Chapter One
The tallest of a group of boys on the top deck of the parking garage glanced up at the sky that Thursday evening, unhappy with how the clouds were rolling in. “A storm’s brewing. I can feel it.”
“It’s going to be a mess,” one of the student volunteers said. He slung the shovel over his shoulders, looking around. “I can’t believe I’m actually here. Mason, tell me – do I really need extra credit that badly?”
“You do, Frank,” Mason said. “Orion and the teachers looked over our grades and you are seriously sucking in English. Sam’s doing even worse in math. You should be happy because this isn’t that hard. They’ve already scaled back the storm.”
Sam’s frown pulled lower. “I wanted to see my girlfriend this weekend. She’s playing in the tournament and I’m shoveling snow like a bum. My father even offered to call the school to see if this was the best way to earn extra credit.”
“Why would they care?”
“My parents find this whole thing embarrassing,” Sam said. “My dad’s worried I’ll run into a few of his friends and then I’ll have to explain what I’m doing.”
“I’m sure we can find a way for you to sneak over and see her games, Sam,” Mason said, counting the number of parking spaces available in the upper-level deck. Noticing that Tad was still on the upper-level, he called over to him, surprised to see his friend’s normally taciturn face contorted into something very strange. Was he…smiling? “What are you looking at your phone like that for, Tad? Something going on?”
“There sure is!” Tad said, shutting the phone. “I just checked the weather! The storm isn’t going to be as bad as they thought! We’re going to get a few inches but that’s all. It’s going to be a pretty easy weekend for us.”
“Are you serious?” Mason asked, joining him on the upper-level. “They’re scaling it back that much?”
“Yep,” Tad said, opening his phone back up again and showing them a picture of the Doppler. “You see that? Most of the heavy crap’s going south of us. We should be in good shape. I’ll have to thank Orion for setting this up. Now I can still get extra credit in chemistry and not have to break my back doing it.”
“What a relief,” Mason said, laughing a bit. “Can’t have you working hard to earn a good grade.”
“I also just got a text from Micah,” Tad said, eyes still glued to his phone. “He and Orion are going to be checking in on us at different times. Apparently the headmaster was serious about keeping a close eye on him.”
“Damn. I hope Orion can handle it. He and Devony make an alright couple and I know how much he cares about the school. Look,” he said pointing around the lot. “There’s already people arriving early and getting ready to set up for the tournament even though it doesn’t start until tomorrow night.”
A familiar car pulled into the lot, and Mason and the rest of the group watching as it parked close to them. Micah got out from the car with a grin on his face. “I guess you guys saw the weather report?”
“Hell yeah,” Tad said, grinning ear-to-ear. He looked at Sam and Frank. “Is it true about Orion, though? Is the headmaster really keeping such a tight leash on him?”
“Yes, but I don’t think you need to worry. So long as Devony’s father approves of them dating according to his rules, there’s really nothing that can keep them apart.”
“Who else is coming over tonight to make sure we’re not slacking off?” Mason asked.
“Orion probably can’t come tonight, after all. He has paperwork to finish up with the Headmaster.”
“And Devony?”
“She’s with Archer,” Micah explained. “He’s become her valet since this whole mess with Devony’s father. He takes her to and from school and makes sure she’s not spending too much time with Orion.”
“That must be hell,” Frank said.
“I’m sure he doesn’t mind,” Micah said. “You know how Archer is. The guy likes order above all else and he can get that order so long as he’s in control.”
“So Orion and Devony are really together, huh?” Frank asked.
“Yeah, and I still can’t believe they were able to keep it a secret from her father for so long. Orion’s lucky to have her. I would love to find a girl like that.”
“You’ve certainly had your fair share,” Mason joked.
“Yes, I know,” Micah said, looking sheepish. “Maybe more than my fair share.”
“I hear that!” Tad said, clapping him on the shoulder. “It’s rare to find a girl in this school who isn’t interested in you.”
“Or who’s already had you!” Mason said.
“Hey! No women have had me! I’ve had them! Get the facts straight!”
“Another car’s coming,” Sam said, pointing ahead. “Is it Archer’s?”
“Looks like it,” Micah said, squinting as the sun was beginning to set behind the tree. “He must be here to check up on things. I wonder if he’s seen the weather report.”
“Is Devony with him?” Sam asked excitedly.
“I’m sure she is. God, I still can’t believe she’s dating Orion,” Micah said, rubbing the back of his neck as Archer’s car pulled up. “Still though, he must have the willpower of a god to feel comfortable with some other guy constantly driving her around and spending so much time alone with her. I don’t know if I would be able to stand it.”
“Would you actually get jealous?” Frank asked.
“I’d like to say, no, but I don’t think I could do what Orion’s doing.”
“And what’s he doing?” Archer asked, stepping out from his car with Devony and his girlfriend Ellie following suit a moment later.
“Allowing this,” Micah said, nodding at Devony. “You look nice, Dev,” he said, blushing a bit as she smiled at him.
“Thanks,” she said, smoothing out her auburn hair in its low ponytail. “Is Orion here?”
“I’m afraid not,” Micah said. “My dad has him helping out with a lot of paperwork. I’m sure that if he’s able to come later, he will.”
“Damn,” Devony said, pouting. “I really wanted to see him tonight. Why didn’t he just come with you?”
“My dad. You know how he is.”
“I know he’s talking with my father every evening to check up on me,” Devony said as she rolled her blue eyes. “This is so out of hand. What exactly do they think is going to happen?”
“I have a few ideas,” Archer said in a low voice, pulling Ellie possessively towards him.
“Shut up, Archer,” Ellie muttered.
“You guys,” Micah said, pointing at Frank and Sam. “Do you guys mind checking out the other lots to make sure they’re ready?” With a nod, the two underclassmen left. “Ellie,” he went on, walking closer to her. “You’re also looking delicious this evening,” he said. As he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek, he saw Archer’s arm stiffen. “Oh calm down,” he said to him. “I’m not looking to steal your girlfriend.”
“If you want to, go ahead,” Archer said. “She’ll kiss anything.”
“Oh come on, Archer, that’s not true,” Devony said.
“Trust me it is. She’d even kiss you, if you’d have her.”
“Don’t talk about me like that,” Ellie said.
“Knock it off and stop pretending to be innocent, Ellie. I know how you are. I see the way you look at everyone. I know you wish you had morals, but you’re not fooling anyone. I think the reason you like me so much is because I don’t fall for your little games.”
“That’s not true,” Ellie said, flushing.
“Then break up with me! Please, I beg you,” Archer said, shoving her away. “If you don’t like the way I’m talking, then do something about it. Kiss Micah again if you want to kiss everyone so bad! Kiss some underclassman if you want! Kiss Devony for all I care!”
“Knock it off! You’re embarrassing me, Archer,” Ellie said, clutching at him and
hiding her face his chest.
Archer looked thrilled. “Do you see what I mean? She loves it.”
“Don’t you have any shame?” Devony asked.
“I don’t,” Archer said, hugging Ellie closer. “But I always give her a chance to leave me. When she really gets sick of it, she’s free to leave.”
“I can’t stand you,” Ellie said into his chest.
“And I can’t stand you either,” Archer said, kissing the top of her head.
“What about me?” Devony asked, putting her hands on her hips.
“What about you?”
“Would you treat me that way if we were dating?”
“I don’t have the patience to consider dating you in the first place,” Archer said. “Girls like you aren’t worth the stress.”
“The stress? I’ll have you know I’m pretty laid back.”
“So laid back that you’re dating a man your father doesn’t approve of, forcing me to drive you around everywhere? Really low-maintenance.”
Devony’s freckled cheeks turned pink. “That…that doesn’t make me high-maintenance. My father—”
“Your father is only part of your baggage,” Archer said simply. “However, if I was forced to date a woman like you, at least I could tolerate the sight of you. You’re not exactly painful to look at.”
“That’s hardly a compliment!”
“I’m sorry? I don’t remember saying that I was going to compliment you. Besides, even ugly women find men who will tolerate them – look at Ellie.”
“Archer, stop!” Devony shouted. “Now you’re just being mean.”
“What about women who’re ugly and stupid?” Ellie asked, ignoring Devony. She was used to this treatment, but she also knew how kind Archer could be to her when no one else was around. One of these days he’d grow up and treat her well all the time.
“Ugly and stupid? Send them Micah’s way,” Archer laughed.
“Shut the hell up,” Micah grumbled.
“Yeah, that’s too much,” Devony said.
“Yeah, besides…ugly or not, smart or not, all women are the same. It’s just that pretty women are a little easier to deal with when they’re being manipulative.”
“I bet Ellie’s never been manipulative. Why don’t you try saying something nice to her?”
“What’s in it for me? Why should I say something nice to her?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do?”
“You mean the boring thing to do. Ellie would get sick of me after a few days if all I did was give her compliments. Wouldn’t you, Ellie? You like me just the way I am.”
“You’re fine,” Ellie muttered with red cheeks.
“What about saying something nice about women in general?” Micah tried. “Do you think you’d be able to handle that?”
“Hmm…well I suppose attractive women get away with the most because they’re pleasant to look at. Ugly women have it harder because most men don’t have the patience to deal with something they find unattractive. Smart women think they can win over men because they’re smart, but some are smart enough to realize that without beauty, smarts is a waste of time. The one good thing about ugly and stupid women? They work harder than the rest to satisfy.”
“S-satisfy what?” Devony asked.
“I think you mean who,” Archer said.
“That’s disgusting, Archer! I thought you were going to say something nice about women.”
“I thought I did!”
“Ellie, I don’t know how you put up with him. Micah, how do you even tolerate him when he talks like that?” Reaching forward, Micah took Devony’s arm, pulling her close to him so he could whisper something to her. She erupted into high-pitched laughter.
“Why are you smiling like that?” Ellie asked Archer.
“Look at the two of them,” he said. “They look like they’re the ones who are dating. They really look good together, don’t they?”
“Knock it off, Archer,” Ellie said.
“Micah lights up when he talks to her. Even Devony can’t stop blushing from the closeness!”
“Devony’s with Orion. They’re just talking.”
“Look how he’s leaning into her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a crush on her. Micah—”
“Micah isn’t like that. Not with Devony.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if—”
“Archer, stop it!” Ellie hissed, breaking up the laughter between Micah and Devony.
“Like you know anything,” Archer growled. “Well look who’s coming up the street!” he said loudly, causing Devony and Micah to pull apart suddenly. Archer relished in the blush on the girl’s face. Guilty as always. She couldn’t help herself. “You’re welcome,” he said to the two of them.
“F-for what?” Devony asked, her face still pink.
“Perhaps I should say thank you?”
“Ignore him,” Micah said. “Come on, Devony, let’s go see el presidente.” He pulled her arm to lead her towards Orion’s car but she still looked confused about Archer’s strange statements.
“Be careful,” Archer said under his breath as Micah led the girl away. “Flirting with her will only get you in trouble.”
“He’s not flirting,” Ellie said.
“We’ll see, won’t we? We’ll see about that.”