None Other Than You Read online

  "I don't want you to be my enemy—"

  "Then why do I still get on your nerves, Duke? If you can't take me as a friend just the way I am then how are we going to work together to get our friends together?"

  He stands up, leaving me to my shocked silence. I hear him, halfway down the stairs before I get up and run after him. "Teigan!" I shout in a hushed voice. It catches his attention and he turns around, his eyes looking up at me sadly. The emotion on his face momentarily pushes my thoughts back. "I thought you said you wouldn't give up."

  A ghost of a smile plays on his lips. "I'm not giving up, Delaney" He says, his voice that soft, husky whisper he spoke in only nights ago, "I'm just giving you some time to think."

  With that he turns around and walks back to the basement, leaving me on the stairs just like he said; to think.

  * * *

  "What?" I ask, catching Bethany staring at me for the zillionth time tonight.

  She flaunts it off casually, pressing buttons on the register for her table and says, "Nothing."

  "Right." I say, dragging out the word. "You've just been giving me the I-know-you're-not-telling-me-something-and-I'm-determined-to-get-it-out-of-you-and-fast stare since I clocked on."

  "Have not." She says, a faint smile on her red lips.

  Again, "Right."

  She looks at me, her brown eyes sparkling. "Fine, you caught me. You've been thinking about something, or rather, I think, someone and you're keeping it from me!"

  "What?" I reply, I have not been thinking… okay, maybe I have.

  "You have a boy on your mind and you're not telling me anything."

  A sudden squeal from behind us startles me into spilling milk on the counter from the coffee I was making. "Sorry, Duke, but did I just hear that you like a boy!" John squeals again, earning the three of us some glaring looks from customers.

  Bethany jabs me between the ribs. "How come I always have to guess when something is going on with you?"

  "Yeah!" John joins in, "Like when you got the bellybutton ring? I had to walk in on you in the bathroom fiddling with it to know you got it."

  A new voice joins the conversation. "Delaney got a bellybutton ring?" I turn around to find Mason behind me now, one eyebrow raised in question.

  Even though we fight all the time, I've begun to find out Mason has a very protective side. He also refuses to call me Duke. He says it's a stupid nickname and that Delaney is 'a very pretty name I should be proud to have.' That is the one and only time I have received a compliment from Mason Eatchell.

  "Yeah, old news Mase." John says, waving the boy off with a flick of his hand. Mason rolls his eyes and leans against the counter making John frown. "Fine, stay." John sticks his tongue out at Mason.

  Bethany rolls her eyes and turns back to me. "Now tell us about the boy!"

  "Look, there is no boy! I have a new tutor for math and he was over helping me with problems and playing with Ryan and their quote un quote band and we got in a spat that's all."

  Bethany lifts her perfectly plucked eyebrows. "Tutor huh? What's his name?"

  "How do you know it's a 'he'?" I ask, determined to be stubborn about this.

  "Because I told her and I think it's about time you all get back to work." All four of us jump at the sudden and sneaky arrival of our boss, Pete, and scramble to do our jobs.

  Saved by the boss, I can't help but think to myself. I smile at him and get back to work.

  The night is a busy one and there isn't any more time for Bethany or John to ask me questions, though both of them keep giving me 'we-will-find-out' glares. I'm behind the counter saying goodbye to a customer when Pete asks me to come into his office.

  "What do ya need, Boss Man?" I ask playfully.

  Pete looks up at me with a fatherly concern in his eye. "You alright tonight, Duke?"

  I nod, confused. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

  He shakes his head. "For the past few days you've seemed a bit… distracted. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright."

  "Of course it is." I smile at him. "You worry too much about me, Pete. I'm fine, really."

  Sighing, he smiles slightly. "If you say so. Remember you can always talk to me if you need me, Duke."

  "I know." With that he nods and I take it as a sign to leave the office. Walking back into the café I scan my section to see if any tables have been occupied. One has, near the window in the corner. I make my way towards it and stop, turning around and retracing my tracks.

  "What's wrong with that table, Delaney?" Mason asks as he walks by.

  "Will you take that table? Please, I don't want to deal with them tonight, I'll take three of your tables just please, please, pretty, pretty, please take that one in the corner." I beg him in a rushed voice.

  "Slow down, kid. Why would I take your table and let you take three of mine? That's wasting tips. Besides they look like stuck-up teenage girls, they won't tip shit. No way." He starts to walk away but I follow him.

  "I'll give you all the tips from the tables I take of yours and I'll be on my best behavior so I'll be sure to get really good money."

  I'm practically whimpering at this point. "Just take your table, Delaney. I'm not going to do your job for you." I actually whimper as he walks away and scan the room for Bethany and John. Both their sections are full.

  Damn.

  I turn around and walk towards the table housing some of my best friends, (not) Allison, Lilly, and Jessa.

  Plastering on my best smile I reach the table and catch their attention with a little wave. "Hi, what can I get for you guys tonight?"

  Allison gives my uniform a once over. Apparently the black slacks, white polo, and powder blue apron aren't fashionable to Allison Hawley. "Oh. Hi, Duke."

  "Any drinks I can start you off with?" I ask again, just trying to get their order and the hell away from their table until it is absolutely necessary to come back.

  Again Allison takes charge of the conversation. "I didn't know you worked here."

  My smile still plastered on, I answer, "I've worked here for over four years, Allison. Pete's a good friend of my family and I know you've seen me in here before."

  "No, I don't think I have. I know I've seen Mason and John before. Why don't you get one of them come and take our tables orders?" Allison asks slyly.

  I take a moment to conjure the best answer before saying, "First of all Mason refused to take your table, second of all John has a full section and he's taken by a handsome young man by the name of Aaron Kravitz, and third of all you have a boyfriend who is extremely devoted to you and I suggest you be the same or you will have some very furious and loyal people to him who will crush you within seconds."

  Yeah, all of that, to her face, and with a smile on my own.

  Allison's face is priceless for about two seconds, but then she recovers. Glaring at me she looks at John across the café floor.

  "Yeah, he really is gay, Allison. I'm surprised it wasn't obvious to you of all people." I say, reading the look on her face. Allison is supposed to be known around school for having amazing 'gay-dar' and yet she couldn't tell John was? Some talent there.

  "You know, I don't think I'm hungry anymore." Lilly says, looking at the menu. (Upside down of I might add.)

  Allison sneers at me. "Nor am I Lilly. Come on Jessa, lets go somewhere with better service." Allison and Lilly walk out of the café with little waves in Mason's direction (not to John, I notice) and Jessa trails out behind them with her head down. I can almost picture the tail between her legs too. I feel sorry for her, but then remember how she's treated Emma and I, her used to be friends, and the pity disappears.

  "Well that lasted long." I turn to find Mason behind me, watching the girls leave the restaurant.

  "What?"

  "I owe Bethany ten bucks now, thanks."

  "HAH!" The laugh comes from across the room as Bethany watches the snobby group leave.

  "We had a bet on how long it would take them to leave. I figured
you'd take longer and have the pleasure of torturing them and making them squirm for at least fifteen minutes." Mason says. "You had them out of her within five."

  I shrug nonchalantly. "What can I say. I'm pretty talented at scaring people away."

  Mason walks back to his section and I head back behind the counter. As I'm counting money in the drawer the bell on the door rings. I look up to see if whoever came in has headed into my section, but to my surprise I find Darren Teigan walking through the café towards me.

  "Um, hi?" I say as he reaches the counter.

  "Sorry to drop in unexpectedly like this, but I've got an idea. I know you've got to work late but…" Teigan leans forward and I follow suite. Our faces are inches apart. "Sneak out and meet me at my house at one tonight okay?"

  "Why not at my house?"

  He smiles slightly. "Because Ryan might over hear something. My house is safe ground." I nod, understanding. "So I'll see you there?"

  "Yeah." He starts to leave. "Teigan!" I call. The dark-haired boy turns around, his blue eyes sparkling at me. "Make sure you've got hot chocolate and snacks if you want to keep me awake." He smiles and nods, leaving the café.

  I stand behind the counter, stunned at our little encounter. He seems to have forgiven me about my comment earlier, but I make a mental note to apologize profusely tonight when I go to his house.

  "So what does Tutor Boy want so late at night that he came into your work and looked like he wanted to kiss you?"

  I turn around stunned, and stare at Bethany. "He did not look like he wanted to kiss me!" I squeak.

  She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. "Uh-huh. Next time he comes in you better introduce him to me. He's a looker, Duke."

  "I'll say." John says, appearing out of nowhere once again. "

  "Leave me alone." I whine. "You're all crazy!"

  Chapter Thirteen: So Here's the Plan

  I close the door to my house and pull my jacket tighter around me. The night is the coldest it's been yet. Only three more days until Christmas break, I can't help but think. What a wonderful thought. I walk across the street to Teigan's house, not bothering to be discreet. I knock on Teigan's door loudly and lean against the railing of his porch. He opens the door a moment later.

  Slightly shocked, I take in his appearance. He's wearing flannel pajama bottoms and a tight wife-beater. His black hair is ruffled more than usual and his blue eyes are shining.

  "I didn't know this was a pajama party." I say, laughing slightly.

  Teigan shrugs. "I figured I might as well be comfortable. You're wearing pajamas too you know."

  Now it's my turn to shrug. "I had to convince Ryan I really was going to sleep. He always thinks I'm up to something fishy."

  "Well this time you are." Teigan winks and frowns as he steps to the side of the doorway, "Come on in, I don't want you to freeze."

  "Thanks." I say, taking off my jacket. I'm wearing my own flannel pj's and a nice warm hoodie. "So what is this brilliant plan of yours?"

  Teigan holds a finger up to his mouth and whispers, "My mom is asleep and my sister came home today, we'll go into my room, that way we won't wake them up."

  I raise an eyebrow as I follow him up the stairs. I would have figured going into the basement would be the quietist route, but I suppose not for Teigan. We get up to his room, the third door on the right, and he opens it quietly, ushering me into the room and looking around the hall, making sure no one is looking.

  Teigan's room was nothing like I would have imagined. Not only was it clean and orderly, but the walls were mostly covered in bookshelves overflowing with various novels. His desk had homework open—he had obviously been working on it before I came over. The bed shocked me the most. His room was almost completely taken up by the queen sized bed with a mahogany, elegantly carved headboard, and the sheets were only slightly ruffled.

  I feel Teigan come in behind me and close the door. "Not what you expected?" He asks, reading the look on my face.

  "Not at all."

  He smirks again and turns on the lamp on his desk. "Take a seat, Ace." He gestures toward the bed and, with a questioning look, I flop onto the blue comforter, folding my legs in front of me.

  He surprises me by pulling two mugs off his desk and handing me one. "You really made me hot chocolate?" I ask, smiling.

  "You said you wanted it. I've also got cookies. Best I could do for snacks." He says, pulling a bag of chocolate chip cookies out of one of his desk drawers. I grin, taking the bag, and scarf down a few cookies before my curiosity gets the best of me.

  "So what's this amazing plan of yours?" I ask, still glancing around his room. He has a few posters, mostly bands I don't recognize.

  Teigan had sat down in his chair. He spins in it now to turn and look at me. Folding his arms in his lap, his eyes capture mine. "It's similar to my idea of trapping them in a room earlier, but before you argue against it," He holds his hand up to stop the words that were about to flow out of my mouth, "let me explain exactly what it entails." I fold my arms stubbornly and sit back against the pillows and his headboard.

  He waits a moment to make sure I'm ready for him to continue before speaking. "Next weekend we get Emma and Ryan to go skiing or snowboarding with us respectively. We may need a little bit more help but Jake and Tyler have agreed to help us with whatever we need them to do."

  "Wait, wait, wait." I say, stopping him. "Jake and Tyler know about all this? Is that a good idea?"

  Teigan shrugs nonchalantly. "They're just as eager to help Emma and Ryan out. Now, let me continue." He adds as he looks at my skeptical expression. I frown and he goes on. "We ski or snowboard with Emma or Ryan, and after an hour or so, we set the plan in motion. We text each other to make sure we're both at the top of the mountain, then fly ahead of them, making sure they meet up on the trail. Emma starts to chew Ryan's head off, then bolts down the hill, Ryan chases after her. Then, this is where Jake and Tyler come in, they cut Ryan and Emma off and send them onto the back trail."

  "That trail is dangerous! What if one of them gets hurt?" I ask, outraged. Did he not think of that? I set my mug down on the table, its contents no longer intriguing me.

  "That's where another part of my plan comes in. My dad, for some strange reason, has these tracking devices. You put a tiny chip into one of Ryan and Emma's pockets and I have a tiny computer I'll be taking with me so we can trail them and make sure they don't get into any trouble." We sit in silence for a moment and I can tell Teigan is watching me to interpret my reaction.

  "You've thought of everything then, have you?" I ask after another few moments.

  He shrugs in his chair and slowly gets up and walks over to the bed. Soon he's standing at the foot of the bed, pacing back and forth, his hands folded behind his head revealing his strong arm muscles. I feel a blush rise to my cheeks and look away from him.

  "I think I've got everything, we just have to ask Ryan and Emma to go with us."

  "As a group?" I ask, still avoiding looking at him. There's no way I'm letting him see me blush.

  "No, I was planning on you going with Emma and I'd take Ryan. We've got to make sure neither of them know the other is going to be on the mountain though or they'll try to back out of it." I nod in agreement and feel the weight of someone sitting on the bed.

  Looking up, I see Teigan sitting not two feet away from me, staring intently into my eyes.

  "What?" I ask, slightly disturbed.

  He smiles softly. "Nothing." His voice is soft, gentle.

  Suddenly a question pops into my mind out of nowhere and, without thinking, I blurt it out. "Did you really make out with Lily on your first day at Oakridge?" Teigan looks stunned by the question, but softly laughs aloud.

  It takes him a second to respond, but his eyes dance merrily before he says, "She had her eyes on me all day and she wasn't leaving me alone. She followed me out into the parking lot after school and kind of jumped me next to my car. I didn't really have a chance to get away. It took me a
minute or two to get her off." He shudders visibly and I stifle a giggle. He laughs along with me. "That girl is stronger than you'd think when it comes to making out with a hot guy." We both laugh softly in the dim light of his room.

  "A little cocky are we?" He shrugs and smiles his Darren Teigan grin for me.

  "So does this mean I get to ask a question now?" The question catches me off guard. What kind of question does he have in mind?

  "Sure, I suppose." I respond slowly.

  Teigan sits up and scoots into the middle of his bed, sitting directly in front of me. His blue eyes capture mine and hold them.

  "Tell me a little about your family." He asks slowly, carefully.

  This question throws me off even more than the first. I collect myself for a moment and respond slowly. "What exactly do you want to know?"

  Teigan shrugs. "Tell me about your parents." He pauses a moment then asks, "What happened to your dad?"

  "He died before I was born." That's the easiest answer I can give.

  "I'm sorry." Teigan whispers. Out of the corner of my eye I see him reach for my hand, then pull back. "How did he die?"

  "Cancer." I start fidgeting. This isn't the most comfortable subject for me for more than one reason.

  "What day did he die?" He asks.

  "August third." I answer solemnly.

  "This is an uncomfortable subject for you." It wasn't a question. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "Anything you want to ask me?"

  I look up into his eyes again, still intense. I want to ask him why he "likes" me, but I don't want to admit to myself that I think he does. I fought with the idea of asking him for a few moments before shaking my head. I didn't have anything to ask him.

  He sighed, as though disappointed. "Do you want to tell me about your siblings? Ryan just mentioned you had a lot of them."

  I smile, missing my family. "My oldest sister lives here, married with triplets." Teigan's eyes bulge.

  "T-triplets?" I laugh at his expression and nod.

  "Yeah, they're a handful. They just got their own apartment. It's good news cause I'll finally be able to get a good nights rest. Maybe."