In My Veins

.Drake.

" What the f**k is wrong with you?!" Aarons says getting up from the desks getting right in my face ready to take my head off. Olivia runs over standing in between the both of us, pushing Aaron back far away from me. Beside her instantly is Nick and Kaylin.

" You're both done!" Nick says yelling at Aaron looking like he was going to get in his face. "He gave you what was needed! Or I would have done it at practice later." Nick says harshly grabbing me by my right arm, leading me away from Aaron. 

" This isn't over Parker, this is only the beginning of many things." He threatens.

" Aaron STOP!" Olivia yells at him doing her best to push him back away from me. She is a lot stronger then she looks. But all I can see is Rachel.

Turning back I glare at him, there are so many things I want to say to him. I want to do the world a favor and kill him. Nick feeling my tension keeps a tighter grip on my arm pulling me back. Kaylin grabs Olivia's hand pulling her along after us. Aaron doesn't even stop Olivia, he continues to glare at me. His friends now appearing at his side ready to back him up. 

" Whoa buddy, he's not even worth it, trust me been there hit that, but I do have to say thank you. It's about time someone stands up to that prick." Nick tells me placing his hand on my shoulder, leading me further away from Aaron and out the school doors. 

" Anytime, slapping him felt great! I still feel the sting of it in my hand." I say shaking out the hand that I slapped Aaron with. 

" I bet, I'm jealous that it wasn't me slapping him." 

The four of us ran out to the parking lot out to Kaylin's black 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee . Impressed with her Jeep I can't help but stare at it amazed. Kaylin is clearly the rich friend in Olivia's group of friends, but that doesn't surprise me. Piling into the Jeep, Olivia and I are in the back. Nick hurries and gets into the drivers seat while Kaylin slides into the passengers seat. Nick hits the gas and speeds out of the parking lot, heading out on to the main road. Kaylin turns around in her seat looking at me. 

 " Drake that was insane! I can't believe that you just did that. No one has stood up to Aaron like that since sophomore year." 

" Yeah, Drake that f*****g awesome!" Nick chimes in not taking his eyes off the road. 

I can't help but sit here and feel like a badass for what just happened. A smile creeps up my face. Kaylin and I both look over at Olivia to see if she will say anything but she doesn't. She just keeps looking out the window as Nick drives. A part of me wishes she would be proud of me or at least give me a thank you but at the same time. Aaron is her boyfriend and I just slapped the s**t out of him and she is probably upset with me so for that I can't really blame her for acting this way. 

" Lets go to Stevie's." Kaylin says and Nick nods in agreement. 

Having no idea where they are taking me I sit back in my seat. Then Kaylin starting blasting loud rock music over the speakers. The long 30 minute drive was fun Kaylin and Nick sang every word to every song. Olivia and I exchanged awkward glances, it's nice to feel somewhat normal and pretend that I'm a teenager. I can't even remember the last time I piled into a car with my friends with Rachel sitting on my lap. 

Once we arrive I take notice that Stevie's is bar. A bar that you would find at the end of some creepy alleyway.  Parking the jeep out back we all get out heading in through the kitchens back door. Walking past employees and waiters and waitresses. I keeping following Oliva and Nick and Kaylin through the Kitchen and down a hallway and we stop outside what seems to an office. Kaylin knocks on the door. 

  " Enter." A woman's voice responds.

I follow after everyone into the office making sure that I stay in the back. Kaylin and Nick and Olivia all rush up to the lady behind the desk and give her hug , along with a kiss on the cheek. 

  " Aunt Katie this is Drake. He just moved here, Nick and I kind of adopted him."

Adopted? 

"Nice to meet you Drake. Where did you move here from?" Kaylin's aunts asks me standing up from behind her desk holding her hand out for me to shake. 

" Nice to meet you too, My mom and I moved here from London." I say shaking her hand. 

" London that is pretty far away. I hope that you like it here in Cinder Falls. Any friends of Liv and Nick and Kay is a friend of mine." She tells me with a smile. 

I'm surprised at how accepting this family is and how loyal they all are together. If Olivia really is Rachel's twin sister they would all hate me until the end of time. Honestly I am dying to know if Olivia really is her twin sister. I needed to find out. 

" Well Aunt Katie we are all going to go eat some food." Kaylin says giving her another hug. 

"Sweet! Let's eat!" Nick says walking towards the door to leave.

"Nick all you ever think of is food"

"No Kaylin all I think of is you"

"Oh my lanta, you both need to get a room" Olivia says walking towards the door. Kaylin and I follow after her.  Olivia and Nick kept teasing each other as I followed them back down the hall out to a booth in the diner area. 

Seeing how siblings act with each other, I can't help but laugh I never had any siblings, Rachel had her older brother Skyler who I only really saw on major holidays. Spending the last 3 years with only her and a few friends I never got to really see how siblings acted with each other. This is very amusing watching them. As I start to laugh they all gave me a weird look, not wanting to reveal that I was just thinking about Rachel, I say the first thing that pops into my head. 

" I was just thinking what it would be like to have a sibling." explaining to them as I get up from my seat shuffling past them to get in to the bar, not wanting them to see the tears starting to form. Quickly wiping the tears away so no one notices, I take a seat at the very end of the long bar counter. Looking intently at the red counter with gold ribbons embedded into it. It took me longer than it should have to register the bartender talking in haste, as if she had better things to be doing than waiting around for me to give her my drink order.

" Can I get you something sweetheart?" The lady behind the bar asks giving me a half assed smile. From the looks of it, she's had a rough day already and it's only 3pm

As I look up to read her name tag I say " A water would be nice, if you don't mind. Lily".

" Should be simple enough, I'll get right on that." Lily says laughing as she grabs an empty glass scooping some ice into it as she pours the water into the glass, without even asking she tops it off with a lemon. I'm not surprised she does. It must be a habit with working in a bar.

Kaylin, Nick and Olivia all come over to where I am sitting at the bar laughing. I know it's been less than 12 hours but this is the most I've seen Olivia laugh without holding back that lovely little snort she does when she really gets gets going. Kaylin strides over taking a seat next to me and smiles as if I should know what she's thinking. Feeling awkward I put the glass to my lips and take a sip. 

" I have been thinking about this all day, I know it's bad to overthink things but.... this might sound crazy but are you related to the Norwood family of Londieam castle?"

Just from the mention of my last name, I cough as the water comes out of my nose and mouth, while trying to breath.  Kaylin just keeps talking, she doesn't seem to notice that I am coughing up water. " Well that was gross, next time spit it the other way, not on me okay! But for real, are you related? I used to know this kid named Drake Norwood. You have the same name, you kind of look like him too. But the last names are different along with your hair color. He has ash brown hair color but yours is black."

Wow some 3 hour friend she is, not even bothering to ask if I'm okay? As I stare at her trying to stay composed, how is she still even talking at this point? How can I take this conversation and throw it out the f*****g window never to be spoke about ever again? Breath Drake, just breath I tell myself. Other wise I will pass out from the overwhelming anxiety going on in my head. First I need to shut her up! Than I hope after all the questions stop! I'll be able to think enough to give a response that won't put my ass in the dog house with my mom. Taking a deep breath and clearing my throat I gently put my hand out, closing my fingertips as gently as I can muster around her lips and ask.

" Do you ever stop talking?"

She pushes my hand away hard making it swing out almost hitting Olivia who was now sitting next to Kaylin. Her cold green eyes glare at me.

" She doesn't ever stop talking." Olivia says joining our conversation, not even bothering to mention how I almost hit her. Yeah it would have been an accident but I still feel like something should have been said on her part and mine. Instead I take this as my chance to avoid Kaylin's never-ending questions.

" I was just trying to get to know him." Kaylin says annoyed at Olivia's comment. 

" I have to say, you and Aaron playing Romeo and Juliet made my day." Olivia says looking at me with those big dark brown eyes. I think with that question, Olivia knew a different topic was in order.

" I hope that it did. Just at the thought of almost kissing Aaron I'm going to have nightmares about it for a few weeks." 

Oliva laughs at my comment then places her hand on my left arm, which sends tingles down through out my body. It almost feels like Rachel is touching me again but not quite. Thankfully Kaylin joins back into our conversation. Olivia lets go of my arm, then goes back over to the bar to where Nick is. 

" Why is your accent more like you are from Whales then London?" Kaylin asks. 

" Why are you asking all of these questions about London?" 

" I'm just curious. My parents take me to London every summer. I spend a lot of my time traveling all over the UK." 

" Nice, I didn't travel much. I lived in New Castle." 

Kaylin seems like she believes my answer for the most part, sending the universe a quick thank you. I hope I can get her off my back for awhile till I can come up with a good story. 

" Please... you just think he's hot." Nick says loudly for everyone to hear. 

" Who's hot?" I ask leaning over Kaylin to hear Nick and Olivia's conversation better. 

" You are." Olivia tells me in a half laugh then turns to Nick punching him really hard in the arm. He doesn't even flinch or react he just smiles down at her. 

" Aww thanks! Last time I checked I was just ranked cute, guess I went up a level." I say to Olivia, winking at her. 

Everyone laughs at my comment, which makes me feel good about myself. Thankfully I haven't lost my sense of humor like I thought I did.

After everyone orders food, we all take our seats at the booth. Kaylin sits across from me and every now and then will ask me a question about the UK. It feels like she is giving me a pop quiz. The more questions she asks me the more I put my guard up around her. 

" So Drake, are you going to tell us why you moved here?" Nick asks breaking the ice. 

I might as well just come up with a lie right now and stick to it. No one can know about my dad and his job with the CIA and BI or about what happened with Rachel. Taking a breath, I say what I have thought about saying all day.  

" There's not much to tell, my parents got divorced. My dad pretty much got everything so my mom and I moved here to get away from him. We left everything behind, friends and family."

Everyone stares at me, their eyes suddenly getting sad. At least I didn't lie to them that much, I can't help but begin to feel to my sick to my stomach that I had to lie to my new friends. But I don't have a choice, if they knew who I really was and Chase was to come after me. He'd use them as bait to get to me and then probably kill them. 

" Wow, man. That sucks. I'm sorry." Nick empathizes with me.

" What about your girlfriend?" Kaylin asks leaning forward, staring me down with those cold green eyes again. 

" Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend. I'm single." I explain to Kaylin confused. 

" You're lying, you have a special girl back at home that you're hiding. Tell us about her Drake." Kaylin says in a playful tone, it reminds me of all the times when Rachel used to tease me. 

" There is no girlfriend." I say firmly. 

" Kay, let the man have his secrets. Obviously it was a horrible break up. " Nicks states ending this topic. I can't help but look over at him in relief, thanking him with my eyes. Nick nods at me letting me know that he understands. Now I look over at Olivia, she hasn't been paying attention at all, she's been looking at her phone. Before things have a chance to get anymore awkward the food arrives, we all mainly ate in silence.

" I'm sorry that I threw you to the wolves today in drama today, Drake. But I have to say you handled yourself like a pro."

Nicks compliment makes me smile and laugh at the all the memories I had with my old friends.  

" My friends at my old school used to do s**t like that to me all the time. I've learned to improvise. Plus, I wanted to get Aaron back for being a d**k to me earlier."

" You and everyone else in the school wants to get back at Aaron." Kaylin states taking a drink of her orange soda.

" Can we not talk about my boyfriend please?" Olivia snaps at all of us stabbing a piece of lettuce with her fork.

" Everyone at the school, including the newbie here. Hates him, that should raise red flags Liv." Kaylin said looking at Olivia with judgment in her eyes.

" We are SO not talking about this right now!" Olivia says raising her voice at her. It was a tone I have never heard her use before. 

 I can't help but stare at the both of them in shock and wish that I never even opened his mouth in the first place. Looking at Nick for what I should do he just rolls his eyes and goes back to eating his food as if this happens everyday. 

" Why? You never want to talk about it. I think we should talk about it or about how you keep ditching me for Aaron. Don't you think Nick?

I stare at Nick, wondering what he is going to say. He is obviously in a rough spot because he doesn't want to go against his sister. But Kaylin is his girlfriend.  

" Whoa babe! please don't bring me into this...You and Olivia obviously have some things you both need to work out. Drake and I are going to sit at the bar." He say meeting my eyes nodding his head towards the bar. A small part of me wanted to stay just to hear what they were going to say to each other, but I mainly wanted to hear more about Olivia's relationship with Aaron. Nick nods his head again at me so I just stand up not even bothering to wait for Olivia to move over to let me out of the booth I climb  over the back side the booth and Nick and I go and take a seat at the bar. 

" My jacket looks good on you." Nick says reminding me that that I am still wearing his leather jacket. 

" s**t, my bad." I respond, as I start to take his leather jacket off. 

" Keep it." Nick says taking a sip of his drink. 

" Really?" I ask surprised and put the jacket back on, it fit me really well. 

" Yeah, think of it a welcome home to cinder falls present. Plus you look better in jacket then I do. " 

" Thank you." I say as grateful as I can. 

Nick giving me the jacket makes me feel like I am now officially apart of the group. I would wear his jacket with pride and stick by his side. Maybe he could be the person I trust and he could help me find out if Rachel really is Olivia's sister. 

Two loud shouts are heard coming from Olivia's and Kaylin's booth. Leaning over to see behind Nick he just remains in his seat not worried about what was happening. 

" They always fight like this just so you know. Kaylin really hates Aaron. She wishes that Olivia would listen to her and break up with him." 

Here we go, now I was getting somewhere with learning more about Aaron and Olivia. 

" Why doesn't she listen to Kaylin? Why is she dating Aaron?"

" That Drake, is the million dollar question. She won't tell us."