Badboy, His Secrets and My Heart

7: The Boys Are Here

"Ethie! Mom says you have to get up," a horrendous voice yelled in my ear.

"Ugh, go away," I mumbled slapping another pillow over my ear.

"Mom! Ethan is not going to go to school today it seems."

"f**k. Okay okay. I am up," I muttered rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. " You better," Eric yelled, pulling off my comforter, before running out of my room.

That little dipshit.

My hands unconsciously reach for my phone which was excavated next to me half way under my pillow, reminding me of how I slept I went to sleep last night.

Scarlett and I had watched "The fight club" on our own devices while on call with each other commenting and mostly I freeing a serene silence that both of us enjoyed. After the movie had ended we started asking random questions and fell asleep talking to each other.

A very casual night.

***

"Do I have to do this?" I asked for the thousandth time. "Not if you don't want to. It was your idea, remember?" She told me.

Yeah, right. My dumb a*s.

"Ugh, fine let's go," I said getting out of the car. Let's get this s**t over with.

The occasional bustle of the nurses and the plink something being dropped and the scraping of chairs were the only sounds in vicinity.

Knocking twice on the now familiar door Scarlett waited for a quarter of a second before pushing it open.

"Dad?"

"Scarlett? Come in baby," he said putting down a file he was checking. His eyes hardened a tid bit at the sight of another person entering his personal sanctuary. A male to be specific. And myself to be precise.

Sweet baby Jesus, have mercy on me.

"How are you doing dad? Did they change your meds on the go?" She asked him putting her hands around him. "Mmhm," he nodded, his eyes giving me an once over.

"Dad, this is Ethan," Scar introduced us testing her words with slight tinge of nervousness. "Ethan? Dad."

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Mitchell," I decided to give him a tight lipped smile, offering my hand which was considered immensely before being accepted.

"I hear you are a transfer?" His tone was rough with a dominating tint. Or was it a disappointed one? I nodded at him,"Yes, sir."

"Any specific reason?"

Ugh. Not this again.

"My parents got divorced." Liar, liar, pants on fire.

That is not a lie.

But is that the reason you moved?

Sometimes silence is the best answer. So shh.

"How is Evelyn?" "Mom? Oh she's good."

"Mmhm, please do sit down Ethan," his voice had done a one eighty degree turn. It was fatherly and warm. Not expected at all.

By the looks Scarlett was giving me, she had not expected that too.

I decided to sit on the couch opposite the bed. "I hear you play basketball," he noted. "Yes, Mr. Mitchell." Way too polite, Ethan.

"Hmm, you must know Logan then, right?"

"Yes."

"You guys get along I suppose," his tone clearly stated that I was not welcome if I was not in Logan's good books.

"We get along well enough for people who met recently," I tried my best to sound efficient.

"I see."

And then there was this super awkward silence. A very perplexing situation with thick tension in the air. Guess who broke the hush?

"Does anyone want a cookie?"

Scarlett was there holding up a chocolate chip cookie in her hand and a ziplock bag filled with home baked cookies.

This girl, honestly!

***

"Tell her that I will be there tomorrow. Don't forget. I'll drop her text too," Scarlett yelled as I stepped out of her yard. She wanted me to tell my mom that she would be there for the dinner thing tomorrow night.

I gave her thumbs up and a huge s**t eating grin in return. Her right hand crossed her heart as she blew a kiss to me which I caught way too dramatically still having that stupid grin on my face.

Seriously, why are you suddenly so cringe worthy Ethan? Why, just why?!

I was met with the Mercedes of Daniel Hawthorn at the end of the street.

As I had thought, Logan was already there. They had already picked some diner called "Frendy's" which had a very sought after bowling alley.

***

We had chosen our shoes and got down to the alley as some of the others had ordered some food. Apparently this "Frendy" guy had something against alcohol hence it not being sold to 'kids' without adult supervision. Yes, eighteen year olds are kids.

I was out, taking a drag to survive this evening. These guys were boring as f**k. Only a couple of flirting and touching and no good bowling alleys, no good girls, no good food, no good s*x, no good old vodka.

Okay that's a partial hyperbole. The food was indeed good.

This place had a bar which was exclusive to 'elders'. As it was a small town, everyone knew everyone so no sneaking in. And I badly wanted a drink. Ugh.

"Got a lighter?" A gruff voice interrupted my reverie just as I felt someone else sink down the wall beside me.

I handed mine to him without a word. Not when I know the person. No.

"How are you doing?"

"That is way too cheesy even for you,

dumpster," I said letting out a whiff.

"Long time no see, slughead," Kai drawled turning to me, pushing his hoodie off his face as he pulled me into a bro hug.

All of a sudden everything seemed back to normal.

But little did I know.

***

"Let's get out of here, first," Kai mumbled eyeing the red brick wall behind me. The guys at the bowling alley turned to us as both of us strolled up to them.

"Ethan! You are back. Dan is on the lead," Some guy exclaimed slapping my back. I strongly urged myself not to roll my eyes.

"Ethan, you still up in the game?" Dan asked swigging on his coke and stalled for a minute second as his eyes landed on Kai. "And who would this be?"

"Kai. Kai Walker. A friend of Ethan's," Kai nodded. "That's cool. So you transferring here too?" Logan asked.

"Ugh. No. I'm here at UCLA," Kai shrugged. Dan's jaw was literally on the floor. To say that Logan's eyes widened slightly would be an understatement too.

Kai got an early full scholarship to UCLA for medicine. As a matter of fact, both of us did. But you know, situations. My scholarship was invalidated. So he went while I transferred dumb chicken schools.

"Oh. You are seventeen?"

"Yup," Kai nodded, doing a very bad job of hiding his smirk. He was way too in love with this.

"We got to get going, by the way. Got to get settled," I raised my eyebrows at Kai who nodded at me in response. "Glad to meet you mate. Maybe we would get to catch up soon again," Dan said patting him playfully on his arms. At least the guy knows some manners.

"How do we get in the bar?" I asked Kai as I did not have any of my fake IDs with me. I had got to know from Logan and Dan that Frendy's was the only place that had a bar around here.

"Simple. We opt for the minimal," he smirked, pulling out a black hoodie from his backpack.

***

"Two more Jack and cokes," Kai informed the slightly flustered bartender.

The burning sensation of the whiskey down my throat felt good. We did not talk much. Just drank. At least we did not get to the talking part yet.

"How are you coping without those s**t?" He asked me out of the blue.

"Just like you do," I replied chuckling.

Both of us were in rehab for six months back way before my transfer. How he coped with no drugs was with, as blunt as you can put it, casual flings. A girl for a night. No strings attached.

I could never do it that way, given my circumstances. So what I do is, drink my urges away and hit the gym more than I want to.

"So.. Who is the girl?"

"What?" I raised my eyebrows at him. Where did this s**t come from?

"You just gave yourself away, slughead. The Ethan would have chuckled and asked me 'which one'." He smirked at me before chugging down his glass.

"Her name is Scarlett," I responded picking my glass up.

"Is she hot?" "Very."

"Damn. Is she any good in bed?"

"It is not like that," I shook my head before emptying my glass too.

"You are with a girl without hoo-la-la? How enticing!" He laughed. "Do you have her pic or something?"

"You are not going anywhere near her!" I snapped.

"I am not going. Take a chill pill, slughead. Just wanted to see who got your knickers in a twist," he shrugged signaling with his hands up.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket grudgingly and scrolled to the last picture from my photo library. It was a pic of Emmy and Scar at the fundraiser.

"Dayum. She is hot indeed!" He smirked, his hand flying to his mouth dramatically. "She seems demure, though. Is she a virgin?"

"How am I supposed to know that Kai?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Come on. You could decide that with just a glance at any chick," he drawled. Was he lying though?

"Fine, fine. Yes, she is."

"Then our oh so sweet Scarlett is going to be heartbroken too soon, is she?" A jeering voice intruded us.

A smirking Daniel Hawthorn was there with a can of beer in his hand.

"Did not expect me here, huh?" He asked me. I badly wanted to smash his jaw and I didn't know why.

"Daniel if there is something you need to say, better hurry up," I snapped at him, the alcohol trying to reach my brain, finally.

"Whoa whoa there. Chill down, dude. It's just me. I am not going bite your head off or something," he chuckled as he sank into the seat beside me. Was it bad that the way he chuckled annoyed me?

"Remember Ashley? I had my doubts but this confirmed all that s**t," he stated putting his can down as Kai c****d his pierced left eyebrow tentatively at him before glancing at me.

"What do you mean by 'Ashley'? Who is she?" Kai began playing dramatically oblivious.

"Oh come on, all three of us know who Ashley Hale is. And how Mr. Ethan Torres over here was 'involved' with some f****d up s**t. Let's not play games. If you guys want to know how I knew these, all you have to do is ask," he smirked drawing quotation marks in the air.

Both Kai and I rolled our eyes simultaneously. "Fine, how?" I asked.

"That's better. Ashley happens to be cousin, you see. A pretty close one. So I know things," he shrugged before continuing, "She was a b***h who deserved what happened."

"Why? What did she do to you?" Kai asked, curiously.

"She was hot and I suggested something intimate. She turned me down. b***h!" He rolled his eyes.

Kai masked a snort as a cough well efficiently.

"So this is something like Ashley, huh? Scarlett?" Dan asked ordering another round of what we were already having.

I shook my head at him. "After all the trouble I got in since that drama, you expect me to do that again?"

"I am sure you knew it was plain old drama from the begging. That definitely did not stop you from the Ashley thing, did it?"

"Daniel, I could not f*****g get into my dream university. And I had to f*****g transfer schools," I scowled.

"I know, dude. You can't get into anymore trouble than what you already are in. And I'm pretty sure no more scholarships for you from Ivy Leagues. So maybe you could care to make some hot cash," Dan noted slyly.

"What are you trying to convey, Daniel?" Kai asked out loud.

"What about trying something with Scarlett?"

"What?! Of course not. Have you lost your mind?" I asked him, clearly ticked off.

"Why not, Ethan?"

"Situations have changed. Besides, I don't need to explain myself to you," I said brusquely. My eyesight was slightly blurring.

"You are right. You don't need to. But do not blame it on 'situations'. Maybe you are not the person who I heard you were. The one who changes girls so fast before you could utter 'shenanigans'. The one who is not afraid to put any teacher in their place. The one who was always high. The one who has brains and looks alike. The one who was wicked in bed, as heard," his tone mocked me.

"I am still the same," I clenched my jaw.

"No you are not. You are just a mere spoilsport now. Who follows the golden girl of the school like a lost puppy. No punch. No spark. No fire. Just another goody two shoes," he was taunting me. I knew it.

I shouldn't snap. I shouldn't snap. I shouldn't snap.I shouldn't snap.I shouldn't snap.I shouldn't snap. I shouldn't snap. I shouldn't sna-

"What the f**k should I do to show you that I am the same f*****g Ethan?"

Daniel f*****g Hawthorn got what he wanted.

Kai looked at me as if I had grown an extra head.

I brushed him off, raising my arms at Dan, who grinned maliciously. Pfft.

"Simple. Something like the Ashley thing. Thousand bucks," he winked at me before continuing. "With Scarlett."

"No f*****g way," I shook my head before chugging down the remnants of whiskey in my glass. My eyesight blurred for a fraction of a second again.

"See what I told before? You have lost your spark, Torres. Or you have always been the sour killjoy all the time. You could get the exact fame and popularity from your old school. More than that, to be precise. Our team would support. Leave out Logan, he is such a spoilsport when it comes to Scarlett. But it is a sealed deal. Besides, it is thousand bucks," he sneered back as I ran my finger, circling the rim of my glass, absentmindedly.

"No Ethan," Kai warned me in a condescending tone.

"f**k, fine. I will do it," I said whimsically.

"What the f**k, Ethan?" Kai exclaimed.

"With the Scarlett Mitchell?" Dan asked again.

"Yes, the same."

"I hope you are not a man who goes back in your word," Daniel smirked at me. "No. Definitely not," I smirked back.

As Daniel sauntered away, Kai spun me around. "What the f**k have you gotten yourself into?"

I remembered shrugging in return to his query before the world started spinning.

***

My head was pounding.

My mom had both me and Eric being out her best silver to set up for dinner. I was stumbling with plates while Kai got to snooze off in my bed.

I was already regretting last night.

I should have said no.

I should at least say it now.

But what about happen? I would be going back on my word.

I liked Scarlett genuinely. This aura of purity that she carried everywhere. The softness of her frowns and the wildness behind her heavy level of sarcasm. Everything about her drew me in.

I had met someone who I was finally intrigued with. Someone I wanted to fix despite my f****d-upness.

And I was betting on her? What the f**k was I thinking?

"Ethan! Careful!" My mom screeched descending the stairs. "I swear I will decapitate you if you dent my silverware."

"Mom, I have placed the cutlery, shall I go help Emmy get ready?" Eric, the dipshit, said in his sickly sweet boy tone.

"Yes, honey," she said smiling at him before scooping her hair up into a ponytail.

"You," she turned to me sternly, "quicken up with those plates."

I rolled my eyes before dragging myself down to the dining table.

"Good evening, Mrs. Torr- Evelyn," Kai announced, sauntering into the living room.

"Evening, Kai. Finally out of bed, huh? Rough night?" She asked him. Or us. She still had her suspicions. "What did you guys do last night, by the way?"

Told ya.

"We were out bowling with some of Ethan's new friends," Kai informed her, flipping off my glare. I could say that he was mad at me. He did not say much last night because I had passed out instantaneously.

"Was Sheriff Hawthorn's son one of them?" She asked again. What the f**k? Daniel was the city's f*****g sheriff's son?

Kai's puzzled eyes met mine as I shrugged. "I guess so. There was a Daniel Hawthorn."

"Ah, yea. That is the guy," she nodded stirring some sauce in a pot on the stove.

"How are mom and dad doing, Kai?"

"Good. They are still staying with my sister. Mom insisted that she should be with her for Kayla's pregnancy. She going to have twins," Kai said munching on a piece of carrot from the countertop.

"Mmhm. That's great. But I hear twins are difficult to handle. It could be really good if there was an extra hand," my mom muttered mostly to herself as she put the lasagna into the oven.

"Kai, would you mind drying these dishes off, please?" "Sure, um- Evelyn," he mumbled getting up from the couch.

He was still struggling to call my mom by her name since she got divorced. So was everyone in our town.

"And Ethan, help him out with these, after you are finished setting up the plates." I nodded at her placing down the next plate.

I was drying off some dumb dish, when my mom finally walked out of the room. When Kai decided to go kaboom on me.

"What the f**k is going on Ethan? I thought you were accepting the deal because you f*****g wanted a challenge. A thrill. But you actually care for her! The f**k?!"

"What do you mean, Kai?"

"What do I mean? What I mean is that your whole f*****g family is going to have dinner with the girl you agreed to bring a bet on! You don't think that is f****d up? Have you lost your marbles?!"

"Dude, quit yelling. I know this is f****d up. But I am not backing down. This is happening. My mom invited her over because her parents were friends with her. But not now, anyways. You will meet her tonight. See for yourself. This is going to be game," I said my lip curling onto my left.

The steel bowl in Kai's hand dropped down on the kitchen counter as he turned to me giving a glower.

"Yeah. Let's see tonight."