Only Human

Chapter 13

The next morning when I wake, Flick’s bed is empty. For a moment I panic, but then I notice my clothes—washed, dried, and neatly folded—sitting at the end of the bed. Flick must’ve taken care of them. I glance at the alarm clock.

Eight a.m.

“Crap!” I scramble out of bed, grabbing my clothes. I haven’t showered since yesterday. Surely they won’t mind if I use theirs. I dart across the hall, jump under the spray, and take the quickest shower of my life.

When I come downstairs, Flick and Dean are already dressed and eating breakfast. Thankfully, there’s no sign of their parents. Last night’s dinner was awkward enough without adding an awkward breakfast.

Flick looks up and greets me with that warm, sweet smile of hers. “Morning, Sleeping Beauty. I’ll make you some toast.”

She’s already out of her chair before I can answer. “Flick, you don’t have to—”

She waves a hand. “Don’t be silly. It’s fine. Jam okay?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

I sit down across from Dean, awkwardly aware of his presence after last night. He looks up at me with that signature cocky grin.

“Taylor, how’d you sleep? I had some trouble. Couldn’t stop thinking about you in my clothes—especially that white shirt with no bra.”

His sarcastic laugh makes my face burn. I snatch up a napkin and throw it at him. He only laughs harder. So bloody embarrassing.

---

After breakfast, we head to our cars. Flick decides to ride with me. We hurry into my car, determined to beat Dean out of the driveway. I start the engine, glance over—and sure enough, Dean is leaning against his car, smiling smugly, shaking his head at us.

Flick and I let out girlish chuckles as we wave and drive off. Flick looks back at Dean, laughing triumphantly. “He’ll hate that.”

I laugh, knowing she’s right.

As we merge onto the main road, Flick asks, “Jess, want to come shopping with me this weekend? Just to Madam Ivy’s dress shop. I need a second opinion on the prom dress I ordered.”

Before I can answer, a black car zooms past, horn blaring. Flick and I exchange a look.

“Dean,” we say together, rolling our eyes. He just couldn’t stand being beaten.

“I’d love to come shopping,” I say, “but Friday I’m busy—it’s my birthday.”

Flick smacks my arm. “Why didn’t you tell me your birthday is on Friday?”

I grin. “I just did.”

“That’s not what I meant!” She smacks me again, laughing. “Fine, Saturday then. Afterwards, you’re coming over for cake.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Of course I do. You’re my friend,” she says, hugging me around the shoulders.

I smile, knowing there’s no arguing with Flick. “Okay.”

---

We pull into the school lot. Dean is already leaning on his car, cocky grin plastered on his face, waving smugly as we park. Flick marches over and smacks his shoulder. “You’re an idiot.”

Dean clutches his shoulder dramatically, laughing. I decide not to get caught fraternising with the enemy. “See you later, Flick.”

She runs back and hugs me tight. “See you soon, Jess.”

As I pass Dean, I shoot him a glare. “Why aren’t the cops ever around when you need them?”

He just grins wider as I walk away.

---

At my locker, I remember it’s Monday—Alec will be working. I haven’t switched my phone back on since yesterday. With a deep breath, I power it up.

The screen floods with notifications: ten missed calls, three texts. Two calls are from Mum, but the rest—all Alec.

8:31pm – Jess! Please come home, don’t do this!!

9:51pm – Please baby, I’m calm. Just come home. I’m sorry. Let’s talk. I don’t want you staying there.

4:15am – I can’t sleep without you next to me. I’m sorry. I’d never hurt you.

My chest aches reading them. I know he’s sorry. Deep down, I know Alec would never intentionally hurt me. He just loses himself in his temper—especially when he’s jealous. And I know I shouldn’t have dragged his mother into it. His parents’ situation was nothing like mine.

The bell rings. I quickly text back: I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said what I did. We needed a night apart to cool down. I’ll come home after school.

I tuck my phone away and head to first period: maths. My least favourite.

---

By lunchtime, I couldn’t be happier—maths and science are behind me. History and English lit are next, my comfort zone.

I head to the cafeteria looking for Ruby and Flash but spot Alec first. He’s at the vending machine, fiddling with wires like he’s trying to fix it. Audrey is beside him, leaning against the machine, clearly flirting.

A sharp stab of jealousy twists my stomach.

I glance across the room and spot Ruby and Matthew, Flash and Ryan, waving from their table. I wave back and start toward them—until a voice squeals my name.

“Jess!”

It’s Flick. She bounces over and hugs me tight. “I never see you in the cafeteria! Come on, sit with us.”

Before I can protest, she drags me toward her table. I mouth “sorry” to Ruby and Flash, who laugh and nod.

Of course, Flick’s table is with Clay and Dean. My stomach knots.

“Uh, Flick, maybe this isn’t a good idea—”

“Don’t be silly,” she says firmly. “Guys, Jess is sitting with us. And you”—she points at Dean—“best behaviour.”

Dean raises his hands in mock innocence. “Me? Always.”

---

Everything goes surprisingly smoothly—until Brock shows up. He drops his tray, staring at me.

“Am I missing something? You lost, Taylor? Run out of food or something?”

Before I can reply, Dean elbows him hard in the ribs. “Shut up, Brock. Flick’s friends with Taylor now. We respect that. Understood?”

Brock winces, nodding quickly.

“And,” Dean adds, leaning closer, “I’m the only one who calls her Taylor.”

Brock blinks, still nodding. “Okay, man. Whatever.”

I sit there stunned. Clay looks as shocked as me. Flick beams proudly at her cousin.

Who is this Dean Clarke? And why does every time he changes, I feel more drawn to him?

I glance toward Alec, still working at the vending machine. Butterflies explode in my stomach like always. He’s the one I love. So why do I feel this strange pull toward Dean?

Flick nudges me. “Not you too.”

“Huh? Too what?”

She raises her brows. “Checking out the cleaner. You’re as bad as Audrey.”

My face flames. They noticed.

“Uh… well, with an ass like that, I am only human,” I blurt, trying to joke.

The table erupts in laughter. Flick grins wickedly. “True. He does have a nice ass.”

Clay pinches her side. She kisses him sweetly. The look in his eyes says it all—he adores her. I’m happy for them. When I was with Clay, I cared, but I wasn’t in love. Everyone deserves to be loved fully.

Brock ruins the moment with a laugh. “Awkward much? Clay, how’s it feel sitting with two girls you’ve banged who are now besties?”

Clay rolls his eyes. “It wasn’t until you mentioned it.”

We all chuckle, even Dean.

Then disaster arrives: Bonnie, with Audrey at her side. She taps her fake nails on the table.

“Ew. What is this, Adopt-a-Loser Day? Dean, it’s bad enough we put up with your loser cousin. Now Jessica Taylor?”

The table stiffens. Clay points at her. “You owe Flick and Jess an apology.”

Bonnie scoffs. Dean’s fists clench, knuckles white.

“What the f**k are you doing here, Bonnie?” he growls. “I broke up with you. Again. You’re like a dog with a bone. A stupid dog. I don’t want you. Take the hint.”

The cafeteria falls silent.

Then Bonnie slaps him. Hard. The crack echoes across the room.

Dean explodes out of his chair, face inches from hers. Clay and Brock leap up, ready to hold him back. Audrey drags Bonnie away, sobbing dramatically.

Dean is left seething, fists trembling. Flick runs to hug him, but he jerks away and storms out.

“I’ll go,” I tell her, chasing him into the hall.

---

I hear the banging before I see him. Dean’s fist slamming into his locker, over and over.

“Dean, stop!” I grab his arm.

“Go away, Taylor!” He shoves at me, but I hold on.

“No! The year’s almost over. Don’t throw away Clive and Morrison on a vandalism report. Come with me.”

I drag him outside, into the school garden. He rips free, storming a few steps away.

“I don’t need you. Go away!”

“Fine,” I snap, turning my back. “Be a brute. I don’t care.”

But I stop. I remember that day with my parents, when he and Flick wouldn’t let me drive until I calmed down. He stayed. For me.

With a groan, I turn back. I find him under a tree, leaning against the bark, fists clenched. I sink to the ground beneath it, weaving flowers into a bracelet like I used to as a kid.

After a while, Dean drops down beside me and starts doing the same.

“You don’t quit, do you?”

I giggle. “Nope. Stubborn, apparently.”

A small smile tugs at his mouth.

Then the words pour out of him: about Bonnie, about his dad, about never being good enough. He admits he only dated Bonnie to make his dad happy, that he kept crawling back to avoid his father’s rage.

“I envy you, Taylor,” he says finally. “You don’t care what anyone thinks. Not your parents, not anyone. You’re just… you.”

I stare at him. Dean Clarke envies me?

“Dean, listen. You’re practically an adult. In a few months you’ll be at college, out of your father’s house. Make that your fresh start. Date who you want. Be who you want. Will your dad be disappointed? Probably. But you’re the one who has to live your life, not him.”

He stares at me, shaking his head in wonder. “How’d you get so wise, Taylor?”

I laugh. “Trust me, I’m not. That’s just what I tell myself. My parents are constantly disappointed too. I wasn’t even going to go to college—I wanted to study back in Australia. They hated the idea. But I wasn’t born to live their life. I was born to live mine.”

Dean looks stunned. “Wow, Taylor. Rebel.”

I push him playfully. We laugh.

Then he sobers. “I’m sorry. For everything. I think it started with envy. You showed up in middle school—this confident girl from another country, smart, funny. Everyone liked you. It drove me crazy. Then in high school, you lost the weight. You looked… stunning. And no matter what I did, you kept rising. Even when I tried to tear you down, you didn’t crack. I wished I had half your strength. Which made me resent you more.”

He takes a deep breath. “Flick called me out. Said I was becoming like my father. That hit hard. I don’t want to end high school as the bully. I don’t want to end it on bad terms with you.”

He squeezes my hand, eyes locking on mine. “You’re breathtaking, Taylor.”

Tears sting my eyes. He brushes one away with his thumb. “Turns out all I had to do was be real with you to get a reaction.”

I laugh through the tears. “No, you’ve discovered my kryptonite.”

He pulls out the flower bracelet he made and hands it to me. “Peace offering.”

My heart aches. I dig out the bracelet I made and offer it back. “Friendship bracelet.”

He laughs, shaking his head. “I’ll take it. But I’m not wearing this in public.”

We head back to class together, lighter somehow.

---

Later, I text Alec, needing to see him. He replies: Caretaker’s room. Just me. Come now.

When I arrive, he’s hunched over a coffee machine, spanner in hand.

“I saw you in the cafeteria,” he says without looking up. “Then outside. With him. What’s going on, Jess?”

I sit in front of him, close enough our knees almost touch. I take his hand, forcing him to look at me.

“Nothing’s going on. I didn’t ditch Ruby and Flash—Flick grabbed me. And Dean… he apologised. He wants to change. Alec, please. Trust me.”

He throws down the spanner. “I don’t trust him, Jess. Guys like that don’t change.”

I drop to my knees so he has to meet my eyes. “I’m not asking you to trust him. I’m asking you to trust me. You say you love me. Then trust me.”

Finally, he exhales, cupping my cheek. “I do love you.”

“Then trust me,” I whisper.

He leans his forehead against mine, defeated. “Okay. But be careful. I have a bad feeling about him.”

“I promise,” I say, kissing him softly. “I love you, Alec.”

“God help me, Jess, I love you too,” he groans, crashing his lips to mine.

The world blurs. Clothes come off. Hands grip, lips devour, moans spill into the empty caretaker’s room. All the anger, fear, and longing of the past day pour out in our bodies colliding.

When it’s over, when I collapse against him, trembling and breathless, Alec kisses my neck softly. The worry hasn’t fully left his eyes, but it’s dulled.

“You’re coming home after school, right?” he murmurs.

I smile, pressing kisses along his lips. “Of course. There’s no place I’d rather be.”