Lost in the Moment (A Savioe Family Novel) Read online

  He quickly followed me rubbing the back of his head and exclaimed. “Dit mon la verite!”

  I rolled my eyes and barked at him. “I told ya da truth. I wan’ ta dress like dis ya fool. I’m not doin’ dis fo’ anyone but me.”

  He held up his hands in surrender. “Alright! Geez, chill the hell out. I was just curious. You don’t have to bite my head off.”

  We entered the lunchroom or commons as they call it here and went to our normal table by the teacher’s lounge. He set his backpack on the table and went off to stand in line for breakfast. I sat down facing the doors. Luke quietly took a seat next to me placing his motorcycle helmet on the table in front of us. He looked so pathetic. He hadn’t spoken more than a few words to any of us since he was given the boot by Mr. Saintshill. His short dark brown hair laid flat on his head and dark circles encompassed his light blue eyes. In all honesty, it looked like he hadn’t slept since then either.

  I nudged him with my elbow. “Beau heard from Jess this morning that Roxy will be in school today. So cheer up, frère, you still get to see her.”

  He tried to smile at me when Beau took a seat in front of us. “That’s a relief. I thought her dad would send her away.” Luke released a deep breath and tilted his head back.

  “Hey. I talked to Drez a few minutes ago. He agreed to take Roxy to Frank’s for lunch so you guys can spend time together outside of school walls.” Beau informed us.

  I wrinkled my forehead trying to place the name. “Drez? Which one is that?”

  Beau gave me a look that screamed ‘Are you serious?’ “You know Marcus Dresden.”

  My heart sped up at the mention of his name. He was going to lunch with us? I tried to calm the erratic thumping in my chest. I get to spend time around my fallen angel, get to see that mane of dark dirty blonde hair up close, the sexy tattoo that he sported and stare at that face that not even God could have created without help. My fingernails dug into my palm as I tried to contain my giddiness over it all.

  Someone cleared their throat beside us. We turned our heads to see the Vice Principal and a security guard standing behind her. “Mr. Lucien Savioe. Grab your things and come with me. We have been informed by a concerned parent regarding your proximity to his daughter. It has been agreed that in the best interest for the student body you will not be allowed to socialize with her on school grounds.”

  Luke grabbed his helmet and books. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “When you see her have her meet me in the bathrooms by her first period class twenty minutes after it starts. Oh and tell her I love her.”

  He dutifully walked after the Vice Principal toward the main school building. The security guard still stood beside our table and glared at us before turning his attention to the doors. A busload of students walked in, that’s when I spotted Roxy. She had on a dark green hoodie pulled up over her raven hair. Her messenger bag was slung over her shoulders as she looked around the commons. I sighed when I saw the bags under her green eyes. Looks like Luke wasn’t the only one losing sleep. I muttered an excuse me and stood up heading over to her.

  “Hey.” She croaked at me. My lips pulled down in a frown. Damn she sounds pitiful.

  “Hi Roxy. I have to be quick unless they get to me too. Your dad has the security here keeping us away from you. I don’t know how it’s going to work with your classes and all but as soon as you got off the bus, they came and took Luke to the office. He wanted me to tell you he loves you and go to the bathroom twenty minutes after your first class starts. Shit got to go.” I rambled out before spotting the damn security guard heading my way. I quickly headed back toward my table and took a seat.

  Charles sat next to Beau munching on a sausage biscuit. He swallowed his bite. “So I take it she gets a security detail now? Man, that fucking sucks.”

  I nodded my head in agreement and sadly looked over to Roxy. Jess had joined her at the table and sat a few seats down. It looked like she was talking to herself. I shook my head at her resourcefulness. Why didn’t I think of that?

  *****

  Drez

  The bell rang indicating the end of second period. I rushed out the door and made my way to the locker where I was supposed to meet this Roxy bird. I wonder if they told her I was meeting her there. I rounded the corner and saw the girl in question opening her locker. Hmm, Beau was right. She is a cute little thing. I started to head over to her when the resident jock asshole, Bus, approached. He gave her a smug oily smile before he placed his arm over her shoulder. I leaned against the locker a few down from them crossing my arms over my chest to eavesdrop on the conversation.

  “So I heard that you and Luke are broken up?” Bus purred in her ear.

  “Really? And just who told you that bullshit?” She snapped at him slamming her locker shut.

  “Doesn’t matter. Not like it did before anyway.” He slithered up beside her as his light brown hand grabbed the base of her neck. I tensed up. “I can’t wait to get you on my list. Popping your cherry is so going to be worth the wait. I might even invite Luke to watch.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and jerked her head away ripping some of her hair out in the process. “You’re too late for that. I’ve been getting a piece of him for weeks now and damn is he good.”

  This girl has some balls on her. I raised my eyebrows and stifled a chuckle before I addressed her. “Roxy?” She turned around and gawked at me. Her mouth dropped open as she openly appraised me. Her green eyes widened in appreciation when she noticed my angel tat. Bus shifted behind her drawing my attention to him. I narrowed my eyes at him and gave him my best evil glare.

  “Oh hey. Ready to go?” She glared at Bus over her shoulder before stalking off.

  “Was he bothering you?” I asked as I trailed behind her. A security guard shied away from us when he noticed I was walking with her. I gave him a slight nod. I’d better keep on their good side if I still want to be able to grab a shower before or after school hours.

  “Yeah. He’s been trying to get me in that book of his. The bastard just can’t seem to take no for an answer.” She flung her bag over her shoulder as she slowed down to walk at the same pace as me. Who’d have thought someone that small could walk that fast. She must mean the book the football team kept to keep track of the points in their sex game. Each girl is worth a certain number of points depending on their purity, looks and experience.

  “Oh. That explains it. Well, as long as I’m doing this for Beau I’ll run as much interference as possible for you. I’d hate to see a little thing like you getting hurt by a git like him.” I opened Grace’s door for her and waited for her to get in.

  She thanked me quietly as she got in. “So how do you know Beau?”

  I revved the engine causing the seats to vibrate at the power under the hood. “Auto shop last year, when I moved here during the middle of the school year he did me a solid. He’s a pretty good friend to have.”

  She tensed up as we sped off fast enough for the tires to bark against the pavement. “Oh. Yeah, the whole family is pretty cool.”

  “Haven’t met the others yet.” My eyes flicked up to the rearview then back to the road. Some white mustang tried to ride my bumper. I stepped on the gas and smirked to myself as we shot off down the road. “They do seem pretty close.”

  “Yeah they are. It took me by surprise being an only kid and then being exposed to them. They love pulling pranks on each other.”

  “I’d say so.” I swallowed hard trying to ignore the pang of sadness that threatened to envelope me as I thought of my own brother.

  When we pulled into Frank’s, I saw two girls sitting at the table beside Beau and the kid that got smacked in the back of the head from this morning. The depressed kid with the motorcycle stood by the table with a goofy smile on his face. I parked the car, turned it off seconds before she jumped out and ran over to him hopping in his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him. I suppressed the urge to snort in disgust at the blatant affection t
hey had for each other.

  “Get a room you two!” The kid beside Beau laughed and threw a fry at them.

  I walked over to Beau who clapped me on the back. “Thanks for doing this, Drez. That’s Charles and Luke is with Roxy. This is my sister Marie and their friend Jess.”

  “A pleasure to meet you. It’s not a problem. Glad I could help out. You are aware that Bus is harassing her?” I took a seat beside a very flushed Marie. I winked at her, which caused her cheeks to turn a deeper shade of pink.

  “Still?” Charles sighed and shook his head. “Luke, frère, you are going to have to kick his ass or something. This is getting absurd.”

  “He cornered her at her locker a few minutes ago and told her that he couldn’t wait to…. How did he put it? Oh yes pop her cherry and he might even let Luke watch.” The smell of food made my stomach clench in pain. I quickly snatched a fry off Marie’s tray and continued. “She said that he was a little too late for that. That she’d been getting a piece of him for weeks and damn was he good.” I smirked.

  “Well he is.” Roxy muttered which caused Jess to cackle.

  Marie smacked my hand when I tried to snatch another fry. “Get your own.” She mumbled under her breath.

  My eyes widened in surprise. Shit, I can’t believe I forgot to ask. I looked over at her and lost my train of thought when her golden eyes settled on mine. I lowered my eyelids giving her a quick perusal of her attributes. I recognize those jeans from earlier. Hello Legs. I stared into her eyes. “Would if I could, pet, but I’m a little short on funds today.”

  I grabbed another fry and just as I was about to pop it in my mouth. She grabbed it from me and got nose to nose with me. Her breath fanned my face hinting of chocolate and mint before she said in a voice that immediately brought to mind silk sheets and tangled limbs. “Dat’s no’ my problem, Shug.” She leaned back and ate the fry. My sight was drawn to her lips. I kept my groan to myself as her lips encircled the potato; my body instantly wished she’d do that to it instead.

  I turned away and tried to pay attention to what Beau was saying. Marie was pretending to ignore me. I could tell I made her nervous. Every time she reached for some of her fries or her drink, her hand would tremble a bit. I hid my smile behind my hand as I coughed. She’s off limits, mate. Beau would kill you if you messed with his sister. I reminded myself.

  “Drez, want a burger? My treat for keeping that stupid imitation bacon away from me.” Roxy asked looking through her bag completely startling me.

  “Imitation bacon?” I asked in utter confusion.

  “Security guards. Jess and I started calling them that when we found out a few of them flunked out of law enforcement training. You know cops are called pigs. Pig is where we get bacon. Hence imitation bacon.” She explained pulling out a twenty from the bottom of her messenger bag.

  Charles laughed so hard he snorted out the milkshake he was drinking. That caused everyone else to laugh harder.

  I shook my head at her. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine really.” My stomach cramped in denial.

  She raised an eyebrow at me, as she looked me over. I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. Her gaze seemed to penetrate right through me. Just how much did she really notice? She shook her head at me. “Puh-lease. I’m getting you a burger and fries. I will not take no for an answer. Now is there anything you will not eat on it?”

  “No.” I mumbled looking down at my dirty jeans.

  “Good.” She pressed the intercom and ordered a double cheese with the works, large fry and a soda.

  “You’re a bossy bit of goods aren’t you?” I stared at her with uncertainty in my eyes.

  Luke chuckled as he kissed her neck. “You have no idea.”

  *****

  Marie

  Oh my God he is sitting next to me. My heart pounded a steady rhythm against my chest. My leg bounced under the table shaking the metal seats Jess and I were sitting on. I wiped my palms on my jeans under the table to try to remove the moisture gathering on them. He was turned toward Beau talking about some stupid car stuff. His black T-shirt stretched across those broad shoulders emphasizing the muscle he had hidden beneath. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it trying to regain some sort of composure.

  Jess stomped on my foot and whispered. “Stop. You are shaking the entire table. He’s just a guy. Albeit a very hot guy but a guy none the less.”

  The carhop delivered his food and just stood there gawking at him. Her mouth dropped open before she stuttered out the total. Glad to know I wasn’t the only one susceptible to his looks. Roxy cleared her throat to get the girl’s attention. That’s when she noticed my brothers and turned several shades of red. Jess laughed at her. “I know how you feel, girl. It should be against the law for the four of them to be in the same place at the same time.”

  I muttered under my breath as I slowly shredded a paper napkin. “Or at least come with a warning label. Caution: Due to severe cases of hormone overload. Overexposure may cause women to experience the following symptoms, inability to think coherently, unable to form a complete sentence, inexplicable rise in body temperature, and a sudden need to act out your baser instincts. Approach with the utmost caution.”

  Jess spat out her drink the sticky liquid landed on the table next to Beau’s elbow. Both he and Drez turned to look at us. She, completely oblivious to the commotion she was making, swung her head in my direction and cackled. “Ah, damn that is so true! You bet your ass as soon as we get back to school I’m going to have to change my underwear. Because I am drenched here.”

  My hand flew to my mouth as I turned bright red. A soft snicker sounded to my left when I closed my eyes and shook my head. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “You’ll get used to it. I’ve embarrassed Roxy so many times I’ve lost count.” Jess shrugged before taking a sip from her straw.

  “Yeah, I kinda doubt that.” I muttered under my breath before I bit into another fry. While I liked Jess and thought she was fun to hang around. She tended to be a bit crass and crude. She had absolutely no brain to mouth filter. Whatever random thought popped in her head usually came straight out of her mouth moments later. The only time she seemed to censor herself was when she was around Roxy’s dad. Not that I blamed her there he was a bit intimidating. Especially after witnessing him throw a lamp at my brother’s head this past Saturday. I shivered at that terrifying memory.

  I glanced at the table and quietly picked up the trash on it. I had to do something to keep my mind and eyes from wondering over to him sitting beside me. I released a deep breath after I had walked over to the trashcan. Just being this close to him and trying to not let on that I had a crush on him was going to kill me. I placed my right hand against my chest and took a few more calming breaths to slow down my heartbeat. A few days of it beating like this and I’ll end up having a heart attack.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. Crap! I still had twenty-five minutes of potential cardiac arrest left. I placed my phone back in my jeans and turned to walk back to the table. This is so going to suck.

  *****

  Chapter Two

  Drez

  The bell rang signaling the end of school. I gathered my tattered notebook and books together before heading out of the classroom. If I could time this right, I should be able to head down to the boy’s locker room and finally take a shower. I quickly closed my locker door after getting my knapsack that had my toiletries in it and ran toward the athletic building.

  I skidded to a halt just before the door that headed down the steps to the locker rooms. They usually kept the doors unlocked for the football players heading to practice. Today was no exception. Thank god. I really needed to bathe. During the ride back to school from Frank’s, I caught a whiff of myself and almost gagged. The stench emanating from my armpits was that powerful.

  I jogged down the steps and opened the locker room door. The white tiled floor was littered with dirty towels, a few lock
ers were left partially opened and someone had left their tennis shoes sitting on the wooden bench. The janitor, Joe Blankenship, nodded to me as he bent down to pick up some of the rubbish.

  Only a handful of the administration and staff were aware of my situation at home. Joe was one of them. Some nights when my uncle was really on a bender, Joe and his wife would let me crash on their sofa until the rat bastard sobered up.

  “Things okay, son?” He asked as I grabbed a clean towel from the shelves next to the gym teacher’s office.

  I shrugged. “He gave me until the end of the month to either get a job, give him the money I make from it or get out.”

  He clicked his tongue while he shook his head. “Sorry to hear that.” He pushed his large waste bin toward the office and yelled back to me. “Sheryl was asking about you the other day. I know she’s making a meatloaf tonight. If you want to swing by later and keep a few old people company you are more than welcome.”

  I gave him a sad smile before I ducked into the shower stall. “Thank you, Joe. I just might do that.” He nodded again at me and wheeled the waste bin out of the room.

  I stripped out of my clothes and turned on the hot water. The steam from the stall started filtering into the locker room and fogged up the mirrors. I set my clothing on the bench and grabbed my shower stuff. As I stepped under the scalding water, I hissed out a sigh of relief. I lathered up my hair twice before I heard it squeaking in its cleanliness. I should take Joe up on the implied offer. It would be nice to have a full stomach and get some sleep that’s not interrupted by an insect looking for a snack in the middle of the night.

  I shut off the water now that I no longer had swamp ass and wrapped the towel around me. I picked up my stuff put it back in my knapsack and stared at my dirty clothes. Damn there’s no point to put them back on and just get filthy again. I wonder if there is a spare gym uniform around here that I can borrow until tomorrow. I shoved my things back on the bench and walked into the supply closet.