Sticks and Stones

Chapter 8

I didn't know why I said those things. Maybe it was because I couldn't stand the sound of one more blond bimbo giggling over something her friends whispered about me. Maybe it was because I needed to let everyone know exactly how things were going to be from now on. All I knew was that it wasn't because I'd heard that Cian fucker mutter fag under his breath before trying to trip Ben. And it most definitely wasn't because of the disgust I'd seen in everyone's eyes as he passed.

Still, I couldn't seemed to stop the traitorous grin that crept across my face when I saw the amusement in Ben's eyes. Ben had informed me that our next class had lunch for the first half of the period and while I remembered where it was, the lunchroom's location was a blur. I was alone now, trying to find my way to the cafeteria after 3rd period guitar. The class would be an easy A as well as a waste of time. I knew more about the music we were playing than he did. Fucking public schools and their shoddy ass education standards. I wandered through the barely filled hallways, trying to remember exactly which ones Ben had said led to the cafe. I passed through what was clearly the art wing, glancing in the rooms to see what classes were offered. From what I could tell there was art history and two rooms each devoted to painting and clay work. I neared the end of the hallway and stopped, shocked to see Ben completely absorbed in whatever was on the paper in front of him. Hadn't he said it was lunch time?

Uncertain, I entered the room and quietly walked up behind him. Unaware of my presence, Ben continued to work almost feverishly on his drawing. Etched into the paper was an angel, posed in a stance that was both fierce and elegant. His dark green eyes burned out from the page, almost as striking as his jet black wings. Every detail, from the contour of his muscles to the shadows lining the edge of each feather, were perfect. The angel looked ready to leapt from the page at any moment.

"That's amazing." The words left my mouth before I even knew I'd thought them. I instantly regretted it as Ben shot up like a bullet, hastily slapping the sketch book shut and shoving it under some papers.

"It's... It's nothing." He stammered, face flushing in a way I couldn't help but find adorable. I reached around him, despite his attempts to ward me off, and plucked the worn leather book off the desk. Defeated, Ben sunk down into the chair again as I flipped through the book. Dragons and elves battled through the pages along side ocean landscapes so realistic I swore I could smell the salty spray of the waves. Each drawing was more beautifully crafted than the last. As I turned to one of the final pages I almost dropped the book in shock.

On it stretched a forest scene, tall birches and populars surrounding a natural spring that cascaded down from a rocky crag. The main focus however, was a boy perched on a rock, cradling an acoustic guitar. His eyes were closed and his black locks fell across them in places, but I had no trouble guessing what color they would be if they were open.

"You... how did you draw that?" Ben ducked his head, his bright red ears giving away how embarrassed he was anyway.

"I go there to draw a lot... I found the spring when I was a kid. Not even Rory knows about it... You just seemed like you fit there." His voice was soft, no trace of the normal, stubborn defiance that I had grown used to in the few days I'd known him. Under some compulsion I caught his chin and forced his eyes up to mine.

"What do you say we skip last period and go somewhere?"

***

As I waited for Cole to dump his backpack in his locker I again questioned my decision. I barely knew him and after last night he wasn't my favorite person. Still, earlier in class the look he shot me before sitting back down almost seemed protective, like he had made a fool of Cian for me.

I trailed him into the parking lot, glancing around for whatever car he drove. The boy in question was a few feet ahead, talking quickly into his cellphone. I couldn't follow the conversation, partially because he spoke so fast. Also because he seemed to be speaking Italian. After giving up on eavesdropping, I restarted my search for Cole's car. I had him pinned for a mustang or some fancy BMW. Cole wouldn't drive anything that wasn't as flashy as he was himself. As he stopped in between an old Camery and a beat up minivan, I felt my jaw drop. Well, I was right about the flashy part, though I wished I hadn't been.

The motorcycle crouched menacingly between the cars like a jungle cat lying in wait, making me, the poor, unsuspecting suburban boy, the prey.

"There's no way in hell I'm getting on that." Cole grinned like he didn't believe me. He strode close enough to brush his lips against my ear as he spoke.

"You sure you don't want to see what I have planned?" I swallowed hard at his words, tingles from the light contact covering my skin in goose bumps.

"No, stavo parlando con Ben. Arrivederci." Cole's eyes flashed with annoyance as ended the call and slipped his cell into a pocket in his dark leather jacket. He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"If I hold you, its survival instinct, not attraction." The words left my mouth before I could even think about them and I found myself getting onto the back of a motorcycle with Cole Delvin. All I could think of while he started it up was please don't let me end up a smear on the side of a highway. Cole flashed me a grin that left me breathless. I was damn near having a heart attack even before we'd left the school parking lot. Its just a big bicycle. A big, metal bicycle. A big, metal bicycle that can go hundreds of miles an hour and grind me into the pavement like a-

I refused to finish the thought, instead focusing on clinging to Cole as tightly as humanly possible. I could feel the heat of his body even through the thick leather. It was strangely soothing and found myself beginning to relax, to the point where I could actually enjoy how skillfully Cole maneuvered the bike. From my position buried into his back, I could smell a mixture of worn leather and spicy aftershave. The scent was heady, almost intoxicating. God, I had it bad, and for someone who had made it clear they wanted nothing but a casual hook up. I'm such an idiot.

I watched as town after town whirred by, buildings giving way to sprawling highways running along unsettled coastline. After a what seemed like half an hour or so, Cole slowed the bike and pulled off at an exit marked "Scenic Outlook". My body jarred as the pavement suddenly dropped off into a dirt road, leaving my stomach churning uneasily. Though I couldn't see past the trees on either side of the winding dirt road, nor hear over the purr of the bike, I could smell the salt in the air. When Cole finally pulled into a small parking area I was already itching to get off.

As soon as Cole killed the engine I was off, almost making it to the trail head before I remembered I should probably wait for him. As I turned around to look where he was, Cole slammed into me with the force of a tracker trailer, throwing me up over his shoulder.

"Let's go!" He laughed.

"Cole, you asswipe, put me down!" I growled as I pounded my fists against his chest. All that served to do was make him release me slightly, just long enough for me to slide down his back a little too far. I was forced to cling to him for dear life or risk acquainting my butt with the rocky ground. Cole burst from the tree shrouded path onto a little enclosed beach, surrounded by rocky crags on two sides and pounded by the ocean on the third. He lightly set me down and grinned. I hadn't known him for very long, but I could tell this wasn't a side of Cole that came out very often. His emerald eyes were dancing with a mischievous kind of happiness. I couldn't help but grin back.

Until Cole suddenly tugged his shirt of and dropped his hands to the button of his jeans.

"What the hell are you doing?" I shielded my eyes with both hands, secretly fighting the urge to peek a little.

"Going swimming, stupid. And unless you thought to bring some shorts in that magical bag of yours, you'll be swimming in your boxers too." I glanced at my backpack which I'd forgotten I was wearing and then at Cole, or rather his retreating backside as he ran towards the water.

"If you can't beat them, fuck them." Rory's favorite expressions flashed through my mind and I blushed even though I hadn't said them out loud. It certainly fits, I mused as I stared at Cole's toned back. Then remembering I was supposed to be joining him, I struggled out of my jeans, trying unsuccessfully to keep sand out of my shoes. After talking a deep breath to ready myself, I took off down the beach after the boy who may or may not break my heart.