feeling inside, the way my heart sank.

"Amber!" a voice called.

I spun around, my spirits up, only to find Asher steadily making his way across the airport to me, a big, jovial smile on his face and a wicked glint to his eye.

My eyes narrowed on him and I felt Laurel stiffen beside me.

"Where is he?" I demanded when Asher got close.

I watched his eyebrows rise when he stopped in front of me. "Huh?"

"Where. Is. Beck?" I snapped, stepping closer to the idiot of a boy that I'd had to deal with all these years.

A lazy grin tiptoed onto his face and he folded his arms at me. "What's it to you?"

Before I knew it, my long fingers were flat against Asher's broad chest and I was shoving. "This isn't a laughing matter, you idiot. Beck might get himself into trouble out there. You don't even know the full story! God Asher! You are so irresponsible!"

Asher's eyes narrowed on me, and suddenly I found myself being shoved. "Look, Beck's my friend. He came to me about his dad and I did what any bro would do and took him to the airport myself. How's that irresponsible?"

"It is completely irresponsible! Did you not think about the rationality of this?" I snapped. My arms were flailing all over the place and I was pretty sure I was making a scene as everyone was looking at me, but I didn't care. Not at all.

"Didn't you ever think that maybe he needs to sort out this shit on his own?" Asher yelled back, folding his arms and staring down on me with steely eyes. "You can't baby him all the time, Amber. Some things a guy just has to do."