None Other Than You Page 15

  And now, the plan is in motion.

  I jump up as quickly as possible and start sliding down the mountain, calling back to Carrie and Emma. "Last one at the bottom pays for lunch!" Carrie is already halfway caught up with me before Emma even realizes what's going on.

  "Guys!" We hear her shout before she's out of sight.

  The two of us high-five each other and swerve to the side of the trail and out of sight. We watch as Emma passes us by before pulling out again and trailing her.

  Everything happens quickly after that.

  Ryan and Teigan shoot out onto our trail from the connecting trail.

  Teigan suddenly pulls off to the side as Ryan collides with Emma, neither one seeing the other.

  Emma trips over Ryan, who tried to stop and is currently sprawled along the snow. "I'm so sorry, sir!" She says, trying to help him up. "I didn't see you—" Ryan looks up and the two finally recognize the other.

  "YOU!" They shout together. Those of us watching along the sidelines laugh at the absurdity of it all.

  "Emma, let me talk to you." Ryan starts.

  "No!" Emma shouts, getting back up and orienting herself on her skis. "You're a real jerk, you know that, Knight? I don't want to talk to you ever again!" And with that she was racing down the mountain.

  As if he had read our little script, Ryan bolts down the hill after her, awkwardly untangling his skis as he tumbled more than skied down the hill.

  Teigan, Carrie, and I all meet in the middle of the trail behind Ryan chasing Emma. Teigan high-fives me and Carrie (aren't we all so cool?) and, grinning, he speeds ahead of us.

  I follow him up and we're just in time to see Jake and Tyler shoot out in front of Emma, just as Ryan had caught up to her. Emma and Ryan both swerved on their skis, but on that point of the mountain, there's no stopping unless you turn to the side. So they do, and they head right down the trail we want them too.

  Jake and Tyler send Teigan the "go" signal (Thumbs up, very original) and he grabbed my gloved hand and pulled me down the mountain with him. When we reached Jake and Tyler, Carrie grinned at Jake, and Tyler explained to Teigan he saw Emma trying to continue down the mountain.

  Teigan and I only have to look at each other and we are off down the trail. "You don't have to come on this part you know." Teigan says, casting me a worried look as we swerve around trees and rocks on our boards.

  "Of course I do, Dimwit. He's my brother and she's my best friend. I'm not leaving them in your hands." We both swerve around a large tree before he swerves his board around close to mine.

  "You'd be surprised what these hands could do." I openly gape at him.

  "Pervert."

  Teigan laughs as I race ahead of him, but he catches up within seconds and pulls my jacket back so that I fall on my butt.

  "What was that—" His hand covers my mouth and I see the reason. Ryan and Emma are stopped about fifteen feet in front of us. It looks like Emma tripped up over a branch and Ryan attempted to catch her.

  "How am I going to get out of here?" Emma moans. Her voice is quiet from where Teigan and I are situated. I realize I'm leaning against him, his body radiating heat and keeping me warm as we sit still. I decide against moving away.

  "You mean how are we getting out of here." Ryan states. "We're both down this lovely trail together. It's almost like someone meant for us to get trapped down here together."

  Emma mutters, "Well that's just peachy." The disdain in her voice is obvious.

  "Emma, please." Ryan says pleadingly.

  What else happens is lost to me. I feel Teigan's arm snake around my waist and pull me closer to his warmth. "What are you doing?" I whisper harshly.

  "Shh." He says softly, leaning his head to rest gently on mine. "We don't need to listen to what they say, just to give them the chance." After a moment I nod and the two of us simply sit in silence, Ryan and Emma's words drowned out by the howl of wind around us.

  Teigan begins humming a tune and I allow myself to close my eyes, relishing the sound of his voice. "I didn't know you could sing." I voice my thoughts softly.

  "Hm." He mutters gently. I can feel his eyes on my face. I open them and his blue eyes mesmerize me, and I can't tear my gaze away. I find myself thinking about all of my encounters with him in the past month, how his moods would switch. One second he could be sweet and caring and take my breath away, and the next he could be found with his arrogant smile and taunting jeers.

  As I stare into his eyes I realize that there might be a sweet guy in there. Hidden. Deep, deep… DEEP down inside of Darren Teigan, there was a guy who really might like me.

  But didn't I swear to myself that I wouldn't get involved with anyone until after at least a semester of college?

  I can resist Teigan. For all I know he may like me now, but in a week he's going to go after someone else. Someone prettier, and brighter, and … well, not wittier, but there's someone out there just right for Darren Teigan. There's someone out there for me too.

  I honestly don't think that a Darren-Delaney team will strike up any time soon however.

  'Isn't there already?'

  Whatever could you mean by that?

  'I mean, you're teamed up with him, and cuddling with him in the middle of the forest, trying to get a couple together.'

  So?

  'You spent the night with him last night.'

  Your point?

  'You wanted to kiss him.'

  So—I did not want to kiss him!

  Without realizing, I make a gagging noise, startling Teigan and stopping his song. "What's wrong?" He asks, concern filling his face.

  I shake my head, disturbed by the voice that seemed to argue with me. 'What the hell?'

  A loud thud in the direction of our couple makes both of us turn our heads. Teigan and I have to crane to see, but, sure enough, Emma has tackled Ryan in the snow and the two are fiercely kissing in the deep snow.

  Teigan chuckles softly next to me. "Let's leave them be for a while." He starts to get up but his feet, taken out of their bindings ('When did he do that?') are tangled underneath him and he falls on top of me.

  I shout as his weight fully compresses me into the powdery snow and I can tell we've been heard.

  "Duke?" I hear Emma call.

  "Now look what you did." I hiss at Teigan, looking up and seeing his eyes centimeters away from mine. "I… you… uh…--" Ryan and Emma appear around the large tree Teigan and I had been hiding behind.

  Ryan looks amused and Emma looks pissed. "What are you doing, Delaney?" Emma asks, her voice calm. I know her better though, and I'm scared out of my mind.

  I start to shake and Teigan looks down from his position still on top of me, worried. "Why are you shaking, Ace?"

  Emma used my real name. She only does that when she's really pissed. Her eyes flash and I shove Teigan off my body as quickly as possible and tear down the mountain.

  "YOU'RE IN FOR IT DELANEY ROSE KNIGHT!"

  * * *

  Ryan, Teigan, Jake, and Tyler laugh merrily in the corner of the booth, Carrie covering her snickers and Emma openly glaring at me. I glare right back, ringing out my jacket, hat, coat, gloves, socks, and sweatshirt. I'm wearing Teigan's coat for extra warmth.

  I'm soaked straight through.

  "Serves you right." Emma mutters under her breath.

  I stare at her, exasperated. "For trying to get you and my brother back together after he said something stupid as he will probably do many times for the rest of eternity?"

  "Hey!" Ryan says.

  "Shut up." Emma, Teigan, and I all say at the same time. Emma smirks and soon she and I are both laughing and hugging and finally, she thanks me.

  "I have to admit though; if the payoff for helping couples get together is seeing Duke face-plant and knock over the freelance photographer, manager to fly into a sign, and then dissolve into an endless pit of powder snow, then I'm doing this more often." Teigan says.

  I throw a wet glove in his face.

  "
So what were you two doing when we found you?" Emma asks, her face full of implications.

  "Nothing!" I shout at the same time Teigan says, "Making love."

  Ryan pulls a disgusted face at Teigan's comment and throws a cookie crumb at him. "That's my sister, man." Jake, Tyler, and Carrie on the other hand are quite amused at the exchange and laugh to their hearts content. Emma on the other hand catches my eye with a look that clearly says 'you'retelling-me-later'.

  I groan in anticipation and Teigan wraps his arm around me as I start to shiver again.

  "Come on, Ace." He says, still grinning his signature smile, "Let's get you home before you get pneumonia."

  * * *

  "Why are there so many cars in your drive way?" Teigan asks as we pull into his driveway. Mine has no more space in front of it. Ryan and Emma pull up into Emma's drive and hop out of the car, eyeing the barrage of cars as well.

  Teigan is around the car before I even have a chance to notice, opening my door.

  "Well aren't we the gentleman." I say mockingly. I head to the trunk to get my gear but his hand finds its way on top of mine.

  "Leave it here for now. You need to change."

  "Pervert."

  His blue eyes are startlingly clear as they meet mine. "I meant before you catch your death."

  I roll my eyes as I walk across the street. "You've been watching way too many old-fashioned movies."

  "You dance too much."

  I laugh aloud. "That's a desperate retort."

  He shrugs and shoves his hands into his pockets as I notice the license plate on a black, '67 Chevy Impala. I scream, startling Teigan, Ryan, Emma, and the cat on our neighbors fence. I hear the cat shriek as it falls off the fence, Teigan curse, and Emma squeak at the noise.

  Bolting into the house, I completely forget about my soaking wet clothes and find what I'm looking for within seconds that I'm in the door.

  "DAN! SEAN!" I scream. Dan turns around first and, as though he was expecting it, catches me as I jump into his arms, holding tight with both my arms and legs.

  "Well hi there, Baby Sis." He says in his low voice, laughing as I squeeze him tighter.

  "I didn't know you were coming home for Christmas!" Dan laughs even harder.

  "Of course I'm coming for Christmas! Free food, duh." He smacks my head on the last word. "Why are you all wet?"

  "Snowboarding." I say and he shrugs, setting me down for a second before an equally strong pair of arms swoops me up again.

  "Where's my hug?" Sean says as he crushes me into his hard chest.

  "God, have you been working out again, Sean?" He nods proudly and grins broadly. It looks goofy on him. Oh, how I missed my brothers!

  "You bet. I can lift three-twenty-five now." His grin spreads even wider and I laugh.

  "Delaney, get out of your brothers' arms. Your too old to be doing that now." Dan, Sean, and I frown at our mother's comment.

  "Mom, she'll never be too old." Sean says, but sets me down anyway. "She's always going to be our Baby Sis." By now, Teigan, Ryan, and Emma have finally gotten into the house.

  "Alright!" Ryan says, going up to Dan and Sean and giving them 'man' hugs. I roll my eyes and, taking manners into consideration, pull Teigan over to the boys' by his arm.

  "Guys, this is Darren Teigan, he moved in next door, is in Ryan's band, and is currently my math tutor." I watch as Dan and Sean look between Teigan and I, scanning Teigan, most likely for worthiness and strength before they nod. "This is Dan," I say, pointing to my slightly shorter brother, (though he's taller than Ryan by two inches) with the telltale green Knight eyes and dark brown hair, "and Sean." This time I point to the older and slightly taller of the two, with the same green eyes and even darker brown hair. Both boys have a slight spattering of freckles and similar, crinkly grins that are constantly plastered on their faces.

  Meet the great masterminds of pranking in the Knight family.

  Teigan holds out his hand, smiling politely, and the three curtly shake hands. I raise my eyebrow; is it just me, or is there some tension in the air?

  "Delaney, go change. You're absolutely soaking wet." I nod and bolt up the stairs, quickly hopping into a warm shower and changing into sweats and a T-shirt.

  By the time I come back downstairs, everyone is sitting cozily around the fireplace.

  "Eleni should be here tomorrow, so by Christmas Eve the whole family should be here to go to the Milovich party." Mom says in her spot by the fire.

  "As in Tyler Milovich?" I ask from behind the couch. I didn't notice by I had crept up behind Teigan. He looks up at me, his blue eyes pleading. I look back into them, confused.

  "Our families all work together. Tyler's dad is hosting the Christmas party this year because their house is big enough for all the families to fit into." Teigan explains expertly.

  "Thank you Google! Now search, 'brain', please." Dan and Sean exchange a high-five. "Ha, ha!" They laugh as mom gives them a scalding look.

  "Cut it out you two. I don't know why you're being so awful with him." Mom looks severely confused, as does Ryan, but Emma just shakes her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

  Teigan shoots a second pleading look at me and I attempt to turn the subject. "So what are we doing on Christmas then?"

  Mom perks up at this and beams at all of us. "I was going to save this as a surprise once you were all here," She grins and pauses, looking at all of us once again.

  "Okay mom, enough with the suspense! Are we going paintballing or what?" Sean asks. Dan bursts into laughter.

  Mom frowns momentarily before smiling again. "We are spending the day not only with our family, but with Emma's and," I swear she looks directly at me before finishing her sentence, "The Teigan's!" She claps her hands together excitedly, beaming at us all again. "Well?"

  Dan claps his hands together. "It's wonderful, Mother!" He pretends to wipe a tear away from his eyes and mom slaps his knee.

  "You're both impossible, did you know that?"

  "Why yes." Sean says.

  "We pride ourselves on it." Dan grins. I roll my eyes. Boy do those two enjoy harassing mom or what?

  Sean yawns, making almost everyone else in the room do the same. (Though I know I'm not tired.) "So where do we sleep, mom?"

  "Down here. The couches fold out, remember?" Mom answers and the boys nod. Mom's brow scrunches and she looks at me again. "That reminds me, where were you last night, Delaney?"

  Every head in the room turns to me.

  My eyes open wide and I stare blankly back at my mother. "Come again?"

  "Where were you the other night? I came to check on you when I came home but there was a note on your door that said you'd be late back from work. I figured you'd stayed the night at Pete's."

  "Oh, well—"

  "And before you say you did, I know you didn't. I called Pete that morning and he said you left an hour after close."

  Crap.

  I can't just lie because mom sees through all lies; and I mean all.

  So I stutter.

  "Well… um… you see… I had to… uh--"

  "She was at my house."

  Now it's Teigan's turn for the house stare.

  "Come again?" Dan and Sean ask simultaneously.

  "She had a math test that morning and asked if she could come and study after work. We ended up studying so late that we fell asleep." Teigan says calmly. He wouldn't be saying it so calmly if he were looking at all three of my brothers instead of my mother.

  "Where did Delaney sleep?"

  "We both fell asleep on my bed, Mrs. Knight." She nods slowly. "I see." Her voice is a soft whisper. Eyes turning to me she says, "If you're going to stay at his house again, be sure you tell one of us first so I'm not as worried."

  I nod in shock.

  This can't be the final battle. No way in hell was that the last I was hearing about this. With a glance at my furious brothers, I somehow had a good guess that it certainly wasn't.

  Chapter Fifteen: The Wrat
h of Knight

  "On the eight day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming—"

  "Make it stop." I groan, pulling my pillow over my head as Dan and Sean sing, loudly and horribly, in my ear.

  "--Six geese a-laying, FIVE GOLD RINGS!!"

  "AHHH!!" I cry, finally throwing my pillow and hitting Sean in the face. It doesn't stop them however, so I'm forced to get out of bed and strangle them to death.

  That is, I would if my legs weren't so sore.

  Instead of throttling my brothers when I jump out of the bed, I end up in a crumpled heap on the floor. Dan and Sean double over with laughter and I flip them the bird.

  "That's what you get for being in three dances last night, Baby Sis." I roll my eyes and attempt to sit up, groaning in pain. My Christmas dance concert had been last night and, I'm sore as hell. Not to mention that my brother's and sisters had shown up unexpectedly and Ryan dragged Teigan along as well. Dan and Sean obviously weren't happy about that as they made him leave right after the concert. I only found out he was there when Emma mentioned it and he was already gone.

  Not that I care. Just… Teigan watching me dance-- I shrug the thought off as I push my brother's out of my room. "I have to change!"

  I jump into the shower to get ready for the long day. I have a shift to work at Pete's and then get ready for the party at the Milovich's. It's Christmas Eve today, the day before I have to spend an entire twelve hours (ish) around Teigan and his family.

  His family I don't mind so much.

  Teigan I do.

  Every time he's come near me in the past few days I've been jumpy and my stomach feels like it's trying to wring out its contents. Maybe the sight of him just nauseates me?

  I start singing in the shower and curse my brothers to a life without women. They got the stupid Christmas Carol stuck in my head.

  Within twenty minutes I'm ready for work but, before I can leave, I have to go down for the informal family morning greeting.

  Not only did Dan and Sean show up, but also my second oldest sister, Eleni, came the day after the snowboarding trip. Eleni is definitely not my favorite sibling. She's constantly finding something to criticize about everyone, mom and I especially. Plus, she has no sense of humor. Along with Eleni however, my grandparents from Dad's side of the family are here. Grandma Violet and Grandpa Sam are my favorite two people in the world. For one, they always bring me presents, and two; they never fail to make me smile. It's hard for them to visit with their age and the fact that they live three thousand miles away makes it slightly difficult as well.